PERTH AMBOY – Resident Stanley Sierakowski, left, speaks to Acting Law Director Louis N. Rainone at the end of the 9/14/16 Caucus *Photo by Carolyn Maxwell

PERTH AMBOY -Acting Law Director Louis N. Rainone who is also from the DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, LLP introduced himself at the 9/12/16 Caucus Meeting. He gave a brief history of his background in the field of law which he has been practicing for 35 years. Some of the municipalities that he has worked with includes: Sayreville, Rahway, Marlboro, and Newark.

For more information on  Rainone’s legal background, Google the DeCotiis Law Firm.

Council President Lisa Nanton was concerned about the billing from the DeCotiis Law Firm when Arlene Quinones-Perez was the Law Director. “There was a bill of $21,567.05. This month alone, there was a bill of $8,991.86. OPRA requests are lagging behind. We are supposed to be reimbursed for some of those fees.”

Acting Law Director Louis N. Rainone also addressed concerns about signatures on contracts. He wasn’t sure why a new ordinance (Ordinance No. 5 An Ordinance authorizing codification of signatures Re: Contracts, bonds and other instruments) was being drawn up as to which signatures should be required. “The Mayor must sign all contracts under the Faulkner Plan. Other required signatures depends on the type of contracts such as bonds. The new ordinance that is being drawn up gives some signing power to the Business Administrator. Some contracts do not need to be signed by the City Attorney. The City Clerk is the custodian for all the contracts.”

During the Public Portion, Resident Alan Silber made a reference to a closed session item: No. 8 – Investigation report by Robert Tarver, esq. “This is a conflict.”

Business Administrator Adam Cruz responded to Silber, “The new Law Director,  Mr. Rainone is not reviewing the former Law Director, Arlene Quinones’ cases, but he needs to be caught up to date on them.”

During the public portion of the 9/14/16 Council Meeting, Resident Stanley Sierakowski made reference to late stater Resolution R-402-9/16 authorizing action by Robert L. Tarver, Jr., esq. to recoup any funds identified as improperly paid. Sierakowski referenced former Law Director Arlene Quinones Perez. He stated, “Mrs. Perez acted highly unethical.” He continued, “She negotiated rates on law firm fees and should have recused herself. During one of the meetings, she left her seat (as Law Director) and sat in the audience and then came up to speak as a participant in the audience and said she was here to help women get elected. She drew up a contract for St. Michael’s Charter School when there was a difference in fees for work being done for the Charter School. The former Law Director Peter Pelissier said that the Charter School had to pay for the work. Our Law Director (Quinones) made a mistake.”

Later at the 9/14/16 Meeting, Gregory Pabon came up to speak, “There were a lot of people satisfied with Ms. (Quinones) Perez.”

When Resident Alan Silber came up to speak, he had concerns that the new Law Director (Rainone) coming from the same firm as the former lawyer (DeCotiis). “This is not good. And then they wanted something pulled from the Agenda so that the new Law Director can become familiar with the case? This is a political move. At least this lawyer (Rainone)  has a nice resume. Experience is necessary.”

Perth Amboy Democratic Chair Billy Delgado who defended Arlene Quinones in the past, stated,“We are moving into a new constructive way.”

Resident and Mayoral Candidate Sharon Hubberman also referenced  Resolution R-402. She asked the new Law Director to look at the Handicapped Parking Resolution. “The former Law Director (Arlene Quinones- Perez) billed for the hours she worked on this Resolution. I hope there is proper oversight under the new Law Director. We had in place ordinances that were violated or covered up. I’m not questioning the new Law Director. There are individuals that are concerned and we need accountability for every taxpayers dollars spent.”

After Hubberman spoke, Law Director Rainone addressed some of the concerns of some of the speakers. This included closed session items on the 9/12/16 Caucs Agenda. He requested items 2-7 be pulled.

Two of these items was between The City of Perth Amboy and PBA Local #13. Another item was Susan Batista vs. The City of Perth Amboy (Federal/State). Also, Perth Amboy Public Library Litigation was an item. There were two other items: Colleen Wronko vs. The City of Perth Amboy and Nalda Capo vs. The City of Perth Amboy.

Rainone specified, “The reason I wanted those items pulled is because I need to do more research on them to answer any questions the Council may have on them.”