City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES JUNE 17, 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 5:15 p.m. in the Council Conference Room, City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Council Vice President Cordelia M. Staton. Council Vice 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 June 16, 2008. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mr. Bethea, Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Melone, Mr. Segura (arrived at 5:20 pm), Ms. Staton – 5. ABSENT: Messrs. Coston, Pintella – 2. PRESENTATION: 1. Advice and Consent for the appointment of Harold W. George, Esq. Municipal Court Judge Appearance: Honorable Mayor Douglas H. Palmer Honorable Mayor Douglas H. Palmer appeared before City Council for advice and consent on the appointment of Harold W. George, Esq. as the third full time Municipal Judge. Mayor Palmer introduced Mr. Harold W. George and his family to Council members present. Mr. George thanked the Honorable Mayor Palmer for his introduction and City Council for considering his appointment to Municipal Judge. He gave a brief summary of his work experience. After a brief question and answer period Council Member welcomed him on board. 2. City’s Master Plan “Living Trenton” the Downtown Master Plan Slide Presentation Appearance: Honorable Mayor Douglas H. Palmer Richard Wilson, Planning Group URS Corporation City Council Conference: Minutes June 17, 2008 1  Honorable Mayor Douglas H. Palmer appeared before City Council to present the City’s Master Plan “Living Trenton” the Downtown Capital District Master Plan. The Mayor stated that “Living Trenton” vision was not his vision or City Council’s vision of Trenton, but the community’s vision of Trenton. The Mayor introduced Mr. Richard Wilson to make his presentation. Mr. Richard Wilson thanked the Mayor and City Council for giving him the opportunity to come before them and present his project. Mr. Richard Wilson gave a slide presentation of the City’s Master Plan for the Downtown Capital District Area which included the following: 1. Vision and Guiding Themes A. Establish Downtown Trenton as a “Residential Community of Choice” B. Balance tax exempt & income producing properties in Downtown C. Enhance the character of streets and open space to anchor investment 2. Economic Assessment 3. Capital District Neighborhood 4. Mill Hill Neighborhood 5. Downtown Transit Village 6. Riverfront District 7. Central Business District 8. Hanover Academy Neighborhood 9. Implementation Strategy 10. Acknowledgements and References A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. DOCKET REVIEW: Appearance: Renee Haynes, Chief of Staff Jane Feigenbaum, Business Administrator Councilman Melone made a motion to propone the 1st reading of Ordinance No. 5llo on the June 17, 2008 docket to June 24th, seconded by Councilman Bethea and passed with the following vote of those members present. ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 137 (SALE OF SCRAP METALS/JUNKYARDS AND RECYCLE CENTERS) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF TRENTON. Aye: Mr. Bethea, Mrs. Lartigue, Mr. Melone - 3 Nays: Ms. Staton - 1 Absent: Mr. Coston, Mr. Segura, Mr. Pintella - 3 City Council Conference: Minutes June 17, 2008 2  Mrs. Joyner, Acting City Clerk distributed to Council Members a list of the ABC Establishments and explained the new procedure that would be implemented. Council reviewed the docket items. PUBLIC COMMENTS: John Scarpati, 871 Edinburg Road – Expressed his concerns regarding the changes to the sale of scrap metals Ordinance. James Fouse, 13 Cavell Street – Stated that the City Master Plan (Living Trenton) was beautiful but he was concerned about community input. Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Stated that the City Master Plan (Living Trenton) was very lovely but Administration should reach out to the communities to people like Mr. Fouse; she announced that a Food Bazaar was opening at the Roebling Market; taxes in the City of Trenton are very reasonable; asked how she could file a complaint on Lamberton Liquors. Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Read an article regarding the closing of the Police District on Walnut Avenue; he supports the State Police working the Walnut Avenue area; people on Walnut Avenue are very concern with how the police handle things; he stated that until the City does the basics, and gets rid of the criminals this City is not going anywhere. Jeanette M. Rosie, 741 Centre Street – Wanted to know if the City Master Plan (Living Trenton) was going to include the 700 block of Centre Street; she stated that the fence from the house next to her is falling into her yard she can’t afford to pay someone to fix it. Robert Hampton, 404 Grand Avenue – He stated that he is a union contractor concerned about the new development going up in the City and what it was going to do for the working individual; What is Council going to do for the working union members; contractors are bringing their own workers from out of this area, which is not helping the economy or the people in this area. Joe Harrison, 15 Swan Street – Wanted to know who owns the Champale Site because it needs to be cleaned and the weeds cut; asked if Swan Street was going to be paved; when are we going to get more information on the budget and tax increase; how long will the Master Plan (Living Trenton) take to be completed; we need to get rid of some of these ABC establishments and slum landlords; we want the State Police here; this project might bring our Police Director back into our City. Tyrell Blakely, 2915 17th Street Northeast, Washington, DC – Graduate of Trenton High School; how much did the City spend on this presentation? This presentation is not worth hundreds of thousands dollars. City Council Conference: Minutes June 17, 2008 3 CIVIC MATTERS: Councilwoman Lartigue – 1. Asked for a list of the upcoming projects in the West Ward for 2008-2009 Councilwoman Staton – 1. Glad to see the demolition on Stuyvesant Avenue. 2. She asked Mr. Frisby to explain the fees for the use of City pools. 3. Asked Mr. Gonzalez to speak about the elimination of RCA funds. 4. Reminded Council members to provide the Acting City Clerk the name of their secretary for the 2008-2009 FISCAL year. 5. Parking Authority and Zoning Boards appointments will be discussed next Tuesday. 6. ABC renewal meeting for June 26, 2008. 7. The IT Department needs to look at Council members Laptop computers before Tuesday, June 24, 2008. Councilman Bethea – 1. Asked if the fees were for the Camps use of our pools or would residents also have to pay. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes June 17, 2008 4