9/10/18 Caucus & 9/12/18 Council Meeting
PERTH AMBOY – At the 9/10/18 Caucus Meeting, Interim B.A. Greg Fehrenbach gave a presentation regarding the Park by License Plate Program. He began by telling the Council, “Bids were received and reviewed. The person who was the low bidder for the pay stations agreed to extend the time to bid on contracts. The pay stations will be located on Smith Street by the corner of Madison Avenue and New Brunswick Avenue and another at State and Hobart Streets. Users of a credit card will incur a convenience fee. Coins will also be accepted. The pilot will be in use for two months. The coin, bill, and credit card machines will be associated with 21 to 25 spaces. The program is supposed to be from October 15 thru December 15. You (the Council) will decide in January if you want them. It will be by license plates. Park by cell or mobile is currently being used in 700 cities in the U.S. There is no money in the meter or pay stations. You can download an APP and buy time using a credit card. There will be a cost no more than $1000 to use the machines for the two months of the pilot. There will be material distributed that will be bilingual for a two-week period for people to get familiar with these machines. We have the lowest parking rate in the state.”
David Caba
Councilman Pabon asked, “Is there any data on how the current parking of a two-hour parking limit is working out?”
Fehrenbach had no information regarding this, but he did state that a person would get a 15-minute warning when time was running out on your parking space. “And you can punch in more time through your cell phone.” He also said, “The limits on parking time were changed by ordinance when I wasn’t here. This program will be based by zones. The only changes that will be made are the ones I will be mentioning,” Fehrenbach stated.
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez had a few remarks, “I’m advocating for parking time limits that best serve each area of the City.”
Fehrenbach responded, “We can reach out to the UEZ about time limit changes. In some towns, people who have handicapped placards pay for 2 hours of parking at metered spaces, and then they can park there the whole day. Those towns are thinking about making it for 8 hours maximum to park.”
Fehrenbach responded to the question by Council President Bill Petrick as to why there are two different types of machines for this program, “These two machines are what were available at the time. They are due to arrive by October 15, 2018. The machines are cellular. We will remove the parking heads (from some of the present meters) and move them to needed places. The bid is for 30 machines.”
Petrick then asked, “Will there be a warning to indicate if and when your time runs out and if and when you can continue to park at that same spot when your time runs out.”
Councilman Helmin Caba then stated, “We have to make sure data is not sold to a third party for marketing reasons.”
Greg Ferhrenbach
Councilman Fernando Irizarry drew a chuckle from the crowd when he stated, “If we do sell information, do we get a cut?”
Fehrenbach said he would get back to the Council about that.
There was a question regarding R-384-9/18 regarding NJDOT Road Rehab and Improvements Rebid (High and Fayette Streets, Intersection and Zambory Street) in an amount not to exceed $236,272.39. Contract to Z Brothers.
Irizarry asked, “What’s going on with Rector Street (Kushner Properties) from Fayette to Washington Street?
City Engineer Jeffery Rauch came up and answered, “There’s finally an agreement for grant money to bid on this area of Rector Street. I would rather start in the Spring of 2019 after the bad weather has passed. We have contacted the Utility Companies of upcoming road work.”
Fehrenbach spoke up and said, “There is a dispute going on regarding road paving.”
During the public portion, Resident Ken Balut came up to speak about the Kushner Properties, “He (Kushner) bought two pieces of properties in other towns, but no one holds him accountable. Look at the bond money given back to him on uncompleted work. “Balut then mentioned, “Jersey City is standing up to Kushner.”
Resident David Caba came up with a couple questions regarding Kushner, “Where is their contract? Balut is correct. Jersey City is standing up to Kushner. We should stand up to Kushner even if he threatens to sue you. Put out a bid to contractors that will improve the Kushner properties. The Jersey City Mayor told Kushner to use all the attorneys you want.” Caba then told the Council, “I’m going to look at (last 5 year) comparisons between properties that were sold at Jersey City’s Waterfront compared to properties sold at the Rector Street Properties (Landings). Do you think you want to have a potential buyer in the City to look at Rector Street by the Kushner properties? That part of Rector Street hasn’t been touched in 12 years. Rebid this property to make it more attractive.”
Fehrenbach responded to some of these comments, “In 2013, the Council made a decision to say no to the Kushner modifications to Landings. There was a $100 million lawsuit that we defended. Rauch (City Engineer) worked with Gershwin (One of the Representatives from Kushner Properties) to complete Phase 1 improvements. The work was stopped because of agreement terms and NJDOT funding. Kushner should pay for the properties, but in 2013 negotiations broke down.”
