Pending Ordinances and Resolutions

TOWNSHIP OF KNOWLTON

WARREN COUNTY, STATE OF NEW JERSEY

RESOLUTION 2020-140

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ENTRY OF SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR MUNICIPAL COURTSERVICES BETWEEN KNOWLTON TOWNSHIP AND THE TOWNSHIP OF ALLAMUCHY

WHEREAS , the Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act, N.J.S.A. 40A:65-1, et. seq., authorizes municipalities to enter into agreements for the exchange and sharing of services; and

WHEREAS , N.J.S.A. 2B:12-1(c) allows two or more municipalities, by ordinance or resolution, to agree to provide jointly for courtrooms, chambers, equipment, supplies and employees for their municipal courts and agree to appoint judges and administrators without establishing a joint municipal court; and

WHEREAS , Allamuchy and Knowlton recognize the benefit to their respective communities in sharing Municipal Courts; and

WHEREAS, Allamuchy and Knowlton agree that a partnership to advance this shared service should be developed between the entities and is authorized by N.J.S.A.2B:12-1, et seq. and N.J.S.A.40A:65-1, et. seq.; and

WHEREAS, reductions in state aid and increased operating expenses are leading many municipalities in New Jersey to consolidate municipal courts; and

WHEREAS, the consolidation of municipal court operations can save costs by reducing the number of court facilities, reducing staff size, sharing court security measures, expanding management’s scope of control and consolidating administrative oversight, and

WHEREAS, at this time both Knowlton and Allamuchy are desirous of entering into the attached Shared Service Agreement, subject to approval by the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Vicinage Assignment Judge.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as follows:

• All of the statements of the preamble are repeated and are incorporated herein by this reference thereto as though the same were set forth at length.

• On behalf of the Township of Knowlton, the Mayor and the Clerk are hereby authorized to execute the Shared Services Agreement with the Township of Allamuchy that is annexed hereto as Exhibit “A” and any other documents necessary in furtherance of same.

Date: November 9, 2020

Motion:

Second:

Committee Polled-- Cuntala-- McNinch--, Shipps—, Van Horn—, Starrs--

CERTIFICATION:

I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Knowlton, Warren County, State of New Jersey at a regular meeting held on November 9, 2020.

________________________

Kristin Shipps, Municipal Clerk

KNOWLTON TOWNSHIP

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

RESOLUTION 2020-141

Cancel Taxes/Refund Resolution Veteran Exemption

WHEREAS, the owner of Block 13.01, Lot 10.26 located at 4 Victoria Crossing Road applied for total tax exemption due to wartime injury. The application was reviewed and approved by the tax assessor effective April 1 st. The property became tax exempt at that time. It is necessary to cancel the balance of 2020 taxes due in the amount of $7,961.76. The owner’s mortgage company paid the August taxes in the amount of $2821.29. The payment needs to be refunded since there is no future taxes to be credited.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Township Committee of Knowlton Township, County of Warren the Township Committee cancels the 2020 taxes in the amount of $7961.76 on the above property and approves the tax collector’s request to refund the August payment in the amount of $2821.29. The CFO is hereby authorized and directed to prepare a check payable to Corelogic in the amount of $2821.29. The check will be returned to the collector for mailing so he can update the tax records.

Date:

Motion:

Second:

Roll Call:

I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Knowlton, Warren County, State of New Jersey at a meeting held on November 9, 2020.

