City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 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 5:14 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. FY 2007-2008 annual 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 April 4, 2008. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 7. PRESENTATION: 1. Train Station Redevelopment Project: Appearance: Sasa Montano, Acting Director of Housing & Economic Development Russell Tepper, Matrix Development Group Tom Barton, Barton Partner - Land Planner Architect Director Montano introduced Mr. Tepper from Matrix as one of the two redevelopers designated for the Train Station Area back in December, 2007. They are making their 90 days report to Council. Mr. Russell Tepper gave a presentation on the area Matrix was designated to develop. The following information was included in his presentation: • Mix use project • North side of East State Street will be a residential community with two four story buildings with a central plaza. • South side of East State Street will be a mix use section with retail space, parking deck and an office building, 8 levels with the street level as retail. • Residential buildings will be the same height as the Crescent Temple. • Not sure if they will be renting the units, or if they will be sold as condominiums. There will be approximately 130 units. They will do a survey to determine the best location for parking. • Estimated amount to build this project is $88,000,000.00. • They will hire their own marketing firm. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. City Council Conference: Minutes April 8, 2008 1 2. Sharing Available Resources Efficiently: Appearance: Nancy Diehl, Coordinator of Federal & State Grants Councilwoman Lartigue thanked Administration for bringing the Shared Services workshop to the Council. Council President Pintella stated that the governor has asked the largest municipalities to look into the Shared Services Program. Ms. Diehl distributed information to Council members regarding the Shared Services Program. She had spoken with the State Department of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government and Mercer County for some of the information she gathered. • The State provides Grant Funding to Municipalities, Units of Local Government, Special Districts and some Non-profits in order to study or implement a shared services program. • School Systems are not eligible to apply, however they can participate as partners with other Units of Local Government. • There are three categories of funding available – funds are still available for this year. o (1) The Feasibility Study Grant is up to $20,000.00 o (2) Implementation Grant is up to $200,000.00 o (3) (COUNT) Grants are only for Counties The Feasibility Studies Grant is the only one the City can apply for at this time. Has to be for something new not that is being shared. Feasibility studies are done to find out if there will be a savings by sharing services. Ms. Diehl advised the City that they did not have to hire a consultant to do a Feasibility Study, the grant money could be used to have City staff do the study as long as they were capable. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. First reading of the following ordinance: ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CITY OWNED PROPERTIES TO TRENTON CITYHOME CORPORATION, INC. PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A. 40A:12-21 (j) Council President Pintella asked to pull this ordinance until Council received the information requested. Councilwoman Lartigue asked Director Montano to provide additional information regarding the above mentioned ordinance. City Council Conference: Minutes April 8, 2008 2  Council President Pintella made a motion to withdrawn the said ordinance, seconded by Councilwoman Staton and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 7. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Asked Council about the boarded up properties on Thompson Street; PA license plates issue; baggy pants issue; having rewards for persons giving evidence when kids get killed; slum landlords renting to unemployed tenants. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street – Stated that Council should look at other projects in the City before bringing in new ones; questioned if the Broad Street Bank building was for sale - it was posted on the realtor website; asked if City water was tested for prescription drugs; read a copy of a letter written by the Mayor regarding employee residency. Bea Perry, 26 Sylvester Avenue – Asked about the Broad Street Bank building and the 30 or 40 year mortgage; she started collecting signatures to have Director Santiago stay; wants to have a profanity law passed. Donald Brokate, 104 Cornwall Avenue – The MATRIX Development Plan presented was very inspiring but people are not going to walk across the street for parking; Shared Services - we should become a partner with the County Library system and the recreational and natural resources areas; any developer coming into this area should look into having an apprenticeship program. Nicolas Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – He had a copy of a letter from the Mayor to Council; spoke on the waiver and grace period issue; wanted to know how did other employee get grace periods when the Mayor only gave one waiver. Joe Harrison, 25 Swan Street – Stated that the law is the law, if you really care about the City move into it. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilwoman Staton – (1) Asked who made the letter from the Mayor public. She felt that the letter should have been kept private, stated that she will speak with the attorney regarding the letter. (2) Asked Inspection Department about an article that was in the paper concerning people living in the basement of a property with no services. Councilman Coston – Stated that he posted the letter on the website. The letter was a public document as it was hand delivered to them at a Council meeting. It was not sealed, stamped personal or confidential. City Council Conference: Minutes April 8, 2008 3 Councilman Segura – (1) Brought up the complaint by Mr. Harrison about a retired police officer and the fact that he is being protected by the police. (2) Questioned how absentee landlords get CO’s. Councilman Melone – (1) He agreed with Councilman Coston with regards to the letter. (2) Suggested we contact the Board of Realtors through the State and inform them of the slum landlord practices in the City of Trenton. (3) Asked Administration about the list of employees who have grace periods. Councilwoman Lartigue – (1) Realtors that advertise for slum landlords should be charged as a nuisance. (2) Asked about a decision the Zoning Board made in error and they sided with the developer and supported the error. She asked for copies of the Zoning Board Meeting Minutes and was told she had to pay for them. (Meeting date was March 19, 2008). (3) The Residency issue and decision is very difficult. (4) She stated that she was not running for Council again - it is time to move on. (5) People should partner with Council and Community groups, when we get complaints, let’s ask for a solution. Council President Pintella – (1) Asked Public Works for the street repair plan. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Director Samuel Frisby – Announced that on April 11, 2008 there would be a “Stand Against Racism” at City Hall. Director Sasa Montano – Announced that April 15, 2008 will be the official opening of the Broad Street Bank Building. Councilman Manuel Segura – Announced that a Peace March will take place on April 13, 2008. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes April 8, 2008 4