Resident Alan Silber spoke next, “I remember when the directors used to come to the meetings. The Wilentz School has over 1000 students and we want high density? Maybe we can get 1800 students in there. Smaller classrooms are better for kids. We are Number 6 in high density.”
Fehrenbach replied to the statement regarding some directors not being here, “I told Walensky (Parking Utility Manager) he didn’t have to be here for the Pay Station pilot program because I had all the information needed to answer any questions the Council may have.”
Resident Jeremy Baratta came up to speak and questioned, “What firm handled the Kushner lawsuit? What was the amount? And why weren’t the issues resolved?”
Fehrenbach answered, “It was McManimon, Scotland & Baumann. The lead attorney for the City was at the time William Northgate. (Northgate left when DeCotiis came in.) I don’t know who the Kushner’s law firm was for the suit. It took more than a year, and it was $20,000+ for the cost. As of today, I am unaware of any resolution. The former B.A. Peter Pelissier said that they were in negotiations when he arrived.”
Baratta then stated, “All a person has to do is look up a docket number.”
Fehrenbach said, “I can do that.”
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez then spoke up, “DeCotiis settled because Kushner was supposed to get what he requested (The deal he made with some of the Landings Residents).
Council President Bill Petrick concluded the discussion. “Kushner is in negotiations with redevelopment about new buildings.”
During the 9/12/18 Council Meeting, the discussion on the Kushner properties on Rector Streets specifically continued.
Resident and Businessman David Caba asked, “Where is the Rector Street bids for street repairs?”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry responded, “Rector Street will not be done until the spring of 2019.”
Caba then continued, “Something was said last year about making repairs to Rector Street. How many explanations do we need as to why repairs are being delayed?”
Irizarry indicated, “I don’t like it any more than you about the continued delays on repairing Rector Street.”
Caba continued and talked about having to get state grants to repair Rector Street, “It’s been 12 years, and Kushner has the money. He should fix the street.”
Council President Bill Petrick then remarked, “The reason Kushner is rich is because he doesn’t want to spend his own money.”
Resident Alan Silber came up, “It’s been one year since you passed a resolution regarding repairing Rector Street. We put liens against all kinds of properties but nothing on Kushner’s. Who plows Rector Street (Kushner’s portion)?”
Fehrenbach answered, “I assume the City.”
Silber then pleaded to the Council, “Just tell the truth.”
Petrick responded, “We can only react on what the administration tells us.”
Silber then continued, “The only money that didn’t come through for road repairs is Rector Street.”
Fehrenbach responded, “I’m only telling you what I know is true. The funding source came through from the State of New Jersey. We had to wait for outside funding to come through for the water meters. Funding was authorized by the Council. There was insufficient time to add Rector Street for this year.”
Silber repeated himself, “The only money that didn’t come through was for Rector Street.”
David Caba came up to speak during the last public portion with information comparing properties that were sold near the Jersey City Waterfront versus the Perth Amboy Waterfront. One of the comparisons was the Landings property whose original selling price was listed for $440,000. In subsequent years, it dropped down to $154,000. The last sale price was $140,000. In comparison a property on the Jersey City Waterfront which was listed for $750,000 and sold for $805,000.”
Council President Bill Petrick responded, “Jersey City Properties have a water view of Manhattan.”
Caba responded, “Rector Street should sell for at least close to what they were bought for. Why is our beautiful Waterfront not thriving? Other houses in town are selling at higher rates. We need a new Mayor or administration.”
Councilman Joel Pabon questioned, “Why is Kushner still in this town, period? Why is the Mayor permitting this? She needs to stop holding his hands.”
Fehrenbach responded, “Kushner owns the property. As long as they continue to pay their taxes, we cannot throw them out.”
Council President Bill Petrick responded that the City has been laxed in enforcing infractions on Kushner.
Jeremy Baratta came up to speak and asked if anyone ever heard about eminent domain. “Can’t PARA issue a redevelopment ordinance? The Administration has to be motivated to do so. If I pulled a lawbook, I could find a way to address this problem. An expert on municipal law could find a way to remove Kushner. I don’t believe nothing could be done to solve that neglected property.”
Silber came up to speak about the Kushner properties. He stated that one of the small townhouses on Front Street by Bayside Creamery sold for $330,000. We can’t get that street paved (Rector Street by Landings portion)? The Landing are selling for half that price. In 2012, the Mayor had all these women politicians support her in a rally held at City Hall Circle because someone offended her. When it was time to get reelected, she knew what to do. Can you imagine buying at the Landings for $400,000.
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez was absent at the 9/12/18 Council Meeting.
