City Council

The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Hackensack was held at City Hall, 65 Central Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey, on Monday, July 7th, 2003 at 8:10 P.M. Mayor Zisa called the meeting to order and asked everyone to stand for the flag salute. The Mayor then asked Ms. D’Auria to call the roll. Present – Councilmen Mark A. Stein and Jesus R. Galvis, Deputy Mayor Roger B. Mattei, Councilwoman Juanita Trammell, Mayor John F. Zisa, City Manager, James S. Lacava, Acting City Clerk Debra A. D’Auria and City Attorney Richard E. Salkin. Ms. D’Auria: "In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, Laws of l975 adequate notice of this meeting was provided by sending a notice to the Record and by posting a copy on the Bulletin Board in City Hall". Mayor Zisa called for a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting held June 30th, 2003. Motion offered by Councilman Stein and seconded by Councilman Galvis that the minutes be approved as submitted. Carried. RESOLUTION #178 OFFERED BY: MATTEI SECONDED BY: STEIN BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Hackensack that the proper officers be and are hereby authorized to make the following refunds for the reason stated: AMOUNT BLOCK LOT NAME YEAR REASON $2168.00 81 7 Lee, Nelson 2002 ERR PMT $ 948.00 81 8 Lee, Nelson 2002 ERR PMT $1526.00 419 36 Estepan, Manuel & Ana 2003 ERR PMT $3109.07 50 55 Young, Douglas 2002 ERR PMT $1486.00 50 55 Young, Douglas 2003 ERR PMT Roll Call: Ayes – Mattei, Galvis, Trammell, Stein, Zisa RESOLUTION #179 OFFERED BY: GALVIS SECONDED BY: TRAMMELL WHEREAS, an emergent condition has risen with respect to insufficient temporary appropriations to facilitate the awarding of contracts and purchases with grant funds and no adequate provision has been made in the 2003 Temporary Appropriations for the aforesaid purpose, and N.J.S. 40A:4-20 provides for the creation of an emergency temporary appropriation for the purpose above-mentioned; and WHEREAS, the total emergency temporary resolutions adopted in the year 2003 pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.40A:4-20 (Chapter 96,P.L.1951) including this resolution total $30,826,508.75; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED (not less than two-thirds of all the members thereof affirmatively concurring) that in accordance with N.J.S.40A:4-20: 1) An emergency temporary appropriation be and the same is hereby made for the awarding of annual contracts in the amount of $1,840,000.00; 2) That said emergency temporary appropriation will be provided for in the 2003 Budget. 3) That one certified copy of this resolution be filed with the Director of Local Government Services. Current Appropriations Administrative & Executive O/E 10,000.00 Financial Administration O/E 10,000.00 Tax Assessor O/E 14,000.00 Tax Collector O/E 5,500.00 Rent Stabilization Board S/W 500.00 Group Insurance Plans O/E 400,000.00 Fire S/W 500,000.00 Police S/W 400,000.00 Police O/E 50,000.00 Police Traffic Control O/E 4,500.00 Communication Operators O/E 500.00 Volunteer Ambulance Corps O/E 5,000.00 Construction Board of Appeals O/E 500.00 Emergency Management O/E 4,500.00 City Garage O/E 5,000.00 Streets & Roads O/E 5,000.00 Snow Removal O/E 10,000.00 Street Cleaning O/E 5,000.00 Garbage & Trash O/E 10,000.00 Social Security O/E 250,000.00 Accumulated Wage All Departments S/W 150,000.00 Total 1,840,000.00 Roll Call: Ayes – Mattei, Galvis, Trammell, Stein, Zisa RESOLUTION #180 OFFERED BY: MATTEI SECONDED BY: GALVIS BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Hackensack that the bills in the following accounts be and are hereby ordered paid: Current Account $3,085,063.98 Public Parking System Account 14,563.21 Payroll Agency Account 112,658.27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said bills are on file as a public record in the office of the Chief Financial Officer. Roll Call: Ayes – Mattei, Galvis, Trammell, Stein, Zisa RESOLUTION #181 OFFERED BY: STEIN SECONDED BY: TRAMMELL BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Hackensack that the following liquor licenses be issued in the City of Hackensack, effective July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, applicants having complied with the ordinances of the City of Hackensack and paid the required fee: 0223-33-047-004 The Cheesecake Factory 1,110.00 Restaurants, Inc. 197 Riverside Square 0223-33-055-005 Foxes Den, Inc. 1,110,00 185 Moore Street 0223-33-057-007 Subo Corp. 1,110.00 455 Passaic Street Roll Call: Ayes – Mattei, Galvis, Trammell, Stein, Zisa RESOLUTION #182 OFFERED BY: MATTEI SECONDED BY: TRAMMELL BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Hackensack that Plenary Retail Consumption License No. 0223-33-055-005 heretofore issued to The Foxes Den, 185 Moore Street, Hackensack, New Jersey, be transferred to Thai Chef Riverside Inc., 81 Eastbrook Drive, River Edge, New Jersey, effective July 7th, 2003; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the applicant has complied with Sub-Chapter 7 of the New Jersey Administrative Code; and Roll Call: Ayes – Mattei, Galvis, Trammell, Stein, Zisa RESOLUTION #183 OFFERED BY: STEIN SECONDED BY: TRAMMELL WHEREAS, the City of Hackensack has been notified that the mileage reimbursement rate has been increased to $0.365 per mile; and