City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 16, 2007 CITY HALL - 5:00 P.M. A Conference Meeting of the City Council of the City of Trenton, New Jersey, was held on the above date at 5:00 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 October 12, 2007. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Bethea, Coston, Lartigue, Melone, Segura, Staton, Pintella – 7. ABSENT: None UPDATE ON THE STOKELY AVENUE FIRE: Council President Pintella asked Mr. Leonard Pucciatti, the Director of Inspection to give an update on the fire that occurred on Stokely Avenue. Mr. Pucciatti gave an updated report to Council on how the fire started and a brief description of what the City had done and was doing to assist the residents of Stokely Avenue. After a discussion by Council members a questions and answer period followed. DOCKET REVIEW: Appearance: Renee Haynes, Chief of Staff Jane Feigenbaum, Business Administrator Councilwoman Lartigue questioned two items on Communications 2E and 2F. Council reviewed the docket items. Councilman Coston gave copies of the following Ordinance to Council Members. ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2-56 ARTICLE 12 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF TRENTON WITH REGARD TO POLICE STAFFING After a discussion by Council members a questions and answer period followed. Motioned was made by Councilman Coston, to move the above Ordinance, seconded by Councilman Bethea. ON ROLL CALL: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston Nayes: Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Segura, Pintella Abstain: Mr. Melone, Ms. Staton The above motion did not carry. Councilwoman Lartigue made a motioned to discuss this subject as soon as possible, seconded by Councilman Bethea. City Council Conference: Minutes October 16, 2007 1  Council members agreed to have a discussion on the October 23, 2007 Conference meeting. Council asked Mr. Joseph Alacqua to make a presentation on the rules and regulation on holding an executive session. Motion to go into Public Comments was made by Bethea, seconded by Councilwoman Staton carried by vote of Council. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Carol Tucker, 26 S. Westfield Avenue – Ms. Tucker spoke on the following issue: She asked Council if they would like to have a workshop on the Civic Liberties Resolution. Bea Perry, 26 Sylvester Avenue – Ms. Perry spoke on the following issue: Thanked Housing for cleaning up the neighborhood she lives in. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street – Mr. Harris spoke on several issues: He said that Council should see themselves in his recordings; He talked about the Police issue; He stated that something had to be done about immigration-the law is the law; He felt that PSE & G and Inspection should do something about people stealing electricity; He also stated that someone from the Police Department should be in Council meetings. Councilwoman Lartigue asked, Mr. Harris to please call people undocumented individuals not immigrants. She also asked Mr. Pintella to please have someone from the Police Department at Council Meetings. Nicholas Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Mr. Stewart spoke on several issues: He thanked Cadwalader Height Society for the amazing tour they had; He mentioned 5nr Resolution on the Docket two weeks prior concerning Dory’s Bar; police staffing Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Mr. Clark spoke on several issues: Thanked Councilman Melone for taking a stand on the PA License Plate issue; He also talked about slum landlords; He talked about Dave’s Check Cashing business on Chambers Street; He thanked Mr. Paul Harris for the article he placed in the Newspaper; The Department of Inspection is understaffed; He also asked if the individual who started the fire on Stokely Avenue was an immigrant. Councilman Melone asked Administration to please have someone reach out to Mr. Clark regarding his complaint. Councilman Segura left the meeting at 7:15 p.m. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilman Melone 1. Commended Mr. Pucciatti on the curbs being replaced. 2. Stated that when they requested information they shouldn’t have to make the request three or four times before getting the information. Councilwoman Staton 1. Asked Administration about installing cameras on Sylvester Avenue to keep track of the big trucks going down the street. 2. She thanked Mr. Eric Jackson for his quick response regarding the N. Clinton Avenue construction detour. 3. She passed out copies of an article regarding the Lifesaver Tracking Bracelet program. As requested by Councilman Melone and Councilwoman Lartigue, Special Counsel Alacqua gave a brief overview on the executive session that occurred September 18, 2007. He notified Council that he would be doing a workshop in the near future. After discussion a question and answer period followed. City Council Conference: Minutes October 16, 2007 2 Council President Pintella 1. Asked Administration to have information on the police staffing issue on October 23, 2007 and that Mr. Alacqua do a presentation on Executive Session at the same meeting. 2. He reminded Council that the State of the City Address would be on Thursday, October 25, 2007. 3. He also mentioned that the October 18, 2007 Council Public Meeting would be at Washington School. The meeting Adjourned at 7:55 p.m. Respectively submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes October 16, 2007 3