City Council - ReOrganization Meeting

REORGANIZATION MEETING OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYONNE, IN THE COUNTY OF HUDSON, NEW JERSEY, HELD IN THE ALEXANDER O’CONNOR AUDITORIUM AT BAYONNE HIGH SCHOOL, 667 AVENUE A, ON FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2022 The Council met at 5:25 P.M. The Clerk announced: “I would like to advise all those present that notice of this reorganization meeting of the Municipal Council of the City of Bayonne of Friday, July 1, 2022 has been provided to the public in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act of the State of New Jersey. Notice of time and place of the meeting was posted and filed with the City Clerk, and was forwarded to the Jersey Journal and the Star Ledger by fax and regular mail on June 28, 2022.” The Regular Meeting of the Municipal Council of the City of Bayonne is now in session. The Clerk called the roll. Present were: Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** 01. The council as a whole moved that the following Officer’s Report be received and filed. CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION RESULTS I, MADELENE C. MEDINA, City Clerk of the City of Bayonne, in the County of Hudson and State of New Jersey, HEREBY CERTIFY that, on the 17 th day of May, 2022, I canvassed the results of the Municipal Election held May 10, 2022, which statements of canvass were filed with me by the members of the District Boards of Registry and Election on May 10, 2022, and further canvassed the results of the vote of vote by mail voters and provisional voters as certified to me by the Hudson County Board of Election; I FURTHER CERTIFY that, on the 18th day of May, 2022, I made and filed in my office the result of said canvass and it is my determination that the following were elected to the respective office listed or determined to be candidates in a runoff election: • JAMES M. DAVIS was elected for office of mayor; • LOYAD BOOKER AND JUAN M. PEREZ were elected to the two Council Member-at- large offices; • NEIL J. CARROLL was elected council member for the first ward; • JACQUELINE WEIMMER was elected council member for the second ward; • GARY LAPELUSA was elected council member for the third ward; each being elected for a term of four years commencing July 1, 2022. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the City of Bayonne, this 18 th day of May, 2022. MADELENE C. MEDINA CITY CLERK Yeas – Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** 02. The Clerk presented a Certificate of Election to First Ward Council Member Neil J. Carroll. The Oath of Office was administrated by Neil J. Carroll, Jr. Esq. ********** 03. The Clerk presented a Certificate of Election to Second Ward Council Member Jacqueline Weimmer. The Oath of Office was administrated by Mayor Steven Fulop. ********** 04. The Clerk presented a Certificate of Election to Third Ward Council Member Gary LaPelusa, Sr. The Clerk administrated the Oath of Office.  ********** 05. The Clerk presented a Certificate of Election to Council Member at Large Loyad Booker. The Oath of Office was administrated by John Campbell. ********** 06. The Clerk presented a Certificate of Election to Council Member at Large Juan M. Perez. The Oath of Office was administrated by Senator Sandra Cunningham. ********** 07. The Clerk presented a Certificate of Election to Mayor James M. Davis. The Oath of Office was administrated by Robert F. Sloan, Esq. ********** 08. The Council Members and the Mayor addressed the Meeting. ********** 09. Council Member Perez nominated Council Member LaPelusa as Council President, seconded by Council Member Carroll and adopted Yeas – Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** 10. The council as a whole moved that the following resolution be adopted, which motion was adopted. RESOLVED, that the action of the members of the Municipal Council in holding their Reorganization Meeting at the Alexander O’Connor Auditorium at Bayonne High School on Friday, July 1, 2022 at 3:30 P.M., be and is hereby ratified and confirmed; and be it further RESOLVED, that the actions of the City Clerk in providing notice pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act of the State of New Jersey of the time and place of the meeting be and are hereby ratified and confirmed. Yeas – Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** 11. The council as a whole moved that the following resolution be adopted, which motion was adopted. WHEREAS, Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski, a lifelong Bayonne resident whose family stretches back several generations in Bayonne, graduated from St. Andrews grammar school and Bayonne High School and was a stellar student-athlete at both schools; and WHEREAS, Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski has a long and accomplished career as a database engineer for over two decades and has also served as the as the All Saints Catholic Academy’s Athletic Director and track coach; and WHEREAS, Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski was first elected to serve as Councilwoman at Large in the City of Bayonne in 2014 and was elected to serve again in 2018; and WHEREAS, Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski holds the unique distinction of being selected by her peers as the first female Municipal Council President in Bayonne’s history in 2014, and was once again selected to serve as Municipal Council President for a second term in 2018; and WHEREAS, under Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski’s leadership, the Municipal Council of the City of Bayonne oversaw the redevelopment of the Military Ocean Terminal, the renovation of Bayonne’s park system and the revitalization of commercial and residential real estate throughout the City of Bayonne; and WHEREAS, Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski served on the Bayonne Planning Board for three years, during which time the City of Bayonne experienced unprecedented growth and change, and her insight and guidance when considering these complicated matters was invaluable to the public and the Board; and WHEREAS, Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski has served the people of the City of Bayonne admirably for eight years and the City of Bayonne is a much better place as the result of her unwavering dedication, perseverance and commitment to the residents of the City of Bayonne; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Municipal Council of the City of Bayonne, on behalf of all the citizens of the City of Bayonne, do hereby extend their heartfelt gratitude to the Honorable Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski for her years of dedicated service to this city and wish her and her