8/6/18 Caucus
Acting B.A. Greg Fehrenbach
PERTH AMBOY – During the public portion of the 8/6/18 Caucus, Resident Vince Mackiel came up to speak regarding Resolution R-366-8/18 – Extending the completion time of the contract with Helios Construction, Inc. for professional construction management services for the Waterfront Improvement Project for an additional six months to February 28, 2019.
Earlier in the meeting, Interim B.A. Greg Fehrenbach gave a more detailed explanation of this resolution stating that this would be for the tennis courts. “This was the amount of time that was recommended by the grant attorney. This project has to be done before the completion of this construction period. We’re still working on change orders. The City, Maser Consultants (who were involved in the Waterfront recovery), and Helios are involved. A redesign had to be done after the bid was finished. One of the problems involved a neighbor’s driveway on City property.”
Mackiel stated, “The Council had approved another extension for this contractor before. What would be the total cost to complete the project? And what other problems are there?”
Fehrenbach replied, “The figure will be about $1 million more or less which includes the design.”
Mackiel then asked, “Can we use other funds? And were any (Superstorm) Sandy funds used?”
Fehrnbach then stated, “These are Sandy funds. In 2013, there were $17 million issued for bonds in an ordinance for Waterfront repairs. Bayview Park (repairs) were held up. Some repairs were partially funded by FEMA and DEP funds.”
Vince Mackiel
Mackiel was frustrated and said, “This site should have been completed years ago. This has been going on for 3 years. There is nothing there (at the site of the old tennis courts) but a desert.”
Fehrenbach continued, “In 2014, most of the work at the marina was completed. FEMA and the Department of Agriculture reimbursed us some of the funds. The property line for the tennis courts was wrong. There were also construction problems and problems with the construction code office. Other issues included grading, color coating, and there were differences between the Engineer and Contractor which we hope to resolve soon. We were asking for a timeline of September or October for completion. I agree that this project should have been completed years ago.”
Resident Ken Balut came up to speak. He talked about a title change for a previous Business Administrator. He also talked about Bryan Walensky who is the Manger of the Parking Utility. He had worked on the Mayor’s last reelection campaign. Balut wondered why no City Employee could get that Parking Utility job. “There’s also a lot of illegal parking by City Hall that Walensky ignored. City Employees park there illegally but were not towed or ticketed. Is the Police Department doing an investigation on tickets that were being dismissed?”
Balut continued, “We are an accredited Police Department, but have discrimination charges that are being hidden. He then asked a question about R-359 -8/18 – regarding a settlement to exceed $105,000 in the matter of Sonia Vargas vs. Omar Rivera. “What department does this involve?”
Law Director Peter King responded, “It was a motor vehicle accident involving a police vehicle.”
Resident Alan Silber came up next and questioned why the two meetings in July are not online.
Council President Bill Petrick asked Cameraman George Bonilla about this. Bonilla responded, “The tapes (of the July Meetings) were passed on to the Board of Education.”
Silber then asked, “Do we have a Board of Ethical Matters?”
Fehrenbach answered, “I haven’t read all of the City codes.”
Silber then continued and said, “You should have more details on closed session items if there is a docket number assigned to it.”
Law Director King responded, “We will be doing this going forward.”
Silber then asked, “Who requested that the nepotism policy be changed?”
King responded, “The former B.A. asked that it be revised.”
Silber continued, “The highest level of the administration wanted this change. When the Council wanted it changed, it took forever. When the administration wanted it changed, it was done immediately. Who makes decisions as to who was qualified (for a position)?”
King said, “We looked at other towns nepotism laws.”
During the Council Comments, Councilman Joel Pabon asked that road conditions be looked at near the Outerbridge, Harrison Street, State Street, and Rector Street between Market and Gordon.”
DPW Director Frank Hoffman responded, “The last street (Rector Street between Market and Gordon) have been put on the DOT list.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry was absent.
