5/7/18 Caucus
PERTH AMBOY – Councilman Fernando Irizarry questioned Ordinance No.1 regarding water rates. He asked if there would be an increase and if so, how much?
Business Administrator Adam Cruz answered, “There will be a 3% increase across the board. For the second part of the year, the average single-family home with a family of four, will average around a $9 increase. This is a nominal increase year to year to satisfy a loan.”
Former Business Administrator Greg Fehrenbach was asked to come up since he is involved on a committee in order to get a new contract to replace Middlesex Water Company. Fehrenbach explained, “In the last couple of years, you’ve (the City) had significant Capital paydowns. You’re making improvements to an aging system.”
After Fehrenbach’s remarks, CFO Jill Goldy added some information, “The City has about $80 million in bonds and notes plus NJEIT (New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure) loans, sought and achieved that we have to pay on. $22 million is for the water and utility. There is $11 million additional and some of this is for debt services.”
Piggybacking off of that Ordinance was Resolution R-183-5/18: Authorizing an agreement between BASF Corporation and the City of Perth Amboy to address and implement the IEC (Immediate Environmental Concerns) actions regarding the CPS/Madison Industries Superfund Site.
Irizarry said, “I am in agreement of having BASF to clean up the contaminants in the water system.
Law Director Peter King explained the DEP (Division of Environmental Protection) lowered the contaminant level numbers and BASF is cleaning this up. “They are paying us back $8000. The State DEP is the regulating entity. After 30 days, either party (BASF or the City) can break the agreement. The City has to review and agree to all terms. Our engineer has to follow up.”
During the public portion, Resident Ken Balut came up to speak. The water issue has been going on since the 1980’s. The DEP didn’t know about the contamination? How can you trust them? Only Fehrenbach seems to care about the City.”
Resident Vince Mackeil came up to speak about the water. He stated, “In the 1980’s, they tested the water and I appreciate you (the Council) asking questions. Perth Amboy at the time was losing one million gallons of water a day and I even talked to Mayor Otlowski about it.”
During the Council Comments, Council President Bill Petrick said, “There was an expert from Rutgers who is working with BASF concerning the contaminants in the water.”
There were several questions asked regarding the bidders for the new parking pay stations. B.A. Adam Cruz explained the bidding process. “Normally we advertise in the Star Ledger. There were three bidders. The one was: Amano-McGann; the second person to bid was: IPS Group; the third bidder was Pakeon-Devo Assoc. We recommended the first bidder: Amano-McGann because the other two companies wanted to implement a different kind of software than what we requested.”
Council President Bill Petrick asked if we can rebid to see if we could get a lower bidder that can meet our specifications.
Parking Utility Manager Bryan Walenski explained that the other two bidders were Cloud based and each of their software is unique. These companies did not allow their software to be transferred to our server, but we can go out to rebid.”
Resident Ken Balut had comments about this, “We paid $35,000 in the past to a no bid contractor. We put in the Cloud. We also don’t know who Walenski worked for before. Our money is being wasted. You need to look at those pay station contracts.”
There was a discussion regarding Recreation in the City, especially when it comes to parks. Resident David Caba came up to speak. He stated that Councilman Joel Pabon had said in a previous meeting that we (the Council) have no control over the parks. Caba then continued, “The Mayor went to a Freeholders Meeting to fight for Barry’s park. The youth have been waiting for 4 years for the park to be done. Pabon should ask the Freeholders when the park will be built for the youth. Is the land contaminated? We don’t know whose running our City. Barry was paying $35,000 a year (in taxes) on that property. Why be in office if you don’t have the power? But you can ask the questions.”
Pabon responded, “The land is not contaminated, and I will get you the information.”
Resident Alan Silber came up to comment, “Somebody got $5 million and we didn’t get the $140,000 that the property would have brought in taxes over four years. The last I heard, Middlesex Vocational s supposed to take the park land.” Silber then continued, “I see there is a special space for the Mayor at the Public Safety Complex. Does a City Employee have to notify the City if they have a private business in the City? Bryan Walenski was mentioned in a magazine as one of the 100 most influential persons in the state. He struggled over the budget questions. Vas had a tree made which showed who every employee worked for.”
The streets and bridges were also of concern to the Council and residents. Vince Mackiel asked, “Who is responsible for the railroad bridge being fenced off at Elm and Market Streets?”
Deputy Police Chief Larry Cattano said, “The reason for that is that the steel plates (on the bridge) were obliterated and it’s New Jersey Transit’s problem. We may have to put signage on that side of the bridge to have people cross on the other side of the street where the bridge is not caged off.” Cattano then talked about the traffic light problems at High Street and Rte. 440. “The State said it’s working as designed.”
B.A. Cruz spoke up and said, “We’re getting an estimate of a traffic study at that location.”
Council President Bill Petrick commented, “We should get all of our local officials involved and they should also look at some of the lights on State Street and High Street.”
Councilman Irizarry said, “The City also needs to add speed bumps on Dillman Lane.”
Petrick then suggested, “We should get input from Edison and Carteret who have special speed bumps installed on some of their streets.”
Councilman Joel Pabon had a couple of comments and pointed out that all four bridges are dangerous. “That should be one of our top priorities.”
Cattano responded, “DPW Director Hoffman already talked to NJ Transit about the bad shape of the bridges.”
Pabon spoke again and told Cattano, “The residents appreciate the new lights installed on Bruck Avenue and Pine Street.”
Business Administrator Adam Cruz had some information regarding the NJ Transit bridges, “The Fayette Street Bridge has been City owned since 1928 and the cost to replace that bridge will be millions. Money is being allocated to other parts of the County. $500,000 has been allocated for RFP’s. If we can’t get grants, we’ll have to use money from our budget. We’ve been talking to Senator Booker since 2016 and now Assemblywoman Lopez is trying to help us get money from the Department of Transportation (to help repair these bridges).”
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez was absent with an excuse.
