PERTH AMBOY – During the public portion (for agenda items only), Resident Ken Balut came up to speak first. He wondered why, “Of the proclamations given out, why is there not a proclamation for National Police Week? Shouldn’t someone from the Mayor’s Office or the Police Department get recognized that week?”
City Clerk Elaine Jasko remarked, “This is not on the agenda.”
Council President Bill Petrick told Balut, “This can be discussed later on during the meeting and questioned. Why didn’t you mention this at the Caucus Meeting which would have given us enough time to put it on tonight’s meeting?” Petrick also mentioned that there will be a special meeting on the ordinance that was pulled regarding zoning and land development. This meeting will take place on January 29, 2018 and he asked that it be moved to a later hour so more people could attend.
Resident Renee Skelton spoke next, “Zoning determines property value and the quality of life. I think the special meeting of January 29th should be at 7 p.m. That’s just my personal opinion. I want to address a zoning problem that has been going on for 3½ months in my neighborhood. There is a lot on Sayre Avenue that used to be the site of an old coat factory. This is a R-25 Zone. Power washing is taking place there, including buses. This is a low-density neighborhood and we’ve had dozens of violations. There are at least 15 to 20 buses on that lot, now. I was told Code Enforcement issued violations to the bus company whose owner is located in Paterson. Now, it’s November and December and buses are still in violation. They were supposed to have a court date. I went to municipal court three times to see if the case was being heard. It has not been on the docket. You are allowing a nonconforming use to be violated which will then become a conformed use. If you let people get away with this, they will continue to violate the laws.”
Law Director Peter King responded, “Every day that this bus company is in violation, the fees go up.”
Council President Bill Petrick then asked, “How long can they continue this cycle with their lawyers postponing the dates?”
Skelton provided photos to the Council.
King then continued, asking Skelton to bring the pictures to the court for evidence. “If the company in violation and is not paying their fines, then a bench warrant is served, and their registration will be suspended.”
Skelton spoke up and said, “Last week, the judge said the case was not on the docket.”
Councilman Joel Pabon added, “There are engines that are being power washed on this lot.”
Skelton then noted, “I’m getting sick from the solvent these buses are using and they are not our school buses.”
Council President Bill Petrick questioned if the police can come at night and shut them down.
Law Director King said, “The police can be called and also environmental services. We will talk to zoning and we may call you (Skelton) and ask you to testify.”
Skelton responded, “I’ll be happy to.”
Resident Jeremy Baratta spoke next, “To get an immediate response, call 1-800-WARN-DEP which is open 24 hours. They will send state troopers and anyone else that needs to be notified.
King replied to Baratta, “The prosecutor does that.”
Baratta again gave out the number and said, “That number is the reporting number for environmental issues.”
Resident Ken Balut came up again frustrated there is no proclamation for National Police Week. He then asked the Council if they knew what the schools and City were going to get for the last PILOT they awarded.
Councilman Helmin Caba stated, “The City gets a larger payment through the PILOT and the schools get 0%.”
Balut then questioned, “What is the taxpayer getting?” He started naming some of the employee salaries. He questioned, “How are we going to pay for additional students? Will contractors pay for the sewer system? All of these developments promise much, but they don’t deliver. Did anyone talk to the School Board? The Mayor is trying to control the schools. Did you guys get a phone call about the ShopRite stabbing and shots fired on Penn Street? There is a problem on Ridgely Street where some residents and buildings are being tagged.”
Katherine Massopust came up to speak to question what’s going on with the rezoning and proposed transit village.
Council President Bill Petrick said the main areas affected will include: New Brunswick Avenue, Elm Street, Fayette Street and Rector Street (and other streets in the area).”
Massopust questioned, “Do you think it’s wise to bring in any more people to Perth Amboy?” in reference to the rezoning. Massopust said, “I would like to see it (the documents).”
Petrick asked City Clerk Elaine Jasko if the document is available online?
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez said, “We can forward it to you.”
Resident Alan Silber had a question on R-22 – Accepting a donation of equipment from the Law Enforcement Support Office. “If you don’t like the ordinance, then change it. Don’t ignore it. Also, the lot that was fenced in should also be maintained. At a previous meeting, there was a woman from PARA who said the PILOT would create 2000 jobs. Don’t you think new developers will ask for a PILOT? If the Mayor keeps saying how much money we are getting, then the State will say: pay for your own schools.”
