HomeMy Public PortalAbout2001/06/07 JUNE ?, 2001
The Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of COUNCIL MEETING
Carteret was called to order by Mayor James A. Failace approximately
?:30 P.M. on Thursday, June ?, 2001, Municipal Court/Police Facility,
230 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, New Jersey.
Upon individual roll call, the following were noted present: ROLL CALL
Councilmember Jack Fazekas " Remy Quinones
" Daniel Reiman
Ronald Rios
Also noted present were Business Administrator Nicholas Goldsack
and Borough Attorney Robert J. Bergen, Esq..
Noted absent were Councilmembers Janet Santoro and Buddy
Sohayda.
The meeting was opened with a moment of Silent Prayer and The PRAYER, PLEDGE
Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor James A. Failace. OF ALLEGIANCE
The Clerk stated that on June 1, 2001, in full compliance with the STATEMENT OF
Open Public Meetings Act, a notice of tonight's meeting was sent to MEETING NOTICE
The Home News Tribune, The Star-Ledger and posted on the bulletin
board.
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Fazekas and APPROVAL OF MINUTES
unanimous affirmative vote of the four (4) members present, the
minutes of March 15, 2001 were approved as transcribed and
engrossed by the Clerk.
ORDiNANCE #01-31 was introduced and adopted on First Reading ORDINANCE I01-31
and the Clerk authorized and directed to advertise same for Public AMENDING &
SUPPLEMENTING
Hearing to be held on June 21, 2001, upon MMS&C, by ARTICLE I-GENERAL
Councilmembers Rios and Fazekas. Upon individual roll call vote, PROVISIONS, CHAPTER
Councilmembers Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman and Rios voted in the 198-PROPERTY
affirmative. Councilmembers Santoro and Sohayda were noted absent. MAINTENANCE OF THE
CODE, RE: REPEAT
VIOLATOR <S)
-- ORDINANCE #01-31
"AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING
ARTICLE I 'GENERAL PROVISIONS' OF CHAPTER 198
'PROPERTY MAiNTENANCE' OF THE CODE
OF THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET"
INE 7, 2001
)TED PRESENT Councilmember Sohayda was noted present at 7:32 P.M.
ORDiNANCE #01-32 was introduced and adopted on First Reading
tDINANCE #01-32
~4ENDING SALARY and the Clerk authorized and directed to advertise same for Public
RDINANCE ~11-9, Hearing to be held on June 21, 2001, upon MMS&C, by
BATTALION Councilmembers Rios and Fazekas. Upon individual roll call vote,
~IEF Councilmembers Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted
in the affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
ORDiNANCE #01-32
"AN ORDiNANCE TO AMEND ORDiNANCE #71-9
ESTABLISHiNG SALARY SCHEDULES AND FIXiNG
THE MANNER OF PAYMENTS OF SALARIES FOR
VARIOUS OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF
THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET"
Mayor Failace said he supports this Ordinance the Battalion Chief has
,OPlMENTS done one heck of a job over the last couple of years and has done
everything asked of him. Mayor Failace said he appreciates the job he
is doing and said he felt this Council is being hypocritical because
when Ted Surick was made Director of Public Works and received an -'-
eight thousand-dollar increase this Council took it away from him this
year. He said the Council said Mr. Surick was not doing anything
different that he had not done in the last few years even though the
Mayor added jobs to what he has done, he was cutting trees, doing
traffic. The Mayor said he has done a number of things that were over
and above what were part of his job specifications and what he is
being paid for. He said many of the management people have gotten
large increases and he supports it one hundred percent because they
are the key team and are very important to the town as the Battalion
Chief is. He said no more important than the qualified person, Mr.
Surick, yet they chose to take that away and give the same type of
increase to someone else.
Councilmember Quinones said she would support this because she
echoes the sentiments of the Mayor it is an increase that is deserved.
She said she is supportive of Brian because just about everything he is
asked to do he has done. She said she has to agree that she does not
see how the Council could justify giving certain Supervisors raises
which members of this Council and the previous Council approved.
She said members of this Council have singled out Ted Surick and said
he should not get the raise because mistakes were made. She said if --~
the Council wanted to talk about mistakes, with the Battalion Chief
position quite a number of mistakes had been made. She asked that
this Council give Mr. Surick the courtesy of reconsidering the raise
that was taken away from him then putting it back in place.
JUNE 7, 2001
Councilmember Rios said he introduced this Ordinance and felt it was COMMENTS
a fair increase for a man who has been in this position for more than
two years and has not had an increase in his salary for those
responsibilities.
ORDINANCE #01-33 was introduced and adopted on First Reading ORDINANCE {[01-33
and the Clerk authorized and directed to advertise same for Public AMENDING SALARY
Hearing to be held on June 21, 2001, upon MMS&C, by ORDINANCE #71-9, RE:
AFSCME LOCAL 512291
Councilmembers Rios and Fazekas. Upon individual roll call vote,
Councilmembers Fazekas, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Quinones abstained. Councilmember
Santoro was noted absent.
ORDINANCE #01-33
"AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE #71-9,
ESTABLISHING SALARY SCHEDULES AND FIXING
THE MANNER OF PAYMENTS OF SALARIES FOR
VARIOUS OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES
OF THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET"
Councilmember Quinones asked Borough Attorney Bergen why the COMMENTS
Council was doing this.
Borough Attorney Bergen said this was left out of the contract, it is
just a correction.
Mayor Failace said the contract showed ninety percent instead of a
specific dollar amount.
Borough Attorney Bergen said it is easier for us to manage this way
and thought it was referred to at the end of the last Agenda Meeting
that it would be put on when they worked out the numbers.
ORDINANCE #01-34 was introduced and adopted on First Reading ORDINANCE ~:01-34
and the Clerk authorized and directed to advertise same for Public CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
Hearing to be held on June 21, 2001, upon MMS&C, by FULLY FUNDED,
APPROPRIATING
Councilmembers Reiman and Rios. Upon individual roll call vote, $250,000.00, RE:
Councilmembers Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted VARIOUS ROAD
in the affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent. IMPROVEMENTS AND
S IDEI~IALK PROGRAM
-- ORDINANCE #01-34
"AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS ROAD
IMPROVEMENT AND SIDEWALK PROGRAM FOR THE
BOROUGH OF CARTERET, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX,
NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING $250,000 FROM
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND OF THE
BOROUGH FOR THE COST THEREFORE"
lng 7, 2001
)MMENTS Mayor Failace said this is much needed and much appreciated. He
said they ~vould be able to fix up Carteret Avenue where the cracks are
down the middle of the road along with the Pedestrian Walkway. He
said he felt this would help the town.
Councilmember Reiman said the Borough has received a grant for one
hundred fifty thousand dollars for a Pedestrian Walkway on Carteret
Avenue this funds an additional fifty thousand dollars and puts the rest
of the money in place. He said this allocates two hundred thousand
dollars to pave some streets. He said once the County comes in to
pave Washington and Roosevelt Avenues they have agreed to pave
some side streets at cost.
The Clerk stated Ordinance #01-29 was introduced and passed upon
RDINANCE -~01-29
MENDING SALARY First Reading at a Regular Meeting of the Borough Council held on
RDINANCE #71-9, May 17, 2001. It was duly published in the Home News Tribune on
E: SECRETARY May 22, 2001 with notice that it will be considered for final passage
OARD/COMMISSION after Public Hearing to be held on June 7, 2001 at approximately 7:30
P.M. The Ordinance was posted on the bulletin board and copies were
made available to the general public and according to law, she read the
Ordinance by title.
UBLIC HEARING Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Fazekas and
unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present,
the Mayor declared the Public Hearing to be open:
There being no comments or objections to the Ordinance, the Mayor
EARING CLOSED declared the Public Hearing to be closed, upon MMS&C, by
Councilmembers Reiman and Quinones and unanimous affirmative
vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present.