WHEREAS, it is desirous to reimburse its employees in accordance with the prevailing Internal Revenue Service mileage rate; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the rate for reimbursement for the City of Hackensack mileage rate shall be $0.365 in accordance with the prevailing Internal Revenue Service mileage rate. Roll Call: Ayes – Mattei, Galvis, Trammell, Stein, Zisa RESOLUTION #184 OFFERED BY: STEIN SECONDED BY: GALVIS BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Hackensack that Councilman Roger B. Mattei be appointed Deputy Mayor for a term commencing July 1, 2003 and expiring June 30, 2004. Roll Call: Ayes – Mattei, Galvis, Trammell, Stein, Zisa RESOLUTION #185 OFFERED BY: TRAMMELL SECONDED BY: STEIN BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Hackensack that Florence Pedi, 65 First Street, be appointed as Commissioner to the Hackensack Housing Authority to fulfill a term to expire on December 6, 2004. Roll Call: Ayes – Mattei, Galvis, Trammell, Stein, Zisa  Ms. D’Auria advised the Mayor that the docket was completed. The Mayor thanked her and asked the City Manager and the members of the Council if they had anything to report. Mr. Lacava stated that he was proud to report that the City Hall employees had been victorious in the July 4th softball game played against the members of the Hackensack Board of Education and that the winning run had been driven in by Mr. Salkin. Mayor Zisa complimented all City departments for another great Independence Day celebration. Councilman Stein advised that beginning July 15, 2003 and running for the next four weeks, a summer concert series will be held in Foschini Park. The Mayor opened the meeting to the public for discussion of City business. Geneva Youngblood, 221 Hamilton Place, voiced her displeasure with the 4.5% tax increase on property in Hackensack and questioned whether or not the Council had looked elsewhere instead of to the property owners. Mayor Zisa asked Ms. Youngblood for her recommendations as to how to balance the budget. Ms. Youngblood replied that some of the fire houses should be closed and that the Police Department is too large. Larry Riley, 27 Rowland Avenue, also spoke with reference to the tax rate increase and stated that California is recalling their government officials and perhaps the citizens of Hackensack should do the same. Mary Watson, 267 High Street, spoke with reference to the raising of taxes and the flooding which occurs on her street and stated that she didn’t think that the Council was doing much for the residents. Deborah Keeling Geddes, 245 Hamilton Place, questioned how much money is allocated for snow removal in the average budget and Mr. Lacava replied that approximately $175,000 is usually allocated. Ms. Geddes also questioned why the additional money needed for snow removal this year wasn’t taken out of the surplus. Mayor Zisa explained that it is not generally good management to start utilizing surplus for emergencies and operating expenses. Arlene Schatz, 137 Liberty Street, stated that the Council could have transferred funds from the surplus accounts if they chose to. Ms. Schatz also stated that it seems that only the hospital is permitted to grow and develop and that the City keeps spending money that it doesn’t need to. Paul Bedalian, 89 Davis Avenue, stated that he is continuing to have problems with a neighbor of his who is allowing its dog to defecate in front of Mr. Bedalian’s home. Mr. Bedalian also stated that he had received a summons for parking too close to a stop sign on Davis Avenue. Ted Dunn, 599 Summit Avenue, questioned whether or not it is normal to call for a special budget hearing meeting. He also stated that the school board budget shouldn’t have been approved knowing that the municipal budget would be increased as a result of same. Mr. Olster, 144 Union Street, stated that it was his opinion that City employees should not ask for any increases this year and agreed that the City should reduce its surplus from $5,000,000.00 to $1,000,000.00. Joan Dunn, 599 Summit Avenue, questioned how many people had attended the budget hearing. Frank Campbell, 111 Catalpa Avenue, questioned the height clearance of the new bridge on River Street and also questioned if there has been a reduction in workers compensation claims as a result of the automated garbage collection. Beulah Carr, 62 Green Street, advised that Green Street is now a truck route and that she has called for repairs to the street several times, but has not received a response. Mr. Lacava stated that Green Street is scheduled for repaving this year. The Police Department will be notified to keep checks in this area for speeders. Leo Battaglia, 72 Herman Street, stated that people attending church are blocking the view at the corner of Fairmount and Grand. Mr. Lacava will also advise the Police Department of this. As no one else wished to be heard, a motion was made by Councilman Stein and seconded by Councilwoman Trammell that the meeting be adjourned. (Carried 9:40 p.m.) __________________________ MAYOR JOHN F. ZISA ____________________________ _ DEPUTY MAYOR ROGER MATTEI ____________________________ COUNCILWOMAN JUANITA TRAMMELL ____________________________ COUNCILMAN JESUS R. GALVIS ___________________________ COUNCILMAN MARK A. STEIN ATTEST:_______________________ ACTING CITY CLERK