1/8/20 Council Meeting
By: Carolyn Maxwell
Council President
William Petrick
Councilman
Fernando Irizarry
PERTH AMBOY – During the first public portion, on agenda items only, Resident Ken Balut came up to speak first. He wanted more information about R-16-1/20 – Authorizing a contract with Eighteen Glass Company for removal of 2 existing glazing and replacement with level 2 bullet resistant glass at the Public Safety Complex in an amount not to exceed $24,600.
Balut asked, “Was this due to something that occurred?”
Council President Bill Petrick responded, “That was something that already had occurred.”
Business Administrator Frederick Carr explained that one of the laminated glasses cracked.
Balut then responded, “It was because the building was put on a stream.”
After the first public portion, the Council voted on the resolutions. For the consent agenda, R-2-1/20 thru R-8-1/20 thru R-25-1/20 was moved by Councilman Fernando Irizarry and seconded by Councilman Joel Pabon.
Councilman Joel Pabon requested that R-7-1/20 – Authorizing temporary budget appropriations for calendar year 2020 Municipal Budget be pulled because it needed a further explanation.
Pabon stated that he saw changes from Monday’s agenda. “This doesn’t add up with the wages in the Mayor’s Office. There are significant increases.”
Business Administrator Frederick Carr responded, “The Mayor’s Aide (Jeanette Rios) who had been moved to my office (as an Executive Assistant) was now moved back to the Mayor’s Office. There was also a retirement in my office. A clerk was added in my office on January 1, 2020.”
Pabon then questioned, “Was a person moved because they were not needed? And where were they moved to?”
Carr then continued, “I lost a couple of people from my office. An employee left to take a job in another city and then there were also pregnancy leaves.”
Pabon spoke again, “There is a director who left their post to help in your office and that director is covering 2 positions (the office that they were in and in the Business Administrator’s Office).”
Council President William Petrick then spoke up, “They said that she was so important (referring to the person who is a director in Olive Street and now she is also helping out in the B.A.’s office).”
Carr spoke up again, “Yes, that’s true. The Mayor also had to have someone to cover additional duties and that person who came back as Mayor’s Aide was given an additional $6,000 per year.”
Substitute Law Director Roman B. Himiak said, “The legislative branch of the government (the Council) is questioning the executive branch (Mayor’s office).”
Petrick spoke up again, “Now, how do we monitor salary increases? We are supposed to watch over the money.”
Pabon also questioned, “It looks like the raise was hidden. Rios is going back as the Mayor’s Aide and getting a raise.”
Petrick spoke up again, “This is important (because it involves labor and their contracts).”
Pabon then wanted to thank Business Administrator Frederick Carr and Public Works for fixing the fractured glass in the Public Safety Complex.
Petrick then insisted that they adjust the amount that was stated in R-7-1/20 to what it was on the January 6, 2020 Caucus Agenda.
Carr spoke up to further explain what happened, “There was change in personnel in my office, but the amount of money was not changed.”
Petrick then made a correction, “Just change the amount of money that was in the Mayor’s budget that was on the agenda on Monday.”
City Clerk Victoria Kupsch said, “The amount for R-7 will be adjusted back to $37,007.”
Council President Bill Petrick asked there to be a motion to change the Resolution R-7 back to what it was at the January 6, 2020 meeting.
Councilman Fernando Irizarry made the motion and Pabon seconded it.
At the end Carr said, “There are 2 people down in my department.”
Petrick then asked, “I know in the past a person has left a job in the city for a job someplace else – another town and then came back to that prior position in the city.”
Carr explained, “They come back to that position if it is still open, but there will be a break in their service.”
