City Council

A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Hackensack was held at City Hall, 65 Central Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey, on Monday, August 8, 2016 at 8:02 A.M. Mayor John Labrosse Jr. called the meeting to order and the City Clerk Deborah Karlsson announced that the meeting was being held in accordance with the Sunshine Law, notice having been published according to law, with a copy on file in the City Clerk’s office, and a copy posted on the bulletin board in City Hall. Attendance Ms. Karlsson called the roll: Mayor John P. Labrosse Jr., Deputy Mayor Kathy Canestrino, Councilman Leonardo Battaglia, and Councilman David Sims were present. Councilwoman Deborah Keeling-Geddis was absent. City Manager David Troast was absent; CFO Jim Mangin was present filling in for Mr. Troast. Judge Carver and Attorney Kate Walsh were in attendance. Flag Salute City Manager’s Report Jim Mangin – What we are doing here today is introducing a bond ordinance for the Hackensack Performing Arts Center building renovation. This was a project that was funded last year back in May of 2015. We recently went out to bid and the bids came in over-budget. We rejected those bids, made some modifications to the specifications and went out to bid again. We are amending the ordinance now to add additional funding. We are adding funding from the fundraiser that was held recently, $220,000 raised in cash which will be applied to this ordinance. There was also other money that was pledged as well as additional debt that the city will be taking on for this project. The total of the project is now going to be $2,175,000. I just want to explain that there was an error in the Bergen Record which was my fault. I spoke to the reporter and he had asked me about the additional funding. I gave him the total amount of the whole ordinance which was a multi-purpose ordinance which also had the road paving program and city hall renovations. It was reported in the Record that the Performing Arts Center was $3,000,000 which is not true. That was the total ordinance. We are here this morning to introduce this ordinance. Upon introduction there will be a full public hearing and adoption at the August 22, 2016 meeting. Resolutions Council Intr Secon Abstai Absen Recuse Member o d Yes No n t d Battaglia X X Deputy Mayor Canestrino X X Sims X Keeling- X Geddis Mayor Labrosse X CITY OF HACKENSACK RESOLUTION NO. 299-16 08/08/2016 1  INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 31-2016, A BOND ORDINANCE AMENDING AND RESTATING IN ENTIRETY BOND ORDINANCE NUMBER 26-2015 FINALLY ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HACKENSACK, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, STATE OF NEW JERSEY ON JULY 7, 2015 TO INCREASE THE APPROPRIATION AND THE AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT OTHER PROVISIONS THEREIN AND CANCELLING BOND ORDINANCE NUMBER 30-2016 AS INTRODUCED BE IT RESOLVED that the above ordinance, being Ordinance 31-2016 as introduced, does now pass on first reading and that said Ordinance shall be considered for final passage at a meeting to be held on August 22, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be reached at the regular meeting place of the City Council and at such time and place all persons interested be given an opportunity to be heard concerning said Ordinance and that the City Clerk be and she is hereby authorized and directed to publish said ordinance according to law with a notice of its introduction and passage on first reading and of the time and place when and where said ordinance will be further considered for final passage. CITY OF HACKENSACK ORDINANCE NUMBER 31-2016 BOND ORDINANCE AMENDING AND RESTATING IN ENTIRETY BOND ORDINANCE NUMBER 26-2015 FINALLY ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HACKENSACK, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, STATE OF NEW JERSEY ON JULY 7, 2015 TO INCREASE THE APPROPRIATION AND THE AUTHORIZATION AND TO AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT OTHER PROVISIONS THEREIN AND CANCELLING BOND ORDINANCE NUMBERED 30- 2016, AS INTRODUCED BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HACKENSACK, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, STATE OF NEW JERSEY (NOT LESS THAN TWO-THIRDS OF ALL MEMBERS THEREOF AFFIRMATIVELY CONCURRING) AS FOLLOWS: THE BOND ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HACKENSACK, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, STATE OF NEW JERSEY (THE “CITY”), HERETOFORE FINALLY ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON JULY 7, 2015, NUMBERED 26-2015 AND ENTITLED, “BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS 2015 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BY AND IN THE CITY OF HACKENSACK, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, STATE OF NEW JERSEY; APPROPRIATING $2,280,000 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $2,166,000 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE CITY TO 08/08/2016 2 FINANCE PART OF THE COST THEREOF” IS HEREBY AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED TO THE EXTENT AND WITH THE EFFECT AS SET