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Quinones and Rios
ORDINANCE #01-29
"AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE #71-9
ESTABLISHING SALARY SCHEDULES AND FIXING
THE MANNER OF PAYMENTS OF SALARIES
FOR VARIOUS OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES
OF THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET"
.DO?TED was finally adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers
Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Fazekas abstained. Councilmember Santoro was
noted absent.
JUNE ?, 2001
Approved and Adopted: June 7, 2001 ORDINANCE #01-29
Introduced: May 17, 2001 (Continued)
Avertised as adopted on First Reading
with notice of Public Hearing: May 22, 2001
Hearing Held: June 7, 2001
Approved by: Mayor James A. Failace
Advertised as Finally Adopted: June 16, 2001
The Clerk stated Ordinance #01-30 was introduced and passed upon ORDINANCE ~01-30
First Reading at a Regular Meeting of the Borough Council held on AMENDING SALARY
ORDINANCE #71-9, RE:
May 17, 2001. It was duly published in the Home News Tribune on BUILDING SUBCODE
May 22, 2001 with notice that it will be considered for final passage OFFICIAL/PLUMBING
after Public Hearing to be held on June ?, 2001 at approximately 7:30 [iHS INSPTECTOR
P.M. The Ordinance was posted on the bulletin hoard and copies were
made available to the general public and according to law, she read the
Ordinance by title.
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Fazekas and PUBLIC HEARING
unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present,
the Mayor declared the Public Hearing to be open:
There being no comments or objections to the Ordinance, the Mayor HEARING CLOSED
declared the Public Hearing to be closed, upon MMS&C, by
Councilmembers Reiman and Rios and unanimous affirmative vote of
the five (5) Councilmembers present.
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Rios
ORDiNANCE #01-30
"AN ORDiNANCE TO AMEND ORDiNANCE #71-9
ESTABLISHiNG SALARY SCHEDULES AND FIXiNG
THE MANNER OF PAYMENTS OF SALARIES
FOR VARIOUS OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES
OF THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET"
was finally adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers ADOPTED
Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
-- Approved and Adopted: June 7, 2001
Introduced: May 17, 2001
Advertised as adopted on First Reading
with notice of Public Hearing: May 22, 2001
Heating Held: June 7, 2001
Approved by: Mayor James A. Failace
Advertised as Finally Adopted: June 16, 2001
5
IN~ 7~ 2001
)TION TO Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Fazekas and Rios and unanimous
lEND THE affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present, a motion was
CANDING made to amend the Standing Committees to allow Councilmember
)NNITTEES Jack Fazekas to head the Parks Department Standing Committee
instead of Councilmember Janet Santoro.
)MMENTS Councilmember Quinones asked for some clarification as to who
would now be serving on this Conunittee.
Councilmember Fazekas said it would be himself, Councilmembers
Rios and Sohayda, this would only be a switch concerning the head of
the Committee.
A copy of each Resolution was placed on the table for public review
gE'lYING OPENED prior to the meeting in accordance with the Rules of Council and upon
3BLIC INPUT MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Fazekas and unanimous
~I ~,LL affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present, the meeting
gSOLUTIONS
was opened for public input on all Resolutions.
An Unidentified Woman asked for clarification on Resolution #01-
3MMENTS 186.
Mayor Failace said the Council is authorizing the Borough Attorney to
go into negotiation with North Brunswick to receive RCA Funds, a
portion of their share of the Mount Laurel Agreement for low to
moderate income housing.
Same Unidentified Woman asked if that money would be funded
towards the redevelopment (inaudible) fixing the houses that was in
reference to.
Mayor Failace said that money would be funding as the Council
chooses, it could be given to developers or given to homeowners.
Same Unidentified Woman said she signed up with the program over a
year ago and was told her name would go on a list and within a year
someone would contact her and she qualified to have some things done
in her house. She said she was told her name was coming up and then
she was told her house would not be fixed because the money is being
diverted somewhere else. She said she did not feel it was fair to her
that she waited a whole year and when her name came up she is no
longer able to get her house fixed.
Mayor Failace said it does not mean her house won't be fixed. He said
he did not know for sure and he did not know how the new monies
would be expended by the Council but he did know the money that is
in place at this moment the Council intends to give to the homeowners
in Carteret.
Councilmember Reiman asked the woman if it was a Borough Official
who called her or just a resident who told her.
JUNE 7, 2001
Same Unidentified Woman said Mr. Riggio's office told her when she COMMENTS
signed up for the program last year.
Councilmember Reiman asked who recently told her that money was
being diverted.
Same Unidentified Woman said she saw an article in the newspaper.
Councilmember Reiman said she said someone called her up.
Same Unidentified Woman said she was talking to Mr. Riggio about
this and he said her house would not be able to be fixed up because
they were thinking about diverting the money to a developer and she
was told to contact (inaudible) but you have not been able to.
Councilmember Reiman said that was not the information that should
or can be given out unless the Council makes a policy change; if this
Council chooses to make a policy change.
Mayor Failace said this Council may have not made a policy change
but Frank Raia already called COAH and told them he was getting the
money. Mayor Failace said he knew because he spoke to them.
Councilmember Reiman asked the Woman if anyone called her from
the Borough because he did not want to put anyone in a position they
should not be in. He asked if any Borough Official called her to tell
her that she was not going to get her house fixed.
Same Unidentified Woman said after she called the office to find out
where her name was on the list she was told she probably wouldn't be
able to get her house fixed now and she would have to come down to a
Council Meeting and find out if the money was being diverted to a
developer.
Councilmember Reiman asked who told her that.
Same Unidentified Woman said she spoke to Mr. Riggio.
Councilmember Reiman asked if Mr. Riggio told her that.
Same Unidentified Woman said Mr. Riggio told her to talk to Daphne.
Councilmember Reiman said he told you to speak to Daphne Miles,
and advised Borough Attorney Bergen that this was a Closed Session
item. He said that list is not to be given out to Daphne Miles or
anyone else, that list is a classified, privileged list this Council and
Mayor can not see. He said if someone in the Borough is giving that
list of information out to another resident...
Same Unidentified Woman interrupted to say that is not what she said,
her name was on this list and her name is coming up. She said she
called to check where she stood since they told her it would be a year
and the year has come. She said that was when she was told that her
name was still on the list and her name was coming up but she might
not be able to get her house fixed because some one was giving the
money to some developers.
)MMENTS Councilmember Reiman said Mr. Riggio or some one in the Borough
told you to speak to Daphne Miles.
Same Unidentified Woman said she was told to call Daphne and she
did not get a response or a call back from her. She said she called Mr.
Riggio again he told her to come to the Council Meeting and that was
why she was here. She said Mr. Riggio told her to look in the
newspaper and she read it in the newspaper.
Councilmember Reiman said the Council was in support of giving
money to the homeowners to redevelop owner occupied existing
homes.
Same Unidentified Woman asked if she was still eligible for this.
Councilmember Reiman said if she was on the list the Council is still
committed to helping homeowners and Senior Citizens to continue to
redevelop. He said he would like to look at using some money for
new construction for Lower Roosevelt.
Mayor Failace said she is on the list and if some money is diverted to a
developer then the money that could have gone to her...
Councilmember Reiman said that is not true because the Council is not
taking away any money that is coming in or committed to any
homeowner. He said the Mayor and his Director sat here three weeks
ago and said there was no money out there and said it three times. He
said they said there was no money in the account, no new money
coming in. He said this Council is looking at bringing in one point
seven million dollars, not the Administration who sat back and did
nothing over the last three years to bring in new RCA money. He
asked the Mayor if that was true and said they should listen to the tape.
Mayor Failace said that was not true and he would listen to the tape.
He said what Mr. Reiman said at that meeting was the money
committed and Mr. Riggio said it was and Mr. Reiman said it was not
committed because it hadn't been given to anyone yet. He said Frank
Raia came to the Council to get one hundred and eighty thousand
dollars and left the meeting and called COAH and told COAH that he
was getting the money from Carteret. He said he spoke to COAH and
John Riggio spoke to COAH and if Frank Raia told them that then we
could assume members of this Council told him he was getting that
money.
