PERTH AMBOY – The City Council with Police Officers who were recognized at the 6/8/22 Council Meeting *Photo by Katherine Massopust
By: Katherine Massopust
PERTH AMBOY – The meeting began with a presentation honoring 15 police officers: Acting Chief Larry Cattano, Lt. Joseph Sulikowski, Sgt. Emma Cabrera, Sgt. Sandy Rivera, Sgt. Luis Corro, Officer Luis Marte, Officer Kyle Savioa, Officer Hani Tawfik, Officer Frank Morales, Officer Selina Diaz, Officer William Perez, Officer Anthony Garcia, Officer Danny Hernandez, Officer Andrew Hadjioannou, Officer Jose Lopez.
For the ordinances with a public hearing:
Ordinance No. 1 – Ordinance to amend an ordinance entitled “An Ordinance designating restricted parking spaces for use by handicapped persons,” (Ordinance No. 380-85 and amendments) adopted July 2, 1985, also known as chapter 255A et seq of the code of the city of Perth Amboy. No one spoke.
Ordinance No. 2 – An ordinance creating chapter _ (Inclusionary zoning) of the municipal code requiring all applicable developments to include a mandatory on-site affordable housing set-aside. Requires recommendation by the Planning Board prior to adoption
It was noted that both Ordinance No. 2 & No. 3 had to be sent to the Planning Board for review.
Resident Ken Balut spoke first in person, “How much does the attorney and experts make doing this – $200,000 – $300,000? This is supposed to be for the poor. Outsiders are telling us what to do. How many thousands of dollars do these lawyers make? This lawyer gets paid thousands to sit here. We pay money to lawyers who don’t live in this town. You guys have to get the plan early so you see what is going on. You (the council) are the last to find out. The poor are not going to get the money – no, it’s going to some rich law firm. It has to stop.”
Resident Sharon Hubberman spoke via Zoom, “There is definitely a shortage of affordable housing. New Jersey is facing a crisis. The Rent Leveling Board has consistently reached out to the council for rent control. Perth Amboy does not have a quota requirement. There are two bills forging ahead for affordable housing exemptions. We don’t have a quota requirement. How many applicants do you need to meet that quota? We have a lack of free space and lack of open space. You are opening up a Pandora’s Box. I advise the council not to be oblivious to what this entails and what will happen. Dig a little first and have a full investigation.”
Ordinance No. 3 – An Ordinance amending section 430, zoning and land development, to create section 430-126, affordable housing. Requires recommendation by Planning Board prior to adoption
Resident Ken Balut came up to speak, “If you guys are voting on giving this to the Planning Board, why doesn’t the Planning Board have this already? It should be completely reviewed by the Planning Board and the city council. Look at Woodbridge – A solar farm was supposed to be across from Wegmans. Look at it now – housing developments! Nobody is looking at this. We are looking at people having electric cars, making a huge amount of money telling us what to do. Over here, we are overcrowded. 4.5 square miles! Look at all the property at Atlantic City that’s underdeveloped. All we do is rentals and more Section 8. The rich stuff the poor into a little hole. They are shipping them to us. The Planning Board and the Council – have a conversation. The Board of Education should be here, too. Where are we going to put the children? There’s no place to put them. Wait till next year when they can’t afford electric cars, heat, gas and all the space heaters!”
Resident Sharon Hubberman spoke via Zoom, “I don’t know why you need to go to the Planning Board in order to draw an inclusionary agreement. We should be talking about open space. One family homes should be built so people can have the American Dream and own a home. I don’t think they will help our town. It will strain our already strained infrastructure. A moratorium may be more advisable.”
Council President William Petrick stated, “I completely agree with you. The council needs to send this to the Planning Board who does a perfunctory review. I was opposed to this, but it is a court mandate.”
Hubberman then added, “I would like to see this court mandate. Urban communities are exempt.”
Petrick then said, “I tried to get a second set of eyes to review it.”
Law Director William Opel said, “According to municipal land use, the Planning Board is required to review.”
Petrick then stated, “I agree with Sharon Hubberman. There is no real affordable housing requirement in Perth Amboy. It’s multifaceted and allows the city to control the process.”
