PERTH AMBOY -10/26/15 Caucus & 10/28/15 Council Meeting – City Clerk Elaine Jasko had this item on the agenda in reference to moving Alternates on the Zoning Board of Adjustment: Alt#1 Michael Savoia and Alt#2 Scott Farber as regular members of that Board.

Communication 6: Appointing Joel Rosa to the Redevelopment Agency pending Council Approval for an unexpired term expiring 12/31/18.

Communication 7: Appointing Lional Giron to the same Board for an unexpired term expiring 12/31/18

Former Councilman Ken Balut was concerned because he stated, “You (the Council) interviewed people for the Arts Council but not for these Boards on the Agenda.

Resident Reinaldo Aviles said, “It’s very important that alternates attend the Board Meetings that they are appointed to.” Aviles mentioned that  Savoia has attended all the meetings.

Ken Balut again spoke at the 10/28/15 Council Meeting, “The candidates that the Mayor wants appointed to the Redevelopment Agency should have been interviewed in public.”

Reinaldo Aviles agreed with Balut and told the Council, “You should interview the Mayor’s Board Appointees as you have done in the past.” Aviles did speak highly of appointee Joel Rosa and his interest in the City and how he has been involved in the community.

Mayor Diaz defended her decision in appointing these two candidates, “They were raised in the City and have a vested interest in the City. The candidates have to go to classes and they asked me to be put on these Boards. These positions were advertised on the City’s Website.”

Some people had mentioned if these positions were advertised.  City Clerk Elaine Jasko confirmed that they were advertised for the time frame that was required.

Council President Lisa Nanton explained that candidates for the Arts Council were interviewed because that was a newly created Board. “We had all candidates come forward.”