Councilmember Reiman said thirty days ago the Mayor supported
giving Mr. Raia the money.
Mayor Failace said it was not thirty days ago it was in December.
Councilmember Reiman said just a few months ago.
Mayor Failace said he did support that at one time until he looked at
all the numbers. He said he would talk to the people about the
numbers at the end of this meeting because he felt it was outrageous
what this man has done to Carteret and he has not done anything good.
He told the lady if he has anything to do with it she would get the
money as well as every other citizen in Carteret who needs it from
JUNE ?~ 2001
North Brunswick. He said it was Frank Raia's la~vyer who called COMMENTS
North Brunswick and he assured the lady the Council would do what
ever they could for her.
Same Unidentified Woman asked what she can do and if she could
find out where she stood on the list.
Mayor Failace said she should wait and hope that her name comes to
the top. He said she could ask Mr. Riggio where her name stood on
the list.
Councilmember Reiman said no; she could not do that.
Mayor Failace said he was sorry he did not know that and maybe she
couldn't find out when her name would come to the top.
Same Unidentified Woman said she wanted to understand this, if she
could never find out where her name is on the list people are getting
their houses fixed up and the money runs out. She said if her name
does not come up, she has been waiting a year or two thinking some
one would fix her house and she wasted two years. She said when she
moved in the Fire Department gave her Certificate of Occupancy after
she moved in she found the electric was all messed up in the house and
she is stuck with this problem, if the house bums down she is at a loss.
She said she feels like she is being given the run around and being
discriminated against.
Mayor Failace asked Borough Attorney Bergen if she could find out
where she is on the list.
Borough Attorney Bergen said he does not know anything that
precludes some one from knowing where they are on the list.
Councilmember Rios asked Mr. Riggio if she would be able to find out
if she has a chance of getting it this year without telling her anything
else.
John Riggio said he could discuss where she was on the list without
telling her numbers.
Same Unidentified Woman said Mr. Riggio told her that her name was
on the list, she would be coming up soon but she felt she doesn't want
to wait another year.
Mayor Failace said the funds they have right now unless the Council
changes anything; all the money that comes in goes to the homeowner.
Councilmember Rios said he thought it was sad that Mr. Riggio told
__ this woman assuming the Council made a commitment to a developer
and she was not going to get any funding and the money was diverted.
Councilmember Quinones said the woman said John told her the
money may be allocated to a developer and that has been stated in the
newspaper and discussed amongst the Council. She said Mr. Riggio
did not give her false information because all the money may not be
allocated for scattered site rehab.
2001
)MMENTS Mayor Failace reiterated COAH told the Council that Frank Raia
called them and told them he is getting one hundred eighty thousand
dollars.
Councilmember Rios said he did not care what COAH said, this
Council decides.
Councilmember Reiman said this Council is not bringing in one point
seven million dollars (inaudible, everyone speaking at once) you have
misinformation coming out by Borough Officials which the Council
will discuss in Closed Session.
Councilmember Quinones said Councilmember Reiman was the one
who said in the paper...
Councilmember Reiman interrupted to say he said in the paper he
would like to use some money to fix up Lower Roosevelt Avenue.
Mayor Failace said he would like to clarify what Mr. Reiman said in
the newspaper first we can not earmark this money for Seniors, it is
illegal and out of the question, it can not be earmarked for Lower
Roosevelt Avenue. He said when the money was given to Mr. Raia
the Mayor went back to some old clippings for the Hill Section and the
Borough lost a number of businesses up the Hill because they had to
get a variance. He said he hoped that would not happen in Lower
Roosevelt Avenue because if that does happen then they lose that
whole Redevelopment Zone and that was from a press release Mr.
Reiman sent to the newspaper saying he was giving the money to
Seniors and middle income.
Councilmember Reiman told the Mayor he does not support the tax
abatements that were given to the Hill Section and the Mayor was on
the Council several years ago when the Council earmarked five
hundred thousand dollars to be used to develop the old DaVinci's or
McDonald's property. He said five hundred thousand dollars of RCA
money was designated for Senior Units.
Mayor Failace asked if we gave the money to that man.
Councilmember Reiman said other Municipalities have and secondly
the Mayor said you could not designate a specific area. He said you
might not be able to do that with the RCA Agreement but by saying
new construction the Borough can decide by policy to go into an area
and continue to give out RCA loans to certain people or developers
who would pay it back. He said by giving some forgivable grants to
homeowners and some loans to developers it allows that money to be
re-circulated into the program he was not going to defend Mr. Raia or
the tax abatements because he does not support tax abatements. He
said especially since this Council has worked the last few weeks to try
to find additional RCA funding. He said this Council sat here three
weeks ago and he is not saying it is right or wrong or accusing anyone
but they said there was no money available in this County or this
region or the other two regions. He said the members of this Council
reached out to this region and Communities and hopefully came up
with one point seven million dollars in funding. He said he felt some
of this money should be used for loans to redevelop certain areas,
some of the money should be used for Seniors if it can be and the rest
10
JUNE 7, 2001
of the money should be used for owner occupied homes to continue COMMENTS
the scatter rehabilitation program.
Councilmember Quinones said she did not think Councilmember
Reiman who reached out to other Communities (inaudible, everyone
yelling at the same time). She said she would like to clarify some
issues, the money was already designated to go to New Brunswick.
She said Frank Raia's attorney according to people the Council spoke
to in North Brunswick made the call, not anyone from this Council or
this Administration and she felt the man had a vested interest in
making the call. She said we have to pay ten thousand dollars to
renegotiate with North Brunswick so they can send the money to
Carteret.
Councilmember Reiman said he would pay ten thousand dollars to get
one point seven million dollars any day.
Councilmember Quinones said depending on how you are going to use
the money.
Councilmember Reiman reiterated that he would pay ten thousand
dollars to get one point seven million dollars to help the homeowners
of Carteret.
Councilmember Quinones told Councilmember Reiman he should not
make it sound like he went out and got all this money by himself.
Councilmember Reiman said he did not do it by himself, he had
conversations with several people as did the Borough Attorney and the
Business Administrator.
Stan Gutowski asked what we were negotiating on Resolution #01-186
and asked what the sending district's client was.
Councilmember Reiman said they have an agreement with New
Brunswick to send a good portion of their units to New Brunswick.
He said they asked Carteret in consideration of the one point seven
million dollars, if we get it, they would like us to pay any addition
costs at their Administration level.
Stan Gutowski said that is not what he asked, what he asked was what
their plan was for sending it to New Brunswick originally and wanted
to know what their plan was and what the break down was on the
moderate and low income housing. He said the sending district has to
have a plan approved by COAH before they could do anything. He
asked if they have a plan and if the Council knows what we are
getting.
__ Borough Attorney Bergen said that is not quite accurate, to get their
housing element portion of their plan approved if they are including
RCA Agreements in them, those agreements will be part of the
housing element which will be approved by COAH.
Stan Gutowski said they were in the newspaper and a man from North
Brunswick talked about sending the money to Carteret. He said the
reason they wanted to get rid of their entire housing obligation was
because of the strain on the school system. He said now the Council is
11
INE 7~ 2001
)MMENTS talking about taking that money or part of it to create new housing for
one hundred percent Carteret residents.
Councilmember Reiman said Mr. Gutowski knows that can not be
designated in writing and they can not require one hundred percent.
Stan Gutowski asked how they were going to control that.
Councilmember Reiman said they would try to speak to the developer.
He said when we look at Cardinal China and Cleveland Arms, the
gentleman who owns the building said ninety to ninety five percent of
the people who live in the building...
Stan Gutowski said he said ninety eight percent and that does not equal
a hundred percent. He said if you continue to give the money to
homeowners, one hundred percent of the money goes to Carteret
residents. He said the man said ninety eight percent and asked if the
Council verified that figure.
