City Council

CITY OF EAST ORANGE THE EAST ORANGE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, August 28, 2023 5:30 P.M. (Minutes from the Meeting of August 14, 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 August 14, 2023 The East Orange City Council met on August 14, 2023, at 5:39 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.; Christopher Awe ABSENT Mustafa Al-M Brent Alicia Holman Amy Lewis 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 Phyllis Bindi, Chief Police Department Tina Sakajani Tax Assessor JP Porcaro, Director East Orange Public Library Lloyd Raheem, Acting Director Planning Rupert Bell, Director Public Works ALSO PRESENT Tony Jackson Mayor’s Office Muzammil Mohamed-Stevens Public Works Racquel Ferguson, Purchasing Agent Procurement 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. Honorable Sheila Y. Oliver – Memorial Resolution to be presented 104. Resolution Recognizing the Fiftieth Anniversary of Resolution to be presented The Music Genre Hip Hop and the Accomplishments of the Musicians known as “Naughty by Nature” 105. Trinity Davis-Ford – Commendation Resolution to be presented 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 Authorizing the Continued Acting Appointment for the Position of First Assistant Corporation Counsel Resolution to be presented Resolution Authorizing the Continued Acting Appointment r the Position of Director of Health and Human Services 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 #15 Resolution to be presented 308. Payroll #16 Resolution to be presented 309. Stop Payments In Committee 310. Legal Transfer In Committee 311. Tax Payment Plan In Committee 312. Tax Appeal Refund In Committee 313. Annual Tax Sale In Committee 314. Tax Abatement In Committee 315. In Lieu of Taxes In Committee 316. Bills, Claims & Appropriations (8/14/23) Resolution to be presented 317. Tax Sale Assignment In Committee 318. Tax Lien In Committee 319. Tax Lien Redemption In Committee 320. Budget Insertions In Committee 321. Status of Women In Committee 322. Auction In Committee 323. Authorize Payment of Accumulated Absence Resolution to be presented Liabilities to Former Employees - $22,756.15 324. Authorize Payment of Accumulate Absence Resolution to be presented Liabilities to Former Employees - $25,061.74  300 – FINANCE - Continued VERNON PULLINS, JR. – CHAIRMAN Lewis, Holman, Gomez 325. State of New Jersey, Department of transportation Resolution to be presented Youth Corps – Urban Gateway Enhancement Program Grant 326. Resolution Authorizing a Special One-Day Only Resolution to be presented Event Fee for Vendors at the RnB in the City 327. Electronic Tax Sale 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 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 Authorizing Application to NJDCA Resolution to be presented For Local Recreation Department Improvement Program 707. Resolution Authorizing the Award of a Professional Resolution to be presented Service Contract with the Nishuane Group, LLC For Planning Consultant Services Extension 800 - PUBLIC SAFETY AMY LEWIS – CHAIRWOMAN Brent, James, Garrett-Ward 801. Police Department In Committee 802. Fire Department In Committee 803. Resolution Authorizing the Payment and Renewal Resolution to be presented of Annual Maintenance Agreement of Eticketing and Info Share CAD RMS Police Dispatch Software for the East Orange Police Department Under the State Contract 804. Resolution Amending, I-277 of 2022 to Include the Resolution to be presented Purchase of 18 Additional In Car Video Systems With Axon Enterprise, Inc.  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 Bid of D&L Paving Resolution to be presented Contractors, Inc. for the 2023 Citywide ADA & Inlet Compliance-DPW#601 904. Resolution Authorizing Change Order No. 1 (Final) Resolution to be presented for the Columbian Park Improvements – Site 905. Resolution Accepting the Bid of Flanagan’s Resolution to be presented Contracting Group, Inc. for Oval Park Improvements 906. Resolution Authorizing the City to Advertise for Resolution to be presented the Milling & Paving of Various Streets Funding Year 2023 907. Resolution Authorizing the Designation of Restricted Resolution to be presented Parking Spaces 600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION ALICIA HOLMAN – CHAIRWOMAN Garrett-Ward, Lewis, Leneus 601. Ordinance on First Reading Ordinance No. 20 of 2023 An Ordinance Changing the Name of City Hall to Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver Way in The City Of East Orange, New Jersey Ordinance No. 21 of 2023 An Ordinance to Amend & Supplement Article III of the Municipal Code and Adopting Chapter 260- 145.2 Entitled “Street Sweeping Schedule” Ordinance No. 22 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 Fair Street 602. Ordinances on Second and Final Reading In Committee 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. Resolution Authorizing the Settlement of a Resolution to be presented Workers Compensation Litigation Matter Joseph Doughty Vs City of East Orange 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. Simmon Jelks-Bandison – 120 So. Harrison, Elevator has not been working for a year and Code Enforcement has not issued any tickets and violations.  OPEN HEARING OF CITIZENS - CONTINUED 2. Kenneth Johnstone – Inquiring about, when is Renshaw going to be paved and also there are air bubbles in the water. 3. Diane Clark Cooke – The issues at 44 So. Munn Avenue, apt. 17D has not been addressed and have yet to receive any communication from the Rent Leveling Officer, Wanda Watson. 4. Abel Rumph – Lots of loud music and trash all over the street because of the parties at 413 No. Arlington Ave. 5. Alyssa Richardson – 75 Prospect Street, Garage not closing, ceiling fell on resident, and they are requesting a Stop Sign on Prospect Street. 6. Joanne Gutermuth – Party at 413 No. Arlington Avenue, inappropriate things happen, loud music and all the parties. 7. Beverley Rogers - Party at 413 No. Arlington – loud music, trash everyway and disruption of the neighborhood. 8. Mike Saunders – Complaints about Cement Factor behind his residents and he would love to work with the youth. 9. Angelo Harden – Cement Factory causing the house to shaking the house, property taxes were raised $2,000.00, streets are not paved, and also concerned about lead pipes coming into the home and Watsessing Park is trashed. 10. Varie Pierre – Parties happening at 413 No. Arlington Avenue. 11. Denise Middleton – Constantly getting tickets in front of her store because there is no parking available for customers, garbage in front of the store all the time, has been asking to have the bench and garbage can moved. 12. Orlando Torres – Spaxel Management owner of 120 So. Harrison Street stated that the parts are enroute to have repairs fixed in the building. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM. Respectfully submitted by: Justin R. Brown, Deputy City Clerk