Board of Commissioners - Board of Commissioners

CITY OF UNION CITY HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS : : TRANSCRIPT OF RECORDED REGULAR MEETING : _ : PROCEEDINGS Colin Powell Elementary School 1500 New York Avenue Union City, New Jersey Wednesday, June 3, 2015 Commencing at 7:03 p.m. M E M B E R S P R E S E N T: BRIAN P. STACK, MAYOR LUCIO P. FERNANDEZ, COMMISSIONER MARYURY A. MARTINETTI, COMMISSIONER CELIN J. VALDIVIA, COMMISSIONER TILO E. RIVAS, COMMISSIONER M E M B E R S A B S E N T: A L S O P R E S E N T: DOMINICK CANTATORE, ACTING CITY CLERK SCARINCI HOLLENBECK BY: MONICA E. de los RIOS, ESQ. Corporation Counsel GREGORY T. FARMER, ESQ. Attorney for the Union City Alcohol Beverage Control Commission SUSAN COLDITZ, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER  2 I N D E X PAGE CALL TO ORDER 3 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3 ROLL CALL 4 APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES 4 ORDINANCE FOR HEARING AND ADOPTION 5 CONSENT AGENDA 14 REGULAR AGENDA 24,25, 26,27, 28,30 OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD 31 LIQUOR LICENSE DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS 55 ADJOURNMENT 71  3 1 ACTING CITY CLERK: This is a Regular 2 Public Meeting of the Union City Board of 3 Commissioner, being held on Wednesday, June 3rd, 4 2015, at seven p.m., at the Colin Powell 5 Elementary School, 1500 New York Avenue, Union 6 City, New Jersey. 7 Everyone please rise for the Pledge of 8 Allegiance. 9 10 (Whereupon the Pledge of Allegiance was 11 said.) 12 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: This meeting has been 14 called in accordance with Chapter 231, Public Law 15 of 1975, the Open Public Meeting Act. 16 Adequate notice of this meeting has been 17 provided as follows: 18 Notice of this meeting setting forth the 19 time, the date, location, and the agenda, to the 20 extent known, was forwarded to The Jersey 21 Journal, The Record, The Hudson Reporter, and has 22 been made -- has been posted on bulletin board in 23 City Hall, and has been made available to the 24 public in the office of the Municipal Clerk. 25  4 1 ROLL CALL: 2 3 ACTING CITY CLERK: Roll call. 4 Commissioner Fernandez? 5 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Here. 6 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 7 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Here. 8 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 9 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Here. 10 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 11 Martinetti? 12 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Here. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 14 MAYOR STACK: Here. 15 16 APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES FROM APRIL 17 21, 2015 and MAY 5, 2015: 18 19 ACTING CITY CLERK: First item, Approval of 20 Previous Meeting Minutes of April 21 st, 2015 and 21 May 5th, 2015. 22 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Move it. 23 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Second. 24 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion made by 25 Commissioner Valdivia.  5 1 Second by Commissioner Martinetti. 2 Roll call. 3 Commissioner Fernandez? 4 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 5 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 6 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 8 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 9 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 10 Martinetti? 11 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 12 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 13 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 14 15 ORDINANCES FOR HEARING AND ADOPTION 16 CONSIDERATION: 17 18 ( ) ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 366 OF THE CODE 19 OF THE CITY OF UNION CITY ENTITLED “STREES (sic) 20 AND SIDEWALKS” 21 22 ACTING CITY CLERK: Next item is an 23 Ordinance for Hearing Adoption Consideration. 24 This Ordinance Amending Chapter 366 of the 25 Code of the City of Union City Entitled Streets  6 1 and Sidewalks. 2 MAYOR STACK: Monica, you want to explain 3 the Ordinance please? 4 MS. de los RIOS: Sure. Of course. 5 This Ordinance sets forth a three-tier 6 penalty system for those who are found having 7 used rock salt on -- on their sidewalks. 8 The three-tier penalty system would be -- a 9 first offense would be a fine of $250.00. Second 10 offense would be for $500.00. And the third for 11 $750.00. 12 MAYOR STACK: The City is not looking to 13 issue fines or summonses to anyone. We’re just 14 basically looking to maintain the sidewalks that 15 we’re putting in throughout the City and keeping 16 the City looking nice and beautiful and 17 protecting the investment of the City. 18 Anyone wishing to comment on this Ordinance 19 at this time, please step forward; just state 20 your name and address for the record. 21 MS. DILLON: Over here. 22 ACTING CITY CLERK: Over here, Larry. 23 MAYOR STACK: Right there. 24 MR. PRICE: Oh. Oh. 25 MAYOR STACK: There.  7 1 MR. PRICE: Larry Price, 1006 Palisade 2 Avenue. 3 One suggestion. You know, the -- the 4 Ordinance is proposed that anyone found -- anyone 5 found using rock salt to de-ice the sidewalk -- 6 it’s any sidewalk. There are two categories of 7 owners here. 8 One is the guy who got a free sidewalk from 9 the City and now thinks he’s -- because he’s an 10 owner he’s got the right to destroy it. That, 11 you know, that person probably deserves these 12 fines or more. 13 But most of the owners in the City paid for 14 their sidewalk. And it seems a little harsh to, 15 you know, -- I mean my -- I bought a -- from Max 16 Adamo a sidewalk or -- ten years ago. Let me 17 tell you, there’s no rock salt ever gone on that 18 -- that sidewalk. But I paid for it; City didn’t 19 -- didn’t give it to me. It seems a little harsh 20 for the City then to turn around and say, you 21 know, a -- you know, $250.00 fine. I’m never 22 going to pay that, I mean since I’m never going 23 to do it. 24 But -- but the guy who got a free sidewalk 25 should -- should be grateful for it and -- and  8 1 take care of it. 2 The guy who -- who paid for his own 3 sidewalk, it seems a little harsh. 4 The second problem I have, anyone found 5 using rock salt, -- a lot of cases -- or in some 6 cases, it’s a tenant who uses the rock salt, not 7 the owner of the property. 8 So there’s going to be, I think, an 9 enforcement difficulty there because if it’s -- 10 if it’s the tenant who put the rock salt out, you 11 know, you’ll -- you’ll probably want to go -- 12 want to go after the -- the owner, not the -- but 13 he’s not the one who did it. 14 That -- that could be a, you know, a big 15 fight in trying to enforce it. 16 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. 17 Price. 18 Monica, if we could amend -- if we could 19 amend that anyone who received a sidewalk in the 20 last -- in the last 14 years installed by the 21 City of Union City, whether it be the sidewalk 22 program that we do where we do an entire block or 23 under the Community Development Program, that we 24 have the enforcement. 25 I’ll take Mr. Price’s comments under  9 1 advisement. 2 If we could amend that, -- 3 MS. de los RIOS: Absolutely. 4 MAYOR STACK: -- I’d like to do that. 5 MS. de los RIOS: Okay. We will. 6 MAYOR STACK: How do you want to do that 7 now with this? 8 Do you want to -- 9 MS. de los RIOS: So, we’ll -- 10 ACTING CITY CLERK: We’ll table -- 11 MS. de los RIOS: We’ll table it until -- 12 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Table. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: We’ll table it -- 14 MAYOR STACK: Table it? 15 MS. de los RIOS: -- and we’ll reintroduce 16 it. 17 MAYOR STACK: Do that for me. Okay? 18 MS. de los RIOS: Yes. 19 MAYOR STACK: And then put it on for the 20 next. 21 I’ll make a motion -- 22 MS. de los RIOS: And we’ll reintroduce it. 23 MAYOR STACK: -- to table it until the next 24 meeting -- 25 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Second.  10 1 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Second. 2 MAYOR STACK: -- with the comment -- 3 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion -- motion made 4 by -- 5 MAYOR STACK: -- with the changes that 6 we’re making. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: -- Mayor Stack. 8 And second by Commissioner Martinetti. 9 Roll call. 10 Commissioner Fernandez? 11 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 12 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 13 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 14 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 15 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 16 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 17 Martinetti? 