10/25/21 Caucus

By: Carolyn Maxwell

PERTH AMBOY – There was a long discussion on Ordinance No. 5 entitled: Parking Meter Zones. Councilwoman Milady Tejeda spoke first stating that a lot of residents complained that they are getting parking tickets too early in the morning (8 a.m.). “A lot of people are still home, and parking is limited. Give them time to leave their houses. The parking enforcement should start at 9 a.m. That should be a more prudent time.”

Councilman B.J. Torres spoke up, “With the raising of parking rates, it is putting an undo burden on our residents, even at the waterfront.”

Council President William Petrick questioned if this ordinance can be changed to identify it as city lots that are being addressed in this ordinance. 

Legal Representative William Opel (standing in for Law Director William Northgrave) said, “The language used in this ordinance is the same that is used in the city code.”

Petrick then asked, “In the ordinance, can they change the time from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for the enforcement of parking to take place? It should be separate from the parking zone mentioned at the marina which is a city parking lot. Maybe we can change the language in the ordinance to read, “Municipal Lot,” instead of, “Parking Meter Zone”. 

Opel responded, “You can do the time change in an ordinance for metered parking.”

Councilman Joel Pabon spoke next, “We may be affecting the Parking Enforcement Agent Employees work schedules if they are to start ticketing at 8 a.m.”

Councilwoman Tejeda said, “Can we pass the ordinance now, then look at it later. Maybe we can have Chief Cattano address this later.”

City Clerk Victoria Kupsch spoke up, “The people on the block where I live don’t pay to park at the meters until 9 a.m.”

Tejeda said, “According to the ordinance, it says parking is restricted from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.”

After she read that, Acting Police Chief Larry Cattano spoke up via Zoom, “Those times have been on the books for years.”

Business Administrator Michael Green spoke up, “There are some city zones that should have their times changed (restricted parking).”

Acting Chief Cattano spoke again, “The change of hours for Parking Enforcement will not have any effect on the employees. Many times, especially during school hours, they start early helping the school crossing guards with traffic control. We can have Parking Enforcement Employees start ticketing at a later time.”

Petrick then talked about the parking around the hospital. “They have enforcement of their parking until 9 p.m. while other areas of the city, it is only up until 6 p.m. The hospital has limited parking in spots.”

Councilman B.J. Torres spoke up, “The hospital has residential parking stickers.”

Councilman Joel Pabon suggested, “The city is divided into different zones. You just need to work on the specific zones that need parking problems addressed.”

Acting Police Chief Cattano said, “I believe the hospital is in Zone 3.”

Petrick concluded the discussion, “New Brunswick Avenue and Barclay Street are the only streets near the hospital that have meters.”

B.A. Green had comments regarding the supplemental debt statements which covered parking, utility improvements, water/wastewater utility improvements and various general capital improvements. “Currently we have $8.4 million on hand. There is a possibility we can use some of that money for some of the items I just mentioned instead of bonding money for these items.”

Legal Representative Opel then talked about the three bond ordinances (first reading) which included the items that Mike Green had just mentioned. “There are three “Yes” votes required for these ordinances to move to the next step for public hearings and to be published.”

There was then a discussion on Ordinance No. 4 (first reading) – Vacating a portion of the right of way at the southwestern intersection of Patterson Street and Grant Street.

Councilman Joel Pabon asked for more details.

Opel explained, “This is for the Victory Center LLC. The redeveloper has to vacate that property that they own for logistical improvements for their project.”

Councilman B.J. Torres complimented, “There are no stop signs or lights at this intersection. It is an accident waiting to happen.”

Opel then explained, “It is a grassy area and not in the right of way.”

Council President Petrick then questioned if there were any public utilities underground in that area.

Opel explained, “The developer wants to connect two of his properties through this right of way.”

Petrick then suggested, “The traffic department should look at that area.”

Acting Chief Cattano spoke up via Zoom, “I will be right on it first thing in the morning.”

Opel then had a statement regarding Ordinance No. 5 (first reading) – Adopting an amendment to the Focus 2020 Redevelopment plan for Area 1 (Gateway).

“The Planning Board has not had a chance to look at this plan closely. That is why it is being reintroduced as a first reading.”

B.A. Mike Green then spoke briefly regarding R-540 and R-541 – a contract to purchase office furniture. R-540 was the purchase price not to exceed $19,922.70 and R-541 was to purchase furniture not to exceed the amount of $16,732.93.  

“This money was previously budgeted. It is to replace dilapidated furniture, a lot which is over 16 years old. This is all done through state contract, and it was approved with this year budget. The furniture will be replaced in three different offices in city hall.”

Green then gave the amount of money for R-543-10/21 – Authorizing submission of an application to the SNY Play Ball Basketball Grants Program. “The amount would be for $2,500.”

For R-544-10/21 – Approving the introduction of the 2022 Perth Amboy Business Improvement District Budget.

BID Coordinator Noelia Colon came up to give a presentation, “The Budget is $247,650 which is the same as last year. The supplemental funds are $144,000. Some of the events that took place are job fairs, helping out with social services, downtown improvements, outreach meetings, helping out with vaccinations clinics. We had vendor events and workshops for business owners. We held the Perth Amboy Eats Event, which raised $3,100 for the Veterans Memorial (on Sadowski Parkway). We had many people who came from out of town. The restaurants appreciated that people came to their businesses because it was easier for them to operate on their own site.” 

Councilwoman Milady Tejeda spoke up regarding the Perth Amboy Eats Event, “The food vendors were very generous (with their portions).”

