3/28/22 Caucus

By: Carolyn Maxwell

PERTH AMBOY – Business Administrator Michael Green talked briefly regarding R-139-3/22 – Passage of Senate Bill 330 which will increase distribution to municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipt Property Tax Relief Fund over 5 years.

“This bill is supported by the League of Municipalities. It requires additional aid to be subtracted from the Municipal Property Tax Levy.”

He also explained R-155-3/22 – Awarding a contract to Sonnenfeld and Trocchia Architect for design services for City Hall alterations Phase II.

Council President Bill Petrick said, “This will be in the clerk’s office.”

When Councilman Pabon questioned, “Will this company charge for the mistakes they made?”

Green replied, “No. There is a cost for the publication of documents, and these are the same architects – just different contractors.”

Green also provided information about R-157-3/22 – A grant application to United Way of Central Jersey for the Middlesex County Local FEMA Report for Emergency Food and Shelter Program in the amount of $230,000. “This is for Code Blue. To date, we’ve had 65 Code Blue Days and we sheltered 881 people. We have a partnership with the YMCA, Jewish Renaissance, Salvation Army, and food was provided.”

Dianne Roman from the Department of Human Resources spoke via Zoom, “The Jewish Renaissance has the Family Success Center by the Housing Authority. Tashi Vazquez, John, and I talked about how we can support our local food pantries. They help with relocation services, and we purchase a lot of foods from businesses located in the town. Toiletries, blankets, socks are provided by other entities. We need to hire personnel to help with mental health issues. Those hired will have the proper certification, and Tashi Vazquez put the grant together.”

Council President Petrick asked if the county and state social services could be used for these purposes.

Roman replied, “They would have to be compensated if working outside of their regular hours. We can explore seeing if we can work with the hospital to help with mental services. The Y has caseworkers who have the history of clients that have used their services and that list may have what those client’s mental health needs are. Vending, laundry, and cleaning services have to be calculated in the cost of grants. Raritan Bay Medical Center gets involved if there are clients who have mental issues (that need additional help).”

Green then talked about R-159-3/22 – An application to the New Jersey Clean Energy Program Community Energy Planning Program.

“This is for green infrastructure projects within the city in partnership with Rutgers regarding our CSO. The $25,000 associated with this resolution follows the Best Practices Guidelines regarding Greenhouse gas emissions.”

R-160-3/22 – An application to the AARP Community Challenge Grant in the amount of $15,000.

Councilman B.J. Torres voiced his concerns, “This is another art project that came into fruition without the Arts Council being involved.”

Green replied, “There was a very quick deadline.”

Torres still wasn’t satisfied, “There are PILOTS and other projects that are dealing with the arts and the Arts Council are being bypassed.”

Council President Petrick agreed with Torres. “I hope this money is not to just complete an Arts Project. Anything that has to do with art should not be submitted until the Arts Council is consulted.”

Green replied, “It’s just two pillars at the Outerbridge to be painted. In the future, we will go to the Arts Council.”

Councilwoman Milady Tejeda questioned, “How soon did you know about the grant?”

Green answered, “It was a short timeframe.”

Tejeda finished, “It is essential for the Arts Council to be involved.”

R-161-3/22-A grant from the State of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for the Local Recreation Improvement Grant.

Green said, “It is for Raritan River Smart Park. It will include benches, charging stations, and smart water fountains.”

Council President Bill Petrick spoke briefly about Ordinance No. 1 – Entitled “Court” regarding parking offenses.

Petrick stated, “This is to upgrade the fines with steps.”

Ordinance No. 2 – Entitled “Vehicles and Traffic” regarding truck parking regulations.

Green said, “This will be for trucks that are 4 tons, mobile homes, and popup campers. Busses will also be included.”

Pabon asked if the courts were open yet.

Green replied, “Yes.”

There were a couple of questions regarding Ordinance No. 3 – Public Entertainment regarding Public Entertainment limited to certain rotations.”

Pabon started, “There were questions about the Rudyk Park locations. We also talked about the Elizabeth Street and Division Street connections. If Kenny Ortiz is on Zoom, he can give us more details.”

Ortiz was not on Zoom.

Tejeda spoke up. She questioned Section 6D on the Ordinance. “It says that the festivals have to be relocated if it is over 70 people. In the beginning, it said 700.”

Petrick replied, “We went with the old ordinance that was on the books. We need to change that to 200. When I talked to the Peruvian Committee, they said when they had their gathering, their attendance was under 200 people.”

City Clerk Victoria Kupsch spoke up, “R-151-3/22 – A special permit for the Dominican Festival to be held August 12, 13, & 14 was to be removed per the request of the Dominican Festival Chair.”

Fire Chief Ed Mullen came forth to explain R-165-3/22 – A contract with Skyland Area Fire Equipment and Training for Firefighter Turnout Gear in an amount not to exceed $90,311. “This would be just for coat and jackets which will be 27 sets. We expect them to last 5 years. We are still using rescue packs, but they need to be replaced in about a year.”

Green explained R-166-3/22 – A contract with EIG Sports for the purchase of uniforms and equipment in an amount not to exceed $30,000. “This will be for our youth.”

