2/2/22 Council Meeting
By Carolyn Maxwell
SOUTH AMBOY – The meeting was held electronically due to Covid. There was a presentation made by Clint Plummer CEO from the Rise Light Power Company. He talked about the project proposal for the JPC&L Site. Mr. Plummer stated, “This will be an Offshore Wind Project using major infrastructure. This is renewable energy, and it is to repurpose old fossil fuel energy. There are wind farms in New York and New Jersey. This is about bringing power to the shore that is responsible and a cost-effective way to bring offshore energy to New Jersey. This is a transformation for clean energy through wind power and building converter stations for that purpose. There will be minimal traffic on the entire site. We will still have public access to the waterfront. New Jersey has a law in place for offshore wind power. We will be using two converter stations on the existing substation facilities which we would modernize. The converter stations will be the only item above ground. There is a lot of infrastructure already on site. There will be no power cables underground at the beaches. Neptune has regional transmission similar to what we propose. There will be a lot of steps involved. We might ask for a PILOT agreement. You will also be creating a lot of jobs (local suppliers, contractors) and working with your local youth for job training for this renewable energy. We will be converting an old coal plant. This will be a long development project. It is in the early planning stages. An application to the Public Utility will be submitted along with BPU approval and EPA permits. If we get all the necessary approvals (from each agency), then we can start work in 2024.”
Councilman Brian McLaughlin remembered when he first was contacted in 2020 about this project. “You have my full support as well as all the trades that will be involved.”
Plummer said, “We are a union shop.”
McLaughlin said, “It has been 8 long years that we have been waiting for something like this.”
Council President Mickey Gross asked, “Will there be more discussions about this?”
Plummer responded, “We can supply any additional information you may need.”
Gross then asked, “This will be renewable energy?”
Plummer replied, “Yes”.
Gross then ended the discussion, “Hopefully we can help you on this road.”
City Clerk Deborah Brooks spoke about the two liquor licenses on the agenda that were up for renewal. “These two licenses are currently inactive because they did not file Form 1239 on time. They have to apply to the ABC to continue to hold their inactive licenses. A special petition has to be applied and approved. They will be on the next meeting agenda.”
For Resolutions R-61 thru R-68, there was a motion by Councilman Reilly to approve, and seconded by Gross.
Reilly then spoke up stating that he could not hear the presentation. “I also have questions on the two liquor licenses on the agenda. People could not vote on items because of us being muted and the City Clerk should have stopped the meeting.”
City Clerk Deborah Brooks replied, “It is not up to me.”
Reilly continued and addressed Council President Gross, “Mr. Gross, you have to take control.” Reilly then asked, “Did anybody reach out to the American Legion regarding not getting the liquor license renewed on time?”
Gross responded, “I reached out to the American Legion yesterday.”
Responding to Reilly’s remarks, Councilwoman Zusette Dato stated, “I was able hear the whole meeting.”
McLaughlin had a question about one of the items on the bill list. “Are there any penalties for Middlesex County Utilities doing a horrible job?”
Council President Gross responded, “It was because of Covid.”
Councilwoman agreed, “This company was shorthanded due to Covid.”
McLaughlin disagreed, “They were horrible, even before Covid stared.”
Gross agreed with McLaughlin’s last statement.
Reilly then questioned the item on the bill list were JCP&L gave aid to the ambulance services.
Law Director Francis Womack said that they (JCP&L) paid the electric bill.
McLaughlin moved the bill list, Gross seconded it.
Council Comments:
Councilman Tom Reilly said, “Moving forward, stop the meeting if people can’t respond and if they are dropped off.”
Gross responded, “That is why we need to have live meetings.”
Reilly stated, “What if Covid happens again? We need to resolve this issue. I want to thank the first responders and the food pantry volunteers.”
He then asked about the blighted building on First Street.
Business Administrator Glenn Skarzynski responded, “The Health Department and the Code Inspector have inspected this building. There have been no liens and no evidence of animal activity at this site.”
Reilly then asked, “There is a new nonprofit agency that has been doing a lot of good work in town and I would like to have them added to our website.”
Councilman Brian McLaughlin spoke next. He commended the DPW for doing a good job of snow removal from the storm. “Recently, a mixed-use building was bought which is good for the town.” He urged all to donate the food pantry.”
B.A. Glenn Skarzynski reported that there are no changes to the procedures about the First Aid Department. “Command Boxes are slated to be installed in the city. The First Aid Members get paid for standby work. Their bills go through the normal bill list and there is a budget line (for their expenses).
McLaughlin said, “$35,000 are not enough funds for the Fire Department.”
Councilwoman Zusette Dato spoke next. “Public Works did a good job removing the snow, but some businesses on Broadway did not do a good job removing snow from their sidewalks. The homeowners living by McCarthy Towers also did not do a good job of snow removal. I happened to see a mailman while he was delivering by a snow clogged street and I told him that he is doing a good job in spite of the difficulty (having to navigate poor road conditions). It was upsetting when he said, “This is South Amboy. This par for the course.” A lot of homeowners are not clearing their properties after snowstorms.”
Council Vice President Christine Noble spoke next. “Kudos to the Department of Public Works, but some side streets were not cleared.”
B.A. Glenn Skarzynski said, “The sidewalks are the responsibility of the home and businessowners.”
Dato said, “I think that the sidewalks and the crosswalks by the post office should be done by the DPW.”
Law Director Womack said, “The city code states that homeowners and businessowners are responsible for clearing their sidewalks after 12 hours of daylight (after the snow has stopped). There used to be a volunteer program for city youth to help out seniors to clear their sidewalks.”
Dato spoke up again, “I saw a resident that was shooting snow into the street.”
Noble agreed, “I lot of people do that.”
Womack said, “There is a law on the books prohibiting that.”
Council President Mickey Gross spoke, “DPW did a good job, as well as our first responders. With the council’s approval, I am looking to go back to have live meetings in-person starting in March. It is not easy running the meetings. There are also going to be two presentations in March. We will have the Fireworks and the Arts Festival coming up this year. The March 20th St. Patrick’s Day Parade may be the last one because there is more work involved and less people to help. I am 64 years old and two of our longtime committee members passed away.”
Mayor Fred Henry said, “I want to thank Mr. Plummer for the presentation. It is a great opportunity for South Amboy.” He then mentioned, “The city is getting $180,000 grant from the DOT and there are other grants coming in.”
B.A. Glenn Skarzynski urged people to check out social media outlets. “There will also be a presentation tomorrow at the Redevelopment Meeting on what was done tonight with the renewable energy.”
Law Director Womack said, “The Venetian trial will start on March 28, and the “Pigeon Palace” trial will begin this month.”
Coordinator of Emergency Management Mark Herdman said, “Everything is looking good.”
Public Portion:
Bill deMasi from John Street spoke first. He mentioned the work going on at Roosevelt Street. “Since that started, our water has been very cloudy.”
B.A. Skarzynski said, “I will call Middlesex Water.”
Resident Greg Babolack spoke next. He asked if the presentation tonight on renewable energy will be given again.
Gross said, “There will be additional public hearings for the residents to attend.”
Babolack asked, “Will they be looking for a PILOT and How many people will be running for office this year?”
Gross responded, “The renewable energy company might ask for a PILOT and this meeting is not a political forum.”
Gross concluded the meeting by apologizing for any problems with tonight’s meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m. All council members called in.
