Perth Amboy Caucus
6/6/22 Caucus
By: Katherine Massopust
PERTH AMBOY – There were two presentations. The first presentation was by Anna Wilkins Daily, expressing appreciation to the city for the work she has done over the years. (see op-ed on p.4. for full statement).
The second presentation was by Mike J. McAtee from Urban Engineers who gave a presentation on the Fayette Street Bridge.
Ordinance No. 2 – An ordinance creating the chapter___ (Inclusionary Zoning) of the Municipal Code requiring all applicable developments to include a mandatory on-site affordable housing set-aside.
Ordinance No. 3 – An ordinance amending section 430, Zoning and Land Development, to create section 430-126, Affordable Housing.
It was noted by Law Director William Opel that the Planning Board has to hear Ordinances 2 & 3 therefore these two ordinances were tabled to give the Planning Board more time.
Ordinance No. 2 (first reading) – An ordinance authorizing a lease agreement between Grzankowski Holdings LLC and the City of Perth Amboy for property located at 497B Smith Street for use as a Perth Amboy Substation.
Acting Police Chief Larry Cattano came up to speak, “The substation is for that section that does not have anything officially designated from that location. It will have video surveillance. We received computers from the military – brand new in the box.”
Council President Petrick asked how many officers will be stationed there.
Cattano answered, “Special Ones from Monday thru Saturday. For the summer, on Sundays, there will be a couple of hours per day. It is the gateway to our city. There is a 1-year lease so we can try it out. There is parking in the rear and adjacent.”
Council President Petrick then asked Business Administrator Michael Green about the proposed Fire Substation on Amboy Avenue.
Green answered that the location needs to be inspected further to see which way to proceed.
Petrick then asked about the Budget Amendment.
Green answered, “The administration gave its amendments, unless the council decides against the administration’s amendments.”
Petrick stated, “We have a budget now. Work with it. Get it done.”
Resolution R-296-22 – Authorizing the City of Perth Amboy Fire Department to submit an application to the NJ American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant Program in an amount not to exceed $75,000.
Fire Chief Ed Mullen came up to explain about this. He stated it is for a turnout gear washer and dryer and an airpack (SCBA – Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) washer. “This equipment washes 14 air-packs an hour. It will remove all carcinogens in the equipment and keep our firefighters safe and healthy.”
Resolution R-298-6/22 – Authorizing the execution of a hold harmless agreement with Harbortown to locate a summer lunch program.
Dianne Roman from the Department of Human Resources came on Zoom and stated, “The Community area lunches are administrated at that facility.”
Resolution R-303-6/22 – Accepting an award from the New Jersey Department of Transportation for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program in the amount of $650,000.
Councilman Joel Pabon stated discussing parking for the new high school being built on Convery Boulevard, “There is zero parking in the area. Even if you took away the Youth Complex, there is no parking. I don’t know how much you can do, asking maybe for a parking deck. They built that little park. All the houses are supposed to be gone. I think we better start things today. It is a disaster waiting to happen. It’s crazy. Where is the parking?” Pabon then stated, “At the last meeting, residents complained about one bar. What do we do with schools? There is no parking there. No one is thinking about parking. We have to start thinking about this now. We have to start thinking where they are swapping land.”
Tashi Vazquez who is the Vice-President of the Board of Education came on Zoom, “As requested, $650,000 spending grant to increase walkability to the Rose Lopez School. This specific elementary school safety concerns, also included safety and separate traffic signs and crosswalks to ensure the safety to schools. Rose Lopez School was singled out.” Vazquez stated that a traffic light will be put on Ogdon and Seaman Streets.
City Engineer Jeff Rauch spoke on Zoom, “The county is doing a signal on New Brunswick Avenue and Ogdon and on Ogdon and Seaman Avenue. When a dispatch emergency goes green on Ogdon and Seaman, it goes red for Seaman allowing vehicles not colliding with parents (vehicles). There will be crosswalk improvements. Safety comes first. The crossing on New Brunswick Avenue will have ADA ramps and on Ogdon and Seaman, the entire signal will be tied into New Brunswick Avenue and Amboy Avenue. Red for Seaman, green for Ogdon. Also green for New Brunswick Avenue, red for Amboy or coming down New Brunswick Avenue.”
