City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 4, 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 5:10 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 November 30, 2007. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Melone, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6 ABSENT: Mr. Segura – 1 PRESENTATION: Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, announced that Councilman Segura’s father passed away. 1. Sale of Water Infrastructure: Appearance: Douglas H. Palmer, Mayor Ed DeHope, Riker Danzig, Special Counsel The Honorable Mayor Douglas H. Palmer appeared before City Council to present the proposal for the sale of the out of the city water infrastructure in Ewing, Hamilton, Hopewell and Lawrence to New Jersey American Water Company, Inc. for $100,000,000. With this sale there is a 20 year agreement to sell bulk water to the purchaser. A portion of the purchase price will be used to pay down the City’s utility debt service. The City has 61,000 customers, 39,000 live outside the City of Trenton. Under this agreement: • There will be no layoffs from the Water Department. • The City will maintain responsibility for repairs within the City limits. • The City will no longer be responsible for providing services or repairs to the four outside municipalities. • The City will save money as it will no longer be necessary to hire outside contractors to make repairs to lines within City limits. After the presentation a lengthy question and answer period followed. 2. Residency: Appearance: Douglas H. Palmer, Mayor The Honorable Mayor Douglas H. Palmer appeared before City Council and gave his personal explanation on the waiver given to Police Director Santiago regarding his residency. Council recessed at 6:15 pm. To better accommodate the number of people attending the meeting. Councilwoman Lartigue made a motion to reconvene in the Council Chambers, motion was seconded by Councilman Melone. Carried. Council reconvened in the Council Chambers at 6:50 p.m. in open session. Council President Pintella apologized for the delay in starting the meeting. City Council Conference: Minutes December 4, 2007 1 DOCKET REVIEW: Appearance: Renee Haynes, Chief of Staff Jane Feigenbaum, Business Administrator Councilman Coston moved to reduce Ordinance #1co by $210,000 for the purchase of forty (40) unmarked police cars. After a detailed discussion the motion was rescinded. PRESENTATION: Rehabilitation of the Masonic Temple Appearance: Mr. John Hatch, Architect Mr. John Caton of Clarke Caton Hintz Sasa Montano, Director of Housing & Economic Development, explained the request for additional funds ($400,000) for the project. Mr. Caton and Mr. Hatch presented plans to rehabilitate the third floor of the Masonic Temple into commercial office space and other upgrades: • 14,000 square feet into office space • 1st fl. is being made handicap accessible • elevator being upgraded • roof is being repaired • additional repairs are being made by the owner as well. They have a forty year lease with the Masons. Work will begin February, 2008 and finish within 8 months. After the presentation a question and answer period followed. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Frank Weeden, 256 Allen Street: Stated that he does not work with the Police Unions; City employees should obey the Ordinance; Trenton Water is an asset to the City. Mr. Rawls, 124 Old Rose Street: Thanked Councilwoman Lartigue for supporting the Residency Ordinance. Sgt. Lenny Caver, 616 New Willow Street: Spoke in support of Director Santiago. Shaheed Morris, 229 Pearl Street; Support of Director Santiago. Sgt. Ivan Mendez; Support of Director Santiago. Sgt. Raul Virelle: Support of Director Santiago. Sgt. Carol Russell: Supports Police Director Santiago residency issue and stated that 90% of the City’s Police Officers did not live in the City. Patricia Lee, 7 Beechwood Avenue: Spoke in support of Police Director Santiago. Nicolas Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street: Submitted written questions regarding the Trigen Company. Evelyn DeLeon, 416 Centre Street: Spoke in support of Police Director Santiago. Bill Kerney, 1620 Riverside Drive: Residency Ordinance must be obeyed. Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue: Spoke on several issues: Status of Dr. Lytle, former superintendent of schools; mentioned an article that was in the newspaper regarding slum landlords in Princeton; supports the Mayor with regards to Police Director Santiago. City Council Conference: Minutes December 4, 2007 2 Councilwoman Lartigue asked Special Counsel Joseph Alacqua for a legal interpretation of the Residency Ordinance. Alacqua advised that this should be done in Executive Session. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street: Apologized for the comments he made regarding people of color in the Police Department not having titles of authority; illegal immigration issue; putting trash cans on every corner; finding a solution for gang problems; police officers walking the streets; police scheduling for the new year. Kathy McBride, 46 Laurel Place: Opposed the waiver given to Police Director Santiago. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reading and action on Resolution #07-637 RESOLUTION GRANTING PERMISSION TO THE SALVATION ARMY TO HOLD TAG DAYS IN THE CITY OF TRENTON. RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Trenton that permission be and the same is hereby granted to The Salvation Army, to hold Tag Days, (“One Red Kettle Stand”) in the City of Trenton from December 3, 2007 through December 24, 2007 between the hours of 11:00 am – 2:00 pm on the Trenton Downtown Commons. The Resolution was moved by Councilman Bethea, seconded by Councilman Melone and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Melone, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6 Absent: Mr. Segura - 1 CIVIC MATTERS: Councilman Coston 1. Stated that his oath of office was to uphold the constitution of the United States and the code of this city and proposed the following resolution: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TRENTON REGARDING THE APPLICABILITY OF THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS TO THE TRENTON POLICE DIRECTOR WHEREAS, Section 2-95 of the Revised General Ordinances of the City of Trenton requires municipal officers and employees, including, but not limited to, the Trenton Police Director, to maintain a bona fide, permanent residency as a condition of employment and office holding; and WHEREAS, it is the sense of the City Council of the City of Trenton that the residency requirements established by Section 2-95 continue to serve the interests of the City of Trenton in many ways; and WHEREAS, it is also the sense of the City Council that the putative waiver that the Administration claims to have granted to Trenton Police Director Joseph Santiago sometime after his appointment to the position was not in conformance with the provisions of Section 2-95, and is therefore of no force and effect; now, therefore be it City Council Conference: Minutes December 4, 2007 3  RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Trenton that Police Director Santiago is hereby reminded of the applicability of the residency requirements of Section 2-95 to him and the position he holds; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that Director Santiago shall advise the City Council, no later than 14 days from the date of this resolution, as to whether and when he intends to comply with the residency requirements of Revised General Ordinance Section 2-95 by establishing a bona fide residence in the City of Trenton. Councilwoman Lartigue asked for further discussion on this matter. She also asked the Chief of Staff if Director Santiago had notified the City whether or not he would be moving to the City. Chief of Staff, Renee Haynes stated that she did not want to speak on Director Santiago’s behalf or jeopardize any legal rights that he has. She would be willing to answer any questions in Executive Session. Councilman Coston made a motion to move the Resolution; motion was seconded by Councilman Bethea. After discussion by Council members, Councilman Coston rescinded his motion and Councilman Bethea rescinded his second. Councilwoman Lartigue 1. Notified the public about a bill she opposed that would allow supermarkets to sell liquor. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Adoption of the following resolution to go into Executive Session was moved by Councilwoman Lartigue, seconded by Council President Pintella and carried by unanimous vote of Council. 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; falling within the Attorney Client Privilege BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the contents of these discussions will be disclosed to the public when the need for confidentially no longer exists. Council went into Executive Session at 9:05 p.m. Councilman Bethea left the meeting at 10:14 p.m. during Executive Session. Council reconvened in open session at 10:25 p.m. The meeting Adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes December 4, 2007 4