Amboy Guardian 11_18_20

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2. The Amboy Guardian *November 18, 2020Food Pantries and Audio Restoration Discussed11/4/20 Business Meeting via TeleconferencingBy: Katherine MassopustSOUTH AMBOY – The firstdiscussion at the meeting wasabout No. 3 – A Resolution fora tax lien at 104 S. Rosewell.Business Administrator GlennSkarzynski stated that the DPWwas sent to clean up the propertyand the tax lien on the propertywas to recoup the cost tothe taxpayers. Skarzynski statedthat communications were sentto the owner with no reply. Hewas uncertain if the owner hadpaid his taxes on the blightedproperty.Councilman Thomas Reillystated, “I hope we can expeditethe process (of demolishing ofthe structures on the property).B.A. Skarzynski added thatthe Mayor made it very clear todemolish all structures on theproperty.There was a discussion regardingNo. 5 – Resolution tocancel taxes – 331 BordentownAve. Law Director FrancisWomack stated it was the ApplegateProperty. “We’ve takenthe property by eminent domain.We’ve taken possessionof the land and just return anytaxes paid."B.A. Skarzynski stated, “It’sgoing to be a permanent Veteran’sPlaza for all our Veterans:past and present. The facilitywill be on BordentownAvenue.” It was noted that theowner was happy to give theland over for the Veteran's Memorial.The next discussion was aboutNo. 7 – Resolution to establishthe City of South Amboy NutritionalSupport Program.B.A. Glenn Skarzynski stated,“We were able to act as an indemnityto supply our food pantries.This resolution is based ona model enabling us to utilizethe DPW vehicles to pick upfood from Middlesex CountyCollege (and other places) tobenefit those unfortunate thanmost.” Skarzynski explainedthat other municipalities had asimilar resolution which wasthe model for this one that enablesthe city to use their vehiclesto deliver food to the needy.“By working with the county,we will be able to have produceand dairy.” Skarzynski thankedCouncilman Reilly for his persistencein getting this accomplished.Councilman Brian McLaughlinasked why this took so long.B.A. Skarzynski explainedthat a lot of things needed to getdone first.Law Director Francis Womackadded that it is because of legalreasons and that B.A. Skarzynskireached out to the County.“The resolution allows us to goto another municipality.”Councilwoman Zusette Datogave clarification to the issue.“When I volunteered at the foodpantry, one issue was a vehicle.It’s an issue between church andstate. Maybe there’s a possibilitya vehicle can be purchased?If Mr. Womack says it’s a greatresolution, I’m happy.”Councilman Thomas Reillyinsisted that this resolutionshould have been done a longtime ago. “What’s the length ofthis program?”Skarzynski answered thatthere is no preset time limit onthe program.Reilly stated the resolutionshould be modified so that thereis no end date. “Right now,many people need food.”Council President MickeyGross approved of the decision,“We all did the right thing tonight.”The council voted unanimouslyto amend the resolution byadding the language of no enddate and a for a wider area ofpickup.”For No. 9 – Ordinance amendingtruck weight restrictions oncertain city streets.B.A. Glenn Skarzynski statedthat there were complaintsfrom city residents about truckscoming through town to avoidthe ramp. The ordinance willchange to a 4-ton weight restriction(from the old 8-ton weightrestriction) on certain streets.No. 10 – Ordinance regulatingvehicle repair on public streets.B.A. Skarzynski stated that thisordinance was at the request ofthe chief of police. He said thatwhen people repair vehicles onthe street, they get oil (and otherfluids) on the ground which area hazard.Resolution No. 20-309 – Authorizationto purchase OwenForensic Audio Services for theCity of South Amboy.There was a discussion regardingthe audio recording fromthe 12/19/18 Council Meeting(where the Manhattan BeachProject was voted upon). B.A.Skarzynski explained, “ForensicAudio Services stated theycould restore the audio to useablecondition. I have a quotefrom the forensic engineer. Sheis confident it (the audio) couldbe restored for the purposeneeded for $6000.”Councilman Brian McLaughlinasked, “Will it be transcribed?”Law Director Womack answeredthat court reporterscould do the stenography andfor a 4-hour meeting it would bearound $400-$500.”B.A. Skarzynski explainedthat the company is chargingper hour of recorded material.Since the meeting was 4 hourslong, it is $1,500 x 4 hours =$6,000. He quoted the womanwhom he spoke with, “It won’tbe pretty, but it will be audible.”Skarzynski stated, “I was fortunateto find a forensic engineerin Middlesex County.”Councilman Reilly emphasizedthe importance of havingthe meeting transcribed after theaudio is fixed.”All the council voted yes tothe resolution.B.A. Skarzynski proudly stated,“We will begin the processtomorrow.”Council Comments:Councilwoman Zusette Datocongratulated Thomas Reilly,Brian McLaughlin who alongwith herself won reelectionto the council. She also congratulatedthe Board of Educationwinners, and thanked CityClerk Deborah Brooks and allthe poll workers.Councilman Thomas Reillycongratulated all his colleagueson the council. He thanked everyonewho donated and volunteeredat the food pantries.