Board of Commissioners - Board of Commissioners Meeting

CITY OF UNION CITY HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS : : TRANSCRIPT OF RECORDED REGULAR MEETING : _ : PROCEEDINGS Housing Authority Hillside Pavilion 3911 Kennedy Boulevard Union City, New Jersey March 4, 2014 Commencing at 7:00 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 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: CHRISTINE M. VANEK, ESQ. Corporation Counsel GREGORY T. FARMER, ESQ. Attorney for the Union City Alcohol Beverage Control Commission  2 I N D E X PAGE CALL TO ORDER 3 SALUTE TO FLAG 3 ROLL CALL 4 PROCLAMATION 4,30 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 5 CONSENT AGENDA 6 ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION 13 REGULAR AGENDA 15,16, 17 OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD 18 LIQUOR LICENSE DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS 32 ADJOURNMENT 42  3 1 MS. DILLON: Okay, on the record. 2 ACTING CITY CLERK: This is a call to order 3 Regular Public Meeting of the Union City Board of 4 Commissioners, being held on Tuesday, March 4th, 5 2014, seven p.m., at the Housing Authority 6 Hillside Pavilion, 3911 Kennedy Boulevard, Union 7 City, New Jersey. 8 Will everyone please rise for the Pledge of 9 Allegiance? 10 11 (Whereupon, the Pledge of Allegiance was 12 said.) 13 14 ACTING CITY CLERK: This meeting has been 15 called in accordance with Chapter 231, Public Law 16 of 1975, the Open Public Meeting Act. 17 Adequate notice of this meeting has been 18 provided as follows: 19 Notice of this meeting setting forth the 20 time, date, and location, and the agenda, to the 21 extent known, was forwarded to The Jersey 22 Journal, The Record, The Hudson Reporter, has 23 been posted on the bulletin board of the City 24 Hall and has been made available to the public in 25 the office of Municipal Clerk.  4 1 2 ROLL CALL: 3 4 ACTING CITY CLERK: Roll call. 5 Commissioner Fernandez? 6 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Here. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 8 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Here. 9 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 10 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Present. 11 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 12 Martinetti? 13 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Here. 14 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 15 MAYOR STACK: Here. 16 ACTING CITY CLERK: On the agenda tonight 17 we have a presentation of Proclamation to Kael 18 Mejia for his accomplishment in youth soccer. 19 I believe Mejia is not here at the moment. 20 MAYOR STACK: He’s not here at the moment. 21 Either he’ll be here later in the meeting or the 22 next meeting. But I think he’ll be here later in 23 the meeting. 24 ACTING CITY CLERK: Okay. So you want 25 leave it for later?  5 1 MAYOR STACK: Yes, we’ll hold it for later. 2 ACTING CITY CLERK: Okay. 3 4 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 5 6 ACTING CITY CLERK: The first item on the 7 agenda this evening is the approval of previous 8 meeting minutes. 9 Motion must be duly made and seconded that 10 the meeting minutes of the Board of Commissioner 11 Meeting held on February 4th and February 7th, 12 2014, be approved and recorded. 13 Motion to approve? 14 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Motion. 15 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Second. 16 ACTING CITY CLERK: Martinetti. 17 Second; Valdivia. 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  6 1 Martinetti? 2 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 3 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 4 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 5 6 CONSENT AGENDA: 7 8 ( 1) Resolution Approving the Payment of Claims 9 ( 2) Resolution Approving the Payment of 10 Concurring Claims 11 ( 3) Resolution Approving the Payment of Claims 12 to North Hudson Sewerage Authority 13 ( 4) Resolution Approving the City Payroll for 14 the Period of February 11, 2014 through February 15 24, 2014 16 ( 5) Resolution Approving the Library Payroll 17 for the Period of February 11, 2014 through 18 February 24, 2014 19 ( 6) Resolution Confirming Disciplinary Action 20 against Liquor License No. 0910-33-166-005 held 21 by 2216 Bergenline Ave LLC t/a Centro Bar, 2216 22 Bergenline Avenue 23 ( 7) Resolution Confirming Disciplinary Action 24 against Liquor License No. 0910-33-182-005 LAR 25 Corp. t/a La Roca Corp., 2115 West Street  7 1 ( 8) Resolution Confirming Disciplinary Action 2 against Liquor License No. 0910-33-075-010 El 3 Chapin Corp. t/a El Rincon Chapin, 2118 4 Bergenline Avenue 5 ( 9) Resolution Awarding Contract to Atlantic 6 Tactical for Purchase of Police Ammunition 7 (10) Resolution Authorizing the