12/14/16 Council Meeting
PERTH AMBOY – R-526-12/16 Awarding a contract to Ferraioli, Wielkotz, Cerullo and Cuva, P.A., for professional financial services in an amount not to exceed $86,000.
During the 12/12/16 Caucus meeting, Resident Kenneth Balut questioned the validity of using the same auditor for a long period of time. “Best Practices states you should change your auditor.”
At that same Caucus Meeting, CFO Jill Goldy challenged Balut’s statement. “This is not currently a part of Best Practices to change auditors and auditor services do not go out for bids. FEMA funds require separate audits.”
At the 12/14/16 Regular Meeting, during public comments, Balut stood his ground and said, “The Best Practices was changed 4 years ago. It has to be done every year and it has to be check-marked. Rumor has it that Jersey City donated a large amount of money to the(Mayor’s) campaign.”
Balut also had comments to make about the old City Buildings on High Street. “Money has been given to that building that Kushner should clean up. Developers sell properties to the government who cleans it up and buys the property back. You keep getting the same auditor who just keeps doing the same thing over and over again.”
Resident Jeremy Baratta questioned the City having the same auditor for a long period of time. “Sometimes things get overlooked.” He questioned how much time these auditors were putting in for $86,000.
Resident Sharon Hubberman came up to speak next, “I looked at the amounts that the City paid the auditors in the previous years and wondered why there is an increase. It’s not a forensic audit. Look at the disclaimer. They are just matching the bank statements to what’s in the bank. Some departments have remained the same except those that are in the upper level. No appropriations were made to see if actions were executed. It’s good to have at least 3 years of audits on hand. It’s a template to check for efficiencies.”
Resident Alan Silber had questioned about the Waterfront Improvements and a statement about the City Auditors. “It doesn’t make sense to have the same auditors and Mayor for a long time. This auditor gave away wine at a League of Municipalities Party. At a Council Meeting, he (the Auditor) argued about raising taxes and having to have skin in the game, which is not appropriate. The Council should look at getting another auditor.” He also wanted to know, “Who is the owner of 386 High Street?”
Councilman Bill Petrick answered, “It’s the City’s.”
Silber questioned, “Is the City selling that property?”
William Kurzenbuger came up to answer those questions, “We are cleaning that property to sell it and it’s located in the redevelopment area. DEP is covering the cost.”
Kurzenburger went on to answer Silber’s questions about the Waterfront Improvement. “This is a post-Sandy recovery grant. The bathroom facilities – we are looking to reduce the size of the trailer to 8 feet wide and 18 feet in length.”
Business Administrator Cruz stated it will reduce the amount of stalls from 8 to 4.”
This prompted Councilman Fernando Irizarry to say, “We were not looking to decrease the amount of stalls but just to make it esthetically inclined for the Waterfront.”
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez said, “How much input from the community in the area including the church there have been? You should have input from any community where perspective projects are involved.”
Councilman Bill Petrick commented, “The trail that would hold the bathroom stalls should not be put on Sadowski Parkway.”
Council President Lisa Nanton suggested to put the trailer in Caledonia Park.
Resident Kenneth Balut was concerned that when the Council made the suggested changes on the Waterfront Improvement Plans, did you change the bid? Maybe those companies that lost out on the Waterfront Improvement bid should be allowed to rebid.”
