City Council

CITY OF EAST ORANGE THE EAST ORANGE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, October 25, 2021 5:30 P.M. (Minutes from the Meeting of October 12, 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 October 12, 2021 The East Orange City Council met on October 12, 2021 at 5:37 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.; Mustafa Al-M Brent; Vernon Pullins, Jr.; Bergson Leneus; Tameika Garrett-Ward; Alicia Holman; Christopher Awe; Brittany Claybrooks; ABSENT Amy Lewis Christopher D. James – Arrived @ 5:46 pm CITY OFFICIALS PRESENT Solomon Steplight, City Administrator City Administrator Ryan Linder, Corporation Counsel Law Department Andre Williams, Chief Fire Department Dorothy Gallagher, CFO Finance Mark Barner, Director Property Maintenance Carolyn R. Reed, Director East Orange Public Library Phyllis Bindi, Chief Police Department Jerome J. Pearson, Director Recreation Rupert C. Bell, Acting Director Public Works Daniel Jennings, Director Planning Mabelteen Tucker, Director Human Resources Romal D. Bullock Tax Assessor ALSO PRESENT Victor Kuteyi Health Department Tony Jackson Mayor’s Office Jennfer L. Credidio, Member McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC 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. This Meeting of the East Orange City Council will be conducted via video conference, streaming on Facebook Live - facebook.com/eocitycouncil. Residents may 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. 1. Emilio – William Street, East Orange, NJ – A mother of three (3) was hit by a car and passed away. They need speed bumps on William Street. 2. Antione – William Street, East Orange, NJ – William Street is a speed way all day. There is infestation of rodents due to properties not being maintained. 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. Myra Lillian Swanson – Memorial Resolution to be presented 104. Clifton Thomas Baskerville - Memorial Resolution to be presented 105. Ella N. Scott – Memorial Resolution to be presented 106. Resolution Authorizing the City of East Orange to Resolution to be presented Extend the Contract for the 2021-2022 Child and Adult Care Food Program 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 300 - FINANCE CHRISTOPHER AWE – CHAIRMAN Lewis, Pullins, Holman 301. Personnel Continued Acting Appointment Rupert C. Bell, DPW Resolution to be presented Confirmation of Appointment – Jean Charles, Construction Official 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. 20 Resolution to be presented 308. Stop Payments In Committee 309. Legal Transfer In Committee 310. Tax Payment Plan In Committee 311. Tax Appeal Refund In Committee 312. Annual Tax Sale In Committee 313. Tax Abatement In Committee 314. In Lieu of Taxes In Committee 315. Bills, Claims & Appropriations – 10/12/2021 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 In Committee  300 – FINANCE - Continued CHRISTOPHER AWE – CHAIRMAN Lewis, Pullins, Holman 323. Electronic Tax Sale Pilot Program Resolution to be presented 324. State of New Jersey, Department of Health Resolution to be presented DHSTS State HIV Prevention Program 2022 Grant 325. Authorize Payment of Accumulated Absence Resolution to be presented Liabilities to Former Employee - $432.00 326. Resolution of the City of East Orange, In the County Resolution to be presented of Essex, New Jersey on Behalf of the East Orange Water Commission, Determining the Form and Other Details of Its “Note Relating to the Water Bank Construction Financing Program of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank”, to be Issued in the Principal Amount of Up to $330,000 and Providing for the Issuance and Sale of Such Note to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and Authorizing the Execution of Delivery of Such Note by the City of East Orange in Favor of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, All Pursuant to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank Water Bank Construction Financing Program 328. Resolution Authorizing the City of East Orange, In the Resolution to be presented County of Essex, State of New Jersey to Issue Not to Exceed $10,500,000 Special Assessment Redevelopment Area Bonds (Brick Church Station Redevelopment Project) to Fund Infrastructure Improvements for the Crossings at Brick Church Station Redevelopment Project Through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and the State of New Jersey Acting Through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Determining Other Matters Related Thereto 329. Bond Resolution Authorizing the City of East Orange, Resolution to be presented In the County of Essex, State of New Jersey to Issue Not to Exceed $26,100,00 Redevelopment Area Bonds (Brick Church Station Redevelopment Project) to Finance a Portion of the Project Costs for Phase 1A of the Crossings at Brick Church Station Redevelopment Project and Determining Other Matters Related Thereto 330. Resolution Waiving the Annual Fee Waiver for Select Resolution to be presented Vendors Participating in the Harvest Fest 2021 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 406. Resolution In Support of The Rights off Resolution to be presented Haitian Migrants to Seek Asylum In The United States 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 800 - PUBLIC SAFETY AMY LEWIS – CHAIRWOMAN Brent, Garrett-Ward, Pullins 801. Police Department In Committee 802. Fire Department In Committee 803. Resolution Accepting NJ Department of Law Resolution to be presented And Public Safety Police Body Worn Camera Grant 21-BWC-126 804. Resolution Awarding Police Body Cam Resolution to be presented 900 - PUBLIC WORKS MUSTAFA AL-BRENT – CHAIRMAN Holman, Awe, Gomez 901. Capital Improvement Projects Under Construction 902. Streetscape In Committee 903. Resolution Authorizing the Advertisement of Resolution to be presented Invitation to Bid for the Hiring of a General Contractor to Facilitate the Repair/Renovation of Three (3) Firehouses for the City of East Orange, New Jersey 904. Resolution Accepting the Bids of T.T. Weniger, Resolution to be presented Inc. and The Ambient Group for the Removal of Underground Storage Tanks 905. Street Naming – Osvaldo Antoine Resolution to be presented 906. Street Naming - Robert “Shea” Taylor Resolution to be presented 600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION VERNON PULLINS, JR. – CHAIRMAN Leneus, Lewis, Awe 601. Ordinance on First Reading In Committee 602. Ordinances on Second and Final Reading Ordinance No. 41 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 533 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard Also Identified as Block 683, Lot 1.01, 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 Essex, State of New Jersey, in the Amount of $8,500,000 and Authorizing the Execution of Certain Agreements in Connection Therewith Ordinance No. 47 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  600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION - Continued VERNON PULLINS, JR. – CHAIRMAN Leneus, Lewis, Awe 602. Ordinances on Second and Final Reading Ordinance No. 48 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, Block 683, Lot 1.01, 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 Ordinance No. 49 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 Ordinance No. 50 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. 51 of 2021 An Ordinance 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, 15-33 Halsted Street, Also Identified as Block 683, Lot 1.01, 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  600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION - Continued VERNON PULLINS, JR. – CHAIRMAN Leneus, Lewis, Awe 602. Ordinances on Second and Final Reading Ordinance No. 52 of 2021 An Ordinance Amending and Restating Ordinance No 42 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 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 Litigation in Resolution to be presented the Matter of North Oraton Urban Renewal, LP Vs City of East Orange, Boca Environmental And the Mary Cocoziello Irrevocable Trust and the Execution of a Financial Agreement With 170 N. Oraton Parkway Urban Renewal, LLC 1000– COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 1000. East Orange Parking Authority In Committee Meeting adjourned at 7:08 PM. Respectfully submitted by: Cynthia S. Brown, City Clerk