PERTH AMBOY — The 12/27/12 City Council Meeting was the last for Council President Kenneth Balut and Councilman Fernando Gonzalez who chose not to run for reelection. Balut and F. Gonzalez ran together with Wilda Diaz to defeat former Mayor Joe Vas in 2008.
In the four years that the two sat on the Council, they were at odds when it came to voting on tax increases. Kenneth Balut even said during the course of the meeting that he must have been the worst Councilman because of his tax increase votes.
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez, who is also a licensed realtor bemoaned the fact that homeowners were being hit the hardest. During their time on the Council, both were at odds in reference to city jobs being given to those who lived out of town.
The Last Council Meeting for Ken Balut and Fernando Gonzalez
Both Balut and F. Gonzalez fought against hiring those who are already collecting pensions for City jobs.
Council President Balut did make one exception when it came to B.A. Greg Fehrenbach. Balut said that Fehrenbach and City Attorney Blunda were worth every cent that they were paid. He hoped that they would be kept on by the new Council Members coming on board.
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez who bumped heads several times with B.A. Fehrenbach agreed with Balut in reference to the good job that Fehrenbach and Blunda did.
One of the controversial resolutions on the agenda of the 12/27/12 Council Meeting was Resolution R-581 which called for censuring Councilman Kenneth Gonzalez for conduct unbecoming an elected official. This had to do with K. Gonzalez being charged with the misuse of a handicapped placard.
When it came time for the vote, Kenneth Gonzalez asked Mark Blunda if he would be allowed to vote. After Blunda gave his approval, the vote was: 2 for “Yes” to censure. – Fernando Gonzalez and Kenneth Balut. 3 for “No” – not to censure – Kenneth Gonzalez, Joel Pabon, Bill Petrick.
Pabon voted “No,” because he said, “Nobody found any wrongdoing during the investigation.”
Petrick voted, “No,” because he felt that this resolution was brought about to cause embarrassment. “Middlesex County Investigators, the Police Department and our Legal Counsel found no wrongdoing.”
F. Gonzalez who initiated the resolution said his mother-in-law was handicapped but he never used the decal when she wasn’t in the car.
Balut said, “This town has put blinders on and people have been afraid to do anything. Mr. K. Gonzalez violated the law.”
Resident Alan Silber said, “The suit brought against Mr. K. Gonzalez, which had been initiated by resident John Siberry was thrown out of court because of the stature of limitations. Mr. Gonzalez admitted using the handicapped decal on more than one occasion. This would be a fine of $250 or more. He could have applied for new a new placard for the other handicapped person.” Silber said to the council before they voted, “This is a vote on your integrity, not just on K. Gonzalez’s”
Resident Leslie Dominguez said, “As an elected official, the Mayor holds high standards. During the BOE meeting, Mr. K. Gonzalez was texting his wife.” (who was a candidate waiting to be interviewed in isolation with the other candidates.) Candidates were in isolation in order not to give preference to anyone.
Councilwoman-elect Lisa Nanton wanted to know the price tag for this investigation. “Were any other council members censured in the past? I consider this move petty and the stature of limitations was up when the investigation took place. I came to congratulate Balut and F. Gonzalez, but this stains your reputation.”
John Siberry called for K. Gonzalez’s resignation.
