City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 29, 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 5:26 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 25, 2008. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6 ABSENT: Ms. Lartigue - 1 ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION Reading and action on Resolution #08-186 RESOLUTION REMANDING THE DENIAL OF THE RESTORATION PERMIT APPLICATION FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 120 JACKSON STREET FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND RECONSIDERATION BY THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION The Resolution was moved by Councilman Coston, seconded by Councilman Melone and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Messrs. Coston, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 5. ABSTAIN: Mr. Bethea - 1 ABSENT: Ms. Lartigue – 1 ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION Reading and action on Resolution #08-187 RESOLUTION REMANDING THE DENIAL OF THE RESTORATION PERMIT APPLICATION FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 118 JACKSON STREET FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND RECONSIDERATION BY THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION City Council Conference: Minutes April 29, 2008 1 The Resolution was moved by Councilman Coston, seconded by Councilman Pintella and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Messrs. Coston, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 4 NAYS: Mr. Melone - 1 ABSTAIN: Mr. Bethea - 1 ABSENT: Ms. Lartigue – 1 Council President Pintella announced that the E-Path Presentation had been canceled. EXECUTIVE SESSION: (Council went into Executive Session at 5:32 pm) Adoption of the following resolution to go into Executive Session was moved by Council President Pintella, seconded by Councilman Melone and carried with the following vote of Council: AYES: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6. ABSENT: Ms. Lartigue – 1 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO PERMIT DISCUSSION OF PENDING LITIGATION WHEREAS the City Council deems it necessary and essential to conduct a discussion concerning anticipated litigation specifically related to the case of Joseph Escoto v. City of Trenton, et al., Docket No. MER-L-472-02; and WHEREAS the public disclosure of such discussion will be contrary to the interest of the City of Trenton and will not permit the fullest view of said matters; now therefore be it RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Trenton that a discussion be held on April 29, 2008 at or about 5:00 p.m., in the Council Conference Room at which session the public will be excluded pending the discussion of said matters only. The public shall be informed of the determination of the City Council with respect to the final disposition of said pending proceedings, which final disposition shall be memorialized appropriately and adopted at a public meting as soon as practicable. Council reconvened in open session at 5:50 p.m. City Council Conference: Minutes April 29, 2008 2 PRESENTATIONS: (1) FY 2009 Budget Discussion: Appearance: Jane Feigenbaum, Business Administrator Renee Haynes, Chief of Staff Ms. Jane Feigenbaum, Business Administrator came before Council to give the budget projection for the coming year. Ms. Feigenbaum stated that the State of New Jersey owns one third of the City of Trenton and does not compensate the City at the appropriate rate. She distributed a report that included the following information: • Revenues Used to Fill Structural Gap • Revenue Comparison from FY 2002 to FY 2009 • Budget Appropriations for FY 2002 to FY 2009 • FY 2009 Budget Projection Ms. Feigenbaum explained the report to Council members and stated that the City’s primary source of revenue is property taxes. We have a structural deficit in the budget which grows bigger every year. She advised Council that $20,000,000 of the sale of the Water Infrastructure will be used in the operating budget. The City Budget is about $7,000,000 short, this includes a 13 cent tax increase. State Aide will be reduced in two different areas: one by $1.9 million on Capital City Aid, and the other by a $3.4 million reduction on the Consolidated Municipal Property Tax (CMPTRA). She also stated that administration would not be able to provide an introduced budget until the sale of the Water Infrastructure was approved by the Board of Public Utility (BPU). A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. Council recessed at 6:45 pm and reconvened in open session at 7:05 p.m. PRESENTATIONS: (2) Police Department Gun Purchase: Appearance: Joseph Santiago, Police Director & Staff A presentation was made by the Police Department regarding the purchase of new firearms. It was stated that police officers have been using 10 year old guns. Three bids were received from Lawman Supply, Glock and Springfield. A committee was formed to test the guns and make recommendations to Police Director Santiago. The following three weapons were tested: • The Glock 21 which is the 45 Caliber • The Glock 23 which is the 40 Caliber • Springfield which is the 45 Caliber City Council Conference: Minutes April 29, 2008 3 The committee felt that the Springfield was the better weapon. Sixteen (16) officers tested the weapons - 15 out of the 16 officers picked the Springfield. Officer K. Santiago, who is one of the smaller officers in the police force, demonstrated the Springfield 45 to show how it fit in her hand. Officer L. Caver, who is one of the bigger officers, also demonstrated the weapons. New holsters will have to be purchased at $100.00 each, for a cost of $40,000.00. Director Santiago stated that if the City moved forward with the purchase of new guns, the old Glocks would be traded for the new Springfield that cost $575.00. We would receive a credit of $275.00 per weapon. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. Councilman Segura left the meeting at 7:50 pm. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Melvin L. Kelly, 135 W. Ingham Avenue – 60% of the budget going to public safety; policemen, firemen and teachers should live in the City; everybody who earns their income from the city should live in the City. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street – Spoke on the budget and voiced some of his ideas to improve it and save money; asked if Council could have executive sessions at the end of the meetings; wanted to know if a representative from the police department was going to be in Council meetings on a regular basis. Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – She does not have a problem with the tax increase; gave some suggestions to cut back on the budget; should look into a national health insurance. Bea Perry, 26 Sylvester Avenue – Glad that Director Santiago was at Council meeting; need more radar; heavy fines for speeding; happy that the arena was in progress. Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Supports the purchase of the new guns; slum landlord problems. (Distributed pictures to Council) Zachary Chester, 1405 Stuyvesant Avenue – Spoke on the city budget cuts and lay offs; the City should look into the speculators that own properties in the downtown area. Nicholas Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Stated that the Officer doing the gun presentation should have taken more precautions with the guns; signs being posted throughout the City advertising the purchase of properties for cash; the City should not award any more Pilots Programs. City Council Conference: Minutes April 29, 2008 4 Roy Summers, 24 Evans Avenue – Spoke about the City getting money from the State of New Jersey. Council should get their constituents and go to the State and demand the money due to the City. Allan Willinger, 610 Concord Avenue, Ewing, NJ – Came before Council regarding the Civic Liberty Resolution they presented to Council. CIVIC MATTERS: Council President Pintella – Congratulated Mr. Brian Hill for the great job he did at the 26th Annual Grand Opening at Ellarslie Museum, and also Councilman Coston for his participation in the “Real Men Cook” event at the War Memorial Building. Councilwoman Staton – Announced that “May Day” was Saturday, May 3 at Cadwalader Park, and that there would be a Spirit Walk. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes April 29, 2008 5