FORTH BELOW: “BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS 2015 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BY AND IN THE CITY OF HACKENSACK, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, STATE OF NEW JERSEY; APPROPRIATING $2,955,000 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $2,606,000 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE CITY TO FINANCE PART OF THE COST THEREOF BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HACKENSACK, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, STATE OF NEW JERSEY (not less than two-thirds of all the members thereof affirmatively concurring), AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 000000000. The improvements described in Section 3 of this bond ordinance are hereby authorized as general improvements or purposes to be undertaken by the City of Hackensack, in the County of Bergen, State of New Jersey (the "City"). For the said improvements or purposes stated in Section 3, there is hereby appropriated the aggregate sum of $2,955,000, said sum being inclusive of $133,250 as the amount of aggregate amount of down payment for said improvements or purposes as required by the Local Bond Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:2-1 et seq. (the “Local Bond Law”). The down payment is now available by virtue of a provision or provisions in a previously adopted budget or budgets of the City for down payment or for capital improvement purposes. SECTION 0. For the financing of said improvements or purposes described in Section 3 hereof, and to meet the part of said $2,955,000 appropriation not provided for by application hereunder of said down payment, negotiable bonds of the City are hereby authorized to be issued in the principal amount of $2,606,000 pursuant to the Local Bond Law. In anticipation of the issuance of said bonds and to temporarily finance said improvements or purposes, negotiable notes of the City in a principal amount not exceeding $2,606,000 are hereby authorized to be issued pursuant to and within the limitations prescribed by said Local Bond Law. SECTION 0. The improvements and purposes hereby authorized and purposes for the financing of which said debt obligations are to be issued are as follows: 08/08/2016 3 08/08/2016 4  Total Debt Down Useful Description Appropriation Authorization Payment Life A. Milling and repaving of various $380,000 $361,000 $19,000 10 years streets and roads as on file with the City Engineer, including, but not limited to, Grand Avenue (from Clinton Place to Ross Avenue and Fairmount Avenue to Main Street) and Louis Street (from Catalpa Avenue to South Lake Drive), including, as applicable, milling, construction, reconstruction, repairing and resurfacing, drainage improvements, inlet, manhole and water valve replacements, the restoration or construction of or improvements to curbs, sidewalks, traffic line striping, driveway aprons or barrier-free ramps along such roadways and the acquisition and installation of traffic signals and signage; B. Design, relocation and $200,000 $190,000 $10,000 25 years construction of a salt dome on an alternative City site; C. Repairs to City Hall including, but $200,000 $190,000 $10,000 20 years not limited to the repair and replacement of the City Hall roof and roof parapets; and D. Renovations to the Performing $2,175,000 $1,865,000 $94,250 20 years Arts Center, including, but not ($220,000 from limited to, entrance/exit funds on improvements, fire/safety deposit in the improvements, HVAC/electrical Hackensack upgrades, interior renovations and Performing Arts performance, light and sound Center Trust improvements. Fund) Grand Total: $2,955,000 $2,606,000 $133,250 (b) The estimated maximum amount of bonds or notes to be issued for said purpose is $2,606,000. (c) The estimated cost of said purpose is $2,955,000. SECTION 0. In the event the United States of America, the State of New Jersey and/or the County of Bergen make a contribution or grant in aid to the City for the improvements and purposes authorized hereby and the same shall be received by the City prior to the issuance of the bonds or notes authorized in Section 2 hereof, then the amount of such bonds or notes to be issued shall be reduced by the amount so received 08/08/2016 5 from the United States of America, the State of New Jersey and/or the County of Bergen. In the event, however, that any amount so contributed or granted by the United States of America, the State of New Jersey and/or the County of Bergen shall be received by the City after the issuance of the bonds or notes authorized in Section 2 hereof, then such funds shall be applied to the payment of the bonds or notes so issued and shall be used for no other purpose. This Section 4 shall not apply, however, with respect to any contribution or grant in aid received by the City as a result of using funds from this bond ordinance as “matching local funds” to receive such contribution or grant in aid. In the event the City receives future pledges from the Hackensack Performing Arts Center Trust Fund for the improvements and purposes authorized by section 3(d) and the same shall be received by