Refund of 8 Premium Monies Collected at the Tax Sale 9 (11) Resolution Authorizing Refund of Redemption 10 Monies to Outside Lienholders 11 (12) Resolution Authorizing the Refund of a Tax 12 Appeal Issued by the Tax Court of New Jersey 13 (13) Resolution Authorizing the Adjustment of 14 Estimated Taxes for the First Quarter 15 (14) Resolution Awarding Contract to Colditz 16 Associates for Additional Accounting Services 17 (15) Resolution Amending Loading Zone in the 18 City of Union City at 23rd Street and New York Ave 19 (16) Resolution Authorizing Amendment to 20 Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement with Nextel, 21 Inc. 22 (17) Resolution Awarding Contract for Collection 23 Agency Services for Municipal Court Debt 24 (18) Resolution Awarding Contract to Royal 25 Printing Service for Election Printing Services  8 1 (19) Resolution Awarding Contract for Bergenline 2 Avenue Phase I Roadway Improvements to S. Batata 3 Construction Inc. 4 (20) Resolution Awarding Contract for Ellsworth 5 Park Landscape Improvements Project to Pat 6 Scanlan Landscaping, Inc. 7 (21) Resolution Awarding Contract for the 2014 8 Park Landscaping Maintenance Program to Greenleaf 9 Landscape Systems & Services, Inc. 10 (22) Any other matter of City business that may 11 arise 12 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: The next item is a 14 Consent Agenda. These items can be approved by 15 one vote. 16 There are 21 items in the Consent Agenda 17 this evening. They are as follows: 18 Resolution Approving the Payment of Claims. 19 Resolution Approving the Payment of 20 Concurring Claims. 21 Resolution Approving the Payment of Claims 22 to North Hudson Sewerage Authority. 23 Resolution Approving the City Payroll for 24 the Period of February 11, 2014 through February 25 24th, 2014.  9 1 Resolution Approving the Library Payroll 2 for the Period of February 11, 2014 through 3 February 24th, 2014. 4 Resolution Confirming Disciplinary Action 5 against Liquor License number 0910-33-166-005 6 held by 2216 Bergenline Avenue LLC, known as 7 Centro Bar, 2216 Bergenline Avenue. 8 Resolution Confirming Disciplinary Action 9 against Liquor License number 0910-33-182-005, 10 LAR Corporation, known as La Roca Corporation, 11 2115 West Street. 12 Resolution Confirming Disciplinary Action 13 against Liquor License number 0910-33-075-010, 14 El Chapin Corporation, known as El Rincon Chapin, 15 2118 Bergenline Avenue. 16 Resolution Awarding Contract to Atlantic 17 Tactical for the City of Union City Police 18 Ammunition. 19 Number 10 is Resolution Authorizing the 20 Refund of Premium Money Collected at the Tax 21 Sale. 22 Number 11. 23 Resolution Authorizing Refund of Redemption 24 Monies to Outside Lienholders. 25 Number 12.  10 1 Resolution Authorizing the Refund of a Tax 2 Appeal Issued by the Tax Court of New Jersey. 3 Number 13. 4 Resolution Authorizing the Adjustment of 5 Estimated Taxes for the First Quarter. 6 Number 14. 7 Resolution Awarding Contract to Colditz 8 Associates for Additional Accounting Services. 9 Number 15. 10 Resolution Amending Loading Zone in the 11 City of Union City at 23rd Street/New York Avenue. 12 Number 16. 13 Resolution Authorizing Amendment to 14 Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement with Nextel, 15 Incorporation. 16 Number 17. 17 Resolution Awarding Contract for Collection 18 Agency Services for Municipal Court Debt. 19 Number 18. 20 Resolution Awarding Contract to Royal 21 Printing Services for Election Printing Services. 22 Number 19. 23 Resolution Awarding Contract for Bergenline 24 Avenue Phase I Roadway Improvements to S. Batata 25 Construction Inc.  11 1 Number 20. 2 Resolution Awarding Contract for Ellsworth 3 Park Landscape Improvements Project to Pat 4 Scanlan Landscaping, Inc. 5 Number 21. 6 Resolution Awarding Contract for the 2014 7 Park Landscaping Maintenance Program to Greenleaf 8 Landscape Systems & Services, Inc. 9 Any other matter of the City business that 10 may -- 11 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. 12 ACTING CITY CLERK: -- that may arise. 13 MAYOR STACK: Anyone wishing to comment on 14 the Consent Agenda, please step forward. 15 MR. FALTO: Oh. Only the Consent -- 16 MAYOR STACK: On the Consent Agenda. 17 MR. FALTO: No, I’ll wait. 18 MAYOR STACK: Okay. 19 Anyone else on the Consent Agenda? 20 Seeing no other. 21 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion to close public 22 comment. 23 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Second. 24 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas. 25 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Second.  12 1 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia. 2 Roll call. 3 Commissioner Fernandez? 