City Council

MINUTES COUNCIL CONFERENCE MARCH 6, 2007 CITY HALL 5:00 PM West Ward Councilwoman Annette H. Lartigue, announced that adequate public notice has been provided to the public specifying the time and place for this meeting in accordance with Chapter 231, P.L. 1975, approved on October 21, 1975 and effective January 19, 1976. The FY 2007 annual notice was mailed to the Times and the Trentonian Newspapers, posted on the first floor bulletin board in City Hall, and filed in the City Clerk’s Office on July 1, 2006 and amended on July 21, 2006 The agenda for the said meeting was mailed, posted and filed on March 2, 2007. A Conference of the City Council of the City of Trenton, New Jersey, was held on the above date at 5:06 p.m. in the Council Conference Room, City Hall. The meeting was called to order by West Ward Councilwoman Annette H. Lartigue, on roll call, the following council Members were present: Messrs. Bethea & Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Segura, Mr. Pintella arrived at 5:10 p.m - 5. The following were absent: Mr. Melone and Ms. Staton – 2. A portion of this meeting will be set aside for public comment. 5:00 p.m. Subject: Spring Street Paving Program Appearance: Eric Jackson, Director of Public Works Wale Onitiri, Assistant Street Superintendent 5:30 p.m. Subject: PSE&G Street Lighting Update Appearance: Eric Jackson, Director of Public Works Sean Semple, Acting Director of Traffic & Transportation Councilwoman Lartigue requested that the Police Department give their report on Club 14 first. Councilman Bethea introduced Captain Juniak and Lt. Flaherty and stated that they were here to speak concerning Club 14. Captain Juniak - I am head of the north/west area of the City and Club 14 which is in the north ward and falls under the authority of Lt. Michael Flaherty. Also, here present are Detective Phil Peroni and Don Pagnotta who head our ABC inspections. In the last couple of months we have been receiving complaints regarding Club 14 as a result of this we have been conducting investigations on Club 14 and several other ABC establishments in the area. Once this was brought to our attention we started trying to confirm that these activities were occurring or not. Lt. Flaherty and Dt. Peroni had a meeting with the management of the Bar and they have been very helpful and have requested our assistance with problems that they may have with their patrons. In a neighborhood that is ever changing we have found that they don’t want to accept the changes. MARCH 6, 2007 Lt. Flaherty - Our officers have been out there every night. There is a parking issue and we have been issuing tickets. We have received noise complaints and have met with the owner and he has been very helpful in complying with what we have asked. We are doing walk through twice a night doing head counts. We have had over eight hundred police initiated activities. We are patrolling Blake’s Hardware Supply parking lot because it is being used by the patron for parking. We received seven complaints since September 1, 2006 that is not a lot of complaints. For an ABC establishment that is in a residential area we do not have a lot of complaint to act on. He is complying with all the restriction that been place on him by Council. Lt. Don Pagnotta – I’m in charge of the Special Operation Group, Detective Phil Peroni is under my command. One night I was out there doing a special operation investigation when a noise complaint came in, I talk to the neighbor that called the complaint in I walk around the building and I did not hear a lot of noise. They have a very good security setup this is something they have taken for safety reasons. They have to come to some kind of agreement I just don’t see the violation that is being allege. If there is a problem we are out there in minutes. At 2:00 am there is a lot of noise but that is a normal activity that happens on any establishment. Captain Juniak – We are dealing with a liquor establishment and young adults, now with the smoking band you are going to see groups of people hanging out side smoking which makes it look like there is something going on that really isn’t, but that not just in the City that’s through the State of New Jersey. What the owner has done is designate an area out side for the patrons to smoke it should be away from the residents. Lt. Flaherty - We are trying to set up a meeting with the neighbors, Councilman Bethea and the owners so they can meet face to face and express their concerns and what he has been doing to addressed the issues and come to an understanding. I don’t live there, I’m sure there is some inconvenience going on but as far as the restrictions place by City Council and ABC they are in compliance. Councilman Bethea – Thanked, Captain Juniak, Lt. Flaherty, Lt. Pagnotta and Detective Peroni, and please keep me inform of the meeting so in turn I can inform Council of the progress that you are making. Councilwoman Lartigue – In general where there’s a place with alcohol problems occur I would like to commend these officers and the North Ward Councilman for being proactive and assisting there neighbors and considering the fact they don’t live there. What I found out works best is, if the owners are willing to partner with the neighbors. Council President Pintella - Perceived or not there is a problem out there they may not be in violation but there is a problem. Mr. Glen Perantoni, 1014 N. Olden Avenue – What happened Saturday night at the Bar? Ms. Lucas, 1012 N. Olden Avenue – I know what happen Saturday night I press charges we had an almost riot out in the street that started in the Bar. MARCH 6, 2007 Phil Peroni, ABC Inspector – I looked into the problem there were two girls fighting inside the bar the bar owner called the police department and reported it. It was 1:15 am the bar owner close the bar he did what he was suppose to do. The patrons went outside and the fighting continued. When the police arrived out there one of the girls was arrested. 