18 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 19 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 20 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 21 And just for -- just for everyone’s 22 knowledge, on these sidewalks and all sidewalks, 23 we’re trying to get everybody into the mindset 24 City-wide to stop using rock salt because of the 25 damage it does. Whether they put their own  11 1 sidewalk in, as Mr. Price said, or whether the 2 City was involved in putting it in, or maybe one 3 of the federal programs were involved with 4 putting in. We’re just trying to get everybody 5 under the mindset because it’s our hope, sooner 6 or later, that every street in the City will be 7 done. When we go in and pave a street, we give 8 everybody a brand new sidewalk. 9 I mean this year alone we’re doing a 10 massive amount; 15th Street, Bergenline to Kennedy 11 is being done; 22nd, Pal to Kennedy, that might be 12 delayed till next year because PSE&G’s putting in 13 a gas line; 43rd, Park to Kennedy; 48th/49th, Park 14 to Bergenline were done –- are being done; 19 and 15 20th Streets, Summit to Kerrigan; 15 to 32 this 16 year, Summit Avenue is being done. 17 So we’re doing a lot every year. Next year 18 we’re probably doing about another 25 streets in 19 the City. 20 So we just want to get everybody into that 21 mindset. And we want to -- we do send a letter 22 out to every property owner. I know we sent out 23 like five this past winter, not to use rock salt 24 on their sidewalk. Unfortunately some people do 25 but we’re trying our best to -- for enforcement.  12 1 So, we’ll definitely do our best and we’ll 2 take those comments under advisement. 3 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yeah, I got to add 4 the Mayor -- it’s heartbreaking when you go 5 around the City and you have these beautiful 6 sidewalks and streets done, as we see up on 7 Broadway, and the people use rock salt and they 8 destroy them within one season. It’s just 9 heartbreaking, you know, to -- you know, the 10 Mayor -- you know you fight to get the money to 11 get this done and it’s just -- some people don’t 12 know or just don’t care and something’s got to be 13 done because it’s just -- it’s heartbreaking. 14 It’s heartbreaking to see how they -- they just 15 destroy the infrastructure. 16 Thank you. 17 MAYOR STACK: Thank you very much, 18 Commissioner. 19 I’ll make a motion to table until the next 20 meeting. 21 ACTING CITY CLERK: We did already. 22 MAYOR STACK: We did that? 23 ACTING CITY CLERK: We did that already. 24 MAYOR STACK: Okay, got it. Good. 25 ACTING CITY CLERK: The next item is a --  13 1 MS. DILLON: No, you need a roll call. 2 MAYOR STACK: We need a vote. Yeah. 3 ACTING CITY CLERK: Oh, yeah. 4 MAYOR STACK: Yeah. 5 ACTING CITY CLERK: Yeah. 6 Is there -- 7 Okay. 8 Is there a motion? 9 MS. DILLON: No, you have a motion. 10 MAYOR STACK: I did a motion. 11 Celin -- Commissioner Valdivia (sic) second 12 it. 13 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Just a roll call. 14 ACTING CITY CLERK: Roll call. 15 MS. de los RIOS: Actually, Commissioner 16 Martinetti. 17 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Fernandez? 18 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 19 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 20 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 21 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 22 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 23 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 24 Martinetti? 25 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes.  14 1 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 2 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 3 4 CONSENT AGENDA: 5 6 ( 1) Resolution Approving the Payment of Claims 7 ( 2) Resolution Approving the Payment of 8 Concurring Claims 9 ( 3) Resolution Approving the City Payroll for 10 the Period of May 20, 2015 through June 2, 2015 11 ( 4) Resolution Approving the Library Payroll 12 for the Period of May 20, 2015 through June 2, 13 2015 14 ( 5) Resolution Approving the 2015-2016 Schedule 15 of the Board of Commissioners 16 ( 6) Resolution for an Emergency Appropriation 17 to State Emergency Snow Storms NJSA 40A:4-48 18 ( 7) Resolution Approving Shared Services 19 Agreement with Hudson Regional Health Commission 20 ( 8) Resolution Awarding Contract to Beyer Bros. 21 Corp. for the Purchase of Four Wheel Drive Police 22 Service Vehicle 23 ( 9) Resolution to Approve Extension of Contract 24 for Webmaster with Alphadog Solutions 25 (10) Resolution to Approve Extension of Contract  15 1 for Printing Services with Royal Printing Service 2 (11) Resolution Awarding Contract to Frank’s 3 Truck Center Inc. for Purchase of Salt Spreader 4 Trucks 5 (12) Resolution Pertaining to Compliance with 6 the Requirements of the Fair Housing Act and the 7 Recent Decision of the New Jersey State Supreme 8 Court 9 (13) Resolution Granting the Extension of Liquor 10 License No. 0910-33-119-004 to the Chapter 7 11 Trustee for Park Avenue Bar & Grill 12 (14) Resolution Authorizing Refund of Redemption 13 Monies to Outside Lienholders 14 (15) Resolution Authorizing the Refund of 15 Premium Monies Collected at the Tax Sale 16 (16) Resolution Authorizing the Refund for Real 17 Estate Taxes on Block 243, Lot 29, Also Known as 18 115 42 Street 19 (17) Resolution Authorizing the Refund of a 20 Duplicate Payment for Real Estate Taxes on Block 21 277, Lot 27, Also Known as 219 48 Street 22 (18) Resolution Authorizing the Agreement for 23 Unpaid Real Estate Taxes on Block 280, Lot 1 24 C003A, Also Known as 4801 Palisade Avenue 25 (19) Resolution Authorizing the Agreement for  16 1 Unpaid Real Estate Taxes on Block 42, Lot 47, 2 Also Known as 900-02 Summit Avenue 3 (20) Resolution Authorizing the Agreement for 4 Unpaid Real Estate Taxes on Block 22, Lot 1.01 5 Condominiums, Also Known 500 Central Avenue 6 (21) Resolution Authorizing the Agreement for 7 Unpaid Real Estate Taxes on Block 140, Lot 1, 8 Also Known as 2500 New York Avenue 9 (22) Any other matter of City business that may 10 arise 11 12 ACTING CITY CLERK: Next item is a Consent 13 Agenda. 14 First item is Resolution Approving the 15 Payments of Claims. 16 Item 2. 17 Resolution Approving the Payment of 18 Concurring Claims. 19 Item 3. 20 Resolution Approving the City Payroll for 21 the Period of May 20, 2015 through June 2 nd, 2015. 22 Item 4. 23 Resolution Approving the Library Payroll 24 for the Period of May 20, 2015 through June 2nd, 25 2015.  17 1 Item 5. 2 Resolution Approving the 2015 and 2016 3 Schedule of the Board of Commissioners. 4 Item 6. 5 Resolution of an Emergency Appropriation to 6 State Emergency Snow Storm NJSA 40A:4-48. 7 Item 7. 8 Resolution Approving Shared Service 9 Agreement with the Hudson Regional Health 10 Commission. 11 Item 8. 12 Resolution Awarding Contract to Beyer 13 Brothers Corporation for the Purchase of Four 14 Wheel Drive Police Service Vehicle. 15 Item 9. 16 Resolution to Approve Extension of Contract 17 for Webmaster with Alphadog Solutions. 18 Item 10. 19 Resolution to Approve Extension of Contract 20 for Printing Services with Royal Printing 21 Services. 22 Item 11. 23 Resolution Awarding Contract to Frank’s 24 Truck Center Incorporated for Purchase of Salt 25 Spreader Trucks.  18 1 Item 12. 2 Resolution Pertaining to Compliance with 3 the Requirements of the Fair Housing Act and the 4 Recent Decision of the New Jersey State Supreme 5 Court. 6 Item 13. 7 Resolution Granting the Extension of Liquor 8 License Number 0910-33-119-004 to the Chapter 7 9 Trustee for Park Avenue Bar and Grill. 10 Item 14. 11 Resolution Authorizing Refund of Redemption 12 Money to Outside Lienholders. 13 Item 15. 14 Resolution Authorizing the Refund of 15 Premium Money Collected at Tax Sale. 16 Item 16. 17 Resolution Authorizing the Refund of Real 18 Estate Taxes on Block 243, Lot 29, Also Known as 19 115 42nd Street. 20 Item 17. 21 Resolution Authorizing the Refund of a 22 Duplicate Payment for Real Estate Taxes on Block 23 277, Lot 27, Also Known as 219 48th Street. 24 Item 18. 25 Resolution Authorizing the Agreement for  19 1 Unpaid Real Estate Taxes on Block 280, Lot 1 2 C003A, Also Known as 4801 Palisade Avenue. 3 Item 19. 4 Resolution Authorizing the Agreement for 5 Unpaid Real Estate Taxes on Block 42, Lot 47, 6 Also Known as 900-02 Summit Avenue. 7 Item 20. 8 Resolution Authorizing the Agreement for 9 Unpaid Real Estate Taxes on Block 22, Lot 1.01 10 Condominiums, Also Known 500 Central Avenue. 