For Ordinances No. 2 & No. 3, the council voted unanimously to send the ordinances to the Planning Board.
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
Resident Ken Balut came up to speak, “You’re going to need this. Atlantic City is 4.5 square miles. 210 (police officers) for 4.5 square miles and their housing is for the summer. People can’t afford the gas money. People can’t afford to go to the shore. You are going to have fights, loud music, etc. We are going to need more police. There should not be 15 minutes to answer a police call or ambulance calls. You get $15 million. We need more police officers now on the streets – to be proactive and stop car accidents. You want more people here. They can’t’ afford to go down the shore with $4.99 for a dozen eggs and the rising cost of gas. How are the poor people going to enjoy the summer? How are they going to the shore? You need to take care of the poor people in this town. From Joe (Vas) to (Wilda) Diaz to (Helmin) Caba – doing the same thing. The poor get nothing.”
Resident Sharon Hubberman spoke via Zoom, “In regards to this ordinance – we need to add those extra ten officers to the Police Department. If you were to look at the recommendation to the size of the population, that is a better number than 135. There is the position of another captain if we rule out the Deputy Police Chief (Only have a Police Chief) in structure. You need leadership roles to mange as addressing the police force.”
Councilman B.J. Torres voted “No”. All the other councilmembers voted, “Yes.”
Public Comments on Agenda Items Only:
Ken Balut spoke first, “We can save a lot of money if we do the right things. If you sit and ask questions and look at reports. My first meeting I saved $25,000 by asking questions. The lawyers don’t care about this – it’s taxpayers’ money. The budget. This is June. You should be saving money. $15 million from the American Rescue Act. It is for the people right now. Money needs to be spent. It’s the American Recovery Act to help the poor. Next meeting I’d like to know where the money has to be spent. It’s not wait around two years for election time. It belongs to the people.”
The next person to speak is Resident and Musician Toney Lee. He spoke about R-306/6/22 – In support of Archeological Investigation of the Thomas Mundy Peterson Family Home Site. He stated he came at the request of Historical Commissioner Anna Daily.
“When I found out it about Thomas Mundy Peterson, I researched it myself. I work with kids. I am a mentor for boys ages 9-12. Information is vital. I need to be here to say this. It makes us proud. Young people need this right now.”
Sharon Hubberman spoke via Zoom, “The amendment to the Budget – it appears year to year there is an increase in expenses and other expenses. What are these other increases? I need clarity on utilities. Celebrate (the Amboy’s) is a public event. Why does it need to be an increase in salary for an individual?”
Business Administrator Michael Green stated, “This amendment increases the salary for additional cost for an individual transferred to the Clerk’s Office. Some of our employees got transferred. There are more costs for gas, electric, diesel. Fireworks gets $8,000. Perth Amboy is cohost. The OECD (Office of Economic and Community Development) is adding $2.5 million worth of grants.”
Hubberman then added, “Other expenses – salaries and wages included?”
B.A. Michael Green said, “Add the cost of about $503,000 in addition to the budget. List of adding grants.”
Councilman B.J. Torres said, “There is an increase in the fireworks is the additional amount. South Amboy is with us. Do they share with us?”
B.A. Michael Green added, “Someone is moving Clerk’s Office – we need a Records Clerk.” Green explained that the city must advertise internally first, then if no one is hired, the city can advertise externally.
Council President Bill Petrick asked how many votes will be needed to pass the amendment to the budget. Law Director William Opel answered that under the Faulkner Act, the budget needs 3 votes to pass under Section 46.
Ordinance No.2 (First Reading) – An ordinance authorizing a lease agreement between the Grzankowski Holdings LLC and the city of Perth Amboy for property located at 497B Smith Street for use as a Perth Amboy Substation.
Councilman Joel Pabon said, “We have a police substation on Madison Avenue. People double park there and leave (their car in the middle of the street). No one is at that substation. That is the most congested area in downtown. It’s a mess. Whether any police are there or not. People are not even in their vehicles. It is the #1 issue on chat. What about the Waterfront? On the weekends, it’s packed. I don’t know if in that area we need a substation. I don’t think this is a good idea.”
