3/30/20 Caucus & Council Meeting via Phone Conference
By: Carolyn Maxwell and
Katherine Massopust
PERTH AMBOY – The Caucus and Council Meetings originally scheduled for March 23rd and 25th were rescheduled to March 30th due to technical difficulties. The issues were worked out and both meetings were held back-to-back. They could be viewed and/or heard through the Zoom App or through regular telephone.
One of the longest discussions involved Resolutions: R-129-3/20 – Special Permit for the Committee Patriotico Cultural Puertorriqueno of Perth Amboy to be held June 12th, 13th, and 14th 2020 at Rudyk Park. R-130-3/20 – Special Permit for the United Dominicans of Perth Amboy for the Dominican Festival to be held August 14th, 15th, and 16th 2020 at the Robert Wilentz Field on First Street and Sadowski Parkway.
Councilman Joel Pabon stated, “It would be irresponsible to have any festivals due to what’s happening (coronavirus pandemic).”
Council President William Petrick suggested that these two resolutions be removed from the agenda.
Councilman Helmin Caba questioned, “Will the two festival committees need to reapply for permits? What kind of timeframe will they have to apply? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Pabon spoke up again, “It only benefits both sides. The committees (of the two festivals) need to tell their sponsors. We should just cancel this year’s festivals. I bet New York will not have any parades.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry agreed with Councilman Helmin Caba, “We should table the two resolutions in case things change.”
Irizarry’s other concern was the name of the fire official on the application should be changed because that person is no longer in the fire department.
Petrick responded, “At the time the application was made, that person was the fire official.” Petrick then stated, “It’s up to the city (regarding whether or not these festivals will take place).”
Caba then stated, “The organizations will have to decide whether or not they will postpone the festivals.”
Petrick said, “Since it’s only four of us here to vote (Councilwoman Milady Tejeda was not available in person or via teleconferencing due to work related obligations), then it’s a 2-2 tie. This will cause the postponing of a decision and the resolutions have to be tabled.”
Irizarry had a question regarding Resolution R-131-3/20 – Authorizing settlement of Cande Land, LLC vs. The City of Perth Amboy and Perth Amboy City Council by way of a consent order for final judgement. “Will this set a precedent with this order from the courts?”
Law Director Peter King responded, “How you (the council) will act has nothing to do with the precedent. This is a writ order to drop the rent. It’s the lesser of two evils to go before a judge for a rent increase. We can fix the ordinance.”
B.A. Frederick Carr had asked that they table Ordinance No. 2 – An ordinance to amend an ordinance fixing and establishing a schedule of salary and salary ranges in increments for officers and employees for the city of Perth Amboy re: Teamsters – January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022. “The Teamsters need to ratify.”
Irizarry questioned Ordinance No. 3 – Establishing a schedule of salary and salary ranges in increments for officers and employees of the city of Perth Amboy regarding AFSCME (The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) – January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2022. He questioned the titles of an Assistant Aide and a Senior Legal Aide.
Carr responded, “An Assistant Aide would help out in the Tax Accessor’s Office and a Senior Legal Aide will help out in the Legal Department. We would have also a Legal Stenographer to help out in the court system.”
Irizarry then questioned Ordinance No. 4 – An ordinance to amend an ordinance fixing and establishing a schedule of salary and salary ranges regarding OPEIU (Office and Professional Employees International Union). January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2022. “What is the cost to the city?”
Carr responded, “$3,157.08 It’s $300,000 total and there are steps in salary ranges across the board.” He also went back to let the council know for Ordinance No. 3 the increase should be $97,000.”
Councilman Irizarry concluded by thanking Mr. Carr and his team for a good job to settle this (Ordinance No. 4).
The caucus was then opened up to the public.
The first speaker was Resident Jeremy Baratta via telephone. “I see that the door to city hall is locked. Is the public allowed access to the building?”
Council President Petrick responded, “No.”
Baratta then questioned, “How can people participate if they don’t have any means?”
B.A. Carr spoke up, “Any phone can be used: cell or landline.”
Baratta continued, “What about the homeless or others without phones? It’s not open to the public and where is the agenda packet?”
Carr answered, “The agenda is on the city’s website along with the backup material.”
The next person who spoke via telephone was Stephanie Márquez-Villafañe. “I want to thank the council and the administration for allowing this to be an option (teleconferencing and phone participation). It’s not preferable, but it’s better than nothing.”