Councilmember Reiman said he asked the Borough Attorney, the
Business Administrator and Director of Human Development he was
told...
Mayor Failace interrupted to say you can't know who the name of the
person is but you can (inaudible)
Stan Gutowski said he could call COAH and get the information and
so could the Council.
Mayor Failace said let him find out where they came from and asked
the Council to let him find out where they came from. He said he was
glad they brought that up because Frank Raja is a liar. He said
Councilmember Rios said we don't care what Frank Raia wants, and
he was glad they knew whom they were dealing with when they try to
give out this money. He said he felt they should be giving it to people.
He said Frank Raia said ninety eight percent, in Cardinal China seven
out of twenty four units are from out of Carteret.
Councilmember Reiman asked if the Mayor had that in writing.
Mayor Failace said he knew that and Mr. Reiman could check that
himself. He said in the Hill Section out of fourteen units, nine came
from outside of Carteret, one came from outside of the state. He said
he does not have anything against children but in those units children
were brought in to the school system. He said Frank Raia pays no
money and that is the problem because he pays no money in taxes or a
very minimal amount of taxes.
Councilmember Reiman said he completely agreed with the Mayor
that tax abatements are not correct for the Borough. He said the Senior
Unit that is designed for Lower Roosevelt Avenue and the old DaVinci
property which at one point was going to give the developer five
hundred thousand dollars as a loan from RCA money to the Borough
that they have not paid back. He said they had no tax abatement, not
in lieu of (inaudible) program, they were to pay one hundred percent
of their fair taxes. He said if that was something the Council wanted
to look at he would support loaning money to someone to build Senior
12
JUNE 7, 2001
Units to bring money back into the Borough to go back out to the COMMENTS
homeowners while they are paying their one hundred percent fair share
of taxes.
Mayor Failace said there was no way Mr. Reiman could give Housing
and they could charge the low and moderate rents they do unless they
are given a...
Stan Gutowski interrupted to say one of the reasons that particular
project fell through was because the developer wanted to commit all of
the (inaudible) and COAH told the Council they could not take RCA
money and just give it to them because they would be discriminating
against everyone who is eligible for it. Mr. Gutowski asked
Councilmember Sohayda if he has ever done any work for Frank Raia
in this town, shades, rugs, carpets or anything.
Councilmember Sohayda said no, not even one dollar's worth of work.
Stan Gutowski asked Councilmember Sohayda if he anticipates doing
any work for Mr. Raia.
Mayor Failace said that would be a Public Portion subject.
Mayor Failace, Councilmember Sohayda and Stan Gutowski were all
speaking at once in very loud voices and this was inaudible to the
transcriber.
Rich Greenberg said he felt the Council should look at the fact that
with the money coming in the residents should come first. He said
every resident that needs money in this town if there is money
available should get money first. He said when every house is done
and everything in each house is taken care of then the Council could
look at Frank Raia. He said Frank Raia made a lot of money in this
town, the residents are hard working, pay a lot of taxes to the town and
he felt it was time the residents get some of the money funneled back
to them and get taken care of first.
Councilmember Reiman said the Resolution does not mention Frank
Raia and he was not going to sit there and defend someone who could
defend himself.
There being no further comments or objections to the Resolutions, the MEETING CLOSED
Mayor declared the Public Heating to be closed, upon MMS&C, by
Councilmembers Reiman and Quinones and unanimous affirmative
vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present.
13
]NE 7, 2001
*.SOLUTION f01-164 RESOLUTION #01-164 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
tENDNENT TO 2001 the Council for action.
gMPORARY BUDGET
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Reiman
RES OLUTION #01-164
"AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO THE
2001 TEMPORARY BUDGET"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers
)OPTED Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
gSOLUTION #01-165 RESOLUTION #01-165 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
JTHORIZING SALE OF the Council for action.
JNK AND BOROUGH
~NED VEHICLES &
[SCELLANEOUS Upon MMS&C, by Councilmcmbers Reiman and Quinones
rEMS
RES OLUTION #01 - 165
"AUTHORIZING SALE OF JUNK AND BOROUGH OWNED
VEHICLES AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS"
DOPTED was adopted. Upon individual roll vote, Councilmembers Fazekas,
Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
gSOLUTION ~01-166 RESOLUTION #01-166 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
PPOINTING the Council for action.
ENPORARY SEASONAL
~IPLOYEES TO THE
IT'I~E LEAGUE Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Quinones
ROGRAM
RESOLUTION #01-166
"APPOINTING TEMPORARY SEASONAL EMPLOYEES TO THE
LITTLE LEAGUE PROGRAM FOR 2001" ~
DOPTED ~vas adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers
Fazekas, Quinones, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Reiman abstained on his brother Joe Reiman and
voted in the affirmative on all the other names. Councilmember
Santoro was noted absent.
14
JUNE ?, 2001
RESOLUTION #01-167 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to RESOLUTION ~01-167
the Council for action. APPRO¥ING TRANSFER
JOHN CALDI~IELL-
STREETS & ROADS DEP~I
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Sohayda
RESOLUTION #01 - 167
"APPOiNTiNG JOHN CALDWELL TO
THE POSITION OF LABORER"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers ADOPTED
Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
Councilmember Sohayda said John requested this, it was not anyone COMMENTS
moving John around or pushing him out, he requested to go back into
Streets and Roads.
Mayor Failace said this and the upcoming Resolution were both
requested.
RESOLUTION #01-168 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
RESOLUTION #01-168
the Council for action. APPROVING TRANSFER
RICHARD POGORZELSKI
RECYCLING DEPARTMENT
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Sohayda and Quinones
RESOLUTION #01-168
"APPOiNTING RICHARD POGORZELSKI TO THE
POSITION OF RECYCLiNG OPERATOR"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers ADOPTED
Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
15
INE 7, 2001
,.'SOLUTION ~:01-169 RESOLUTION #01-169 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
tOFESSIONAL the Council for action.
~.RVICES
;SOCIATES, NOT Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Sohayda
) EXCEED $5000.00,
,3: HARRISON AVE.
IMP STATION-DESIGN
INSPECTION OF RESOLUTION #01-169
kSONARY BUILDING
"AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT
FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES T&M ASSOCIATES"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers
)OPTED
Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Fazekas abstained. Councilmember Santoro was
noted absent.
*.SOLUTION #01-170 RESOLUTION #01-170 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
?PROVING ABC the Council for action.
[CENSE RENEWAL FOR
399/2000 & 2000/2001
[CENSE TEEN RE: UponMMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Quinones
kRTNER' S PUB
RESOLUTION #01-170
"AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A NEW ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGE CONTROL LICENSE TO PARTNER'S PUB, INC.
FOR THE 1999-2000 AND 2000-2001 LICENSE TERMS"
DOPTED was adopted. Upon individual roll vote, Councilmember Fazekas,
Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
ESOLUTION #01-171 RESOLUTION #01-171 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
ISTING CERTIFICATIONS the Council for action.
DR TAX SALE SCHEDULED
DR FORECLOSURE
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Reiman
RESOLUTION #01-171
"RESOLUTION LISTING CERTIFICATES OF TAX SALE
SCHEDULED FOR FORECLOSURE"
DOPTED was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers
Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
16
JUNE 7, 2001
RESOLUTION #01-172 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to RESOLUTION ~01-172
APPOINTING
the Council for action. MICHAEL KUSHNER-
DIRECTOR OF UMPIRES
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Quinones
RES OLUTION #01-172
"APPOINTING TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES FOR 2001
SOFTBALL/LITTLE LEAGUE PROGRAM"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers ADOPTED
Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
RESOLUTION #01-173 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to RESOLUTION ~01-173
APPROVING CONTRACT
the Council for action. WITH PRINCETON
AFFAIRS GROUP, RE:
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Rios URBAN ENTERPRISE
ZONE PROGRAM
RESOLUTION #01-173 LEGISLATION
"AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH PRINCETON
PUBLIC AFFAIRS GROUP"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers ADOPTED
Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
Mayor Failace said this is Carteret's fair share of the Princeton Affairs COMMENTS
Group lobby for the UEZ territories to get it extended and Carteret
could get something out of this. He said it is broken down by the UEZ
(inaudible) and the Municipalities.
