1/12/22 Council Meeting
By: Carolyn Maxwell
PERTH AMBOY – The meeting was open to the public to discuss agenda items only. The first person from the pubic to speak was Resident Maria Garcia whose term as a Zoning Board Member will be expiring soon. She stated, “I have been on the Zoning Board for 8 years and 7 years as the chair and also on the Planning Board. I’ve always done the best job for the city and the residents. Some of the projects that came before us included Willow Pond, the complex for our senior citizens, and Harbortown just to name a few. I didn’t serve for political gain. I live here and my husband’s family have businesses in the city. I worked on the Master Plan with the City Engineer. I always take into consideration what would be best for the residents and the people (applicants) who come before us. I have attended the League of Municipalities for years and I have been recognized by them. I was the one who told the Zoning Board Members to go to the League of Municipalities to get certified. I am here for you.”
Resident and Zoning Board Member John C. Anagnostis came up to support Ms. Garcia. “She always kept the Board Members updated and she filed her application (for reappointment) in a timely manner. She should be on the top of your list.”
Resident Vince Mackiel came up next. He talked about his time as a member of the Rent Leveling Board. “We interviewed many department heads and had rent moratoriums. I attended all of the meetings. You need to be aware of all of the participants. I am also an active member of the community.”
The meeting was then opened up to Zoom.
Former Councilman Fernando Gonzalez spoke first. “We need new faces with new ideas on our boards. Interview all the candidates who applied for the Zoning and Planning Boards. We should encourage new blood to get involved.”
The council then voted on the Ordinances. For Ordinances 1 thru 4, was moved by Pabon and seconded by Tejeda. There was a discussion regarding Ordinance No. 5 – Parking Meter Zones RE: Parking Meter Times.
Councilwoman Milady Tejeda was concerned about the cost. “Recently a lot of money was spent updating these machines.”
Council President Petrick said, “A lot of times some of these cellular program meters can be programmed in the office.”
Acting Police Chief Larry Cattano came up next, “There is hundreds of signs that will have to be changed. There are 600 meterheads that will need to have software updates. Some parking lot meters must be changed manually. The enforcement in the hospital zone will be stopped at 6 p.m. Parking lots enforcement will stop at 9 p.m.”
Tejeda continued, “We need a breakdown of the complete cost. I ask that we table this.”
City Attorney William Opel said, “You can do that at the next meeting.”
Councilman Pabon questioned when the changing of times for the meters will take place.
Cattano answered, “We will have to physically change some of the meters. I will have staff working on the cost and the benefits analysis.”
Petrick asked, “Why can’t they simply change the streets to be effective?”
Cattano then mentioned, “The lot times were changed at the train station for the benefit of the commuters.”
Councilwoman Tejeda suggested, “We should just vote on this tonight because it is the first reading.”
Ordinance No. 5 was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda.
When it was time to vote on the consent agenda, several resolutions were pulled to be voted on separately. These were: R-17-1/22 – A contract with IPS Group for the purchase of 4 pay stations for New Brunswick Avenue from Smith Street to Fayette Street in an amount not to exceed $25,382.17.
Petrick said, “This should be removed. There is no money allocated for this item according to the CFO.”
William Opel said, “All approvals were made.”
R-17 was moved to be tabled by Pabon and seconded by Tejeda.
For R-29-1/22 – Appointing Joel Pabon, Sr. to the Perth Amboy Planning Board as a Class III member for a 1-year term to expire December 31, 2022.
It was asked to be tabled by Councilman B.J. Torres and seconded by Council President Petrick. When it came time to vote, the only two who voted no were Torres and Petrick.
For R-35 (Bond Release to Duke Realty), the only person who voted “no” was Councilman Joel Pabon.
Opel made a few comments after the vote was taken, “I forwarded emails and statutes pertaining to the bonds and engineer’s letters recommending releasing the bonds to Duke Realty. If you don’t vote, they can take the city to court.”
Council President Petrick flatly stated, “Duke Realty’s letters were erroneous.”
For R-38 thru R-41 collectively reappointing the following to the Zoning Board: R-38 – Maria Garcia; R-39 – Stephanie Marquez-Villafane; R-40 – Marilyn Grullon; R-41 – Heidi Burke. Those four were tabled.
Councilwoman Morales asked that the motion be tabled; it was seconded by Tejeda in order for all the applicants to be interviewed either in person or via Zoom. The only one who voted “no” was Council President Petrick.
Petrick said, “I am concerned because the new members will not be certified, and this can cause a lawsuit. If we don’t reappoint people that are certified, then we can’t have a full board. When applicants come in for a hearing, they expect to be heard from a full certified board.”
Councilman Pabon spoke up, “The interview process is important and all boards no matter what they are when their terms are up should be interviewed. I don’t care what board it is.”
Petrick continued, “They may have to cancel the Zoning Board which is tomorrow (1/13/22) because they do not have enough qualified people to attend.”
Councilwoman Morales insisted that the council table these four resolutions.
Tejeda then said, “We continue to do the same mistakes and errors. Let all applicants be heard. Remember not all members came in being certified.”
