9/12/22 Caucus & 9/14/22 Council Meeting

By: Carolyn Maxwell

PERTH AMBOY – There was a presentation at the Caucus Meeting to discuss Elizabethtown Gas ongoing projects in the city. Andrew McNally, Esq. spoke about this project, “So far, 13,000 lines have been completed.” He was accompanied by a slideshow that showed all the streets that were going to be serviced or have been serviced. “We expect a completion date of November 2022 on 340 lines. We can’t do any paving during the winter months unless there is an emergency. We expect the final paving of the roads that are listed in the slideshow to be completed by April 2023. One of the lines include one industrial property on Second Street.”

Another Representative from Elizabethtown Gas, Camilto Bonilla came up to speak to answer a question posed by Council President Petrick, “The lines put down are plastic and do you put sand around the pipes?”

Bonilla answered, “Yes.”

Councilman Joel Pabon spoke up and said, “Our main roads look bad, even after 90 days after they have been paved. I’m hoping that next June we are not back at square one and have to have those roads repaved again.”

McNally answered, “We are still installing service lines and we are making sure there is no service disruption. We had to do pipe replacement of streets that have very aging pipes. We are retiring the old pipes.”

Council President Petrick then asked, “How are we protecting the exposed pipes that are being placed in front of buildings?”

McNally answered, “Some of those outside pipes were put inside when possible. We will be in discussion regarding the pipes on the outside of the building.”

Law Director William Opel talked briefly about the ordinance adopting Amendment to the Focus 2020 Redevelopment Plan for Redevelopment Area No. 1. “There are four changes that were sent to the city planner, and we may have to reintroduce this ordinance for another public hearing.”

The next person to speak was David Gannon who gave the July Audit Report of the city’s funds. “The accounting practice is in accordance with the grant compliance, the testing of compliances of all types of revenue from all of the city’s departments revenue cycle. There is a $12.1 million balance and $9.4 million for the water balance. The fund balances are good with the appropriate reserves. The tax rate is at 100%.”

Councilman Joel Pabon questioned, “Who is in charge of accounting for vacation time, etc.?”

Gannon replied, “That is not part of the audit, and nothing requires corrective action. There are a number employees getting close to retirement and you are going to need qualified people to replace them.”

CFO Jill Goldy came forward to make a few remarks, “There are a lot of notable items which includes employment liabilities and long-term liabilities. There are healthcare requirements and for some retirements, those healthcare requirements are being dropped. We have reserves for insurance runoff claims. There is also accumulated leave liability which we have cutoffs, but we still have legacy costs. The $12 million surplus doesn’t go far.”

Council President Petrick spoke up and told Goldy that he heard there is a succession planned for her office and healthcare recommendations that we can forward to our local county official.

Goldy replied, “We have sent recommendations to them before that went nowhere. There is a position in my office that has been vacant for years. I am looking for someone that has experience. We need people who are qualified to look at our internal controls. There are many people in my office who are close to retirement age in about a year. The operating budget is $80 million.”

Councilman B.J. Torres questioned, “Are there any rising retirement costs that you plan to address?”

Business Administrator Michael Greene responded, “The pension is from the state, and we have to pay that cost. We are looking at shared benefit cost and we haven’t had any increase in tax rates.”

Goldy then talked about the Chapter 78 Law which eliminated certain payouts to new employees. “We have a provider with health benefits and another for prescriptions. The state health benefits increased the costs for state employees.”

IT Technician John Alleman came up to explain, “An employee will report their time to supervisors to put into a time bank for any reported time off or overtime.”

Pabon then questioned, “Is there someone making sure that time is being recorded correctly?”

B.A. Greene spoke up, “If an employee is out for more than three days, they are required to come in with a sick note from their doctor.”

The council then went into closed session at 6: 27 p.m. to take a phone call for someone regarding a personnel matter. The council returned at 8:32 p.m. with the exception of Councilwoman Milady Tejeda who left for a previous commitment.

When the meeting resumed, Fire Chief Ed Mullen came up to explain Ordinance No. 2 – Appropriating $547,000 from the American Rescue Plan Funds for the replacement of Engine No. 3. “This is a 1988 Engine, and it failed the Pump Test several years in a row. We have capital money coming in, plus additional funding to lock in the price.”

