10/24/18 Council Meeting
PERTH AMBOY – There was a ordinance regarding various capital improvements in the City. Acting B.A. Greg Fehrenbach explained that Ordinance No. 1 includes road improvements, parks, maintenance, and road repairs. Ordinance No. 2 deals with water/wastewater improvements. These funds are to come from bonds from Middlesex County who financed part of the cost of these improvements.
Some of these debt services include obligations to the MCIA (Middlesex County Improvement Authority)
Resident Sharon Hubberman asked what improvements will be made.
B.A. Fehrenbach explained that $833,000 will be invested in Riverside Park, plus $1.1 million in a Green Acre Grant to be used for a rescue vehicle, road repairs, and maintenance. “I can’t give you a report of how much the debt service will be at this time.” He went on to explain that for Ordinance No. 1 pertaining to Capital Improvements will be paid off in 10 years and for Ordinance No. 2 dealing with water/wastewater improvement, we have to satisfy the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Our 4-inch waterlines have to be increased. The transmission lines have to be separated. We’re looking to reduce our operating costs.”
Resident Stanley Sierakowski had a question regarding R-454-10/18 – Authorizing a settlement of the Workers Compensation Litigation entitled Michael Zylka vs. The City of Perth Amboy in the amount of $34,635.
Sierakowski wanted to know, “Was this an on the job injury? Are they still on the job?”
Fehrenbach explained, “The injury happened on the job and they were two injuries that happened at the same time. I believe the person is back at work in an administrative position.”
Resident Ken Balut had a question about R-459-10/18 – Authorizing a settlement of the matter of Christie Minigiello vs. the City of Perth Amboy in an amount not to exceed $45,756.”
Balut asked, “Who is the law firm that the City used?”
Law Director responded, “It was the DeCotiis Law Firm and the person in the suit (Minigiello) is an Animal Control employee.”
Balut then stated, “When you’re adding up all these lawsuits, Arlene Quinones-Perez was the lawyer (Law Director) at this time. The DeCotiis Law Firm has received a half million dollars after she left. Arlene is still benefiting from this. She was not working for the taxpayers.”
Fehrenbach responded to Balut, “All of the DeCotiis bills were reviewed, and I believe they were high. This is not current history. The DeCotiis Law Firm has to close out their old lawsuits and are not involved in any current law suits.”
Sharon Hubberman came up and thanked the Council for putting her Communication (No. 14) on the agenda: Sharon D. Hubberman, Municipal Chair of the Perth Amboy Republican Organization, advising the proposed legislature set to vote on the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey. The Republican Organization is requesting that the Council will enact an Ordinance that will address the usage of marijuana in the City. The organization strongly supports the enactment of an Ordinance similar to one passed in Old Bridge.
Hubberman stressed the fact that the law will prohibit any activities related to the passage of this law. “You must act on this now, or you’ll have to wait 3 years to act on it again. What’s the benefit on how it will impact the youth? We are close to New York. Old Bridge and South Amboy passed an ordinance to prohibit the usage of marijuana. Marijuana can be a gateway drug. The police will need more training on how to handle this additional problem. This will impact us, but not in a positive way.”
Alan Silber came up and spoke in reference to Communication No. 13 – City Resident Alan E. Silber calling on Mayor Wilda Diaz to resign. He then read the letter which you can see published in the 10/24/18 issue of the Amboy Guardian p.4.
Resident Ken Balut came up in regards to Communication No. 14. “Marijuana should be decriminalized. Take away the penalties and make it a desk ticket. Fehrenbach was right when he said the DeCotiis bills were high. DeCotiis Lawyer Arlene Quinones-Perez charged the City $90 to look at an OPRA Request that I put in. Our Mayor is not watching the bills and she’s friends with a partner from the DeCotiis Firm. The former B.A. got a $15,000 raise. These are all cover-ups. Thank God the Council stopped it. A lawyer was granted immunity. Mr. Caba and Mr. Irizarry, you benefitted from some of the (campaign) money. It’s sad that some of the citizens had to uncover the facts. Someone should look into bringing Mark Blunda (Former Law Director) back.”
Stanley Sierakowski came up to talk about he former Duane Marine Property. “The owner hasn’t paid taxes for 25 years and no liens were placed on the property. The City bought the 6 acres for $10. Kushner double-crossed Rosengarten on his property that he was supposed to acquire. Was the CFO informed of the property owner not paying taxes?”
Acting Business Administrator Greg Fehrenbach gave a detailed explanation of the property that Sierakowski mentioned, “From 2012 to 2013, the property had liens. Barry Rosengarten and the City had preferences. Sierakowski was correct about the taxes not being paid, but at the time the property had no value. There was no interest in the property. There was a Brownfield development group that would meet once a year. The property ran from the Arthur Kill and the Raritan River up to the Woodbridge property line. There are grants available to clean up the Brownfields. The property was determined to have negative value by the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection). In 2014, the City started the foreclosure process. $2.2 million in taxes were not paid on the property. The cost made the property less valuable. Between 2010 to 2014, the Mayor never said do not foreclose on the property. After the cleanup of the Duane Marine property, the property had to be turned over to the County for a park. I confirmed that with the records that are on file.”