11 Item 21. 12 Resolution Authorizing the Agreement for 13 Unpaid Real Estate Taxes on Block 140, Lot 1, 14 Also Known as 2500 New York Avenue. 15 Mayor, do you wish to take public 16 comment -- 17 MAYOR STACK: Sure. 18 ACTING CITY CLERK: -- at this time? 19 MAYOR STACK: Anyone wishing to comment on 20 the Consent Agenda, please step forward. 21 Just before you do, just on item number 5 22 on -- on the Consent Agenda, scheduling of the 23 Board of Commissioners Meetings, again the 24 Commissioners -- I thank them for allowing the 25 moving of all the Commission meetings around the  20 1 City all in the evening hours and throughout the 2 City in different neighborhoods. 3 And also on item number 11, the awarding of 4 a contract to Frank’s Truck Center for purchase 5 of a salt spreader and trucks, that’s something 6 we’re doing under the Bond Ordinance that we 7 recently adopted. 8 In the City of Union City most of our snow 9 equipment is about 16, 17 years old. So we’re at 10 the point -- we’re still maintaining it but we 11 have some new equipment coming in right now just 12 to enhance what we have out there right now. 13 Mr. Price? 14 MR. PRICE: Yes, item number 20, Unpaid 15 Real Estate Taxes on 500 Central Avenue; 500 16 Central Avenue is The Lenox. 17 MAYOR STACK: It’s a condominium though; 18 they’re individual condominiums. They’re 19 individual condominiums. 20 MR. PRICE: Oh, it’s not the common 21 property -- 22 MAYOR STACK: No. No, no. 23 MR. PRICE: -- of the -- 24 MAYOR STACK: Some -- half of the building 25 is condo; half of the building is still rental.  21 1 MR. PRICE: Okay. 2 MAYOR STACK: This is on an actual 3 condominium. 4 MR. PRICE: This -- The Lenox, it’s got a 5 very check -- 6 MAYOR STACK: I’m correct, right? 7 MS. de los RIOS: That’s -- 8 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 9 MS. de los RIOS: -- that’s exactly right. 10 MR. PRICE: So it’s various -- 11 MS. de los RIOS: Yes. If you -- 12 MAYOR STACK: Various condominiums. 13 MS. de los RIOS: -- look at the 14 attachment, the attachment to the Resolution 15 actually has a listing of all of the 16 condominiums. 17 MR. PRICE: Okay. Okay. Fine. 18 But the -- the property itself is not -- 19 MAYOR STACK: No. 20 MS. de los RIOS: No. 21 MAYOR STACK: No, no, no. 22 MR. PRICE: It’s got a very checkered 23 history. 24 MAYOR STACK: Absolutely. We wouldn’t do 25 that, no.  22 1 Anyone else wishing to comment on the 2 Consent Agenda? 3 Seeing no other, I’ll make a motion. 4 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion to close public 5 comment -- 6 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Second. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: -- made by Mayor Stack. 8 Second by Commissioner Rivas. 9 Roll call. 10 Commissioner Fernandez? 11 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 12 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 13 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 14 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 15 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 16 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 17 Martinetti? 18 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 19 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 20 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 21 ACTING CITY CLERK: Is the motion to 22 approve all items on the Consent Agenda? 23 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Motion. 24 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion by Commissioner 25 Valdivia.  23 1 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Second. 2 ACTING CITY CLERK: Second by Commissioner 3 Fernandez. 4 Roll call. 5 Commissioner Fernandez? 6 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 8 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 9 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 10 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 11 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 12 Martinetti? 13 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: I’m recusing from 14 any payments to Adolfo Lopez, Esquire, and North 15 Hudson Regional Department. 16 Aye on the rest. 17 ACTING CITY CLERK: Recusing on -- on some 18 of the payments and -- 19 MS. de los RIOS: With respect to item 20 number 1 and item number 2. 21 ACTING CITY CLERK: And aye on the rest. 22 Mayor Stack? 23 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 24 25 REGULAR AGENDA:  24 1 2 1. Resolution Approving the Redevelopment 3 Agency Payroll for the Period of May 20, 2015 4 through June 2, 2015 5 6 ACTING CITY CLERK: Next item is the 7 Regular Agenda. 8 Item 1. 9 Resolution Approving the Redevelopment 10 Agency Payroll for the Period of May 20, 2015 11 through June 2nd, 2015. 12 MAYOR STACK: I’ll move it. 13 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Motion. 14 Second. 15 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion made by Mayor 16 Stack. 17 Second by Commissioner Martinetti. 18 Roll call. 19 Commissioner Fernandez; recusing. 20 Commissioner Rivas? 21 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 22 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 23 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 24 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 25 Martinetti?  25 1 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 2 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 3 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 4 5 REGULAR AGENDA: 6 7 2. Resolution Authorizing Certain Expenditure 8 Related to Various Capital Improvements Out of 9 the Proceeds of Bonds to be Issued on Behalf of 10 the Board of Education of the City of Union City 11 12 ACTING CITY CLERK: Item 2. 13 Resolution Authorizing Certain Expenditure 14 Related to Various Capital Improvements Out of 15 the Proceeds of Bonds to be Issued on Behalf of 16 the Board of Education of the City of Union City. 17 MAYOR STACK: Motion. 18 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion by Mayor Stack. 19 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Second. 20 ACTING CITY CLERK: Second by Commissioner 21 Rivas. 22 Roll call. 23 Commissioner Fernandez; recusing. 24 Commissioner Rivas? 25 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes.  26 1 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 2 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 3 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 4 Martinetti’s recusing. 5 Mayor Stack? 6 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 7 8 REGULAR AGENDA: 9 10 3. Resolution Authorizing the Submission of an 11 Application to the New Jersey Local Finance Board 12 Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:3-1 13 14 ACTING CITY CLERK: Item 3. 15 Resolution Authorizing the Submission of -- 16 of an Application to the New Jersey Local Finance 17 Board Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:3-1. 18 MAYOR STACK: I’ll move it. 19 ACTING CITY CLERK: Is there a motion? 20 Motion by Mayor Stack. 21 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Second. 22 ACTING CITY CLERK: Second by Commissioner 23 Rivas. 24 Roll call. 25 Commissioner Fernandez?  27 1 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 2 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 3 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 4 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 5 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 6 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 7 Martinetti; recusing. 8 Mayor Stack? 9 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 10 11 REGULAR AGENDA: 12 13 4. Resolution Approving Revised Shared Service 14 Agreement with the Union City Board of Education 15 for Use of the Facility at 2214 Kennedy Boulevard 16 17 ACTING CITY CLERK: Item 4. 18 Resolution Approving Revised Shared Service 19 Agreement with the Union City Board of Education 20 for Use of the Facility at 2214 Kennedy 21 Boulevard. 22 MAYOR STACK: I’ll move it. 23 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion made by Mayor 24 Stack. 25 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Second.  28 1 ACTING CITY CLERK: Second by Commissioner 2 Rivas. 3 Roll call. 4 Commissioner Fernandez; recusing. 5 Commissioner Rivas? 6 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 8 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 9 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 10 Martinetti’s recusing. 11 Mayor Stack? 12 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: Item 5, -- 14 MAYOR STACK: Just -- just on this item we 15 just voted on, part of the building will be used 16 by the Union City Board of Education, which would 17 be the front section of the old -- lack of a 18 better term -- Towne Cadillac building. 