4 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: 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: I would like to 12 recuse on number 6; and aye on the rest. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: Number 6. 14 Okay. 15 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Also, Clerk, I 16 would like to -- I change my vote to yes; with 17 the exception on number 2, concurring claims as 18 it pertains to Union City Redevelopment Agency, I 19 recuse from that. Otherwise, yes. 20 ACTING CITY CLERK: Okay. 21 Okay, motion to approve all items on the 22 Consent Agenda? 23 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Move it. 24 MAYOR STACK: Second. 25 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia.  13 1 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 2 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack. 3 Roll call. 4 Commissioner Fernandez? 5 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes with the 6 exception of -- with the exception on number 2, 7 concurring claims as it pertains to Redevelopment 8 Agency. Otherwise, yes. 9 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 10 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 11 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 12 Martinetti? 13 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes with the 14 exception on number 6. 15 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 16 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 17 18 ORDINANCE(S) FOR INTRODUCTION: 19 20 1. AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY 21 REQUIREMENTS FOR UNION CITY EMPLOYEES 22 23 ACTING CITY CLERK: The third item on this 24 agenda is an Ordinance for Introduction. The 25 Ordinance will be further considered at a meeting  14 1 of the Board of Commissioners to be held on March 2 18, 2014 at the Holy Cross Armenian Church, 318 3 27th Street, Union City, New Jersey. 4 An -- 5 MAYOR STACK: Motion. 6 I’m sorry. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: An Ordinance 8 Establishing Residency Requirements for Union 9 City Employees. 10 Does Mayor Stack -- you wish to take -- 11 MAYOR STACK: Motion to introduce. 12 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Second. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack. 14 Second; Martinetti. 15 Commissioner -- 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.  15 1 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 2 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 3 4 REGULAR AGENDA: 5 6 1. Resolution Approving the Redevelopment 7 Agency Payroll for the Period of February 11, 8 2014 through February 24, 2014 9 10 ACTING CITY CLERK: The fourth item on the 11 agenda is the Regular Agenda. 12 There are three items from the Regular 13 Agenda for tonight. 14 Item one is Resolution Approving the 15 Redevelopment Agency Payroll for the Period of 16 February 11, 2014 to February 24 th, 2014. 17 MS. VANEK: Mayor, for the record, we 18 recommend that Commissioner Fernandez recuse 19 himself from this item. 20 MAYOR STACK: Motion. 21 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Second. 22 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion -- 23 Okay. Motion made. 24 Okay, roll call. 25 Commissioner Rivas?  16 1 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 2 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 3 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 4 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 5 Martinetti? 6 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 8 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 9 MS. VANEK: And for the record Commissioner 10 Fernandez is recusing. 11 12 REGULAR AGENDA: 13 14 2. Resolution Approving Payments of Claims to 15 the Union City Board of Education 16 17 ACTING CITY CLERK: Item two on the agenda 18 is Resolution Approving Payments of Claims to the 19 Union City Board of Education. 20 MS. VANEK: Mayor, we recommend that 21 Commissioner Martinetti, Commissioner Fernandez 22 and Commissioner Valdivia recuse. 23 However, under the Doctrine of Necessity, 24 we would recommend that Commissioner Valdivia 25 vote on this item.  17 1 MR. FALTO: Can you speak a little louder? 2 MS. VANEK: Sure. 3 MAYOR STACK: Continue; go ahead. 4 MS. VANEK: Repeat it? 5 ACTING CITY CLERK: Roll call. 6 Commissioner Rivas? 7 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 8 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 9 Martinetti? 10 I’m sorry. 11 Commissioner Valdivia? 12 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 14 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 15 MS. VANEK: And, for the record, 16 Commissioner Fernandez and Commissioner 17 Martinetti are recusing. 