1/13/16 Council Meeting

Stanley Sierakowski

PERTH AMBOY – During the public portion of the 1/13/16 Council Meeting, Resident Stanley Sierakowski complained about PA-TV Channel (Comcast 34/Fios 47). “There are too many repeats of the same programs. Maybe they should start broadcasting the County Meetings.”

He told the Council, “You should have mentioned at the Monday, 1/11/16 Caucus Meeting that the Board of Education was having a special meeting on Tuesday 1/12/16 at 5 p.m. I got there late assuming their meeting was going to be at 6 p.m. which would be the normal start time. The Board discussed moving their election to April, but it was too late to do it this year.”

Sierakowski also said that Board of Education President Sam Lebreault had private meetings which is a violation of the Sunshine Laws.

Resident and Former Councilman Ken Balut said, “The Mayor violated Civil Service Rules and that’s why the P.B.A. sued. Now I hear Police Officers who are on military leave don’t get paid, yet we pay the Business Administrator for his vacation. Regular City Employees only received a 1.7% raise. You (the Council) went into closed session. Did the Lawyer (Law Director) advise you of the new sexual harassment suit filed in  December? You skipped over a Hispanic Female Officer with a clean record for a promotion. We are following in the steps of Jersey City – giving out raises to employees based on their politics.”

Ken Balut

A Resident from Alpine Street complained about being  harassed by a Perth Amboy Municipal Court Judge. “I was arrested but not read my rights. The judge that I went before should have recused himself from the case. He knew the woman that testified and the police officer who arrested me has continued to harass me.”

Pastor Bernadette Falcon-Lopez wanted to thank the City, Mayor, Kenny Ortiz, Renovation House, Deputy Police Chief Cattano, Mercy House, Steve Jobin of the Y and David Benyola (Human Resources) for helping out the homeless on these cold winter days.

Business Owner Virginia Lugo wanted to know what is the status of Interim Business Administrator Peter Pelissier. “And when are we getting a permanent Business Administrator? After 90 days an interim appointment can be extended.”

Lugo also wanted an update about the drug programs in Perth Amboy. “Some are disguised as something else. I have a list of at least 7 locations. Some are located on Market and State Streets. People released from the County Jail have their drug testing done in Perth Amboy.”

None of the Council Members answered the last inquiry and Law Director Arlene Quinines Perez couldn’t recall this being discussed at any previous meetings.