19 And the rear of the building will be used 20 by the Police Department and some Public Works 21 vehicles. 22 23 REGULAR AGENDA: 24 25 5. Resolution Approving Memorandum of  29 1 Understanding with the Urban League of Hudson 2 County for Enrollment in Affordable Health Care 3 Plans 4 5 ACTING CITY CLERK: Item 5. 6 Resolution Approving Memorandum of 7 Understanding with the Urban League of Hudson 8 County for Enrollment in Affordable Health Care 9 Plans. 10 MAYOR STACK: I’ll move it. 11 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion by Mayor Stack. 12 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Second. 13 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Second. 14 ACTING CITY CLERK: Second by Commissioner 15 Fernandez. 16 Roll call. 17 Commissioner Fernandez? 18 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 19 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 20 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 21 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 22 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 23 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 24 Martinetti? 25 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes.  30 1 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 2 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 3 4 REGULAR AGENDA: 5 6 6. Resolution Authorizing a Budget Transfer in 7 the Accounts Listed 8 9 ACTING CITY CLERK: Item 6. 10 Resolution Authorizing a Budget Transfer in 11 the Account (sic) Listed. 12 MAYOR STACK: I’ll move it. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion made by Mayor 14 Stack. 15 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Second. 16 ACTING CITY CLERK: Second by Commissioner 17 Rivas. 18 Roll call. 19 Commissioner Fernandez? 20 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 21 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 22 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 23 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 24 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 25 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner  31 1 Martinetti; recusing. 2 Mayor Stack? 3 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 4 5 OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD: 6 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor, there are no 8 other items on the Regular Agenda. 9 You wish to take public comment on any item 10 on the Regular Agenda? 11 MAYOR STACK: Sure. 12 Anyone wishing to comment at this time, 13 please step forward, state your name and address 14 for the record. 15 Mr. Price? 16 MR. PRICE: My comment -- 17 MS. DILLON: Name and address. 18 MR. PRICE: Oh, sorry. 19 Larry Price, 1006 -- I’m still at 1006 20 Palisade Avenue. 21 -- was prompted by a article in the Union 22 City Reporter, week of May 24th, talking about the 23 downgrade and quoting you. And I just quote a 24 part at the end. 25 Stack said, future improvements of Union  32 1 City surplus and economic outlook would depend in 2 part on expanding its tax base by opening up 3 residential development. As a landlocked city 4 with little in the way of undeveloped land, the 5 only thing we can do is go up. 6 Okay. 7 Several large-scale projects are under 8 consideration in Union City. Chief among them, a 9 proposed residential tower complex perched atop 10 the Palisades. 11 And then it quotes what Panepinto wants to 12 do and Panepinto doesn’t even own the property 13 any longer. 14 MAYOR STACK: That wasn’t -- that wasn’t my 15 quote though, Mr. Price, about Panepinto owning 16 it. 17 MR. PRICE: I’m sorry; say -- 18 MAYOR STACK: That wasn’t my quote about 19 him owning it, no. 20 MR. PRICE: Oh. No. I don’t -- okay. 21 MAYOR STACK: No, I didn’t -- to be honest 22 with you, I never read the article. I tried to 23 get the newspaper, I couldn’t find it. 24 MR. PRICE: I got this one in the front -- 25 front hall of City Hall on --  33 1 MAYOR STACK: They were gone -- they were 2 gone the next day. 3 MR. PRICE: Okay. I took three, so maybe 4 I -- 5 MAYOR STACK: Maybe you were the culprit. 6 MR. PRICE: -- was a contributing -- 7 MAYOR STACK: No, I did. I did. I 8 actually -- I even mentioned to my Chief 9 Financial Officer, Susan; I said, Sue, I tried to 10 see the article, I never seen it. 11 MR. PRICE: Yeah. 12 The -- I have two comments on that but -- 13 The one is that I would give a certain 14 caution about how much Yardley will do. I mean 15 there have been various proposals. If they end 16 up with 400 units there and they’re assessed for 17 $200,000.00 a piece, which would be high, the tax 18 -- the municipal tax rate is about $45.00 a 19 thousand. Each apartment would provide $9,000.00 20 a year; three and a half million dollars a year. 21 But, of course, it will take five years to 22 build. And even if they don’t ask for a tax 23 abatement, the owners will have a five year step- 24 up anyway. So we’ll get the three and a half 25 million maybe in ten years.  34 1 And, of course, the money that we have at- 2 risk -- Moody’s said we have at-risk is the 3 roughly 17 million dollars a year that we’re 4 getting in transitional aid. So, -- 5 MAYOR STACK: Right. But my -- my comments 6 in there, I mean basically a lot of that article 7 -- and Susan -- Susan Colditz who’s here tonight, 8 who’s the expert on finance, she’ll tell you, is 9 a lot of that is tied into Atlantic City. The 10 problems that Atlantic City’s having, -- 11 MR. PRICE: Yes. 12 MAYOR STACK: -- Moody’s is quite nervous 13 about because they’re wondering how much State 14 aid is going to go to Atlantic City and be drawn 15 for other municipalities. 16 MR. PRICE: Correct. 17 MAYOR STACK: That’s really their main 18 concern there, I believe, in my -- in my heart of 19 hearts, that’s my -- 20 MR. PRICE: But they have a republican 21 mayor now, so that will probably be the -- 22 The other comment -- and, again, it may not 23 be accurate but to say, you know, we’re 1.29 24 square miles and we’ve got a lot of people 25 already and the only way we can go is up. The  35 1 whole thrust of the Land Development Ordinance we 2 adopted three years ago was basically to 3 eliminate high-rise buildings. 4 I mean the highest building in the old days 5 -- under the old ordinance we could built a 22 6 story building. 7 Now the highest building that could be 8 built, -- redevelopment zone, would be a six 9 story building. 10 So there seems to be contradiction there. 11 MAYOR STACK: I -- I agree. But I mean I 12 don’t want to debate the Yardley project but you 13 -- you brought up Yardley. 14 Yardley might go back with a redeveloper’s 15 agreement quite a number of years. I’m not a 16 hundred percent sure on that. 17 MR. PRICE: Oh, oh, no, no, I agree. 18 MAYOR STACK: Yeah. 19 MR. PRICE: I agree. 20 But I’m saying -- 21 MAYOR STACK: Right. 22 MR. PRICE: -- in terms of development 23 elsewhere in the -- 24 MAYOR STACK: Right. No, I agree. 25 MR. PRICE: -- City.  36 1 MAYOR STACK: I agree. 2 MR. PRICE: That -- 3 MAYOR STACK: We -- I was a big supporter 4 of that -- of that entire zoning ordinance. I 5 mean -- we’re just looking at other ways to bring 6 revenue into the City. We have to be open-minded 7 about it. 8 I’m not a big supporter of building 9 residential towers. You haven’t seen many gone 10 up in the time I’ve been mayor. But we just have 11 to look overall with everything. 12 MR. PRICE: Correct. Okay. 13 Yes, I mean -- 14 MAYOR STACK: But there’s no project 15 proposed per se on that site or any of the other 16 sites, whether it be a New Jersey Transit Garage 17 -- I would say that’s even further down the road. 18 MR. PRICE: Correct. 19 So, -- and I think we have -- we do have a 20 problem with the 17 million. I mean you know the 21 truth is Governor Christie has been very generous 22 to -- to Union City, very helpful. 23 MAYOR STACK: He has been. 24 MR. PRICE: But the reality is also that 25 Governor Christie, one way or another, won’t be  37 1 there in two years and his successor may not be 2 nearly as supportive in which case we have a 3 problem maybe with our 17 million a year. 4 MAYOR STACK: You can be sure I’ll be 5 fighting hard. The Commissioners and I will 6 fight very hard. 7 MR. PRICE: I hope so. 8 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. 9 MR. PRICE: On behalf of the taxpayers of 10 Union City, -- 11 MAYOR STACK: Absolutely. 12 MR. PRICE: -- I certainly hope so. 13 MAYOR STACK: Absolutely. 14 Anyone else wishing to comment at this 15 time? 16 Mr. Marotta? 