City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 CITY HALL - 5:00 PM A Conference Meeting of the City Council of the City of Trenton, New Jersey, was held on the above date at 5:19 p.m. in the Council Conference Room, City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Council President Paul M. Pintella. Council President announced that adequate public notice had been provided to the public specifying the time and place for this meeting in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act. Said 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 June 21, 2007 by Resolution No. 07-316. The agenda for this meeting was mailed, posted and filed on September 7, 2007. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea & Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone & Segura (arrived at 5:20 pm), Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 7 ABSENT: None Council President Pintella asked for a moment of silence for those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Councilmen Bethea and Segura were welcomed back from their respective vacations and notified that Mr. Marion Allen, Commissioner for the Housing Authority, had passed away. PRESENTATION: BROAD STREET BANK – Bayville Holdings Appearances: Arnold Lakind, George Fikiris and Richard Libbey Representatives of Bayville Holding came before City Council to request an extended 40 year pilot instead of the original 30 year pilot agreed upon. The building is mixed use with both residential and commercial units. The owner has invested $8,000,000 in the project thus far and anticipates a total investment of $9,000,000 by the completion of the project. To provide tenant parking Bayville has a contract with the State to rent parking space at the garage for $121,000 per year. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilman Bethea requested Administration provide the Old Mill Hill Society a copy of the City Economic Development Plan. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE REVIEWS 1. Torres & Jimenez, Inc., t/a Carter’s Liquor Store 199 Oakland St., Resolution #07-507 Granting Renewal RESOLUTION GRANTING RENEWAL OF PLENARY RETAIL DISTRIBUTION LICENSE NO. 1111-44-081-006 FOR 2007-2008 The Resolution was moved by Council President Pintella, seconded by Councilman Bethea and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6 Absent: Ms. Lartigue – 1 (had left the meeting) 2. Quil-To, t/a El Rancho Restaurant & Bar 200 Fulton St., Resolution Granting Renewal Mr. Jose Bernal, manager & Mr. Quilto Torres, owner appeared before Council on behalf of Quil-To and were advised of the special conditions being placed on the license. • No live music • Must provide security on Thursday to Sunday • Close at 12:00 am. from Sunday to Saturday Unable to agree on the 3rd special condition (closing at 12:00am), Quil-To is scheduled to come back before Council on September 18, 2007. 3. Felix-Nano, Inc., t/a Caribbean Bar & Grill City Council Conference: Minutes September 11, 2007 1  330 Mulberry St., Resolution Granting Renewal Mr. Bruce M. Sattin, attorney with Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein, Blader, & Lehmannand of Lawrenceville, New Jersey and Mr. Emelanio Gomez, owner, 200 East Trenton Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey, appeared in front of Council. Council advised Mr. Sattin and Mr. Gomez of the charges being filed against Mr. Gomez and the Caribbean Bar & Grill. City Council and Mr. Sattin came to an agreement on the charges being filed. RESOLUTIONS: 1.* Felix-Nano, Inc., t/a Caribbean Bar & Grill -Resolution # 07-508: RESOLUTION GRANTING RENEWAL OF PLENARY RETAIL CONSUMPTION LICENSE # 1111-33-157-007 FOR 2007-2008 The Resolution was moved by Councilman Segura, seconded by Councilman Bethea, and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 5 Absent: Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Melone (had left the meeting) – 2 2.* Felix-Nano, Inc., t/a Caribbean Bar & Grill -Resolution # 07-509: RESOLUTION APPROVING TRANSFER OF PLENARY RETAIL CONSUMPTION LICENSE # 1111-33-157-008 The Resolution was moved by Councilwoman Staton, seconded by Council President Pintella and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 5 Absent: Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Melone (had left the meeting) – 2 3. SBZ, Inc., t/a None (Expansion of premises) - Resolution #07-510: RESOLUTION APPROVING TRANSFER OF PLENARY RETAIL CONSUMPTION LICENSE #1111-33-179-002 The Resolution was moved by Councilman Melone, seconded by Councilman Segura and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 5 Absent: Mr. Coston (had stepped out), Ms. Lartigue – 2 4. Columbus Lounge & Restaurant, Inc. - Resolution #07-511: RESOLUTION GRANTING RENEWAL OF PLENARY RETAIL CONSUMPTION LICENSE #1111-33-071-009 FOR 2007-2008 The Resolution was moved by Councilman Melone, seconded by Councilman Segura and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 5 Absent: Mr. Coston (had stepped out), Ms. Lartigue - 2 5. Boards and Commissions - Resolution # 07-512 RESOLUTION APPOINTING COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS The Resolution was moved by Councilwoman Staton, seconded by Council President Pintella and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 5 Absent: Mr. Coston, Ms. Lartigue - 2 ORDINANCES First Reading of Ordinance: A. ORDINANCE CREATING THE POSITION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION ASSISTANT, FIXING A SALARY RANGE THEREFORE, AND SETTING FORTH CERTAIN REGULATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SAME. The City Council of the City of Trenton, New Jersey does ordain as follows: a. The attached schedule showing the salary range for Public Information Assistant be recognized as duly created and existing in the City of Trenton. City Council Conference: Minutes September 11, 2007 2  b. That the