By Carolyn Maxwell

PERTH AMBOY – Council President Bill Petrick announced that the council will be taking a 5-minute break before starting the regular caucus meeting due to the length of the Special Public Meeting for the El Patio Bar.

The regular caucus meeting slated to start at 5:30 p.m. 

Petrick spoke first, “Regarding Ordinance No. 1 – Granting renewal of Municipal Consent to Comcast to construct, connect, operate, and maintain a cable television and communications system in the city of Perth Amboy. 

Petrick said, “We are still having problems with the Comcast System, and I am asking them to address this problem.”

Councilwoman Milady Tejeda asked, “Who does the Board of Education Meetings?”

Petrick answered, “Comcast.”

Tejeda said, “The Board of Education has no problems with their audio.”

Council President Petrick mentioned that he was happy that the city was authorizing a donation of a small antique table to the Proprietary House Royal Governor’s Mansion. “It was in our lobby and currently in our basement. Now we have this big desk which is at inside the foyer of the entrance on Market Street which is not needed.” 

Petrick then mentioned R-243-5/22 – In opposition to construction of the CPV Keasbey Powerplant in Woodbridge, New Jersey. “We haven’t heard from this company, yet.”

Councilman Torres spoke next, “On Saturday the air quality was not very good. I hope we oppose this plant coming in which will negatively impact our community.”

Petrick continued, “All of these warehouses are not good. We have a lot of different Boards who are not addressing the additional fumes with trucks coming in that are impacting our children and senior citizens.”

Torres then stated, “We need to know how these idling trucks are impacting our city.”

Also mentioned at the caucus that there will be three additional ordinances added to the 5/25/22 regular meeting. One ordinance had to do with affordable housing units. Petrick asked, “Will some of those new units be set aside for affordable units?”

Law Director William Opel responded, “Yes, through deed restrictions.”

Councilwoman Milady Tejeda asked, “What about the ordinance that was on our last meeting? We were adding additional police officers.”

Councilman Joel Pabon remembered, “This ordinance was going to add another captain, ten officers or a Deputy Police Chief.”

Tejeda continued, “This ordinance will give the police department flexibility.”

Torres added, “This is the same resolution that we tabled in the past. The Government Strategy Group stated we need to increase our Auxiliary Police.”

Business Administrator Michael Green said, “The Strategy Group said we need to increase our quality of life. This gives the flexibility for our leadership to decide this. We can also take advantage of the grants from the state and federal government.”

Torres was concerned, “This grant is limited to the time it has to be used and the amount of money. Strategy Group told us we also have inflated pensions and benefits.”

Tejeda then asked, “Is there a law where you have to have a certain amount of police officers depending on the type of community (suburban versus urban).”

Acting Police Chief Larry Cattano came up to speak, “There are recommendations only and we fall short of the recommendations. All of our police officers are also community trained. There is a grant to increase our community police officers.”

Councilman Pabon spoke up, “I support having ten more officers. The problem is the number that are leaving. If we always have the ten additional on the list, it will help alleviate that problem. I just want to see more police presence on the streets.”

Cattano continued, “Increasing the number of police will help us. In some cases, it will be basically changing the title of an existing officer and not adding a captain and this move will give us more flexibility.”

Council President Petrick said, “We should strike the language of Deputy Chief if the body decides to do that.” He then asked Law Director Opel, “Can we discuss the amendment to the budget (R-240)?”

Petrick then went through a large list of changes he thought should be made in the budget. He started with the mayor’s office which included vehicles, association fees, etc. He questioned, “Why are there two vehicles under the mayor’s budget?”

Green explained, “The tax assessor uses a city vehicle for city business only.”

Petrick said, “When monies are expended, it is put back into the general fund. Some of the money going back into the fund that were not used included such items as media and contractual services.”

Tejeda spoke up, “Remember, we can’t name a particular person whose salary you can increase or decrease.”

Petrick continued, “In discussions with the city clerk, I know they needed another person. We are defunding positions where there isn’t a need for them, and we have the maximum number of directors.”

B.A. Green spoke up, “The OECD (Office of Economic and Community Development) gets most of their funds from grants. There are hardly any municipal expenditures in their budget.”

Petrick said, “The HPC (Historic Preservation Commission) needs additional funding to hire professionals and to preserve the city’s history and landmarks. Former mayors have failed to provide these funds. In the Uniform Code Department, if all their money isn’t spent, they keep it in their bank, and it is not going into the general fund. Encourage them not to use all the money, now.”

Green responded, “Scott Melski from the Uniform Code Department said the money they are using is needed to do the job right now.”

Petrick then asked for a list of projects that are almost completed.

Green said, “We are always trying to get remediation grants (when needed).”

Petrick then asked, “What about this Dream Plan which is not realistic?”

Green explained, “It is a concept plan using different vendors and architects that would present proposals using their own money.”

Petrick then said, “I saw they are getting rid of the K-9 unit since they can only detect marijuana which is now legal.” He then said, “There are two Directors listed in the Water/Wastewater Department and we only need one.” He also wanted to make sure about the number of votes needed to make changes to the budget. Is it 3 votes needed to do reductions and 4 votes needed to increase?”

Law Director Opel answered, “Yes.”

Green then talked about R-246-5/22 – Authorizing the city to participate in the North Jersey Wastewater Cooperative Pricing System.

“There is no cost or obligation.”

Petrick made a comment, “When I changed my water filter, it was pitch black, which was a first for me.” 

He then questioned R-248-5/22 – A contract with Z Brothers for road rehabilitation and improvements on High Street from Fayette Street to Buckingham Avenue and Sadowski Parkway in an amount not to exceed $456,293.41.

“I just want to make sure that this money is not being wasted.”

