5/26/20 Council Meeting via Phone Conference
By: Katherine Massopust
SOUTH AMBOY – The 5/26/20 was originally scheduled on 5/20/20 but was rescheduled due to the call-in meeting information on the agenda was incorrect. The meeting was called to order via teleconference at 7:02 p.m.
The first order of business was to resolve with the grievance filed by Officer Brain Noble which was carried over from the May 6, 2020 meeting. When asked, Officer Noble stated that no resolution had been made.
President Gross suggested a vote by the council of whether or not to uphold the decision of the Business Administrator. Councilwoman Zusette Dato made the motion to uphold the decision of the B.A. regarding the grievance. Councilman Thomas Riley seconded the motion.
Each Council Member made a statement regarding how they voted.
Councilwoman Dato stated, “Sgt. Noble has acted admirable. I’m voting “Yes.””
Councilman Brian McLaughlin stated, “This concerns labor and management, I’m voting “No.””
Council Vice-President Christine Noble who recused herself from the discussion abstained.
Councilman Thomas Reilly stated, “My first comment as grievances such as this, I refer back to the attorney. That’s the direction I am moving in. I vote “Yes.””
Council President Mickey Gross voted “Yes.”
The votes are: 3 Yes; 1 No; 1 Abstention. Motion passes.
Council President Gross stated, “There is no reason in the world we cannot work out our differences.”
Officer Brian Noble stated, “This is my third meeting. I’ve done everything to make the union’s issues resolved between the union and the city.”
The Amboy Guardian reached out to the City of South Amboy to explain the grievance. B.A. Glenn Skarzynski gave following statement:
“At the beginning of the Covid crisis the Chief of Police developed a new schedule to limit exposure of police personnel to potentially infected persons. In doing so he transitioned his personnel from a 5/2, 5/2, 5/3 schedule based on a 9.5 hour day to a new schedule of 3 on 3 off, 3 on home standby 3 off based on a 12 hour day. This change compelled the PBA to file a grievance indicating that since their schedule was memorialized in the contract it was not permitted to make a schedule change. The City’s position cited another passage in the contract which states that in a declared emergency the Chief of Police has the right to make such a change on a temporary basis. In our grievance process the first step is to submit to the Business Administrator. I denied the grievance based on the language in the contract permitting the Chief to make the change. The PBA elected to go to the next step in the grievance process which is a hearing in front of the City Council. After their presentation the City Council ultimately upheld my denial by a vote of 3 to 1. Council Member Noble had to recuse herself from the process as Sgt. Noble the SOA President is her brother. The PBA/SOA now has the option of step three which is a hearing in front of an arbitrator. At this time we have not received a notification that they have exercised that option.”
For the consent agenda, Councilman Thomas Reilly had several questions about item number No. 20-236 – A resolution of the city council of the city of South Amboy supporting the enactment of Assembly Bill No. 3971 and Senate Bill No. 2475 to authorize the issuance of coronavirus relief bonds by municipalities and counties.
Law Director Francis Womack stated, “It will allow municipalities to front specific coronavirus bonds.”
Reilly requested information on the use of all of these monies.
B.A. Glenn Skarzynski stated, “We’re not currently seeking bonds for anything but coronavirus (related). We have absolutely no intention of doing this.”
Reilly then asked, “The 3 million is not attached to this resolution?”
B.A. Skarzynski answered, “It will give you (the council) the ability to meet shortcomings (as a result of the coronavirus). They are not tied in. The bonding we are doing is for capital purposes. The rate is favorable. Dan (Director of Revenue and Finance and CFO Balka) was satisfied. We got a better rate that we normally would have under these circumstances.”
Councilman Thomas Reilly requested that the agenda items be voted upon individually instead of grouping them together as they were in the agenda. “There’s 14 different items. The uncertainties of the economic climate – I’m in favor of the fire truck. There could be other items in there we would want to move on.”
B.A. Glenn Skarzynski said, “We are watching our dimes. I absolutely assure you we are being economically responsible.”
Council Comments:
Vice-President Christine Noble had no comments but wished everyone to be safe.
