At the 9/26/18 Council Meeting, Councilman Helmin Caba reads a statement supporting Petrick,
*Photo by Katherine Massopust
9/26/18 Council Meeting
PERTH AMBOY – During the Public Comments for the Ordinances, Resident Ken Balut came up in reference to Ordinance No. 1 entitled: An ordinance to amend an ordinance entitled: “Administration of Government” RE: amending Section 4-24 Business Administration
Balut asked, “Will this take clearly take care of how this person gets paid?” He stated that the former B.A. Adam Cruz is a member of the Latino PAC who supported Helmin Caba and Fernando Irizarry. “The Mayor is all about supporting women. Did a former woman B.A. who left get paid? Something is wrong with his picture. There is no resignation letter (regarding Cruz). What other job is there that when you resign you get paid? The relationship to another woman employee was not disclosed.”
Law Director Peter King responded, “This could happen again (a person getting paid upon resignation). If a person appeals a decision, if they are being denied pay. This ordinance only pertained to the Business Administration position.”
B.A. Greg Fehrenbach added his own comments, “This stature is for the governing body to decide to make a decision (regarding the administrator only). In August, the resolution was adopted that payment should be ceased and future payments were stopped (regarding former B.A. Adam Cruz).
Nancy Soto leads the protest against Council President Bill Petrick outside City Hall during the 9/26/18 Council Meeting *Photo by Katherine Massopust
Resident Stanley Sierakowski came up next, “The Mayor hasn’t addressed some of the problems such as tickets, dismissals, and relationships (that administrators have with their subordinates). Contact the Attorney General’s Office regarding Cruz who was protected, but not the woman who resigned (in the other office).”
Resident Alan Silber came up next. He stated that the former B.A. (Cruz) was paid because he wasn’t reappointed. “The Mayor’s attorney and the B.A. were too busy doing too many other things. There was no reappointment of former B.A. Cruz, but the person kept working. There was a nonreappointment, and there was after 3-month notice. Cruz still got health benefits, but not the woman (who also left). The Mayor cost us money. After a nonreappointment, the clock starts to tick.”
Fehrenbach responded and stated, “You can have a nonappointment, but stay on a job until a permanent appointment is made.”
Law Director King then added additional comments. “He (Cruz) was held over until there was a replacement.”
Council President Bill Petrick then spoke up, “There was no official notice if you were a holdover.”
King responded, “That is correct.”
Fehrenbach then stated that he will give the Council a finding on a permanent replacement.
Resident Linda Ferria came up to speak, “There was a cover-up. They need to investigate this. There’s corruption and dirty politics involved. She thinks we’re stupid, but we’re not.”
Resident and Businesswoman Sharon Hubberman came up and asked if an ordinance addresses nonappointments if a person resigns. A voluntary resignation means no payment. Nonreappointment means working without a contract. Resigning without a notice voids payment. There is a lot of plays with words which can be interpreted in many ways. You (the Council) need an outside counselor.”
Resident and Businessman David Caba came up next and addressed Law Director Peter King, “With all due respect, please stop talking to us like Kindergartners and tell us the truth. I’ve been here for 35 years and have seen the good and the bad. First you said that Cruz was not getting reappointed. Cruz didn’t have any answers to our concerns.
King responded. “I haven’t told any lies.”
Caba then spoke again, “Cruz was not getting reappointed. He was sitting there all that time after that. The Council didn’t know the circumstances of his leaving.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry spoke up and addressed Caba, “You stepped over the line when you called Mr. King a liar!”
