1/25/16 Caucus

Law Director
Arlene Quinones Perez

PERTH AMBOY – Peter Pelissier gave an update on the search for a permanent replacement for the Business Administrator position. “There were 25 applications. Out of that number, 9 were selected that met our criteria and who we scheduled to be interviewed. One of the 9 decided at the last minute that they did not want to be interviewed. Out of the 8, we recommended  3 to be interviewed further. There was one applicant from  Perth Amboy who was not qualified.”

At this point, Law Director Arlene Quinones Perez said, “There was one thing that all applicants were required to do. We wanted to make sure that they all watched at least three meetings to see if they wanted to put up (in my opinion) with all the silliness going on during the meetings.”

During the public portion, that comment did not sit well with some of the residents.

Former Councilman Ken Balut said, “We have plenty of money to do the snow removal. We are paying the Law Director to do interviews.” Balut then pointed to the ceiling where the The Bill of Rights banner was hanging. Balut said, “We signed it here first in the City of Perth Amboy.”

Resident David Caba came up to speak, “I almost threw up tonight when the Law Director made those comments. (Calling some speakers making what she called silly remarks.) She said we all make negative comments. We don’t come up here because we don’t care – it’s because we care. Is it a positive or negative because somebody breaks a City ordinance? I respect what all speakers say. But is it coming from the heart? If we speak negative, let’s turn into a positive. Bankers (big banks)  and Wall Street should be prosecuted. We should have said something when the Interim B.A. broke the law.”