Councilman B.J. Torres questioned R-435 – Rescinding R-209-4/22 – Allocation of UEZ funds to support an application to the State of New Jersey DCA for the Fink Park Project in the amount of $300,000.

He questioned why they were no longer working on this project.

B.A. Greene responded, “Negotiations broke down.”

Torres continued, “Work was started without approval of the owner. How many hours went into the public outreach as to what to do with this park?”

OECD Director Tashi Vazquez spoke via Zoom, “We received technical assistance at no cost to the city. We did not have to acquire the property to do this.”

Torres concluded, “You should not work on any projects on property we don’t own.”

Torres was also concerned about R-436 – The use of second generation UEZ funds not to exceed the amount of $500,000 for street paving improvements in the UEZ funds.

“This is uncreative use of these funds, and did we approve of the expansion of the UEZ funds in this area? Was Jefferson Street paved?”

Pabon responded, “No.”

Vazquez then explained R-437 – Rescinding R-364-7/22 – An application to the New Jersey UEZ Zone Authority for the first-generation Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) assistance funds for the administration of the UEZ program for fiscal year June 30, 2022.

She explained that 10% is for the first year of funding and only $16,000 goes for salary. “This had to go through the state and the money has to match what is on the original resolution.”

B.A. Greene explained, “On R-441 which was an amount not exceeding $1,400,000 of bonds from the city of Perth Amboy and providing for their sale to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and the State of New Jersey authorizing the execution of various agreements pursuant to the New Jersey Water Bank Financing Program. He stated, “This is for the water towers and loan forgiveness.”

Councilman Pabon made a brief statement regarding R-443 – The City Tax Collector placing a lien on 773 Gadek Place in the amount of $758.58 for charges incurred by the DPW to cut, trim, and clean the property.

Pabon said, “This has been going on four years.”

Code Enforcement Director Irving Lozada spoke via Zoom, “Let the Council know that the property at 773 Gadek Place was recently sold.”

Petrick spoke up and wanted to congratulate the DPW for the great job they are doing of cutting trees.

Pabon then questioned R-445 – A contract with Hudson County Motors to cover the unanticipated increase in the market values of the front-loading garbage truck and side loading garbage truck in an amount not to exceed $8,200.

Pabon asked, “Are we getting trucks from the same suppliers?”

Council President Petrick then noticed that they keep raising prices.

Greene responded that he would get back to the council on this.

There were several questions regarding R-453 – Accepting a grant from the State of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in the amount of $25,000.

Greene explained that this was the Community Energy Plan with the Green Team.

Councilman Torres then questioned, “Does the city have a windmill project with PSEG?”
Greene explained, “This resolution has nothing to do with that. I think PSEG spoke with the Raritan Yacht Club to talk about a windmill project.”

For R-451 – Authorizing a grant to the Raritan Bay YMCA in the amount of $249,857.48 to be funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.

B.J. Torres questioned, “Why is the Y doing the oversight?”
Greene explained, “It’s reimbursement for some of the projects (they were involved in).”

OECD Director Tashi Vazquez said, “This is for windowless basements which was usually from UEZ funds. Our grant team we hired do not write all of our grants. I have written some of the grants myself. The Y has been in the forefront of helping with housing.”

Council President Petrick spoke up, “The OECD should be doing the work instead of farming out work to others.”

Vazquez then explained, “We would have to hire more staff.”

Petrick continued, “I don’t think the money is being spent wisely.”

Torres then spoke up, “We should have oversight of these funds. Does each city department have its own grant writers?”

Vazquez then explained, “We already hired a city planner.”

Fire Chief Ed Mullen came up and talked about windowless basements, “400 violations have been issued since the Fire Department took over (the inspections).”

Vazquez then explained, “Wea have also talked to Hackensack Meridian Hospital to get their input.”

Public Portion:
No one spoke in-person.

Sharon Hubberman was the first person to speak via Zoom. She questioned R-441. “There has been no presentation on the infrastructure of financing for this ordinance. What kind of funding and terms are there to pay down on the principle? What are the investments and interest rates? How will the funds be invested?”

B.A. Michael Greene said, “I will speak to the CFO to get the answers of Ms. Hubberman’s questions.”