Councilman B.J. Torres agreed.
It was moved by Tejeda, seconded by Morales. Pabon, Torres, Petrick voted “No”; Morales, Tejeda voted, “Yes”. Motion does not pass.
For the late-starter “Entertainment,” Councilwoman Milady Tejeda voted “No,” so it was not added.
For PARA designating an area for redevelopment, Tejeda voted, “No,” therefore it was not placed on the agenda.
These two items will be on the agenda at the next council meeting.
For the consent agenda, R-288 thru R-300 and R-302 thru R-305 was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda.
R-301-6/22 – Authorizing the Planning Board of the City of Perth Amboy to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether a certain area within the Municipality is a condemnation area in need of redevelopment. It was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. All voted, “Yes.”
Councilman Pabon remarked on R-306 (Thomas Mundy Peterson Site Archaeological Dig), “This should have been done a long time ago. It was supposed to include the kids from schools. We should pass this.”
It was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. All voted “Yes.”
R-307-6/22 – Amending the CY 2022 Budget.
R-307 was moved by Tejeda, seconded by Morales. Pabon and Petrick voted, “No.” Tejeda, Torres, Morales voted, “Yes.”
Council President Bill Petrick explained why he voted, “No.” “There are a number of factors here that the general public does not see. The amendment to the budget requires moneyfor a $40,000 increase in salary for an administrator on above 2-digit salary. One makes $100,000 and wants to add $40,000. A number of people who were campaign workers were hired at $40,000 apiece. People were hired at $80,000 and get hundreds of thousands. When the budget is submitted to the administration and ignored after several weeks, this is in no way good for the community. It is neglectful. We have an obligation to the community to oversee the government. I don’t see this on this budget amendment. I don’t see the council justifying this as requested. That is why I voted, “No.”.”
Late-starter Resolution R-308 – The 2022-2023 Perth Amboy School Budget General Fund. To add to the agenda, it was moved by Tejeda, seconded by Pabon. To add all voted, “Yes.” When it came to pass the resolution, it was moved by Tejeda, seconded by Morales. William Petrick voted, “No.”
Public Portion (in-person first):
Retired Police Captain Miguel Pellot spoke first. “Giving me time on Monday, Mr. Green sent out an email. P1 has moved and P2 will begin very shortly. We will never forget. It was said by President Bush at the evening of September 11, 2001. What it means to me: 6 Perth Amboy Police Officers were sent to Ground Zero. Anything we can do to divert terrorist attacks. I will never forget what I heard, saw, smelled that day. Many years later, I became sick and had to leave the job I love. I took an oath to protect people and go by the law. I want to remind you – you also took that oath. Put morals over money. Each case is individual. I want everybody to speak your truth. Sometimes all people want is the truth. They may not like what they hear, but it’s the truth. I will continue to speak my truth. People want to hear the truth. That’s all I ask of each and every one here.”
Ken Balut spoke next, “Thomas Mundy Peterson – It’s Kushner’s property. The past administration bent over backwards for Kushner, Donald Trump’s brother-in-law. I had to fight to get Kushner to pave that road. Kushner – they always bend over backwards – why are we negotiating a PILOT for Kushner? Why? He owes us $4 million from 2006. This alone everyone should be aware of. Kushner should have gone out of his way to negotiate. Why is everybody afraid of Kushner? Read McGreevey’s book. No one has an answer. Fernando Gonzalez and I wanted to dump him. Why does McCabe and Northgrave love Kushner? 14 some years later and he still gets away with this. It has got to stop.”
Resident Maria Vera spoke via Zoom, “Mr. Green, our administration is supposed to make our town perfect. What has Mayor Caba done for Perth Amboy? It’s been 2 years.”
Green did not answer.
Vera then continued, “He doesn’t have an answer. It’s called incompetent. What is your vision for Perth Amboy? If there is no vision, you are not doing your job.”
Green answered, “Make and continue to make Perth Amboy a safe place to live and work.”
Vera said, “We had a bar with a shooting and complaints. You tell me you are protecting the people.