the City prior to the issuance of the bonds or notes authorized in Section 2 hereof, then the amount of such bonds or notes to be issued for such improvement shall be reduced by the amount so received from the Hackensack Performing Arts Center Trust Fund. In the event, however, that any amount so contributed by Hackensack Performing Arts Center Trust Fund shall be received by the City after the issuance of the bonds or notes authorized for the improvements and purposes authorized by section 3(d), then such funds shall be applied to the payment of the bonds or notes so issued and shall be used for no other purpose. SECTION 0. All bond anticipation notes issued hereunder shall mature at such times as may be determined by the Chief Financial Officer of the City, provided that no note shall mature later than one (1) year from its date. The notes shall bear interest at such rate or rates and be in such form as may be determined by the Chief Financial Officer of the City. The Chief Financial Officer of the City shall determine all matters in connection with the notes issued pursuant to this bond ordinance, and the signature of the Chief Financial Officer of the City upon the notes shall be conclusive evidence as to all such determinations. All notes issued hereunder may be renewed from time to time in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:2-8.1. The Chief Financial Officer of the City is hereby authorized to sell part or all of the notes from time to time at public or private sale and to deliver them to the purchaser thereof upon receipt of payment of the purchase price and accrued interest thereon from their dates to the date of delivery thereof. The 08/08/2016 6 Chief Financial Officer of the City is directed to report in writing to the governing body at the meeting next succeeding the date when any sale or delivery of the notes pursuant to this bond ordinance is made. Such report must include the principal amount, the description, the interest rate, and the maturity schedule of the notes so sold, the price obtained and the name of the purchaser. SECTION 0. The capital budget of the City is hereby amended to conform with the provisions of this bond ordinance and to the extent of any inconsistency herewith, a resolution in the form promulgated by the Local Finance Board showing full detail of the amended capital budget and capital programs as approved by the Director of the Division of Local Government Services will be on file in the office of the Clerk and will be available for public inspection. SECTION 0. The following additional matters are hereby determined, declared, recited and stated: (0) The purposes described in Section 3 of this bond ordinance are not a current expense and are improvements which the City may lawfully undertake as general improvements, and no part of the cost thereof has been or shall be specially assessed on property specially benefited thereby. (0) The period of usefulness of said purposes within the limitations of said Local Bond Law, according to the reasonable life thereof computed from the date of the said bonds authorized by this bond ordinance, is 18.97 years. (0) The supplemental debt statement required by the Local Bond Law has been duly made and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the City and a complete executed duplicate thereof has been filed in the Office of the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs of the State of New Jersey, and such statement shows that the gross debt of the City as defined in the Local Bond Law is increased by the authorization of the bonds or notes provided for in this bond ordinance by $2,606,000, and the said obligations authorized by this bond ordinance will be within all debt limitations prescribed by said Local Bond Law. 08/08/2016 7  (0) An aggregate amount not exceeding $400,000 for items of expense listed in and permitted under N.J.S.A. 40A:2-20 is included in the estimated cost indicated herein for the purposes or improvements herein before described. SECTION 0.0 The full faith and credit of the City are hereby pledged to the punctual payment of the principal of and the interest on the obligations authorized by this bond ordinance. The obligations shall be direct, unlimited obligations of the City, and the City shall be obligated to levy ad valorem takes upon all the taxable property within the City for the payment of the obligations and the interest thereon without limitation as to rate or amount. SECTION 9. The City reasonably expects to reimburse any expenditures toward the costs of the improvements or purposes described in Section 3 hereof and paid prior to the issuance of any bonds or notes authorized by this bond ordinance with the proceeds of such bonds or notes. This Section 9 is intended to be and hereby is a declaration of the City's official intent to reimburse any expenditures toward the costs of the improvements or purposes described in Section 3 hereof to be incurred and paid prior to the issuance of bonds or notes authorized herein in accordance with Treasury Regulations §150-2. No reimbursement allocation will employ an "abusive arbitrage device" under Treasury