City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES MAY 20, 2008 CITY HALL – 5:00 A Conference Meeting of the City Council of the City of Trenton, New Jersey, was held on the above date at 5:15 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 May 16, 2008. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue (arrived at 5:25 pm), Messrs. Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 7. Council President Pintella – Welcomed Councilwoman Staton back from her illness. On behalf of Council he extended condolences to Ms Corriell on the passing of her grandmother Mrs. Adeline Ray Corriell. Notified that a vigil and a walk to the site on Walnut Avenue for Ms. QuaDaishia Hopkins was going be held on May 21, 2008 at 5:00 pm. DOCKET REVIEW: Appearance: Renee Haynes, Chief of Staff Jane Feigenbaum, Business Administrator The following Resolution was a late entry by Council President Pintella and read in its entirety for the record. Honoring DETECTIVE ARMESTEAD ROBINSON, JR. WHEREAS, Armestead Robinson, Jr., better known as “Armie” has lived and worked in Trenton, New Jersey for twenty-six years and committed much of his time and energy to the betterment of Trenton, and WHEREAS, Armie successfully completed one tour of duty in the United States Army and received an Honorable Discharge. He decided to move to Trenton and volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club where he later served as its Director of Physical Education, Social Education and Program Director, and eventually as an Assistant to the Executive Director, and City Council Conference: Minutes May 20, 2008 1  WHEREAS, Armie has been a member of the Trenton Police Department for the past twenty-five years; his tenure includes four years in the Patrol Section, twelve years as a Detective in the Vice Enforcement Unit, three years in Internal Affairs, two years in the Youth Section and one year each in Inspectional Services and the Metro Mounted Unit, and WHEREAS, Armie worked with various law enforcement agencies including the FBI, DEA, NJSP and ATF, as well as local and county municipalities. Moreover, he has worked with the Prosecutors Office and the Superior Court Judges of Mercer County and built a trusting relationship with local residents and community leaders, and WHEREAS, Armie helped co-found a non-profit organization known as CRAVE (Cops Racing Against Violence through Education), and served as the Vice President of CRAVE for three years, and WHEREAS, Armie continues to actively volunteer his time in Trenton while still making time for his lovely wife Sandy and their children Armika, Armaine, Millie and Jason. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Trenton, New Jersey, does hereby recognize and commend Detective Armestead “Armie” Robinson, Jr., for services to his country, volunteerism, the Trenton Police Department, the Trenton community and his family on this day of Saturday, May 17, 2008. Council reviewed the docket items. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Asked the following questions of Administration and the Department of Inspection: 1. Is the property at 235 Walnut Avenue a rental? 2. Did it have smoke detectors? Thanked Councilman Gino Melone for coming out to the neighborhood. Melvin L. Kelly, 135 W. Ingram Avenue – Spoke regarding the letter he sent to Council members and Administration; things have to change in this City to make a difference for the people that live here. Rev. Vernon Byrd, 261 Mercer Street, Pastor of the Grant Chapel Church – Expressed his concerns regarding cars being ticketed while they are having services and bible studies. Permit parking does not work with the Church. He thanked Councilman Bethea for working with them in the past and making arrangements with the Police Department. He requested that Council look into some type of arrangement that would work. City Council Conference: Minutes May 20, 2008 2 Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Stated that Trenton made the New York Times again with the death of the little girl; it’s about time we stopped defending gangs who commit these crimes; this thing with doing well in school is acting white, its not-its acting human; this is the leadership of the City of Trenton it’s about time you do something. Paul Harris, Jr., 137 Centre Street – Stated that the circus was in town this weekend and he counted 300 cars parked illegally in the neighborhood, not one of them was ticketed; when there is entertainment in the City we should have someone giving out tickets for parking illegally. Ellen Robinson, 46 Ewing Street – Thanked City Council for demolishing the house at 48 Ewing Street. Zackary Chester, 1405 Stuyvesant Avenue – Expressed his surprise at not being allowed into the Council meeting because of overcrowding, and the time people are allowed to speak; if the rules are changing please let the public know. Danelle M. Presha, Sanhican Drive – Spoke on the overcrowding issue; felt that when the Superintendent of Schools is giving a presentation it should be scheduled in the Council Chambers; Commended Mrs. Haynes and Administration on the City exploring the production of energy. Joe Harrison, 15 Swan Street – Spoke on the overcrowded issue; commented on the comment Police Director Santiago made the previous week. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilman Coston – 1. Spoke on the posting of illegal advertisement for the purchasing of properties and the City Ordinance. 2. He requested the following information from the Business Administration and Police Director Santiago in writing within two weeks by June 3, 2008: • Accounting for the overtime from July, 2007 to present • Accounting of appropriated overtime funds and unspent for 2007-2008 • Accounting of funds appropriated and unspent for the hiring of twenty-five new police officers for 2007-2008 • Amount of money and material seized by the Vice Unit in 2007-2008 • Amount of overtime funds appropriated for the Vice Unit for 2007-2008 • Amount of overtime funds appropriated for the CIB Unit for 2007-2008 • Cost of the K9 Unit as a unit, as well as per dog for 2007-2008 • Amount of money and material seized by the K9 Unit for 2007-2008 • Appropriation of money and material seized by the K9 unit 2007-2008 • Amount of money spent for the guarding of the Mayor’s Trenton residence for 2007- 2008 • Duties of the Officers assigned to guard the Mayor, including duties when the Mayor is not in Trenton City Council Conference: Minutes May 20, 2008 3 Councilman Segura – 1. Stated that the questions he asked Director Santiago regarding the guns were intelligent and responsible, he was not being personal. Director Santiago was out of line and disrespectful to Council. 2. He asked Council President not to allow anyone to insult them in the future. 3. Wanted to know when ABC hearings were going to be scheduled. Councilman Melone – 1. Agreed with Councilman Segura he felt the same way. He stated that Councilwoman Lartigue was the one asking Director Santiago questions and she deserved an answer. Council President Pintella – 1. Stated that Director Santiago apologized for his behavior, and he would not allow anyone to be disrespectful to this body. 2. ABC renewal would not be approved if they have pending charges. 3. Asked the Acting City Clerk to invite the ABC Licensee with problems to appear in front of Council. 4. The Housing Authority is going to have an opening that has to be filled. Councilwoman Lartigue – 1. Stated that Council President handled the situation with Director Santiago well. 2. She would like to have a workshop for the public to let them know what Council’s responsibilities are, if the public desires. 3. Wants a link from the City web site to be created for Council to provide information to the public and ask questions. 4. Agreed with Mrs. Stewart that the Laws have to change to favor the people that are being affected. Special Counsel Joseph Alacqua – Advised Council that they could invite the ABC Licensee for a hearing as part of the renewal process. They could handle the charges as part of the renewal process and come to an agreement. If they have a hearing and the Licensee appeals they may be granted a stay and the charge will not show up for a year. If penalties are imposed they could appeal to the Director and that can take up to a year. Council can consider amending the ordinance and change opening and closing hours of ABC establishments. Acting City Clerk Juanita M. Joyner – Distributed a copy of the ABC Ordinance to Council members. She had given them a list of the problem ABC Licenses to schedule hearings. The business license inspector will be receiving training from the Police Department on ABC and regular business matters. Councilman Bethea – We should follow the process we agreed on for all Boards and Commissions, send letters to everyone on file. Council members discussed the Annual Notice and the following suggestions were made: • Councilman Coston mentioned that November 4, 2008 is Election Day • Council President Pintella suggested double-headers on November 6, 2008 and Monday, November 24, 2008 • Councilwoman Lartigue suggested July 10, 2008 and August 7, 2008 Councilwoman Staton had no problem with those two dates both of these meeting would be double headers City Council Conference: Minutes May 20, 2008 4  • Councilman Bethea had no problem with those dates • Council President Pintella suggested August 14, 2008 instead of August 7th - No support • Councilmen Coston, Melone and Segura agreed with August 7, 2008 • Councilwoman Staton questioned the December 23, 2008 meeting. Council President Pintella stated that they always had the December 23 meeting before they close out the year because they didn’t meet until after the holidays • Council President Pintella suggested to take the March 24, 2009, April 7, 2009 and April 28, 2009 out The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes May 20, 2008 5