Tax Rates Stable; Art Gallery Increases Visitors;
Concerns About Broadway & Tunnel Condition
4/5/17 Business Meeting
SOUTH AMBOY – Business Administrator Camille Tooker told the Council that the full reading of the 2017 Budget will take place at a public meeting on a date to be determined. “Backup documents will be provided. Our tax rate is stable with an increase of one cent. This is the Mayor’s Budget. There’s funding for the Art’s Council and the Historical Society.”
Council President Mickey Gross said, “Both of these organizations need to present a plan on how much money they will need and what they plan to do with it.”
Councilman Tom Reilly said, “The Arts District has had many positive events that bring in a lot of foot traffic. I am happy that the City gives both groups additional money.”
Tooker added, “The money that these two groups have been given have been from surplus monies.”
Gross congratulated all who were involved: “You put a pretty good budget together.”
Tooker also emphasized, “This is only an introductory budget and you have 30 days to make any changes for the adoption. Once the budget is adopted, no changes can be made.”
During the business items discussion, Council Vice-President Christine Noble had a question about a request for an approval to join Keystone Co-op. (Business Item No. d)
Tooker responded, “Under this co-op, the City needs to purchase a street-sweeper. The Keystone Co-op are the only ones who have the specific one that we need. Because it’s under a State contract, we do not have to put it out for bid. We had a demonstration of the sweeper which has a third broom which did a great job.”
On a business item pertaining to the disposal of surplus property from the City (Business Item No. g), Tooker responded, “We will be auctioning items we no longer need. For the South Amboy Tonnage Grant Application (Business Item No. h), everything that we are able to recycle, we will be getting a percentage back.”
Shared Services Agreement between Twp. of Woodbridge and South Amboy (Business Item No. i). “This would be for the 5 year agreement for Animal Control Services. The residents have been very happy with the Woodbridge Town ship handing the service for us and there has been no price increase,” Tooker said.
Council President Mickey Gross added, “We are lucky to have Woodbridge take care of our animal control problem.”
Engineer Mark Rasimowicz addressed the Business Item No. j – Emergency Response for Oswald Enterprises (Response to a Sewer Blockage and a Line Inspection and No. k – Verizon Wireless. Verizon wishes to place small network nodes which would be attached in utility polls with antennas 2-3 feet tall. “They should not be installed on Broadway and I suggest Verizon come here for a presentation. They (Verizon) indicated that they may need to install them on 4-5 utility poles.”
One Council Members asked, “Can we charge them for this?”
City Attorney John Lanza answered, “The City cannot impose a tax on them, but if insurance is required, we can impose fees on that. Verizon hasn’t indicated when they wanted to start this project.”
Councilman Reilly still was concerned about Broadway Avenue (Business Item l – Broadway Design). “We really want to have retail on this street, but violations need to be cleaned up first.”
Councilman Brian McLaughlin asked, “Does anyone know how many vacancies we have on Broadway?”
B.A. Tooker responded, “Seven.”
Business Item No. m. – creation of Historical Commission. Mayor Fred Henry addressed this, “We need this ordinance so that the Historical Society can apply for grants. The Society has received plaques to be placed around town in the past. Other towns have seen how we have been able to do this and come to us for advice.”
Tooker said, “I believe there was a Historic Commission Before.”
Henry said, “There was a Historical Society.”
Tooker said, “We may have to look in the City Code to see if we ever had a Commission before.”
City Attorney John Lanza said, “I think it just was a group of concerned citizens who decided to form a Historical Society.”
Council President Mickey Gross asked, “Are there any questions on the bill list?”
Councilman Tom Reilly was concerned about the laptop’s on the government sale list and if the data had been wiped before they went up for sale.
Tooker responded, “Yes, it was.”
He also questioned about the radio trade-ins.
Tooker responded, “The City received a rebate on those trade-ins.”
He also questioned the Master Plan.
Tooker stated that the City Plan is for 5 years.
Lastly, Reilly asked about the accidental policy on the bill list.
