City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 15, 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 5:12 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 11, 2008. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton (arrived at 5:15 pm), Mr. Pintella – 7. Acting City Clerk, Mrs. Juanita M. Joyner distributed a pamphlet for a Webconference on Alcohol Beverage Control. DOCKET REVIEW: Appearance: Renee Haynes, Chief of Staff Jane Feigenbaum, Business Administrator Council reviewed the docket items. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Daren Green, 339 Parkway Avenue – Stated that City Council should focus on public safety, economic, and education and not be side tracked by things that are not important; we are loosing our youth on a daily basis. George Meadows, Nordacs Street – Stated that the Police Director Santiago is doing a good job; they have more police presence on Nordacs Street now than before. Marion Ray, Oakland Street Civic Association President – Stated that the members of the association had one view on the matter of Director Santiago - they supported him; they asked City Council to amend the Residency Ordinance to allow for a waiver for Mr. Santiago, and submitted three pages of signatures. Pam Lupinetti, 102 Roebling Avenue – Said that the law states that the Police Director should live in the City; he should move into the City. City Council Conference: Minutes January 15, 2008 1 Cameron Hunt, Rutherford Hights Civic Association President – Believes that the Police Director and police officers should live in the City. John Harmon, 846 Riverside Avenue – Believes that the Police Director should live in the City; he expressed his concerns regarding the tax rate increase. Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Stated that he supports the Police Director; something has to be done about the pit bull dogs; bridges in the City have to be addressed. Ellison McCall, Laclede Avenue – Stated that it was time to do something for the people in the City of Trenton; everyone should move back in. Crystal Smith, 513 William Street & Franklin Civic Association President – Complained about the City Website not providing enough information. Sheila Walker, 6 Nordacs Street – Stated that she supports the Police Director; City Council should focus on more important things; residency law is an issue that needs to be dealt with, but now is not the time. Gary Gentry, Spring Street – Stated that we need more educational programs; Director Santiago should live in Trenton; the City has to make a decision, we can’t keep putting it off. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street – Stated that crime was up in the South Ward; the law is clear and should be enforced; we can’t tell people who break the law to obey it when we are breaking it too. Shaheed Morris, 229 Pearl Street – Stated that he was disappointed in City Council as a whole; if this Council heard the cry of their people we would get something done; this is not an issue of politics we just want the Police Director Santiago to live in the City. Councilmen Bethea made a motion to close public comment, seconded by Councilwoman Staton and carried by unanimous vote of Council. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilman Coston – (1) Asked the Acting City Clerk to read a resolution he wanted to introduce. (2) He asked Business Administrator Jane Feigenbaum when the 2008 Budget would be online. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION Reading and action on Resolution #08-27 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TRENTON REGARDING THE RESIDENCY WAIVERS GRANTED TO POLICE DIRECTOR SANTIAGO 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 City Council Conference: Minutes January 15, 2008 2 Director, to maintain a bona fide, permanent residence 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 waivers that Mayor Douglas H. Palmer granted to Trenton Police Director Joseph Santiago after his appointment to that position were not in accordance with the provisions of Section 2-95, and are therefore of no force and effect; now, therefore be it RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Trenton that Mayor Palmer is hereby respectfully reminded of the applicability of the residency requirements of Section 2-95 to Police Director Santiago; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor is respectfully urged to direct Police Director Santiago to comply immediately with the residency requirements of Revised General Ordinance Section 2-95 by establishing a bona fide residence in the City of Trenton, or be terminated from the position of Trenton Police Director; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor shall advise the City Council, no later than seven (7) business days from the date of this resolution, as to whether he intends to enforce the residency requirements of Revised General Ordinance Section 2-95 relative to Police Director Santiago. Councilman Coston made a motion to move said resolution, seconded by Councilwoman Lartigue. Councilwoman Lartigue seconded the resolution with comment: She stated that she supports Police Director Santiago 100%, but her hands are tied and something has to be done with the Residency Ordinance. There are many other issues in this City that need their attention. The Resolution was moved by Councilman Coston, seconded by Councilwoman Lartique and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue (with comment), Messrs. Melone (with comment), Segura (with comment), Ms. Staton (with comment) – 6 Abstain: Mr. Pintella - 1 Councilwoman Lartigue: (1) Distributed a memorandum proposing the establishment of the following Trenton City Council working committees: • Education • Public Safety • Personnel • Employment and Training City Council Conference: Minutes January 15, 2008 3  • Housing • Community Complaint/Resolution • Trenton Down Town Association She would be willing to chair or co-chair with another member of Council on the committees. Council President Pintella moved to appoint Councilwoman Lartigue as chair to the above mentioned committees, seconded by Councilman Bethea, carried by unanimous vote of Council. • Councilman Bethea nominated Councilwoman Staton as co-chair, seconded by Councilman Segura. • Councilwoman Staton declined the nomination. • Councilwoman Lartigue nominated Councilman Segura as co-chair. • Councilman Segura declined the nomination. • Councilman Melone stated that he would take the co-chair position, and was carried by unanimous vote of Council. (2) Mr. Lofton, School Superintendent should come before Council to discuss the School Budget. We should have quarterly updates. (3) Asked Council President along with Council members to summit a letter to the Governor’s Office concerning the school budget. (4) Asked for an update on the mold in the West Ward Police Department. Councilman Melone: (1) Asked Director Pucciatti for an updated list of the properties scheduled for demolition. (2) He also requested a list from Director Jackson of the streets scheduled for repaving, and a list of the street lights scheduled for upgrading. (3) Requested a workshop on animal control. Councilman Segura: (1) Requested an update on the street lights. (2) Expressed his concerns about the slaughter house on Roebling Avenue cutting meat out on the street in the middle of the day. Councilwoman Staton: (1) Thanked city residents for coming out and speaking out on the residency issue. (2) Concerned with the direction of the Police Department if Director Santiago leaves. (3) Glad to see that residents can pay taxes online. EXECUTIVE SESSION: (Council went into Executive Session at 7:06 pm) Adoption of the following resolution to go into Executive Session was moved by Council President Pintella seconded by Councilwoman Staton and carried by unanimous vote of Council. City Council Conference: Minutes January 15, 2008 4  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; Concerning pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiations falling within the Attorney Client Privilege Forester v. City, Palmer, Santiago BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the contents of these discussions will be disclosed to the public at the conclusion of the litigation to the extent possible. Council reconvened in open session at 7:22 p.m. All members were present. The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes January 15, 2008 5