City Council

CITY OF EAST ORANGE THE EAST ORANGE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, April 12, 2021 5:30 P.M. (Minutes from the Meeting of March 22, 2021) CHRISTOPHER D. JAMES City Council Chairman First Ward Second Ward Christopher D. James Christopher Awe Amy Lewis Brittany D. Claybrooks Third Ward Fourth Ward Bergson Leneus Casim L. Gomez Vernon Pullins, Jr. Tameika Garrett-Ward Fifth Ward Alicia Holman Mustafa AL-M. Brent Like Us on Facebook: @EASTORANGECITYCOUNCIL The following minutes are of necessity, condensed and abridged and do not purport to contain the full contents of the matters discussed. The items referred are subject to legal opinion as to validity. MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING March 22, 2021 The East Orange City Council met on March 22, 2021 at 5:40 P.M. in City Council Chambers, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, and New Jersey. Adequate notice of such meeting was duly given in accordance with law, by publication in local newspapers and by posting on the bulletin board outside and within City Council Chambers. On Roll Call the following Members of Council were present: Casim L. Gomez; Jr.; Vernon Pullins, Jr.; Tameika Garrett-Ward; Bergson Leneus; Alicia Holman; Amy Lewis; Christopher Awe; Brittany Claybrooks; Christopher D. James ABSENT Mustafa Al-M Brent CITY OFFICIALS PRESENT Honorable Ted R. Green Mayor Solomon Steplight, City Administrator City Administrator Ryan Linder, Corporation Counsel Law Department Phyllis Bindi, Chief Police Department Andre Williams, Chief Fire Department Dorothy Gallagher, Acting CFO Finance Mark Barner, Director Property Maintenance Carolyn R. Reed, Director East Orange Public Library Romal Bullock Tax Assessor Mabelteen Tucker, Director Human Resources Daniel Jennings, Director Planning Christopher Coke, Director Public Works ALSO PRESENT Muzammil Mohamed-Stevens Public Works OPEN HEARING OF CITIZENS Pursuant to Article IV, Section 3 of the Rules of City Council, each person wishing to address the Council, shall step up to the microphone, shall give his/her name in an audible tone for the record and unless further time is granted by the Presiding Officer, shall limit remarks to three minutes. All members of the public are expected to conduct themselves in a proper manner. Any derogatory, abusive or threatening statements will not be permitted. The Chair will immediately rule such conduct out of order and terminate any further comments. In accordance with Executive Order 107, the City of East Orange Offices are closed to the public. For the safety of residents and employees, the Meetings of the East Orange City Council are being conducted via video conference, streaming on Facebook Live - facebook.com/eocitycouncil until further notice. Residents are allowed to submit a written public comment or question via email to be read during the "Open Hearing of Citizens" portion of the meeting. Comments/questions are to be emailed in advance to citycouncil@eastorange -nj.gov by 5:00 PM . No Comments COMMITTEES 100-ARTS, RECREATION & CULTURAL AFFAIRS 200-BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING 300-FINANCE 400-HEALTH AND EDUCATION 500-HOUSING, LICENSING AND INSPECTION 600-LAW AND LEGISLATION 700-PLANNING AND GRANTS 800-PUBLIC SAFETY 900-PUBLIC WORKS 1000-COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE  100 - ARTS, RECREATION & CULTURAL AFFAIRS TAMEIKA GARRETT-WARD–CHAIRWOMAN Pullins, Brent, Lewis 101. Recreation Department In Committee 102. East Orange Public Library In Committee 103. Michael Jonas Davis - Memorial Resolution to be presented 104. Vanessa Jackson - Retirement Resolution to be presented 200 - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING CASIM GOMEZ – CHAIRMAN Awe, Claybrooks, Brent 201. Brick Church Mall In Committee 202. Brick Church Urban Renewal In Committee 203. Economic Development Corp. In Committee 204. Board of Adjustment In Committee 205. Community Development Corp. In Committee 206. Sanford Evergreen Connector In Committee 207. Resolution Authorizing and Directing the City Resolution to be presented Planning Board to Investigate Whether All or A Portion of Certain Properties Located Adjacent to The Greenwood Redevelopment Area Constitute A Non-Condemnation Area in Need of Redevelopment Pursuant to The Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:12-12A-1 Et Seq 300 - FINANCE CHRISTOPHER AWE – CHAIRMAN Lewis, Pullins, Holman 301. Personnel Resolution Authorizing the Continued Acting Appointment for the Position of Director of Recreation & Cultural Affairs Resolution to be presented 302. Tax Refund In Committee 303. Labor Negotiations In Committee 304. Tax Revaluation In Committee 305. Tax Sale Certificate In Committee 306. In Rem Foreclosure In Committee 307. Payroll No. 6 Resolution to be presented 308. Stop Payments In Committee 309. Legal Transfer In Committee 310. Tax Payment Plan In Committee 311. Tax Appeal Refund - $189,681.14 Resolution to be presented 312. Annual Tax Sale In Committee 313. Tax Abatement In Committee 314. In Lieu of Taxes In Committee 315. Bills, Claims & Appropriations – 3/22/2021 Resolution to be presented 316. Tax Sale Assignment In Committee 317. Tax Lien In Committee 318. Tax Lien Redemption In