At the last public portion, Resident Ken Balut came back up to speak. He showed his displeasure with the $6,000 raise given to one employee. “This is sick. They (the administration) are playing games by saying there is no money. The incompetency of this administration is sad. There are buses parked illegally. In 2012, there was supposed to be an audit of the city of Perth Amboy. That should have been done. An audit was requested of Code Enforcement, the YMCA, and the Police Department. None of this investigation was done. Somewhere along the line, the investigation was cut. The First Time Homebuyers was investigated. The person who got the raise also got a First Time Homebuyers grant. What about the PILOT’s (payment in lieu of taxes) cost? Cops are leaving after they get trained and you only gave them a 2.5% raise instead of a $6,000 raise.”
The next person who came up to speak was Resident Dorothy Carty-Daniel. She wanted to thank the council for reappointing her to the Housing Authority. “I sit on a national board and I am proud that we are looked at as an example on how a Housing Authority should be run.” She also wanted to know if we still have a Chamber of Commerce. “I was driving on Smith Street on Christmas day and it bothered me to see how many stores were open. Everyone deserves to have a day off no matter what religion they are.”
Council Comments:
Councilman Fernando Irizarry spoke first. “I want to thank PRAHD, the Recreation Department and other organizations involved for their Three Kings Celebration this weekend. Both events were filled to capacity. I heard they had to stop people who were coming into the Rose Lopez School for the Three Kings Presentation because it was too crowded.” He also questioned the barriers on Rte. 35 (From Sayre Avenue to Fayette Street). “What’s going on? It’s a major inconvenience and I see no work being done. I only saw a piece of rail that was removed that was under the bridge. I thought the state was interested in getting the work done right away. We should also look into the pro’s and con’s of having a plastic bag ban.” Irizarry then complained about the streetlights that are still out on the corner of Barclay and Amboy Avenue. “People like the new store that opened, but the lighting issue still persists.”
Councilman Joel Pabon spoke next and echoed Irizarry’s complaints about the streetlights in that intersection. Pabon thanked Geri Barcheski and DPW Director Frank Hoffman for getting the recycling grant. He also requested that the pedestrian crosswalk sign should be placed on both sides of the street. “I also have an issue at the Ceres School on State Street. Parents let the kids out on the wrong side of the street, and they double-park. One of the crossing guards talked to parents about that problem. Maybe we should send a letter to parents and then monitor the situation. The parents and the school blame each other. I didn’t know that crossing guards had privileges to park their cars at the corner where there’s yellow lines. It’s a problem because the bus stops where the yellow lines are and there are also cars parked there. Something needs to be done. I want to thank all that were involved in the Three Kings Celebration held at PRAHD and at the Rose Lopez School.”
Councilwoman Milady Tejeda spoke next. She also echoed the sentiments of Irizarry and Pabon. She thanked all those involved with the Three Kings Celebration, “Kudos to them!” Tejeda was not happy when she stated, “It’s sad we can’t trust what is put in front of us. (referring to the temporary budget that was changed from Monday to Wednesday). It’s disrespectful to us. Raises were given that we were not aware of. Be more respectful for us because we have to represent the community. I wish for a better communication and relationship with the administration.”
Pabon added additional comments, “The Board of Adjustments had many applications for the vacancies. We need to interview those people. If we are the appointing authority, then let’s do it!”
City Clerk Victoria Kupsch said, “January 3, 2020 was the deadline to apply for any board vacancies. If you want to interview the applicants, it’s up to you how you want this set up.”
Councilman Irizarry suggested, “Perhaps 2 or 3 applicants can be present at each agenda meeting.”
Kupsch said, “Let me know so I can notify the applicants (when they are to appear before the council).”
Irizarry asked the clerk if she had submitted the requirements for each board.
Kupsch responded, “When the applicants fill out the forms, the requirements are in there.”
Council President Petrick wondered if the PARA Board Members need to live in the city. “I see on the Board of Adjustments there are vacancies for 2 alternate positions.” He concluded his remarks by wishing all a Blessed and Happy New Year. “I look forward to it and the possibility for improvement. If you see any city lights out, please report it. There are numbers on each pole.”
Councilman Helmin Caba was absent.
