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Law Director’s Behavior Questioned

3/23/16 Council Meeting

PERTH AMBOY – Comments. during the public portion:

Stanley Sierakowski questioned Law Director Quinones’ behavior at the March 9, 2016 Council Meeting, “At one point during the Meeting, the Law Director got up from where she sits with the Council, sat down in the audience and came up to speak as if she was part of the public.”

Sierakowski continued, “The contract on Resolution R-145-3/16 was a contract that would follow her if she was no longer employed by the City. It’s her law firm (Decotiis) money – not hers. Decotiis’ bid for the contract was $195/hr. Other firms were $125/hr, You should investigate her (Quinones) actions.”

Resident David Caba came up to speak about the Caucus Meeting of 3/7/16.  He made reference to Perth Amboy Democratic Chair Billy Delgado’s comments at the 3/7/16 Meeting when Delgado said what the Law Director did was legal (When she drew up the resolution appointing Peter Pelissier as Assistant B.A. after his position as Interim B.A. was up). Maybe if he (Delgado) would spend more time in Perth Amboy he would know what is going on. Quinones admitted she made a mistake. Where are all those lawyers who defended Quinones before? They’re not here when Quinones admitted she made a mistake. We go out of state and to Newark to get a Business Administrator. I will continue to fight for my people.”

Former Councilman Ken Balut had a comment about the budget appropriations, “Does that include money for an independent lawyer? There are letters from Civil Service violations going on. You can’t have paid personnel volunteer to do work at the State of the City Address. $1.7 million that is included in the Employee Contracts – at the end they will lose that money. The budget doesn’t have salaries and the Mayor’s budget went up $20,000 last year. City employees shouldn’t be here at the Council Meetings.”

Resident Alan Silber wanted to know, “Did we change the Meeting? The Law Director went and changed a Resolution when the Charter School was here at a Meeting. That Resolution that dealt with Charter School issues was revised before the end of the Meeting. From January 5, 2016 was there an acting administrator here up until the time when Adam Cruz was hired as a permanent Business Administrator?”

Joel Pabon who was the Acting Council President in place of Lisa Nanton verified that Adam Cruz became the new Business Administrator on February 11, 2016. Silber argued the point that you can’t have a person who became an Assistant Business Administrator have the same duties as when they were the Acting Business Administrator. Silber also had the same concerns about Quinones’ actions at the March 9, 2016 Meeting when she spoke as if she was part of the public instead of a City  Official. “Shame on Arlene, the Mayor and the Council.”

Businesswoman Virginia Lugo came to speak, “They should make sure that the previous Meetings are  broadcast on video streaming before the next Meetings take place. She (the Law Director) was grandstanding. The Mayor made a big deal about the $20,000 that the Council requested for an independent attorney. Now, I see it’s tabled.”

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