Council President Petrick said, “CFO Goldy and Chief McKeon should be giving us a list of all this equipment before we vote on it.”
Councilman Pabon was glad, “We got a lot of good stuff, but we don’t know about it beforehand.”
Deputy Police Chief Cattano came forward to address this, “We are not trying to conceal the merchandise, but we have to memorialize it and put (document) the receipt of it by resolution.”
Petrick cautioned, “If it will cost us, especially we should know about it.”
Cattano responded, “The merchandise we are getting are at zero cost.”
Pabon then remarked, “I was talking to a DPW Employee who was so happy about the no-cost plow that the department received. We just don’t want to be taken by surprise.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry stated, “I don’t intend this as criticism. I think what you are doing is great. You’re saving us money. I’d appreciate you telling us when you get the stuff.”
Cattano responded, “I’ll have that sent to you.”
Irizarry added, “We want to know sooner.”
Petrick then said, “Congratulations to you on your certification. It’s nice to know what degrees and certifications the Police and Fire (Departments) have.”
Cattano proudly stated, “Almost everyone has some sort of degree. It makes us more well-rounded.”
Petrick continued, “It’s a benefit to the community to have additional training. What is nice to see is the professionalism.”
During the Council Comments, Helmin Caba stated, “Ken Balut brought up good points to have discussions with the Board of Education.”
Petrick responded, “Can City Clerk Jasko provide the Board of Education with the (proposed) zoning changes so they are informed and have questions?”
Caba said, “I voted for the PILOT. It was the right thing to do for this situation. I don’t approve for multiuse. We don’t get a dime directly. We have to make sure we don’t raise the taxes. I recommend what Senator Sweeney recommended for school – 5% or some small percentage to go to the school system. My condolences to the family of the young girl who passed away last week (1/4/18) Let’s continue to pray for the sick. I was not aware that 27 police officers were admitted to the hospital. That information was not relayed to me. We were not contacted or informed. My recommendation is to have better communication. We should be informed as elected officials – good or bad. We owe it to our constituents to be fully informed.”
Fernando Gonzalez said, “We need better communication. We should not be apologetic because we are not informed.”
Pabon said, “Let’s take a look at this. The area of Gerdau Ameristeel is being built and Perth Amboy is being cleaned. There has been a lot of land that’s contaminated and we’re receiving a lot of grants. I remember the building on the 5 Corners (Smith/State/New Brunswick Ave.) and it needed someone to redo it. That developer has done a beautiful job. There are a lot of buses, and that’s how the system operates. We all went to school here. A lot has changed. There are State mandates on buses. Everyone seems to get bused now. Do we have the right equipment for the police and do we have to invest in more? We learn by this and we have to do what we need to improve these apartments and stop pointing fingers.”
Pabon addressed the problem with the smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, “People need to know they are not to be played with. We learn from these things and hope they don’t happen again.”
Irizarry had no comments.
B.A. Adam Cruz relayed a story about a Code Inspection that was done as a follow-up visit at a residence. “On that visit, when the air was tested Carbon Monoxide particles were present. The detector went off. The Chief and Deputy Chief are getting Carbon Monoxide Detector devices. The lady was placed in a hotel. On the day of the incident (on Fayette Street) I called the Council President at 6:30 p.m. At 11:31 a.m. the next day (Friday, Jan. 5, 2018) emails were sent to all by the Mayor’s Office. We had an emergency situation. My hats off to the men and women who almost gave their lives. We do have heroes here – each and every day.”
Petrick thanked those for their service.
Acting Police Chief McKeon came up to speak, “I was very emotional at the Caucus Meeting. I am a father figure to a lot of the officers. I understand there was some communication problems. I got very emotional, but it was not personal or political. I respect each and every one of you. I saw some family members in tears watching their loved ones being treated at the hospital. I love and support you guys (the Council) and hope you feel the same.”
Petrick responded, “As a member, I understand. The Fire Department had a program where they gave and installed detectors for free. Call the non-emergency number to see if the program is still in effect. There are different signs that you may be suffering the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. When levels are high, they can be fatal.”
For the consent agenda (R-2-1/18 through R-23-1/18), it was moved by Councilman Fernando Irizarry and Seconded by Councilman Helmin Caba.
