City Council

CITY OF EAST ORANGE THE EAST ORANGE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, May 30, 2023 5:30 P.M. (Minutes from the Meeting of May 8, 2023) CHRISTOPHER AWE 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 May 8, 2023 The East Orange City Council met on May 8, 2023, at 5:37 P.M. in City Council Chambers, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, and New Jersey. Adequate notice of such a 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; Brittany Claybrooks; Alicia Holman; Vernon Pullins, Jr.; Amy Lewis; Christopher Awe ABSENT Mustafa Al-M Brent Tameika Garrett-Ward – arrived @ 5:45 Bergson Leneus Christopher D. James CITY OFFICIALS PRESENT Solomon Steplight, City Administrator City Administrator Ronald Hunt, Corporation Counsel Law Department Dorothy Gallagher, CFO Finance Yvonne C. Blake, Acting Director Health, and Human Services Jamal Pearson, Director Recreation Eladio Negron, Director Code Enforcement Monica Reed, Director Human Resources Rupert Bell, Director Public Works Maurice Boyd, Director Public Safety Phyllis Bindi, Chief Police Department Bruce Davis, Acting Chief Fire Department Tina Sakajani Tax Assessor JP Porcaro, Director East Orange Public Library ALSO PRESENT Tony Jackson Mayor’s Office Muzammil Mohamed-Stevens Public Works Robert Lawson Planning 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 BERGSON LENUES - CHAIRMAN James, Brent, Lewis 101. Recreation Department In Committee 102. East Orange Public Library In Committee 200 - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING CHRISTOPHER D. JAMES – CHAIRMAN Leneus, Pullins, Jr., Brent 201. Brick Church Mall In Committee 202. Brick Church Urban Renewal In Committee 203. Economic Development Corp. In Committee 204. Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Amended Resolution to be presented and Restated Redevelopment Agreement Between the City of East Orange and 440 MLK Dr. LLC for Certain Property Identified on the Tax Map of the City of East Orange Block 370, Lots 2, 2.01, 33.01 and 34, Commonly Known as 444 and 440 MLK Blvd and 10 and 12 North Clinton Street 300 - FINANCE VERNON PULLINS, JR. – CHAIRMAN Lewis, Holman, Gomez 301. Personnel In Committee 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 #9 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 (5/8/23) 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 - $6,707.18 Resolution to be presented 323. Budget Resolution to be read by Title Resolution to be presented 324. Resolution Authorizing A Professional Resolution to be presented Agreement between the City of East Orange and Benecke Economics 325. Authorize Temporary Emergency Resolution to be presented Appropriations Pursuant to N.J.S.A.4-1 Et Seq (The Local Budget Law)  300 – FINANCE - continued VERNON PULLINS, JR. – CHAIRMAN Lewis, Holman, Gomez 326. Resolution Authorizing the Award of a Resolution to be presented Contract to AB Designs Contracting Corporation for the Year 2020 Capital Improvement Project at the Main Public Library for the City of East Orange 327. Authorize Payment of Accumulated Absence Resolution to be presented Liabilities to Former Employees - $33,130.20 328. Resolution Authorizing Payment Advances to Resolution to be presented City Employees for Approved Traveling Expenses 329. Resolution Authorizing Contract Award for the East Resolution to be presented Orange Gospel Concert 400 – HEALTH and EDUCATION MUSTAFA AL-M. BRENT – CHAIRMAN Claybrooks, Gomez, James 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 Authorizing the Award of an Additional Resolution to be presented Non-Fair and Open Contract for Special Senior Services Program for 2023 500 – HOUSING, LICENSING AND INSPECTION BRITTANY D. CLAYBROOKS – CHAIRWOMAN Holman, Leneus, Pullins, Jr. 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 TAMEIKA GARRETT-WARD – CHAIRWOMAN Gomez, Claybrooks, Holman 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 706. Resolution Approving the Application and Resolution to be presented Acceptance of the JJDP Summer Expansion Program Grant Application 707. Resolution Authorizing and Awarding a Non-Fair Resolution to be presented and Open Contract to Big Belly Solar, LLC for Solar Powered Smart Compactor Receptacle Bins 800 - PUBLIC SAFETY AMY LEWIS – CHAIRWOMAN Brent, James, Garrett-Ward 801. Police Department In Committee 802. Fire Department In Committee  900 - PUBLIC WORKS CASIM GOMEZ – CHAIRMAN Pullins, Jr., Garrett-Ward, Claybrooks 901. Capital Improvement Projects under Construction 902. Streetscape In Committee 903. Resolution Accepting the Donation of Resolution to be presented Trees to the City of East Orange 904. Authorizing Bid Advertisement for ADA Resolution to be presented & Inlet Compliance 905. Authorizing Bid Advertisement for Oval Resolution to be presented Park Improvements 906. Resolution Recognizing May 12, 2023, Resolution to be presented as Provider Care Day 600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION ALICIA HOLMAN – CHAIRWOMAN Garrett-Ward, Lewis, Leneus 601. Ordinances on First Reading Ordinance No. 11 of 2023 An Ordinance to Readopt Article I, Chapter 247 of the Code of the City of East Orange Entitled “Five Year Tax Exemptions and Abatements Ordinance No. 12 of 2023 An Ordinance to Amend and Supplement Article III, Chapter 260-17 of the City Code Entitled “Angle Parking” 602. Ordinances on Second and Final Reading Ordinance No. 8 of 2023 An Ordinance of the City of East Orange, County of Essex, State of New Jersey, Accepting Grant of Easement from Public Service Electric and Gas Company and Authorizing Execution of An Easement Agreement Ordinance No. 9 of 2023 An Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Article II Chapter 260-9 of City Code Entitled “Stop Intersections” to Provide for the Creation of Four-Way Stop Signs at Elmwood Avenue Ordinance No. 10 of 2023 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 12 of 2013 to Remove a Deed Restriction 603. Bingo/Raffles In Committee 604. A.B.C. In Committee 605. City Council Rules In Committee 606. Settlements In Committee 607. Comcast/Suburban Cable Contract In Committee 608. Taxi Cabs vs. Livery Licenses In Committee 609. 2023 City Council Rules Resolution to be presented 610. 20-day waiver Resolution – Ordinance No. 9 of 2023 Resolution to be presented 1000– COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 1000. East Orange Parking Authority In Committee  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. 1. Alvin Jackson – Major Rat Problem on No. 17th Street 2. Ronald West – His family was disrespected by the Soccer Coach, and he would like an apology. 3. Myron Welshore – Stated that EO Brick Church is a historic site and is very upset that it is in the process of being demolished and would like the City Council to intervene. 4. Robert Hayes – Would like information about 4-family guidelines, because he is saying that his 4-family requires a superintendent, but he is not using it as a rental. 5. Joe Watson – Inquiring about vacant stores across from Forman Mills, would like to know the criteria for that location and spoke with Janis Nelson about the Cannabis Ordinance and is still waiting for a response. 6. Latoys Ibiany & Charisty Jennings – 129 No. Arlington, apt 6F – our mother is disabled, water is leaking in the bathroom, holes in the wall and ceiling can fall in, the building maintenance was told, but there was no response, so the Inspectors from Code Enforcement came out and took pictures. The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 PM. Respectfully submitted by: Justin R. Brown, Deputy City Clerk