City Council

COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 14, 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 5:10 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 October 10, 2008. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone (arrived at 5:14), Segura, Ms. Staton (arrived at 5:14), Mr. Pintella – 6. ABSENT: Ms. Lartigue - 1 PRESENTATIONS: 1) Subject: Cheney Flashing Company, LLC Appearance: Harry Levine, Owner Jerome Harris, Acting Director Housing & Economic Development Mr. Harry Levine stated that he was appearing before City Council regarding an ordinance designating Cheney Flashing Company, LLC as developer and authorizing the sale of 745 Calhoun Street. This ordinance also rescinds ordinance no. 08-39 which authorized the sale of 637 North Olden Avenue to them. They are currently located on an alley off Prospect Street behind the Board of Education storage building. Cheney Flashing Company has been located in the City of Trenton since the 1930s and was owned by one family until 2006 when Mr. Levine purchased the business. They have doubled their staff and sales since that time. They would like to expand the business and relocate to a larger facility that is at lease 20,000 square feet. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. City Council Conference: Minutes October 14, 2008 1 2) Subject: West End Shopping Center Appearance: Eddie Trujillo, Owner Dennis Gonzalez, Assistant Business Administrator Mr. Dennis Gonzalez gave a summary of the situation with the West End Shopping Center and the City’s need to improve the municipal court and make it accommodate the city’s need. The City would like to renovate the supper market at the West End Shopping Center, which is 34,000 square feet, for the new Municipal Court. The exiting Municipal Court would be renovated to better accommodate the needs of the City. Mr. Eddie Trujillo gave a background summary of how he became the owner and renovated the supermarket at the West End Shopping Center. He also owns thirteen (13) other supermarkets within the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as the Pennington Avenue and the Lalor Street supermarkets. In 2006 the supermarket lost $413,000 and the shopping center lost $270,000. In 2007 the supermarket lost $407,000 and the shopping center lost $51,000. This year the supermarket has lost $300,000 and he can’t afford to keep it open. For the last two years Mr. Trujillo has been looking for a tenant for the supermarket on West End Avenue. The City of Trenton approached him with the offer to lease and renovate the supermarket space to use as a Municipal Court. The City will buy the building in the near future. The employees at this supermarket will be moved to one of his other stores. He has given the pharmacist the option to move to one of his other super markets or in the shopping center. Mr. Gonzalez explained that an ordinance would be submitted to Council with the conditions of the lease agreement. Mr. Gonzalez stated that if everything works out the construction for the new municipal court would begin by the middle of 2009. The North Clinton Avenue building would be dedicated for the Police Department and Communications. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. 3) Subject: Discussion of Police/Fire Draft Ordinances Appearance: Irving Bradley, Police Director Hank Gliottone, Acting Fire Director Council President Pintella thanked the directors for appearing before Council and asked if they had reviewed the proposed ordinance. He asked Councilman Coston to start the questioning since he brought the ordinances before City Council. City Council Conference: Minutes October 14, 2008 2 A. Fire Department Mr. Coston stated that there have been some changes to the Fire Department after the 2002 restructuring: The City had 2 deputy chiefs, 10 battalion chiefs, 57 captains, and 237 officers. Currently there are zero deputy chiefs, 8 battalion chiefs and 1 acting battalion chief, 45 captains, 160 officers. Acting Fire Director, Hank Gliottone stated that the City needs a captain for every 4/5 officers at a fire. His job and primary concern is the safety of his fire fighters and they require a chain of command. They have taken on additional responsibilities, such as 1st responders and fire inspectors. Captain Robert Tharp explained the need to keep and fill the positions on the budget at this time. He stated that they have reduced staff since 2002 to meet budget cuts. The City has 44 suppression units at four shifts a day to cover 24 hours. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. B. Police Department Councilman Coston read part of the ordinance being introduced to establish qualifications of the police director. Police Director Irving Bradley stated that he would not like to be locked into the number of police officers available. He would like to have the flexibility to make changes as needed. Captain Reister stated that in 2006 Police Director Santiago converted 8 police officers to 14 police aides to free up more police officers and have them in the field. In 2008 they increased the force by 25 police officers. Presently the police department is working with 6 captains, 19 lieutenants, 48 sergeants, and 282 police officers. For 2009 they are proposing 8 captains, 22 lieutenants, 49 sergeants, and 285 police officers. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. City Council Conference: Minutes October 14, 2008 3 4) Discussion on the Budget Appearance: Jane Feigenbaum, Business Administrator Renee Haynes, Chief of Staff Chief of Staff, Renee Haynes stated that the business administrator would be giving City Council a break down of what is being done to fill the gap with the budget. Business Administrator, Jane Feigenbaum gave an overview of the City budget deficit. Ms. Feigenbaum stated that given the projective revenue and expenditure for this year, the City’s deficit is estimated at $26 million. There will be layoffs, demotions and eliminations of vacancies. The City is prepared to go before the Department of Personnel (DOP) on Friday with their proposal. It will take seventy-five (75) days for it to be finalized. The first 30 days the DOP will review the “bumping rights”, then over the following 45 days the City will provide the individuals with layoff or demotion