(inaudible, more than one person speaking at once)
Mayor Failace said the portion of the money that was the expense to
lobby in Trenton for the extension of the UEZ that was broken down
in their fair share.
Nicholas Goldsack Business Administrator said Carteret has expended
five hundred and twenty one dollars so far.
17
3NE ?, 2001
~-SOLUTION ~01-174 RESOLUTION #01-174 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
[iOFESSIONAL the Council for action.
F. RVICES-T&M
~SOCIATES ~ NOT
EXCEED $9800.00- Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Sohayda and Rios
HILL DISTRICT
fORM SEWER
~IPROVEMENTS
RESOLUTION #01-1 ?4
"AUTHORIZiNG A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT
FOR ENGiNEERiNG SERVICES T & M ASSOCIATES"
DOPTED was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers
Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Fazekas abstained. Councilmember Santoro was
noted absent.
ESOLUTION #01-115 RESOLUTION #01-175 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
ROFESSIONAL the Council for action.
ERVICES- T&M
SSOClATES ~ NOT
3 EXCEED $ 29,300.00 Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Rios
E: SEWAGE
REATMENT PLANT --
EMOLITION
RESOLUTION #01-175
"AUTHORIZiNG A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT FOR
ENGINEERING SERVICES T & M ASSOCIATES"
DOPTED was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers
Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Fazekas abstained. Councilmember Santoro was
noted absent.
9MMENTS Councilmember Fazekas said he wanted everyone to know why he was
abstaining on T & M. He said it was because his son did his internship
at T & M and he did not want there to be any conflict, for anyone to
raise a question or for there to be any problems so he would abstain on
T & M for the rest of the year.
18
JUNE ?, 2001
RESOLUTION #01-176 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to RESOLUTION #01-176
APPROVING TEMPORARY
the Council for action. EXTENSION OF
SCAVENGER SERVICES
CONTRACT
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Sohayda and Rios
RES OLUTION #01-176
"RESOLUTION AUTHORIZiNG THE TEMPORARY
EXTENSION OF SCAVENGER SERVICES CONTRACT
IN THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote Councilmembers Fazekas, ADOPTED
Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
RESOLUTION #01-177 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to RESOLUTION #01-171
PROFESSIONAL SERVICI~
the Council for action. JAMES CLARKIN, ESQ.
NOT TO EXCEED
Councilmcmber Reiman said before they move for the adoption, he $5000.00 RE: UNOCAL
thought this was for five thousand dollars.
Borough Attorney Bergen said it is five thousand dollars. He said it
was originally five and it went down from ten.
Upon MMS&C, by the Councilmembers Reiman and Sohayda
RESOLUTION flO 1-177
"AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT
FOR LEGAL SERVICES WITH JAMES F. CLARKIN, III, ESQ."
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers ADOPTED
Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was absent.
19
JNE 7~ 2001
RESOLUTION #01-178 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
e. SOLUTION #01-178
~OFESSIONAL the Council for action.
gRVlCES-T&N
5SOClATES, NOT
EXCEED $10,000 Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Rios
USEPA CSO GRANT
RESOLUTION #01 - 178
"AUTHORIZiNG A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT
FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH T & M ASSOCIATES"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers
DOPTED
Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Fazekas abstained. Councilmember Santoro was
noted absent.
Councilmember Reiman said the Council could not go into specifics
ONNENTS about this but they are hiring an outside Counsel to represent the
Borough to look at some back sewer fees from the Engineer from
years back. He said once they negotiate and come up with exactly
how much (inaudible) we can announce that. He said it should be a
very high number (inaudible) to our sewer department but was nothing
compared to what the town would gain back.
ESOLUTION #01-179 RESOLUTION #01-179 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
PPROVING the Council for action.
ENORANDUM OF
GREEMENT WITH
FSCNE LOCAL 2291 Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Sohayda
LABORERS
RESOLUTION #01-179
"APPROViNG A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT"
.DOPTED was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers
Fazekas, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Quinones abstained. Councilmember Santoro was
noted absent.
:ONNENTS Mayor Failace said when the Council negotiated with AFSCME Local
2291 they set up a two-tier wage for new employees and this was not
spelled out in the contract this year.
20
JUNE 7, 2001
RESOLUTION #01-180 wasintroducedbythe Mayor andre~edto RESOLUTION #01-180
the Council~raction. AWARDING CONTRACT
FOR INDUSTRIAL
WASTEWATER MONITOR
TO GARDEN STATE
Upon MMS&C, CouncilmembersRiosand Reiman LABORATORIES, INC.
RESOLUTION #01-180
"AWARD CONTRACT FOR iNDUSTRIAL
WASTE WATER MONITORiNG"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers ADOPTED
Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
RESOLUTION #01-181 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to RESOLUTION I01-181
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
the Council for action. SPADORO & HILSON
NOT TO EXCEED
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Fazekas $ 75,000.00-RE:
SAPERSTEIN V.
WANSKUS, ET ALS.
RESOLUTION #01-181
"AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
CONTRACT WITH SPADORO & HILSON"
~vas adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers ADOPTED
Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
Borough Attorney Bergen said this a case where the Borough is a COMMENTS
defendant for which there is no insurance; normally the insurance
company would pay the cost of the town's attorney. He said this is a
case where claims have been made against the Borough well in excess
of several hundred thousand dollars and this is the cost they were
paying the attorney to defend them in this case in a possible counter
claim.
RESOLUTION #01-182 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to RESOLUTION #01-182
APPOINTING AL GINDA
the Council for action. LABORER
Councilmember Rios said he would like to remove the name and
amend the Resolution.
Councilmber Reiman said Al Ginda decided not to accept employment
with the Borough.
21
JNg 7, 2001
3MMENTS Councilmember Quinones asked Councilmember Rios who the other
naiTle was.
Councilmember Rios said Glen Sitar.
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Fazekas and Rios
ESOLUTION #01-182 RESOLUTION #01-182
PPOIIqTING AL GINDA
t~BORER "APPOINTiNG AL GINDA TO THE POSITION OF LABORER iN
THE STREETS AND ROADS DEPARTMENT"
was amended. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers
MENDED Fazekas, Reiman and Rios voted in the affirmative. Councilmembers
Sohayda and Quinones abstained. Councilmember Santoro was noted
absent.
OMI{ENTS Mayor Failace said the Council had three names on this and thought
they discussed the positions but not the names.
Councilmember Reiman said the Council discussed the positions with
the Public Works Committee. He said the Public Works Corntnittee
~vas going to handle the interviews.
ESOLUTION #01-182 Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Fazekas and Sohayda
PPOINTING
LEN SITAR-LABORER RESOLUTION #01-182
"APPOiNTiNG AL GINDA TO THE POSITION OF LABORER 1N
THE STREETS AND ROADS DEPARTMENT"
DOPTED was adopted as amended. Upon individual roll call vote,
Councilmembers Fazekas, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Quinones abstained. Councilmember
Santoro was noted absent.
22
JUNE 7, 2001
RESOLUTION #01-183 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to RESOLUTION #01-183
the Council for action. APPOINTING
DONALD MEDVETZ-
LABORER
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Fazekas
RESOLUTION #01-183
"APPOiNTiNG DONALD MEDVETZ TO THE POSITION OF
LABORER iN THE STREETS AND ROADS DEPARTMENT"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmember Fazekas, ADOPTED
Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
RESOLUTION #01-184 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to RESOLUTION #01-184
the Council for action. APPOINTING
JOHN }/ITO}/SKI-
LABORER
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Fazekas
RESOLUTION #01-184
"APPOiNTING JOHN WITKOWKSI TO THE POSITION OF
LABORER IN THE STREETS AND ROADS DEPARTMENT"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers
Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the ADOPTED
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
RESOLUTION #01-185 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to RESOLUTION #01-185
the Council for action. AI/ARD OF BID-SEWER
JET AND CATCH
BASIN CLEANER
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Reiman
RESOLUTION #01-185
"AWARDING BID FOR A SEWER JET AND
CATCH BASIN CLEANER"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers ADOPTED
Fazekas, Quinones, Reiman, Rios and Sohayda voted in the
affirmative. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
23
ONE 7, 2001
OMMENTS Councilmember Reiman said the Council decided to finance this
through an administrative change of money allocated from last year's
Sewer Bond Ordinance. He said the Resolution says $212,750.00 he
believed that we are getting $187,000.00, $25,000.00 as a trade in on
the old Jet Vac. Track that is twenty years old. He said they could use
this as soon as possible.
Councilmember Sohayda told Councilmember Reiman he was right, it
is twenty five thousand for the truck and one hundred and eighty seven
thousand dollars.
Councilmember Rios asked what the delivery date was.
Councilmember Sohayda said the Council acted on this seven weeks
ago, they should have had it in less than three weeks.
~.SOLUTION f01-186 RESOLUTION #01-186 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to
[ITHORIZING the Council for action.
EGOTIATIONS WITH
DRTH BRUNSWICK,
E: RCA AGREEMENT Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Rios
RESOLUTION #01-186
"RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION
OF A RCA AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWNSHIP
OF NORTH BRUNSWICK"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Reiman,
DOPTED Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative. Councilmembers Fazekas
and Quinones abstained. Councilmember Santoro was noted absent.
PPLICATIONS .' The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of an application from ABC
8C LICENSE License Transfer (#1201-33-029-003) from McCutchenon to Acciardi.
RANSFER FROM Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Fazekas and unanimous
CCUTCHENON - affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present it was ordered
gCIARDI
to be placed on file.
~,RTERET JEWISH The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of an application from Carteret w
~MMUNITY CENTER Jewish Community Center-Amend BL# 1607 & RL# 1608, Re: Add
~tEND BL#1607 & Dates. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Reiman and Fazekas and
L#1608, RE: unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present it
gA AGREEMENT was ordered to be approved.
24
JUNE 7, 2001
The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of a Communication from COMMUNICATIONS:
Borough of Milltown-Resolution supporting an increase in the senior BOROUGH OF NILLTOWN
citizen income limitation on property tax deductions.
The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of a Communication from WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
Washington Township-Resolution requesting NJ Legislature provide
urgent relief to the citizens arising from the financial burden placed on
them by NJ property tax.
The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of a Communication from PSE&G
PSE&G-Petition for an increase in Gas Rates.
The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of a Communication from DCA
DCA-Proposed Amendments to State Planning Rules.
The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of a Communication from the BOROUGH OF
Borough of Sayreville-Resolution supporting S-1288 and A-2413, Re: SAYREVILLE
Funding for Clean Communities Grant Programs.
The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of a Communication from the SPOTSWOOD
Borough of Spotswood-a) Resolution supporting S-842 and A-1712,
Re: Authorizing assessment of development impact fees by
municipalities, b) Resolution urging shifting reliance for school
funding from property taxes to a more progressive and fair
mechanism.
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Quinones and
unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present all
Communications were ordered to be received and placed on file.
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Rios and Fazekas all bills PAYMENT OF BILLS
appearing on the prepared list properly audited and signed were
ordered to be paid. Upon individual roll call vote Councilmembers
Fazekas, Quinones, Rios and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Councilmember Reiman abstained on Shop-Rite and voted in the
affirmative on the rest of the list. Councilmember Santoro was noted
absent.
The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of the following reports: REPORTS DEPARTNENT
1. BoardofHealth-April 2001.
2. Clerk's Office-May 2001
3. Social Services-Mamh & April 2001.
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Sohayda and Fazekas and
unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present,
all reports were ordered to be received and placed on file.
25
INE 7, 2001
CANDING BUILDINGS & GROUNDS: Committee Chairperson Quinones
)MMIT'rEES thanked everyone who participated in the Memorial Day Services,
many Borough Departments showed up, it was quite a time out. She
said the Council received a letter from the acting Governor's office
about a program that just passed called the Senior Gold Prescription
Discount Act. She said this law is currently being funded by money
from the National Tobacco Settlement and in the letter Acting
Governor DiFrancesco asked them to spread the word about the
program so seniors know what is available. She said applications
would be mailed to pharmacies, County offices, the NJ Department of
Health and Senior Services. She said she would distribute the forms
as well to elderly or disabled individuals who make up to eighteen
thousand five hundred and eighty seven dollars a year and married
couples who earn up to twenty-two thousand seven ninety one. She
said there has been some work to the basement of Borough Hall
recently, the carpeting was removed to deal with the mold issue. She
said they are having a service come in to disinfect the area, which
would alleviate the problem on a temporary basis. She said some
people might have read the newspaper, she heads the Buildings and
Grounds Committee and she made a decision to put a Task Force
together to deal with this issue she felt it should be addressed. She
said she would be putting the Task Force together and she would be
asking for recommendations and suggestions on how to deal with the
building. She reported progress.
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION: Committee Chairperson Reiman
said they had some news today about the bond refunding and
refinancing that were sold on Wall Street today at a lower interest rate
than the Council anticipated. He said they had some additional
savings they were originally going to try to bundle the two issuances
together, this was the 7.6 million in bond issued in 1993, the five
million dollars in notes were from the 1999 Council issued and were
carried over. They would be issued at the end of the year the Council
would be cutting the cost of the issuance in half. He said the savings
on the 7.6 million-dollar bonds would be a gross savings of three
hundred and eight thousand dollars in interest. He said they would be
using one hundred twenty thousand dollars this year and one hundred
fifty one thousand dollars next year and the remainder over the
remaining seven years he felt this would be good news because it
would be an additional tax relief. He said on the downside, the
proposed eight-cent tax increase was reduced by the hard work of the
Council and has been reduced to four cents. He said the Council was
hoping for three hundred thousand dollars in Discretionary Aid
Carteret got last year but had not received a penny to date and they are
being told there would not be a second round of funding. He said at
the moment the taxpayers are looking at a four-cent tax increase,
which would be equivalent to forty-eight dollars. He said the Council
would look at that to see if they could reduce it anymore. He said he
asked Business Administrator Goldsack to research information for the
next meeting so the Council could put an Ordinance on establishing
the Borough of Carteret Historical Society Committee. He felt this
would be a good thing for the town and they could use some space in
the atrium of the new Community Center to display some artifacts they
have found dating back to the nineteen twenties. He felt by creating
this committee the town could file for State, County and Federal
Grants to fund this Historical Society. He reported progress.
26
JUNE 7, 2001
Councilmember Santoro was noted present at 8:35 P.M. NOTED PRESENT
Councilmember Quinones said she wanted to clarify something, COMMENTS
residents would be receiving a letter from the tax assessor's office
about the REAP Program. She urged everyone to respond to the letter
if they receive it. She said some funding is available for communities
that engage in shared services and thought it totaled seven hundred
thousand dollars which is redistributed to the taxpayers but would not
be deducted in the tax bills if they don't respond.
Conunittee Chairperson Rios said on May 25th the Volunteer Fire STANDING COMMITTEES
Department conducted their annual live bum training at the Middlesex (Continued)
County Fire Academy. He congratulated the three firefighters who
completed the ~veeklong training class on fire investigations. He said
Eric Kjems and Sam Goddess successfully completed their EMT
training and thanked all the firefighters who participated in the
Memorial Day parade and services. He said the new air conditioning
system for the Community Center should be installed by the end of the
week. He said Ethnic Day will be September 8th the firefighters and
Emergency Management are working together in preparation of the
fireworks display. He reported progress.
