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A Lot on the Plate: 6 Topics For Discussion

Perth Amboy Caucus

PERTH AMBOY – At the 8/7/17 Caucus, Annie Hindenlang (Redevelopment), Bill Lindner, (Community Collaborative Initiative from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection), Denise Nickel (Office of Economic and Business Development of Middlesex County) were present to give updates on the Second Street Park.

Hindenlang spoke about the Living Shore and reestablishing the wetlands. “We’re looking for additional grant money. We’re working with NJ Transit on the Gerdau Ameristeel site. The walkway will be along the Waterfront, but not near the wetlands. We’re looking at an open plaza for seating and a space for orchards. There will be an inflexible space big enough for a soccer field. It could be used for other purposes. A clay mountain will be built from excavated soil that will be topped. Community gardens will be handicapped accessible. We are proposing a skate park which will be on top of the clay mountain. Dirt mulch can be placed for those who want to teach someone to ride a bike. Walls will divide spaces which can be used for two separate events, for example, showing movies.”

One of the Council Members was concerned about parking.

Hindenlang explained if parking was implemented  into this grant, it would make the City ineligible for this grant.

Lindner spoke next about how Perth Amboy was one of 500 towns invited to participate in this Community Collaborative. “Our department has been working with the Mayor and Annie (Hindenlang) for two years. This is a PCB Contaminated Site. Funding from the NJDEP of $1.8 million was applied for. I’ve worked with the Federal DEP. There’s another grant for a comparable amount that we’re looking to secure. This would be for designing of the park, and there’s a lot of competition for this money.”

Councilman Fernando Irizarry had a question. He wanted to know, “How did a company get a $1.8 million no-bid contract?” He also wanted to thank the Commissioners for choosing Perth Amboy to help.

Lindner continued to talk, “This will be an economic boom to the City and help Perth Amboy to become cleaner, redeveloped, and use green technology. This is a public/private partnership with redevelopment. This is a PILOT Program for the Commissioners (NJDEP) Community Initiative and will be used to show other towns how to improve their environment.”

Council President William Petrick had a question about  the proposed capped property, “I just want to make sure that in ten years there will be no leakage.”

Lendner assured Petrick that the capped property cannot be penetrated.

Business Administrator Adam Cruz told the Council, “Only three municipalities of the State were chosen for this project.”

Lindner added, “Perth Amboy was ready to undergo and is organized enough to participate in this project.”

Denise Nickel spoke next, “Perth Amboy and Woodbridge Township were paired together for a $2 million coalition grant. The procedure aspect was very vigorous. RFQ’s and RFP’s were issued and all the properties that were a part of this project had to be reviewed. A point system was used for evaluation and we received 175 points. Several criteria had to be met. There are extensive redevelopment skills that were important and Breaker came out on top. You receive money in chunks and then you wait after you get each amount. The City has to  justify why funds are picked on this assigned work. I had an environmental scientist who worked with me alongside an engineer to look at each site that was picked. Everything we do must be under the public contract laws.”

Annie Hindenlang had some closing remarks, “The investigation of the site along with the records findings, the RFP’s and LFRP’s are all paid for by Breaker. Their license is on the line. It was a fair and open bid.”

The Second Topic for Discussion was a Tree Fund Permitting Ordinance.

Betty Crews who is a Citizen’s Trust Member and also a member of the Royal Garden Club to talk about this subject.  She explained that they (the Citizen’s Trust) would like an ordinance where people from the private or public sector donate funding to plant trees throughout the City. These trees could be in the memory of everyone they desire. “Trees are esthetic and reduce greenhouse gases. They also stop flooding and help in the collection of rainwater. The Perth Amboy Green Team, Swim Team, and the Royal Garden Club all support this Ordinance.”

Harry Pozycki from the Citizen’s Campaign came up to speak, “People from out-of-state may also donate. Trees can only be planted on public property or if a resident requests one for their property.”

One of the Council Members wanted to know what kind of trees will be planted.

Pozycki answered, “The Department of Public Works will select the type of trees. It depends on the location and caliber of the tree. They must be consistent with your forestry management plan. We could work with your lawyer as far as putting this together in an ordinance. Trees can have  memorial plaques.”

Councilman Fernando Gonzalez wanted to know, “Who will be managing this program?”

Pozycki answered, “(DPW Director) Hoffman is very knowledgable about the best trees to plant and I trust him. In the future, you may want to form a committee to select the best trees if Hoffman has too much on his plate.”

Business Administrator Adam Cruz remarked, “The Mayor is 100% behind this ordinance.”

Council President Bill Petrick asked “Will the Civic Trust manage the funds coming in from donations?”

Pozycki answered, “The CFO Jill Goldy will mange the funds since it is not our expertise.”

CFO Jill Goldy came up to respond to this, “We (the City) will need a dedication by a rider to see if we can establish a trust to accept these funds. It would not be appropriate for us to receive the funds but only to make sure the funds are appropriated correctly.”

Code Enforcement updates were the next topic for discussion. Supervisor Johan Delgado said there were 169 complaints about overgrown grass problems. “We will put liens on properties if two notices for violations are ignored.”

Code Enforcement Director Jamie Rios said, “Fines will be imposed if registration problems are not rectified. The fines will go up as follows: $500 for the first offence; $1,500 for the second offence; $2,000 for third offence.”

Johan Delgado also recognized the 1683 Society Committee, “They have been an additional set of eyes for us by reporting violations that they see.”

Councilman Fernando Gonzalez spoke about residents who complain about long term problems, “We need a method to find out the status of these troubled properties.”

Rios explained, “My department is looking to do this on our website.”

