PERTH AMBOY – Charlie Kratovil (3rd from left), a Central Jersey Organizer Food & Water Watch stands with others who opposed the proposed power plant in Keasbey. *Photo by Carolyn Maxwell
5/11/22 Council Meeting
By: Carolyn Maxwell
PERTH AMBOY – The meeting was opened up to the public to discuss items on the agenda that did not have their own public hearing. The first person to come up to speak was resident Ken Balut. He referenced Mr. Nieves who is up for another 60 days as Director of Public Works, “How can he investigate an accident that he was involved in? We always lose cases, and our lawyer just looks at his computer. Who is in charge of the housing project relating to R-260? We have a lot of police officers that are being recognized. They do a lot of rescues in the winter which is very hard to do. They save lives. They need the resources and respect from the city. Atlantic City has more police officers than we do. We need more officers to handle all the problems we have with bars. Submit more grants and use part of the $16 million to help the Police Department. I took pictures of someone who was urinating on Smith Street.”
The next person to talk was resident Julianne Fierra, “This is a city of history and of the future and I take this to heart. We don’t want to add anymore fossil fuels. We have to tighten our wallets but think about our future and remember our history.”
Charlie Kravitol wanted to thank the council for allowing him to speak at the last council meeting about the proposed new power plant and the impact it will cause to our community , “We need more political courage, and I am proud that you put the resolution on the agenda against having the power plant built.”
Holly Cox spoke next, “Having a power plant would be going in the wrong direction. It would be the third one that would be built in Woodbridge and the sixth one in Middlesex County. It will have a negative effect and there would be 223 public schools within a 10-mile radius of this new plant.”
Amber ______ spoke next. “The people who want to build this plant don’t care about the community. I’m hoping other people also stand against it.”
President of the Local NAACP Donna Stewart spoke next (see statement on page _).
A resident who lives on Andrew Drive spoke via Zoom about the trouble they were having on the new bar located on Convery Boulevard. “There is loud music and sometimes they go into the Urgent Care Parking Lot across the street and start drinking there.”
Council President William Petrick spoke up, “We passed an ordinance for restrictive parking around there. Residents should register their vehicles. Urgent Care has towing services for illegally parked vehicles.”
The resident continued, “That doesn’t stop other problems.”
Petrick then suggested that the residents in that neighborhood call the police if there is an issue and take down the license plates of offenders.”
A person who lives in New Brunswick, NJ spoke next via Zoom, stating that he was against the power plant coming in. “You should get as many towns as possible around you to vote against this plant.”
Resident Jeremy Baratta spoke next via Zoom. He wanted to congratulate City Clerk Victoria Kupsch who was recognized on R-262-5/22 – Recognizing Victoria Kupsch, City Clerk for her 38 years of service.
Baratta said, “I want to congratulate her. She brings class and grace to the office and this recognition is well deserved.”
A woman named Nina from Old Bridge spoke via Zoom, “I am excited to see the resolution against bringing this powerplant into Woodbridge. I went to an Old Bridge Council Meeting to see if they can do the same thing and to speak about other ways to generate electricity.”
Resident Lisa Nanton spoke next via Zoom. She also supported R-243-5/22 – Opposition to construction of CPV Keasbey Power plant in Woodbridge.
“Because of the prevailing winds, it will have a negative effect on us, and we will receive the blunt (of those pollutants).”
The council voted on the Ordinances. For Ordinance No. 1,2,3 was all moved by Pabon and seconded by Tejeda. Ordinance No. 1 (first reading) was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda.
Ordinance No. 2 (first reading) – Creating Chapter ___ (Inclusionary Zoning) requiring all applicable developments to include a mandatory onsite affordable housing set-aside was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda.
Ordinance No. 3 (first reading) – An ordinance amending section 430, Zoning and Land Development to create section 430-126, affordable housing was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. All voted, “Yes.”
Ordinance No. 4 (first reading) – An ordinance to amend an ordinance entitled Police Department RE: Composition was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. When it came to voting, the only one who voted “No,” was Councilman B.J. Torres.
For the consent agenda, R-240 thru R-242, R-246 thru R-261, R-263 thru R-285 was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. For R-243 was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. R-244 – Approving a special permit for public entertainment to Concerts by the Bay, Inc. to be held on Sunday Afternoons from July 3, 2022, thru September 4, 2022, was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda.
When it came to voting on it separately, Pabon made the following statement, “I am sticking to my guns. I said at a previous meeting that I would vote no for any festivals put on the agenda.”
Petrick spoke next, “Concerts by the Bay are usually small. If you get 75 people in attendance, that would be on a good day. They sell no food or beverages. There is no loud music. You cannot compare it to the two major festivals who have carnival rides and food vendors.”
Pabon continued, “I agree with Petrick, but I gave my word I will vote “No” to all festivals.”
Tejeda spoke next, “There really is no control who will come to this concert or how many will come.”
When it came to vote for R-244 individually, the only “No” vote was Pabon.
For R-245 – extension of Matthew Nieves as appointment to Acting Director of Public Works.
Pabon spoke, “We requested paperwork on the test that Nieves took. What we received is not what we asked for.”
Petrick said, “All we got was he attended some one-day classes.”