18 19 REGULAR AGENDA: 20 21 3. Resolution Approving Payments of Claims to 22 the Grace Theater Workshop, Inc. 23 24 ACTING CITY CLERK: Item three on the 25 agenda, on the Regular Agenda, is a Resolution  18 1 Approving Payments of Claim to the Grace Theater 2 Workshop, Inc. 3 MS. VANEK: Mayor, we recommend that 4 Commissioner Fernandez recuse himself from this 5 item. 6 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Motion. 7 MAYOR STACK: Second. 8 ACTING CITY CLERK: Roll call. 9 Commissioner Rivas? 10 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 11 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 12 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 14 Martinetti? 15 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 16 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 17 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 18 MS. VANEK: And, for the record, 19 Commissioner Fernandez recused. 20 21 OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD: 22 23 ACTING CITY CLERK: Does the Mayor wish to 24 take public comments? 25 MAYOR STACK: Sure.  19 1 Anyone wishing to comment at this time, 2 please step forward, just state your name and 3 address for the record. 4 MR. FALTO: Jose Falto, 1216 Central 5 Avenue, Union City, New Jersey 07087. 6 MS. DILLON: Go ahead. 7 MR. FALTO: Mr. Mayor, last month I 8 attended a Commission Meeting where I talked to 9 you and I asked you about calling for a test for 10 a Chief of Police, a Deputy Chief and you told me 11 that you had called for a test. 12 I hate to inform you, that after carefully 13 checking it out with Civil Service, no such test 14 has been called as of this date. 15 MAYOR STACK: We have. 16 MR. FALTO: No you haven’t. Because I 17 spoke to Civil Service. 18 MAYOR STACK: That’s -- 19 MR. FALTO: Okay? 20 MAYOR STACK: That’s your opinion, sir. 21 MR. FALTO: It’s not my opinion; it’s a 22 matter of fact because I called Civil Service. 23 MAYOR STACK: That’s your opinion, sir. 24 MR. FALTO: Either you’re losing your mind; 25 maybe you’re working too hard at two jobs. Or  20 1 maybe you’re starting to forget because of your 2 lack of sleep. I don’t know which one it is. 3 Or maybe you’re not telling the truth for 4 the citizens of Union City. 5 MAYOR STACK: Thank you, Mr. Falto. 6 MR. FALTO: Okay, that’s number one. 7 Mr. Mayor, can I ask you a favor? When you 8 do five minutes, allow me five minutes speaking; 9 not count your time when you’re answering 10 questions because you’re cutting into my five 11 minutes. 12 MAYOR STACK: It’s five minutes. Like it 13 or not, it’s five minutes. 14 MR. FALTO: I know it’s five minutes, sir. 15 My question is not your time, -- 16 MAYOR STACK: Play your political 17 theater -- 18 MR. FALTO: -- my time, -- 19 MAYOR STACK: -- somewhere else. Ask your 20 question. 21 MR. FALTO: Okay, my question -- 22 MAYOR STACK: Come on. 23 MR. FALTO: Next to you, Mr. Mayor, -- 24 MAYOR STACK: It’s the silly season; come 25 on, let’s go.  21 1 MR. FALTO: Excuse me? 2 MAYOR STACK: It’s your silly season. Go 3 ahead. 4 MR. FALTO: No, it’s not silly season. 5 MAYOR STACK: You can ask your question. 6 MR. FALTO: It’s reality time. 7 MAYOR STACK: Mr. Falto, please, ask your 8 question. 9 MR. FALTO: Yeah. 10 MAYOR STACK: Reality will be on May 13 th. 11 Come on. 12 MR. FALTO: Mr. Mayor, could you tell me 13 why the Public Works garage has been shut down by 14 the State of New Jersey? 15 MAYOR STACK: Christine? 16 MS. VANEK: Sure. 17 New Jersey Transit owns that piece of 18 property. The City has been leasing it from 19 Transit for a number of years; I think it’s about 20 20 years. It’s Transit’s building. Over the 21 years there’s been problems with the facility. 22 The building has been there for many, many years. 23 The City has spent an extraordinary amount 24 of money attempting to remedy the problems there; 25 it’s just simply an old building.  22 1 We weren’t able to fund the amount of money 2 that it would cost to actually bring the building 3 to where it needs to be. So PEOSH asked us to 4 vacate the building. 5 MR. FALTO: Okay. 6 Now is -- 7 MAYOR STACK: Majority of the building; not 8 the total building. 9 MS. VANEK: Yes. Yes. 10 MR. FALTO: Okay. I have a problem because 11 my understanding is -- 12 And I have a copy; I spoke to people in 13 OSHA and they notified me that no one should be 14 entering. I have pictures and videos of people 15 coming in out of the garage constantly when no 16 one should be there. 17 You’re putting the safety of your employees 18 as-risk. 19 MAYOR STACK: The northern end of the 20 building we’re allowed to use. 21 MR. FALTO: That’s not what I’m told and I 22 got a copy of the letter that was sent to you on 23 the 7th when they shut you down after they gave 24 you additional times. 