Green explained, “The El Patio Bar is going before the ABC (Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control). We do not live in Russia. This is the United States. I do not have the legal authority to take their license. We want to see a safe Perth Amboy. We received grants from the state and the federal government to assure quality of life for our residents.”
City Director Joel Rosa spoke next via Zoom, “I am a proud Perth Amboy Resident. I am Chair of PARA (Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency). We are doing our due diligence. We work in unity. I welcome all residents to come. Our meetings are on Zoom on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and the links are posted on the city’s website. We are the ones who work on a city project. You can email me at JRosa@PerthAmboyNJ.org I will make myself available to the council. I wouldn’t mind making a presentation to the council.”
Resident Lisa Nanton spoke via Zoom, “Thank you for supporting R-306 (Thomas Mundy Peterson Archeological Investigation). I want to thank Councilman Pabon for voting against the budget. Why aren’t the PARA meetings in person? They are on Zoom, then they go into closed session, and nobody knows what is going on. When I was on the city council, I had to have a thick skin. I will listen to the gadflies, and I listened to the public at those council meetings. We removed our Law Director who was selling our waterfront property for next to nothing. When the public talks, they have the courage to speak up, and you should listen.” Nanton then asked the Business Administrator if he did his homework and could answer the questions she asked at the previous caucus.
B.A. Green stated he indeed answered the questions and had sent her an email with the answers. He proceeded to read out loud the email he had sent to Nanton.
Sharon Hubberman spoke via Zoom, “I was reading the 2020 Water Quality Report on the city website – a notice from Middlesex Water. I did not receive a notice in the mail regarding this notice on the city website. I received some feedback to disregard the notice since it does not involve Perth Amboy. If the notice is on the city’s website, why was it not mailed to everyone? In the Waterfront, people climb on the bars (to the beach) which is very unsafe. I saw a person climb over the barrier and came out with a marijuana (cigarette). It is a health hazard. I thought there was no smoking (in certain areas) and it is not being enforced.”
Council Comments:
Councilwoman Rose Morales thanked everyone who participated. “On Monday, I do appreciate comments for my wellbeing.” She then asked about her concerns with the transparency of Zoom, “Now we use this technology to participate in the meeting. Certain individuals use false names and attack council members. She asked Law Director William Opel if it is possible to track down and find out who is falsely using the technology.
Opel stated that he was not sure if it could be done, but a technician would be better to answer, but legally there are privacy issues. “The council chose hybrid meetings. I don’t know what results we will see. We have in the past allowed people from California to speak. There are First Amendment issues if we deny people to speak.”
Morales repeated people can use false names and addresses.
Councilman Joel Pabon said, “I’ve been on the council for 12 years. This is the first year it comes back to the council with additions to the budget. You got the votes. It is what it is. Where do our people go? Perth Amboy is not poor and you can leave here. We used to go to Lake Hopatcong or Cheesequake Park. People come to our Waterfront. It is important to keep our parks up to par. The concern to the people in the community is they use those parks. I go to all the parks. We have 60,000-65,000 people here. It’s sad sometimes (if park equipment is broken). Thousands of kids use these things (park equipment). People picnic at the Waterfront. Taxicabs come up with people in the, and they enjoy the Waterfront. The police are there. This is the beginning of the summer. When you have that about the downtown, the money we pay in taxes, the least we can do for our community is to make clean, safe parks.”
Councilwoman Milady Tejeda said, “I live next to Washington Park. The kids play. Ever since I came here, one of the things that is important is to respect me. If I do not agree, then don’t tell the public they are not right. The residents can come to me and ask why I voted this way, and I will explain it. As a council member, if you do not agree with me, respect it.”
Councilman B.J. Torres said, “All smoking is illegal in the parks, I’ve seen people smoking hookahs, cigarettes, and cigars. Cigarette smoking kills 500,000 people annually. It is most deadly. By singling out cannabis, this has always been a problem. If someone is caught smoking cannabis, will they have the same courtesy if it was a cigarette? A lot of people cannot smoke at home. How can we address this responsibly, so people know the rules?”
Council President William Petrick thanked everyone who participated and wished everyone a Happy Father’s Day.
The meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m. All council members were present in person.