PARKS & RECREATION: Committee Chairperson Fazekas said he
had a meeting with the Parks Department yesterday when he was
given details by Bob Kately on the activities and projects that had been
going on at the Parks. He thanked the Parks Department for the
Memorial Day Services; he felt the parks were in great condition. He
said the crosses did not have names on them and he heard a few
comments on that from some residents. He said he would try to speak
to the Veterans because there is a special way they want the names to
be printed on the crosses and the would speak to the Boy Scouts to get
this accomplished this year ahead of time instead of waiting for next
year. He said the schedule of events for June included the PBA
Fishing Derby which would be held on June 16th 8 A.M. to 1 P.M.
Handicapped Fishing Derby would be held June 24th at 10 A.M. and
the Volunteer Fireman Picnic on Jtme 16th. He said tomorrow would
be the last day for applications to be accepted at Borough Hall for the
Summer Youth Recreation Program which starts July 9t". He said this
program would mn for six weeks from ten until two o'clock. He said
he had requested some information when he took over this department
and there was some question as to what equipment is going to be
placed in the parks. He said he would be doing a Parks inspection he
had done this previously and stopped two years ago when
Councilmember Crilley took over the parks and was taking care of
them. He said he would go back to doing these inspections. He said
the town has nine years left on the referendum that was passed last
year to improve the Parks and the Council has a tentative plan and
guideline for what the Council wants to do in the upcoming years. He
reported progress.
27
]NE 7, 2001
~)M{4ENTS Mayor Failace said they had a hundred thousand dollars in referendum
and a hundred thousand from last year, a hundred thousand was taken
out.
Councilmember Fazekas said the Mayor was right and felt the
importance of the referendum was to emphasis the Parks because the
town has quite a few parks and they have a solid plan for the next nine
years. He said he felt they could improve the parks and bring them
back to where they were.
Councilmember Santoro said a hundred thousand dollars was taken out
of the Parks budget last year. She said they have filed for a one
hundred and fifty thousand-dollar grant from the County who has
asked for more information and a breakdown on the equipment the
town wants to put in the Parks. She said the Council has also filed for
four hundred and fifty thousand dollars in Green Acre Funding and felt
the Parks would not be lacking because the Council is moving in that
direction.
Mayor Failace said Councilmember Crilley had a program that by the
year two thousand and five the town would spend one million dollars
in the Parks and he felt the Parks would have been done. He said they
are asking for four hundred and fifty thousand dollars from the County
for an amphitheater and some other things the town would not be able
to afford at this point. He said for the basics the Council should have
left that money in the budget.
Councilmember Santoro said she appreciated the Mayor's opinion but
she felt if the town could get money from a grant or from other areas
that would benefit the taxpayers instead of the taxpayers funding it.
She said the Council does intend on moving forward with the Parks
and they don't intend on cutting back and are looking for other
avenues to get the money for the Parks.
;TANDING POLICE: Committee Chairperson Santoro said she would like to
:OMMITTEES remind everyone that she had sign up sheets for the Neighborhood
Crime Watch Program and they should sign up to be involved. She
said there are sign ups for the residents to sign up and get involved
because it is your town and this is the opportunity for youth to get
involved in their areas. She said anyone interested could get in touch
with the Police Department to sign up. She said the Domestic
Violence Task Force is being set up, anyone interested could contact
the Police Department. She reported progress.
PUBLIC WORKS: Committee Chairperson Sohayda jokingly asked
what Councilmember Reiman and Business Administrator Goldsack
were doing in the attic.
28
JUNE 7, 2001
Business Administrator Goldsack said they were looking at historical COMMENTS
records.
Committee Chairperson Sohayda continued his report and said the STANDING COMMITTEES
Borough Garage is doing daily maintenance on all the vehicles. He (Continued)
said Mr. Setar, School Board Member told him the town could get free
vehicles form PSE&G when they are done with them. He said they
have investigated this and put in the town's request. He said they were
told the town's request was not valid but they would entertain any
truck that comes close to the town's request at any given time that they
are done with the vehicles. He said the town might be in line for a
truck from their Fleet Maintenance Department. He said the Sewer
Department has been cleaning the sewers and the inlets on a daily
basis, maintaining the pumps and the stations. He said the Streets and
Roads Department has called PSE&G six times for the lights that
refuse to go on in Lower Roosevelt Avenue and invited everyone to
keep calling PSE&G on a daily basis, they might repair the lights
according to the amount of calls. He said they have three tentative
employees for the Department of Public Works and have lost seven
employees over the years and are only replacing three. He said the
potholes are being filled on a daily basis and it seems to be that there
are more of them popping up quicker than they can fill and flatten
them. He reported progress.
BOARD OF EDUCATION: Committee Chairperson Fazekas said he
would be scheduling a meeting next week. He said he notified the
Board of Education that Comcast installed the fiber optic panels
yesterday for the town to bring Comcast to our access channel thirty-
five. He said we should be able to put up a bulletin board in the next
month, he would be going to each department and the Board of
Education to obtain information concerning this so they could post the
information on the Community Bulletin Board. He said Comcast has
given the town some software and hardware to do this without
incurring any cost to the Borough. He reported progress.
Councilmember Sohayda said he left something out of his report, both
of the front-end loaders and the garbage truck are back on the road.
He said they have been maintaining the fire trucks all last week as
well.
29
]NE 7, 2001
IOCLAMATION: Mayor Failace read the following proclamation and presented it to Lou
)REAN lIAR Mangieri:
*.TERANS MONTH
~IU ARMISTICE
~.y
"KOREAN WAR VETERANS MONTH AND ARMISTICE DAY"
WHEREAS, on June 25, 1950 Communist North Korean Troops
crossed over the 38th Parallel invading South Korea; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations declared the invasion a clear cut act of
aggression and came to the defense of South Korea; and
WHEREAS, thousands of American Troops were rushed into Korea
without proper training and without proper equipment and supplies;
and
WHEREAS, during the first year of fighting, the United States Forces
suffered some of the worst defeats in United States Military History;
and
WHEREAS, the Korean War has become known as the Forgotten
War, remembered only by its surviving veterans; and
WHEREAS, the Korean Veterans are celebrating the 50th Anniversary
of the start of the Korean War, June 25, 1950; and
WHEREAS, the surviving veterans will meet again on July 27, 2001
and the 48th Anniversary of the Cease Fire at Arlington Cemetery to
honor their Fallen Comrades; and
WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States, with the enactment of
Public Law 194-19 has decreed that beginning in the year 1995 and
each year until the Year 2003, July 27th be designated as "Korean War
Veterans Armistice Day" and the citizens of the United States of
America have been called upon to observe said date each year with
appropriate ceremonies in honor of the Americans who died as a result
of their service in Koreas;
NOW, THEREFORE, I JAMES FAILACE, MAYOR OF THE
BOROUGH OF CARTERET, County of Middlesex, State of New
Jersey, do hereby proclaim the period of
JUNE 25, 2001 THRU JULY 27, 2001
"KOREAN WAR VETERANS MONTH"
AND DECLARE
JULY 27, 2001
"KOREAN WAR VETERANS ARMISTICE DAY"
and do here by call upon all public buildings, schools, churches,
organizations, business establishments and residents of our community
to display the Flag of the United States of America with pride and
remembrance those Korean War Veterans who so proudly served their
country in a time of trouble and to especially pay tribute to those who
gave their lives in cause for Freedom.
30
JUNE 7, 2001
Mayor Failace said he received a letter from the Department of CONt'IIgNT$
Environmental Protection and read it aloud. He said he sent a copy to
all the Councilmembers and the original to the Borough's Engineers,
T&M Associates. He said the survey that came with this letter needs to
completed by June 19th and there is a possibility there is free money
out there if we needed it to continue with the sewers. He thanked
everyone who was involved and took part in the Memorial Day
Parade. He thanked Councilmember Quinones for marching with him
and Councilmember Fazekas for being at the monument. He said he
was a little disappointed, two years ago the Police and Fireman were
told they weren't going to get a day off for marching in the Memorial
Day Parade. He said he felt they should do it because they want to and
should not get ten hours pay for marching a couple of hours. He asked
Councilmembers Santoro, Rios or Sohayda why they changed this.