Green then talked about R-249-5/22 – Agreement between the city of Perth Amboy Board of Education for the State of New Jersey 2022 Summer Food Service Program (breakfast and lunch) in the amount not to exceed $348,345.36.

“Kenny Ortiz is still in charge of this and there are different pickup sites.”

Green talked briefly about R-251-5/22 – $2,045,000 of bonds of the city of Perth Amboy and providing for their sale to New Jersey Infrastructure Bank.

“From the March 30th agenda we are replacing a resolution that called for the repayment of this loan. There will be $1 million of forgiveness of this loan. Some of the fees associated with this would be administrative, underwriters, and closing fees. The percentage of 2% will be off of the $2 million loan.”

Council President Bill Petrick asked about vehicles that belong to Code Enforcement that were parked in the police parking lot.

Acting Police Chief Cattano explained, “They were received from a resolution that was passed already and they are all 4-wheel drive.”

B.A. Mike Green told the council that Resolutions R-254 thru R-257 will be returned to the administration for further review. For Resolution R-258-5/22 – An application to the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Lake Stormwater Management Grant Program in the amount not to exceed $200,000. ‘

“This is for Willow Pond and no matching grant is needed.”

Green then talked about R-259-5/22 – Submission of Federal Appropriations Request to support the Veterans Memorial Youth Complex Park Improvement Project. 

“This is to upgrade the entire park.”

Councilman Torres spoke up, “How much money is going to be given to the Veterans Field? They’ve gotten money through grants, a foundation, or through us? Maybe some of this money should be spread around?”

Petrick then added, “We need to know what the dollar amounts are.”

Acting Police Chief Cattano spoke about R-261-5/22 – An application to the USDOJ for the Connect and Protect Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Response Grant Program in an amount not to exceed $550,000.

“It is for us to team with mental health experts in the Police Headquarters. It is training for our personnel and first responders to help the residents at risk. We can escort these individuals to hospitals and with this money it can also provide services for our personnel.”

Councilman Torres responded, “I think it’s great and I hope it can continue after the grant is over.”

Cattano spoke up again,” I agree with you, and it is great for our members as well.”

Council President Bill Petrick wanted to thank all those officers that are listed on the agenda who are being recognized for their outstanding service. “I want to recognize them for all their successful attempts and how it weighs on them when those attempts are not successful. We also need advanced notice when something has been pulled from the list of our closed sessions and if they need our guidance on this.”

Earlier in the meeting, Petrick asked why they keep extending DPW Director Matthew Nieves’s appointment. “We need results of his test.”

Public Portion (in person first):

Resident Ken Balut spoke first. He mentioned R-245-5/22 – Consenting to the extension of the Interim Appointment of Matthew Nieves as Acting DPW Director for a period no longer than 60 days from June 1, 2022. “Nieves was involved in an accident and is doing his own investigation.” He then mentioned R-260-5/22 – Remedial Investigation and Action at a hazardous discharge site and the property located at Second Street Park. “This should have been done years ago.” He also said, “The American Recovery Act funds should be used to help people and not for getting new furniture. A $2.7 million closing for bond money is basically paperwork that is generated by a secretary. Schools don’t get any PILOT money. I remember when Dot Daniel used to come here speaking about needing money for our children. Money is being spent on anything else but the schools. You need to put down the amount of money for the lawyers’ bills, and the breakdown of what those bills are for. In the past, I’ve given lawyers information regarding some of our lawsuits. Your lawyers don’t care and its taxpayer’s money. We lose a lot of money that we sent to the federal government. Councilman Torres is right. We send too much money to one park.”

Resident Sharon Hubberman spoke via Zoom, “We recently had heavy smog in the city and that powerplant is asking for a PILOT. The money is not coming into our schools. We need to ban the new powerplant. We need additional police, and structure for oversight which includes (training and de-escalation of problems). We have done a very good job. We need the police and management to provide proper coverage.”

Resident Maria Vera spoke next via Zoom, “I agree with Petrick said about the water. There was dark water in our filter. We have tons of trucks that contribute to pollution. Gas stations are filled with buses and trucks. I have to close my windows when these buses are turned on at the same time. There is a warehouse by Second Street Park that looks like it is about to fall apart.”

Petrick spoke up, “If this warehouse is on the property where part of the park will be, it will come down.”

Vera continued, “We need a mat for beach access for the handicapped. There is also a bathroom on Sadowski Parkway which no one uses. We need Brighton Street bathrooms open.”

Petrick agreed, “We need a bathroom by International Park.”

Resident Maria Garcia spoke next via Zoom, “There are currently 135 police officers. How many are on the street and how many are on foot or bicycles? The council controls the budget and is in control of the taxpayer’s money. Who is taking Jamie Rios’s place when he retires?”

Green responded, “Rudy Rodriguez is taking the place if Jamie (Rios) goes through with his plans to retire on June 1, 2022.”

Councilman Torres said, “It is crucial that directors are certified for their position.”

Petrick had a question regarding the storage facility on State Street, “There is a street where there is a lot of dumping going on.”

Acting Police Chief Cattano answered, “It is not a street. It is an easement and Public Works cleans that location and people keep dumping. We had to fence off the section that belongs to the city. The rest of the easement is owned by the Self-Storage Company and Conrail.”

CFO Jill Goldy spoke via Zoom to clarify some of the things that Petrick said regarding budget amendments, “You cannot request them separately. They have to be together.”

B.A. Green said, “I have to work on the documents. There are a lot of steps involved. We have to work on the amendments, give them to the auditor for them to be introduced and reviewed by the state are just a few of the steps that have to be taken.”

At 8:46 p.m. the council went into closed session. No further action was taken.