1/6/20 Caucus
By: Carolyn Maxwell
PERTH AMBOY – Councilman Fernando Irizarry questioned how the subtotals came about regarding the budget status reports as of November 2019 involving their revenue appropriations for the current funds (water/wastewater, the Parking Utility, and Harborside Marina).
Business Administrator Frederick Carr stated, “Some of the totals were items that were settled during litigation.”
CFO Comptroller Jill Goldy then came up and stated that in 2013 some items were fully funded with funds from previous grants and the council had made revisions from previous amendments.
Irizarry still questioned the subtotals. He stated that when he added up the figures, he came up with a different total. He also questioned Ordinance No. 1 regarding the renovations to the library in an amount of $3,496,115.98. “When can we anticipate the work to start?”
B.A. Carr responded, “You (the council) will be approving the architects and after that, you will be in charge of approving the contractors.”
Goldy then added, “You’ll be voting on this ordinance at the next meeting. The money that is submitted on the ordinance now will not change.”
The discussion then moved on to Resolution R-5-1/20 Appointments to the Perth Amboy Planning Board for a 1-year term to expire on 12/31/2020 and R-6-1/20 – Appointments as the Commissioner of the Perth Amboy Housing Authority for a term ending 12/31/2024.
Council President William Petrick said he would like to be reappointed to the Planning Board.
There was also a question regarding R-15-1/20 – An agreement with Center State Engineering for a project cost for design engineering specifications, bid documents, and construction inspection for the 2019 DOT Road Paving projects for State Street/Market Street to Sadowski Parkway/Lewis Street in an amount not to exceed $38,000.
Irizarry asked, “Will Lewis Street be paved in its entirety?”
DPW Director Frank Hoffman came forward, “If after all the other streets are done first, if there is money left over, then Lewis Street will be done in its entirety.”
Irizarry then questioned R-18-1/20 – For the city officials to enter into a CFC-HCFC Subsidy Agreement with the County of Middlesex addressing environmental issues such as the depletion of the ozone layer.
He questioned, “How will they be recovered?”
B.A. Carr explained, “It is an interlocking agreement with the county and the city can’t do it on our own.”
Council President Petrick spoke up, “This will be done on site with the Department of Public Works.”
Carr went into a little more detail and explained, “There has to be drainage from one storage tank to another.”
Irizarry felt that the resolutions should have been retitled.
Petrick then asked, “Would this be under Geri Barcheski’s department because this involves recycling?”
Carr responded, “No.”
Irizarry then questioned R-20-1/20 Authorizing a contract with Pride Landscape Supply for material and equipment for youth primarily in the Parks Department in an amount not to exceed $19,003.20.
“What kind of equipment and material are we looking at?”
DPW Director Hoffman explained, “This would be regular Parks material. That includes dry materials, saws, snow removal equipment, and salters. The Police Department will also use this equipment.”
Irizarry then questioned R-21-1/20 – Authorizing the submission of a grant application to Middlesex County through the Department of Community Services for funding of the Census 2020 Campaign in the Amount of $15,000.
Irizarry asked, “What will the money be used for?”
B.A. Carr explained, “It will be for public information meetings, handing out materials, and to offset our expenses and to help pay for salaries.”
Public Portion:
Resident Ken Balut came up to speak. He asked the council if they had received the check from Rector Street regarding paving the road. “It’s been 11 years for the library (incomplete renovations).” He then talked about the Y, “It’s been 14 years for their contract, and yet they are buying houses.” He then talked about 2 lawsuits, one involving a city employee, the other involving a resident. “So far, there are over $300,000 in legal fees. No one is managing anything. There is a billboard on New Street. Is anybody getting a commission for it? Was it someone related to a Code Enforcement officer? School buses are parked illegally in the Budapest area. We always complain about not having enough money. I hear there is a lot of bickering and fighting going on in Code Enforcement. Have the Comptroller’s Office do an audit of Code Enforcement. There was a signed memorandum agreement by the Business Administrator and Mayor with the police union. The police raises are slow and low. We have no money for police and why is there no movement on this memorandum agreement. You should be ashamed we don’t give the police the raise.”
Councilman Joel Pabon spoke up and asked if the school buses that are parking in the Budapest section were on someone’s property.
Councilman Irizarry answered, “The owner of those buses had a truck put gravel put down on his private hedged property. He then parks his bus in his driveway. I called Code Enforcement about this and I was told the bus owner had been given a grace period to find a place to park his buses.”
Pabon then stated, “We need to look into this. Money is being pocketed. They were supposed to have someone find a spot to park those buses. I remember that parking lot near McDonald’s (on New Brunswick Avenue). There were buses parked there for a long time. In Keasbey, some drivers park their buses under the bridge, but we allow buses to park in their driveways.” He then questioned if there is any money for the PBA. “We seem to be the only ones unaware of this.”
B.A. Carr then reminded the Council that they talked about the PBA contract in a closed session at the special 12/16/19 council meeting.
