City Council

CITY OF EAST ORANGE THE EAST ORANGE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, October 21, 2024 5:30 P.M. (Minutes from the Meeting of October 15, 2024) Vernon Pullins, Jr. City Council Chairman First Ward Second Ward Christopher D. James Christopher Awe Amy Lewis Sammed R. Monk Third Ward Fourth Ward Bergson Leneus Casim L. Gomez Vernon Pullins Tameika Garrett-Ward Fifth Ward Alicia Holman Naiima H. Fauntleroy 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 15, 2024 The East Orange City Council met on October 15, 2024, at 5:41 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; Sammed Monk; Bergson Leneus; Alicia Holman; Tamika Garrett-Ward; Christopher Awe; Christopher James; Amy Lewis ABSENT Naiima Fauntleroy - arrived @ 5:43 pm Vernon Pullins, Jr CITY OFFICIALS PRESENT Solomon Steplight City Administrator Eladio Negron, Director Property Maintenance Daphne Gamboa, Acting CFO Finance Rupert Bell, Director Public Works John Porcaro, Director East Orange Public Library Alycia Cohen, Acting Director Policy, Planning & Development Horace Henry, Director Health Department Jerome Pearson, Director Recreation Phyllis Bindi, Chief Police Department Bruce Davis, Acting Chief Fire Department ALSO PRESENT D. Talib Acquil City Administrator’s Office Racquel Ferguson Procurement Muzamil Mohamed-Stevens Public Works There were 27 Citizens in attendance. 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. Patricia Webb – From Cats nonprofit; Essex County received 100k grant for helping cats and their well-being; She stated that she is very upset about police interaction and would like clarification. 2. Leita King Moore – Concerned about employment with the East Orange School District and the district is in shambles and they are having lay-offs. 3. Brenda Jenkins – Concerned about limited parking spaces; ongoing problem and very hard to find parking for residents. 4. Curtis Battle – 55-57 S. Munn only has one working elevator, and someone will be seriously injured: not resolving the issue with the elevators. 5. David – Does not have accessible parking to the residential area, Freeway Drive East and Stueben, there is no signage on the street or visible posting and some people are getting tickets. They need to look for a resolution. 6. Lynn – Commuter parking on Lincoln Street, started receiving excessive number of tickets would like a resolution and location to park her car while she goes to work and needs to park close to the train station, lives on Brighton Ave. 7. Cathy Hayes – Would like more progress & incorporate TR Grant of $50,000 to take care of cats. 8. Julia Frizelli – Provides food, shelter and water for cats; asking if East Orange can provide a neuter program for cats to help the quality of life for cats. 9. Richard Green – School Social worker, concern about job title being removed & will be a detriment to students and how they are supported; would like the school contract to be resolved. 10. Gurdy Packet – A Social worker & parent in the East Orange School District; would like transparency about the district & community; does not get any information from the school district,  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 SAMMED MONK – CHAIRMAN James, Fauntleroy, Lewis 101. Recreation Department In Committee 102. East Orange Public Library In Committee 103. Joyce B. Moody-Memorial Resolution to be presented 104. Johnnie M. Butts-Memorial Resolution to be presented 105. George C. Williams, Jr.-Memorial Resolution to be presented 106. Jaleel “Jarich” Ritchwood-Jordan-Commendation Resolution to be presented 107. Reverend Dr. Jacques Andre Stanislas Raymond-Memorial Resolution to be presented 200 - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING CHRISTOPHER D. JAMES – CHAIRMAN Leneus, Awe, Fauntleroy 201. Brick Church Mall In Committee 202. Brick Church Urban Renewal In Committee 203. Economic Development Corp. In Committee 300 - FINANCE BERGSON LENEUS - 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 No. 20 Resolution to be presented 308. Payroll No. 20-2 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 (10.15.2024) 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  300 – FINANCE - continued BERGSON LENEUS - CHAIRMAN Lewis, Holman, Gomez 321. Auction In Committee 322. Authorize Payment of Accumulated Absence Liabilities Resolution to be