25 MAYOR STACK: There’s been a letter after  23 1 that, sir. 2 MR. FALTO: Well, I have a -- well, I’d 3 like to see that letter, Mr. Mayor; if you could 4 have it sent to me. 5 MAYOR STACK: Okay. Sure. 6 MR. FALTO: ‘Cause that’s not what I was 7 told -- 8 MAYOR STACK: You could put an OPRA request 9 in for it. 10 MR. FALTO: -- by the Director down there, 11 Mr. -- 12 Excuse me? 13 MAYOR STACK: Put an OPRA request in. 14 MR. FALTO: I will do that, sir. 15 I’ll contact -- I’ll contact Mr. -- the 16 gentleman down in Trenton that I spoke to. 17 MAYOR STACK: That’s fine. 18 MR. FALTO: Okay, my next question Mr. 19 Mayor, I’m concerned about our budget and our 20 taxes in the City of Union City. 21 How can we balance our budget if all extra 22 aid, loans is not available without raising taxes 23 once again? 24 MAYOR STACK: I don’t understand the 25 question.  24 1 MR. FALTO: The question is simple. 2 You are receiving money from Governor 3 Christie -- your friend Governor Christie. And 4 the fact of the matter is that once his term is 5 over we don’t know what kind of aid, so you keep 6 putting in money. 7 Now, distressed city funding, my 8 understanding -- and I’ve been around government 9 for the last -- since I was 21 years old, my 10 understanding is, Mr. Mayor, that those funds are 11 supposed to wean you off and you’re getting 12 additional money every year. 13 Now what happens with that money -- when 14 that money stops, how are you going to balance 15 this budget? 16 MAYOR STACK: We’ve been receiving 17 municipal aid in some form since our -- now our 18 U.S. Senator Bob Menendez was the mayor. We even 19 received it under former Senator and Mayor -- 20 Union City Mayor Bill Musto. 21 MR. FALTO: Yeah but I’m saying what 22 happens, Mr. Mayor, what is your game plan if, in 23 fact, once Mr. Christie is out of office at the 24 end of his term or whether he has to resign 25 before?  25 1 We don’t know what’s gonna happen with that 2 whole investigation down there. Only 25 people 3 of his inner circle have been subpoenaed, so we 4 don’t know what’s gonna happen with that. 5 How are you going to balance the budget? 6 I didn’t ask you when did it stop coming in 7 the money. 8 The fact of the matter is distressed city 9 funds it’s supposed to be -- okay -- you wean the 10 cities off of it. And you continually getting 11 additional money. 12 What happens if that money comes dry? 13 How do you balance your budget, Mr. Mayor? 14 MAYOR STACK: We’re constantly looking for 15 new revenue streams to bring into our City; 16 constantly. We’re constantly looking for ways to 17 save money and we’ve done it effectively. 18 MR. FALTO: You’ve done effective -- 19 MAYOR STACK: Sure. 20 MR. FALTO: Your taxes haven’t been 21 increased over the last ten years? 22 MAYOR STACK: They have been. It’s part of 23 being in the distressed city program, Mr. Falto. 24 If you knew about government you would know 25 that.  26 1 MR. FALTO: I know that, Mr. Mayor. 2 MAYOR STACK: You can’t use it to -- 3 MR. FALTO: I’m just -- 4 MAYOR STACK: -- decrease taxes. 5 MR. FALTO: I would never ask you a 6 question, Mr. Mayor, unless I knew the answer. 7 MAYOR STACK: I’m surprised at that but -- 8 MR. FALTO: Yeah. 9 Oh, no, Mr. Mayor, -- 10 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. 11 MR. FALTO: -- it shouldn’t surprise you 12 because you know me long enough. 13 MAYOR STACK: Thank you very much, Mr. 14 Falto. 15 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor, it’s five 16 minutes. 17 MAYOR STACK: Five minutes is up. 18 MR. FALTO: Five minutes are up with him 19 talking or my five minutes? 20 ACTING CITY CLERK: Five minutes, sir. 21 MAYOR STACK: Five minutes is up, Mr. 22 Falto. 23 MR. FALTO: Oh, Mr. -- okay, Mr. Mayor, 24 we’ll see you. 25 MAYOR STACK: Thank you very much.  27 1 MR. FALTO: And it is election time, Mr. 2 Mayor, and I’ll be out there -- talk to you, 3 against you and your cronies. 4 MAYOR STACK: I’m glad we got that all on 5 the record. 6 Thank you very much. 7 MR. FALTO: Excuse me? 8 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. 9 MR. FALTO: Just for your information, -- 10 MAYOR STACK: Anyone else -- 11 MR. FALTO: -- heads up. 12 MAYOR STACK: -- wishing to comment at this 13 time? 14 Mr. Price, it’s actually a pleasure to see 15 you. How are you? 16 MR. PRICE: Larry Price, 1006 Palisade 17 Avenue. 18 I was surprised to read in the paper that 19 we didn’t own the Public Service Garage. 20 MAYOR STACK: Years ago when it was -- it 21 was picked up, Larry. In 1994 actually the 22 garage was leased for a dollar a year -- 23 MR. PRICE: Right. 24 MAYOR STACK: -- under a former Union City 25 Mayor, Bruce Walter. We don’t own the property  28 1 though. 2 MR. PRICE: We don’t own the -- 3 MAYOR STACK: No. 4 MR. PRICE: Now that’s a redevelopment zone 5 though. 6 MAYOR STACK: It is. 7 MR. PRICE: But how are we ever gonna be 8 able to redevelop it when we’re not the under -- 9 you know, the underlying real estate owner? 