City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 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 5:17 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 11, 2008. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6. ABSENT: Mr. Melone – 1. EXECUTIVE SESSION: (Council went into Executive Session at 5:20 pm.) Adoption of the following resolution to go into Executive Session was moved by Councilman Bethea, Seconded by Councilwoman Staton. 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 as it pertains to Forrester vs. Palmer, Santiago. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the contents of these discussions will be disclosed to the public when the need for confidentially no longer exists. Carried by the following vote of Council. AYES: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6. ABSENT: Mr. Melone – 1. Council reconvened in open session at 6:46 p.m. All members were present except Councilman Melone. City Council Conference: Minutes April 15, 2008 1 PRESENTATION: On Resolution No. 5ar – RESOLUTION GRANTING EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS TO HHG DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES, LLC FOR PROPERTIES WITHIN THE ROEBLING COMPLEX REDEVELOPMENT AREA. Appearances: Sasa Montano, Director Housing & Economic Development Michael Goldstein, Principal, HHG Development Assoc., LLC David Henderson, Principal, HHG Development Assoc., LLC Deborah Widerkehr, Vice President, CPC Resources, Inc. Mr. Michael Goldstein stated that the reason they come before Council was to request the approval of a resolution giving them developer’s rights to rehabilitate two of the buildings at the Roebling Site, no. 51 and no. 57 in the front of Mott Street. They will be developing the buildings into Loft Condominiums and Town Homes, there will be approximately 47-52 units. The buildings are owned by the State but after Council approval they will be conducting negotiations for the acquisition with the State. Mr. Peter Page appeared representing a Community Civic Association in support of the project. Parking is an issue but they are working on it. The project will be either 100% market rate, or 85% market rate and 15% affordable housing. Estimated cost of project is $13,000,000 for 5 town houses, 22-one bedroom lofts and 22-two bedrooms lofts. HHG Development Associates, LLC will be doing their own marketing for the project. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. DOCKET REVIEW: Appearance: Renee Haynes, Chief of Staff Jane Feigenbaum, Business Administrator Council reviewed the docket items. Councilman Coston – Asked Council President Pintella about the motion he made at the April 3, 2008 meeting to invite K-Hovnanian to this meeting for an update on the Champale Site Redevelopment Area. Council President Pintella – Asked Councilman Coston if they could discuss the matter after the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Complained about the properties on the 300 block of Walnut Avenue that are for rent under Section 8. City Council Conference: Minutes April 15, 2008 2 Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Supports HHG Development; concerns with protocol or process with Council; Champale is taking too long, it’s time to move on. Joe Harrison, 15 Swan Street – Thanked Councilman Segura for being a part of the Peace March; this Council and Mayor have to do something this City is in trouble; asked if the YMCA was ever going to be built. Bea Perry, 26 Sylvester Avenue – Thanked Councilmen Segura and Bethea for trying to improve the “no littering” issue; more police are needed; the quality of life and safety are very vital; trucks going down a one way street the wrong way. Ann Shelton, 74 Highland Avenue – She wanted to hear what K-Hovnanian had to say; she wanted to know why it was taking so long to transfer Mrs. Rosie’s property to K-Hovnanian. Dolores Harrison, 42 Coats Street – When are the police going to do their job every morning there are prostitutes in the park. Jeanette Rosie, 741 Centre Street – She has had an agreement with K-Hovnanian to buy her house for three years. She needs to know what is going to happen; it is nobody’s business that she sold her property to K-Hovnanian. Dave Briegle, 8 Jersey Street – He thinks it time that the City and Council act like we are a real City and have expectations; there are major projects going up in other Cities, why not here. Nicolas Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Is the Board Street Bank Building for Sale? Hope that we can bring a representative from K-Hovnanian here with there finances; glad the City did not support E-Path plan; Hopes someone goes and looks at the block on Walnut Avenue Mr. Clark mentioned. Donald Brokate, 104 Cornwall Avenue – He asked Council to move forward with appointing an alternate to the Zoning Board; wants a resolution to grant permit parking for residents that live in a parking meters area; supports HGH they have done great projects in the City; they like to rehabilitate old buildings; we need to move forward and do positive things to balance the bad. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilwoman Lartigue – (1) Asked Administration to write a letter to the Trentonian requesting them not to advertise for landlords that have not complied with inspections. (2) Need to fine landlords that post rental notices on vacant houses, poles and trees. (3) Asked for the support of Council for a workshop considering the block grant money for vacant properties for employees buying properties. (4) Share services need to be considered. City Council Conference: Minutes April 15, 2008 3 Councilman Segura – (1) Thanked everyone that participated in the Peace March. (2) There will be a meeting at St. Joseph’s Church at 6:30 pm on April 24, 2008 with regards to the Peace March, and forming a committee. (3) City owned properties on Southard Street need to be cleaned. (4) He filed a complaint two years ago to have the properties on Walnut Avenue demolished and they are still standing up. Why? (5) What is going on with the Eagle Tavern? Councilwoman Staton – (1) Questioned status of putting cameras on Sylvester Avenue. (2) Asked for a report on the family that was living in the basement of a property on Academy Street. (3) Congratulated Councilman Segura on the Peace March and it’s success. (4) What are the criteria and requirements for licensing landlords? Council President Pintella – Congratulated Councilman Segura on the Peace March, and his colleagues for attending the Stand Against Racism. Mr. Pintella advised the public that the meeting scheduled for April 22, 2008 was at 7:00 pm. ABC Matters: Mr. Alacqua, Special Counsel advised Council that there were two ABC matters scheduled for the April 22, 2008 meeting. Councilman Coston made a motion to change the time for the April 22, 2008 meeting from 7:00 pm to 5:00 pm, seconded by Councilwoman Lartigue, Councilmen Bethea and Segura, and carried by the following vote: AYES: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6. ABSENT: Mr. Melone – 1. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes April 15, 2008 4