Amboy Guardian 4_6_22

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14. The Amboy Guardian *April 6, 2022By: Carolyn MaxwellPERTH AMBOY – BusinessAdministrator Michael Greentalked briefly regarding R-139-3/22 – Passage of Senate Bill330 which will increase distributionto municipalities fromthe Energy Tax Receipt PropertyTax Relief Fund over 5 years.“This bill is supported bythe League of Municipalities.It requires additional aid to besubtracted from the MunicipalProperty Tax Levy.”He also explained R-155-3/22– Awarding a contract to Sonnenfeldand Trocchia Architectfor design services for City Hallalterations Phase II.Council President Bill Petricksaid, “This will be in the clerk’soffice.”When Councilman Pabonquestioned, “Will this companycharge for the mistakes theymade?”Green replied, “No. There is acost for the publication of documents,and these are the samearchitects – just different contractors.”Green also provided informationabout R-157-3/22 – A grantapplication to United Way ofCentral Jersey for the MiddlesexCounty Local FEMA Reportfor Emergency Food andShelter Program in the amountof $230,000. “This is for CodeBlue. To date, we’ve had 65Code Blue Days and we sheltered881 people. We have apartnership with the YMCA,Jewish Renaissance, SalvationArmy, and food was provided.”Dianne Roman from the Departmentof Human Resourcesspoke via Zoom, “The JewishRenaissance has the FamilySuccess Center by the HousingAuthority. Tashi Vazquez, John,and I talked about how we cansupport our local food pantries.They help with relocation services,and we purchase a lot offoods from businesses locatedin the town. Toiletries, blankets,socks are provided by other entities.We need to hire personnelto help with mental health issues.Those hired will have theproper certification, and TashiVazquez put the grant together.”Council President Petrickasked if the county and state socialservices could be used forthese purposes.Roman replied, “They wouldhave to be compensated ifworking outside of their regularhours. We can explore seeing ifwe can work with the hospitalto help with mental services.The Y has caseworkers whohave the history of clients thathave used their services and thatlist may have what those client’smental health needs are.Vending, laundry, and cleaningservices have to be calculated inthe cost of grants. Raritan BayMedical Center gets involved ifthere are clients who have mentalissues (that need additionalhelp).”Green then talked aboutR-159-3/22 – An application tothe New Jersey Clean EnergyProgram Community EnergyPlanning Program.“This is for green infrastructureprojects within the city inpartnership with Rutgers regardingour CSO. The $25,000Updates on City Services, Grants Amongst Topics Discussed3/28/22 Caucusassociated with this resolutionfollows the Best PracticesGuidelines regarding Greenhousegas emissions.”R-160-3/22 – An applicationto the AARP Community ChallengeGrant in the amount of$15,000.Councilman B.J. Torresvoiced his concerns, “This isanother art project that cameinto fruition without the ArtsCouncil being involved.”Green replied, “There was avery quick deadline.”Torres still wasn’t satisfied,“There are PILOTS and otherprojects that are dealing withthe arts and the Arts Council arebeing bypassed.”Council President Petrickagreed with Torres. “I hope thismoney is not to just complete anArts Project. Anything that hasto do with art should not be submitteduntil the Arts Council isconsulted.”Green replied, “It’s just twopillars at the Outerbridge to bepainted. In the future, we willgo to the Arts Council.”Councilwoman Milady Tejedaquestioned, “How soon did youknow about the grant?”Green answered, “It was ashort timeframe.”Tejeda finished, “It is essentialfor the Arts Council to beinvolved.”R-161-3/22-A grant from theState of New Jersey Departmentof Community Affairs for theLocal Recreation ImprovementGrant.Green said, “It is for RaritanRiver Smart Park. It will includebenches, charging stations, andsmart water fountains.”Council President Bill Petrickspoke briefly about OrdinanceNo. 1 – Entitled “Court” regardingparking offenses.Petrick stated, “This is to upgradethe fines with steps.”Ordinance No. 2 – Entitled“Vehicles and Traffic” regardingtruck parking regulations.Green said, “This will be fortrucks that are 4 tons, mobilehomes, and popup campers.Busses will also be included.”Pabon asked if the courts wereopen yet.Green replied, “Yes.”There were a couple of questionsregarding Ordinance No. 3– Public Entertainment regardingPublic Entertainment limitedto certain rotations.”Pabon started, “There werequestions about the RudykPark locations. We also talkedabout the Elizabeth Street andDivision Street connections. IfKenny Ortiz is on Zoom, he cangive us more details.”Ortiz was not on Zoom.Tejeda spoke up. She questionedSection 6D on the Ordinance.“It says that the festivalshave to be relocated if it is over70 people. In the beginning, itsaid 700.”Petrick replied, “We went withthe old ordinance that was onthe books. We need to changethat to 200. When I talked to thePeruvian Committee, they saidwhen they had their gathering,their attendance was under 200people.”City Clerk Victoria Kupschspoke up, “R-151-3/22 – A specialpermit for the DominicanFestival to be held August 12,13, & 14 was to be removed perthe request of the DominicanFestival Chair.”Fire Chief Ed Mullen cameforth to explain R-165-3/22 – Acontract with Skyland Area FireEquipment and Training forFirefighter Turnout Gear in anamount not to exceed $90,311.“This would be just for coat andjackets which will be 27 sets.*Continued on Page 15