Regulations §1.148-10 to avoid the arbitrage restrictions or to avoid the restrictions under Sections 142 through 147, inclusive, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The proceeds of any bonds or notes authorized by this bond ordinance used to reimburse the City for costs of the improvements or purposes described in Section 3 hereof, or funds corresponding to such amounts, will not be used in a manner that results in the creation of "replacement proceeds", including "sinking funds", "pledged funds" or funds subject to a "negative pledge" (as such terms are defined in Treasury Regulations §1.148-1), of any bonds or notes authorized by this bond ordinance or another issue of debt obligations of the City, other than amounts deposited into a "bona fide debt service fund" (as defined in Treasury Regulations §1.148-1). The bonds or notes authorized herein to reimburse the City for any expenditures toward the costs of the improvements or purposes described in Section 3 hereof will be issued in an amount not to exceed $2,606,000. The costs to be reimbursed with the proceeds of the 08/08/2016 8 bonds or notes authorized herein will be "capital expenditures" in accordance with the meaning of Section 150 of the Code. All reimbursement allocations will occur not later than 18 months after the later of (i) the date the expenditure from a source other than any bonds or notes authorized by this bond ordinance is paid, or (ii) the date the improvements or purposes described in Section 3 hereof "placed in service" (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations §1.150-2) or abandoned, but in no event more than three years after the expenditure is paid. SECTION 10. The City covenants to maintain the exclusion from gross income under section 103(a) of the Code of the interest on all bonds and notes issued under this bond ordinance. SECTION 11. Bond Ordinance Numbered 30-2016 as introduced on June 28, 2016 is hereby cancelled. SECTION 12. This bond ordinance shall take effect twenty (20) days after the first publication thereof after final adoption, as provided by the Local Bond Law.” Introduced: August 8, 2016 Adopted: Council Intr Secon Abstai Absen Recuse Member o d Yes No n t d Battaglia X X Deputy Mayor Canestrino X X Sims X Keeling- X Geddis Mayor Labrosse X CITY OF HACKENSACK RESOLUTION NO. 300-16 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HACKENSACK, AUTHORIZING THE LAW FIRM OF GALANTUCCI & PATUTO TO REPRESENT PO STEPHEN OCHMAN OF THE CITY OF HACKENSACK POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 08/08/2016 9  THE MATTER OF THE BERGEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE’S INVESTIGATION OF THE FATAL ACCIDENT ON MARCH 31, 2016 WHEREAS, PO Stephen Ochman of the City of Hackensack (“City”) Police Department was involved in the matter resulting in the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office’s investigation of a fatal accident on March 31, 2016; and WHEREAS, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office’s investigation involves a matter in which PO Stephen Ochman was acting within the scope of his employment with the City Police Department; and WHEREAS, PO Ochman is entitled to legal representation pursuant to the contractual obligations between the City and the Police Department; and WHEREAS, PO Ochman has requested to retain the law firm of Galantucci & Patuto in connection with this matter; and WHEREAS, Galantucci & Patuto has offered to represent PO Ochman for a reduced rate of $150.00 per hour; and WHEREAS, the City believes it is in the best interests of PO Ochman, the Police Department and the residents of the City of Hackensack to engage the legal services of Galantucci & Patuto in connection with the above- referenced action. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the City of Hackensack, in the County of Bergen, State of New Jersey as follows: 1. The Mayor and Council and City Manager are authorized to engage the legal services of Galantucci & Patuto for the legal representation of PO Ochman which involves actions taken in the course of PO Ochman’s duties as a police officer for the City of Hackensack in connection with a fatal accident on March 31, 2016. 2. The Retainer Agreement shall specify the reduced rate of $150.00 per hour for the representation of PO Ochman in this matter. 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately. Council Intr Secon Abstai Abse Recuse Member o d Yes No n nt d Battaglia X Deputy Mayor Canestrin o X X Sims X X Keeling- X Geddis Mayor Labrosse X CITY OF HACKENSACK RESOLUTION NO. 301-16 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF BILLS 08/08/2016 10  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 Fund $ 352,732.80 Grants 14,919.62 Payroll 1,626,470.34 Public Parking System -0- Capital 44,539.84 Escrow 35,956.73 Trust Account 21,020.87 Total Expenditures 2,095,642.20 Interfunds/Transfers $ 6,638,033.08 Public Comment A motion to open the meeting to the public was offered by Councilman Sims and seconded by Deputy Mayor Canestrino. Anthony Zisa – Maple Hill Drive – Hackensack – I would like some clarification about last week’s meeting that was