South Amboy Council
3/20/19 Council Meeting
By: Katherine Massopust
SOUTH AMBOY – During the Council Comments part of the 3/20/19 Council Meeting, Councilman Thomas Reilly thanked everyone for a successful St. Patrick’s Day. “It was well attended, and the businesses did well. I applaud Mickey Gross (Chair of the parade) and crew for that.” He also stated that there are new businesses in town such as JAVA Dave’s. “There also is a ribbon cutting this Saturday – a new dental business on Bordentown Ave.” Reilly then added that Government Week is April 7 thru April 14. He also stated that on April 17 the volunteers in town will be celebrated. “We will be doing something with the school kids.”
Councilman Brian McLaughlin asked City Engineer Mark Rasimowicz about the Hole in the Wall. Rasimowicz stated that they are currently working on it. He also stated that the Bridge on Washington Avenue on the border of South Amboy and Parlin that work was being done. “As for lower Main Street, we don’t have a start date, we’re waiting to get authorization by the State, and we’re set to go.”
Council Vice President Christine Noble thanked the Parade Committee and all the honorees.
B.A. Glenn Skarzynski noted that the Dowdell Library will be celebrating 105 years of serving the community. “Elaine (Gaber) does a great job.”
Law Director Francis Womack thanked former Law Director John Lanza stating that he helped make the transition go smoothly.
Council President Mickey Gross stated, “Mark Herdman had run a drill about dispensing pills during an emergency situation. Now he will be giving a presentation in St. Luis along with myself next week at the National Conference (National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)).”
The Amboy Guardian reached out to Herdman to explain further what his presentation will be about. He stated that South Amboy had worked with Middlesex County Health Department about a drill of a plan of dispensing medication in case of an attack (such as an anthrax attack by terrorists) for a community with a population less than 10,000. The drill had taken place in June 2018. “Instead of everyone going to the PODs (Point of Dispensing (at designated spots)), we would bring the medication to them.” Herdman will be giving the presentation on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in St. Luis.
Gross then thanked the people behind the scenes who do all the work. He then stated the fireworks will be on July 3rd, 2019. “We’ll blow everyone away. We want the fireworks to be a homecoming. Mark your calendars for July 3rd. I promise it will be a good show.” Gross then introduced the new CFO (Chief Financial Officer) Dan Balka.
Mayor Fred Henry thanked Mickey Gross and everyone on the parade committee, the Police and Fire Departments and First Aid Squad. He also mentioned it was the 39th Anniversary of the Tournament of Champions in New Jersey. “Back in 1989 the girls’ basketball team won. Christine Noble was on that team. All the firetrucks greeted the team when they came back and celebrated. We had a great time.”
Henry then added, Standard and Poor’s have increased our rating up by two notches. It was a great jump. I’m very pleased what’s going on in the City. Financially, we are going in the right direction.”
During the public portion, Resident Jackie Giordano asked a few questions. “The building by the train station – the roof blew off. What’s going on with that? Is the owner of the property responsible?”
B.A. Glenn Skarzynski answered, “Ultimately, yes. We’ve just had a meeting with the Mayor, Law Director and myself about this.”
The building in question is on the corner of Broadway and John Street. “We are currently in contact with New Jersey Transit. As a City, we can take it down, but the City will have to pay around $100,000 to do so. If the owner demolishes the building, NJ Transit asked two things: a $35,000 escrow and a safety class (a 4-hour course on operating safely around an active rail line) for the demolition team.”
Skarzynski stated that the land still belongs to the owner regardless who knocks down the building. Mayor Fred Henry added, “If it doesn’t come down next week, we can get a court order to take it down ourselves. We take that expense. He (the owner) is ultimately responsible. He owns the property. It will be a lien on it.”
Skarzynski added, “He owns two corners. NJ Transit owns the middle piece. If any property becomes available for purchase, we (the City) would love to buy it for parking. He (the owner) is not intending to sell it. NJ Transit does not want to part with the middle piece.”
Council President Gross said, “We’ve spent hundreds of hours on this problem. I’d love to knock it down and be over with it. It’s frustrating. It’s an eyesore.”
Giordano then asked about the status of the Ferry.
B.A. Skarzynski answered, “Spring 2020. It will be open. The City will be done with what we have to do the middle of this summer. We have to do dredging. We’re confident to make it a reality.”
Giordano then asked about the Art District. “There was a falling out…?”
Skarzynski answered, “The Art District is still around. We’re forming a new non-profit which will tentatively be called: Mayor’s Civic Enrichment Fund (working title). In addition to the Arts, Youth Athletics, the South Amboy Historical Society, and other groups in the City will be involved.”
Resident Brandon Russell asked about the budget and a new fire truck in 2020.
Skarzynski answered, “The purchase of fire truck will be an internal decision by the Fire Department.”
Russell asked if the $700,000 in PILOT money will be going to the school district. Skarzynski answered that the City already received those funds from Woodmont for 2019.
Russell then asked why the minutes of the October 22, 2018 meeting were not on the City’s website.
City Clerk Laura Kemble-Kalantsis stated she will have to see if they are done.
Councilwoman Zusette Dato was not present at the Meeting. The next Council Meeting will be on April 17, 2019.