*Continued from Page 14We expect them to last 5 years.We are still using rescue packs,but they need to be replaced inabout a year.”Green explained R-166-3/22 –A contract with EIG Sports forthe purchase of uniforms andequipment in an amount not toexceed $30,000. “This will befor our youth.”Green then explained R-168-3/22 – Determining the formand other details of not exceeding$2,020,000 bonds for thecity of Perth Amboy and providingfor their sale to the NewJersey Infrastructure Bank andauthorizing the execution ofvarious agreements all pursuantto the New Jersey Water BankFinancing Program.Green said, “This is a shortterm to a 40-year financing sewerseparation, separating StateStreet, Parker Street, and JamesUpdates on City Services, Grants Amongst Topics Discussed3/28/22 CaucusStreet. The American RescueFunds can be used as well assome community grants. Wehave $8.4 million more moneycoming in May. We have alsoapplied for $100 million inState Funds.”Luis Perez Jimenez, Directorof Operations at the USA-PA (Utility Service AssociatesPerth Amboy) Middlesex WaterCompany) talked about R-169-3/22 - An emergency contractwith Pumping Services for thepurchase of a bypass pumpto use at the Second StreetPump Station in the amount of$53,056.24.“The pump that we are gettingis fairly new which willmaintain. In the long run, it ischeaper because it will cost us$15,300 a month to rent one.”Jimenez then talked aboutR-170-3/22 – A contract to RapidPump and Metering Servicesin an amount not to exceed$20,000 for maintenance andrepairs of the Frequency DrivePump.“This has to be fixed in placeor replaced.For R-175-3/22 - A Personto-Persontransfer of PlenaryRetail Consumption Licenseheld in the name of CaribbeanDugout to La Playita Sports Bareffective March 31, 2022.City Clerk Kupsch said, “Thisis an existing license held by afather and son.”Council President Bill Petrickspoke up and stated, “Weshould be hearing more aboutthe El Patio Bar and what happenedfrom former Law DirectorPeter King.”Public Portion:Resident Ken Balut spokein person first. He asked, “Arethere any tax increases?”Green replied, “No.”Balut then asked, “Any tax increasefrom the School Board?”April 6, 2022 * The Amboy Guardian .15Pabon answered, “Yes.”Balut wanted to know whorepresented the city (when itcame to PILOTS).Green responded, “The CFO,PARA, and Tax Assessor.”Balut continued, “If we keepgiving PILOTS to billionaires,the state will stop giving usmoney. This has got to stop.We have a lot of problems withdensity, illegal housing, andPILOTS should be a part ofthe mayor’s State of the CitySpeech. I want to know if therewas illegal housing in two recentfires. I still see busses parkingillegally. The mayor shoulddiscuss illegal housing and howthe American Rescue Fundswere spent or will be spent.”Resident Vince Mackiel cameup next. He was concerned howthe new proposed housing unitswill affect traffic, especially theintersection of Smith Street andConvery Boulevard. “A trafficstudy is needed. We need toknow the exact amount of whatthe city will receive and thecounty. Charging stations areneeded as well as better transportation.”He then turned hisattention to R-156 and R-157which had to do with grantsfor emergency food and shelterservices. “It was a half milliondollars that were given out 6months ago for food and shelter.The Office of Economic DevelopmentDirector said the SalvationArmy was looking to haveshelters in town. Specialists areneeded, but shelters are neededmore.”Fire Chief Ed Mullen cameup and said, “The fire on SecondStreet – there were units inthe attic where the building wasdestroyed. The other fire – therewas no illegal housing. If wefind illegal housing, it is reportedto Code Enforcement.”Councilman B.J. Torres spokeup, “15 years ago, a homeownerdied in a house that had illegalhousing. An ordinance wascreated because of that fire. Anordinance should be createdso that illegal property can beseized. Strategy Group said illegalhousing is a problem.Now, we have people displaced.Homeowners can repair theirunits, then sell after repairingthem.”Mullen continued, “If you seesomething, report it.”Torres said, “We can’t’ haveresidents policing.”Pabon spoke up, “The fire onSpruce Street was a car fire. Youshould contact the insurancecompany, especially when itcomes to illegal units, becausethey may drop the homeowners’insurance and this will be a stopto illegal housing.”Petrick replied, “When CodeEnforcement was under Housing,it was more strict.”Torres concluded, “A housewas recently purchased. Thenew homeowner probably knewthere were illegal units alreadyexisting.”Petrick then suggested welook into the Jersey City Ordinance(involving illegal housing).A Resident from 130 BroadStreet came up to speak. Shespoke only in Spanish, so a cityemployee translated for her.“This resident received a letterfrom Code Enforcement thatshe had a (private) school busparked illegally on her property.I lived here for 40 years, andI’ve had that bus parked on myproperty for 15 years and this ismy only source of income. Thebus is parked in my driveway.”Pabon spoke up, “Code Enforcementis going throughoutthe city to see what commercialvehicles are being parked inprivate driveways. This womanwas lucky she got away withthis for 15 years, but now theyare starting to crack down.”The woman said, “I havetalked to other people who alsopark school busses in front oftheir home or in their drivewayand I am the only one who had asummons.”Pabon also said, “Some businessesare charging people to*Continued on Page 19

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