Galloway Township Council will once again consider a push to establish the township as a Fair Trade town when it convenes one day earlier than usual on Monday, Sept. 24 at the municipal complex, 6:30 p.m.

The resolution, tabled at the council meeting held on Sept. 11, is listed as an item on the consent agenda posted as part the full agenda now available on the township’s website.

Fair Trade focuses on a fair wage for laborers, direct trade between groups and eliminating the middleman, and promoting safe and healthy conditions for workers in developing countries through a grassroots movement. Companies that create Fair Trade products don’t take advantage of child labor.

According to Fair Trade Towns USA, Fair Trade Towns “seek to empower communities to organize a local grassroots movement” and “bring together schools, places of worship, retailers and community organizations in their towns and cities and provides special recognition for their efforts.”

The Fair Trade Town designation provides a “permanent platform for continued outreach and education to build a Fair Trade movement locally and deepen each community’s commitment to international justice.”

Becoming a Fair Trade Town doesn’t mean Galloway businesses can only deal in Fair Trade items. The contingent from Go Green Galloway emphasized it was a choice rather than a mandate, but there remained confusion among some council members who wished to discuss the issue further.

It was then a topic of discussion at Tuesday night’s “Green Drinks” event at Fred and Ethel’s. Green Drinks is a worldwide movement with about 300-400 different groups in the United States. It’s an informal gathering of those concerned about sustainability and “Buy Local” initiatives at a local pub. The first “Green Drinks” event was held at Fred and Ethel’s in August, and the next event will most likely take place in Hammonton, at a time and place to be determined.

The agenda for Monday’s meeting can be found below, in full.

TOWNSHIP OF GALLOWAY COUNCIL AGENDA-September 24, 2012, 6:30pm

1. Call to Order/Roll Call

2. Open Public Meeting Announcement

On January 4, 2012, notice of the meeting was mailed to the Mainland Journal, the Press & the Current & duly posted in Council Chambers

3. Moment of Silence

4. Flag Salute

5. Approval of Minutes

None

6. Proclamation

None

7. Presentation

None

8. Council Committee Reports

9. Ordinances for Introduction (First Reading)

1856-12 Amend Ords, Rules, Regs or Orders Punishable by a fine of $1,000 be changed to $2,000

1857-12 Change Section 273-13 Separation of Leaves for Recycling

10. Ordinances for Public Hearing (Second Reading)

1855-12 Amend Ord 838-86 Admin Code Art XI Recreation Dept Sections 5-39 thru 5-44

11. Resolutions

236-12 Payment of Bills

237-12 Authorize Council to go into Closed Session

Consent Agenda

Consent Agenda includes items of business which are not controversial & do not require individual discussion. A

Motion approving the Consent Agenda is moved, seconded & voted upon as one item by the Township Council. If any discussion is requested on a Consent Agenda item, it is removed from the Consent Agenda to the Regular Agenda.

216-12 Support Buy Local/Buy Fair and Approve GT for Consideration as a Fair Trade Town

238-12 Authorize Change Order #2 Decrease Contract for Great Creek Rd Phase 1/Barrett LLC

239-12 Refund Escrow Acct #E21-331 for Installation of Lateral located @ 639 S 8th Ave

240-12 Refund User Charge B-1036 L-6 Deeming Sanitary Sewer Acct #8513-0 Inactive

241-12 Refund User Charge B-127 L-7 Deeming Sanitary Sewer Acct #133-0 Inactive

242-12

243-12 Issuance of Duplicate Tax Sale Certificate Pursuant to Chapter 99 of 1997 Public Laws

244-12 Refund of Taxes due to Overpayments

245-12 Comment on Pinelands Commission 4th In-Depth Review of Comprehensive Mgmt Plan

12. Public Hearing and Discussion

A. Raffle License/Church of the Assumption/December 14, 2012

B. Raffle License/Church of the Assumption/November 11, 2012

13. Motion

Best Practice Public Mtg Certification Form

14. Manager’s Report

15. Council Comments

16. Public Comment

The Galloway Township Council welcomes participation of interested organizations and individuals during regular, as well as, special meetings. However, in order for the Council to conduct the business of the Township in the most productive manner possible, public comment on specific agenda items, questions comments at the end of regular meetings or during special meetings will be limited to five (5) minutes per person. If you wish to address the Council, please step up to the microphone at the appropriate time, and state your name.

17. Closed Session

18. Return to Open Session

19. Adjournment

Ordinances & Resolutions STATEMENTS

1856-12 Amend Ords, Rules, Regs or Orders Punishable by a fine of $1,000 be changed to $2,000

This Ordinance amends any other Ordinance under Administrative Code for a punishable fine, which reads $1,000 by changed to $2,000.

1857-12 Change Section 273-13 Separation of Leaves for Recycling

This Ordinance would mandate the use of biodegradable bags & addresses the fact that grass clippings are now recyclable, which would increase the efficiency in the Fall Leaf Program to comply with Atlantic County.

216-12 Support Buy Local/Buy Fair and Approve GT for Consideration as a Fair Trade Town

This Resolution is the final step needed to apply for Fair Trade Designation for Galloway.

238-12 Authorize Change Order #2 Decrease Contract for Great Creek Rd Phase 1/Barrett LLC

This Resolution decreases the contract in the amt of $5,262.82, which reflects the adjustment in actual constructed quantities for this project & is recommended by the Dir of PW & Eng.

239-12 Refund Escrow Acct #E21-331 for Installation of Lateral located @ 639 S 8th Ave

This Resolution refunds the amt of $500 to Donohoe Const, as final inspection was approved by PW.

240-12 Refund User Charge B-1036 L-6 Deeming Sanitary Sewer Acct #8513-0 Inactive

This Resolution refunds the amt of $182.50 to Liberty Title, as the sewer was capped off & the house demolished.

241-12 Refund User Charge B-127 L-7 Deeming Sanitary Sewer Acct #133-0 Inactive

This Resolution refunds $182.50 to Dimitrios Georgoulianos, as the sewer was capped off & the home was damaged by an explosion & demolished.

243-12 Issuance of Duplicate Tax Sale Certificate Pursuant to Chapter 99 of 1997 Public Laws

This Resolution authorizes the issuance of duplicate tax sale certif to FNA Jersey Lien Services LLC.

244-12 Refund of Taxes due to Overpayments

This Resolution refunds overpayments of 2012 taxes on certain properties.

245-12 Comment on Pinelands Commission 4th In-Depth Review of Comprehensive Mgmt Plan

This Resolution provides public comment to the Pinelands Commission, of issues of importance to the Twp.