Ken Balut came up to speak again about R-416-9/18 – Professional Services RE: Improvement to Rector Street and Hall Avenue. “Kushner owes us $4 million and he has spent $2 million on property in Long Branch.” Balut stated that when former Law Director Arlene Quinone was here, she said she was representing the City regarding the Landings Property. “We are fixing Kushner’s property. Somebody in the City got a college funded education to a college from a Board that Kushner sits on. I got a phone call regarding this.” Balut then talked about the residents on Mary Street who have personal parking spaces. “Did they pay $100 for those spots, yet you turned down handicapped applicants.” He stated that the residents on Mary Street should be made to pay $100 for those personalized spots. Can the police give out personal parking spots?”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry responded, “When the Handicapped Parking Committee was formed, the Mary Street residents had already been granted those spaces. They are not related to the Handicapped Parking Ordinance. There’s a problem with the fire engines going down Mary Street. The Former Business Administrator Jillian Barrick who worked on this issue (the personal spots on Mary Street).”
Balut then responded, “The Fire Department couldn’t get down my street because of all the illegal parking.”
Council President Bill Petrick spoke next, “There needs to be a special meeting to address the Knights of Columbus building and the St. Demetrios property. It can be done tonight or before the next Planning Board Meeting.”
The Council voted on the Consent Resolutions on the Agenda. R-403-9/18 thru R-425-9/18 was moved by Councilman Fernando Irizarry and seconded by Councilman Joel Pabon.
During the last public portion, Resident Stanley Sierakowski came up to speak. He said it was the 27th anniversary of the murder of a prominent Perth Amboy Resident Ruth Jacobs. It was on a TV Show called “Cold Case.” He then talked about the DeCotiis Law Firm and how they were able to negotiate a contract to become the City’s attorneys.
Resident Ken Balut came up and stated, “The first Hispanic female Sergeant was skipped over, and the position was given to a white guy. Did our female Police Director help women who filed sexual harassment suits? DeCotiis Law Director Arlene Quinones said she was here to help the Mayor. Did the woman who quit get help from our Mayor? What about the female chaplain who filed the sexual harassment suit? Did she get help from the Mayor? What about the racial discrimination suits? What about the pregnant Police Officer who had to still work because they couldn’t find a replacement for her? Did Quinones still get paid after she said she was here to help the Mayor? No one helps the female victims of sexual harassment, especially the female officers. I would like to debate the Mayor’s (Council) candidates. A judge discriminated against a first-time homebuyer applicant. This is worse than Joe Vas. There are lawsuits going on in court today.”
David Caba came up to speak and said he’d like to apologize for remarks he made earlier to the Law Director. “Mr. Blunda (Former Law Director) would not speak to me like that.” Caba continued. “The Mayor’s sister is making remarks on social media and she is out there (in front of City Hall) protesting. Nancy (the Mayor’s sister) hasn’t lived here in 12 years. This is a disgrace putting a person down. The Mayor is using people to try to divert us from our problems.” Caba then came to Council President William Petrick’s defense. “Petrick has served 40 years to those in our community. Those on a ticket that our Mayor is supporting now have never served. She (the Mayor) is worried about social media posts. I’m sorry to say I’m from Perth Amboy now. Our Law Director, Mr. King says I keep talking about the same things. People should protest about something that affects the City, and not protest an individual.”
Alan Silber came up to speak, “Can anybody bring signs into the Council Chambers?”
Law Director King said, “I have to read the ordinance.”
Council President Petrick said, “I think the signs should be kept on the outside.”
Silber then started talking about municipal elections over the years starting from 2010 thru 2016 and candidates that the Mayor supported in these elections and how an election was overturned, and a special election had to be held and how a woman’s life was changed because of one election. “I wonder if the Mayor even voted for Petrick (when she was supporting his team). In 2016, the Latino Action Group endorsed Wilda. She got rid of all the people who were a hindrance to her.” Silber then addressed Councilman Helmin Caba, “What was your first vote as a Councilman?”
Caba responded, “For Petrick to be Council President.”
Silber then stated, “It’s the third time she’s tried to destroy someone over elections. It’s garbage. There’s no addressing the issues, nothing.”
Resident Vince Mackeil came up. “There’s been a national debate on immigration and sexism. This shouldn’t be part of the issue in Perth Amboy. There’s a large part of our population who can’t afford to rent here. Some things are not going forward as they should.”