17 MR. MAROTTA: I’d like to discuss a few 18 issues -- 19 MS. DILLON: Just your name for the record, 20 Mr. Marotta. 21 MR. MAROTTA: Libero Marotta, 309 -- 11th 22 -- 311 9th Street. 23 MS. DILLON: Thank you. 24 MR. MAROTTA: I’d like to discuss a few 25 issues, some of which are directly affecting the  38 1 City; some just affect the people in the City. 2 You know I live down on 9th Street near 3 Palisade Avenue. When I come home I drive down 4 12th Street and there’s a gas station on the 5 corner there. And two months ago the gas was 6 $2.09 a gallon and now it’s $2.52 a gallon. 7 Now I’m sure that in two months the cost of 8 producing gas didn’t increase by better than 20 9 percent. I’m sure that wages didn’t go up 20 10 percent. And the product didn’t go up 20 11 percent. 12 So I asked myself why is there a 20 percent 13 increase in the summertime? And I come to one 14 conclusion, that’s the greed of the oil 15 companies. 16 I’m waiting for an elected official in 17 Hudson County, especially from Jersey City, to 18 speak out against the greed of the oil companies 19 and speak on behalf of the people who work for a 20 living and can’t afford to pay the giant prices. 21 In fact, Mayor, that’s one of the reasons 22 all these years I can’t support the Hudson County 23 Democratic Organization because they do nothing 24 for the people of the city, of the county. 25 That’s one issue.  39 1 It’s important -- if I -- if I were the 2 County Executive who was on a ballot yesterday I 3 would tell the Freeholders adopt a resolution 4 that Hudson County opposes this. 5 In fact, you know, you’re -- you’re down in 6 -- in Trenton, if you could get a -- if you 7 introduce a resolution, if you could get a second 8 to the resolution, probably better than 50 9 percent would vote against it. Because of the 10 lobbyists who are down there and making fat off 11 the people of this State. 12 All right, that’s one. 13 The second issue there’s a story recently 14 in The Reporter about the effect of a bond 15 ordinance -- a bonding. That’s not too good. It 16 hurts us all. Okay? 17 And what I don’t like about it also is when 18 I read the solution. The solution, I’m going to 19 tell you Mayor and Commissioners, the solution is 20 not building high-rises on the cliffs. Believe 21 me, that’s not the solution to the problem. 22 Okay? 23 You know we have a lot of people in this 24 City, in fact the story I read said that 27 25 percent -- 27 percent of the people in Union City  40 1 live in poverty conditions; 27 percent. That’s 2 better than a quarter of the people. 3 You know these people they can’t go out for 4 entertainment too extravagantly. We got a 5 beautiful cliff here and we could see New York 6 City and if we start building along the cliffs, 7 we’re going to take away from the people of Union 8 City what belongs to the people of Union City. 9 If we build these high-rises along the 10 cliffs, we’re going to have a tale of two cities 11 in Union City. Because the people in Union City 12 will not be able to afford to live in those high- 13 rises. 14 So we’re going to have the affluent who 15 live in the high-rises and enjoy the sights of 16 New York and the people who lived here and 17 supported this City for years suffer. It’s not 18 right. It’s not fair. 19 I would recommend to this Board that if 20 there’s to be any development on the cliffs, it’s 21 limited to the Yardley property. We’ve got 22 better than five acres of land on the Yardley 23 property. And if you want to do some 24 development, that’s where it is. But leave the 25 rest of it free.  41 1 I want to talk also about something I read 2 in the paper, The Union City Reporter. Probably 3 one of my favorite subjects, which is zoning. 4 And I read where in West New York a 13 5 story high-rise was rejected by the Zoning Board. 6 And what I find very interesting was the comment 7 of the chairman of that Board. 8 Quote: To approve this application would be 9 to usurp the powers of the Board of 10 Commissioners. 11 Mayor, I’ve gone to many Zoning Board 12 meetings. Our Zoning Board usurps the power of 13 this Board. I’ve said it time and time again. 14 And it’s time that it stops. I mean that very 15 sincerely. 16 You know only recently I mentioned the fact 17 that a new member of the Board, when -- when he 18 was asked why he didn’t -- why he voted against 19 adjourning a matter, he said let them build. He 20 wanted them to build without a hearing. 21 Only a couple of years ago I was at a Board 22 meeting and I think it was an application by a 23 Mr. Roque. After the Board approved the 24 application, -- you know the Board only says yes, 25 yes, yes. They never ask questions. But this  42 1 one night this one member said something. She 2 said to Mr. Roque I want to thank you for the 3 beautiful buildings you build in Union City. 4 Well once she made that comment she -- she 5 didn’t belong on that Board anymore because she 6 was biased. 7 But that’s what we have. It’s got to 8 change. 9 You know the entire Board, in my opinion, 10 and the professionals, should be removed. We 11 have a professional who’s supposed to be an 12 expert. A planner; he’s been there for better 13 than 30 years. In his entire career all he 14 represented were municipalities or developers. 15 Well, that means that he’s got blinders on; he 16 could see only one way. 17 You know we have to have two ways of 18 thinking if we’re going to develop -- if we’re 19 going to develop properly. 20 I want to read one more comment from that 21 West New York decision. 22 Quote: The Zoning Board made it clearly 23 understood that developers cannot come into our 24 town with proposals that either sidestep or 25 ignore the zoning statutes, which are in effect  43 1 and were written specifically to protect West New 2 York residents from overcrowding, loss of views, 3 the loss of character of their neighborhoods. 4 That’s what’s happening in Union City. I 5 think it’s time it stopped. 6 I got one final issue I want to discuss. 7 Recently I read in the paper where there’s 8 some consideration about bringing casinos up into 9 Northern New Jersey. And what I found 10 disheartening was our own assemblyman is gung-ho 11 for the idea. 12 You know before -- before Atlantic City had 13 casinos I was invited by the Gabe Pressman TV 14 show to debate the issue of casinos and I took 15 the negative at that time. And the arguments I 16 gave at that time better than 40 years ago 17 persist today. 18 Talk about the influence of crime; the 19 increase in crime. If we look at history since 20 the casinos adopted in Kansas -- in Atlantic 21 City, that whole corridor from Toms River down 22 south, they increase in crime. They had to 23 double the -- the prosecutor’s office because of 24 the increase in crime. 25 There’s two big negatives with casinos.  44 1 One is the environment for crime. And the other 2 one it gives an extra tax on the poor. Because 3 the owners of the casinos they’re smart people; 4 the hire the best. Strike it rich. And the 5 people who work hard for a living, they -- you 6 know, the house always wins, always. But we do 7 nothing about it. 8 So I’m going to ask this Board to 9 reconsider or to consider the situation of 10 casinos up in Northern New Jersey. I think it 11 would be a travesty if they came here. Look at 12 what happened to Atlantic City; we don’t want 13 that to happen here. 14 Thank you -- 15 MAYOR STACK: Thank you, Mr. Marotta. 16 MR. MAROTTA: -- for your patience and for 17 your attention. 18 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. 19 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Thank you. 20 MAYOR STACK: Anyone else wishing to 21 address the Board at this time? 22 Mr. Gonzalez? 23 MR. GONZALEZ: Ray Gonzalez, 545 39th 24 Street, Union City. 25 On Friday there is a luncheon that’s being  45 1 given by the Board of Education. And it’s for 2 the students that served as interns. And I am 3 very proud to say that I had one of the interns. 4 And I heard the testimony that was being 5 given now saying that we have to build and we 6 have to get ratables. This town, with these 7 schools, has a wealth of knowledge that’s going 8 to be here in the future. Because the intern I 9 had applied to several colleges and got into 10 every single college. 11 In my building there are four interns that 12 are there. I hope that come Friday I’m going to 13 be able to get more of them. And I think 14 everybody that works in this town that’s a 15 doctor, that’s a lawyer, that’s involved with 16 anything, needs to be an example for these 17 interns. 18 And I don’t know if the Board knows about 19 it -- 20 MAYOR STACK: Absolutely. 21 MR. GONZALEZ: -- but it’s a great 22 program. 