City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 8, 2008 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 January 4, 2008. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone (arrived at 5:20), Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella - 7 ABSENT: NONE RESOLUTION AND ORDINANCE: Reading and action on Resolution # 08 – 23: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF TRENTON TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND TO ACCEPT AND DISBURSE FUNDS FROM THE NEW JERSEY HOUSING AND MORTGAGE FINANCE AGENCY’S CHOICES IN HOME OWNERSHIP INCENTIVES CREATED FOR EVERYONE PROGRAM FOR THE LEEWOOD RENAISSANCE NORTH AT TRENTON HOMEOWNERSHIP PROJECT The Resolution was moved by Councilman Bethea, seconded by Councilwoman Staton and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Mrs. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 7 Reading and action on Resolution # 08 – 24: RESOLUTION COMMITTING $100,000.00 IN HOME PROGRAM FUNDS TO LEEWOOD IN TOWN, LLC FOR LEEWOOD RENAISSANCE NORTH AT TRENTON HOMEOWNERSHIP PROJECT The Resolution was moved by Councilman Bethea, seconded by Council President Pintella and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Mrs. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 7 City Council Conference: Minutes January 8, 2008 1 First reading and action on the following Ordinance: Mr. Bethea Introduced, presented, and authorized publication of an ordinance entitled “ORDINANCE DESIGNATING LEEWOOD IN TOWN, LLC, AS A DEVELOPER IN THE HUMBOLDT SWEETS REDEVELOPMENT AREA AND AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CITY OWNED PROPERTIES“. The motion was seconded by Ms. Staton, and carried. Ayes: Messrs. Bethea and Coston, Mr. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone and Segura, Ms. Staton and Mr. Pintella - 7 Nayes: None Approval of the minutes of the City Council meeting held on December 18, 2007 was moved by Ms. Staton, seconded by Mr. Segura and carried by unanimous vote of those councilmember’s present. PRESENTATION: Renaissance Estate Project Appearance: Sasa Montano, Acting Director Housing & Economic Development Jeff Zeiger, Trenton Estates, LLC Jesse Luis, Trenton Estates, LLC David Lustburg, Architect Planning Newwork Sasa Montano, Acting Director, Housing & Economic Development appeared before City Council. She stated that this project included 18 single family residential units, 12 neighborhood mixed use units and 3 rehabilitated units. The project will be in the south ward and include Union Street, Bridge Street, Asbury Street and Steamboat Street. Director Montano introduced Mr. Jeff Zeiger. Mr. Jeff Zeiger thanked Council for giving him the opportunity to come before them. He gave a brief summary of the various projects and introduced his partner Mr. Jesse Luis. Mr. Jesse Luis spoke about his background experiences with other development projects in Newark, New Jersey. Mr. David Lustburg, Architect Planning Newwork, explained the floor plan of the houses and the additional options they offered; parking garage, studio apartment on top of garage, and off street parking in rear of property. Mr. Jesse Luis stated that the units would be sold at market rate. The single family would be sold at mid $200,000 and the mixed used in the low $300,000. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. DISCUSSION ON ABC LICENSE: City Council Conference: Minutes January 8, 2008 2  Jules Tavern Appearance: Detective Phil Peroni, ABC Inspector Leonard Pucciatti, Director of Inspection Captain Joseph Juniak Captain Joseph Juniak notified City Council that Detective Phil Peroni was working on a case and had to leave. Council President Pintella reminded Council of last month’s visit by the residents of Cummings Avenue regarding Jules Tavern. He stated that Jules Tavern was under new ownership and the license was in order. Councilman Melone asked for a copy of the resolution stating the special conditions placed on the license. Captain Joseph Juniak also asked for a copy of the special conditions for the police department. A copy of the license was produced by the City Clerk - the license had no restrictions attached. Director Leonard Pucciatti stated that the Department of Inspection had put a “stop order” on the building because work was being done without permits. Council recessed at 6:18 pm. Council reconvened at 6:28 pm in open session, all Council members were present. DISCUSSION OF THE RESIDENCY ORDINANCE: City Council members had a discussion on the Residency Ordinance and the Mayor’s authority to issue. Councilman Melone asked if the City Clerk had been given a copy of the waiver for Council. The City Clerk stated she had not received a copy. Special Counsel Alacqua notified Council that he was not able to answer questions in public but he would be happy to answer any questions they had in Executive Session. After a lengthy discussion Council decided to go into Executive Session. Councilman Bethea made a motion to go into Executive Session. After a brief discussion Councilman Bethea withdrew his motion. Councilwoman Lartigue made a motion to go into Executive Session. After a discussion Councilwoman Lartigue withdrew her motion. After further discussion Councilman Melone made a motion to go into Executive Session. City Council Conference: Minutes January 8, 2008 3 EXECUTIVE SESSION: Adoption of the following resolution to go into executive session was moved by Councilman Melone, seconded by Council President Pintella and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Mrs. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone, Segura, Mr. Pintella – 6 Nayes: Ms. Staton - 1 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL BE IT RESOLVED, that pursuant to N.J.S.A. 10:4-12 et seq. the public is hereby excluded from the discussions which are about to occur which concern Residency Ordinance matters covered by the Attorney Client Privilege; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that since these matters are covered by the Attorney Client Privilege it is anticipated that the discussions covered in this Executive Session will not be disclosed to the public or administration. Council went into Executive Session at 7:15 pm. Council reconvened in open session at 7:40 pm, all Council members were present. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Expressed her concern regarding selling properties in Trenton for the mid $200,000 or low $300,000; she did not agree with a tax abatement for new homeowners; the assessed value of properties in the south ward is dropping; the south ward needs to be cleaned. James Fouse, 13 Cavell Avenue – There should be a law to make residents clean their property; 90% of the properties in the north ward that need to be cleaned up are city owned; landlords should be made responsible for their tenants maintaining their residence; Residency Ordinance - the law is the law, if its being changed, change it for everyone. Frank Sasso, 992 Lamberton Street – If the Police Director has to live in the City of Trenton he should. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilman Segura: 1) Violence in the City - robberies have not stopped. 2) Bar owners that are causing a problem with the quality of life should not be allowed to renew their licenses. Let them to go to the State for the renewal. 3) Bars should close at 10:00 pm. Councilman Melone: 1) We should have an ABC License workshop. City Council Conference: Minutes January 8, 2008 4 Councilwoman Lartigue: 1) Deli on the corner of Huffman and Pennington Avenue is selling drugs. Councilman Coston: 1) Will be holding a ward meeting to discuss the City Budget. Councilwoman Staton: 1) We should do something about pit bull dogs – the owners have to be held to a higher standard when licensing these dogs. The meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes January 8, 2008 5