cancelled. How did we end up in that situation? How did we end up not giving sufficient legal notice? Mayor Labrosse – It was missed by under three hours. It was an oversight. The Clerk calls that in. It was a mistake. Mr. Zisa continued – When was the meeting decided on? When did you decide to have a meeting at 8AM on Thursday? Approximately what day did you decide? Mayor Labrosse – It was in discussion beforehand with the City Manager and the CFO and Fran Reiner from DMR with some facts about the bid process and we decided to go from there. I can’t remember the exact day; it was between the week of our last meeting when we turned down the bid and during that following week. I can go back and find out for you. Mr. Zisa continued – My next question and I don’t remember who gave me this answer but one of the professionals last week, I think it was Mr. Troast, when I asked why we are having a meeting at an extremely inconvenient time for the public, almost like that is the purpose. I asked why 8AM, why not at a reasonable hour? I was told that it was convenient for the Council. What do you believe the function of these meetings being public is? Mayor Labrosse- Let me say this. In the past, going back quite a ways, it is not uncommon to have a special meeting. The last council did it. Many of them were held early morning, some were held at three in the afternoon, a couple were held at 6:30 in the evening. The point is it’s based on this one introduction of this bond ordinance which was taken out at the last meeting. We are not conducting a full docket of city business as usual. When I was a councilman I actually conference called in to make a vote on something in an emergency situation. This isn’t an emergency, but we needed to get this moving forward because it is time sensitive. It is not a lack of transparency. As far as 8AM, it is a time to get this done and get on with the day. It is videotaped, everybody gets to see it. We will have a second hearing on it and everybody gets to hear it again and speak on it. This is just an introduction. We would never do an adoption of an ordinance like this at 8AM. 08/08/2016 11 Mr. Zisa continued – This is not an emergency and more importantly, we had a regularly scheduled meeting for tonight. We could have been having this at a time where people could come. It’s the emergency quality of it. The previously held meeting which was voided was only a couple days off from the regularly scheduled meeting. If the Council had chosen not to get rid of the regularly scheduled meeting because according to Mr. Carver you don’t need to have it since the C.O.W. counts as one of the two statutory meetings, we wouldn’t be having this conversation because we would be here tonight doing all this business in a time frame that is best for the public. That is my problem. I understand that meetings need to be had occasionally to do emergency functions but none of this is an emergency function and we knew that this bond needed to be passed. Now, here we are 8AM having a meeting that we should have been having at the normal time. Mayor Labrosse – I understand your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it but we are not trying to hide anything. Everybody can watch this meeting. Nobody can speak on this ordinance since it was only introduced. At the adoption, everyone can have a chance. Mr. Zisa continued – YouTube is a one-way medium. I can’t speak back to the television, I can’t ask you questions and that is the purpose. Mayor Labrosse – Anybody who saw this and has any questions is more than happy to call or contact the City Manager’s office or the CFO or any Councilmember. CFO Jim Mangin – Just a reminder this is a special meeting not an emergency meeting. Randy Glover – Hackensack – I am just here to say I participated in an event for the Cultural Arts Department. I want to thank Greg Liosi for stepping out of the box and allowing me to do four events under the Cultural Arts banner. It shows that there are other interests in Hackensack that can put together events that meet the needs of the whole city. There was great participation over the four evenings; we had over 1,000 people attend. The Mayor was at the last one dancing and having a great time. We included the whole town and cultures- we had a Caribbean night, a Latin night, a dance party night, a hometown heroes night recognizing people in the community who had very little recognition. We did it at a fraction of the cost of other situations on the green. It bought a different look and a different flavor to what has been going on and hopefully there are more in the future. We got a lot of good press each week. One was a full page outlining the young man who we considered a hometown hero and also outlined the program that we did. When the Performing Arts Center is up and running, I would like to have an opportunity to bring in performers. I think I can match anybody that you guys can get. My future in-laws I introduced to James Browne before he died. I am currently working with the daughter of Diana Ross. I am also working with Tony Desare who was at the fundraiser. I am going to have him at the Shops at Riverside on August 25, 2016. It is all open for discussion. Thank you again Greg and also thank you to Patrice since she also assisted to raise some funds to do this. Mayor Labrosse – We would like to thank you. I heard the events were very successful. I only got to the last one. It was great to have music from all the different cultures. We already had some discussion amongst ourselves saying we should do more of these. 