YMCA President Steve Jobin spoke via Zoom. He talked about a discussion that he was part of pertaining to a healthier Perth Amboy with people from various groups, “This came about a few years ago when there was a Carbon Monoxide related death at a Fayette Street building. We talked about getting grants for healthy and affordable housing. We have people who can talk to the community about different health related issues. We’ll be here to help no matter what.”

Councilman Torres asked Steve Jobin if the council were involved at the time in those talks.

Jobin responded, “I’m not sure.”

Torres spoke up, “I have 20 years experience in helping people statewide with health and quality of life issues.”

Petrick spoke up, “The City has the funding.”

After the public portion was closed, Council President Bill Petrick asked if any of the council wanted to make any comments.

Councilman Torres wasn’t going to speak up, but decided to do so, “Is the Covid Task Force still operational? I had two incidents that happened this week. One involved in me getting the wrong booster dosage at the hospital and the other happened at the ShopRite in Perth Amboy. I had an argument because they refused to give my 16-year-old a shot. In Perth Amboy, you have to make an appointment online for a booster shot. Old Bridge has walk-ins. We need to have more walk-in locations (in the city).”

The meeting adjourned at 10:17 p.m.

The discussions continued at the 9/14/22 Council Meeting. The meeting was opened up to the public for Ordinances that had their own public hearing. Before the first speaker came up, Law Director Opel made a brief comment regarding adoption of Ordinance No. 1 (no public comment) which were amendments to the Focus 2020 Redevelopment Plan for Redevelopment Area No. 1. He told the council that the introductory paragraph was amended and were accepted and nothing changed and the Planning Board said that there were no substandard changes made.

Councilman Pabon then questioned if the Planning Board got information on the Urgent Care going in that area.
Petrick responded, “The Planing Board just knew it was going to be for commercial use.”

Resident Ken Balut came up to speak Regarding Ordinance No. 1 (public hearing) $157,000 of the American Rescue Plan Funds for the Water/Wastewater Utility (funds for the acquisition of a 6 Submergible Pump for the Water/Wastewater Utility in Perth Amboy.

He questioned, “What is the total money of the American Rescue Plan Funds used?”

B. A. Greene responded, “$16.4 million, which is on the website.”

Balut continued, “Some of the money was spent and some was appropriated. You should have that broken down.”

Greene responded, “Because there is a supply chain issue, some of the allocated money was not spent. It has only been spent on the Fire Department.”

Balut ended,”I am saying that those funds should have been spent to help the citizens, and the citizens need to know how to get a Homestead Rebate Check.”

JB Vas came up to speak next, “Some of this money has been spent without public input. We get CDBG Grants of $900,000 from the Feds every year and have public hearings. Middlesex Water should be paying for some of the cost of this pump. The key role of the council is how money is spent, and the best use of it. We should have public hearings.”

Council President Petrick responded, “We are having public hearings on each of these individual items on how the American Rescue Fund money is spent. The money goes to the administration first, and they ask us how to spend it. There is specific repairs for the infrastructure and we have the power if we act together as a body.”

The next person spoke (via Zoom) was Sharon Hubberman. There is another ordinance asking for funding for the infrastructure. Why are we authorizing $1.3 million in bonds that was in the 2019 ordinance for the Water/Wastewater infrastructure? The funding is already in place. We are approving a lot of bonding and no transparency. We have many areas that need to be approached.”

Councilwoman Tejeda spoke up, “I remember an email sent to all of us with suggestions for the use of the American Rescue Funds.”

Greene responded,”We used the advice from the Government Strategy Group who suggested we need to take care of our water infrastructure and our public safety.” Greene also responded to Joel Pabon when asked if this money would help with our CSOs (Combined Sewer Overflow). “A $5.4 million grant was requested by the city to help with our Water/Wastewater Infrastructure.”

Pabon asked, “What would happen if we didn’t get the American Rescue Plan money? We should have a running number of funds spent so far. It’s scary with all of these big line items.”

Greene continued, “The Mayor asked the company to see the best need and a road map for this money.”

Petrick concluded the conversation, “Anyone who lives in this town doesn’t need anyone to tell us about the quality of life issues which includes overcrowding, CSO’s, potholes, etc.”

The next ordinance up for public comment was No. 2 – Appropriating $650,000 of the American Rescue Funds for replacement of existing single head meters throughout the city with compatible pay stations for the parking utility.

Ken Balut came up first, “None of these figures match the budget. Maybe I am not seeing things.”