10 MAYOR STACK: We’re in negotiations with 11 New Jersey Transit right now to acquire a portion 12 of that property and that’s been ongoing right 13 now. 14 MR. PRICE: All right. Good. 15 Otherwise development would be difficult. 16 MAYOR STACK: It would be very hard. 17 MR. PRICE: Yeah. 18 Okay. 19 Thank you. 20 MAYOR STACK: Thank you very much. 21 Anyone else wishing to comment at this 22 time? 23 Seeing no other. 24 Thank you, everyone, for attending the 25 meeting this evening.  29 1 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion to close the 2 public comment portion of the meeting. 3 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Second. 4 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas. 5 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 6 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Second. 7 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia. 8 Roll call. 9 Commissioner Fernandez? 10 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 11 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 12 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 14 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 15 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 16 Martinetti? 17 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 18 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 19 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 20 ACTING CITY CLERK: Okay, tonight we have 21 Liquor License Disciplinary Proceedings. 22 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Mr. Clerk, I’m 23 sorry, not to interrupt but we’ve -- we have the 24 -- the honorees have arrived. 25 ACTING CITY CLERK: Okay.  30 1 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: If we could 2 present the Proclamation to the young man. 3 (Whereupon, there was a pause in the 4 proceedings.) 5 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Mr. Clerk, 6 Commissioners, Mayor and community, on behalf of 7 the City of Union City we’d like to present this 8 Proclamation to this young man. 9 And it reads as follows: 10 WHEREAS, The City of Union City is pleased 11 to honor Kael Mejia upon the auspicious occasion 12 of his accomplishments and determination in the 13 sport of soccer; and 14 WHEREAS, Kael Mejia, a second grader from 15 Union City’s Jefferson School, has had 16 interesting progressions of success while 17 representing the City of Union City across the 18 State of New Jersey and across the United States; 19 and 20 WHEREAS, Kael Mejia has been selected by 21 prestigious Soccer Academies such as U8 Summer 22 Select Team Pocono Cup, where he trained 23 alongside World Cup player Tab Ramos; The SDFC 24 Academy Town where he has -- he was selected to 25 play the New Jersey Indoor State Cup; and was  31 1 invited to train with the Juventus Italian 2 professional soccer team. Kael Mejia was also 3 selected to represent the United States at the BA 4 Cup of Argentina; and 5 WHEREAS, Appropriately and accordingly, 6 Kael Mejia’s exemplary sportsmanship serves as an 7 inspiration to other young Union City athletes. 8 His achievements are hereby lauded and 9 recognized; and 10 And NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that 11 Brian P. Stack, Mayor of the City of Union City 12 and the Union City Board of Commissioners do 13 hereby honor Kael Mejia. 14 MAYOR STACK: Wow! 15 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Wow! 16 Congratulations. 17 (Applause.) 18 MAYOR STACK: Than you very much. Thank 19 you. 20 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Congratulations. 21 MAYOR STACK: Thank you very much. 22 (Whereupon there was a pause in the 23 proceedings) 24 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Thank you, Mr. 25 Clerk.  32 1 LIQUOR LICENSE DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS: 2 3 1. Mayem Corp. t/a El Trebol, 416-418 43rd 4 Street (sic) 5 2. II (sic) Paradiso Corp. t/a II (sic) 6 Paradiso, 1108 7 3. Wendy C. Diaz, t/a Tropical Bar & 8 Restaurant, 4100C Bergenline Avenue 9 10 MAYOR STACK: Mr. Farmer? 11 MR. FARMER: Mayor and Board and 12 Commissioners. 13 MS. DILLON: Start over, -- 14 MR. FARMER: Gregory Farmer -- 15 MS. DILLON: -- Mr. Farmer. You were 16 traveling. 17 MR. FARMER: Okay. 18 All I really did was say good evening to 19 everybody. 20 You have three matters on your calendar. 21 22 MAYEM CORP., t/a EL TREBOL, 416-418 43rd Street 23 (sic): 24 25 MR. FARMER: The first one is El Trebol and  33 1 Mr. Gonzalez is here representing the licensee. 2 This is a situation where it’s just been 3 produced a video that goes for somewhere between 4 two hours plus with the defense that the young 5 man who we say was underage and got served there 6 wasn’t there. 