Tejeda said, “B.A. Green said he would get the test results for us.”
When it came time to vote on R-245, it was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. When it came to vote separately, Morales and Tejeda voted, “Yes,” Petrick, Pabon, and Torres voted, “No.” Motion does not pass.
For R-262 – Recognizing City Clerk Victoria Kupsch for 38 years of service. It was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda.
Pabon thanked Kupsch for always being available and her dedication to the city.
Petrick suggested that Kupsch be given a special clock (traditionally given when retiring).
Kupsch stated, “I am not retiring, yet.”
Councilman B.J. Torres thanked her for all her professionalism.
Public Portion (in person first)
Resident Ken Balut said, “What is happening in DPW will be the same as what is going on in Code Enforcement. What happened to the paperwork on housing that I requested? The people that came her to talk about affordable housing – it seems that they really didn’t know what they were talking about. They didn’t have answers to a lot of questions that were asked during the presentation.”
Council President Petrick responded, “They came in along with Annie Hindenlang, and there were a lot of change orders.”
Balut said, “There were too many change orders, and our lawyers and Business Administrator should be able to answer some of these questions. Taxpayers’ money is being stolen.”
Pabon spoke next, “All of this was explained to us (affordable housing units and what is required by the city) when the presentation was made to us at a previous meeting.”
Tashi Vazquez from OECD (Office of Economic and Community Development) spoke via Zoom, “An RFP (request for proposals) were put out and there were three responses which were reviewed by the B.A. and others.”
The meeting was opened up to Zoom Participants:
The first person to speak was resident Jeremy Baratta, “I can’t hear what the attorney is saying. Is the B.A. at the meeting today?”
Petrick replied, “The B.A. is taking a vacation starting today.”
Resident Sharon Hubberman spoke next via Zoom, “I got a communication from someone talking about a pending festival and the festival that was denied. They then questioned the city sponsoring a festival and if permits will be needed.” Hubberman continued, now voicing her concerns, “We’re still in a pandemic, and now we have monkeypox. It is a detriment if we have large community events.”
Resident Maria Vera spoke next via Zoom, “The toilets on Madison Avenue are never used. I disagree with Mr. Green when it came to what qualifications are needed to head Code Enforcement.”
Resident Lisa Nanton spoke next via Zoom, “I want to thank the council for supporting R-243 (denying the power plant). You should also contact Staten Island about this issue. Thank you also for voting for the resolutions for Concerts by the Bay. They have been doing this for a long time, and the people who attend patronize our restaurants. They bring business into our city. I also want to thank Vicki (City Clerk Kupsch) for her years of service. I hope she has 100 more years. Bulkheads down by the marina are rusting and need to be maintained. I also want to know what the rationale is for increasing our number of police officers.”
Petrick responded, “So we can get grant money.”
Resident Vince Mackiel spoke next via Zoom, “We need a bathroom by the Tennis Courts and by the western area of the Waterfront.”
Council Comments:
Councilwoman Rose Morales said, “I am sending prayers to the Texas shooting victims and families. I want to thank Victoria for her service. Have a good weekend.”
Councilman Joel Pabon said, “It was a failure of the administration to get us the documentation for the late-starter regarding getting an Acting Director. R-286 was asked to be added as a late-starter.”
It was moved by Pabon and seconded by Tejeda to add to the agenda.
Pabon thanked the council who want to do the right thing. “We had no administrator to go into closed session with. I want to thank all the people who are spreading the word about the negative effects of power plants. Perth Amboy has a lot of hidden bars and when the El Patio Bar applied for a license, was it approved by this council?”
City Clerk Kupsch answered, “Not everybody here was on the council at the time, but when it was first approved, it was owned by (Reggie) Navarro and was called The Courthouse Inn. You can approve the license or the delicensing. The senior citizen building resident said it was the outside activities causing problems.”
Pabon asked, “Is El Patio appealing our decision?”
Petrick said, “If they lose the appeal, the business is gone.”
Kupush said, “The El Patio License is gone if they lose the appeal.”
Law Director William Opel said, “The license will have to be alienated with the new business.”
Pabon continued, “Our parks are packed year-round, and everything should be up and running in them. Problems are still existing. Take a tour of all the parks to make sure. My thoughts and prayers to all the Veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Councilwoman Milady Tejeda offered her prayers to the victims and their families of the tragedy that happened in Texas. “As a mother myself, I know how I would feel if this happened to my child. Everyone should care for each other.”
Councilman B.J. Torres said, “I am proud of the council for voting in the best of interest of our residents rejecting the power plant. We have a lot of money coming in from the American Rescue Funds and we approved a lot of grants for the Police Department. Now, we have ETC Developments coming in and others. We were told there would be no need for an increase of services, but we are increasing the Police Department. We’ve expanded a lot of things – except our revenue. The grant money to expand our Police Department only pays for three years of those police salaries.”
Council President Bill Petrick said, “We passed the resolution against the power plant. Now, we have to consider less warehousing. There are too many incidents of massacres in our schools. There is nothing to say that will console them. The Covid numbers are up. Do people contact the Health Department if there are Covid cases in schools?”
The meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m. All council members were present in person.
