City Council

CITY OF EAST ORANGE THE EAST ORANGE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, March 10, 2025 5:30PM VERNON PULLINS, JR. City Council Chairman Scan QR Code or Visit tinyurl.com/eocouncilagenda to view Agenda. FOLLOW US @EOCITYCOUNCIL  EAST ORANGE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEMS Monday, March 10, 2025 5:30 P.M. SUNSHINE LAW STATEMENT This meeting, which conforms with the provisions of the Open Public Meeting Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975, is a regular official City Council Meeting. Notices have been filed with our official newspaper, with the City Clerk, and posted on the regular bulletin board. The public is permitted to participate where stipulated on the agenda. ROLL CALL SALUTE TO THE FLAG MOMENT OF SILENCE 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. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION Arts, Recreation & Cultural Affairs • Esther Hollis - Memorial • Detective Elanie Settles - Retirement • Jahan Dotson - Commendation Business, Development & Zoning Ordinance on First Reading to be transferred to Law & Legislation • An Ordinance Amending Chapter 51 “Land Use” Subsection 51-57 “Fees for Escrow Deposit Accounts” of the Code of the City of East Orange, In the County of Essex County, New Jersey Finance • Payroll #5 • Bills, Claims & Appropriations 03.10.2025 • Authorize Payment of Accumulated Absence Liabilities to Former Employees - $169,029.28 • Resolution Awarding Professional Contract for Municipal Auditor for the City of East Orange – Not to Exceed $185,000 • Resolution Awarding Professional Contract for Bond Counsel for the City of East Orange – Not to Exceed $100.000.00 Ordinance on First Reading to be transferred to Law & Legislation • Bond Ordinance Providing for the Local Unit’s Allocable Share of Capital Improvement Projects for the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties, By and in the City of East Orange, In the County of Essex, State of New Jersey (The “Local Unit”): on Behalf of the East Orange Water Commission; Appropriating $665,000 Therefor and Authorizing the Issuance of $665,00 Bonds or Notes to Finance the Cost Thereof Health & Education • No Resolutions Housing, Licensing & Inspection • No Resolutions Planning Grants • Resolution Authorizing and Award of Non-Fair and Open Contract for Jam Sandwich Co. to Assist in the Development of a Brand Guide for the East Orange Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) and the Development of the East Orange UEZ Website for the Department of Policy, Planning & Development - $43,000.00 • Resolution Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement Between the City of East Orange Department of Policy, Planning & Development and Thrive Leadership Institute – Not to exceed $21,000 • Resolution Amending I-230 Authorizing the Award of a Contract to Trane U.S. Inc. to Furnish and Install an HVAC Unit at the Public Library (Proposal amount $425,399.74) • Resolution Granting Approval to Submit a Grant Application and Execute a Grant Agreement for the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP), Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program (IVTP), and the Homeless Women Veterans’ and Homeless Veterans’ With Children Reintegration Grant Program (HWVHWC) (Award up to $500,000.) • Resolution Authorizing an Application for 2025 Summer Expansion Programming • Resolution Authorizing an Application for FY2024 Historic Preservation Fund-Semi Quincentennial Grant (Award up to $750,000) • Resolution Amending Resolution I-440 of 2024 Authorizing the Purchase of Turnout Fire Fighting Gear (Protective Equipment) From Morning Pride Manufacturing, LLC • Resolution Authorizing an Application for Pathway Home 6 Grant (Award up to $4,000,000) Public Safety • Resolution Supporting and Approving the Submission of an Application for Involuntary Disability Retirement Under the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System Ordinances on First Reading to be transferred to Law & Legislation • An Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Chapter 5 Article XVII of the City Code Entitled “Office of Emergency Management” • An Ordinance to Amend and Supplement Chapter 264 of the Code of the City of East Orange, as to the Operation of Wreckers on Private Property Public Works • Resolution Authorizing Change Order Number 1 for the Purchase and Installation of a Rubberized Path at Oval Park - $51,988.00 • Resolution Authorizing the Award of a Contract to Trane U.S. Inc. to Furnish and Install Thirteen Variable Air Volume (“VAC”) Boxes and Provide a One-year Service Agreement as Part of the HVAC Installation at the Municipal Court – (Proposal amount $445,000.) • Resolution Authorizing the Designation of Restricted Parking Spaces Law & Legislation • Resolution Approving a Side Bar Agreement With East Orange Superior Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 188 • Resolution Approving a Side Bar Agreement With East Orange Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 111 • Resolution Authorizing Settlement of Litigation in the Matter of John Robinson v. City of East Orange, et als Ordinances on First Reading • An Ordinance Amending Chapter 51 “Land Use” Subsection 51-57 “Fees for Escrow Deposit Accounts” of the Code of the City of East Orange, In the County of Essex County, New Jersey • Bond Ordinance Providing for the Local Unit’s Allocable Share of Capital Improvement Projects for the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties, By And in the City of East range, In the County of Essex, State of New Jersey (The “Local Unit”): on Behalf od the East Orange Water Commission; Appropriating $665,000 Therefor and Authorizing the Issuance of $665,00 Bonds or Notes to Finance the Cost Thereof • An Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Chapter 5 Article XVII of the City Code Entitled “Office of Emergency Management” • An Ordinance to Amend and Supplement Chapter 264 of the Code of the City of East Orange, as to the Operation of Wreckers on Private Property • An Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Chapter 60 of the City Code Entitled “Professional Policies” Article XVI Entitled “Employment of Police Officers by Private Parties” 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 February 24, 2025 The East Orange City Council met on February 24, 2025, at 5:35 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; Naiima Fauntleroy; Alicia Holman; Christopher Awe; Vernon Pullins, Jr ABSENT Amy Lewis Tamika Garrett-Ward - arrived @ 5:40 pm Christopher James CITY OFFICIALS PRESENT Ronald Hunt, Esq. Corporation Counsel Law Department Solomon Steplight City Administrator Eladio Negron, Director Property Maintenance Daphne Gamboa, Acting CFO Finance Elizabeth Collin, Assistant Director Public Works Alycia Cohen, 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 8 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. None 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. Jeanne Lucille Garrett – Memorial Resolution to be presented 104. Emma Lina Lawrence Henderson – 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. 4 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 (2.24.2025) 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. Resolution Authorizing the Execution and Delivery Resolution to be presented of Loan Agreements to be Executed by the City of East Orange, In The County of Essex, State of New Jersey and Each of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and the State of New Jersey, Acting by and Through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and Further Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of an Escrow Agreement, All Pursuant to the State Fiscal Year 2025 New Jersey Water Bank Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program 322. Resolution Determining the Form and Other Details Resolution to be presented of Not Exceeding $400,000 General Improvement Bonds, Series 2025 of the City of East Orange, In the County of Essex, State of New Jersey, and Providing for Their Sale to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and the State of New Jersey Water Bank Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program 323. Resolution Awarding Professional Service Contracts Resolution to be presented for Tax Appeal Defense Counsel 324. Resolution to Award a Contract for Third Party Resolution to be presented Administrator Services for the City of East Orange  300 – FINANCE - Continued BERGSON LENEUS - CHAIRMAN Lewis, Holman, Gomez 325. Resolution Awarding Professional Services Contract Resolution to be presented for Special Redevelopment Counsel for the City of East Orange 326. Resolution Designating Police Practices Defense Resolution to be presented Counsel Through Claims Resolution Corporation, Inc. the City’s Third-Party Insurance Administrator 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 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 700 – PLANNING and GRANTS TAMEIKA GARRETT-WARD – CHAIRWOMAN Gomez, Leneus, 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 an Application for Round 8 Resolution to be presented of the Land and Water Conversation Fund’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program 707. Resolution Awarding a Professional Services Contract Resolution to be presented to Topology, LLC as East Orange Urban Enterprise Plan Project for the City of East Orange 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  600 - LAW AND LEGISLATION ALICIA HOLMAN– CHAIRWOMAN Garrett-Ward, Lewis, Awe 601. Ordinances on First Reading In Committee 602. Ordinances on Second and Final Reading Ordinance No. 1 of 2025 An Ordinance to Transfer a City Property to Interexter, Corporation in the Greenwood Redevelopment Area Under the Auspices of N.J.S.A.40:12A-1 et seq, Known as the “Local Redevelopment and Housing Law” Ordinance No. 2 of 2025 An Ordinance to Transfer a City Property to Burrowes Development Group LLC in the Transit Village Redevelopment Area Under the auspices of N.J.S.A.40:12A-1 et seq Known as the “Local Redevelopment and Hosing Law” 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. Confirmation of Appointment – Veronica Thomas Resolution to be presented Parking Authority (Fifth Ward) 1000– COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 1000. East Orange Parking Authority In Committee Meeting adjourned at 5:54 PM. Respectfully submitted by: