City Council

MINUTES COUNCIL CONFERENCE APRIL 10, 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 April 5, 2007. A Conference of the City Council of the City of Trenton, New Jersey, was held on the above date at 5:18 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: Mr. Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone & Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6. The following Council Members were absent: Bethea - 1 A portion of this meeting will be set aside for public comment. 5:00 p.m. Subject: Summer Activities Appearance: Samuel Frisby, Director Recreation, Natural Resources and Culture Council President Pintella welcomed Director Frisby and asked him to give an update on the Summer Activities provided by the City for the youth of this City. Mr. Samuel Frisby Director of Recreation, Natural Resources and Culture thanked Council members for having him come and set the record straight concerning the Summer Activities and what the City provides for the youth in our City. He gave a brief description of each of the program being held this year. Summer Camp – Fee is $200.00 for 8 weeks (about 25.00 per week) we provide breakfast and lunch and the kids go on a weekly trip. We will have the 13-17 age Work Ready Summer Program. Chess Summer Camp – Mr. Maurice Ashley will be working with the City this year. Basketball Camp – The City will have the basketball camp for the age group of 9- 11 for girls and boys, middle school and high school. Cross Dribble - This is a new program for this year we will be going out to different parks and picking up kids and bring them to City facilities under our supervision to play one another. Summer Swimming Program – Pools will open on June 30 and run until after the 1st day after Labor Day. APRIL 10, 2007 Summer Food Service Program - The City for the first time last year won an award for the Food Summer Program from the Federal Government. Take it to the Streets Program – This year the City will go to 21 communities. Summer Concerts – The City will have 20 concerts this year on a separate day from the Take it to the Streets Program. Movies in the Park – This year the City will have 26 movies in different communities through out the City. Jazz at Noon - In the downtown area there will be four concerts this year. Dancing Under the Stars – This is a new program we are trying for the first time we will be inviting people to come and give dancing lessons. Saturdays Play for Youth – This year in the Amber Theater at the Mill Hill Park Mr. Frisby mentioned some of the activities and events taking place at this year’s Heritage Days. Council members congratulated Mr. Frisby for all the programs scheduled for this year and asked questions regarding how people were going to be notified about the activities taking place in their communities. Council asked about problems that may come up and security measures that the City takes. Council asked about the Summer Youth Job program and if more positions would be available due to the additional program being implemented this year. They also made mentioned to the capability of taking care of all the kids that come along. The following Resolution was introduced to Council for approval. Motion was made by Councilman Melone to move the following Resolution 07-147 – Moved its adoption. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF TRENTON TO SEEK UP TO $248,611 IN FUNDS FROM THE NEW JERSEY URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONE AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY’S 2008 UEZ ADMINISTRATION BUDGET The above resolution was seconded by Councilwoman Staton and adopted with the following voting aye: Mr. Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 7. Council President thereupon declared said resolution adopted. Council President Pintella made mentioned to the appointment of the commissioner to the Trenton Parking Authority. Motion was made by Councilman Melone to appoint Mrs. Taiwanda Wilson to the Trenton Parking Authority it was 2nd by Councilwoman Lartigue. AYES: Council members Coston, Lartigue and Melone NAYES: Council members Segura ABSENT: Council members Bethea ABSTAIN: Council members Staton and Pintella The above motion did not pass. APRIL 10, 2007 Motion by made by Councilman Segura to appoint Mr. Harry Reyes to the Trenton Parking Authority it was second by Councilwoman Staton. AYES: Council members Lartigue, Segura, Staton and Pintella NAYES: Council members None ABSENT: Council members Bethea ABSTAIN: Council members Coston and Melone Council President thereupon declared said resolution 07-148 adopted. RESOLUTION APPOINTING HARRY REYES AS A COMMISSIONER OF THE PARKING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF TRENTON Motion was made to go into Public Comment by Councilman Segura, second by Councilman Coston. PUBLIC COMMENT: Jackie Blakey, 15 Fell Street – Asked Council to please speak up because she could not hear some of the Council members. She stated that the Reading Senior Center adopted some of the city schools and gave out gifts to the kids for Easter. Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Expressed his concerns regarding the Ordinance on Landlords that Councilman Coston had presented to Council a month earlier and they did not vote on it. He feels that the city should have a rental committee because these slum landlords are the destruction of our City. Nicolas Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – It seems like Trenton is subsidizing a lot of the cost for the summer programs. With the money the city is putting into these children, he think the city should invest in their education. The City should have a summer reading program for the smaller children. This should help them in the future with good study habits and prepared them for college. Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Councilman Segura I think you are pushing this bilingual issue until it becomes self defeating. I believe that Councilwoman Lartigue is right about the housing problem this problem has been here since Mayor Holland was in office. After nine killings in three months we made April 8, 2007 New York Times 1st page. Nothing about the Girls Basketball Team, nothing about the Chess Team, this is not the kind of publicity the City needs. The issue with people being afraid to talk to the police the Mayor should go out with a bullhorn and tell people to come to City Hall we’ll talk there. We should educate kids with the idea that every kid is going to Harvard. Joseph Smith, Trenton, New Jersey – Thanked, City Council for the support they have giving the Girls Basketball program he started six years ago and provide a place for them to practice at. He stated that the girls qualified to represent New Jersey at the Girls National Championship in Orland Florida. Please continued to support these young ladies what ever the City is doing please continue to do it. If there is anyone who wants to join the program, they are welcome. We do not turn anyone away. APRIL 10, 2007 Donald Brokate, 104 Cornwall Avenue – He expressed his concerns regarding the phone service in the City. He has been without a phone for the last two weeks. He asked City Council to please put pressure on the phone company to update their services in the City. Also he expressed his concerns regarding New Jersey Transit taking away the bus service they used to provide for young adult that worked at Great Adventure. Motion was made by Councilwoman Lartigue and second by Councilwoman Staton to closed Public Comment. Discussion on Regional Contribution Agreements (RCA) Council President Pintella – This discussion center around a State Bill that will eliminate RCA. RCA - Regional Contribution Agreements are a result of the Mt. Laurel Decision that went in front of the Supreme Court in the 70s’ which allow Mt. Laurel Township to give away a portion of their commitment to affordable housing funds. The City has been utilizing RCA funds since the 1990s’ as well as other tools with regards to helping rehab and developed blighted areas and neighborhood stabilization projects. The questions is have they been good for the City of Trenton. The State Legislature is now looking at a committee that will look into a bill that will eliminate the use of RCA money and replace it with a program that will subsidize some money for all municipalities to have their fair share of affordable housing. Councilwoman Lartigue – Administration I would like this information based on the statistics for the City of Trenton. What is poverty? What is affordable housing? Housing needs survey as it relates to Trenton. What is the average income in the City? I would like the statistics on homeownership, low, moderate and market rate and the locations of them. I am simply asking that we set an agenda and understand where we are at, where we are going, and where we need to be as it relates to the people who live in this City. Councilman Segura – I agreed with everything that councilwoman said however I also like to incorporate how this reform is going to come about when it becomes a law and legislation. Before we have this presentation we need to know what they are preparing to present to the municipalities in turn of replacing what we have in place and what they are going to bring to the table. Councilman Coston – I think that the City has used RCA funds very well and our Mayor has been using RCA funds very efficiently and very creatively. My only concerns with RCA are the source of the Money. It lets suburban municipalities of the hook. I think RCA lets the State off the hook because they use this not to provide money that is needed because you received RCA funds. I’m glad we have an understanding that it’s going to change one way or another. This is our chance for us to have an impact instead of react. I believe that the State must provide municipalities money to rehabilitate neighborhoods. I think that suburban municipalities have to give affordable housing a chance. Councilwoman Staton – Stated that she was always in favor of using RCA funds because it helped the Citizens of Trenton. We have been able to do some wonderful things with the money. Reform is needed but until that time comes I will still always welcome any funds to help us help Trenton and the Residents of our City who want to buy a home in Trenton. APRIL 10, 2007 Council President Pintella – I did not know how this discussion was going to go today. I did not know if it was going to be more of a philosophical or based on the data that’s out there. Because this is a bill, that will probably not be heard this year. This is an issue that will probably end up in the courts again. I don’t think that this bill in going to help all the municipalities. Our responsibility is too provided for the general health and welfare of the residents in this city. We should focus our arguments on the impact to this City and how we can make a difference here in Trenton. Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – I think that Councilwoman Lartigue summed it up beautifully. When it comes time to vote just do the right thing. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street – I think this is a very interesting subject I am studying it in college. If people do not have the information or data they need we need to do everything possible to educate them. Fran Weeden, 156 Allen Street – People who object to RCA do not object of affordable housing but other municipalities should do what they have to do to provide affordable housing. If the City of Trenton refuse and made a strong statement and say that we do not accept these funds other municipalities would have to do their share. Donald Brokate, 104 Cornwall Avenue – Expressed his concern with regard to the surveys Councilwoman Lartigue proposed. I feel that it dose not matter where the money we needed came from as long as we were able to do what was needed for the residents who live in this City. Zenobia Fields, Regional Planning Partnership, 118 W. State Street – Gave her point of view from a Non-Profit Organization concerning RCA funds. Council discussed the setting of a date for all the information requested and needed to be prepared and provided to Council. (May 8, 2007). CIVIC MATTERS: Councilman Coston – I wanted to Thank Mr. Pucciatti for the Quality of Life Hearings he schedule for some problems we had in the South Ward and for cleaning a lot. Councilwoman Lartigue – As we move forward with this we have to put poverty issues on the front burner. Meeting Adjourned: 7:44 p.m. Respectively submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA PENELOPE S. EDWARDS-CARTER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING DEPUTY MUNICIPAL CLERK