City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 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 5:16 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 December 7, 2007. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mr. Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton (arrived at 5:25 pm), Mr. Pintella – 6. ABSENT: Mr. Bethea – 1. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION Reading and action on Resolution #07-667 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING S1214 Councilman Melone explained that Bill S1214 would assist this city especially the Police Department in collecting funds for services rendered by the police department on rental properties that are a problem. The City would have the landlord post a bond for that rental unit. The city can then collect money from the bond for services rendered and expenses. Special Counsel Alacqua explained the Bill to Council. Council President Pintella asked for copies of the entire Bill. The Resolution was moved by Councilman Melone, seconded by Councilman Coston and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Mr. Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone, Segura, Pintella – 5 Absent: Mr. Bethea, Ms. Staton - 2 PRESENTATIONS: 1. Trenton Civil Liberties Appearances: Allan Willinger, 610 Concord Avenue, Ewing, NJ Carol Tucker Harold Fleming, 326 Woodland Street, Trenton, NJ Jennifer Hunter Mr. Willinger stated that he helped form a group called Trenton Citizens for Civil Liberties (TCCL). He presented a resolution entitled RESOLUTION TO PROTECT CIVIL LIBERTIES dated August 19, 2007-copies were distributed to Council. Ms. Carol Tucker spoke on the technology phone companies use to track individuals. Mr. Harold Fleming spoke on the local effects this is having on the City residents. Mrs. Jennifer Hunter encouraged the citizens of Trenton to approve this resolution. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. City Council Conference: Minutes December 11, 2007 1 Council recessed at 6:20 pm. and reconvened in open session at 6:27 p.m. 2. Chapala II Mexican Grill Appearance: Jesus Merlo, 49 Birkshire Lane, Burlington, NJ, Owner Det. Robert Russo, Trenton Police Department Division of Community Affairs for the East District Councilman Melone thanked, Mr. Merlo for coming and notified him that this was not a formal hearing. The reason he was invited to Council was to address the impact his establishment was having on the surrounding community. Detective Robert Russo, gave a brief update: There were a total of 25 reported offences in and outside the premises; most of the offences occurred after midnight. The police conducted 125 business checks between the hours of 4:00 pm and 12:00 am. He has recommended that business checks be done after midnight. Community Residents: Julia Alpert, 263 Morris Avenue – She stated that her house is right next to the parking lot. Her house has urine stains on the siding from the patrons urinating. She also has dents on her siding from cars hitting her property. She has a nine year old son and people sit outside his window on her porch at night talking. People sit in their cars late at night with loud music. Morika Fernandez, 259 Morris Avenue – Stated that the owner of Chapala does not live in the community. His business alarm goes off constantly. Her car was totaled by one of his patrons. She witness two people hit by a truck. When the business opened the community was told it was going to be a fine dinning restaurant – now it’s a corner bar. Detective Russo stated that the police have received ten complaints with regard to the alarm in the last year. Mr. Merlo, Owner – Stated that he understands all their concerns, but it was worse when he took over the establishment. All of these things were happening before he moved in. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. Council suggested to Mr. Merlo that he should meet with Detective Russo and community residents to discuss the concerns and come up with a solution. 3. Prosecutor/Public Defender Appearance: Dennis Gonzalez, Assistant Business Administrator Denise Lyles, Director of Law Mr. Gonzalez distributed copies of a report concerning the staffing and the functioning of the Prosecutor’s office, the Public Defender’s office, and the Municipal Court. He gave a brief description of the staff members and the funds being spent on a yearly basis. Mrs. Lyles spoke regarding the Administrative over site and supervision of the office and staff working hours. Currently the Chief Prosecutor does not go into the court room. The full time prosecutors and the contracted prosecutor do the same work, so they should all be considered as contracted employees. As more and more people are becoming eligible for Public Defenders there is a need to have a full time Chief Public Defender as a municipal employee to manage the office. Proposed to: • Create the position of Chief Public Defender with a salary equal to the Chief Prosecutor. City Council Conference: Minutes December 11, 2007 2  • Have three Contract Public Defenders available to provide services and report to the Chief Public Defender. • A projected saving of $97,000 is expected if proposal accepted. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Nicholas Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Asked about his request for information concerning Trigen; Questioned if full time employees at the Municipal Court received benefits; Regarding Chief Municipal Prosecutor - would the residency requirement be met? Bea Perry, 27 Sylvester Avenue – Complained about the eighteen wheelers; need signs to direct the trucks; Cameras would help. Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Contaminated soil at the old gas station on the corner of S. Olden and Walnut Avenue; Lincoln Avenue Bridge needs to be repaired; lights on the North Olden Avenue Bridge are not working. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street – Asked Council to carefully consider before signing any liberal agenda; Documents that were signed a hundred, two hundred years ago should be respected, but times have changed. Lee Ingram, 39 Edgemere Avenue – Asked Council to intervene on his behalf with his community organization about his pervious visit to Council. Frank Weeden, 256 Allen Street – Distributed a letter of compliant regarding the residency of Mr. Bradley, Director of Communications. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilman Coston: Requested a fact sheet on the water infrastructure sale. Councilwoman Lartigue: 1. Stated that she had asked for a fact sheet and executive summary on the sale of water two weeks ago. 2. Thanked the Police Department for bringing E-Path and other organizations to Comstat. 3. City needs to do a better job of marketing what we have for the kids. 4. Landlords issues. Councilman Pintella: Expressed his condolences to Councilman Segura and his family for their loss and to Mr. Dennis McKithen for his loss, and he also notified Council members that Councilman Bethea had lost a family member. Councilman Segura: 1. Asked Administration about the Sale of the Water Infrastructure contract. 2. Concerned about restaurants becoming neighborhood bars. 3. He thanked everyone for all their support and condolences on the passing of his father. Councilwoman Lartigue left the meeting at 8:40 pm. Councilman Pintella: Will schedule a meeting to discuss the Residency Ordinance. Councilman Coston made a motion to adjourn meeting, it was seconded by Councilman Segura. Carried. The meeting Adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes December 11, 2007 3