City Council

A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Hackensack was held at City Hall, 65 Central Avenue, Hackensack, N. J., on Tuesday, November 10, 1992, at 7:00 P. M. The Mayor called the meeting to order and asked the City Clerk to call the roll. Present - Mayor John F. Zisa, Deputy Mayor Sandra A. Robinson, Councilmen Mark A. Stein and Roger B. Mattei, City Attorney Richard E. Salkin, City Manager James S. Lacava and City Clerk Doris L. Dukes. Absent - Councilman Mauro A. Mecca I Mrs. Dukes: "In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, Laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by sending a, notice to the Record and by posting a copy of same on the Bulletin Board in City Hall". Mayor Zisa announced the purpose of the meeting is to have a culmination of discussions with the City Council and the general public on the parks. Everyone will have an opportunity to be he�rd. He requested discussions be kept to the point and the discussions back from the City Counci1 will be 1imited. After the pub! ic has been heard, the public hearing will close and the City Council will continue the discussions. The Mayor reported the City Council applied for, and received Community Block Grant funding. He said he visited with various groups and had rece�ved just under thirty letters from school children. He also received telephone calls from Clergy and Board of Education members who could not be here this evening. Mayor Zisa opened the meeting to the public. Jane Lenner, President of the Nellie K. Parker School PTA, had previously forwarded a letter to Mayor Zisa, requesting funds for the creation of a playground at the Parker School. They I specifically requested one third of the costs each from the City and the Board of Education and they would raise one third from private fund raising, which they have already begun. Mr. Mattei 'asked if she had a dollar amount and Mrs. Lenner said about $24,000.00. Alexis Palankis, 235 Prospect Avenue, said it would be nice to see benches and perhaps some flowers in the area of the Esplanade. Ray Dressler, Poplar Avenue, presented some letters regarding requests for improvements to Baldwin Park. Eugene McCall, Berry Street, requested the City-owned property next to Carver Park be used to enlarge the Park and would also like to the see the Carver Park Community Center enlarged. Debbie Carlston, President of Hillers PTA r,equested the area between the Park and the School be cleaned. She said there is a couch and broken glass. Mr. Lacava pointed out that the area is cleaned regularly, in the Spring and Fall by the City. He reported the property in question is actually the Board of Education's property, but he would I take care of it this time. Mayor Zisa recommended that the new Principal be advised that the Board of Education owns that property. Richard Rankin, 430 Union Street, reported the receptacles at the Anderson Street Park were removed about six months ago and since then the liter has become more severe and there has not been adequate maintenance to remove the liter since. Mr. Rankin also said Johnson Park needs a general clean-up. Mr. Lacava said he will review why the receptacles were removed.  Mayor Zisa said, in all fairness to the . City's crew, during the past few weeks they have been doing leaf clean-up. Motion offered by Stein, seconded by Mattei, that the public hearing be closed. Carried. The Mayor and Council continued the discussion on park improvements. Mayor Zisa said some of the suggestions mentioned to him are: possible security lights at the parks, installation of telephones I for emergency purposes: in con junction with the summer program sprinkling systems, which was the number one suggestion: and to increase the number of benches in the parks: possibly expanding Carver Park and have it fully developed: lights at Hillers: and the kids said they would like to see parents organize some patrol, similar to the "adopt a program". He said this would be a wonderful program if we could get the volunteers. The Mayor also stated the tennis courts at Jackson Avenue/Pulaski area were partially done and this could possible be completed to offer tennis. Mayor · Zisa requested the list of iterns for the parks be prioriti zed according to cost and we could bid the items we can proceed with. Mr. Lacava said he would make a compilation of everything and give approximate costs for each. Ms. Robinson asked if we could get an estimate on the seven proposals presented tonight and the cost for enlarging or extending the building in Carver Park. Mayor Zisa stated that he hopes the City Council will support I developing the whole park, not just the building. Perhaps something can be worked out through the Recreation with the Board of Education to have the schools re-opened for night activities and meetings without having to build another facility. Ms. Robinson said the idea of enlarging the building is for many reasons and would like to see the information requested. Mayor Zisa requested Jim to have Mrs. Ferguson work on a full blown Basketball program at Carver Park, with tournaments and perhaps we can have a sports figure come out at least once during the summer. Ms. Robinson said she would like information on the amount of money spent on parks around the City. Councilman Stein said he would like to get the "bottom line" figure of what we have to spend. Mayor Zisa thanked the members of the public who came forward this evening. He stated if there are other comments they would like to make, to submit them in writing to the City Council. Motion offered by Robinson that the I meeting be ad journed. ABSENT COUNCI LMAN MAURO A. MECCA A'l'TEST: