Councilman Helmin Caba argues his point *Photos by C. Maxwell
6/13/18 Council Meeting
PERTH AMBOY – Resident Ken Balut came up to talk about the Ordinance amending entitled WRECKERS. He stated that some tickets are voided for predatory towing. “Some tickets were dismissed while others were not. Please investigate this.” He also commented about R-227-6/18 Authorizing a “Dedication by Rider to the CY2018 Budget for a Specific Trust Fund for the Bridge Perth Amboy I Urban Renewal PILOT Program. Balut stated, “What amounts are going for the schools: City and County? A bill is being passed (regarding this). I am sending your meetings about this to a hearing regarding PILOTS. As soon as Bridge got the PILOT, they ran out of town. School Taxes went up because of the lack of PILOT money. When negotiating a PILOT, you should consider the school system.”
Councilman Helmin Caba responded to these remarks, “Balut is right about not being able to read the numbers on the report (dealing with the Bridge PILOT Program). The school board gets nothing. The County gets 12%; the City gets a percentage. It’s up to us to give the schools part of that money. We decided to take surplus money to avoid a tax increase. If we didn’t have State funding, we would have been in trouble. (Senator Stephen) Sweeney (President of the New Jersey Senate) is pushing for 5% for school funding. We have to be diligent in our research.”
Resident John Dyke came up to speak regarding R-249 – 6/13 – A nonbinding letter of intent for the purchase of property at 228 High St., Perth Amboy known as the Knights of Columbus Property. Dyke said, “I’m all for this.” He said that the community is interested in what the City will be using the land for.
Mayor Wilda Diaz speaks before the Council regarding Rezoning
Council President Petrick responded, “We don’t know what the intent is. It’s a real estate purchase.”
Dyke then told the Council, “It is the City’s 300 Anniversary, which includes the Anniversary of the Mayor’s Office, the City Clerk’s Office and other departments in that building.”
Resident Alan Silber came up to speak about R-227. He stated that New Jersey Spotlight had an article about PILOT Programs and about a bill that Stephen Sweeney is sponsoring. Sweeney said he’s against the abuse of PILOT Programs.” Silber then continued, “The whole intent of an OPRA Request is to get info from the public and you (the Council) are supposed to be working with us. The League of Municipalities are against this legislation (proposed by Sweeney). They get donations from politicians.” He then mentioned R-249. “At one time, it was a proposed parking lot, but it takes just one person to object to the intent.”
Resident David Caba came up to speak and asked if there was any studies done on Rector Street (because of poor road conditions). It’s been 12 years (in that condition).
Petrick responded, “We didn’t get a date, but we have a promise that it’s going to be done. I think High Street should be done before Rector.”
David Caba then continued, “Since some people at the Landings got a settlement, they no longer complain.”
Petrick Stated, “They (those residents) have a non-disclosure clause.”
Business Administrator Adam Cruz then spoke up, “High Street and Rector Street are going to be looked at. The prices per block on High Street are being looked at first, according to a statement that Frank Hoffman said at the Caucus Meeting on Monday (6/11/18).”
There again was a lengthy discussion regarding Ordinance No. 2 – First Reading – An Ordinance to amend an Ordinance entitled “Zoning and Land Development.”
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez voted to table this. It was seconded by Councilman Helmin Caba. Caba explained why he wanted this done. He started to read off some statistics. He said: “There is a proposed 800 unit complex going up in Harbortown – Halpern; a 600 unit complex – Kushner; and 400 unit complex – Trujillo. This is going to impact New Brunswick Avenue and Market Street, adding thousands of units. Our schools are overcrowded bigtime. Out of 565 Municipalities, we are #27 on the list of the most overcrowded. For a population 49,000 we are ranked #138. There are good things happening, but my concerns are the overpopulation and parking which are negative. This will be adding more cops, firemen, EMT’s which means higher taxes. We have a lot of homeless people on Smith Street. The Master Plan has not been updated since 2003. We need to update the Master Plan first.”
Fernando Gonzalez agreed this should be tabled until the next meeting. He said, “When people talk about what Woodbridge is doing, you have to understand that they are 24 square miles and we are 4.4 square miles. Zoning is not easy to understand.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry then spoke up and stated, “We have to look at current trends. People are not interested in buying houses. Let’s look at Metuchen, which is similar to us. If we go slow (making changes) people will go to other cities that are building up.”
Councilman Caba responded to Irizarry, “With Woodbridge and Metuchen, they were forced to build those units by the Supreme Court.”
Pabon then added some comments, “Outside of the people who come regularly to the meetings, other people only come here when it’s of interest to them personally. No businesspeople or other people that came here before are showing up to meetings. We know of the overcrowding for years. When professional offices left on top of those downtown buildings, they became empty spaces.”
Helmin Caba answered that it should be up to the building owners to take care of those empty spaces.
Councilman Gonzalez made further remarks. “These are professionals who put these plans together, and they are good (at what they do). But, let’s get something straight. Houses are selling in Perth Amboy at higher prices and going fast.”
B.A. Adam Cruz spoke up and said, “When are you going to have more outreach? We’ve had several meetings already about this (zoning and land redevelopment ordinance) and you keep tabling the item.”
After they spoke, everyone voted “yes” to table except for Joel Pabon who voted “no”. For Resolution R-236 – Contract for Towing Services, for a two-year period retroactive to January 1, 2018 and terminating on December 31, 2019, Fernando Gonzalez requested to table. It was seconded by Helmin Caba. All voted “yes” to table. On the Consent Agenda, R-221 thru R-235 and R-237 thru R-249 was moved by Councilman Fernando Irizarry and seconded by Councilman Fernando Gonzalez.
Mayor Wilda Diaz came up to talk about the Zoning and Land Redevelopment Ordinance. She referenced some of the numbers that Councilman Caba was talking about regarding the student population and the impact that the new units will have on the school system. She said, “Those numbers tell you the graduation numbers. I talked to the Superintendent of Schools (Dr. David Roman) about the new proposed developments. He said it will not affect the schools. I went to the Urban Mayors Meetings with the Lt. Governor (Shelia Oliver). She said we are looking at the Transit Hub areas. People are downsizing. Not everyone is moving south. They (business owners) don’t want to see empty office spaces. Ten story buildings were never mentioned.”
Council President Petrick spoke up, “We don’t have a handicapped accessible Train Station.”
Mayor Diaz then continued, “Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac is building up Woodbridge and uses PILOTS. You (the Council) didn’t approve PILOTS for housing. More PILOTS will be coming up and Bridge is still here. More of the Bridge Buildings will be occupied and some will be doing job fairs. Our zoning codes are very outdated.”
Petrick spoke again and said, “Businesses can renovate their empty loft spaces now before rezoning changes take place.”
Mayor Diaz responded, “Other cities are building around their train stations.”
Petrick then came back and said, “Woodbridge has parking built into their projects and Metuchen had parking in place before the units were built.”
Mayor Diaz then suggested that the Council go to some of the courses that inform you about projections of buildings in urban cities. “I will let you know when these courses come up. Let’s sit down with the Superintendent of Schools about what impact this will have on our schools (point of entry and graduation rate).”
At this point, Fernando Gonzalez spoke up, “This is the Council Meeting and perhaps we should invite the Superintendent to come here.”
During the public portion, Businessman Pedro Esteves came up to speak. “We have malls that take business away. I have three businesses here and the bigger business are never coming back. We don’t have enough foot traffic to keep us in business with the rent we pay.”
Resident Alan Silber came up, “This Meeting was supposed to be open to the public and the clock should have been set when the Mayor spoke. She spoke for 20 minutes. The County did not do due diligence when it came to the park. What about the Jewel of Perth Amboy: the Waterfront. The Mayor said we are taking the Waterfront out of it for now (the Zoning and Land Redevelopment Ordinance). People are either going to like it or not. I go to Whole Foods in Metuchen once a week. Different towns have different needs and the types of businesses they can support.”
Resident David Caba came up speak, “Councilman Pabon gave me a beautiful drawing of a proposed park. But when did Pabon get this drawing? I hope it’s completed by the time my grandchildren are born.”
Adam Cruz responded to Caba, “There will be a groundbreaking in July for the park and the construction for the County Park will begin in September.”
Resident Jeremy Baratta came up, “In theory, what does rezoning change? If the rezoning ordinance does not pass, those people who want to make changes can still do them, but will just have to go to various boards (Zoning, Redevelopment, etc.)”
Resident Stanley Sierakowski came up and stated, “The Mayor was wrong about the number of stories that can be added to a building. Will there be an exemption for kicking poor people out? They moved the Board of Social Services in New Brunswick to the outskirts of the city where the industrial area is. The plan will fail. Metuchen’s downtown is beautiful, and they still have dental and law offices there. The only thing that will save the City is education. Look at New Brunswick. Put in a Rutger’s University Annex.”
Resident Dorothy-Carthy Daniel came up to speak. She spoke about a personal experience she had recently, “In January of this year, one of the ceiling pipes attached to the sprinkler system froze and burst in my apartment. I lost a lot of my belongings. The landlord is not responsible. I urge everyone who lives in apartments to purchase apartment (renters) insurance. It cost me a very small amount a year and because of it, I was able to replace a lot of my belongings and they put me up at a hotel for the full amount of cost until I was able to get back into my apartment.”
During the Council Comments, Helmin Caba said, “The Mayor gave several statements. Our graduation rate has nothing to do with affecting density. Stats that were given are outdated. We’re #3 on the most overcrowded SDA (School Development Authority) Districts. I guarantee the Superintendent doesn’t have the latest data on additional units.”
Mayor Diaz then came up to speak, “There are 16 projects in the works. Gateway has an estimate of 425 units. Because of remedial work that has to be done, sometimes unit numbers may have to be reduced. This plan (Zoning and Redevelopment) was developed by Rutgers, The State of New Jersey Planners and Businesses. They saw a lot of business potential in our town. (Woodbridge Mayor) McCormac did all the studies. His Council went to different presentations and seminars. I know you (Councilman Caba) are making a case. In the next 20 years, we are looking at 1200 units. We have a number of children that came out of Harbortown.”
Helmin Caba then spoke again, “My advice to the residents – you can find any information you want online. Pedro Esteves said he went to a business meeting and was not aware of all the proposed changes. New Brunswick Avenue to Market Street is a big chunk. The transit village will help businesses, but some plans may overstress our services. We have to make sure we don’t overpopulate our already overpopulated city.”
Fernando Gonzalez then spoke next, “I went to a BID Meeting, and it looked promising that they will try to help the downtown lighting problem. We will be going to another town to see their lighting.”
Councilman Irizarry spoke next, “I would like to see the statures regarding parking.”
Councilman Joel Pabon said, “We don’t have dates for any additional meetings to speak about the zoning changes. We have someone who comes and talks about a certain park who leaves before the Meeting is over. No one is trying to fudge pictures or dates regarding the park. I want to see a park more than anyone, so I can play in it before my legs give out. I make decisions based on what I think is best. I sleep good every night. I have lived in Perth Amboy for many years and have seen all the contaminated buildings and land (and the changes).”
Council President Petrick thanked everyone who come to the Meetings and those who watched on TV land.