Councilman Joel Pabon commented about the downtown beautification projects, “The only problem is they took away the planters. Some of the residents said they were upset and said they wished they had those planters in their own yards.”

Colon explained, “Those planters will be replaced with something that is easier to maintain. The old planters will be auctioned off and we are looking for new vendors for that project. We also have funding to help with the lighting (in the business district). We budgeted $15,000 for fifty planters. We welcome all suggestions on the way to beautify our business district.”

Pabon continued, “When you get out and walk the streets, you see a lot of stuff going on. Some of the businesses are putting out things that are unattractive. Some of the businesses need to maintain their properties. There are too many sidewalk bricks coming loose. We need to have that gumbuster machine back in operation. Some of these businesses need their façade power washed. Maybe we can do that block by block. We (the Council), the BID, and Code Enforcement need to have businesses address these issues.”

Colon then explained, “With the gumbuster machine, it takes from $3,000 to $4,000 just to clean two blocks. We are working with Code Enforcement to see what businesses need to do to make their businesses more attractive and up to code inside and out. We can also address those tree wells and grates that rise up.”

Petrick said, “Some of the planters were placed too close to the curb, which made it difficult for people to open their car doors on the passenger side. The planters should be set back more (towards the sidewalk). 

Councilwoman Tejeda said, “I know that people are aware about the façade grants, but they are puzzled on how to apply for them.”

Colon responded, “Information (in both English and Spanish) is being mailed to owners of some of the buildings where businesses are located explaining how to apply for funds. Because of the pandemic, some of the people who applied for façade grants didn’t have the funding needed to match the grant.”

The meeting was then opened up to the public (in house first):

Resident Ken Balut came up first. He again had in his hands a Quality-of-Life Report (Prepared by the Government Strategy Group). He questioned, “Why are we subsidizing the YMCA when we have a lawsuit against them? We always hear about the parking situation and the bike situation. Where is the quality-of-life regarding rental properties? A lot of these illegal housing houses are deathtraps. In Elizabeth, people died in floods. You pay someone who is unqualified for a position they are in a lot of money. Now, we have a new part-time employee who works from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. How are they accounting for this person’s time? Now, someone was hired in Olive Street to work on the mayor’s campaign. If you work on a campaign, you should not get a job. Now, on the agenda are two resolutions calling for $35,000 worth of office furniture. In two weeks, you are all going to the League of Municipalities, and you will see a lot of vendors there. Maybe you can see if some of those vendors can offer furniture at a much lower rate.”

B.A. Green responded, “The city is donating some of old furniture to other departments.”

Resident Vince Mackiel spoke next. He referenced Ordinance 5 – 2020 Redevelopment Plan. “You have the opportunity to install a filling station. Edison already has one. I know the establishment in Perth Amboy is oil. We spent a lot of money in court over these oil companies. When I looked on the city website, I saw there was $1.6 million of unexpected revenue. Might this have something to do with housing? Maybe the business administrator or Tashi Vazquez (Dept of OCA) can send some of this information to the churches to let them know this money is available.”

CFO Jill Goldy came up to the mic to respond to Mackiel’s statement, “This amount ($1.6 million) is miscellaneous revenue that is not anticipated. It is a catchall. The majority of that money came from the Home Depot PILOT. It could also be money from the UAW and other housing PILOTS. The Home Depot PILOT money will go into next year’s budget.”

No one from Zoom spoke.

Council President Bill Petrick spoke up again and asked BID Coordinator Noelia Colon to answer a question about the property located at the intersection of Convery Boulevard and Smith Street. “There were discussions in the past about having an electronic sign there.”

Colon explained, “There was a transfer of that property.”

Petrick spoke up again, “Kenny Ortiz (Department of Recreation and Human Resources) talked about getting information about the value of that property. At one time, it was discussed that we might be able to get that property for $1, and with the new administration, maybe they can push for it.”

Kenny Ortiz joined the discussion via Zoom, “There was an application that was made out to the DOT from the city to buy that property. That application was rejected by the DOT. The DOT will only give a small portion of that property for an electronic sign. It cannot be used to advertise an event that will be making a profit. It can be only for city events and announcements. We are working on getting an electronic sign. I will reach out to the state level organizations again.”

Petrick then asked if the Willow Pond fountains are working.

Ortiz said, “They were last time I checked. I will check them again, but the fountains will be turned off during the winter months.”

Council Comments:

Councilwoman Rose Morales thanked all who came to the meeting to voice their comments. 

Councilman Joel Pabon said he was glad to see a lot of the lights on Amboy Avenue were working, and he was pleased to see the benches in the downtown area. “It is a big plus for our senior citizens. On Chamberlain Avenue we still have a lot of lights out. With the old furniture that is being replaced, the Charter Schools can use it. I see they are making progress on the bridge by ShopRite. The report that was given to us by the Strategy Group which shows how money is spent within the different departments, I am going to give the mayor time to look at these reports.”

B.A. Green responded to some of Pabon’s remarks, “As far as quality of life in the city, we have 18 officers in the police academy in training. We have the parking enforcement officers under the Police Department. The IT Department has made updates. A lot of information is being put on the city’s website. We are using more laptops. People can do planning and ordering through our website. We want to make sure that everyone knows how the Faulkner Plan operates.”

Councilwoman Milady Tejeda thanked the administration for all the activities going on and the changes which help to improve the safety and address  the needs of the community.

Councilman B.J. Torres said, “I am glad to see the water meters were moved away from the fountain and to see that the American Rescue Funds will be helping the citizens.”

Council President Petrick thanked everyone who is here in person, on Zoom, and TV land who joined us again. The meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m. All council members were present in person.