Green then explained R-168-3/22 – Determining the form and other details of not exceeding $2,020,000 bonds for the city of Perth Amboy and providing for their sale to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and authorizing the execution of various agreements all pursuant to the New Jersey Water Bank Financing Program.

Green said, “This is a short term to a 40-year financing sewer separation, separating State Street, Parker Street, and James Street. The American Rescue Funds can be used as well as some community grants. We have $8.4 million more money coming in May. We have also applied for $100 million in State Funds.”

Luis Perez Jimenez, Director of Operations at the USA-PA (Utility Service Associates Perth Amboy) Middlesex Water Company) talked about R-169-3/22 – An emergency contract with Pumping Services for the purchase of a bypass pump to use at the Second Street Pump Station in the amount of $53,056.24. 

“The pump that we are getting is fairly new which will maintain. In the long run, it is cheaper because it will cost us $15,300 a month to rent one.”

Jimenez then talked about R-170-3/22 – A contract to Rapid Pump and Metering Services in an amount not to exceed $20,000 for maintenance and repairs of the Frequency Drive Pump.

“This has to be fixed in place or replaced. 

For R-175-3/22 – A Person-to-Person transfer of Plenary Retail Consumption License held in the name of Caribbean Dugout to La Playita Sports Bar effective March 31, 2022.

City Clerk Kupsch said, “This is an existing license held by a father and son.”

Council President Bill Petrick spoke up and stated, “We should be hearing more about the El Patio Bar and what happened from former Law Director Peter King.”

Public Portion:

Resident Ken Balut spoke in person first. He asked, “Are there any tax increases?”

Green replied, “No.”

Balut then asked, “Any tax increase from the School Board?”

Pabon answered, “Yes.” 

Balut wanted to know who represented the city (when it came to PILOTS).

Green responded, “The CFO, PARA, and Tax Assessor.”

Balut continued, “If we keep giving PILOTS to billionaires, the state will stop giving us money. This has got to stop. We have a lot of problems with density, illegal housing, and PILOTS should be a part of the mayor’s State of the City Speech. I want to know if there was illegal housing in two recent fires. I still see busses parking illegally. The mayor should discuss illegal housing and how the American Rescue Funds were spent or will be spent.”

Resident Vince Mackiel came up next. He was concerned how the new proposed housing units will affect traffic, especially the intersection of Smith Street and Convery Boulevard. “A traffic study is needed. We need to know the exact amount of what the city will receive and the county. Charging stations are needed as well as better transportation.” He then turned his attention to R-156 and R-157 which had to do with grants for emergency food and shelter services. “It was a half million dollars that were given out 6 months ago for food and shelter. The Office of Economic Development Director said the Salvation Army was looking to have shelters in town. Specialists are needed, but shelters are needed more.”

Fire Chief Ed Mullen came up and said, “The fire on Second Street – there were units in the attic where the building was destroyed. The other fire – there was no illegal housing. If we find illegal housing, it is reported to Code Enforcement.”

Councilman B.J. Torres spoke up, “15 years ago, a homeowner died in a house that had illegal housing. An ordinance was created because of that fire. An ordinance should be created so that illegal property can be seized. Strategy Group said illegal housing is a problem. Now, we have people displaced. Homeowners can repair their units, then sell after repairing them.”

Mullen continued, “If you see something, report it.”

Torres said, “We can’t’ have residents policing.”

Pabon spoke up, “The fire on Spruce Street was a car fire. You should contact the insurance company, especially when it comes to illegal units, because they may drop the homeowners’ insurance and this will be a stop to illegal housing.”

Petrick replied, “When Code Enforcement was under Housing, it was more strict.”

Torres concluded, “A house was recently purchased. The new homeowner probably knew there were illegal units already existing.”

Petrick then suggested we look into the Jersey City Ordinance (involving illegal housing).

A Resident from 130 Broad Street came up to speak. She spoke only in Spanish, so a city employee translated for her. “This resident received a letter from Code Enforcement that she had a (private) school bus parked illegally on her property. I lived here for 40 years, and I’ve had that bus parked on my property for 15 years and this is my only source of income. The bus is parked in my driveway.”

Pabon spoke up, “Code Enforcement is going throughout the city to see what commercial vehicles are being parked in private driveways. This woman was lucky she got away with this for 15 years, but now they are starting to crack down.”

The woman said, “I have talked to other people who also park school busses in front of their home or in their driveway and I am the only one who had a summons.”

Pabon also said, “Some businesses are charging people to park in their lots and bypassing city parking. I won’t be surprised if more people come in to complain about the same thing.”

Torres stated, “In Sayreville, a firefighter successfully sued the city because of vehicles parking illegally and engines running with diesel fumes near where he lives and it was affecting his health.”

Councilman Petrick piggybacked off of Torres’s remark, “With all the warehouses and trucks, it is causing health problems here.”

Petrick also suggested, “If the woman has a garage, maybe she can park the bus inside it.”

Torres agreed, “If it is not a diesel bus, she should put it in her garage.”

Code Enforcement Director Irving Lozada spoke via Zoom, “We have distributed several letters to people who have been parking busses illegally and given them a 30-day grace period. The law is across the board for everyone.”