Resident Linda Ferria came up to speak, “I’ve been through a lot of elections, too. I worked on her campaigns (and those who she has supported). There are too many lies and dirt, now. I refuse to sell my soul for a job. It’s cronyism. It’s corruption, lies, smearing people, and phony. A lady passed away that worked on the Mayor’s campaign. The Mayor had tried to get the lady fired (before she died). You don’t do her dirty work, then she’ll attack you. I will put my lie detector test against hers. I’m a C.N.A. but won’t work in this town. She’s got her hand in everything. Smarten up everybody, you (the protestors) didn’t come on your own! She (Diaz) told you to come!”
Perth Amboy Republican Chair Sharon Hubberman came up to speak, “We (the Republican Party) were denied a table at Family Day. We were denied twice for a table even though other political parties were there. I ran for Mayor twice. Recently, the police towed my car the day after I spoke out at a Council Meeting about what happened to us on Family Day. My car was egged, and I got a death threat. Other cars on my street were parked illegally, but I got ticketed. I got targeted for advocating for my Republican neighbor. Where is the Latino Action Network for me? The Taxpayers owns the streets – not the City. There is overcrowding, no parking, illegal housing. We are Americans. We live in our town. Do not get distracted – that is not the issue.”
Resident Maria Peralta came up to speak next. She started speaking in English, saying she’s a proud Dominican and her parents and grandparents are from the Dominican Republic and Spain. She then asked to continue in Spanish and Councilman Fernando Irizarry translated. “I’ve been a citizen since 1990 and always voted. The majority of us (in the City) are Latinos. No matter what ethnic group, we have to respect each other.” She then asked Petrick if the Latino community asked for is resignation.
Nilda Rivera came up, “The person who just spoke does NOT represent me! I am a Latina woman and I completely disagree with her (Peralta) 200%!”
Milady Tejeda, who is Vice-President of the Board of Education and is now running for City Council came up next, “I am running with them (Present Council Members Pabon and Petrick) because they are men of character.” She also made reference to the people who were protesting outside of City Hall waving the Dominican Flag. “Don’t use my flag (the Dominican Flag)! You don’t represent all of us. No one can use me. I do what is best for my community.”
Resident Renee Skelton, stating, “This whole situation is jimmied up. Council President Bill Petrick never made any bigoted remarks about any ethnic group. This is a disgrace (that these people are here protesting). Our problems are with taxes, the budget, transparency, and code enforcement. Everybody has done or said something that they regret, but that’s not the sum of their life. These McCarthy tactics need to stop.”
The Council Comments were next. Councilman Helmin Caba spoke first, “This division is nonsense. I’m asking everyone to pray for this City.” He then read a lengthy statement (see below).
When Councilman Fernando Gonzalez started to speak, he became very emotional and started to tear up and then said, “I can’t do it.”
Councilman Irizarry had no comments.
Joel Pabon said, “I’m shocked and don’t know what to say. I have a sister who lives in Florida and as I was speaking to her about what was going on in Perth Amboy then her husband got on the phone. He was shocked about the remarks said about Petrick. He had nothing but good things to say about Bill Petrick and his family.” Pabon then continued,”We are sticking with Bill. It’s not about the postings on Facebook. The people that are protesting are not being told the truth.” Pabon then turned to Bill and said, “I’m with you!”
When Bill Petrick spoke, he addressed Councilman Fernando Gonzalez, “I know you suffered a lot of personal attacks. Dirty politics is dirty politics and people would rather look at Facebook posts. When I put up those Facebook posts, I didn’t give it much thought.” Petrick then referenced his experience as a firefighter, “When I ran into fires, I’m looking for people to get them out safety, or put out the fire, putting the wet stuff on the red stuff. I have a very diverse family.” He mentioned his diverse family background and his fellow Council Members.
Fernando Gonzalez teared up again, and spoke about the damage that personal attacks are doing to Perth Amboy. “I have friends that are both Republican and Democrat.”
