City Council

CITY OF EAST ORANGE THE EAST ORANGE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, July 10, 2023 5:30 P.M. (Minutes from the Meeting of June 26, 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 June 26, 2023 The East Orange City Council met on June 26, 2023, at 5:40 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; Tameika Garrett-Ward; Bergson Leneus; Vernon Pullins, Jr.; Amy Lewis; Christopher D. James; Christopher Awe ABSENT Mustafa Al-M Brent Alicia Holman 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 Tiffany Harris-Delaney, Director Planning ALSO PRESENT Tony Jackson Mayor’s Office Muzammil Mohamed-Stevens Public Works Robert Lawson Planning Deputy Chief Larry Martin East Orange Police Department 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 103. Robert James Batte’ – Memorial Resolution to be presented 104. John H. Henderson – Memorial Resolution to be presented 105. Leon Jabez Moss - 94th Birthday Resolution to be presented 106. Debra Jean Chandler – Retirement Resolution to be presented 107. Bishop Joseph Cephas Allen – Memorial Resolution to be presented 108. ETA PI Chapter - 50th Anniversary Resolution to be presented 109. Arwille “Tiny” Thomas – Memorial Resolution to be presented 110. Carl Ellis Hamer – Memorial Resolution to be presented 111. Allen Edward Barnhardt – Memorial Resolution to be presented 112. Resolution Authorizing the Award of East Orange Resolution to be presented 2023 Summer Food Service Program Contract between the City of East Orange and Nu-Way Concessionaires, Inc. 113. Resolution Ratifying the Award of a Non-Fair Resolution to be presented and Open Contract to Garden State Fireworks, Inc., for the 2023 Fireworks Display 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 300 - FINANCE VERNON PULLINS, JR. – CHAIRMAN Lewis, Holman, Gomez 301. Personnel Resolution Granting Maurice Boyd a Leave of Absence Resolution to be presented Resolution Granting Naiima Fauntleroy a Leave of Absence Resolution to be presented Resolution Authorizing the Continued Acting Appointment for the Position of First Assistant Corporation Counsel 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 #12 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  300 – FINANCE - continued VERNON PULLINS, JR. – CHAIRMAN Lewis, Holman, Gomez 315. Bills, Claims & Appropriations (6/26/23) 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 In Committee 323. Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Services Resolution to be presented through a Cooperative Pricing System 324. State of New Jersey, Department of Agriculture Resolution to be presented Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) 2023 Grant 325. Resolution Authorizing the City of East Orange Resolution to be presented to Join the Keystone Purchasing Network 326. Resolution to Adopt CY2023 Municipal Budget Resolution to be presented 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 Procurement of Eight Resolution to be presented (8) Win Wam Software Licensing through NJ State Contract 20-TELE-01510 for the Department of Health and Human Services 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 Amending, I-285 of 2022 to Joy Riot Resolution to be presented and Pivot Path for the City of East Orange’s Marketing and Branding Initiative  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 Awarding a Non-Fair and Resolution to be presented Open Contract for the Installation of a Golf Ball Washer for the City of East Orange Golf Course 904. Resolution Amending Resolution I-328 of 2022 Resolution to be presented which Awarded a Contract to Bismark Construction Corporation for the Renovation of Firehouses #2, #3 & #5 905. Resolution Authorizing Application for the NJ Resolution to be presented Department of Community Affairs FY 23 Legislative Grant Program 906. Resolution Authorizing an Extension of the Lease Resolution to be presented for the Rental of Various Trucks through Herc Rentals, Inc. under the NJ State Contract #19- GNSV2-00854 600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION ALICIA HOLMAN – CHAIRWOMAN Garrett-Ward, Lewis, Leneus 601. Ordinances on First Reading Ordinance No. 14 of 2023 An Ordinance of the City of East Orange, County of Essex, State of New Jersey Amending Chapter 159 of the City Code Entitled “Housing Standards; Property Maintenance” to Revise the Chapter Ordinance No. 15 of 2023 An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 218 of the City Code Entitled “Rent Control and Conversion” to improve the Rental Increase Application Process and Provide Safeguards for Tenants under the Truth in Renting Statement and Prevent Retaliatory Acts by Landlords Ordinance No. 16 of 2023 An Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Article II Chapter 260-9 of the City Code Entitled “Stop Intersections” to Provide for the Creation of Four- Way Stop Signs at South Burnet Street Ordinance No. 17 of 2023 An Ordinance Amending Sections 260-9 of the East Orange City Code to Provide for the Creation of Four-Way Stop Sign at the Intersection of William Street and Greenwood Avenue Ordinance No. 18 of 2023 An Ordinance Repealing §150-5 Through §150-11 and adopting §150-101.1 to §150-101.6 of the Code Entitled “FloodPlain Management” Adopting Flood Hazard Maps and Designating a FloodPlain Administrator 602. Ordinances on Second and Final Reading Ordinance No. 13 of 2023 An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 35 of 2022 and Ordinance No. 34 of 2022 Relating to Salaries and Classifications of Certain Non-Represented Municipal Personnel of the City of East Orange  600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION ALICIA HOLMAN – CHAIRWOMAN Garrett-Ward, Lewis, Leneus 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 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. Sharonda Allen – Wants to Organize a Clean and Green Team with the Youth and the New Jersey Substantiable Program 2. Cheryl Gantey – Cleanliness of East Orange Sidewalks and SDL Systems. 3. Joe Watson – Resubmitted a new proposal for Cannabis, he stated that its unfair practices against minorities. The meeting was adjourned at 8:53 PM. Respectfully submitted by: Justin R. Brown, Deputy City Clerk