City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 9, 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 5:12 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 2008-2009 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 19, 2008 by Resolution No. 08-341. The agenda for this meeting was mailed, posted and filed on September 5, 2008. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 7. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION: RESOLUTION GRANTING RENEWAL OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION LICENSE FOR R & T TAVERN, INC., T/A NUEVO AMBIENTE MANGO FOR THE 2008-2009 LICENSING PERIOD Council President Pintella stated that the above resolution had been rescinded at the September 4, 2008 meeting and arrangements for a hearing would be made. Councilman Coston made a motion to remove said resolution, seconded by Councilman Bethea and carried by unanimous vote of Council. PUBLIC COMMENTS: James Fouse, 13 Cavell Avenue – Asked for the status on Police Director Santiago. Bea Perry, 26 Sylvester Avenue – Complained about snakes in Pulaski Alley; addressed the traffic problems with trucks; tree trimming; data base for street cleaning; “no littering” signs. Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Distributed pictures of 317 Walnut Avenue to Council members and spoke on the problems with the property; when utilities are turned off on an occupied property is the department of inspections notified? The tenant at 344 Walnut Avenue lived there all summer without utilities; there are 125 vacant properties within a 5 block area in the Wilbur Section. City Council Conference: Minutes September 9, 2008 1 Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Very happy that three properties on Lamberton Street 624, 619 & 621 had been demolished; K Hovnanian and the Champale building; 667 Lamberton Street has furniture on the front porch. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street – Immigration reform; businesses that are in the City of Trenton use their city address; is the City doing everything they can to address crime; can Council ask the Superintendent of School about students doing community service as part of their curriculum. Donald Brokate, 104 Cornwall Avenue – Who is responsible for cleaning the sewage backup that, came into his property because the main line was clogged; asked Council to support a resolution to offer parking permits to residence that live in parking meter areas. Sherwood Brown, 232 Wayne Avenue - Marking tires to determine how long people park at a meter. Tynnetta Howard, 322 E. State Street – Concerned about parking meters & residents; wants to help students from the daylight/twilight school by teaching them working skills. PRESENTATION: Update on Trenton Public Schools Appearance: Rodney Lofton, Superintendent of Trenton Public Schools Council President Pintella welcomed Superintendent Lofton to Council meeting and expressed his positive feelings regarding the new school uniforms. Mr. Lofton thanked City Council for inviting and giving him the opportunity to come before Council to give an update and answer any questions they had regarding the Trenton Public Schools. Mr. Lofton’s presentation included a more detailed description on the following items: • Day 1 – Opening of Schools Checklist • Schools Security • Teacher Recruitment • District wide Curriculum • Special Programs • Student Services • NJQSAC • Daylight/Twilight Program • New Schools Projects A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. City Council Conference: Minutes September 9, 2008 2  Mrs. Joyner gave Council Members a brief summary of the reason the Resolutions for R & T Tavern, Inc. License renewal was on the agenda. After a discussion by Council Members and Special Counsel, Mr. Joseph Alacqua, the following action was taken. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 1. RESOLUTION NO. 08-536 - RESOLUTION GRANTING RENEWAL OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION LICENSE FOR R & T TAVERN, INC., T/A NUEVO AMBIENTE MANGO FOR THE 2008-2009 LICENSING PERIOD (Sponsored by Mr. Coston) The Resolution was moved by Councilman Coston, seconded by Councilwoman Lartigue and adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Ms. Staton Nays: Messrs. Segura, Pintella Absent: Mr. Melone Council Members agreed to have ABC hearings on a regular basis on the 3rd Monday of every month at 5:00 pm starting with the month of October, 2008. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilwoman Lartigue – 1. Distributed a pamphlet on Shared Services. Chief of Staff Mrs. Renee Haynes appeared before Council regarding services the City currently shares which include the following: • Police Department – Mercer County, Ewing, Hamilton and State Police • Animal Shelter – County • True Shared Services – HAV MAT with the Fire Department, WIC Program • Library – Joining with the County A discussion followed: Councilwoman Lartigue strongly recommended that a feasibility study be done to determent how Trenton can better utilize and participate in a Shared Services Program, thereby saving the City money. Councilwoman Lartigue also asked to have a straw vote to see who wanted to have a feasibility study done. Business Administrator Jane Feigenbaum, stated that the County had done a feasibility study which included interviewing municipalities about shared services. We do not share any services at this point with the County. City Council Conference: Minutes September 9, 2008 3  Councilman Coston made a motion to have a sub committee of three council members to look more closely at the shared services program and bring their recommendations to City Council, seconded by Councilwoman Staton. On Roll Call: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella Absent: Mr. Melone Councilman Coston stated that he would like to be in the committee. Councilwoman Staton stated that she would like to be in the committee. Councilman Segura stated that he would participate. Councilwoman Lartigue – 2. Asked regarding the red light program from DOT. Councilman Coston – 1. Asked regarding two properties on Walnut Avenue that had a fire and needed to be secured. 2. Asked Administration to provide a projected budget breakdown for this fiscal year and for 2009 to council members. 3 Spoke about the Director of Communication’s residency, that he was not on the voter’s registration list. 4. Change of the Workers Occupational Service to St. Francis Hospital. Councilwoman Staton – 1. Requested an Affordable Housing workshop. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes September 9, 2008 4