Committee 319. Budget Insertions In Committee 320. Status of Women In Committee 321. Auction In Committee 322. Duplicate Tax Payments - $7,960.52 Resolution to be presented  300 – FINANCE - Continued CHRISTOPHER AWE – CHAIRMAN Lewis, Pullins, Holman 323. Authorize Payment of Accumulated Absence Resolution to be presented Liabilities for Former Employee 324. Authorize Temporary Emergency Appropriation Resolution to be presented 325. Resolution Authorizing Municipal Court Bail Resolution to be presented Refund Check - $561.00 326. Resolution for The Refund of Property Registration Resolution to be presented Fee - $500.00 327. Resolution Approving A One Year Extension of The Resolution to be presented Grant Writing Agreement Between the City of East Orange and Millennium Strategies 328. Resolution of the City of East Orange, In the County of Resolution to be presented Essex, State of New Jersey Authorizing an Application to the Local Finance Board with Respect to Not to Exceed $59,000,000 Redevelopment Area Bonds (Brick Church Station Redevelopment Project) to Finance a Portion of the Project Costs For the Crossings at Brick Church Station Redevelopment Project and the Guaranty of the Portion of the Bonds Issued By the City to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and the State of New Jersey, Acting by and Through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, for the Purpose of Financing Infrastructure Improvements, All Pursuant to, as Applicable, N.J.S.A. 40A:12A:-29(a)(3), and N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-67(d)m (f), and (g) 400 – HEALTH and EDUCATION BERGSON LENEUS – CHAIRMAN Garrett-Ward, Holman, Claybrooks 401. Child Guidance Clinic In Committee 402. Health Department In Committee 403. Mental Health Board In Committee 404. East Orange General Hospital In Committee 405. East Orange Board of Education In Committee 500 – HOUSING, LICENSING AND INSPECTION ALICIA HOLMAN – CHAIRWOMAN Claybrooks, Gomez, Leneus 501. Rent Leveling In Committee 502. Affordable Housing Program In Committee 503. Housing Authority In Committee 504. Housing, Planning & Coordinating In Committee 505. Private Parking Rentals In Committee 506. Senior Citizens Housing In Committee 507. Housing Summit In Committee 700 – PLANNING and GRANTS BRITTANY D. CLAYBROOKS – CHAIRWOMAN Gomez, Leneus, Garrett-Ward 701. Community Development In Committee 702. Safe and Clean In Committee 703. Small Tools Library In Committee 704. Green Acres Grant In Committee 705. Women’s Summit in Committee In Committee  700 – PLANNING and GRANTS - Continued BRITTANY D. CLAYBROOKS – CHAIRWOMAN Gomez, Leneus, Garrett-Ward 706. Resolution Supporting an Application to, And Resolution to be presented Acceptance of Award from, the New Jersey Historic Trust (NJHT) – Historic Site Management Grant 707. Resolution Supporting an Application to, And Resolution to be presented Acceptance of Award from, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) 708. Resolution Supporting an Application to, And Resolution to be presented Acceptance of Award from, The NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety (DHTS) Distracted Driving Statewide Crackdown Grant 709. Resolution Supporting an Application to And Resolution to be presented Acceptance of An Award from The Keep America Beautiful (KAB) – Community Improvement Grants Program MLK Neighborhood Building 710. Resolution Supporting an Application to, And Resolution to be presented Acceptance of An Award from, the NJ Department of Transportation Youth Corps “Urban Gateway Enhancement Program” 800 - PUBLIC SAFETY AMY LEWIS – CHAIRWOMAN Brent, Garrett-Ward, Pullins 801. Police Department In Committee 802. Fire Department In Committee 903. Resolution Authorizing the City of East Orange, Resolution to be presented New Jersey to Purchase One (1) Chevrolet Tahoe Emergency Response Vehicle and Emergency Vehicle Accessory Package for The East Orange Fire Division 900 - PUBLIC WORKS MUSTAFA AL-BRENT – CHAIRMAN Holman, Awe, Gomez 901. Capital Improvement Projects under Construction 902. Streetscape In Committee 903. Resolution Awarding A Contract of Professional Resolution to be presented Services for The Rehabilitation of the Oval Park 904. Resolution Authorizing the Designation of Restricted Resolution to be presented Parking Spaces 905. Resolution Accepting the Bid of CMS Construction, Resolution to be presented Inc. For Central City Garage Parking Deck Replacement 600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION VERNON PULLINS, JR. – CHAIRMAN Leneus, Lewis, Awe 601. Ordinances on First Reading Ordinance No. 11 of 2021 An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 198 of the City Code Entitled “Peace and Good Order” Ordinance No. 12 of 2021 An Ordinance to Amend and Supplement Chapter 173 of the City Code Entitled “Loitering” Ordinance No. 13 of 2021 An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 193 of the City Code known as the “East Orange Ordinance Regulating Conduct in Public Parks”  600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION - Continued VERNON PULLINS, JR. – CHAIRMAN Leneus, Lewis, Awe 601. Ordinances on First Reading Ordinance No. 14 of 202 An Ordinance Providing For the Special Assessment of The Cost of Certain