23 MAYOR STACK: It is. 24 MR. GONZALEZ: And they need to be 25 recognized and at every meeting everybody that  46 1 comes here needs to know that they’re out there 2 and they’re available. Because we’re the ones 3 that will be the future for them in a short 4 period of time; they will be the future for all 5 of us. 6 So I think that that’s something that 7 everybody that’s here that’s a professional needs 8 to know. Speak to somebody at the Board. 9 I think it’s Miss Stafford (phonetic)? I’m 10 not that -- 11 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Addas. 12 MR. GONZALEZ: What? 13 MAYOR STACK: Debbie Addas. 14 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Debbie Addas. 15 MR. GONZALEZ: That’s right. 16 MAYOR STACK: Debbie Addas. 17 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yeah. 18 MAYOR STACK: She does a great job. 19 MR. GONZALEZ: She does a fantastic job and 20 everybody that’s here needs to know that and 21 they’re available. 22 Thank you. 23 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. 24 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Thank you. 25 MAYOR STACK: Just -- just to clear up any  47 1 -- any misconception, it was this Board that 2 changed the Rent Control Ordinance in Union City 3 to probably make it the strongest pro-tenant 4 ordinance in the City. 5 Every improvement that’s being done in the 6 City of Union City is not to bring in anybody 7 new. The new people that move into the City, 8 that’s great. But it’s done for the current 9 people who are living here. 10 When it comes to public events, when it 11 comes to outreach to the poor and 12 disenfranchised, I don’t think anybody’s done 13 more than this Administration has. 14 Commissioner Fernandez, not to single him 15 out but the entire Board but specifically 16 Commissioner Fernandez, I can’t tell you how many 17 public events and how many different things that 18 we hold in the community to get the community 19 involved. 20 Not in a political way; in a way to get 21 them to come out to a neighborhood concert or a 22 farmer’s market tonight or a wine and cheese 23 party we’re holding tonight or a fire seminar 24 we’re holding tonight. Wherever they may be. 25 But when it comes to helping people,  48 1 practically probably most of the landlords, the 2 large landlords in the City, hate me. 3 When it comes to quality of life for the 4 poor people in this City, a lot of the bar owners 5 don’t like me because we close down those bad 6 bars. 7 So when it comes to helping the people who 8 are here, I think it would be a disservice to let 9 it go untold that this Board has done probably 10 more than anyone to reach out to those people. 11 And whether it’s through my civic 12 association or my work as the Mayor, every day 13 when I go to City Hall, it’s about the people who 14 live in this City. Not about attracting anybody 15 new in. 16 But I also have to be cognizant of the fact 17 that we have to bring some new ratables into the 18 City -- but I don’t have a project in mind. 19 We’re just looking to address the Moody situation 20 and our finances going forward. Not just for us 21 but for the future mayor in Union City who’s here 22 down the road and for those children that rise up 23 and take the leadership of the City at that time. 24 Thank you very much everyone. 25 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: You know I got to  49 1 say -- and not’s to Libero and Mr. Price. 2 Libero, you know how I feel about you and 3 all that kind of stuff, but I remember when I 4 went to Union Hill that we used to run track and 5 inside the school, that we used to practice 6 baseball inside the hallway because there was no 7 place to practice baseball, there was no gym 8 class. I remember growing up here. 9 I remember when I went to school at 10 McKinley (phonetic) School, having lunch in the 11 basement on little board, having soggy tuna. 12 When people remember Union City in the 13 past, they remember it in a different way; that 14 it wasn’t the Union City that I grew up in. 15 Union City doesn’t have the parks -- they didn’t 16 have the parks that we have today. They didn’t 17 have the three swimming pools. They didn’t have 18 two libraries. They didn’t have a museum. They 19 didn’t have a state-of-the-art theater. 20 People remember Union City in a different 21 way. I mean when the Mayor asked me to get 22 involved, I didn’t get involved because I want a 23 paycheck; I wanted to be involved because I live 24 here and I wanted to make a commitment and -- and 25 I think everybody feels the same.  50 1 And I get really insulted and I get really 2 annoyed when people say Union City used to be 3 this, Union -- 4 You know we’re trying to do our best to 5 keep Union City where it’s supposed to be. We 6 really are. I mean -- I can’t -- I can’t say 7 more about it than that. I mean it’s -- it’s 8 progressing in different ways with a lot of elbow 9 grease and a lot of -- 10 I know the Mayor works diligently to get 11 the funding, to get the new roads and the 12 sidewalks and the parks and -- and all that kind 13 of stuff. And trying to find money in every 14 corner to -- to better the system. 15 And I’m glad Mr. Gonzalez brought up, you 16 know, the school system. Because we have a great 17 school system. We have kids going to Cornell and 18 going to Brown and going to NYU. I mean when was 19 that heard of, you know? 20 MAYOR STACK: Ninety-three percent 21 graduation rate. 22 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: When I was in 23 school the best -- the best kids could -- could 24 hope to go to is Jersey State University. The 25 hope -- the best, you know, I’ll go to some  51 1 community college for two years. And now we got 2 kids going to Ivy League schools. There’s a big, 3 big, big difference. 4 And, you know, we’re here. You know, -- 5 you know, we’re here -- I’m here. Man, I -- I 6 grew up here. I’m not -- I’m not moving to 7 Saddle River or anywhere. I’m here in Union 8 City. And the Mayor is here. We’re really 9 trying to do our best -- to put our best foot 10 forward, to do the right thing by the community. 11 And it’s not to -- to say that you guys are 12 saying this because obviously you guys are here 13 as well and you guys have been here way longer 14 than me. But, you know, to outsiders that -- or 15 people who have left here who want to trash Union 16 City, used to be this, used to be that, come on 17 man, Bergenline Avenue was a ghost town before 18 the Cubans came in 1960 and that’s the truth. 19 You know? 20 And it’s progressively got worse and it’s 21 getting better. It’s getting better because a 22 lot of elbow grease -- and I got to thank the 23 Mayor because -- 24 And that’s why I got involved with him. I 25 got involved with him because, you know, I really  52 1 believed that he -- he cared. I didn’t drink the 2 -- I didn’t drink the Kool-Aid. I believed he 3 cared and -- and that’s why I got involved. 4 And -- and I’m thankful of the opportunity 5 I’ve been given to do all these events and it 6 takes a lot of elbow grease. I’m in the street 7 all day sweeping up the street myself to make 8 sure it gets done so we have something nice for 9 the community. 10 And we do have a great community. I think 11 -- I think we should all -- yes, it’s great ideas 12 that both of you put forward and it’s -- it’s 13 great that you do that and it’s -- but let’s work 14 together. Let’s work together and make the Union 15 City -- Union City the great city it is and it 16 could be. 17 Thank you very much everyone. 18 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. 19 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: I just want -- I 20 want to make another comment. I just want to – 21 I know Libero Marotta means well. I’ve 22 known Libero since I was a teenager. And I know 23 Mr. Price means well and -- and I know deep down 24 Libero knows that no one’s done more for the 25 children of Union City than Mayor Stack. With  53 1 expanding our recreation programs, always keeping 2 -- we’re fixing all of our parks, -- you know, 3 making them better. The schools; no one’s done 4 more for the children of Union City than Mayor -- 5 as a Mayor and as a State Senator bringing in 6 funds for our recreation programs, to build 7 schools and so on. 8 And thank you, Mr. Gonzalez, for the 9 positive -- for the positive thing you said about 10 our school system. 11 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. 