B.A. Greene responded, “There is a budget sheet and a capital budget sheet which would have different totals.”

Balut continued, “This ordinance said it is American Rescue Funds.

Greene said, “The shaded areas on the fact sheet would indicate if it is a capital budget.”

Balut continued, “Jill Goldy said that American Rescue Funds are in a separate budget. Other cities gave back to their citizens. Code Enforcement has an employee with 7 years as a director. We are going to have death because of illegal housing that we’ve had for years. ”

JB Vas came up to make a brief statement, “This Strategy Group just said what everybody already knows.”
Zoom Participant Sharon Hubberman spoke next, “How many parking meters are we going to get for the $600,000? Other cities have Q-Codes to scan to pay at meters.”

Police Chief Cattano came up to respond, “We’ve had ParkMobile for a year. These paystations will be put in place up 20 meters plus an additional 20 meters. At the next council meeting, we are putting in a proposal for more paystations.We will also have touchless pay.”

Pabon asked if there is a difference between using a barcode versus using the APP.

Cattano responded, “Our rates are low, and more people want to use coins. Sometimes there is a fee associated when people use their credit cards.”

Pabon then asked, “What does it cost to put the machine out? Is it leveling out our investment such as fixing the parking deck, etc.? How much are we making on each dollar?”

Cattano said, “It is harder to do enforcement because there are two parts that the Code Enforcement Officer has to fill out. The city gets money from parking summonses and not the parking utility.”

Pabon stated, “This should be noted on the budget.”

Cattano answered, “It is city money, so it all goes into the one pot.”

Councilman Torres spoke up, and questioned, “Is the city making money or is it leveling out? We need to know the return on our investment.”

Cattano responded, “During the Covid, money was going out and nothing was coming in. The parking deck and parking lot at Jefferson Street is being repaired. The people using the deck are the ones subsidizing it. ”

Pabon then asked a question regarding the new water department building going up, “How many people will go into the new building?” (There was a brief presentation at the Caucus Meeting by the architects from the Altec Building System who won the bid for the construction of the new Water Department Building.

Luis Perez Jimenez, Director of Operations at the USA-PA (Utility Service Associates Perth Amboy) Middlesex Water Company) said, “Besides myself, there will be 5 people. That includes a secretary, 2 foremen, and 1 other employee.”

Pabon said, “For almost $6 million, this should be a state-of-the-art building. It is too much money spent for replacing a building and a garage.”

Perez Jimenez said, “The cost has gone up.”

The next person who spoke was the architect from Altec. “These are tough times, and the site work and demolition have a huge cost. The materials and the access to them may drop, but labor cost will go up. The state law says it will be a prevailing wage for laborers.”

Law Director Opel spoke up, “The property for WaWa has to go before the Planning Board before we can sell that property over market rate.”

Councilman Torres asked if Middlesex Water will share the cost of that building.

Perez Jimenez responded to Torres, “There will be no city employees in the new building.”

Torres continued, “We put the Recreation Department in another building, and we are going into harder times and is this the right time to do this project?”

Greene responded, “We are responsible for the water infrastructure, all the equipment needed by the Department of

Recreation is not enough space in that building.”

Opel spoke up, “The city is getting $258,000 from WaWa (answering Balut).”

Balut then stated, “We are getting an $8 million building and we love Kushner. Are we getting money to pay on bonds? It will be 200 years to pay the taxes for this building. This is incompetence.”

Opel responded, “This was never a one-for-one equal swap. The old Water Department Building was dilapidated. I disagree with what Balut said, when he said the public didn’t know this. It went through PARA. The council had public hearings, and appraisal was also listed.”

JB Vas came up to speak, “The public should have a say if we use the ARF Money for a building for Middlesex Water that is not using city employees.”

Sharon Hubberman spoke next via Zoom. She was not in favor of this ordinance. “There are quality of life water problems with the infrastructure. Will they ask for bonds to help with the costs? This will include construction costs and capital appropriations for cleaning of water and oversight. We need a rebate for those who paid their water bills or we should be able to get them free water filters.”