Tooker responded, “That’s the name of the insurance agency.”
3-2017 Second Reading Amending the City Code extending the time for the retail distribution of alcoholic beverages.
City Attorney John Lanza said, “This ordinance will make the City conform to State Stature.”
B.A. Tooker said, “Stores were selling hard liquor after 10 p.m. The State Stature doesn’t allow this and since our Resolution doesn’t state that, we need this ordinance to comply with the State’s.”
Ordinance No. 5-2017 Second Reading – Establishing a Fire Safety Code in the City of South Amboy.
Again Tooker said,”This is to bring our code up to the State Fire Code Standards.”
Attorney John Lanza said, “This was requested by the County and by the Fire Marshal. Then the Fire Marshal called me to let us know that our ordinance needs to be updated (fines and fees) to the State Standards.”
During the Council Comments, McLaughlin requested that the tunnel located on Stevens/Ridgley Streets needs to be looked into. “The last time I drove through it when it was raining, there was water leaking through. It’s crumbling and rebar was exposed.”
City Engineer Mark Rasimowicz said, “We met with Middlesex County, the Mayor and Conrail. Structural Engineers are coming back because we need more work done because of these leaks.”
Mayor Henry said, “We may need a more permanent fixture and our Freeholder Director Ron Rios said we may need to go to court about this problem.”
Councilman McLaughlin said, “Something must get something done before someone gets killed.”
Councilman Reilly suggested that around April 11, 2017 the South Amboy Schools, the City and the Arts District should have a Power Breakfast for businesses to help them thrive and succeed. “Shop South Amboy can also be discussed. You should lend an ear to the businesses concerns. I also talked to the Attorney General about someone doing a presentation to the residents regarding identity theft and document fraud. There are also signs on the building across from Krauszers that has covered windows. This is a violation.”
Tooker answered Reilly’s concerns about this. “I told the owner about this building that the dark film has to come off the windows. The owner said that he offered space in their building to the Arts District. The City did not give their blessings to this agreement.”
Reilly was still concerned, “Once we start bending the ordinance, then we’re going down the wrong road. I also see that a palm reading place was closed down by the Police. The owner of the building let this place come in without a permit.”
Tooker explained, “The building’s owner rented the space and the people who rented this space out came to City Hall to get a packet with information. The person in City Hall who gave the renter the packet didn’t know they were already open for business.”
Council Vice-President Christine Noble said, “The fault falls on the owner of the building.”
Tooker responded and said, “The building owner is not new to this and knew what to do.”
Noble said, “The owner took the money (from the renters) and ran.”
Lanza stated, “The Zoning or Code Enforcement can issue fines (to the owner of the building). The owner lost a lot of rent.”
Mayor Henry weighed in, “The renter was told what he had violated. Maybe the owner lied to the renter about what kind of business could be operated there.”
Reilly stated, “There should be something in place regarding what kind of businesses can be placed in buildings. We need preventive measures put in place.”
Lanza cautioned the Council, “Zoning can be tricky as far as what businesses can be utilized (in the business district). This business was issued warnings and the notice to shut down by the Zoning Department. Zoning laws can be confusing. It’s a close call.”
Mayor Henry said, “The main thing is this business was shut down.”
Mark Rasimowicz had a few comments to make. “There will be a Sanitary and Sewer Project taking place on Bordentown Avenue involving South Pine and Broadway.”
Council President Mickey Gross announced, “The City will have joint fireworks with Perth Amboy on July 3, 2017.” He asked the Council if they could pitch in and help. “This event will be here soon.”
Mayor Henry said, “The fireworks is great for the town and Mickey has done a great job, but he does need help.” He thanked B.A. Camille Tooker and CFO Angel Albanese for all their help on the budget. “The Council has the final say. This Administration has come a long way. We (the Administration and Council) worked within our means. We have a surplus of over $1 million.”
Councilwoman Zusette Dato was not present at the Meeting.
The next Council Meeting is Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, N. Broadway, South Amboy. There will be no Council Meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 due to lack of quorum.