7 Rather than have each of you watch this 8 video until perhaps 10, 11 o’clock at night, what 9 I suggested was that the video be turned over to 10 the Police. Detective Dunlay and Detective 11 Mendoza, who are involved in it, will take a look 12 at -- take a look at it and will kind of 13 stipulate what it says and we’ll be able to move 14 this along. 15 I would think this would be done rather 16 quickly and we could put this on for the 18 th. 17 MAYOR STACK: Sure. Okay. 18 MR. FARMER: Okay? 19 MAYOR STACK: No problem. 20 MR. FARMER: And there’s some other side 21 issues that really don’t need to be involving the 22 Board right now that Mr. Gonzalez and I can 23 address between ourself. I’m sure we’ll be 24 confident to have those resolved when we come 25 back on the 18th.  34 1 MAYOR STACK: That would be fine. 2 MR. FARMER: Is that -- 3 MR. GONZALEZ: Mayor, Commissioners, thank 4 you. 5 For the record, Ramon Gonzalez, G-O-N-Z-A- 6 L-E-Z, firm of Gonzalez and Caride, on behalf of 7 Trebol, which I think has an incorrect -- 8 MR. FARMER: Yes, it does. 9 MR. GONZALEZ: -- address listing -- 10 MR. FARMER: It does. 11 MR. GONZALEZ: -- on it. 12 MR. FARMER: It does. 13 MR. GONZALEZ: Yes. 14 MR. FARMER: Yes. 15 MR. GONZALEZ: But that’s, in fact, 16 correct. There is a video that my client has 17 running all the time; it shows the bar, it shows 18 the dining area, it shows the outside. Hopefully 19 this will resolve this case without having to try 20 it. 21 MAYOR STACK: Great. 22 MR. FARMER: Okay. We’ll see. 23 MAYOR STACK: Thank you very much, -- 24 MR. FARMER: Okay? 25 MAYOR STACK: -- Mr. Gonzalez.  35 1 Thank you. 2 MR. FARMER: So we could carry that. 3 MR. GONZALEZ: What do you want to do? 4 MR. FARMER: Huh? Yeah. 5 MR. GONZALEZ: Till when? 6 MR. FARMER: The 18th. 7 MR. GONZALEZ: Eighteenth. Okay. 8 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. 9 * * * 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25  36 1 II (sic) PARADISO CORP., t/a II (sic) PARADISO, 2 1108 Summit Avenue: 3 4 MR. FARMER: Il Paradiso. 5 MR. RENDO: Yes, -- 6 MR. FARMER: Licensee? 7 MR. RENDO: Yes. He’s here. 8 MR. FARMER: Put your name -- 9 MR. RENDO: Sure. 10 Carlos Rendo, Mulkay and Rendo, 11 representing Il Paradiso. 12 MR. FARMER: Let the record reflect that 13 the licensee is present. 14 I’ve had an opportunity to speak to Mr. 15 Mulkay with respect to this matter and we’ve come 16 to an agreement or to -- as far as a 17 recommendation to the Board and that simply is 18 this. 19 That it’s a paper violation and it resulted 20 in a random check by the Police Department. 21 There is literally very little past history; 22 something back in ’04 and no books of account. 23 I would recommend a two day suspension. 24 It’s a paper violation. That’s generally what we 25 do, in that vicinity.  37 1 And we’ve already talked about it and if it 2 meets with the Board’s approval I think it’s 3 going to be March 25th and March 26th. 4 MR. RENDO: That’s correct, yes. 5 MR. FARMER: And, again, if it -- 6 MR. RENDO: And -- 7 MR. FARMER: -- meets with the approval of 8 the Board, there will not be any application to 9 transform it into a fine with the State, nor will 10 there be an appeal of the proceedings. 11 MR. RENDO: And that the restaurant may 12 remain open -- 13 MR. FARMER: Right. 14 MR. RENDO: -- but, obviously, not serve 15 any alcohol. 16 MAYOR STACK: Great. 17 I’ll make a motion to approve on Mr. 18 Farmer’s recommendation. 19 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Second. 20 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: And I’ll second. 21 MR. FARMER: I’ll send you the Resolution. 22 MR. RENDO: Okay, thank you. 23 MR. FARMER: Thank you. 24 MR. RENDO: Thank you, Greg. 25 Nice seeing you.  38 1 MR. FARMER: Take care. 2 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. 3 MR. RENDO: Thank you, Mayor. 4 MAYOR STACK: Thank you very much. 5 MR. RENDO: Thank you -- 6 MAYOR STACK: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. 7 Contreras (phonetic). 8 MS. VANEK: Roll call? 9 MAYOR STACK: Roll call. 10 ACTING CITY CLERK: Roll call. 11 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: The Mayor and I. 12 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Fernandez? 13 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 14 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 15 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 16 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 17 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 18 ACTING CITY CLERK: Martinetti? 19 Commissioner Martinetti? 20 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 21 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 22 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 23 (Whereupon, there was a pause in the 24 proceedings.) 