______________________

Kristin Shipps, Municipal Clerk

KNOWLTON TOWNSHIP

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

RESOLUTION 2020-142

Cancel Taxes/Refund Resolution Veteran Exemption

WHEREAS, the owner of Block 44, Lot 56 located at 20 Ivan Road applied for total tax exemption due to wartime injury. The application was reviewed and approved by the tax assessor effective January 1st. The assessor was unable to update the 2020 tax duplicate to make this property exempt. It is necessary to cancel the 2020 taxes due in the amount of $14,241.24. The owner’s mortgage company paid the February and May taxes in the amount of $6,867.38. The payments need to be refunded since there is no future taxes to be credited.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Township Committee of Knowlton Township, County of Warren the Township Committee cancels the 2020 taxes in the amount of $14,241.24 on the above property and approves the property owner’s request to refund the February and May payments in the amount of $6,867.37 to him since the tax escrow portion of the mortgage has been closed by the bank. The CFO is hereby authorized and directed to prepare a check payable to Robert Dorsett in the amount of $6867.38. The check will be returned to the collector for mailing so he can update the tax records.

Date:

Motion:

Second:

Roll Call:

I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Knowlton, Warren County, State of New Jersey at a meeting held on November 9, 2020.

______________________

Kristin Shipps, Municipal Clerk

KNOWLTON TOWNSHIP

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

RESOLUTION 2020-143

Credit Taxes

WHEREAS, the owner of Block 8, Lot 13 located at 1 Hainesburg River Road questioned a delinquency notice and believed the taxes had been paid. The tax collector reviewed the account and determined that a payment made in a previous year had been returned for some reason and could not be credited. The owner reviewed his records and determined the check had not been cashed by the township. He paid the original amount of the check without interest. After additional review of his checking account and research by the tax collector the owner requested the interest that he paid be credited to taxes owed. This would bring the account up to date

.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Township Committee of Knowlton Township, County of Warren the Township Committee the owner’s request to apply $622.81 of interest paid to taxes while this delinquency was researched is approved.

Date:

Motion:

Second:

Roll Call:

I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Knowlton, Warren County, State of New Jersey at a meeting held on November 9, 2020.

______________________

Kristin Shipps, Municipal Clerk

KNOWLTON TOWNSHIP

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

RESOLUTION 2020-144

Cancel Taxes State and Township Purchased Properties

WHEREAS, Block 30, Lot 3 located at 9 Brugler Road was purchased last year by New Jersey DEP. The state does not pay property taxes and it is not possible to place a state property into tax sale, so it is necessary to cancel the 2019 taxes in the amount of $364.70. The Township of Knowlton purchased Block 48, Lot 9 located at 41 Route 46 last year. The township does not pay itself property taxes and does not wish to have the property placed in tax sale for unpaid 2019 taxes, so it is necessary to cancel the 2019 taxes in the amount of $1835.68.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Township Committee of Knowlton Township, County of Warren the Township Committee cancels the 2019 taxes on the above lots in the amounts noted.

Date:

Motion:

Second:

Roll Call:

I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Knowlton, Warren County, State of New Jersey at a meeting held on November 9, 2020.

______________________

Kristin Shipps, Municipal Clerk

KNOWLTON TOWNSHIP

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

RESOLUTION 2020-145

Refund Resolution Duplicate Payment

WHEREAS, the owner of Block 13, Lot 10.13 located at 12 Alpine Drive to refinance his mortgage in July was required to pay August taxes in the amount of $2422.20. His former bank paid the same taxes in August in a payment containing multiple properties which could not be returned. The bank payment created a duplicate payment of August taxes.

WHEREAS his former bank has requested their payment be refunded to them since they are no longer handling the mortgage.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Township Committee of Knowlton Township, County of Warren the Township Committee approves the bank’s request to refund their payment in the amount of $2422.20. The CFO is hereby authorized and directed to prepare a check payable to Corelogic in the amount of $2422.20. The check will be returned to the collector for mailing so he can update the tax records.

Date:

Motion:

Second:

Roll Call:

I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Knowlton, Warren County, State of New Jersey at a meeting held on November 9, 2020.