Councilwoman Zusette Dato reminded everyone, “There’s still time to complete your 2020 Census forms. Also, our primary election date has been moved to July 7, 2020. It’s very easy to vote by mail.”
Councilman Thomas Reilly thanked the First Presbyterian Church Food Pantry. “It is incredible how so many people help in a time of need. I thank First Presbyterian Church, the Friends of South Amboy, and our first responders.” He then in honor of Memorial Day, “I acknowledge those who sacrificed their lives.”
Reilly then asked what the city’s reopening plan is. B.A. Glenn Skarzynski answered, “We’re waiting to hear from the state. We’ll be continuing with wearing masks in City Hall and in the public.”
Reilly then turned his attention to Woodmont, who has recently been sold. “What do we know of the new owner of Woodmont? $43 million for a piece of South Amboy with a PILOT. I want to know about the buyer. We should be doing our due diligence. We don’t know anything about the buyer.”
B.A. Glenn Skarzynski told him that next week they will have this discussion.
Councilman Reilly asked, “If we have additional content, we need to share it with the council via email.” Reilly also stated he wanted the meetings to be put on Facebook. Reilly had additional comments about technical issues and the reason why the last meeting (5/20/20) was postponed. “To put out to the public – that the public is not there – we have to adjourn the meeting.”
Law Director Francis Womack answered, “An amendment would be in an ordinance. Other towns in New Jersey have this regarding electronically conducted meetings.”
Reilly agreed with Womack.
Council President Mickey Gross commented, “We are not the only municipality with issues going on.”
Reilly then asked about the 4-hour parking signs that he wanted taken down (on certain streets).
B.A. Glenn Skarzynski stated, “If the council wants them down, we’ll take them down.”
Reilly then brought up another issue, “We have boarding houses in town. They are inspected by the state. I don’t want to leave that to the state. We need to take ownership of that. They have revolving doors.”
Council President Mickey Gross added, “What I’m proposing is to enable us to have a local inspector inspect the boarding houses. We’ll get reimbursed for it.”
Reilly added, “We need proper regulations for the boarding houses.”
Gross said, “It’s in the hands of the mayor and administration. The state will allow you once a year to do the inspection.”
B.A. Skarzynski stated he would get working on that.
Councilman Brian McLaughlin thanked all those involved during this pandemic and asked, “What are we doing for non-essential businesses?”
B.A. Glenn Skarzynski answered that the city is waiting on the governor.
Councilman McLaughlin said, “Regarding Woodmont – we gave a PILOT. Looking on who and what it cost to build and what they sold it for – 6 apartments to 4 apartments?”
Skarzynski admitted he had not been to a Planning Board Meeting recently.
McLaughlin stated that the residents received a certified letter (from Woodmont today 5/26/20) and he had no time to go over it.
Council President Mickey Gross was angry about the Pigeon Palace which is still standing. “It’s almost 3 years now. The Pigeon Palace has to go down! After 3 years this is a disgrace!”
Mayor Fred Henry commented that the city had it scheduled to come down, but a stay was put on it.
Council President Mickey Gross wanted to know what is happening this summer with swimming pools and camps.
Skarzynski stated, “I’ve spoken to other people. We are waiting on the governor when it gets greenlighted.”
Gross thanked the Friends of South Amboy and the First Presbyterian Church. He then added, “Make sure seniors are okay, even if it’s just a phone call. Let’s be accountable. I’m starting to agree about Woodmont. I don’t think it will hurt if we have a full understanding. It’s a good idea to look at it.” Gross then spoke about identification in city hall. He emphasized that everyone working for the city should have a collared shirt with a label on it or an ID on oneself (especially inspectors).
Law Director Womack agreed stating there is a rule in the city that all inspectors are required to have IDs.
No one spoke during the public portion. It was noted by Law Director Womack that speakers are not required state their full street address when making comments at the South Amboy Council Meeting, but it would be helpful to note if they were from South Amboy or not.
The council went into closed session at 8:07 p.m. All council members were present at the meeting.