25 * * *  39 1 WENDY C. DIAZ, t/a TROPICAL BAR & RESTAURANT, 2 4100C Bergenline Avenue: 3 4 MR. FARMER: The last one on your agenda is 5 Tropical Bar and Restaurant. The licensee is 6 here, along with their attorney Mr. Crossin. 7 Mr. Crossin and I have had discussions 8 about that -- this. And this is what the 9 situation is. 10 The situation is there’s a victim playing 11 pool and the assailant sees him and apparently 12 there is a lover’s triangle between the two 13 people. This man barges into the bar, brandishes 14 a knife. The bartender calls the Police. The 15 victim runs out one door and the assailant runs 16 out the other door. 17 The Police get there and what they find is 18 some paper violations. 19 But this was really spontaneous. The 20 licensee apparently did exactly what they could 21 do under the circumstances and there really 22 wasn’t any cause and effect between the bar and 23 this situation that apparently is more emotional 24 because of the interest of two people in another 25 woman.  40 1 So I would recommend a three day 2 suspension. And we have -- if again -- the Board 3 -- I think it’s -- 4 Give me a minute; I have it someplace here. 5 -- the 25th, 26th and 27th. 6 MAYOR STACK: Sir, do you have anything 7 further that you would like to -- 8 MR. CROSSIN: Just I would like the Board 9 to know that -- 10 MS. DILLON: Your appearance please. 11 MR. CROSSIN: Sorry. 12 Altamura and Crossin, by Richard Crossin, 13 Union City. 14 MS. DILLON: Can you spell that for me? 15 MR. CROSSIN: A-L-T-A-M-U-R-A and Crossin, 16 C-R-O-S-S-I-N. 17 MS. DILLON: Thank you. 18 MR. CROSSIN: -- that the permits under 19 specifications 5, 6 and 7 have been procured and 20 they’re up-to-date. And that the paperwork 21 required under specifications 2, 3 and 4 has been 22 regularized and is now on premise, including the 23 account book. 24 We -- 25 MAYOR STACK: Okay.  41 1 And the recommendation was, Mr. Farmer? 2 MR. FARMER: Three days. 3 MAYOR STACK: Three days. Okay. 4 On Mr. Farmer’s recommendation, three days. 5 Do we have those days, Mr. Farmer, did you 6 say? 7 MR. FARMER: Yes. Yes. 8 MAYOR STACK: You said it was? 9 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Twenty-fifth, 10 26th, 27th. 11 MS. VANEK: Twenty-five, 26 -- 12 MR. FARMER: Twenty-fifth, 26th and 27th. 13 It’s a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 14 MAYOR STACK: You got it. 15 Make a motion to approve. 16 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack. 17 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Second. 18 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas. 19 Roll call. 20 Commissioner Fernandez? 21 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 22 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 23 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 24 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 25 Martinetti?  42 1 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 2 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 3 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 4 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 5 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 6 MR. FARMER: We’re finished. 7 MR. CROSSIN: Okay? 8 Thank you. 9 MR. FARMER: Okay. 10 MR. CROSSIN: Thank you, Commissioners. 11 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Thank you. 12 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Have a good 13 night. 14 MAYOR STACK: Thank you very much. 15 Thank you. 16 * * * 17 18 ADJOURNMENT: 19 20 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor, there here are 21 no further matters before the Board. 22 Is there a motion to adjourn? 23 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Motion. 24 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Motion. 25 MAYOR STACK: Motion.  43 1 ACTING CITY CLERK: Motion made by Mayor 2 Stack. 3 Seconded? 4 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Second. 5 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Fernandez. 6 Roll call. 7 Commissioner Fernandez? 8 COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ: Yes. 9 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Rivas? 10 COMMISSIONER RIVAS: Yes. 11 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner Valdivia? 12 COMMISSIONER VALDIVIA: Yes. 13 ACTING CITY CLERK: Commissioner 14 Martinetti? 15 COMMISSIONER MARTINETTI: Yes. 16 ACTING CITY CLERK: Mayor Stack? 17 MAYOR STACK: Yes. 18 19 (Whereupon, the proceedings were concluded 20 at 7:27 p.m.) 21 22 23 24 25  44 1 ________________________ Brian P. Stack 2 ________________________ Lucio P. Fernandez 3 ________________________ Maryury A. Martinetti 4 ________________________ Celin 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  45 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 Tuesday, March 4, 2014, 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