2/11/19 Caucus
PERTH AMBOY – One of the topics of discussion was a Capital Budget Proposal. Former B.A. Greg Fehrenbach spoke first. “There were no proposed expenditures with the water and wastewater utilities. There are no new projects. They are finishing up old projects. The Council will receive an introduced budget to be adopted in late April or May and a bond ordinance then would be introduced.”
Deputy Police Chief
Larry Cattano
Fire Chief Ed Mullen came up to discuss a few of the items in the Fire Department Capital Budget Proposal. He stated, “There would be $150,000 for a traffic/light and gate control for the new school (by the Public Safety Complex). This would be $500,000 cost to the City. We will also be recycling equipment that can be put in other vehicles in the department.”
Acting Police Chief Roman McKeon came up to talk about the proposals for the Police Department. “We need to get a new fingerprinting/scanning system. The one that we have now is 15 years old. We also need a new thermal plastic lining machine to paint the yellow curb lines and crosswalk lines. The new one that we’re looking to get is more efficient and it has a smaller tank. It will work much better in our parking lots.”
Deputy Police Chief Larry Cattano then came up to speak, “The old one that we have now has a large propane tank and it’s good to use on larger streets and big parking lots that have longer parking lines.”
McKeon then continued to speak, “We also need to purchase a wide format printer for the street signs. This new printer will use the same materials as the old one. We also need a vehicle loader and equipment to tow our own cars. We will be training someone inhouse to do this.”
The next topic was the Handicapped Parking Committee. Council President Bill Petrick wanted it to go back to the old way.
City Clerk Victoria Kupsch said, “Only two people who were on the Committee wanted to return.”
Chief McKeon spoke up, “There’s only one officer on the Committee.”
Acting Police Chief
Roman McKeon
Petrick then requested that any renewals should be going back to the way in the past.
Kupsch responded, “A lot of the new requests have been addressed. Now, we only have 31 new requests.”
Petrick suggested that the Committee should only deal with new requests coming in.
Kupsch agreed and said, “The Committee does not want to go over any medical records.”
Petrick concluded, “The Committee should not review medical records and with any new applicants coming in, a doctor’s note should be sufficient. Renewals will be done through the Clerk’s Office and not the Handicapped Parking Committee.”
There was a resolution: R-75-2/19 Accepting the proposal of and awarding a contract to the firm of Magone and Company, P.C. for audit services regarding the agreement City of Perth Amboy/Raritan Bay Area YMCA operating a facility at the Public Safety Complex in an amount not to exceed $25,000.
Law Director Peter King explained, “This is to do a forensic audit of the last 10 years to try to get back money from the Y.
Councilman Joel Pabon then stated, “$25,000 is a lot. I hope we get something out of this.”
King then explained, “This is to go through all of their (the Y’s) documents.”
Fire Chief Mullen came forward to talk about R-76-2/19 – Authorizing the proper City Officials to submit an application to FEMA for the Port Security Grant Program 2019 to be used for the replacement of Marine 5.
“The new boat will be at zero cost to the City. To maintain the boat will be between $10,000-$12,000. The existing boat is falling apart, and we will be trading it in.”
Greg Fehrenbach gave an explanation of R-79-2/19 – Accepting the Safe & Secure Communities Program Grant in the amount of $60,000 administered by the division of Criminal Justice, Department of Law and Public Safety. “This would be to offset wages and salaries of Police Officers.”
CFO Jill Goldy then added that the money is going to surplus.
Business Administrator Frederick Carr talked about R-80-2/19 – A local Arts Program Grant from Middlesex County Office of Arts and History for the 2019 Arts Program in the amount of $2,800. “This is the CDBG grant for an oral history program.”
He also explained R-81-2/19 – A Grant to provide services and innovative approaches for at-risk youth in Middlesex County in the amount of $56,580. “This is also a CDBG grant.”
On Resolution R-83-2/19 – Accepting a grant from the MCO of Arts and History through the Perth Amboy Office of Economic and Community Development/Historic Preservation Commission in the amount of $4,500.
Carr explained that this is for oral history.
Council President Bill Petrick disagreed. At the time, no one was present to speak about this.
Deputy Police Chief Larry Cattano spoke about R-89. A contract to NAPA Autoparts for the purchase of a tire-changer in accordance with Sourcewell, a national co-op in an amount not to exceed the sum of $13,599.99. “This equipment can change up to 22-inch tires. The old one we have now is not able to.”
Fehrenbach gave an explanation on R-94 – An emergency contract with A & D Industrial Pump Repair Companies for Emergency Repairs to the Ranney Well 4 MGD Pump at the Runyon Water Treatment Plant in an amount not to exceed $26,629.00. “The pump had given way and it was better to replace to it.”