Delgado explained, “There is an APP that can be downloaded so the public can access certain information on a property.”

Perth Amboy IT Tech John Alleman came forward, “This is not fully available to the public, yet. I can see if I can set the security for the Council to review the site.”

Councilman Joel Pabon had concerns about the City owned property on Second Street. “There was a problem with poison ivy and sewage which was cleared up after being there for a long time. Then the same problem happens again. I should have taken pictures. It’s embarrassing to neglect City properties.”

B.A. Cruz responded, “The site has to be dry. If’ it’s removed when it’s wet, then the smell will intensity.”

Luis Perez Jimenez, Director of Operations at the at the USA-PA (Utility Service Associates Perth Amboy) Middlesex Water Company) added additional information, “The landfill will not accept the materials until they get samples of the soil first.”

Pabon made additional remarks, “What’s down there now has been there for at least two months. A lot of students and teachers go by there and smell that. Bushes are hanging over sidewalks making it difficult for people to walk on them.”

Luis Perez Jimenez answered, “As soon as I heard about the problem, I contacted B.A. Cruz and the DPW. We are looking to put a dumpster and fencing around that area. Lime was put on that area to lesson the smell. This material is from the catch-basins.”

Council President Bill Petrick asked, “Can we place that material with the Department of Public Works? The transfer station is already there and they also have a front-loader.”

Perez Jimenez said that he will talk to the Department of Public Works.

Councilman Fernando Gonzalez asked about the status of the Kushner Property on Rector Street that residents constantly complain about.

Code Enforcement Supervisor Delgado said, “We have taken Kushner to court and the situation has gotten a little better.”

The next topic dealt with nepotism. Councilman Joel Pabon questioned, “How is this enforced, and what is the policy?”

Law Director Peter King explained, “We don’t want the same relatives working in the same capacity in the same department. Also, we can’t have someone supervise a relative. There are waivers in some cases. ”

Council President Bill Petrick stated, “We need to clear this up. Perhaps we should run a seminar to explain to employees how this policy can be implemented.”

The topic of getting minutes from other municipal boards was of concern to Councilman Helmin Caba. Caba explained, “There are a lot of great events going on in the City, and sometimes we can’t go to all of the Board Meetings. We need these minutes so we can be informed when the public asks us questions.”

City Clerk Elaine Jasko said, “I can supply the City Council  with this information after the adoption of the minutes (by the perspective boards). I’ve done this in the past.”

At the public portion, Resident Stanley Sierakowski made the following remarks:  “When you (the Council) have a civil contract suit, it should go to arbitration. As far as Bridgeport, (if the Council decides to use it as a tax incentive) for the residents – it’s capped per amount and year.” He also advised that the Council should table R-314 recommending an agreement with Remedy Analytics for pharmacy benefits management. Benecard (who the City already has is already providing that service). Sierakowski continued, “I called up the Department of Personnel in Trenton. Prosecutors can be full-time or part-time. Billy Delgado (who was on a previous agenda for a Chief Prosecutor Position) can only oversee what the Assistant Prosecutor can do. He can’t sign documents.”

Resident Jeremy Baratta came up to speak. He questioned if it is in good practice to send property into redevelopment if you want to eliminate that department (PARA). He also questioned why the newly appointed Prosecutor didn’t attend the class that was required.

Law Director King replied, “The Prosecutor was appointed late and was unable to come to that meeting. He has the option to go and watch the live video or the video tape.”

Baratta continued, “I went to a PARA Meeting and it was said that EPort II can’t be built because of water issues. The justification for this PILOT was to encourage future developments. Before you vote, go over the PARA minutes. You need to get all the experts up here at one time.”

Resident Reinaldo Aviles had a comment made about low bidders on contract, “The law says that you can accept the lowest, most reliable bid. These contracts should not be put on the agenda unless they have references. Some of the bidders are just low-ballers. Maybe you should look at the next closest reliable bid.” Aviles who is Chair of the PAHPC then turned his attention to the project at Waters Stadium. “The PAHPC allocated $800 of their budget to help pay for the expert to look at the Waters Stadium Gateway. The Board of Education is not going to pay for it (the expert’s expense).”

Petrick agreed with Aviles’  last statement.

Law Director Peter King said, “We have to make sure we have the funds. I have the expert’s resume and credentials.”

Council President Bill Petrick asked, “When will the Thomas Mundy Peterson plaque unveiling take place in the Council Chambers? I know that someone did not check the verbiage on the plaque and it had to be redone.”

Aviles acknowledged that there a mistake had to be corrected.”

Petrick was also pleased to report that Buckeye gave a check towards the purchase of the plaque.

Resident Alan Silber came up to speak about his concerns regarding the body cameras and license plate readers for the Police Department. “Don’t spend the money if the cameras are not turned on or are covered. There should be a punishment that is written for its improper use.” He also thanked the Council for asking questions about bids that go out. “There was a preventable expense with the library. Don’t’ vote unless you have all the answers in front of you.  I have a problem with all these people running for the Board of Education that now have City jobs. Then there are City Employees that are running for the Board of Education being supported by the Mayor. It’s a conflict of interest. Someone should be at the meetings answering questions about the nepotism policy.”

Resident and Business Owner David Caba came up to speak last. “Besides Rector Street, we would like to know  what streets were supposed to be fixed by the developer (Kushner)? The developer promised these people a dream, but it was really a fantasy because the developer took off. People bought some of these properties in a Sheriff’s sale for $150,000. After ten years, the developer wants to come back and do 600 rentals. I hate when a rich developer takes advantage of citizens. They have been mugged by this developer.”

8/7/17 Caucus

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