husband, Charlie, best wishes for health and happiness in the future; and be it further RESOLVED, that this resolution be spread in full on the official Minutes of the Municipal Council and that a copy, fully engrossed, be presented to Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski Yeas – Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** 12. The council as a whole moved that the following resolution be adopted, which motion was adopted. WHEREAS, Salvatore Gullace, a lifelong Second Ward resident whose advocacy for his neighborhood, his constituents and the City of Bayonne as a whole is second to none, was first elected as Second Ward Councilman in 2014; and WHEREAS, Salvatore Gullace’s contributions to the betterment of Bayonne and his commitment to task were recognized and rewarded in 2018 when he was elected to serve a second term as Second Ward Councilman by the Second Ward’s voters; and WHEREAS, Salvatore Gullace’s terms as Second Ward Councilman were marked by his commitment to improving the quality of life, promoting Bayonne as a place of commercial revitalization and residential redevelopment and creating new jobs within the city; and WHEREAS, Salvatore Gullace’s tireless work on behalf of the citizens of Bayonne, his devotion to ensuring that his constituent’s voices were heard and his steadfast commitment to transforming Bayonne’s economic landscape will not be soon forgotten; and WHEREAS, during Salvatore Gullace’s terms of office, the Municipal Council of the City of Bayonne oversaw the redevelopment of the Military Ocean Terminal, the renovation of Bayonne’s park system, and the revitalization of commercial and residential real estate throughout the City of Bayonne; and WHEREAS, Salvatore Gullace’s terms of office coincided with a period of unprecedented growth and change in the City of Bayonne, and his insight and guidance when considering these complicated matters were invaluable to the public and the Municipal Council; and WHEREAS, Salvatore Gullace has served the people of the City of Bayonne admirably for eight years and the City of Bayonne is a much better place as the result of his unwavering dedication, perseverance and commitment to the residents of the City of Bayonne; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Municipal Council of the City of Bayonne, on behalf of all the citizens of the City of Bayonne, do hereby extend their heartfelt gratitude to the Honorable Salvatore Gullace for his years of dedicated service to this city and wish him and his wife, Donna, best wishes for health and happiness in the future; and be it further RESOLVED, that this resolution be spread in full on the official Minutes of the Municipal Council and that a copy, fully engrossed, be presented to Salvatore Gullace. Yeas – Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** 13. The council as a whole moved that the following communication be received and filed and that the resolution following same be adopted, which motion was adopted. July 1, 2022 Dear Ms. Medina: I hereby appoint Robert Kubert as Public Safety Director for the City of Bayonne effective July 1, 2022 In conjunction with this appointment, please be directed to add an accompanying item on the July 1, 2022 Council Meeting agenda to be received and filed by the City Council Sincerely, /s/ James M. Davis ---------- BE IT RESOLVED, that the Municipal Council of the City of Bayonne hereby consents to and confirms the appointment of Robert Kubert as Public Safety Director. Yeas – Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** 14. The council as a whole moved that the following communication be received and filed and that the resolution following same be adopted, which motion was adopted. July 1, 2022 Dear Ms. Medina: I hereby appoint Thomas Cotter as Director of Public Works for the City of Bayonne effective July 1, 2022. In conjunction with this appointment, please be directed to add an accompanying item on the July 1, 2022 Council Meeting agenda to be received and filed by the City Council Sincerely, /s/ James M. Davis ---------- BE IT RESOLVED, that the Municipal Council of the City of Bayonne hereby consents to and confirms the appointment of Thomas Cotter as Director of Public Work Yeas – Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** 15. The council as a whole moved that the following communication be received and filed and that the resolution following same be adopted, which motion was adopted. July 1, 2014 Dear Ms. Medina: I hereby appoint John F. Coffey, II Esq. as Director of the Law Department for the City of Bayonne effective July 1, 2022 In conjunction with this appointment, please be directed to add an accompanying item on the July 1, 2022 Council Meeting agenda to be received and filed by the City Council Sincerely, /s/ James M. Davis ---------- BE IT RESOLVED, that the Municipal Council of the City of Bayonne hereby consents to and confirms the appointment of John F. Coffey II Esq., as Director of the Law Department Yeas – Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** 16. The council as a whole moved that the following communication be received and filed and that the resolution following same be adopted, which motion was adopted. July 1, 2022 Dear Ms. Medina: I hereby appoint Donna Russo as acting Business Administrator for the City of Bayonne effective July 1, 2022 In conjunction with this appointment, please be directed to add an accompanying item on the July 1, 2022 Council Meeting agenda to be received and filed by the City Council Sincerely, /s/ James M. Davis ---------- Yeas – Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** 17. The council as a whole moved that the following communication be received and filed and that the resolution following same be adopted, which motion was adopted. July 1, 2022 Dear Ms. Medina: I hereby appoint Gary Chmielewski as Director of Municipal Services for the City of Bayonne effective July 1, 2022 In conjunction with this appointment, please be directed to add an accompanying item on the July 1, 2022 Council Meeting agenda to be received and filed by the City Council Sincerely, /s/ James M. Davis ---------- 18. The council as a whole moved that the following resolution be adopted, which motion was adopted. RESOLVED, that the Municipal Council hereby appoints Hon. Loyad Booker., as the Class III member of the Planning Board for a term to expire December 31, 2023. Yeas – Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** At 5:56 P.M., the council as a whole moved to adjourn, which motion was adopted. Yeas – Council Members Booker, Carroll, LaPelusa, Perez and Weimmer. ********** _______________________________________ President – Gary LaPelusa ____________________________________ City Clerk – Madelene C. Medina