This statement, written by City of Perth Amboy Business Administrator Greg Fehrenbach, was read by Assistant B.A. Jillian Barrick at the 2/26/14 Council Meeting.
Perth Amboy Business Administrator, Greg Fehrenbach
First I apologize for not being able to be present for the meeting this evening. I would have preferred to read these comments myself and not burden another with this task.
My second apology is to the dedicated board members of the Business Improvement District who have been working hard in the best interests of the business district. BID Board members asked me to listen to my comments at the last meeting. Listening to myself speak caused me to realize that I made several misstatements.
The following is my attempt to clarify in a simple way that which I intended to state at the last meeting:
• The vast majority of the Board members are conscientious, dedicated accomplished people who wish, simply and without controversy, to provide a good and valuable service to the City’s business district and advance its overall interests. They have been hampered by the ongoing baseless charges of Ms. Lugo.
• Ms. Lugo’s allegations that the BID Board of Directors has been operating illegitimately is false. In good faith, the members have been functioning consistent with the Board’s practices over the past many years.
o Were the procedures consistent with the By Laws? Not always. But they were done in good faith with the objective of advancing the interests of the business community.
o When the last election of the Chairperson and vice chairperson took place, every possible method to comply with the Bylaws was engaged.
o If the board is functioning well, acting in good faith, serving their mission and doing so with personal integrity, then their work should not be dismissed.
• Allegations regarding the finances of the BID are without merit. The payment of tax revenues to the BID are audited by the City Auditor and the receipt and expenditure of these funds is reviewed and examined by the BID Auditor. There have been no improprieties identified in these audits.
• In the past, the Mayor appointed persons to the BID Board based on past procedures she inherited. Once she learned that the By Laws called for a different procedure, she agreed to change the procedure to abide by the By-Laws. She never objected to this change of procedure.
• Ms. Lugo’s allegation that the Mayor has tried to “stack” the Board is completely false. The Mayor appointed Ms. Lugo as she did all of the other current Board members. Since being advised of the Bylaws procedure, this practice has ceased.
• The Board has proposed changes to the bylaws; these recommendations originated in a committee-led process that was chaired by Ms. Lugo herself. However, the draft revision is awaiting review by an attorney, whom the Board will appoint once the proper public purchasing protocols are satisfied.
• The Business Improvement District spends public money. As such, they must abide by rules governing the spending of public money. The majority of the Board agrees and wishes to abide by these rules.
• The BID’s collective objective has been only to have a Business Improvement District that advances the best interests of businesses in the district. Once the disruptive conduct of a few can be controlled, this objective can be achieved.
Greg Fehrenbach
Business Administrator, City of Perth Amboy