5:00 p.m. Subject: Spring Street Paving Program Appearance: Eric Jackson, Director of Public Works Wale Onitiri, Assistant Street Superintendent Mr. Eric Jackson, Director of Public Works – Thanked, City Council for inviting him to come in and make a presentation. Mr. Jackson gave a report on the Spring Street Paving Program in the City of Trenton. The report included the criteria for the selecting of the street that will be paved, the goals and objective for the Paving season. He also gave an update on the streets that have already been done. Council members asked Mr. Jackson questions regarding the criteria used and asked regarding state funding that the city receives for this program. 5:30 p.m. Subject: PSE&G Street Lighting Update Appearance: Eric Jackson, Director of Public Works Anthony Santora, Principal Traffic Analyst Mr. Eric Jackson, Director of Public Works gave a report on the upgrading of the street lights in the City of Trenton and explained that the City was having the lights upgraded to the maximum capacity. He provided a map that included the areas that were completed and the hotspots in the City of Trenton that they were working on. There are 4,000 street lights in the City of Trenton. The Mayor asked that they look at all the street lights and make an assessment of the hotspots and increase the watts. The police department designates the hotspot areas in the city by the crimes and illegal dumping that occur in these areas. The program is designated to upgrade existing lights not to install new lights. Council members asked Mr. Jackson questions regarding his report and made recommendations to improve it and install new lights in some trouble areas and in the business and restaurant districts in the City. Motion to go into Public Comment was made by Pintella and 2nd by Bethea. PUBLIC COMMENT: Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – A Bus shelter should be put on the corner of S. Broad & Livingston Street people wait there for the bus. East State Street should be paved downtown the bricks are coming out. On college night in these bars they should ID the patrons because most college students are under the age of 21. Rental properties in the City of Trenton, when a property is converted does PSE&G call inspections before installing a meter? Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Presented pictures to Council of a landlord from out of town. I have been going around and on Greenwood Avenue some of the single dwelling houses have up to 5 meters, has the Department of Inspection approved these properties to be converted. The Department of Inspections needs to be revamped. We need a rental advisory committee of concerned citizens. MARCH 6, 2007 Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – These landlords from out of town they are not voting, we are voting you need to take care of us. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street – 1st question on the transportation issue paving this is the capital city what kind of subsidies does the City get from the State. Is it possible for the City to remove the snow from the streets? Also, is it possible for Council to do something about the littering downtown? There was an article in the paper on March 5, 2007 regarding the death of 23 children in the State of New Jersey. Frank Weeden, 256 Allen Street – I Apologize for the way I talked at Councils last meeting. I was happy to see the editorial on Mondays’ paper from the mayor regarding RCA money. I am going to support him and I hope that you do too. I have copies of some information on RCA money and the policies. I try to pick the best articles for you. James Fouse, 13 Cavell Avenue – Once again Mr. President and Council I want to thank you for the work you are doing, keep doing what you are doing, and do the right thing even if no one is looking. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilwoman Lartigue – I would like to bring the Administration back regarding the flood litigation act. Councilman Coston – 5 weeks ago I asked Administration for a list of the positions open and salary range in the City, I have not received it. Regards to inspection every week Mr. Dion Clark comes here concerning this problem it would be nice if he came in and said that it was taken care of. I have a list of recommendations for your review and I would like your input on it. I would like to see some utility bills for the city. Council President Pintella – Reminded Administration to turn resolution and ordinance to the City Clerks Office in a timely matter. Motion to adjourn was made by Pintella and 2nd by Segura. Meeting Adjourned: 7:18 p.m. Respectively submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA PENELOPE S. EDWARDS-CARTER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING DEPUTY MUNICIPAL CLERK