City Council

CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES March 19, 2009 City Hall, 319 E. State Street 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 5:45 p.m., at City Hall, 319 E. 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 February 27, 2009. ROLL CALL: Present: Messrs. Bethea and Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone and Segura, Ms. Staton and Mr. Pintella Absent: None Invocation and Salute to the Flag was led by Acting City Clerk Juanita M. Joyner. President Pintella asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of the passing of Reverend Dr. John Gaines, Senior Pastor of El Bethel Baptist Church. He also welcomed back Ms. Patricia Stewart, who is recovering from illness. Councilman Gino Melone and Freeholder Pat Colavita presented Certificates of Appreciation to Kathleen Garcia, Yojana Tajiboy, Ying Chen and Gabriela Vanegas in recognition of their being recipients of the Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs 2009 Mercer County Champions of the New Jersey High School Consumer Bowl Competition Achievement Award. President Pintella asked Dennis Gonzalez, Acting Business Administrator to make a presentation regarding the meeting he had with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs concerning the financial situation of the City of Trenton. City Council Meeting Minutes March 19, 2009 1  Dennis Gonzalez, Acting Business Administrator, informed City Council that the City of Trenton is required by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to participate in the pension deferral program. This impacts and reduces the $20 deficit by $6.8 million bringing it to $13.2. The money must be paid back over the next ten to fifteen years. The Division of Local Government Services has changed the requirement from $1.5 million over eleven years to $1.65 million dollars over ten years beginning in the 2010 budget. This will still leave the City with a gap of $11.7 million dollars, which when broken down, means a 58 cent tax rate increase. A discussion was held regarding the pension deferral. Motion was made by Mr. Pintella, seconded by Mr. Bethea, to hold a special meeting on March 26, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. for further discussion. Jerome C. Harris, Acting Director of Housing and Economic Development, gave a brief presentation regarding the resolution entitled Resolution amending Resolution #97-402 which erroneously authorized a 20 year abatement term for the Escher SRO Project, LP instead of a 30 year term. UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND SECOND READING FO THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE: 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 INSPECTIONS”, 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. Pintella, seconded by Mr. Bethea, and carried by the following vote of Council: Ayes: Messrs. Bethea and Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone and Segura, Ms. Staton and Mr. Pintella Nays: None Absent: None City Council Meeting Minutes March 19, 2009 2 FIRST READING OF THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES: Mr. Melone introduced, presented and authorized publication of an ordinance entitled “ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE BETWEEN THE CITY OF TRENTON AND JAMES DAVIS FOR THE USE OF VACANT CITY-OWNED PROPERTY FOR GARDENING”. The motion was seconded by Mr. Pintella, and carried. Ayes: Messrs. Bethea and Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone and Segura, Ms. Staton and Mr. Pintella Nays: None Absent: None Motion was made by Mr. Bethea, seconded by Mr. Pintella, to Roll Call, the following resolution, which motion carried by the unanimous vote of those Council members present. RESOLUTION NO. 09-122 ½ - RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION #97-402 WHICH ERRONEOUSLY AUTHORIZED A 20 YEAR ABATEMENT TERM FOR THE ESCHER SRO PROJECT, LP INSTEAD OF A 30 YEAR TERM. Ayes: Ms. Staton and Mr. Pintella Nays: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Messrs. Melone and Segura Absent: None Mr. Coston left the meeting at PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS: Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street, informed City Council that it is our constitutional right to petition the sale of the water infrastructure; feels there should be an entertainment tax; questioned why there were salary increases now at this time of financial difficulties. Frank Weeden, 256 Allen Street, feels that the sale of the water infrastructure is a quick fix, and supports the petitioners who oppose it. Dion Clark, 323 Walnut Avenue, questioned if anyone was accountable for the children that threw the poodle in the yard with the pit bull; and spoke of the slumlords. Captain Fred Reister, Chief of Police, informed that the Police can only respond when an incident occurs regarding a pit bull. Carolyn Lewis-Spruill, Director of Health and Human Services, informed City Council that the children in question are unknown. The owner of the pit bull was issued a summons because the dog was not licensed. City Council Meeting Minutes March 19, 2009 3 Monroe Larimore, 1446 Stuyvesant Avenue, spoke of the high rate of high school dropouts; would like to see black history in school; feels that everyone needs to speak the language. James Fouse, 13 Covell Avenue, feels that the Mayor gets blamed for things that are out of his control, and that parents should take responsibility for their children. Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street, spoke of the Library budget and the Trentonianna room; and feels there was misinformation on the blogs. Ms. Lartigue asked Mr. Harris to continue to encourage people to come to City Council meetings. Marjorie Pinder, 757 Centre Street, feels that the city has the right to pass an ordinance prohibiting pit bulls. Ms. Lartigue stated that not all pit bulls are bad dogs. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. ______________________________ ________________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER President Acting City Clerk City Council Meeting Minutes March 19, 2009 4