08/08/2016 12 Richard Salkin – Hackensack – Mr. Zisa mentioned he watched the meetings on YouTube but the problem is you didn’t post the Thursday situation. I will direct this to the City Clerk, why wasn’t it posted? It is a city record. Was your office told by the City Council not to post that video? City Clerk – I was told it was not going to go up. I was not here last week but I was told it wasn’t going to be posted. Mayor Labrosse – I asked if this was a meeting and should it be posted and the answer was no. Judge Carver – As you know better than most, there was no meeting. Mr. Salkin continued – There was a public gathering. Your actions are what is going to be null and void. Will it be posted Mr. Mayor? Mayor Labrosse - No, there was no meeting. You yourself came up and said so. Mr. Salkin continued – A cover up is even worse than the crime. Mayor Labrosse – It was in the newspaper. How is that covered up? There was no hiding. The article ended up in the newspaper. Mr. Salkin continued – People have a right to see it. People want to see what happened. Mr. Sims, I have a question for you I know your hip has been giving you problems but it seems to flare up whenever there is a discussion here about privatization of sanitation. Ms. Keeling-Geddis has stated publicly she will not support privatization. When I went over the data that was submitted to the EOC in a city where our African American population is about 25%, the city of Hackensack workforce has about 5.8% representation of the African American community employed. Will you support privatization under any circumstance? Councilman Sims – I will not support privatization. Mr. Salkin continued – I saw you placed an ad for City Manager with the League of Municipalities, have you sought out any internal candidates? Were there individual solicitations? Like was Mr. Mangin asked? Was Mr. Cumberbatch asked? How about Ms. Stout? Mayor Labrosse – We posted it and everybody who knows about it can apply for that position. I did not personally ask Mr. Mangin or Mr. Cumberbatch. I have no knowledge of anyone being asked. CFO Jim Mangin – I made it known that I am not interested. I have no knowledge of anyone being asked. This is a personnel issue. Mr. Salkin – Your ad says you have to have ten years of municipal experience. Does that eliminate Mr. Battaglia from seeking the City Manager job? Is that a requirement or a preference? Does that mean he can apply for the job? Would you support that? Mayor Labrosse – It is a preference not a requirement. It is a free country, anyone can apply but I would not support Mr. Battaglia for City Manager. 08/08/2016 13 Patrice Foresman – Executive Director Main Street Business Alliance – Hackensack – I am here in support and acknowledgement of the city administration’s move to bring culture to downtown Hackensack. On behalf of the Alliance’s owners and board of directors, I would like to voice our continued support for all initiatives that bring the cultural arts to downtown Hackensack. Summer 2016 has seen an ambitious schedule of plays, concerts, art shows, and art installations all hosted on downtown sites. The exciting opening of the Hackensack Performing Arts Center in 2017 will continue the imaginative movement that will guide all to the arts scene that the public will identify with Hackensack’s revitalization. As with all urban development, when the arts succeed, we all succeed. No one else wished to speak. A motion to close the meeting to the public was offered by Deputy Mayor Canestrino and seconded by Councilman Sims. Council Comments Councilman Battaglia- Thank you to Greg, Mr. Glover, and all the people who put together the events over the past few weeks; they were beautiful shows. It was really nice to see so many happy people at these events. The same for the Splash Park and seeing all the kids enjoying the new park. Deputy Mayor Canestrino- I’d like to echo the thanks to Greg and to Mr. Glover for organizing the Friday night events and hopefully we can continue them and do a little bit more. It was wonderful to see that park being used and full of happy people. That is why we were committed to having that park built and put in a premier location in our downtown. Great job! I also want to thank the folks on the Cultural Arts Board who came together to see what types of events to have in our park. I think we are a unique town in a unique area and as such want to provide unique entertainment. I think that is exactly what was accomplished here. This council is committed to the arts and committed to getting the Cultural Arts Center underway. The meeting was scheduled so we can put it out there because we want to see that it happens. We were trying for January but it may be early spring. We are