Public Comments (Agenda Items Only): (in person first)

Ken Balut spoke first on R-433 – Refund of duplicate tax payment on 3 properties. “There is not enough information.” He then spoke about R-429 – The annual Audit report ending in December 31, 2022, recommendations. “There is no breakdown on the loans, fees, or percentage rates. There was $100 million of bonds that were used when McGreevey was in Office for the Turnpike Building. We never get a breakdown of fees. I remember when there was one law firm that made $8 million in one town. Any lawsuits, tax appeals should be in the ordiance. We had it when I was on the council.”

Greene said, “It might already be on the website. I’ll check.”

Resident Dave Benyola came up next. “I want more of an explanation on R-126 – Authorizing Bay City Restaurant and Sports Bar to have a license to use a portion of their parking lot to be used as a patio at 217 King Street.

He said, “The music is so loud that my neighbors called to complain.”

Opel responded, “The city code has it in an ordinance on outside uses (for a business).”

Benyola thanked the council for appointing Captain Panagiotis Boulieris to the Perth Amboy Citizens Advisory Board.”

JB Vas came up next, “Are there certain spots that you need to expand the liquor license to use for outside expansion.”
City Clerk Victoria Kupsch responded, “They do zoning checks.”

Sharon Hubberman spoke via Zoom, She thanked Mr. Greene for the construction of the parking deck. She then talked about R-441 – Details of the sale for the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to the New Jersey Water Bank Financing Program.

“What is the refunding of the bonds? Is it a favorable interest rate? We need the terms of the Vet services and the escrow and the legal documents which are not acceptable.”

Petrick asked Law Director Opel a question about R-426 – Bay City Sports Bar. “Can their music be limited?”

Opel responded, “I would advise the council not to do that without notifying the owner and having a hearing.”
Police Chief Cattano came up and said, “There is only one complaint about the music, and the person talked to the DJ (to resolve that issue).”

Councilman B.J. Torres said that, “We should let the owner know about curtailing the loud music.”

There was a brief discussion regarding the YMCA getting grant money from the American Rescue Plan Act of $249,857.48. (put on the agenda by the OECD).

Petrick was against this, “The OECD has one employee that is getting a $20,000 increase in salary with a title change and they want to hire a clerk to employ for $40,000 and they have a $50,000 increase to their budget and 4-5 grants are going for management fees.”

Pabon said,”They may need a separate office and more people employed.”

Councilman Torres said.,”When they outsource a lot of those grants, we lose oversight. The YMCA doesn’t deal with housing.”

Petrick also said, “This is funding for a windowless basement.”

Councilwoman Milady Tejeda said, “This group has done great for the grants and I like the partnerships that they have (with other agencies).”

For R-457 – Amending R-153-3/19 – A contract to Kyle and McManus Associates for professional engineering services related to the housing study for the Department of Human Services not to exceed $52,000.

Petrick said, “This contractor skirted the truth about going to court and accepting a fee. The person misrepresented the facts.”

There was a late-starter that was put on by Joel Pabon – R-464-9/22 – Rent Leveling Board Revision of City Code regarding rent increases.

Ordinances (with a public hearing) No. 1, 4, 5 was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. Ordinance No. 2 ($650,000 of ARPF regarding the single head meters) was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. Torres and Petrick voted “No.”

Ordinance No. 3 ($2.4 million of the ARPF for construction of the Water Utility Building) was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. Pabon and Torres voted “No.”

Ordinances (first reading – no public discussion) Ordinances No. 1,2,3,4,5 were moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda.

Ordinance No. 4 (first reading)(using $2,320,000 from ARPF providing for equipment for the police department. Pabon asked for it to be tabled, but the council decided to vote on it. Moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. Pabon, Torres, Petrick voted “No.”

Ordinance No. 6 was moved by Tejeda, seconded by Pabon.

For the consent agenda, R-425 thru R-434; R-436 thru R-450; R-452 thru R-456; R-459 thru R-464 was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda.

R-435 (regarding Fink Park) was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. Torres asked for it to be removed, “It is a waste of grant money, but I will vote “Yes.””

R-451 (grant money for the YMCA) was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. Torres, Petrick voted “No.”R-457 (amending the ordinance for the contract to Kyle McManus) was moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. Petrick voted “No.”

R-458 (contract for the Altech Fielding Systems for new office for the Water Department) moved by Pabon, seconded by Tejeda. Pabon, Torres voted “No.”

