South Amboy Council
4/3/19 Business Meeting
By: Katherine Massopust
SOUTH AMBOY – City Engineer Mark Rasimowicz stated that bids are going to be open on April 16th and awarded at the Council Meeting on April 17th for Pine Avenue road improvements.
For Business Item b.) Resolution for Emergency Sanitary Sewer Line Inspection and Cleaning on George Street. Rasimowicz stated there are sink holes on George Street and on March 13, repairs were being made.
Councilwoman Zusette Dato asked if this was a fairly regular happening since some of the piping is over 100 years old.
Rasimowicz explained that since there is a lot of old piping depressions form in the roadway. “Any kind of water leak that water will find its way into the road.”
Dato then asked if there was anything that the Council could do.
Rasimowicz explained the situation further, “We limit repairs to the pipe. These are the type of responses dollar wise to not do major repairs. We see if a problem needs to be addressed. It’s a process and it’s not cheap. The Sewer Department goes out cleaning lines. We aren’t equipped to do this, so we pay someone.”
Dato then asked Rasimowicz, “Do we get to a point we replace section by section?”
Rasimowicz answered, “We’ve been doing that – replacing depressed areas or sinkholes. We’re now more proactive. We did just get $600,000 in grant money from the DOT (Division of Transportation). This will be utilized for replacement of sanitary sewer. The Sanitation Department is cleaning lines.”
B.A. Glenn Skarzynski added there will be manhole replacement.
For Business Item c.) Resolution for Change Order #1 for South Feltus Street and Raritan Street Sanitary Sewer Pump Stations: Skarzynski stated there is an emergency generator on Feltus Street and Parker Street. “It’s a decrease of $350 overall. It’s from a grant out of Emergency Management.
d.) Resolution appointing a Clean Communities Coordinator. B.A. Skarzynski stated that the City is appointing Mr. Elliot for another year. “There will be 3 Beach Cleanups in April. One will be by Middlesex County College and one will be by Hackensack Meridian.”
City Council President Mickey Gross added that, “He (Elliot) is certified to be in charge of cleanups.”
e.) Resolution to release performance bond for Cambridge Players. Councilwoman Dato asked, “What do they do for this amount?”
City Engineer Mark Rasimowicz answered, “It goes from a performance bond to a maintenance bond.”
f.) Discuss Broadway/Main Street Redevelopment Ordinance. Skarzynski explained that there have been discussions of certain businesses not being allowed to extend the redevelopment zone for businesses to have more flexibility.
g.) Discuss 611 Bordentown Ave. additional parking places. B.A. Skarzynski stated that as part of the approval of the project, 21 public parking spaces were proposed in lieu of landscaping and there are 1.8 spots per unit giving a total of 21 parking spots.
City Engineer Mark Rasimowicz suggested to eliminate the 6 spots facing the homes and allow the 15 remaining parking spots. Councilwoman Dato agreed stating that the residents may have guests that wish to park temporarily in the extra spots. The Council agreed with this.
Councilman Reilly said, “The less people parking on the street will make the residents happy.”
h.) Reminder April Council Meeting – we are recognizing our volunteers. Councilman Thomas Reilly stated the following will be recognized at the April 17, 2019 Council Meeting: Richard Johnson – Fire Department; Elizabeth “Betty” Leveille – First Aid; Christian Petras – First Aid; Brian Noble – Recreation. Student Volunteers from the Fire Department: Michael Coman, Thomas Coman, Stephen McLaughlin, and Victoria Tierney and First Aid Cadets: Nadia Barcheski, Allison Leveille, Stephen McLaughlin, Taylor Salmon, Bryanna Tierney, and Victoria Tierney will also be recognized.
i.) Discuss Calendar for Government Week. Some of the Council Members will be greeting commuters at the Train Station on Tuesday, April 9th and Thursday, April 11th at 7:30 a.m.
j.) Resolution to Amend the 2019 Budget. It was explained that the City received a second grant and that it required a match and it was best to do it now and amend the budget now.
k.) Resolution to Install New Telecommunication System at all City Office Locations. B.A. Glenn Skarzynski stated, “All City locations will be satisfied in several respects.” He explained that the old outdated system of copper wiring is being replaced by the internet. “It’s more efficient at a lower cost.”