12 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: I know many of the 13 students that are going to Brown, Cornell, as 14 transportation director of the Board, so thank 15 you. 16 I just want to -- no one’s done more for 17 Union City than Mayor Stack -- for the children I 18 should say. 19 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. Thank you very 20 much. 21 Anyone else at this time? 22 Okay. 23 Seeing no other, I believe the portion of 24 the hearing we’ll go to now is liquor hearings. 25 ACTING CITY CLERK: Is there a motion to  54 1 close -- 2 MAYOR STACK: Motion. 3 ACTING CITY CLERK: -- public comment this 4 meeting? 5 Yes. Motion made by Mayor Stack. 6 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Second. 7 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Second. 8 ACTING CITY CLERK: Second by Commissioner 9 Rivas. 10 Roll call. 11 Commissioner Fernandez? 12 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 14 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 15 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 16 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 17 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 18 Martinetti? 19 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: She just stepped 20 out a minute. 21 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 22 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 23 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Can I vote for her? 24 MS. de los RIOS: No. 25 * * *  55 1 LIQUOR LICENSE DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS: 2 3 1. Juan Marrero t/a Johnny’s Go Go, 4210 4 Hudson Avenue, Liquor License No. 0910-33-130-002 5 2. R G Enterprise Entertainment t/a Therapy 6 Lounge, 2803 Bergenline Avenue, Liquor License 7 No. 0910-33-134-006 8 3. Bambinas Bar & Restaurant t/a Milagro 9 Ecuatoriano Restaurant, 2906 Bergenline Avenue, 10 Liquor License No. 0910-33-040-009 11 4. Mi Otra Casita Bar & Liquors LLC t/a Mi 12 Otra Casita, 401-30th Street, Liquor License No. 13 0910-33-080-009 14 5. Azucar Club Inc. t/a Azucar Club, 421 43 rd 15 Street, Liquor License No. 0910-33-003-007 16 17 ACTING CITY CLERK: Okay, next is the 18 Liquor License Disciplinary Proceeding. 19 MAYOR STACK: Mr. Farmer? 20 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mr. Farmer? 21 MR. FARMER: Good evening members of the 22 Board. 23 You have in front of the agenda for 24 tonight’s hearings. 25 * * *  56 1 JUAN MARRERO t/a JOHNNY’S GO GO, 4210 Hudson 2 Avenue 3 Liquor License No. 0910-33-130-002 4 5 MR. FARMER: The first one is Johnny’s 6 Go Go, 4210 Hudson Avenue. 7 I’d like to table that because we’ve now 8 gotten some indication -- firm indication that 9 they wish to retire the license. So we have to 10 do some paperwork and secure the funding for 11 that. And so I would like that to be carried for 12 a couple of weeks. 13 MAYOR STACK: Motion -- I’ll make a motion 14 to -- 15 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion made by -- 16 MAYOR STACK: -- to table. 17 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion by Mayor Stack. 18 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: I’ll second. 19 ACTING CITY CLERK: Second by Commissioner 20 Rivas. 21 Roll call. 22 Commissioner Fernandez? 23 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 24 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 25 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes.  57 1 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 2 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 3 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 4 Martinetti? 5 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 6 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 7 * * * 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  58 1 R G ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT t/a THERAPY LOUNGE, 2 2803 Bergenline Avenue 3 Liquor License No. 0910-33-134-006 4 5 MR. FARMER: The next one is Therapy 6 Lounge. 7 There’s a video involved here and I’ve yet 8 to see the video but I anticipate seeing it –- 9 MS. de los RIOS: Mr. Farmer? 10 MR. FARMER: -- shortly. So if we could 11 carry it to -- 12 MS. de los RIOS: Mr. Farmer, could you 13 just wait a moment until the -- 14 MR. FARMER: Oh. 15 MS. de los RIOS: -- Mayor comes back? 16 Thank you. 17 MR. FARMER: Yeah. I didn’t see that. 18 COMMISSIONER FERNANSEZ: Did he vote on 19 number one? 20 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor, we’re waiting 21 for you to vote on number -- 22 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 23 ACTING CITY CLERK: -- one. Yes. 24 MAYOR STACK: Yes, that was the -- 25 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack?  59 1 MAYOR STACK: -- motion to table. 2 ACTING CITY CLERK: Yes. 3 MAYOR STACK: I got it. 4 ACTING CITY CLERK: Go ahead, -- 5 MR. FARMER: Okay. 6 ACTING CITY CLERK: -- Mr. Farmer. 7 MR. FARMER: Number 2 is Therapy Lounge. 8 That involves a video, which I’ve yet to see. 9 The police officers, Detective Dunlay and 10 Lieutenant Loaces are here. They got the video. 11 So we may very well see that tomorrow because we 12 have a big meeting tomorrow with the -- with the 13 detectives, as well as with counsel for the City 14 concerning procedures moving forward with ABC. 15 So, what I’d like is for that to be carried 16 for two weeks -- 17 MAYOR STACK: Motion. 18 MR. FARMER: -- to the next meeting. 19 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion made by Mayor 20 Stack. 21 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Second. 22 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Second. 23 ACTING CITY CLERK: Second by Commissioner 24 Rivas. 25 Roll call.  60 1 Commissioner Fernandez? 2 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 3 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 4 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 5 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 6 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 8 Martinetti? 9 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 10 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 11 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 12 * * * 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  61 1 BAMBINAS BAR & RESTAURANT t/a MILAGRO ECUATORIANO 2 RESTAURANT, 2906 Bergenline Avenue 3 Liquor License No. 0910-33-040-009 4 5 MR. FARMER: The next one the licensee is 6 represented by Mr. Gonzalez. 7 And I would like to echo Mr. Gonzalez’s 8 flattery towards the education system in Union 9 City, as well as the program Debbie Addas runs 10 and has run for the last 15, 20 years. 11 I’ve received numerous recommendations or 12 referrals from Debbie and they’ve all been great. 13 As a matter of fact the secretary with me 14 right now, who has been with me since she was 17 15 and she’s 52, the only job she ever had, was 16 working for me and referred by Debbie Addas. And 17 she’s literally -- she’s practicing law without a 18 license because of the -- really, the direction, 19 education and, -- 20 MAYOR STACK: A great story. 21 MR. FARMER: -- you know, help of Debbie 22 Addas. 23 MAYOR STACK: A great story. 24 Thank you very much, Mr. Farmer. 25 MR. FARMER: Okay, we’re back on -- on  62 1 course here. 2 Mr. Gonzalez represents Bambinas Bar and 3 Restaurant. 4 MR. GONZALEZ: That’s Milagro? 5 MR. FARMER: Yeah. Yeah. 6 MR. GONZALEZ: I’ve just been retained on 7 it. What I would request is maybe a two week 8 adjournment or for the next cycle -- 9 MAYOR STACK: I’ll move it. 10 MR. GONZALEZ: -- so I can speak with Mr. 11 Farmer about it. 12 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Second. 13 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Second. 14 ACTING CITY CLERK: Move to next meeting. 15 Mayor Stack; second by Commissioner 16 Martinetti. 17 Roll call. 18 Commissioner Fernandez? 19 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 20 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 21 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 22 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 23 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 24 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 25 Martinetti?  63 1 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 2 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 3 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 4 MR. GONZALEZ: When’s that next meeting? 5 MS. de los RIOS: Well, we have the Special 6 Meeting -- 7 MAYOR STACK: No, no, he’s going to the 8 regular scheduled meeting. 9 ACTING CITY CLERK: Next meeting -- 10 MS. de los RIOS: The 16th. 11 ACTING CITY CLERK: The 16. 12 MAYOR STACK: The 16th? 13 MS. de los RIOS: June. June 16 th. 14 MAYOR STACK: And where is that meeting? 