There was a discussion regarding the Budget which the administration wished to be amended.
B.A. Michael Green stated that there were additional costs. Council President Petrick argued that these items were not part of the original budget and there is no vote on record. Green stated that the budget incorporates a grant list and utility costs have increase and there also was a hiree in the Clerk’s Office. He added that the budget amendment needs 3 votes to pass.
Law Director Opel reminded the council that this is a caucus meeting, and the voting is Wednesday (6/8/22) at the regular council meeting.
Petrick then stated, “This is not our job. The budget has been confirmed by the state.” He then said that the council needed more time to look at it.
Public Comments:
Resident Anna Daily came up to the mike first, “I once was a resident where they are building the new high school. Something needs to be done. Regarding the Thomas Mundy Peterson Archeology Dig (R-306), the Historical Commission was trying to get that done for so many years. That is when we got the plaque (in city hall council chambers). My understanding is that the funding is around for it – if it is not approved by the city, whatever this holdover is, I am pleading with you to pass this.”
The next person to speak was a woman with the first name of Aliana who spoke in Spanish over Zoom. Councilman Pabon translated. “There are 2 issues. Why are police officers not protecting properties? Every day I get tickets after tickets on her car. Our phantom mayor is not around. Tickets are for opposite side of the street (parking). It doesn’t matter where you park.”
Resident Lisa Nanton spoke via Zoom. She asked about Ordinance No. 4 – An ordinance to amend an ordinance entitled “Police Department” (Ordinance No. C-74 and Amendments) adopted October 17, 1928 also known as Chapter 95 of the code of the city of Perth Amboy. Re: Composition
She asked:
1.) The number of police officers
2.) How many tickets were written for littering over the past year?
3.) Parking tickets issued for parking in front of a curb
4.) Tickets for overstuffed garbage cans
5.) Tickets for jaywalking
Nanton then asked about the Bridge on Fayette Street, “Who is responsible to secure funding options. Who is responsible for inspecting and the cost of the bridge (construction of the bridge). The Construction fund is TBD. 10 years later, we still don’t know who is going to fund the bridge”
Petrick answered, “One bridge the city of Perth Amboy is responsible for. Other bridges we have in town – those are all NJ Transit Bridges.”
Colonia Resident Raji Patel who is a former Perth Amboy resident spoke via Zoom, “I moved out more than a month ago. I am a longtime resident of Perth Amboy. There is a lot of drugs. How come we never see the mayor? What are my taxes going to? This is unfair and unreasonable. You guys have to put it together. My next-door neighbor’s convertible was stolen. There was a shooting in Harbortown. Another homicide in the last year. I have to leave my town. Leave – no one really cares. Nobody says nothing. Kids being bullied, everybody only worried about their money. Big music all the time – not a priority call. Have to get it together. When do I hear the mayor talk? What does he have to say to citizens? A PILOT? You want a PILOT? What about residents? Hard working people?”
Resident Maria Vera spoke next via Zoom, “Listen. Truly in his heart he had to move out of Amboy because we have a mayor that doesn’t care. We do have a lot of crime in town. We all pay taxes. Yesterday two houses were playing loud music at 2:00 a.m. We have to go to work tomorrow. The Waterfront is a great place to be. Mr. Green, what do we pay for – port ‘o potties locked, if they work? Would you go into one?”
B.A. Green answered, “I am a marine and I would go into one.”
Vera added, “We have a port ‘o potty, and the owner (of the house behind it) sold her house because it leaked into her house. Stop spending money on something we don’t need. The days we are having music down the Waterfront. We need more check points. We have too many crimes. There were three huge accidents in the last weeks. There are too many cars with dark tinted windows. If somebody hits me, how will I know if it is a guy or a lady? The substation. We don’t see cops walking anymore.” Vera proceeded to complain about dog poop all over the Waterfront but ran out of time on the clock.”
Acting Police Chief Larry Cattano came up to the microphone, “We have officers assigned to areas. We respond. It is difficult to catch every car (playing loud music). They see the police car and turn it down. Harbortown – we just had a social down there with police officers.” Cattano then spoke abut crime, “We come across windows smashed. It’s a nationwide problem. We are working with the FBI on a large scale operation.”