The caucus portion of the meeting was adjourned at 5:17 p.m.
The regular meeting started around 5:35 p.m. It was agreed to by the council that each speaker during the public portion will be given a 3-minute time limit.
Resident Jeremy Baratta was the first person to speak. He referenced R-131. “The city council is named as the defendant.”
Council President Bill Petrick explained the lawsuit. “A man purchased a building and he wanted to increase the rent for one or more tenants. We do not have a Rent Leveling Board, so the man’s lawyer told him to go to court.”
Baratta stated, “The Rent Leveling Board has not been appointed by the mayor. Rent cannot be increased above 5%.”
Petrick said, “The (previous) landlord did not make any improvements for over 30 years. A new landlord bought the property and made improvements.”
Baratta said, “This should have not been turned over to a judge. The man did not have to buy this building. I didn’t see anything in the papers about any improvements. He wants to increase the rent from 200%-300%. The lowest is 40%. There is nothing stating about any improvements.”
Petrick stated, “We will vote on this by consent agenda.”
Joel Rosa from Kearny Avenue thanked the council for their effort of coming together. I use Zoom in conference arena. I couldn’t find the agenda. There’s a chat area. You should submit the agenda on the chat area in the Zoom App.”
B.A. Fredrick Carr instructed Rosa on how to find the agenda on the city’s website.
When it came to vote, Ordinance No. 2 (re: Teamsters) was tabled during the caucus. For the consent agenda, R-124 thru R-127 and R-131 thru R-142 was moved by Councilman Irizarry and seconded by Councilman Caba. R-128 (agreement between the City of Perth Amboy and Perth Amboy Blue Collar Union the National Brotherhood of Teamsters Local #97) was tabled. R-129 – (Puerto Rican Festival) & R-130 (Dominican Festival) were all tabled.
For the regular public portion, Resident Jeremy Baratta spoke first. He questioned why was R-131 voted on.
Petrick answered, “The landlord came here several times to discuss this.”
Baratta stated, “The court rendered nothing. Why is the city not doing anything, so this doesn’t happen again? The council should change the ordinance, so you appoint the rent leveling members. You need to protect the citizens from arbitrary rent increases. I would look further into this and also to why the mayor is not doing her job.”
Council Comments:
Councilman Caba said, “We definitely live in strange and challenging times.” He pleaded to all residents in surrounding towns to stay home and save lives. “Take this seriously and put this into action. Talk to friends and family and stay at a safe difference. Use social media to keep your sanity.” Caba then quoted Charles Darwin, “It’s not the strongest, nor the most intelligent that survive. It’s the one that is most adaptable to change.”
Caba then added, “Let the police and essential workers do their job.” He then thanked all the city employees and first responders on the job. “God bless everyone.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry thanked the administration and the Mayor, OEM Manager Larry Cattano and all who work to make the city safe. “Some people are not taking the COVID-19 virus seriously. It may take something life threatening to them to realize the seriousness. Stay healthy and safe.”
Councilman Joel Pabon said, “I want to thank everyone who is working on the citizen’s behalf. There is so many doing so much. Go out only when necessary. Be smart. You don’t know what you’re bringing in. Take care of yourself. Enjoy your backyard and the fresh air. I want to thank Frederick Carr for putting the information regarding the coronavirus. You are putting numbers out on the number of cases because not everyone has the mayor’s Facebook page. Thanks to the tech department and to the city clerk for putting the meeting together.”
Council President Bill Petrick asked the council members if they would agree to put the towing ordinance on the agenda for the next meeting. They all agreed. “It’s a brand-new world and I’m glad it worked out this time (the phone conferencing).” Petrick noted that everyone should not litter the streets with used masks and gloves. “If you are wearing them, dispose of them properly. Don’t throw them on the ground. Throw them in a garbage can. It’s not up to the city workers to clean up the community – it’s up to everyone.” He mentioned the emergency services and also the DPW. “Having the one-armed bandit trucks lessons exposure to our DPW workers. I want to thank the IT and every city, private employees, medical workers and unpaid volunteers. They sacrifice and their families sacrifice, too.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry asked, “What is the role of the council and what should we be doing in this crisis?”
B.A. Carr answered, “Do what your doing now. We are essential.”
Council President Bill Petrick adjourned the meeting at 6:16 p.m. Councilwoman Milady Tejeda was not able to participate in either meeting because of work obligations.
