Residents Speak Up About Handicapped Parking, Official Misconduct, Lack of Code Enforcement, Limited Speaking Change & Unsafe Conditions

PERTH AMBOY — Resident John Siberry spoke at the July 10th Council Meeting in regards to Resolution 3 limiting handicapped parking on Market Street on the side of City Hall. This ordinance was the first reading (no public discussion). Siberry has a handicapped parking decal and he felt that the limited time was being targeted specifically against him. Siberry has been a vocal critic of Mayor Diaz.

PERTH AMBOY — Police Chief Ruiz counting votes with the Mayor’s husband, Greg Diaz election night. *Photo Submitted

City Attorney Mark Blunda stated that he is the one that initiated this limitation on handicapped parking. The sign (See Photo above) does not indicate a time limit. There are signs in front of City Hall on High Street that states a time limit of fifteen minutes for parking. The bone of contention for Blunda is that a person parking at the handicapped spot on Market Street can park there all day. “We want to limit the time so other handicapped people can park there. I’ve seen people park there for hours.”

Blunda suggested that there be a limit of one hour but it is up to the Council to make this decision.

Siberry said that he has already contacted higher authorities about this problem.

Siberry also presented a copy of a photo showing Police Chief Benjamin Ruiz in his uniform at the campaign headquarters of Mayor Diaz the night of the 2012 election where Diaz was seeking reelection. Siberry wanted to know if Ruiz broke any laws by being at Diaz’ headquarters when it appeared that Ruiz was still on duty in his uniform. The photo showed Ruiz at a board comparing election results from a printout he had in his hand. (See photo page 2)

According to remarks published in www.MyCentralJersey.com Ruiz made the following statements: He was off duty. He obtained the unofficial votes from the City Clerk’s Office on election night after all the votes were handed in from all the polling locations. He went to the campaign headquarters to make sure there was no problems like they had after Diaz defeated Joe Vas. People who were at the Diaz campaign headquarters had questions about the totals. He was comparing the totals on the board with the unofficial printout which he had obtained from the City Clerk’s Office. He said he did not have a chance to change out of his uniform after his eight hour long work day had long ended.

Siberry said he wanted this issue investigated further and he has taken this issue up with higher authorities.

Resident Tom Ward told the Council about a problem he and his neighbors were facing in reference to a mutual driveway in the back of their properties. These properties are on Madison Avenue, Brighton Avenue and part of Lewis Street. There was a truck dumping materials on this roadway. It appears that the truck had no permits and Public Works knew nothing about it. When an inspector was sent out by Public Works he was surprised to find out that the City was doing this. Ward said, “There was a house on Brighton Avenue where everything was gutted. Everything from that house was dumped in my yard.”

Business Administrator Greg Fehrenbach said, “Mr. Ward sent a letter to my office about this problem and he should have an answer to him in a week to ten days.” (See letter titled Excess Debris & Upheaval of Driveways on Page 4 & Page 10.)

Ward said, “Originally, the road was below my garage, now it’s higher. The road with the debris on it has been elevated. The milling from the road was dumped on my property.”

In the past, contractors would dump their materials on this mutual driveway. He said that in the past, the City would come and clear out this debris.

Last August, Ward said that there was a truck that was doing mill work and grading of this mutual driveway. Unfortunately the roadbed was elevated to cause flooding and damage behind the homeowner’s properties.

Ward asked for the Council to look into this matter for a solution.

The Council had an ordinance on the agenda to change the time for public comments from 10 to 5 minutes.

Resident Stanley Sierakowski fought the Council about this change. This ordinance will allow the citizens to address the council on any matter on the agenda which does not have its own scheduled pubic hearing.

Sierakowski was beside himself and wanted to know who decided to change the time from 10 to 5 minutes. “Speakers rarely use the whole 10 minutes.”

Councilwoman Lisa Nanton said, “It was originally suggested by a resident to lower the time.”

Council President Joel Pabon took credit and said that he introduced this. Pabon said, “I feel that 10 minutes is more than enough time for public comments. If we feel that the speaker needs more time, the Council can be polled to permit this. I have never stopped a resident from speaking when they are in the middle of a sentence or told them to step down.”

Sierakowski continued, “If a speaker needs to speak on several items, you are limiting them.”

During the public portion a resident from Harbortown spoke about conditions in the complex that need to be addressed. This resident has lived in the Harbortown Complex for several years.

The resident has spoken out at other Council Meetings on the same subject. They wanted to update the Council on what was going on at the complex. “The builder has options until 2017 to build out on the vacant lots,” the resident said. “In the meantime the City should look into making sure the builder maintains empty lots and keeps it clear of debris and materials.”

Council President Joel Pabon and Councilwoman Lisa Nanton visited Harbortown to take a look at the conditions that concerned the residents. Pabon said, “It was an eye-opener.”

The resident said, “If you look at properties in other towns by the same builder, there is a big difference. The other towns are comparable in rents, but the buildings, maintenance of the grounds and amenities are in much better shape.” (See Photos on Pages 1 & 10)

Councilman Fernando Irizarry said, “Perhaps we can change the codes in our town to reflect what other communities are getting in regards to getting better quality building materials.”