Meeting

PERTH AMBOY – At the 3/9/15 Caucus Meeting Councilman Fernando Gonzalez questioned how many vacant houses are in the City. Annie Hindenlang – Executive Director Office of Economic and Community Development Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency came up to answer that question. She told the Council that last year 6 volunteers walked around the City and at that time there were 50 abandoned properties. She listed the basic criteria for what is considered abandoned property: “6 months with no utility services or maintenance and the taxes are in arrears. Notifications are given to the owners on record before the properties are taken over for sale.”

Councilman Fernando Gonzalez said, “I have gotten calls from residents living in the area on the corner of Hall Avenue and Atlantic Street about a property there that’s in very bad shape.”

Council President Lisa Nanton stated, “We need spreadsheets listing troubled properties with a summary violations they were given.”

During the public portion  of the meeting, Virginia Morales said, “I didn’t realize the scope of abandoned homes in the City.” She talked about an abandoned home near the Patten School where animals congregate. “Teenagers use that abandoned home to conduct illegal activities.”

Mayor Wilda Diaz came forward to address the Council about what steps the City is looking to take to address this problem. “The State has a program and I was at a meeting that included bankers and others associated with how to handle abandoned properties. One of the items discussed included what fees would be charged depending whether or not an owner is in-State or Out-of-State.”

At the 3/11/15 Council Meeting, former Council President Ken Balut said that there was illegal housing by his neighborhood and complained about a trailer where people were living in. “When I was on the Council, I turned in several properties where illegal housing or violations took place.”