City Council

CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES September 18, 2008 Trenton Council Chamber 5:30 p.m. A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Trenton, New Jersey, was held on the above date at 5:49 p.m., in Council Chamber, 319 East State Street, Trenton, New Jersey. The meeting was called to order by President Paul M. Pintella, who 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 Meetings Act. The FY 2008 Annual Notice was adopted by Trenton City Council by Resolution No. 08-341 on June 19, 2008. The agenda for the said meeting was mailed, posted and filed on September 12, 2008. ROLL CALL: Present: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura and Pintella Absent: Ms. Lartigue and Ms. Staton Invocation and Salute to the Flag was led by Acting City Clerk Juanita M. Joyner. President Pintella informed the public that a special meeting will be held on September 23, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. to discuss Library Issues. President Pintella asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of the passing of the former Pastor of Sacred Heart Church Msg. Leonard Tomi. Motion was made by Mr. Melone, seconded by Mr. Bethea, that the minutes of the City Council meeting held on August 7, 2008, be approved and the reading thereof dispensed with. Motion carried by unanimous vote of those Council members present. UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND SECOND READING OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES: Council President Pintella declared open a public hearing on an ordinance entitled “ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING CHAPTER 97 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF TRENTON TO PROVIDE FOR LIFE HAZARD INSPECTIONS TO BE PERFORMED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES”, and asked if anyone wished to speak to the subject. City Council Meeting Minutes September 18, 2008 1  No one appeared to speak nor were protests filed with the Clerk. The hearing was closed. A motion to adopt the ordinance was made by Mr. Bethea, seconded by Mr. Pintella, and carried by the following vote of Council: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura and Pintella Nays: None Absent: Ms. Lartigue and Ms. Staton Council President Pintella declared open a public on an ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 272 ARTICLE 1 SECTION 18 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF TRENTON TO INCREASE THE TAXI CAB RATES AND CHARGES AND TO REQUIRE THE DOME LIGHTS TO REFLECT AN ACTIVE FARE”, and asked if anyone wished to speak to the subject. No one appeared to speak nor were protests filed with the Clerk. The hearing was closed. A motion to adopt the ordinance was made by Mr. Segura, seconded by Mr. Pintella, and carried by the following vote of Council: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura and Pintella Nays: None Absent: Ms. Lartigue and Ms. Staton Motion was made by Mr. Pintella, seconded by Mr. Bethea, to hold the following resolutions until October 9, 2008, which motion was carried by unanimous vote of those Council members present. 5fr - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO SINGER & GOGER, 111 MULBERRY STREET, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES – CIVIL RIGHTS AND OTHER SPECIALIZED LITIGATION THROUGH A FAIR AND OPEN PROCESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5 ET SEQ. (In an amount not to exceed $40,000) 5ir - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO SALVATORE T. ALFANO, ESQ., P.O. BOX 1450, 55 WASHINGTON STREET, BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY, TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES – CIVIL RIGHTS AND OTHER SPECIALIZED LITIGATION THROUGH A FAIR AND OPEN PROCESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5 ET SEQ. (In an amount not to exceed $20,000) City Council Meeting Minutes September 18, 2008 2 FIRST READING OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE: Mr. Melone introduced, presented and authorized publication of an ordinance entitled “ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 150 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF TRENTON “LITTERING” TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASED PENALTY”. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bethea, and carried. Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura and Pintella Nays: None Absent: Ms. Lartigue and Ms. Staton RESOLUTION NO. 08-565 – RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUB-GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THE CITY OF TRENTON AND SURROUNDING AREA. Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Segura and Pintella Nays: Mr. Melone (left the meeting at 6:15 p.m.) Absent: Ms. Lartigue and Ms. Staton PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS: Joe Harrison, 15 Swan Street, spoke of his concerns regarding the budget. Hussain Hagg, 87 Liberty Street, urged City Council to find money to keep the libraries open. Mr. Segura informed Mr. Hagg that City Council did not close the libraries. Aliyy Hagg, 9 years old, informed City Council that if the libraries closed, children might turn to violence. Eugene Parlar, 408 Hazel Street, spoke of his concern with the closing of the libraries. Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street, spoke of her concern with the closing of the libraries. Susan Hart Perez, 41 Montgomery Place, submitted petitions signed by residents to keep the libraries open. She also asked who would secure the library buildings when they were closed. Kevin Hogan, 853 Berkeley Avenue, spoke of his concern with the closing of the libraries. Carol Tucker, 26 S. Westfield Avenue, spoke of her concern with the closing of the libraries. Marjorie Pinder, 757 Centre Street, suggested that the mini-stations be made into libraries. She also spoke of the trash issue in the City of Trenton. City Council Meeting Minutes September 18, 2008 3 James Fouse, 13 Covell Avenue, questioned whether City Council sees the line item budget. He also spoke of the possibility of layoffs for City employees. Crystal Smith, 513 William Street, spoke on the closing of the libraries. She also suggested that the libraries have a coffee shop. Missy Belmar, 212 Columbia Avenue, spoke against the closing of the libraries. David Perez, 41 Montgomery Place, spoke against the closing of the libraries. Mr. Ali, New Black Panther Party, spoke in support of having the libraries remain open. Frank Weeden, 256 Allen Street, feels the City of Trenton has been mismanaged. Zachary Chester, 1405 Stuyvesant Avenue, commended City Council for being opposed to the closing of the libraries. Rafael Valentin, as President of the Friends of the Free Public Library, spoke on the closing of the libraries. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street, spoke on the closing of the libraries. He also spoke on the crime rate in the City of Trenton. Patora Monroe, 206 W. Hanover Street, spoke on the closing of the libraries. Kevin Williams, 244 Jackson Street, spoke on the closing of the libraries. Theresa Fitzgibbon, 564 Centre Street, spoke against the closing of the libraries. Mr. Segura left the meeting at 7:07 p.m. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. ______________________________ _____________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER President Acting City Clerk City Council Meeting Minutes September 18, 2008 4