Perth Amboy Caucus

Adding Additional Police Officers, Paving City Streets, and Illegal Housing Among Topics Discussed.

By: Carolyn Maxwell

PERTH AMBOY – There was a discussion pertaining to Ordinance No. 2 (First Reading) – Amending an Ordinance entitled “Police Department” Regarding Composition.

Councilman Joel Pabon asked for an explanation of this ordinance.

Council President
William Petrick

Business Administrator Michael Green explained that currently the Police Department has 135 officers, and this will give us permission to go up to 145 officers. “It can allow us to have a chief, 4 captains, or a chief, deputy chief, and 3 captains.”

Pabon then questioned, “Does it give the mayor power to add another chief?”

Green then emphasized, “It allows the department to go up to 145 police officers.”

Councilman Torres questioned, “Will it require a demotion of a Deputy Chief if we change the ordinance?”

Green gave additional information and said, “A federal grant would be used to pay 75% of salaries and the city would be responsible for 25%.”

Torres continued, “We need to have a cost to factor in the salaries along with benefits. Do we need more police because of the new apartment units coming in? And will it be on the back of taxpayers and homeowners?”

Acting Police Chief Larry Cattano came up to add additional information, “Presently, we have 3 captains, 10 lieutenants, and 17 sergeants.”

Councilman Pabon then stated, “We were promised that we were not going to fill any vacant positions, but they were filled anyway. PILOTS failed because the money from them have not been seen. The PILOT money was going to pay for things we already have budgeted for.”

Cattano made corrections to some statements that were made earlier, “We only have 128 full time officers. 4 are slated to retire and 1 may retire soon. That person right now is on light duty until it can be determined if he can come back to full capacity. The department does not have permanent light duty. Some of these officers that are slated to retire are not currently being paid. The budget determines how many officers we can have.”

Council President Bill Petrick asked for an explanation on Ordinance No. 3 (First Reading) – Authorizing a temporary construction and access easement agreement with NJ Transit. 

B.A. Green responded, “This is to repave and restripe the parking lot.”

Petrick asked on the status of progress being made on the Market Street and Fayette Street bridges.

Green stated he will consult with City Engineer Jeffery Rauch.

The Council then discussed the Resolutions. R-221-5/22 – A refund of a fee paid in the amount of $450 to Edgar I. Cruz. Owner of Pucho’s Puerto Rican Cuisine for withdrawal of a 2022 Fixed Peddler Application.

Pabon asked if anyone else can apply for this spot.

City Clerk Victoria Kupsch replied, “Somebody already has.”

Business Administrator Michael Green explained R-223-5/22 – Emergency Temporary Appropriations to extend the CY 2022 Temporary Budget in the amount of $1,256,100.13. 

Green said, “$1.1 million will be used for remediation for the Second Street Park.”

He then talked about R-225-5/22 – A Contract with Game Time c/o Maturano Recreation Company for various playground repairs in an amount not to exceed $61,999.

Green stated, “There are 24 city parks. This money is only for 8 parks and the equipment will be installed by our employees.”

Green then talked about R-227-5/22 – A contract with Z Brothers Concrete Contractors decreasing the contact for the 202 CDBG Road Development – A portion of Madison Avenue in the amount of $15,797.30.

He said, “This is going to be based upon the inspection of the city’s parks.”

R-228-5/22 – Execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Center State Engineering for Design Engineering Specification bid documents and construction inspection for the NJDOT Municipal Urban Aid Grant improvements to Sadowski Parkway and High Street for the fiscal year 2022 in the amount not to exceed $70,000.

Petrick said, “This is from High Street to Brighton Avenue on Sadowski Parkway.”

City Engineer Ernest Feist spoke up via Zoom, “The administration asked us to hurry up for this project and we already went out for a bid because they wanted to get it done before July 4th. They are looking to get a $614,000 grant for this. It will include milling and paving.”

R-229-5/22 – Authorizing payment to the law firm of King, Moench, Hirniak, and Collins, LLP for services rendered in an amount not to exceed $88,249.52.

Petrick said, “King should finish his project.”

Green responded, “I will let King (Former Law Director) and Opel (Current Law Director) decide on this.”

R-230-5/22 – An agreement with Shoppes at Smith & Oak Streets LLC for the use of the property of 272 Smith Street for a Perth Amboy Mural Project.

Petrick asked if the Arts Council has reviewed this project.

Tashi Vazquez from the Office of Economic and Community Development responded online via Zoom, “The Arts Council was involved in where this should be located, and their Chair approved the location. This is the first of many steps for this project. We will get the artist’s renderings and everything else involved with this project and for the Arts Council’s input.”

