290 June 17, 2010 A Special Meeting of the Board of Education, Township of Woodbridge, was held on June 17, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., at Oak Ridge Heights School #21, Colonia, New Jersey. The meeting opened with the Salute to the Flag and a moment of silence. The Vice-President, Diane Acquisto presided. Board members present: Diane Acquisto, John Golden, Lawrence Miloscia, Brian Molnar, Ezio Tamburello, Jonathan Triebwasser, George Yuhasz. Judy Leidner and Brian Small were absent. Board personnel present: Dr. John Crowe, Dennis DeMarino, Viola Lordi, Lois Rotella, Angela Korodan, Rita Miller, Anthony D’Orsi, Barbara DeRollo. Township Personnel present: Mayor John E. McCormac Newspaper Reporters Present:
Sergio Bichao, The Home News Tribune Ryan Hutchins, The Star Ledger
Business Administrator/Board Secretary, Dennis DeMarino, read the following statement regarding the Open Public Meetings Law: "The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to insure the right of the public to have advance notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the Board of Education had caused notice of these meetings to be published by having the date, time and place, thereof, posted as follows: June 11, 2010:
E-mailed to Home News Tribune and Star Ledger Hand delivered to Municipal Clerk’s Office Posted in Avenel Middle School. Oak Ridge Heights School #21 and the Board of Education Administration Building."
Dr. Crowe stated due to the very difficult budget, it was necessary to look to other ways, other efficiencies, to perform many services in our schools. He further stated the town has come forward with a proposal that he believes the Board will approve. Dr. Crowe, with the Board Vice President’s approval, turned the meeting over to Mayor McCormac. Mayor McCormac stated the township and school district have several existing Interlocal agreements, commenting on the good relationship between the school district and town. Mayor McCormac stated the Board received the low bid for custodial services. He stated once the bid was received, the township evaluated the bid and found they could compete with the low bid. Mayor McCormac explained the reasons that the township offer is $500,000 more than the Aramark bid, noting the unemployment rate is between $500 and $600 per week. He stated he feels, by keeping the same pension, more custodians would choose to move over to the township. Mayor McCormac stated his Shared Services Agreement also includes snow removal which Aramark did not. He stated around the same amount of custodians would be employed by the township. Mayor McCormac stated, by policy, the township cannot accept non-residents, noting that approximately 60 school district custodians are eligible for a position. Mayor McComac offered to answer any questions the Board may have. Dr. Crowe stated as a point of order, the motion be moved and then discussion from the Board followed by discussion from the public take place. The Buildings and Grounds Committee, on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools and the Business Administrator/Board Secretary, presented the following: 1.
That the Board of Education authorize the Superintendent of Schools, the Business Administrator/Board Secretary and the Board attorney to negotiate a shared services contract with Woodbridge Township pursuant to which Woodbridge Township will provide custodial services for the Board’s schools and administrative facilities and snow plowing of school parking lots, effective July 1, 2010.
291 June 17, 2010 Mr. Yuhasz moved for the adoption of the Buildings and Grounds recommendation, seconded by Mr. Golden. During Board discussion, Mr. Tamburello asked the amount budgeted for custodial services in the 2010-11 budget. Mr. DeMarino advised 5.5 million dollars was budgeted for custodial services, including weekend coverage. Mr. Tamburello stated the Mayor’s proposal is a savings of $800,000. Mr. Tamburello asked how the Mayor plans to handle weekend coverage. Mayor McCormac stated various shifts will be scheduled therefore eliminating the need to pay custodian overtime. He explained there will be shifts scheduled that include Saturdays and Sundays. Mayor McCormac stated all high schools and middle schools which have a lot of weekend activities will have shifts scheduled over the weekends. Mr. Molnar asked the amount budgeted for the 09-10 school year. Mr. DeMarino advised 6.6 million dollars was budgeted in the 09-10 school year. Mr. Molnar asked if the employees will have to follow the hiring process with the town; application, interviews, physicals, etc. Mayor McCormac stated if the current district employees receive a telephone call from the township it means they are hired. He stated the process has been started although nothing is official until the Board votes on the item. Mr. Molnar asked if the Board equipment will become property of the township. Mr. DeMarino stated the school district equipment will be available for use by the township. Mr. Molnar asked if the number of employees moving over to the township comes in lower than expected, would the Mayor consider employing out of town employees, commenting that several good school district employees live out of town. Mayor McCormac stated he will take that under consideration. Mr. Tamburello asked if the agreement is for a one year period. Mayor McCormac stated the agreement is for one year with a second and third year option at a price to be determined. During public discussion, T. Maras, Fords, commented on the efforts being made to save the custodian jobs. He asked why the custodians being hired by the town must be residents yet school district employees do not have to live in town. Dr. Crowe stated the Board of Education operates independently of the township so their policies would not apply to the Board of Education. Mr. Maras asked why the same type of concessions are not being made for the cafeteria workers as with the custodians. Dr. Crowe stated cafeterias must run as an enterprise fund and cannot lose money nor can there be a deficit. Mr. Maras made additional comments regarding the custodial agreement with the township. Mr. Maras asked why the proposal submitted by the cafeteria workers was not included on the bid calculation sheet. Dr. Crowe asked for clarification on Mr. Maras’ statement. Dr. Crowe stated the proposal from the cafeteria workers was not put forward as an official bid. Ms. Acquisto reminded the public that this portion of the meeting is to address concerns and questions regarding the Buildings and Grounds agenda being presented for approval. Mr. Maras asked for numbers of what the unemployment rate would be if the custodians were terminated. Mayor McCormac stated he previously explained the