City Council

MINUTES COUNCIL CONFERENCE APRIL 3, 2007 CITY HALL 5:00 PM Council President Paul M. Pintella, 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 30, 2007. A Conference of the City Council of the City of Trenton, New Jersey, was held on the above date at 5:10 p.m. in the Council Conference Room, City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Council President Paul M. Pintella, on roll call, the following Council Members were present: Messrs. Bethea & Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone & Segura, Ms. Staton arrived at 5:14 pm, Mr. Pintella – 7. A portion of this meeting will be set aside for public comment. 5:00 p.m. Subject: Request for a refund of Alcoholic Beverage Fees J-Kal Tavern, Inc. Appearance: Joseph A. Alacqua, Esquire, Special Counsel 5:10 p.m. Subject: Docket Review Appearance: Renee Haynes, chief of Staff Jane Feigenbaum, Business Administrator Mr. Joseph Alacqua, Special Counsel explained to City Council members the situation and circumstance proceeding Mrs. Clara Pall owner of J-Kal Tavern, Inc. request for a refund for the renewal fees for the years 2005-2006 and 2006- 2007. Mr. Joseph Alacqua and City Council members discussed the request for refunds of ABC renewal fees for J-Kal Tavern Inc. Motion was made by Council President Pintella and second by Councilman Coston not to refund the Fees AYES: Council members Bethea, Coston, Lartigue, Melone, Segura, Staton and Pintella NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None APRIL 3, 2007 Motion was made by Council President Pintella second by Councilman Bethea to go into Executive Session for Personnel matters concerning the Aide to Council position. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION BE IT RESOLVED, that pursuant to N.J.S.A. 10:4-12 et seq. the public is hereby excluded from the following discussions; Involving the employment, appointment, termination of employment, terms and conditions of employment, evaluation of the performance of, promotion or disciplining of any specific prospective public officer or employee or current public officer or employee employed or appointed by the public body, unless all the individual employees or appointees whose rights could be adversely request in writing that such matter or matters be discussed at a public meeting. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the contents of these discussions will be disclosed to the public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. Subject: Docket Review Appearance: Renee Haynes, chief of Staff Jane Feigenbaum, Business Administrator PUBLIC COMMENT: Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Complemented Mr. Pucciatti for setting up a quality of life hearing in the South Ward. She also expressed her concerns regarding the funds that the City spends to send the Zoning Board members to a seminar that she felt they did not gain anything from. Jackie Blakey, 15 Fell Street - Expressed her concerns regarding Mr. Hughes the Library Executive Director resigning his position and Mr. Barry Colicelli using a City car to go home with. Councilman Coston asked to invite Mr. Scott Hughes for an exit interview. Council members discuss inviting Mr. Scott Hughes to come in for an interview and asked questions as to how the City can improve the City Libraries. Motion was made by Councilman Coston to invite private citizen Mr. Scott Hughes to come in front of Council and give his thoughts and concerns in regards to the Trenton Public Library. AYES: Council members Bethea, Coston, Melone and Segura NAYS: Staton and Pintella ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: Lartigue APRIL 3, 2007 Ahmed “Bo” White, 108 Bryn Mawr Avenue - Came to Council for advised regarding the matter as to how he was let go of his City position as a Taxi Inspector. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street – Expressed his concerns regarding the Trenton Public Library Director issue. Kathy McBride, 46 Laurel Place – Water Filtration situation and inviting the City employee involved in this matter. Also wanted to know how come the City did not have a professional come to Council and explain to the citizens what could happen in a situation like this one if the individual was sick. She also wanted to know if Mr. White was going to be allowed to speak in executive session or if it was only for Council. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilman Bethea – When is the Superintendent of Schools coming in front of Council. When is the school budget going to be approved? I would like the Superintendent to come in front of Council before we approve the budget. Councilwoman Lartigue – I would like to know what security changes have been made since he came to office and how are his administrators trained. Councilman Coston – I would like to know about the City Clerk’s position. Regarding the Hotel do we have a debt payment for this month? How close are we to having an Ordinance or Amending Ordinance for Housing? 9 weeks and counting for a list I asked from administration for open positions and salary ranges. Councilwoman Lartigue – Gave Council members a copy of a Letter for a Law Review Request concerning any person within the city of Trenton in possession of an illegal firearm and or ammunition. Councilman Segura – Expressed his concerns regarding some of the attack that have been happening in the schools and gave Council a copy of a letter that he received regarding an individual who was attacked and almost kill. When are we going to give an office to our Council Aide? Councilwoman Staton – Commented on the flash alert system and requested more information to give to constituent. I would like to congratulate Mr. Frisby for a great Parade of Champions. I had put a request to pave N. Clinton Avenue from E. State Street to Lincoln Avenue. I would like to know if Administration can do a presentation on Grants. Residents don’t realize how important grants are to the City. Councilman Melone – Made a comment on moving Executive Session to the end of the meetings. I would like to commend the Planning Department and Administration for the outreach they have been doing with regards the Park in the Wilbur section of the City. Council President Pintella – Commended Mr. Frisby for a great parade and Mr. Greenwald for the excellent Independence Way Project. APRIL 3, 2007 Councilman Bethea – I would like to commended Mr. Frisby and Administration for having Mr. Maurice Ashley, the Master Chess player here. He visited three schools and played Chess with some of the students. Meeting Adjourned: 7:50 p.m. Respectively submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA PENELOPE S. EDWARDS-CARTER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING DEPUTY MUNICIPAL CLERK