Fire Chief Ed Mullen came up to speak about R-232-5/22 – Submitting an application to FEMA for the Port Security Grant Program 2022 to be used for the purchase of Active Shooter/MCI Marine Response Kit. 

“This will be a zero-cost match. Ballistic Vests are to be used for incidents that may occur on ferries. It is a case of better to have and not need than need and not have. They can be used on sea or land. We have tried to get these through the county who would not give it to us and that is why we put a grant into FEMA. Firefighters need appropriate PPP in case they have to follow the police in an active shooter situation.”

Acting Police Chief Larry Cattano came up to talk about R-233-5/22 – To apply for a New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety 2023 Pedestrian Safety Enforcement and Education Fund Grant in the amount of $35,000 with no matching funds required.

Cattano said, “This is for pedestrian safety and for flashing intersection lights for pedestrian crossings.”

Pabon spoke up, “The bridge on Market Street – I’ll see people crossing at dangerous spots such as on the incline.”

Cattano explained, “We used to have signage along with cones (so people can cross within those cones). With this money, the funding will be spaced out.”

R-234-5/22 – Amending R-138-3/22 – A grant from the State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Office of the Attorney General in the amount of $32,400 under the FY2022 Safe and Secure Communities Program Subaward grant Number 22-1216.

Cattano explained, “As long as we retain 122 officers, we can apply for this every year. It will pay for the partial salary of two officers.”

R-235-5/22 – Authorizing the refund in the amount of $4,746.48 on an account resulting from an overbilling due to an incorrect multiplier. 

Green explained, “The person had paid for two water meters instead of one.”

R-236-5/22 – Amending CY 2022 Budget. 

Council President Bill Petrick said, “We need to hear from two more departments – the BID and the Department of Recreation.”

B.A. Green responded, “The BID is not a part of the City’s Budget.”

Petrick continued, “We need the Code Enforcement Director here to answer more questions.”

Green responded, “The Recreation Director is on vacation.”

Councilman B.J. Torres spoke up, “There are still a lot of questions we need answered regarding illegal housing.”

Green responded, “With the illegal housing that had fires, the lenders of those buildings are being notified.”

Torres continued, “One of those fires just had new renovations and it is up to the homeowners to put up those families.”

Fire Chief Ed Mullen came up to speak, “A lot of times we are called out which has nothing to do with fires. One time, there was a water leak that caused a ceiling to collapse. The Red Cross goes out to all fires and a majority of fires are accidental and have nothing to do with illegal housing. People can call anonymously if they see illegal housing.”

Torres then asked, “Will the landlord have to pay if their tenants are displaced because of a fire?”

Mullen explained that Director of Human Services Dianne Roman can pay to put them up for a couple of days.

Pabon then asked if Hazmat was called about the house that caught on fire on Second Street. 

Mullen explained that there was gasoline found in drums on that property. Special materials had to be used because of that. Testing will be used if any of Hazmat materials have been spilled out. We have responded to 70 fires so far this year and strong winds have played a major role in some of these fires. We document every part of the buildings that have fires.”

It was decided to table Ordinance No. 2 (First Reading) – Police Department regarding composition. It was moved by Torres, seconded by Pabon.

It also decided to table R-236 – Amending CY 2022 Budget. It was moved by Petrick, seconded by Pabon. 

R-237 – Waving the residency requirements for Nicholas Prochilo. R-237 was also tabled. Moved by Petrick, seconded by Torres.

Public Portion (in-person first):

Resident Ken Balut spoke first, “Is Code Enforcement driving with blinders on with all these violations taking place? Are there any investigations going on regarding that boat accident (discussed at the last council meeting in April)? The Attorney General should investigate some of our city employees. We hired two employees getting $80,000 apiece and who are getting raises. Police Officers are a necessary evil, but we need then to keep our city safer. Who is in charge of giving background checks? Tickets are being taken care of through dismissals or maybe shakedowns. See how many tickets were dismissed and by whom and what judges. And did R-225 (Contract with Game Time Recreation Company) go out for bid?”

No one spoke via Zoom. The meeting went into closed session at 6:48 p.m. They returned at 9:14 p.m.

Council President Bill Petrick spoke, “The council decided to have the meeting regarding the El Patio License Suspension rescheduled for May 23 at 4:30 p.m. We are hoping to get the bodycam video from the Police Department. There appears there may have been two shooters at an incident that happened at the bar. We may have to have a representative from the Police Department who reported that incident to come to that meeting. “

The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m. Councilwoman Milady Tejeda was not available to attend the meeting in person or on Zoom.