City Council

JUNE 17, 2020 REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK HELD ON JUNE 17, 2020 AT 5:30 P.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT Please be advised that the notice requirements of the Open Public Meeting Act have been complied with and satisfied in that the annual notice, which gave sufficient notice of the time and place, and conduct of all public meetings of the Municipal Council of the City of New Brunswick, has been filed with the City Clerk, has been placed on an appropriate bulletin board and posted in the back vestibule of City Hall visible to the public through the windows in the lobby of City Hall, New Brunswick, N.J. and has been transmitted to the official newspaper for the City of New Brunswick, namely The Home News Tribune. Additionally, a 48-hour notice of the time place and manor of conducting this meeting has been made by the City Clerk as is required by law. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has issued Executive Orders limiting the size of public gatherings. The City Council met with 2 of voting members of the City Council present and 1 voting member via conference call. The City Council intends to meet on a regular schedule and will meet the guidelines of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) by utilizing teleconferencing systems. Public participation at public meetings has been revised and the public may participate through a conference call-in system. The public is encouraged to call into the conference call system through the phone numbers and access codes transmitted in the 48-HOUR NOTICE and posted in the back vestibule of City Hall visible to the public through the windows. City employees will also be available via conference call during this meeting as well. All on the conference call will have the opportunity to hear the City Council meeting. During the portions of the meetings that are not open for public comment, all callers from the public will be muted and the Council will not be able to hear any public comment through the Conference Call system. During the public comment periods those on the conference call in lines, who have interest in addressing the Council, will first be organized by last name and then called upon to speak. Public needing assistance accessing the call-in number should call City Hall at 732-745-5007. Salute to the Flag....................................................................Leslie R. Zeledón, City Clerk Pause for a moment to honor those American, Iraqis, and Afghanis who have lost their lives in this current conflict. Staff in attendance: Public Information Officer Bert Baron Assistant City Administrator Michael Drulis Police Captain Goldeski City Attorney TK Shamy City Administrator Daniel A. Torrisi City Clerk Leslie Zeledón On motion of Council Member Egan, seconded by Council Member Sicora Ludwig and carried, the minutes of the previous Council Meetings held on June 17, 2020 were approved and adopted as engrossed. Meeting called to order by Council President Anderson with Council Members Egan present and Sicora Ludwig via telephone. Council Members Escobar and Fleming were absent.  PUBLIC HEARING R-062000A RESOLUTION TO READ 2020 CITY MARKET BUDGET BY TITLE Clerk Zeledón read the resolution. Council President Anderson opened the Public Hearing on the budget. Public Comment: None On a motion of Council Member Egan, seconded by Council Member Sicora Ludwig and carried was adopted by the Municipal Council. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried. R-062000B RESOLUTION TO ADOPT 2020 CITY MARKET BUDGET Council President Anderson opened the Public Hearing on the budget. Public Comment: Ms. Moore inquired about the City Market Budget. Ms. Stefanek responded on behalf of City Market. Mr. Bruce Carnegie VP of City Market gave an explanation on the City Market Budget. On a motion of Council Member Egan. Seconded by Council Member Sicora Ludwig, and carried, the resolution to adopt the City Market budget was adopted. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried. O-062001 AN ORDINANCE TO EXCEED THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION LIMITS AND ESTABLISH A CAP BANK Council President Anderson opened the Public Hearing on the above ordinance. Public Comment: None On a motion of Council Member Egan, seconded by Council Member Sicora Ludwig, and carried, the above ordinance was adopted on Final Reading on June 17, 2020. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried. O-062002 AN ORDINANCE TO RESCIND THE DESIGNATION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT ENTITY FROM THE NEW BRUNSWICK HOUSING AUTHORITY TO THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE JERSEY HANDY REDEVELOPMENT AREA AND THE HEALTHCARE AND RESEARCH PAVILION REDEVELOPMENT PLAN IN THE CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK Council President Anderson opened the Public Hearing on the above ordinance. Public Comment: Mr. Kulas of East Brunswick expressed his concerns about traffic being affected on the ordinance above. Ms. Moore, Ms. Stork and Mr. Kratovil inquired and expressed their concerns about the above ordinance. Mr. Dominguez, Mr. Shamy and Council President Anderson responded. On a motion of Council Member Egan, seconded by Council Member Sicora Ludwig, and carried, the above ordinance was adopted on Final Reading on June 17, 2020. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES None. COMMUNICATIONS 1. A letter from Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission regarding a release of Conservation Restriction. 2. A letter from PSE&G regarding an application for a Flood Hazard Area Individual Permit Extension. RESOLUTIONS Public Comment: Mr. Kratovil inquired about R-062009, R-062013 and R-062016. Ms. James and Council President Anderson responded. Ms. Moore inquired about R-062010 and R-062019. Captain Miller and Mr. Jones responded. Ms. Hunt inquired about R-062017. Mr. Burke responded. Resolutions R-062021 through R-062039, except R-062028, were moved by Council Member Egan, seconded by Council Member Sicora Ludwig and carried were adopted, on consent, by the Municipal Council. Roll Call: Aye: Egan, Sicora Ludwig, Anderson Nay: Abstain: Motion carried.  NEW BUSINESS Fire Director and OEM Coordinator Rawls provided a COVID-19 report advising everyone to continue washing their hands and wearing masks. Dir. Rawls also provided dates available and information for the COVID-19 testing site at Redshaw School. Ms. Amani of New Brunswick mentioned she is running for Congress, has received death threats, suspicious packages and spoke on how funds should be allocated to help with resident safety. Ms. Agosta from Highland Park, Ms. Benzi, Mr. Boyle, Ms. Bisset, asked to the Council to reallocate funds from the budget and to defund the police. Ms. Bel Laurentis spoke about racial segregation and the funding of the budget. Ms. Ghonati, spoke about the community and George Floyd. Ms. Gonzalez of North Brunswick spoke about her experiences with New Brunswick and North Brunswick and Lincoln Annex School. Mr. Kratovil asked about body cameras for the PD, civilian complaint review board, police officers and work cellphone use for the PD. Captain Goldeski responded to Mr. Kratovil. Ms. Hunt of Monroe spoke about funding being reduced for mental health support, training for police and to defund the police and allocating funds. Mr. Kulas of East Brunswick spoke about traffic, Lincoln Annex School and small businesses. Ms. Moore spoke about Lincoln Annex School, high rises, thanked the NBPD for assisting with the protests and a water main break. Ms. Madhu Murali of North Brunswick spoke about the redevelopment of the Cancer Institute. Mr. Mc Caffery asked the council to reconsider the proposition for Lincoln Annex School. Mr. Stork asked about Lincoln Annex School, spoke about the School Board Election and overtime for the police department. CP Anderson responded. Ms. Saravia 149 George Street spoke about the proposed Lincoln Annex School. Mr. Sikri spoke about injustice, the need of public safety and to defund the police. On a motion regularly made, seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned at 8:08 P.M. Leslie R. Zeledón John Anderson City Clerk Council President