______________________

Kristin Shipps, Municipal Clerk

TOWNSHIP OF KNOWLTON
County of Warren, State of New Jersey

RESOLUTION 2020-146

RESOLUTION TO CANCEL UNEXPENDED 2020 BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS

WHEREAS, there are 2020 Budget Appropriation Balances that are no longer deemed needed; and

WHEREAS, these balances can be cancelled into Current Fund Balance with the expectation of being raised in the 2021 Budget for Capital Purposes; and

WHEREAS, these balance are able and eligible to be cancelled as outlined in the schedule below; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESLOVED that these Unexpended Balances of Appropriations listed below is hereby cancelled:

Current Fund Accounts Amounts

Road Maintenance O/E $ 39,000.00

November 9, 2020

Motion:

Second:

Roll Call:

I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Knowlton, Warren County, State of New Jersey at a meeting held on November 9, 2020.

______________________

Kristin Shipps, Municipal Clerk

TOWNSHIP OF KNOWLTON

COUNTY OF WARREN, STATE OF NEW JERSEY

RESOLUTION #2020-147

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SOLICITOR TO FORECLOSE CERTAIN PROPERTIES FOR DELINQUENT TAXES IN THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOWLTON

WHEREAS, the Tax Assessor and the Tax Collector of the Township of Knowlton have prepared an In Rem Foreclosure List containing a schedule of 4 properties; and

WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 54:5-104.35 provides in pertinent that the Governing Body may, by resolution, foreclosure any of the tax sale certificates held by it, by the summary proceedings In Rem as provided in the In Rem Foreclosure Act [L.1948, c,96]; and

WHEREAS, municipal foreclosure on these properties will result in benefits to Knowlton Township that may include:

Compelling the payment of taxes,

Removing non-performing properties from tax rolls,

Increasing the collection rate to lower the reserve for uncollected taxes,

Controlling abandoned properties,

Stabilizing the tax base.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Township Committee of Knowlton that Keith Bonchi, Esquire, is hereby authorized to foreclose the property schedule as noted below on the In Rem Foreclosure List, a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part thereof:

November 09, 2020

Motion:
Second:

Roll Call: Cuntala -- , McNinch-- , Shipps-- , Van Horn-- , Starrs—

I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Knowlton, Warren County, State of New Jersey at a meeting held on November 9, 2020.

______________________

Kristin Shipps, Municipal Clerk

TOWNSHIP OF KNOWLTON

COUNTY OF WARREN, STATE OF NEW JERSEY

RESOLUTION 2020-148

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH KEITH BONCHI, ESQ., OF GMS LAW FOR IN REM FORECLOSURE SERVICES

WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 54: 5-104.29 et seq, the In Rem Tax Foreclosure Act, allows the governing body of a municipality to foreclose on any of the tax sale certificates held by it; and

WHEREAS, municipalities may desire to foreclose In Rem for reasons including:

To compel payment of taxes,

To remove non-performing properties from tax rolls,

To increase collection rates to lower reserve for uncollected taxes,

To control abandoned properties,

To stabilize the tax base; and

WHEREAS, the Knowlton Township Committee expressed a desire to foreclose on such properties at the October 22, 2020 Township Committee meeting; and

WHEREAS, this action has been recommended by the Township auditor; and

WHEREAS, prior to instituting foreclosure a municipality should pass a resolution appointing counsel to do theIn Rem foreclosures; and

WHEREAS,Keith Bonchi, Esquire, of GMS Law has presented the Township an offer to provide legal services at a cost of $ 1,750 to $1,950for a minimum of 4 tax sale certificates for properties that do not involve federal liens; and

WHEREAS, GMS Law requests the use of their own title company; and

WHEREAS, the Township Committee wishes to accept this offer.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

The Mayor of the Township of Knowlton is hereby authorized to execute the attached Professional Services Contract between Knowlton Township and Keith Bonchi, Esquire, of GMS Law.

November 9, 2020

Motion:

Second:

Roll Call:

I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of a resolution adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Knowlton, Warren County, State of New Jersey at a meeting held on November 9, 2020.

______________________

Kristin Shipps, Municipal Clerk