PERTH AMBOY – R-137-3/17 – Approving a special permit for public entertainment for the Committee Patriotico Cultural Puertorriqueno of Perth Amboy. R-138-3/17 Approving a special permit for public entertainment for United Dominicans for Perth Amboy
Councilman Fernando Irizarry was frustrated when he stated, “I have asked for the applications and police reports on numerous occasions about these two festivals and have not seen them. We are supposed to see the applications first, but all we have received are summaries and not the reports.”
Attorney Judy Verrone said, “I can provide you with the applications.”
Business Administrator Adam Cruz said, “I will try to get the police reports.”
R-139-3/17 – Granting a storm water utility easement for the storm water connection at the existing inlet within the firehouse parking lot on City owned property (lot 1.01, block 172) with the Perth Amboy Board of Education for the new Seaman Street School.
Council President
Bill Petrick
Council President Bill Petrick wanted to know, “Is the additional line going to be enough for the additional runoff?”
Business Administrator Cruz answered, “Yes, and I can get the reports from City Engineer Jeff Rauch.”
R-141-3/17 – Granting a cross access easement on the City owned property (lot 1.01, block 172) with the Perth Amboy Board of Education for the new Seaman Street School.
Petrick wanted to know, “Who is absorbing the cost for this?”
Cruz answered, “We are.”
Petrick was puzzled by this because they (the Board of Education) already have access to the property. We need more discussions with the Board as to who should pay for the easement access.”
R-145-3/17 – Consenting to the appointment of Emillia Perez, Esq. as Director of the Department of Law, effective April 1, 2017 and waiving the residency requirement.”
Council President Bill Petrick said, “We need to talk to this person prior to appointing her.”
Attorney Judy Verrone responded, “This is the Mayor’s appointment and this resolution is for the Council to advise and consent. The Council can say yes or no.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry said, “How can I advise and consent without speaking to her?”
Verrone continued and said, “I know you probably are tired of me saying this, but this is the Mayor’s nomination.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry
Irizarry then spoke about a correspondence from the Mayor, telling the Council that they cannot change the position of a Law Director from part time to full time. Irizarry wondered, “Why is this position being filled if we don’t have the authority to change it?”
Verrone answered, “The Council doesn’t have authority to change the Law Director’s hours.”
Council President Petrick asked, “Why does this resolution have waiving of a residency requirement when this lawyer has a Perth Amboy Address?”
B.A. Cruz said, “That’s what she (Emillia Perez) uses as her mailing address.”
Petrick responded, “We need to meet her (Perez) in public or in a private session.”
Verrone responded, “There is nothing inconsistent in this ordinance. It’s the Mayor’s appointment.”
During the public portion, Resident Ken Balut questioned the Seaman Street Resolutions, “It’s so polluted that the SDA would not approve.” Balut stated in a letter that he had in his possession from 2004. “This is all taxpayers money whether it’s being paid for by the City or the Board of Education. The proposed County Park on Washington Street is still polluted.”
Balut then mentioned the Youth Alliance Group that spoke earlier in the Meeting. “This is a very good group. As one person from that group said, this program deters our youth from getting involved in drugs, tobacco and alcohol, of which there’s easy access to. There were about 20-25 kids from this group here and that is about the amount of people in the City and surrounding towns that have overdosed on drugs.”
Balut then continued to speak about the new bail reform law that was recently passed. “It’s not working. There was a case where a person who had committed robberies, was arrested and released without bail based on this new bail bonds program. Shortly after he was let go, he immediately committed two more burglaries.” Balut then questioned why the Mayor, Police, Fire Department or the Board of Education were not here to talk about the pipeline.”
Resident Stanley Sierakowski had a question about Resolution R-129-3/17 – Introduction of CY2017 Budget. “With the delinquent taxes, I didn’t see accounts receivable or the status of the Armory Account (taxes and money owed to the City).”
He then mentioned Communication No. 1. JoAnn Jimenez, Former Tax Assessor, submitted a timeline and recommendations regarding the Bridge PILOT Proposal. “E-port doesn’t own the property. You need to own the property to get a PILOT. This is a shift of City money. The municipality will get the money the last 15 years of the contract. The Jimenez Communication said the true assessment is not known. The Board of Education and the Library are the big losers in the E-Port PILOT Program. Money won’t be available under the new administrations (State and National).”
Resident Jeremy Barrata came up to speak next, “Be advised of referencing R-145. The advise and consent (Appointment of a Law Director) is not a rubber stamp. The new Law Director should come before the Council.”
