The Perth Amboy City Council meets at the YMCA 8/3/20
*Photo by Katherine Massopust

By: Carolyn Maxwell

PERTH AMBOY – R-252-8/20 – Authorizing a closed session at the 8/3/2020 meeting to discuss the following: personnel. 

Council President William Petrick announced that this meeting was held at the YMCA Auditorium because of unexpected events that recently happened recently so that city residents may attend in person. The meeting was open to the public. 

Jeremy Baratta came forth first. He asked about the dismissal of any administration appointments. “Under our form of government (Faulkner Plan B), is there a 20-day notice given to the council.”

Petrick answered, “Yes.”

Law Director Peter King cautioned the council, “What you are to discuss at this meeting is bound by what you advertised. I will give you guidance on comments by the public.”

Attorney JB Vas spoke next and asked, “Is personnel included (speaking about the B.A.)? Was he amicably discharged? The B.A. is in charge of services of day to day functions. Was there a hearing if he (the B.A.) justifiably terminated or were there other grounds? What was the reason for the discharge? Did you get any email (regarding this)?”

Resident Alan Silber came up next, “On July 15, 2020, I saw pictures online with Mayor Diaz, Jackie Quiles (Deputy Mayor of Community Engagement in Newark), the new Interim Business Administrator Patricia Perkins and they are all sitting two inches apart from each other.” Silber then asked if the video photographer (who records the council meetings) gets paid by us.

Petrick responded, “The Mayor insisted that no police or video photographer from the city could film this meeting.”

Silber continued and told the council they should watch the video stream of “Hamilton”. He quoted one particular line: “If you stand for nothing, you will fall for everything.” Addressing those councilmen that are running for mayor, he suggested, “You should worry less about running for that office and concentrate more on standing for something. There are 9 council members in Elizabeth, and she has been on that council for 28 years.”

Former Councilwoman Lisa Nanton came up next, “Are the council members still locked out of city hall?”

Petrick stated, “We don’t have keys.”

Law Director King spoke up and stated, “I never had a key to city hall, but the council can request keys, or I can request keys for you.”

Petrick responded, “We’ll have a meeting about where the next meeting will be.”

Nanton then questioned Petrick if he found the mayor’s behavior appalling.

Petrick responded, “Yes.”

She then asked King the same question.

He responded, “I have no opinion. You can only discuss personnel matters and nothing else.”

The meeting was closed to the public at 6:20 p.m. The council then went into closed session. The video of this meeting is available at www.amboyguardian.com