When it came to the public portion, Resident Ken Balut spoke first, “It was about time that they did the audit of the Y. They owe us over $2 million. The Charter School is paying them to use the facilities.” He also suggested that parties involved should have a practice run to make sure all the equipment installed runs properly before the school opens up. He then talked about the different lawsuits involved with the City and what is the City’s liability. “Our liability is $250,000 on lawsuits. It used to be $100,000. Did you know we were changing our liabilities?”
Law Director King explained, “That number is actually down because the figure was based on old cases.”
Balut then asked, “Can we get a list of those cases?”
Balut then talked about handicapped parking spaces. He stated there is handicapped parking on his street that are not in compliance. “What are we hiring the private investigator for regarding sexual harassment? You should hire investigators to investigate lawyers.”
Businesswoman Sharon Hubberman came up to speak next, “Last Tuesday (2/5/19) there was a strong smell of gas on Amboy Avenue. The Fire Department response was wonderful, and we need to support them more. The KinderMorgan pipeline exposes us to too many chemicals. There are issues with the sewer system. Our EMT’s are exposed to these chemicals. People are knocking on doors in Ward 6 District 5 and telling people it’s mandatory to install solar panels. These people do not have permits.” Hubberman then asked, “Can the Council implement an environmental committee? We have been having terrible smells lately.”
City Clerk Kupsch responded to one of Hubberman’s concerns. “Solicitors have to come to our office and have to be approved by the Police Department.”
Resident Renee Skelton came up to speak. She remarked about the grant given the Historic Preservation Commission (R-83). “This is for a research project.” She stated it will help establish boundaries for potential historic properties. She then stated why she came to speak before the Council. “The private buses that were parked on Sayre Avenue have been gone since July 2018. The Zoning Board never voted on this matter. The Zoning Board just told their representatives (for the owner of those buses) to come back to secure the buses and not make them an eyesore. The bus company did this on their own (move the buses) but I see they are back on the Zoning Board Agenda. No one in the neighborhood knew this. This will affect our property values. The Zoning Board should have postponed this meeting. It’s too late to cancel the Zoning Board Meeting. Is there some way to pass an ordinance so people know that if a matter is not resolved, it has to be carried over to the next Zoning Board Meeting?”
Law Director King responded, “The Zoning Board should have requested to carry this matter over.”
Fehrenbach then added, “There could be a challenge to the Zoning Board.”
Law Director King then told Skelton, “You can address this matter when they (the Zoning Board) ask for comments from the public.” King then told the Council, “You have control over the Zoning Board to make suggestions.”
Resident and Businessman David Caba came forward to speak. He stated, “I have been in Perth Amboy for 36 years. Based on the last time I was here, it was said there was zero Chaplains as of now. It’s nothing against the Chaplains, but what are they being used for? Is it for the good of the City, or for political purposes? We went from 2 to 90. I know one who has integrity and doesn’t attend Council Meetings. God cannot be used as a toy, and we need answers.”
Acting Police Chief McKeon came up to answer Caba’s concerns, “Between 28-30 of the Police Chaplains were reinstated. We need a letter from their church, and they have to have a brick and mortar building. Sgt. Zaleski is in charge of the Chaplains. They are called when there is a death notification or a hostile situation. They have an office in our building. I remember how they counseled the firemen when the Fire Chief passed away. They don’t cost the City any money. They have helped us when we needed someone to cook and when we have tours for children.”
Council President Bill Petrick said, “I remembered seeing some of the out-of-town Chaplains passing out campaign literatures in the City when they were in their uniforms.”
McKeon said, “I know that this happened, and it was stopped.”
Councilman Joel Pabon said, “I know Chaplains are present 24 hours/7days a week and we commend those who are active.”
McKeon then explained, “They (Chaplains who are out-of-towners and in uniform working on campaigns) are no longer working in Perth Amboy.”
Resident Vince Mackiel came up to speak, “In November and December, there were three accidents involving City garbage trucks. You need at least two people working on them. Was the vehicle put out of service? You need appropriate staff.” He then talked about the new fire equipment that will have the foam. “Buckeye is donating $100,000 towards it. Did the City every consider having a Wind Service come in? I’m always walking Convery Blvd and the Waterfront and I always see excavating signs on those streets. When are you going to talk about the future of our City? There are four spills on the agenda tonight. Cleanups and remediations are always going on. Stop greenlighting these projects. Look at Denmark and see what they are doing.”
Council President Bill Petrick responded to Mackiel’s comments about Wind Services, “The State did not allow some of these projects.”
Mackiel concluded with, “We need to move away from fossil fuels.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry was not present due to illness.