“Are there any vacancies on anyboards right now?”Council President answeredhe would get back to him onthat.Reilly then asked, “What isthe update on the illegal palletoperation?”B.A. Glenn Skarzynski statedit is an ongoing process. “He(the palate businessowner) isclearly doing everything he canto avoid doing what he is supposedto. We will continue topursue the matter.” Skarzynskistated he (the pallet operator)was given the minimum fine.Reilly asked about backgroundchecks and fingerprintingfor firefighters.B.A. Skarzynski answered,“Not at the present moment, butthe city could set up a procedureto get that done.”Councilman Brian McLaughlinthanked the first respondersfor their work in the pandemic.He emphasized the need for donationsto the food pantries.Skarzynski added, “Aroundthe holidays, city workers do arobust extensive food drive.”It was noted that the city’s parttime grant writer got $14 millionin grants for South Amboyin 2020.Council President MickeyGross stated, “I really think thatCode Enforcement needs a pictureID when they are going outin public. It’s not fair to them.”Mayor Fred Henry was thankfulfor the donation of propertyon Bordentown Avenue for theVeteran’s Memorial. “On November11 th at 11 a.m. acrossfrom city hall (at the train station),we will be honoring ourVeterans."Public Portion:Resident Bill DeMasi askedfor an update on the abandonedproperty on John and Broadway.B.A. Glenn Skarzynski answered,“It is still pending incourt.”DeMasi then asked about theconstruction equipment by thewater.Skarzynski assured DeMasithat the workers should be doneshortly.DeMasi then complainedabout cars racing down certainareas of town, especially JohnStreet and John T. O’LearyBoulevard. “Motorcycles areracing down the street, too.”B.A. Glenn Skarzynski answered,“The police are awareof the speeding vehicles.”Head of OEM, South AmboyMark Herdman noted that therewere 1,800 deliveries of foodlast week.The meeting adjourned at 7:16p.m. All council members werepresent.
November 18, 2020 * The Amboy Guardian .32020 South Amboy Election Results as of11/16/20 Council (Unofficial)Brian McLaughlinWard 1840 Votes 99.17%Thomas ReillyWard 2604 Votes 61.63%Zusette DatoWard 3935 Votes 98.11%CFO Jill GoldyDiscussesBest Practices11/9/20 CaucusBy: Carolyn MaxwellPERTH AMBOY – CFO/Comptroller Jill Goldy gavea presentation on where PerthAmboy stands on Best Practices.She started out by statingthat a city must score at least 16“Yes” answers in order not tolose any funding from the state.She stated that we had 19 “Yes”answers. There were 28 questionsin all. Some were worthonly half a point. Also includedwas an unscored survey. Someof the questions pertained tothings that would impact municipalitiessuch as: “Are weparticipating in shared services?”There were also questionsabout the environment, recycling,utilities, and financialpractices. Each year, they mayhave limited questions askedfrom the previous year and arenot always uniform from eachyear. There is also an anti-nepotismpolicy (that is in employeemanual) which is not addressingwhat is asked in the budget.Anyone can view the last fewyears of the budget, audits, andbids that are posted on the city’swebsite. We don’t have all theminutes, meetings, and agendasfor all of the boards and commissions.City Clerk Victoria Kupschspoke up, “John Alleman (ITTechnician) updates the city’swebsite. We may have not gottenall the agendas and minutesfrom the municipal boards andcommissions because of Covidcancelling some of the meetings.”Goldy continued, stating thatshe, the Business Administrator,the Department Heads, UnitHeads, and the IT Coordinatorhave discussed the social mediaaccount created for the city andthe policies for the people usingthis site: who can post and whouses the site either privately oras a city employee.Council President Petrickspoke up and suggested that thecity council needs to set up anordinance regarding social mediaaccounts for the city.Interim B.A. Patricia Perkinsresponded, “John (Alleman)monitors activity on the socialmedia account.Petrick still wasn’t satisfied,“We need to govern this.”Councilman Fernando Irizarryspoke up, “I thank Ms. Goldyand anyone else who helped inputting this Best Practice informationin a format that we andthe residents can understand.”
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