notices. This will not go into effect until around the 1st of the year. • Layoff and demotions will decrease the budget by $3.7 million. • Vacancy eliminations will decrease the budget by $2.9 million. • With the decrease of other expenses the budget deficit will be under $19 million. The City planned to use the money from the sale of the Water Infrastructure to offset this budget, unfortunately, at this time the sale does not look as if it will go through. Ms. Feigenbaum gave a breakdown of the layoffs and demotions, and she stated that every department will affected (69 layoffs, 27 demotions, and 89 vacancies will be eliminated from the budget). Council President Pintella asked Ms. Feigenbaum to provide this information to City Council members in writing. There will be elimination of vacancies in the Police Department (both civilian and police officer). There will be a reduction of 6 police aides and 16 police officers. In the Fire Department 2 deputy chiefs will be eliminated, 13 captains will be demoted to fire fighters, and 13 fire fighter vacancies will be eliminated. There will be a captain for every fire house, but not for every vehicle. Council President Pintella stated that communications between Administration, the Fire Department and with Council must be kept open regarding this issue. A detailed discussion was followed by a question and answer period. City Council Conference: Minutes October 14, 2008 4 FIRST READING OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES: Councilman Bethea introduced, presented and authorized publication of an ordinance entitled “ORDINANCE DESIGNATING CHENEY FLASHING COMPANY, LLC AS DEVELOPER OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 745 CALHOUN STREET AND AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SAID PROPERTY“. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pintella, and carried with the following vote of council. Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella Nays: None Absent: Ms. Lartigue Councilman Coston introduced, presented and authorized publication of an ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE XIII, OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TRENTON IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A TABLE OF ORGANIZATION FOR THE TRENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT”. The motion was seconded by Councilman Segura, and carried with the following vote of council. Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton Nays: Mr. Pintella Absent: Ms. Lartigue Councilman Coston introduced, presented and authorized publication of an ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE XII, OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TRENTON IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH QUALIFICATIONS OF A POLICE DIRECTOR”. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pintella, and carried with the following vote of council. Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Melone, Segura, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella Nays: None Absent: Ms. Lartigue Councilman Coston introduced, presented and authorized publication of an ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE XII, OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TRENTON IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A TABLE OF ORGANIZATION FOR THE TRENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT”. The motion was seconded by Councilman Segura. Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Segura Nays: Mr. Melone, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella Absent: Ms. Lartigue Ordinance failed on first reading. City Council Conference: Minutes October 14, 2008 5 PUBLIC COMMENTS: William Paradiso, Battalion Chief, Trenton Fire Department (36 years) – Spoke against the demotion of Fire Department staffing. Since 2002 they have been doing more with less; the demotion of thirteen (13) captains is not in the best interest or safety of this City; feels it is impossible to accomplish their duties without a captain in charge; engine and a ladder truck have different duties at a fire; he feels that something else can be done to cut back in the Fire Department. Robert Tharp, Captain, Trenton Fire Department (19 year) – Spoke against the demotion of 13 captains from the Fire Department. Bea Perry, 26 Sylvester Avenue – Spoke in support of the Fire Department staff. Paul Harris, Jr., 137 Centre Street – Spoke regarding the foreclosure of properties and the 13 cent tax increase; City employee layoffs; use of City vehicles; every City employee, including the cabinet should give something back, not just 69 employees. Brunivell Ramirez, 17 Girard Avenue – Spoke in support of keeping the City Libraries open. Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue – Concerned about the financial situation, abandoned properties on Walnut Avenue and foreclosure properties in the City. James Fouse, 13 Cavell Street – Spoke about the financial situation the City is in, he feels that every City employee should get a 10% pay cut. Brother Divine – Spoke on the lack of recreational services for our youth. The City needs something for young adults between the ages of 18 to 25. Monroe Laremore, 1446 Stuyvesant Avenue – Distributed some pictures of an abandoned property; complained about not having something in this City for kids to do; find a way to stop crime before it is committed. Janet Sabon, 270 Cummings Avenue – Concerned about construction work being done at Jules Tavern. CIVIC MATTERS: Councilman Coston – A letter from Capital Health System asking for support from the City to apply for a grant to provide training to educate people on not using the emergency room for non-emergency needs. City Council Conference: Minutes October 14, 2008 6 Councilman Segura – 1. Asked the Chief of Staff what the Police Director’s salary is. He felt that the City should have waited until the financial situation was better before hiring a Police Director and paying a high salary when someone in the Police Department could have served in the position as Acting. 3. Spoke on problematic ABC businesses in the City. Councilwoman Staton – 1. Spoke regarding youth activities in the City. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Conference: Minutes October 14, 2008 7