Sharon Hubberman came up to speak again in regards to marijuana. “A driver was high on marijuana when they killed a Rutgers student. There should be a thought out process regarding this ordinance.” Hubberman then talked about an immense smell on Market Street as she headed towards the Waterfront. “I felt sick to my stomach. We need to reach out to the State to do a quality control on our air. It’s beyond the scope of the Middlesex County Health Department. The NJDEP and Middlesex County said they receive a lot of complaints about the air in Perth Amboy.”
Council President Bill Petrick responded, “The marijuana bill is still up in the air. Even if we pass a law that we won’t sell marijuana here, people can still legally use it.”
Vince Mackiel came up to speak next. “The use of alcohol has laws. 60% of our youth want pot legalized. Specify community concerns. Pot should not be used where young people will be. I’d also like to compliment those involved moving the tennis court improvements ahead. The community will benefit.”
Alan Silber came up and stated, “The Mayor took things to a different level. I’m obsessed with this LUPE PAC thing. They gave the Mayor $82,000 for her campaign in 2016. They are now endorsing 2 people on the Mayor’s campaign and ignored Milady Tejeda. They only endorse people who will benefit them. 2 of the people that they endorse are nurses who had a fundraiser called “Cigar Night” which is bad for your health. I hope they were smoking them. In one of the bios, it doesn’t mention Perth Amboy at all. In 2016, the Mayor said the Council has been a hindrance, even though she endorsed them at one time. She ran with men mostly. It seems like the only hindrance is the Mayor.”
Silber added, “Alcohol and cigarettes are legal, and you can get studies to support any point of view.”
Mrs. Martinez from Kearny Avenue came up to speak, “I am concerned about marijuana which will bring additional traffic into town and also about i the negative affects (of inhaling the fumes from marijuana). Our property values will go down. This is a beautiful city and I would hate to see the value decrease.”
Mr. Hernandez who is an employee with the Public Works Department, wanted an employee investigated from this Department. “I filed a complaint against DPW Director Frank Hoffman requesting that he be fired. An employee threatened to hurt others and himself, but the employee who made the threats got transferred instead.”
Council President Bill Petrick questioned Fehrenbach if he had known about this incident.
Fehrenbach responded, “I had some knowledge about it, but I had requested that Mr. Hernandez answer questions regarding this employee who made the threats.”
Resident David Caba came up to speak, “A lot is going on in this City. That incident that was just discussed is big. Can you imagine if we put 3 puppets in the City? I might consider leaving. LUPEPAC only supports 2 Latinas, but not Tejeda. One of the ones they endorse may not even live in Perth Amboy. Tejeda has been elected 3 times to the Board of Education and they don’t mention her? All decisions are being made by outsiders and the people are tired of the Mayor’s lies after 10 years.”
Resident Anna Daily came up to speak, “I want to thank everyone who helped to get the Thomas Mundy Peterson Plaque placed in the Council Chambers. The State Legislature has designated March 31st as Thomas Mundy Peterson Day. We need to get a statue erected of Mundy Peterson on High and Commerce Streets. An archeological dig is needed. Everything was set up, but the holdup was because of Kushner’s property. We could get the funding. Most of you were at the dedication. Thank you (the Council) for what you did now and what you’ll do in the future regarding Thomas Mundy Peterson.”
During the Council Comments, Fernando Gonzalez noticed that the Mayor sent a communication out stating she will be out of the office from October 25th, and returning November 12th. She also stated that she will not be appointing an Acting Mayor in her absence because she will still be in the area. She can be contacted by cell phone or her office will be available to take care of other matters.” Gonzalez added, “Since the Mayor didn’t feel it was important enough to appoint an acting Mayor while she was gone, we should consider making the Mayor’s position part-time instead of full-time.”
Irizarry spoke next. He encouraged everyone to come up and vote on November 6th. He supports an ordinance to prohibit selling marijuana in the City.
Joel Pabon asked if any action was taken on the tree on Elm Street where people were doing illegal activities.
Fehrenbach apologized and said, “No.”
Irizarry spoke up again and asked about part of Herbert Street near Smith Street that had to be dug up again because it was still bumpy.
Fehrenbach explained that it seemed like there was a problem, so the street had to be dug up again. When they paved the road the first time, the material hadn’t settled. That’s why it wasn’t as smooth as people thought it might be.
Council President Bill Petrick said, “We should see about creating a part-time Mayor position.” He also urged all to come out and exercise their God-given right to vote.
Joel Pabon wanted to recognize everyone who received awards for the Hispanic Heritage Month. “The Council was not made aware of the ceremony (held at the Jankowski Community Center).
Councilman Helmin Caba who at first had no comments to make then spoke up and repeated what Joel Pabon said about the Council not being invited to attend that presentation for Hispanic Heritage Month.
When it came to the Consent Agenda, R-448 to R-458, it was moved by Fernando Irizarry and seconded by Joel Pabon. For Resolution R-459-10/18, which was voted on after the Council came back from an hour closed session was moved by Irizarry and seconded by Pabon.