comparison between 4.1 million from Aramark is equal to 4.6 million from the town because he feels more people would claim unemployment if Aramark took over the custodial services as opposed to the town taking on the services. Mayor McCormac stated this agreement has no impact on the township’s tax rate. Dr. Crowe stated he spoke to the Executive County Superintendent, reporting the numbers they have at this point. He stated the agreement with the township is endorsed by the County Superintendent who stated this is the direction the state is moving in as well. Mr. Maras made additional comments regarding the Shared Services agreement. D. Pinkowitz, Iselin, asked if the Aramark proposal was a one year bid. Mr. DeMarino stated it was a one year bid with renewable options for years 2 and 3. Mr. Pinkowitz asked if the renewals were priced in the agreement. Mr. DeMarino stated there was an increase listed for each year. Mr. Pinkowitz asked if the increase numbers are available. Mr. DeMarino stated the approximate increase is $38,000 to $40,000 for each additional year. Mr. Pinkowitz made additional comments regarding the increase in the Shared Services agreement with the town. The Mayor stated the typical person would collect unemployment for 99 weeks which would be approximately $50,000. He further explained the Board is insured so it would take a while to work into the rates. The Mayor stated the difference over a 3 year period would be approximately 1.8 million dollars. He stated the township averaged the 3 year amount to $500,000 for the
292 June 17, 2010 first year. Mr. Pinkowitz made additional comments regarding unemployment. Mr. DeMarino and Ms. Korodan reviewed the cost of unemployment benefits. P. McGlynn, Iselin, asked if there would be a buy-out for custodians with more than 22 years of service. Mayor McCormac stated he would not be able to offer a buy out for only the custodians. He explained it would have to include the entire township personnel. He stated after the Shared Services agreement is approved, an early retirement incentive could then be offered to the entire Public Works department which would include the custodians. Ms. McGlynn asked what salary is being offered to the custodians. Mayor McCormac stated he will not make the salary known at this time. Ms. McGlynn asked if her assumption that it would be approximately $20,000 less than what they are making now is correct. Mayor McCormac stated there are currently varied salaries and he would not be able to confirm Ms. McGlynn’s statement. Ms. McGlynn asked additional questions regarding salaries. Mayor McCormac stated he does not discuss salaries in public. B. Geoffroy, President, W.T.E.A., verified that all of the employees who take the job with the township will remain in the PERS. Mayor McCormac confirmed they would remain in the same pension system. Mr. Geoffroy asked if an employee retires from the town in 25 years, will they receive benefits. Mayor McCormac confirmed they will be entitled to health benefits. Mr. Geoffroy asked if they need 25 years in town employment or 25 years in the pension. Mayor McCormac stated he will have to get back to him on that. Mr. Geoffroy asked the Mayor to reconsider the policy regarding needing to live in town in order to obtain a position with the township. Mr. Geoffroy suggested possibly a grace period be considered allowing time for individuals to move into the township. F. Traschler, Carteret, stated he was not asked where he was living when he was hired by the school district. Mayor McCormac stated the hiring policy must be consistent with their existing policy. T. Maras, Fords, asked where the proposal is that the Mayor is submitting and how solid is his proposal if salaries are not yet defined. Mr. Maras expressed concerns that if the school district contracted Aramark, all former employees would be offered a position regardless of whether or not the lived in town. Dr. Crowe reminded Mr. Maras that by entering into a Shared Services agreement with the township, it affords the employees the opportunity to remain in the pension. Mayor McCormac stated the township’s bid, in his opinion, is consistent with the bid submitted by Aramark. A. Grasso, Fords, asked if school district seniority will be taken into consideration when the township goes through the hiring process. Mayor McCormac stated a high 90% of the individuals eligible to be hired by the township, will be hired regardless of school district seniority. There were no further comments from the Board or public. With all Board members present voting in favor, with the exception of Mr. Miloscia and Mr. Molnar who abstained, the foregoing was adopted. During roll call, Mr. Molnar stated he is abstaining on advice from the Board attorney. He further stated that the district invested 86 million dollars into the school buildings. Ms. Lordi asked Mr. Molnar to hold his comments until after the vote. At the conclusion of the vote, Mr. Molnar continued his comment stating he knows the work ethic expected of township employees and feels comfortable with the Shared Services agreement. Mr. Miloscia stated, although he must abstain, he feels it is a very timely and unique offer. Ms. Lordi verified with Mr. DeMarino that the motion passed. The Board President opened the meeting to the public. During this portion of the meeting, T, Maras, Fords, commented on, what he feels, is a double standard with the custodians and food service employees. Mr. Maras stated he feels the food service employee’s proposal should have been included in the bid tabulation. Mr. DeMarino stated Chartwells held an employment day. He explained, to date, several employees have filled out applications and returned them to Chartwells. Mr. DeMarino stated all current employees are being offered a good package with benefits. He further stated that Chartwells will contribute a total of $30,000 towards COBRA coverage. Mr. DeMarino stated the township is not geared to run a cafeteria. Mr. DeMarino stated the proposal submitted by the food service personnel really put the deficit at risk because of so many different variables. Mr. Maras stated he feels there are two different standards. Mr. Maras asked again what the salary for the custodian staff is going to be.
293 June 17, 2010
There being no further business, and on a motion by Mr. Triebwasser, seconded by Mr. Yuhasz and carried, the meeting adjourned at approximately 8:20 p.m.
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I, Dennis DeMarino, Business Administrator and Secretary of the Board of Education, Township of Woodbridge, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and exact copy of the Minutes taken at the Board of Education meeting held June 17, 2010.
Dennis DeMarino d
August 2, 2010