going to do that, if it means we have to have a special meeting to get there then we are going to do that. It was on the agenda for a prior council meeting but we had questions and we are not going to introduce or vote on anything that we have questions about. We had a follow up meeting with the architect and planner and we made some changes to the design to make sure that what we approve is the right thing for the cultural arts and for the city. We want it approved at the August 22, 2016 meeting so we can move forward with awarding this contract. In no way was this meant to hide anything from the public. It is extremely transparent. The second meeting will be held on August 22, 2016 and there will be a public arena there for folks to talk about it and ask questions about it. We are 100% committed to this arts center and we are going to move forward regardless of anyone making disparaging remarks about it. As far as the amounts available, during the gala, thanks to all who participated we had $380,000 committed to support this. We are going to continue to raise money. I know there are still seats available if you want a seat tag for your family name or your organization. We are looking for name rights for the marquee. Anyone who wants to be part of this, get your checks out, contact Patrice at the Alliance who is still heading the fundraising. Thank you everyone for coming, have a nice day! Councilman Sims- I want to thank Greg Liosi and his staff and Randy Glover and his staff for putting on four excellent shows. On behalf of the city, we 08/08/2016 14 appreciate it. Last Friday was carnival day; it was the last day of camp – it was another great summer camp success. My mom had a terrible fall last week. She was in intensive care with blood on her brain. After this meeting I will be on my way to the hospital, if everyone out there can keep her in your prayers I would appreciate it. Thank you. Councilwoman Keeling-Geddis- Absent Mayor Labrosse – As Deputy Mayor Canestrino eloquently said, the council’s commitment to this arts center will continue. This art’s center is going to move forward. As you can see by the events that have been taking place, not just the regular summer events but the newly scheduled ones, there is a great interest and need for entertainment and cultural arts in this city. As people find out about it, more and more come. For years we always had a Latin band as part of our summer concert series, but the participation was not great. We had more people Friday night at Atlantic Street Park than we had at the green. The whole community was involved. It was a great night. Again I want to thank Greg, Mr. Glover, Patrice, and the Main Street Alliance, everyone involved. I was glad to see former Mayor Meneses there. He is a heck of a bass player. He himself said this is what Hackensack needs. Put politics aside, this is what people want and what brings people together. The other day we had the opening for the Splash Pad which was great. All the kids from camp piggyback were there. There were fifty to one hundred kids there. They had a good time. Again, total transparency here. There was an introduction of an ordinance. Everyone knows what we are doing as far as the arts center. I welcome anyone who is watching now, if you have any questions; feel free to call the city manager’s office, the CFO, anybody sitting up here. Have a wonderful day. Council Intr Secon Abstai Absen Recuse Member o d Yes No n t d Battaglia X Deputy Mayor Canestrino X X Sims X X Keeling- X Geddis Mayor Labrosse X RESOLUTION NO. 302 -16 A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN EXECUTIVE MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the City of Hackensack deem it necessary to discuss certain actions under Section 7b7 & 7b8 of the Open Public Meetings Act which pertains to matters falling within attorney-client privilege, on-going litigation and personnel matters concerning the employment of a current or prospective public employee(s). WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the City of Hackensack is of the opinion that such circumstances may presently exist; and 08/08/2016 15  WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council wishes to discuss the following issues: 1. Personnel Matters 2. On-going Litigation 3. Matters involving attorney/client privilege – Alvarez & Zisa NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of the City of Hackensack deem it necessary to exclude the public from this discussion. The outcome of the discussion will be disclosed within 90 days or at such time as the interests of the City do not require confidentiality. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 A.M. Approved by Mayor and Council on September 12, 2016. ______________________________________ Mayor John P. Labrosse, Jr. ______________________________________ Deputy Mayor Kathleen Canestrino ______________________________________ Councilman Leonardo Battaglia ______________________________________ Councilman David Sims ______________________________________ Councilwoman Deborah Keeling-Geddis ________________________________ Deborah Karlsson, City Clerk 08/08/2016 16