presented to Former Employees - $7,201.27 323. Authorize Payment of Accumulated Absence Liabilities Resolution to be presented to Former Employees - $91,008.80 324. Resolution Approving Memorandum of Agreement with Resolution to be presented East Orange Superior Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 188 325. Resolution to Award a Professional Service Contract Resolution to be presented for Municipal Financial Advisor Services 326. Duplicate Tax Payment - $1,694.64 Resolution to be presented 327. Duplicate Tax Payment - $3,836.30 Resolution to be presented 328. Miscellaneous Refund - $130.00 Resolution to be presented 329. Resolution Amending Resolution I-38 of 2024 Awarding Resolution to be presented Contracts for Special Labor Counsel 330. State of New Jersey, Department of Human Services Resolution to be presented National Opioid Settlement Proceeds 331. County of Essex, Department of Citizen Services East Resolution to be presented Orange Senior Citizens Home Friends Grant CY 2024 332. Resolution Authorizing the Advertisement of Request Resolution to be presented for Qualification Proposals for Various Professional and Consultant Services 400 – HEALTH and EDUCATION NAIIMA FAUNTLEROY – CHAIRWOMAN Awe, 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 a Modification to the Resolution to be presented Lead Grant Assistance Program Agreement for Grant Cycle January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2024 407. Resolution Authorizing the City of East Orange to Resolution to be presented Receive Grant Funding from the US Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services & Administration Ending the HIV Epidemic Program in Essex County Ryan White Part A 500 – HOUSING, LICENSING AND INSPECTION CHRISTOPHER AWE – CHAIRMAN Holman, Monk, 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 508. Resolution for the Refund of Certificate of Conformity Resolution to be presented Inspection Fee - $325.00 507. Resolution for the Refund of Certificate of Conformity Resolution to be presented Inspection Fee - $450.00 700 – PLANNING and GRANTS TAMEIKA GARRETT-WARD – CHAIRWOMAN Gomez, Leneus, Holman 701. Community Development In Committee  700 – PLANNING and GRANTS - continued TAMEIKA GARRETT-WARD – CHAIRWOMAN Gomez, Leneus, Holman 702. Safe and Clean In Committee 703. Small Tools Library In Committee 704. Green Acres Grant In Committee 705. Women’s Summit In Committee 800 - PUBLIC SAFETY AMY LEWIS – CHAIRWOMAN Monk, James, Garrett-Ward 801. Police Department In Committee 802. Fire Department In Committee 900 - PUBLIC WORKS CASIM GOMEZ – CHAIRMAN Fauntleroy, Garrett-Ward, Monk 901. Capital Improvement Projects In Committee 902. Streetscape In Committee 903. Resolution Rescinding and Repealing Resolution I-315 Resolution to be presented A Resolution Authorizing the Designation of a Restricted Parking Space 904. Resolution Authorizing the Designation of Restricted Resolution to be presented Parking Spaces 905. Resolution Authorizing and Approving an Award of a Resolution to be presented Contract Through Omnia Partners National Co-Operative for the Resurfacing of the Playground at Oval Park 906. Resolution Authorizing the City of East Orange to Exercise Resolution to be presented the Option to Extend a Contract with American Asphalt and Trucking for an Additional One-Year Period for Emergency Snow Plowing Services 600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION ALICIA HOLMAN– CHAIRWOMAN Garrett-Ward, Lewis, A w e 601. Ordinances on First Reading In Committee 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 Settlement of Litigation in the Resolution to be presented Matter of Keanna Thorne v. City of East Orange, et al 610. Resolution Authorizing the Settlement of a Workers Resolution to be presented Compensation Litigation Matter – Rameil King vs. City of East Orange 611. Resolution Authorizing the Settlement of a Workers Resolution to be presented Compensation Litigation Matter – Tierra Wimberly vs. City of East Orange 612. Resolution Authorizing the Settlement of Litigation in Resolution to be presented the Matter of Leroy Jones & Jacqueline Jones v. City of East Orange, et als 1000– COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 1000. East Orange Parking Authority In Committee Meeting adjourned at 7:51 PM. Respectfully submitted by: Cynthia S. Brown, City Clerk