Council President Gross added, “If there is some sort of emergency, we’re on top of the list.” It was noted that key personnel are given priority and now will be able to communicate with the City quickly in case of a disaster. “AT&T reprogrammed our phones.”
B.A. Skarzynski stated, “The City will provide each of you with voicemail box and you will able to dial and retrieve messages wherever you are. The second serves at the Senior Center.”
Council Comments:
Councilwoman Zusette Dato stated Freeholder Director Ron Rios has asked about Conrail and the Hole in the Wall. “There’s no visible progress. This was shared with him. It’s being inspected daily.”
City Engineer Mark Rasimowicz stated, “We’re on top of the Hole in the Wall. The County is out there every day are pursing it (repairs) thru legal action with Conrail.”
Vice President Christine Noble asked about potholes.
B.A. Skarzynski stated that the City now has new machinery which has the ability to fix the potholes with hot asphalt.
Councilman Thomas Reilly asked if the City had reached an agreement regarding Broadway this summer. “There’s no contact with regards to the next Business Association Meeting. Who schedules the car shows every other Friday?”
It was answered that the Fire Department schedules the car shows.
B.A. Skarzynski added, “We’re within a couple of weeks of getting something done.”
Councilman Brian McLaughlin asked if the Council could have a tent for the many local events.
Council President Mickey Gross stated he had already ordered a 10’x10’ portable tent with the City logo on it which will be easy for the DPW to set up for events.
Councilman Thomas Reilly stated the garage on First Street is an absolute mess. “The guy who lives behind him has stuff blowing in his yard. It’s getting worse.”
The Council was happy that Opening Day of little league baseball and softball is on April 13, 2019. Councilman Reilly wanted to know if some of the ball fields could be redone. It was noted that some of the fields are City owned and should be maintained by the City.”
Skarzynski stated, “We need to train our personnel in recreational field maintenance. If we invest that kind of money in improvement, we should maintain the fields.”
Reilly then stated there will be no Memorial Day Parade this year. Council President Mickey Gross adamantly stated that rumors were going around that the City cancelled the parade. “That is not true. The Veterans decided not to have a parade. The Parade Committee and City volunteered to run the parade, but the Veterans said no.”
Mayor Henry added, “It wasn’t the City – it was the Veterans.” Henry went on to say that the Veterans felt there was not enough people watching the parades. “They still are going to the cemeteries (and having a brief ceremony).”
Councilwoman Dato added, “The services were incredible (at the cemeteries).”
Mayor Henry stated, “There are only a couple of cemeteries in South Amboy. They do a great job. It’s a shame that people don’t come out to support them.”
Dato stated the Veterans will still be honored with their pictures in the windows.
Councilman Reilly stated that he and Council Vice President Christine Noble visited the First Aid and it opened their eyes. “The challenges they’re having, what they’re up against. We listened to their concerns.” Reilly stated their main problem is they need more membership.
City Engineer Mark Rasimowicz stated that Stevens Avenue will be paved and milled the week of the 22nd. Some roads in the southern part of town have been milled and paved.
Council President Mickey Gross stated that Mark Herdman spoke at the National Association of County and City Health Officials last Wednesday in St. Louis, Missouri last week (March 27, 2019). He also stated the Fireworks will be held on July 3, 2019. “Festivities start at 4 p.m. The YMCA is involved. We’ll have face painting, clowns, street performers and more. We are going to reach out to every organization in town looking for their participation and support. The fireworks will begin at 9:20 p.m. It will be joined with Perth Amboy.”
Mayor Fred Henry thanked Tom (Reilly) for Government Week for dedicating his time. He also thanked Mark Rasimowicz for obtaining the $607,000 grant. “It is a very competitive grant and he got it! It’s a big boom for South Amboy. Our infrastructure is very important, and it allows us to do things.”
All Council Members were present. The next Regular South Amboy Council Meeting is on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.