Stormwater And Sanitary Sewer Improvements And Environmental Remediation In The Area of 505 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Also Identified As Block 683, Lot 4.01, 507 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard , Also Identified As Block 683, Lot 4.02 And 513-517 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Also Identified As Block 683, Lot 5, In The City of East Orange, In The County Of Essex, State of New Jersey, In The Amount of $4,500,000, Authorizing the Subsidy of Certain Non-Recourse Bonds or Notes To Be Issued In Connection Therewith, And Authorizing The Execution of Certain Agreements In Connection Therewith Ordinance No. 15 of 2021 An Ordinance Providing For The Special Assessment of The Cost of Certain Stormwater And Sanitary Sewer Improvements, Environmental Remediation And Other Site Improvements In The Area of 505 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Also Identified As Block 683, Lot 4.01, 507 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Also Identified As Block 683, Lot 4.02 And 513-517 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Also Identified As Block 683, Lot 5, All In The City of East Orange, In The County of Essex, State of New Jersey, In The Amount of $8,500,000, And Authorizing The Execution of Certain Agreements In Connection Therewith Ordinance No. 16 of 2021 An Ordinance Amending and Restating Ordinance No. 32 of 2020, Providing For The Special Assessment of The Cost of Certain Stormwater And Sanitary Sewer Improvements And Environmental Remediation In The Area Of 533 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Also Identified As Block 683, Lot 1, In The City Of East Orange, In The County of Essex, State Of New Jersey, In The Amount of $10,500,000, Authorizing The Subsidy of Certain Non-Recourse Bonds or Notes To Be Issued In Connection Therewith, And Authorizing The Execution of Certain Agreements In Connection Therewith Ordinance No. 17 of 2021 An Ordinance Of The City of East Orange, In The County of Essex, State Of New Jersey Authorizing The Provision of A Subsidy By The City For The Funding of Deficiencies In One Or More Debt Service Reserve Funds Established For One or More Series of Not To Exceed $26,100,000 Redevelopment Area Bonds (Brick Church Station Redevelopment Project) Being Issued To Finance A Portion of The Project Costs For Phase 1A of The Crossings At Brick Church Station Redevelopment Project For The Purpose of Providing Additional Security Therefor, And Authorizing The Execution and Delivery of One or More Subsidy Agreements in Connection Therewith  600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION - Continued VERNON PULLINS, JR. – CHAIRMAN Leneus, Lewis, Awe 601. Ordinances on First Reading Ordinance No. 18 of 2021 An Ordinance of The City of East Orange, In The County of Essex, State of New Jersey Authorizing The Guaranty of The Payment of The Principal of And Interest on Not Exceeding $15,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of City-Guaranteed Redevelopment Area Bonds (Brick Church Redevelopment Project), Issued By The City of East Orange To The New Jersey Infrastructure Bank And The State of New Jersey, Acting By And Through The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, For The Purpose of Providing Additional Security Therefor, And Determining Certain Other Matters In Connection Therewith Ordinance No. 19 of 2021 An Ordinance Providing For The Special Assessment of The Cost of Certain Improvements on And In The Area of Block 683, Lot 1 And Block 683, Lot 1.01, In The City of East Orange, In The County of Essex, State of New Jersey, And Authorizing The Execution of Certain Agreements In Connection Therewith Ordinance No. 20 of 2021 An Ordinance Providing For The Special Assessment of The Cost of Certain Improvements On And In The Area of Block 683, Lot 4.01, Block 683, Lot 4.02, And Block 683 Lot 5 In The City of East Orange, In The County of Essex, State of New Jersey, And Authorizing The Execution of Certain Agreements In Connection Therewith 602. Ordinances on Second and Final Reading Ordinance No. 8 of 2021 An Ordinance to Amend and Supplement Article I, Chapter 132 of the City Code Entitled “Household Pets and Domestic Animals” Ordinance No. 9 of 2021 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 260 Section 14 of the City Code Entitled “All-Night Parking Prohibited; Exceptions” Ordinance No. 10 of 2021 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 5 Article IX Section 5-70 of the City Code Entitled “Duties of Divisions; Division Managers; Additional Personnel 603. Bingo/Raffles In Committee 604. A.B.C. In Committee 605. City Council Rules In Committee 606. Settlement In Committee 607. Comcast/Suburban Cable Contract In Committee 608. Taxi Cabs vs. Livery Licenses In Committee 609. Resolution Authorizing Settlement of Worker’s Resolution to be presented Compensation Litigation Matter 610. Resolution Authorizing the East Orange Water Resolution to be presented Commission to Enter into A Right of Entry Agreement With PSE&G 1000– COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 1000. East Orange Parking Authority In Committee Meeting adjourned at 6:15 PM. Respectfully submitted by: Cynthia S. Brown, City Clerk