City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 25, 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 5:15 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 21, 2007. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Mrs. Lartigue, Mr. Melone, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6. ABSENT: Mr. Segura – 1. To better accommodate the number of people attending the meeting. Councilman Bethea made a motion to move the meeting to the Council Chambers. Motion seconded by Councilman Melone. Carried. Council Conference Meeting recessed at 5:17pm and reconvened in Council Chambers at 5:22pm. PRESENTATION: 1. FY2006 AUDIT REPORT REVIEW Appearance: Ronald Zilinski, Director of Finance Eugene Elias, Principal with The Mercadien Group Mr. Eugene Elias introduced Mr. Warren Brody, and Mr. Morris Freeman. A presentation was made regarding the 2006 Financial Statement and Audit Report, ending June 30, 2006. Council discussed the findings and suggested recommendations for the City of Trenton as stated in the report. 2. Construction of Public Plaza at 99 Pennington Ave. (Contract for Think Pavers) Appearance: Mr. Dennis Gonzalez, Assistant Business Administrator Resolution #: 07 - 551 Mr. Gonzalez gave an overview and explanation of the project for Council discussion. There was concern raised by President Pintella concerning statements made by Councilman Coston on his blog regarding the handling of this project. Council President Pintella asked Councilman Coston to explain the statement he made on his personal blog regarding this resolution being brought back to City Council. Council did discuss the matter. Council President Pintella moved to have public comment with regard to this Resolution only. Motion carried. Public Comment on Resolution #: 07- 551 Appearing in front of Council opposing this Resolution: • Mr. Nicholas Stewart, 679 Lamberton St. did not agree with the expenditure for this project. • Ms. Betty Alford, 327 N. Willow St. had concerns with people sleeping in the park. City Council Conference: Minutes September 25, 2007 1  COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES Appearing in front of Council on behalf of this Resolution: • Mr. Algernon Ward, 688 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd. (Canal Banks Community Committee), stated that some of the soil would need to be removed and the area capped before the plaza is built. Councilman Bethea asked who would be responsible for maintaining the plaza. Mr. Samuel Frisby, Director of Recreation, Natural Resources and Culture stated the Plaza was designed to be very low maintenance. • Ms. Ruth Jackson, 10 E. Greenway Walkway, wanted to know if this was a former gas station, and if so were the underground tanks removed. Mr. Dennis Gonzalez, Asst. Business Administrator, confirmed that the tanks had been removed, and the NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection had approved the site. • Ms. Bea Perry, 27 Sylvester Avenue. • Ms. Doretta Wright-Simmons, 320 N. Willow Street. • Ms. Patricia Strewart, 679 Lamberton St., only concerned that it be kept clean. • Rev. Keith D. Tillet, 304, 306, 308 N. Willow Street agrees with the beautification of the city. He is concerned with the safety and cleaning of the plaza. • Mr. Donald Brokate, 104 Cornwall Avenue, stated that open space is healthy. Council President Pintella moved to close public comment on this resolution, seconded by Councilwoman Staton. Motion carried. Reading and action on Resolution # 07 – 551: RESOLUTION ACCEPTING BID AND AWARDING CONTRACT TO THINK PAVERS HARDSCAPING, LLC, 44 COOPER STREET, SUITE 203, WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY 08096 FOR THE FURNISHING AND DELIVERY OF ALL LABOR, EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PUBLIC PLAZA AT THE CORNER OF PENNINGTON AVENUE AND NORTH WILLOW STREET FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DIVISION OF PLANNING The Resolution was moved by Councilman Bethea ,seconded by Council President Pintella and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Mrs. Lartigue, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 5 Absent: Mr. Segura, Mr. Melone had left. – 2 3. Anderson Mini Market , 501 Tyler Street – Status of License City Council was notified that the Police Department had closed the above mention business due to the arrest of the owner for selling illegal video tapes. The Police Department notified the City Clerk’s Office that the business had opened again. City Council asked the City Clerk’s office to forward the information to the Law Department so they could look into the matter. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Joe Harrison, 15 Swan Street – Mr. Harrison asked if the City had an ordinance prohibiting bird feeders. Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Ms. Stewart spoke on several issues: She stated that the City had adopted a Resolution concerning feeding wild birds in public properties; She also thanked Ms. Staton for her help on Saturday because someone spray painted her property. City Council Conference: Minutes September 25, 2007 2  COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Mr. Clark spoke on several issues: He spoke on the great job the City of Trenton did on the Jazz Festival; He complained about the disrespect that Mr. Weeden, Mr. Carlucci and others have shown the Mayor; He also stated that something had to be done about the cross breeding of dogs. Bea Perry, 27 Sylvester Avenue – Ms. Perry spoke on several issues: Mrs. Perry stated that the City should go to the legislative branch with regards to the dog breeders; She complained about the big trucks going down her street; She thanked the Division of Sanitation, and the Department of Inspections for all the work they have been doing. Rose Lombarto, 134 Miller Street – Ms. Lombarto spoke on several issues: Ms. Lombarto asked the City to put a stop sign on the corner of Miller and Nassau Street; She mentioned that big trucks were going down Brunswick and Miller Streets. Donald Brokate, 104 Cornwall Avenue – Mr. Brokate spoke about getting the grass and weeds cut on certain privately owned abandoned properties in the City of Trenton. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilwoman Staton 1. Asked administration to install a camera on Sylvester Avenue to keep track of the trucks going down the street. 2. She also stated that the incident with Ms. Stewart over the weekend was a tragedy that no one should have to put up with. The meeting Adjourned at 7:27 p.m. Respectively submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA PENELOPE S. EDWARDS-CARTER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING DEPUTY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes September 25, 2007 3