salary shall be effective only upon the availability of funds as appropriated in the budget or budgets, including the temporary budget, as adopted by the City Council of the City of Trenton. TITLE RANGES Public Information Assistant $36,341 - $62,853 c. This Ordinance shall take effect (30) days after final passage by Council or twenty (20) days after approval by the Mayor, whichever comes first. On roll call, the above motion by Mr. Pintella was adopted with the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6 Absent: Ms. Lartigue - 1 The President thereon declared said motion adopted and the said ordinance passed on first reading. Motion was made by Mr. Pintella, seconded by Ms. Staton, that Thursday, September 20, 2007, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, 319 East State Street, Trenton, New Jersey, be and the same is hereby fixed as the time and place where said ordinance will be further considered on second reading and final passage and the Clerk be and is hereby authorized and directed to publish said ordinance and give public notice of its introduction and passage on first reading according to law, which motion was adopted with the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6 Absent: Ms. Lartigue - 1 First reading of Ordinance: B. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT MUNICIPAL CLERK, FIXING A SALARY RANGE THEREFORE, AND SETTING FORTH CERTAIN REGULATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SAME. The City Council of the City of Trenton, New Jersey, does ordain as follows: a. There is hereby created a position of Assistant Municipal Clerk. The following schedule showing the salary range for Assistant Municipal Clerk shall be recognized as duly created and existing in the City of Trenton. b. That the salary shall be effective only upon the availability of funds as appropriated in the budget or budgets, including the temporary budget, as adopted by the City Council of the City of Trenton. TITLE SALARY Assistant Municipal Clerk $57,676 - $77,379 c. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after final passage by Council or twenty (20) days after approval by the Mayor, whichever comes first. On roll call, the above motion by Mr. Pintella was adopted with the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella - 4 Nays: Messrs. Coston, Melone - 2 Absent: Ms. Lartigue - 1 The President thereon declared said motion adopted and the said ordinance passed on first reading. Motion was made by Mr. Pintella, seconded by Ms. Staton, that Thursday, September 20, 2007, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, 319 East State Street, Trenton, New Jersey, be and the same is hereby fixed as the time and place where said ordinance will be further considered on second reading and final passage and the Clerk be and is hereby authorized and directed to publish said ordinance and give public notice of its introduction and passage on first reading according to law, which motion was adopted with the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella - 6 Absent: Ms. Lartigue – 1 PUBLIC COMMENT: Edward Hill, 537 Rutherford Avenue – spoke on several issues: City Council Conference: Minutes September 11, 2007 3 He before City Council to complain about the new paraphernalia being sold at the corner stores for drug use, and asked City Council to look into stopping these items from being sold; He stated that older people were buying liquor for the younger kids. Cameron Hunt, Rutherford Heights Civic Association – spoke on several issues: Mr. Hunt asked City Council to take some action once Bill #1214, regarding landlords, was passed; He advised Council that as of July 1, 2007 security guards had to be certified by the State of New Jersey under the SORA Act. Bea Perry, 27 Sylvester Avenue – Complained about heavy trucks and big 18 wheelers going down her street. Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – spoke on several issues: Mr. Clark stated his concerns about the picture of Mr. Loftin as a clown that was in the Trentonian Newspaper today; He said that something had to be done about the bull dogs, it was getting out of hand; He thanked, Councilman Melone for the letter he wrote in regards to the issue he has with the Police Department; He also said that if we stop letting immigrants come into our country, 9-11 never would have happened. Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – spoke on several issues: She agreed with Mr. Clark regarding the breeding of dogs, something should be done; She said that she took the tour of the Broad Street Bank Building and it was beautiful, but if Bayville is asking for half a million dollars they should be more respectful of Council. Tim Razzag, 23 West Street Bordentown, NJ – He stated that in April 2004, Mr. Gonzalez had said that the Abandoned Properties Rehabilitation Act would be used to help with the Board Street Bank Building; Angelica Redpath-Perez, 393 Willowbrook Drive, North Brunswick, NJ - She stated that she was a Green Advocate and was appearing before Council on behalf of the Broad Street Bank Building project. As a Green Design Building it was a model for others; She also stated that she & Mr. Tim Razzag have developed a program to educate people on Green Buildings. Council President distributed a resume to Council for consideration – the individual is interested in being appointed to the Trenton Housing Authority Board. Discussions are scheduled for the next Council meeting on September 18, 2007. EXECUTIVE SESSION – PERSONNEL MATTERS There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectively submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA PENELOPE S. EDWARDS-CARTER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING DEPUTY CLERK Note: * Voting on these resolutions occurred later in the proceedings. City Council Conference: Minutes September 11, 2007 4