Resident Sharon Hubberman spoke via Zoom. She talked about the PILOTS, air pollution, and quality control issues with idling of vehicles. “With 695 new apartments, you are looking at 1400 additional cars. Multi-families will inhabit these apartments which means more traffic congestion and pollution. It will be a strain on our system and adding to health issues. Advisory Boards are being ignored. The Rent Leveling Board has tried to stabilize rent and has sent suggestions to the council. I hope the resolution we proposed to the council will be on the next agenda. Please heed our concerns affecting the present and the future.”

Petrick responded, “We have looked at your suggestions. In the past, landlords have burned and neglected their buildings due to not being able to sustain them because of low rent, especially going from 5% down to a 3% yearly increase of rent.”

Resident Maria Garcia spoke via Zoom. She also referenced Ordinances No. 3 and No. 4 (PILOTS). “If we have a huge surplus, why are you giving tax extensions instead of giving money back to the taxpayers? Most builders do not live in the town where they have their projects. The more people we bring in, we have to provide more services, classroom sizes will increase. I pay more in taxes for my empty lot than my home because we don’t have the land. I agree with Councilman Torres that the Arts Council should be more involved when it comes to anything to do with the arts. We are wasting money putting artwork on the Outerbridge pillars.”

A resident on High Street on Zoom wanted more information on the two PILOT Projects coming up. “What kind of tax abatement will they be given, and what kind of jobs will they provide?”

Petrick responded, “If you go online, you will see all of your questions answered on the backup material provided. The jobs will be associated with the building. There will be construction jobs. When that is completed, all the jobs for those two apartment buildings will be inhouse jobs. Each PILOT has separate agreements, but the maximum amount of years for any PILOT is only 25 years.”

Council Comments:

Councilwoman Rose Morales had no comments.

Councilman Joel Pabon said, “We need a traffic study for Riverview Drive. The lights have gone out underneath the (Victory) bridge, and there are car and truck traffic and a lot of blind turns.”

Acting Police Chief Larry Cattano came up to speak, “The original bypass was for Raritan River Steel. In the last year or two, DPW Supervisor Danny Cleaver has been talking about getting the lights fixed down there.”

Petrick asked, “Who is responsible for the lights, since it is our roads?”

Cattano said, “The property on the east side is state property.”

Petrick suggested that we may need speed bumps. 

Councilman B.J. Torres spoke up and said, “We had 4-way stop signs put in the intersection of Grant and Patterson Streets. We need more oversight, so we don’t put people in hazardous positions when we are putting in these developments.”

Councilman Pabon continued, “I sent out an email regarding the proposed firehouse on Amboy Avenue. The owner of one of the properties said he got a letter from the city to fix his property.”

B.A. Green said, “The state got involved to check to see if that is a proper place for a firehouse and we need to get a response from the state.”

Law Director William Opel then said, “The issue is that in November 2020, the appraisals did not include an interior inspection which put the property owner in a bind. We are pulling the offer right now but reserve the right to do eminent domain.”

Petrick said, “If the owner decides to do improvements, we may need to pay him more money if we decide to take the property.”

Opel said, “Either way, we have to send the property owner that letter.”

Petrick said, “We own the other property and invested in it and had drawing and appraisals which were faulty.”

B.A. Green said, “My mother used to say, you don’t want to throw good money after bad.”

Petrick continued, “Someone thought the initial property was good for a firehouse. There were other properties that we had that were good locations for a firehouse. There is not too much land left. Notify the property owner that we are still interested in this property.”

Pabon continued, “We stopped the owner from investing, but he is still paying taxes on it. We dropped the ball again. I saw detailed renderings on the new firehouse, and I thought it was done deal. How much have we spent so far? I also want to say that Second Street hasn’t been this clear for a long time, and hopefully it will stay that way. I want to make sure all the parks are ready to be used for the kids and all the residents to enjoy.”

Councilwoman Milady Tejeda, “We were excited about getting a new firehouse. Now, we are finding out that the appraisal was not done correctly. Now, we are waiting for the state to approve the plans. Was this done in the past?”

Law Director Opel responded, “The appraiser said that he was not aware that this appraisal was being based on the condemnation of the property. It is for public need, and there are more details needed and no – we don’t always have to go to the state.”

Tejeda then thanked the Library Board of Trustees for inviting her to participate on a panel with other women. “I was amazed by their jobs and their struggles. I am glad to see events happening at the library and look forward to seeing more events there.”

Councilman B.J. Torres said, “I met with Dianne Roman (Head of Human Resources) about the expansion of Health Services and the environmental impact on our city. Hopefully, we can get our own Health Department in the city. I am also requesting that starting in May, that members of the various municipal boards come in to give updates on their activities and to answer any questions that we may have.”

Council President Bill Petrick said, “I want to thank the marines, and the Marine Corps League and Sergeant DeJesus for the escort for my father’s funeral. They do this on a regular basis. I want to thank all for their concerns and condolences which includes the Clerk’s Office and my fellow Council Members.”

The Council went into closed session at 8:13 p.m. No further action was taken. All Council Members were present in person.