City Council

SPECIAL COUNCIL CONFERENCE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 9, 2009 CITY HALL – 5:30 PM A Special Conference Meeting of the City Council of the City of Trenton, New Jersey, was held on the above date at 5:41 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. Notice was mailed to the Trenton Times and the Trentonian Newspapers, posted on the first floor bulletin board in City Hall, and filed in the City Clerk’s Office. The agenda for this meeting was mailed, posted and filed on April 7, 2009. (N.J.S.A. 10:1 et seq) ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue (arrived at 5:43 pm), Mr. Melone, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella – 6. ABSENT: Mr. Segura - 1 Council President Pintella welcomed Mrs. Juanita Joyner, Acting City Clerk back from her sick leave. He also announced that Mr. Nathanial Jones, Sr. passed away and asked for a moment of silence. PRESENTATION: Adoption of FY 2009 Budget Appearance: Renee Haynes, Chief of Staff Dennis Gonzalez, Acting Business Administrator Ronald Zilinski, Director of Finance Mrs. Renee Haynes, Chief of Staff, stated that they were before Council to present the City Budget for approval. They also had a resolution for amendments to the budget. Mr. Ronald Zilinski, Director of Finance stated that upon final review by the Division of Local Government Services the State was concerned that the City might not close on the sale of the Champale building before June 30, 2009. Therefore the State advised the City to amend the budget to remove this item as a revenue item from the budget and add $1. million to the water sale proceeds. Mrs. Haynes advised that the State wanted a letter from Champale stating that there were no contingencies, and that they (Champale) could close by June 30, 2009. Champale could not provide the letter. Council President Pintella asked if the Division of Local Government Services had given approval for the City to adopt the budget. He also wanted an update on the sale of the Water Infrastructure based of the decision by the BPU. City Council Special Conference: Minutes April 9, 2009 1  Mr. Zilinski stated that BPU allowed the City to move forward with the sale of the Water Infrastructure as of April 3, 2009. After the presentation a question and answer period ensued. Motion was made by Councilwoman Staton, seconded by Councilwoman Lartigue, to adopt the following resolution by vote of Council. 1. RESOLUTION NO. 09-147 – RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE APPROVED FY 2009 MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF TRENTON ($190,073,853.35) (Sponsor by Councilwoman Staton) Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Melone, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella - 6 Nay: Mr. Segura - 1 Motion was made by Councilwoman Staton, seconded by Councilman Bethea, to adopt the following resolution by vote of Council. 2. RESOLUTION NO. 09-148 – RESOLUTION ADOPTION OF THE FY 2009 BUDGET Ayes: Messrs. Bethea, Coston, Ms. Lartigue, Mr. Melone, Ms. Staton, Mr. Pintella - 6 Nay: Mr. Segura - 1 Councilman Coston left the meeting at 6:12 pm. Councilman Melone left the meeting at 6:48 pm. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Patricia Stewart, 679 Lamberton Street – Questioned how long it would take Administration to present the FY 2010 Budget; complained about the number of tax exempt properties in the City; feels that church buildings that are not being use should pay taxes. The following individuals voiced their concerns and complaints about Mr. Molnar, a landlord in the Mill Hill area of the City of Trenton. Jane Vawter, 146 Mercer Street – Home owner Angela Snell, 143 E. State Street, Broad Street Bank Building – Former tenant, used to live at 150 Mercer Street one of Mr. Molnar properties. Karen Francis, 147 Mercer Street – Mr. Molnar’s, tenant Catherine Hidgen, 148 Mercer Street - Home owner Andrew Bobbit, 143 E. State Street – Former tenant, used to live at 150 Mercer Street one of Mr. Molnar properties. Phil DeRose, 19 Greenwood Avenue, President of the Old Mill Hill Society Lisa Kasabach, 109 Jackson Street City Council Special Conference: Minutes April 9, 2009 2 Burgess Ekman, 126 Mercer Street Paul Harris, 137 Centre Street – Stated that the residents of Mill Hill should notify the newspaper. Kenneth Scott, Attorney from Philadelphia - Representing the Mill Hill group Felix Hidgen, 148 Mercer Street – Home owner Kevin Williams, 246 Jackson Street CIVIC MATTERS: None The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted ___________________________ __________________________ PAUL M. PINTELLA JUANITA M. JOYNER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACTING CITY CLERK City Council Special Conference: Minutes April 9, 2009 3