Joel Pabon then insisted, “This is a mistake by the council. If their meeting (Zoning Board) has to be cancelled, so be it. The Housing Authority and the Rent Leveling Board has applications, also.”
Petrick was frustrated, “It will take a couple of meetings to interview all of the applicants. What about all the appointments on the agenda?”
Councilman B.J. Torres who participated via Zoom said, “Applicants can be interviewed via Zoom.”
All the council members agreed. Torres also suggested that council members only serve on boards if the positions are not completely filled.
Zoning Board Attorney Lichstein joined the meeting via Zoom. “A full Zoning Board will consist of 7 regular members and 2 alternates. There are 5 members and 2 alternates right now. If one of those 5 members didn’t show up for the meeting, the meeting cannot go on.”
The council then voted on whether or not they can add a late-starter (R-45) – reappointing Dave Benyola as a commissioner of the Housing Authority for a 5-year term. The only person who voted “yes” was Council President Bill Petrick.
When it came time to vote on the consent agenda, R-2 thru R-16; R-18 thru R-34; R-36, R-37; R-42 thru R-44 was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda.
Public Portion:
Maria Garcia came up first, “I just want to be sure that all the resolutions for all the board appointments were being tabled. Will you contact all of the applicants?”
The council said, “yes”.
Garcia concluded, “You know my number and I will be available to answer all your questions.”
The meeting was then opened up to Zoom.
Marilyn Grullon who is on the agenda to be reappointed to the Zoning Board spoke, “Back in July, I was up for reappointment, and I was interviewed. There were applicants who never even bothered to show up for an interview, and yet they were appointed. I went through the training. I appreciated the opportunity given to me first as an alternate. My family and children are all living in Perth Amboy, and I’ve only served for six months.”
Council President Bill Petrick agreed that it was unfair for her not to be automatically reappointed.
Councilwoman Tejeda said, “I think the person who wasn’t interviewed served only as an alternate. We are not eliminating you.”
Fernando Gonzalez spoke next, “I want to bring it to Council President Petrick’s attention as a point of order, when I was on the council for 8 years, it had to be a unanimous vote to add a late-starter to the agenda.”
Petrick countered, “A lot of changes took place since you left.”
Gonzalez didn’t back down. “I served with you. You know the rules. A late-starter has to be all “yesses” and no “no’s”. And just because you table appointments does not eliminate a board. It just delays it. Have a great new year!”
Petrick responded, “This is a new council with new rules, and we are not always going to be in agreement. I consulted with the city attorney.”
Dave Benyola was at the meeting and the resolution appointing him was tabled said, “I was privileged to serve on the Housing Board. I look forward to being interviewed.”
Attorney Daniel Gonzalez came up to speak next in person. He agreed with the other council members and with his father, former Councilman Fernando Gonzalez. “We should reexamine to add new blood on our different municipal boards.” He urged the council to give Marilyn Grullon another shot since she only served for six months. He then addressed Council President Bill Petrick, “He (Petrick) seems to have a disconnect with the other council members. You should know that late-starter resolution has to have an all “yes” vote to be put on the agenda. When other council members express their views, you keep going back and forth with them. You play the board and the public, and you make snide comments. You need to apologize more. I want to end my comments on a positive note. Smith Street looks amazing as well as the celebration of the holidays were amazing. I want to recognize Lissette Lebron for the work she is doing.”
Petrick responded, “I apologize for not apologizing enough.”
Council Comments:
Councilwoman Rose Morales wished everyone a new year and a happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. “Stay safe.”
Councilman Joel Pabon thanked Maria Garcia for coming up. “She opened up our eyes to a lot of things. I was very impressed with Marilyn Gullon’s resume. We’ve been trying to rectify having all the applicants come here for board positions. I am glad the Zoning Board attorney cleared up the problem for having meetings. I remember when Dorothy Daniel’s term was up as a Housing Authority Member. There were no other applicants. I am asking that we get more information on the bar on Fayette Street that is having a lot of problems. Any meetings that are held in the council chambers should be set up so they can be held via Zoom. Annie Hindlenlang was supposed to give her presentation on PARA projects. She could have done the presentation via Zoom because she has been on lockdown. Our Covid numbers are off the hook. We’ve passed 600 cases. It’s up to you if you want to wear masks. The Woodbridge numbers are even much higher. There are still people dying. It is no joke. Please protect yourself and others. A lot of bodegas have close quarters. We are hoping to get more test sites in the city that can accommodate large numbers of people. Happy new year. Things will get better.”
Councilwoman Milady Tejeda thanked Maria Garcia and Dave Benyola for coming to the meeting and stating why they wanted to be reappointed to the respective boards. “We need all applicants to be interviewed ASAP. We just lost a 20-year-old to Covid. A lot of people get hit hard. The hospitals are full of patients. Take care of yourself and others. Happy new year. Let’s keep working together.”
Councilman B.J. Torres had no comments.
Council President Bill Petrick said, “Stay safe. Be careful and get your vaccine. Hospitals are full. Have a happy new year.”
The meeting was over at 8:44 p.m.