15 I may have it written in my book. 16 ACTING CITY CLERK: Oh. Wait. 17 MAYOR STACK: Bella Vista Apartments at 522 18 22nd Street, Tuesday, June 16th, seven p.m. 19 MR. GONZALEZ: Thank you. 20 MR. FARMER: June 16th, Bella Vista. 21 Okay, Ray. 22 * * * 23 24 25  64 1 MI OTRA CASITA BAR & LIQUORS LLC t/a MI OTRA 2 CASITA, 401-30th Street 3 Liquor License No. 0910-33-080-009 4 5 MR. FARMER: Mi -- 6 MAYOR STACK: I’m cutting in on you. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: I know. Sorry. 8 MR. FARMER: -- Casita. 9 ACTING CITY CLERK: This is first time you 10 got me. 11 I didn’t bring my calendar. 12 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: You’re in trouble. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: I’m slacking. I’m 14 slacking. 15 MR. FARMER: Okay. 16 This is number 4 on your list and it’s Mi 17 Casita. And Mr. Diaz represents the licensee. 18 This is a situation where there was a -- a 19 fight inside the bar. The people who were 20 involved left. The licensee appears to have 21 called the Police. The Police got there. So it 22 seems like the bar handled it properly. 23 But also when the Police got there they 24 thought that the manager of the place was 25 drinking a little too much on duty.  65 1 So what we’ve done is we worked out an 2 agreement where it would be a three day 3 suspension for -- 4 And it should be noted that as far as the 5 -- the intoxicated worker charge, which it is, 6 the Police didn’t run any tests or sobriety or 7 anything like that. So that’s questionable. 8 But three days, which would include a 9 weekend. So, licensee would lose a weekend for 10 having been drinking on the job. 11 MAYOR STACK: Mr. Diaz? 12 MR. DIAZ: Mayor, if I may be heard, they 13 have instructed -- 14 MS. DILLON: Name for the record. 15 MR. DIAZ: -- me not to contest -- 16 MS. DILLON: Just your appearance, Mr. 17 Diaz. 18 MR. DIAZ: Luis Diaz, -- 19 MS. DILLON: Thank you. 20 MR. DIAZ: -- for the licensee. 21 I’m sorry. 22 They have instructed me not to contest this 23 matter at all but to accept whatever the Board 24 decides. 25 In terms of mitigating factors it’s  66 1 important to bring to the attention of the Board 2 that there has not been any incident in this 3 location in the last five years. 4 They did the right thing. There was a 5 patron that was getting a little bit unruly and 6 maybe had too much to drink and they refuse to 7 serve that person -- that lady anymore. And that 8 person became a little bit volatile and that’s 9 how the incident happened. 10 They did the right thing. Again, they 11 called the Police. I think that that is 12 following the directives of this Board to call 13 the Police and it’s important that the message 14 that goes out there is that when you call the 15 Police you’re not calling your enemy, you’re not 16 calling your foe, you’re calling your friend. 17 With that regard they accept the -- the 18 findings of the Board and they will not contest 19 this matter at all. 20 MAYOR STACK: Okay. Motion -- 21 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion -- 22 MAYOR STACK: -- to approve. 23 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion by Mayor Stack. 24 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Second. 25 ACTING CITY CLERK: Second by Commissioner  67 1 Fernandez. 2 Roll call. 3 Commissioner Fernandez? 4 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 5 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 6 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 8 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 9 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Martinetti 10 stepped out. 11 MS. de los RIOS: Recusing. She is 12 recusing. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: Recusing. 14 Mayor Stack? 15 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 16 (Whereupon, there was a pause in the 17 proceedings.) 18 * * * 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  68 rd 1 AZUCAR CLUB INC., t/a AZUCAR CLUB, 421 43 Street 2 Liquor License No. 0910-33-003-007 3 4 MR. FARMER: The last one is Azucar. 5 Just hold on. 6 I was under the understanding that Mr. Diaz 7 was representing Azucar because he has in the 8 past but he indicated to me that he is not. And 9 the licensee isn’t here, so I ask that that be 10 carried to the 16th. 11 MAYOR STACK: The licensee’s not here? 12 MR. FARMER: No and I don’t understand why 13 because -- 14 MR. DIAZ: Well, -- and maybe I take a 15 little bit of fault on that. 16 I might wind up representing them. I have 17 represented them in the past. There was some 18 going back and forth whether I was going to do it 19 at this instance and maybe that’s the confusion. 20 I’m going to call them tomorrow. Bring 21 them into my office. Put things on the table; 22 make sure that whether I am or I’m not and if I 23 am I’m going to contact Mr. Farmer and let him 24 know and put it on for the following meeting. 25 MAYOR STACK: And if you’re not, either way  69 1 you’re going to let him know, -- 2 MR. DIAZ: Correct. 3 MAYOR STACK: -- Mr. Diaz? 4 MR. DIAZ: Correct. 5 MAYOR STACK: All right. Or you can 6 contact them. Because we’re having an ongoing 7 issue. I mean I don’t want to try the case 8 without them being here but we’re having on 9 ongoing issue of noise at this location -- 10 MR. DIAZ: I understand. 11 MAYOR STACK: -- and we keep on getting 12 complaints about it. 13 So, I’d like to make sure it’s on for the 14 next meeting. So if we schedule -- 15 MR. FARMER: It will be. 16 MAYOR STACK: -- it for the next meeting. 17 MR. DIAZ: Very good. 18 MAYOR STACK: That would be fine. 19 MR. DIAZ: Thank you. 20 MAYOR STACK: Thank you very much. 21 MR. DIAZ: Have a good night. 22 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. 23 MR. FARMER: Okay and that’s it. 24 ACTING CITY CLERK: Is there a motion to 25 schedule for next meeting?  70 1 MAYOR STACK: A motion to put it on the 2 next meeting, which is June 16 th, -- 3 ACTING CITY CLERK: June 16th. 4 MAYOR STACK: -- at the Bella Vista. 5 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack. 6 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas. 8 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 9 ACTING CITY CLERK: Roll call. 10 Commissioner Fernandez? 11 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 12 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 13 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 14 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 15 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 16 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Martinetti 17 stepped out. 18 MAYOR STACK: Yes. She had to use the 19 ladies room. 20 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 21 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 22 Thank you. 23 MR. FARMER: Do you know where we’re going 24 to be tomorrow? 25 ACTING CITY CLERK: Third floor conference  71 1 room. 2 MR. FARMER: Third floor? 3 ACTING CITY CLERK: Yes. 4 MR. FARMER: Okay. 5 MAYOR STACK: Greg, thank you. 6 MR. FARMER: Oh. Thank you, guys. 7 * * * 8 9 ADJOURNMENT: 10 11 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor, there are no 12 other items on the agenda. 13 Is there a motion to adjourn? 14 MAYOR STACK: Sue, did you want to give a 15 full report to the Board on anything? 16 No? 17 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Oh, no. 18 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Full report? 19 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Motion. 20 MAYOR STACK: Oh, come on, we’ll be here 21 till 12 o’clock. 22 Motion. 23 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Second. 24 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion by Mayor Stack. 25 Second by Commissioner Fernandez.  72 1 All in -- all in favor? 2 3 (Whereupon, there was a chorus of ayes.) 4 5 6 (Whereupon, the proceedings were concluded 7 at 7:50 p.m.) 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  73 1 ________________________ Brian P. Stack 2 ________________________ Lucio P. Fernandez 3 ________________________ Maryury A. Martinetti 4 ________________________ Celin J. Valdivia 5 ________________________ Tilo E. Rivas 6 Board of Commissioners 7 8 Attest: 9 Dominick Cantatore, 10 Acting City Clerk 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  74 1 STATE OF NEW JERSEY: 2 : 3 COUNTY OF ESSEX : 4 5 I, KAREN A. MARINO, assigned transcriber, 6 do hereby affirm that the foregoing is a true and 7 accurate transcript in the matter of the REGULAR 8 MEETING of the UNION CITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, 9 held on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 and digitally 10 recorded. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Monitored and Proofread by: Deborah Dillon