Public Portion:

Ken Balut spoke first, “The Y owes us money and it receives a lot of money. $21 million was taken from the school system because of PILOTS. Will the new school be big enough when it opens?”
Pabon and Petrick both responded, “It will be overcrowded.”

Balut continued, “You are spending taxpayers dollars and we are giving money away to rich people. We are getting a lot of calls from the school about students O.D.’ing. We don’t care about people or animals. You hire too many out-of-towners.”

JB Vas came up to speak. He spoke about a topic from a couple of years ago regarding rent control when a greedy landlord who lived out of town bought a property at 263-265 New Brunswick Avenue. “That new owner increased the tenant’s rent by 5%. Some rents are doubling up while our basic staples are going up. The tenants in this building had being paying below the market rate. The new owner of the building came before the council knowing there was no rent leveling board in place. The new owner gave notice to the tenants about a rate increase which the judge approved of because we had no Rent Leveling Board. That landlord tried to circumvent the law by increasing the rates by 30%. There was another 30 page court ruling in my clients (one of the renters) favor.”

Petrick responded, “We established the Rent Leveling Board and put on members.”

Vas responded, “A letter was sent to let the tenants to know that their case was never heard.”

Pabon joined the conversation, “We work with what we have. I was shocked at the jump of rent without the improvement done to that building. In the long run, the landlord did not get a big increase in rent.”

Vas continued, “People are doing whatever they can to survive, even if it means living in just a room. We should be educating landlords and tenants and put a freeze on rent to keep it under 5% increase. There was an order filed against the city and the tenant.”

Petrick responded, “The son of the tenant that we represented said the notice of a rent increase should have been sent by the lawyer, and you were the lawyer.”

Vas responded, “I was never given that notice, but the tenant succeeded anyway.”

The meeting was open to Zoom participants.

Sharon Hubberman spoke first. She thanked the council specifically Joel Pabon for putting the Rent Leveling Board as a Late-Starter and the council voting “Yes” for it. “In October 1983, there was an ordinance about the Rent Control Rate based on economics and community input and members. In 2021, we passed a resolution. We have been on top of tenants and renters problems. We have been very proactive. We encourage all tenants to contact Dianne Roman from our board regarding past and present problems. The last speaker just threw us under the bus for political gain. I want to thank Police Chief Cattano and the police force for their youth programs. It shows them how to respect law and order and how to achieve their dreams.”

Resident Maria Vera spoke next. “There is loud music at the Bay City Restaurant on Sunday Nights. They blast music until 10:45 p.m. on Sundays.” She then said, “My water pressure is low ever since they started construction of a house on my block. No one stops at stop signs and car mufflers are loud. People need to stop walking their dogs in the park, especially the waterfront property where there is a lot of dog waste. We need a dog park and I see a lot of stray dogs. People are still parking school buses in the driveways”.

Council Comments:
Councilwoman Rose Morales thanked all who participated tonight. “School is back in session and I urge everyone to get vaccinated and stay safe.”

Councilman Joel Pabon said, “People take handful of waste bags for their dogs. At least ten people have stopped me and talked to me about all the dog waste. I’ve seen it myself. People only use those bags to pick up after their dog when other people are around. I talked to Irving Lozada about the car wash (down Smith Street) that was finally knocked down.” He talked about the new park by Water Stadium that was being built by KaBoom. “The fences at Rudyk Park are looking better and kudos to the people who worked on that. I’m hoping that people take inventory about what improvements are needed in our parks before April next year and they are doing the mulching that is needed.” He then asked if the rumor was true that Home Depot is sold.”

Greene responded, “I have not heard anything about that.”

Pabon added, “This happened with the salt company that had been here for many years, then suddenly moved.”

Councilwoman Milady Tejeda thanked all who participated tonight. She gave kudos to Councilman B.J. Torres and his wife, Caroline for the music concert series presented in the summer at the Ferry Slip Museum. She also asked if we can use the American Rescue Fund Money for fencing needed at Sadowski Parkway. “I hope the students have a safe and productive school year.”

Councilman B.J. Torres thanked all who attended the last exceptional concert that was held at the Ferry Slip Museum. “Even the moon came out that night. There was a lot of positive energy. It is the duty for every American to vote.”

Council President William Petrick stated that the meeting was very interesting tonight. “I hope everyone enjoys their weekend.” The meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m. All council members were present.