Councilmember Santoro said she felt it was punitive when the Mayor
took it away from them, they had always received it and she felt it
should be implemented back. She said there were the same amount
marching with or without this and she felt they deserve it.
Mayor Failace said this was not discussed with the Council and when
he did what he did he discussed it with the Council before he took it
away. He said he felt that was a day that should be given of our time
and there was no need to get a full day's pay for a couple hours of
time. He said that was his opinion and something he felt the town
could do for the Veterans.
Councilmember Santoro said that was the Mayor's opinion and she felt
the members of the Police and Fire Departments are individuals who
give their time and said the Mayor should not forget it. She said so do
the Veterans and no one is taking that away from them. She said this
is something that they had received in the past and last year Mayor
Failace took it away from them during the course of taking numerous
items away from them. She said she felt it was punitive and she put it
back the way it was it was not something that the Council created. She
said these people give a lot of their time to the children, seniors, etc.
She said she believed they deserved it.
Mayor Failace said Councilmember Santoro's opinion was that it was
punitive but he felt there was no need to pay a ten hour day for a
couple of hours at a cost of six thousand dollars in the Police
Department alone. He said it should have been given to the Veterans
but he knew what they have done but felt that had nothing to do with
it. He said it should have never been given back to them. He said two
years ago when he took it away from them the Fireman marched in
uniform and he was proud of them and the Police Department marched
in T-shirts. He said he felt both unions should have come out this time
without pay. Mayor Failace told Councilmember Fazekas he thanked
God that he took over the Parks because the inmates are rtmning the
asylum down there. He said two weeks prior to the Memorial Day
festivities he received a call from Barbara Sica who asked him if she
could have the Mayor's Memorial fixed up because she felt it looked
like hell. He said he told her there was no reason for her to do that, it
was the town's job. He said he asked Nicholas Goldsack, Business
Administrator to contact Bob Kately to have it done, fixed, put flowers
there or shrubs, do something he said he went the Saturday before
Memorial Day, there were only a few very sparse flowers there. He
31
JNE 7· 2001
2)MMENTS said he called Mr. Kately from the Parks because the Mayor was mad,
Mr. Kately told him the men did not have time and Mr. Kately said he
did not see the urgency of this being done. He said he has seen three
men mow the grass on the islands two in the front and one in the back
and has never seen anything like that. He said he asked this be done at
the request of the former Mayor's wife. He felt it was sad on
Memorial Day that people who visit the park have to look at that piece
of garbage the monument has become. He told Councilmember
Fazekas he was glad he took over the Parks. He said the town bought
flats of flowers which are now dead because the Parks Department did
not have enough time to plant them, he gave them to Councilmember
Fazekas to do something with.
Councilmember Santoro said since the Mayor was bashing the Parks
Department, she said he sits up there and he criticizes and he never
compliments. She said it was amazing because he lacks the foresight
of what they do. She said as far as Barbara Sica and the monument,
there was contact with Mr. Kately and they were looking to fix the
monument. She said it wasn't done when the Mayor wanted it done
and she would back Mr. Kately and his opinion.
Mayor Failace said this should have been done before Memorial Day
and he has been up on the Council or as Mayor a long enough time to
know what is going on. He read a letter from the Carteret Office of the
Disabled, which asked for Councilmember Santoro be removed
because no one could answer their questions or concerns or it took a
very long time before anyone got back to them.
Councilmember Santoro said it was all right that Councilmember
O'Brien sat on the Board for a year and never attended the meetings
but the Mayor never opened his mouth. She said he is only saying this
because it is her and she did attend a meeting.
Mayor Failace said Councilmember Santoro did not let her finish he
said the letter was signed by Joanne Kissleman. He urged the Council
to remove Councilmember Santoro from the Board of the Disabled.
He said he felt Carteret's disabled citizens need to be taken care of.
He said since Councilmember Quinones was given one Committee to
head.
Councilmember Santoro said Councilmember Quinones doesn't even
run that Committee since she has never had a Committee meeting.
Councilmember Quinones said she has done more with the time she
has had this Comamittee than Councilmember Santoro has done all last
year.
Mayor Failace asked the Council remove Councilmember Santoro and
replace her with Councilmember Quinones.
Councilmember Santoro said she would actively step aside. She said
she felt it was amazing that Councilmember Quinones would be able
to attend these meetings when she is not able to hold her own
Committee Meetings. She said the Mayor did not have to stand up
there and cause a distraction, ail he had to do was ask.
32
JUNE 7, 2001
Mayor Failace said he was not causing a distraction, he was reading a COMMENTS
letter that was sent to him and he felt it needed to be addressed. He
said he would like to talk about Ethnic Day, which he wanted to do at
the beginning of the year but gave to the Parks and Recreation
Commission. He said at this moment he has worked with Taqualla
Ransdell who he felt has done a heck of a job all by herself. He said
he gave Taqualla his Aide, Jeff Pino to help her because she could not
get any help from the Councilmember. He said Taqualla has no
Committee at this point, maybe she might have a Committee next
week but it is six months into this. He asked the Council to ensure that
Carteret has a good Ethnic Day he felt the citizens of Carteret deserve
it. He asked the Council to remove Councilmember Santoro and he
would take over Ethnic Day.
Councilmember Santoro said she would not step aside from Ethnic
Day, everything is on schedule. She said she has met with Taqualla
yesterday and the Mayor is misinforming the public again. She said
there is no problem, the problem is it is not who the Mayor wants to
control Ethnic Day. She said Ethnic Day would be a huge success as it
is every year.
Mayor Failace asked Councilmember Santoro who was on the
Committee because he felt Taqualla Ransdell could not do it by
herself.
Councilmember Santoro said there would be a list submitted to him,
and asked if they need a Committee. She said he would have a list
tomorrow. She said last year she never saw a list of people and if the
job is getting done the Mayor should not worry about what she is
doing.
Mayor Failace said if anyone wanted to find out what was getting done
they should speak to Taqualla Ransdell because everything was not
getting done. He said Taqualla has come into his office over the last
month so flustered not knowing what to do. He said that was when he
gave her his Aide, Jeff Pino to help and lead her in the right direction
because the Mayor did not want Ethnic Day to fail. He said Taqualla
tried to contact the Councilwoman and failed, she did not speak to her
in quite a while.
Councilmember Santoro said the Mayor was changing the facts.
Mayor Failace said he was not changing the facts. He said there is no
committee and there hasn't been a committee and we are already into
June and he felt Taqualla Ransdell could not do this by herself. He
said Taqualla is a dynamic young lady but he felt she could not do this
herself.
Councilmember Santoro said they should go to a vote of the Council to
ask if she could stay in charge of Ethnic Day.
(inaudible, a lot of people speaking at once)
Mayor Failace said he could speak about RCA because he has a lot of
time. He said as Councilmember Rios said Frank Raia doesn't tell the
Council to do this or that and he agreed with Councilmember Rios. He
said Frank Raia has already called COAH and told them he was
33
2001
I, lttE~T$ getting money from Carteret but the Council says he is not. He said he
and John Riggio are under the impression Mr. Raia is getting money
because COAH said he was because Frank Raia said he was getting
money. He said he would like to clarify something, Frank Raia comes
back to the Council and says he has a commitment from Carteret and
Carteret owes him the money. He said he sat on the Council with
Councilmember Fazekas and the Council owes Mr. Raia not one
penny and there is no commitment from us.
Borough Attorney Bergen interrupted to ask the Mayor if he was sure
he wanted to discuss this.
Mayor Failace said he had no problem because everything was the
truth. He said Pete Sica said he wanted to give Mr. Raia a five
hundred thousand-dollar grant and the Council changed it to a loan.
He said he had the same story Mr. Raia came to this Council with that
he came to the Council years ago with and Mayor Sica said to him he
could take his five thousand dollars or leave it. He said the Council
does not owe Frank Raia one penny he said he felt Mr. Raia has taken
enough from the Borough. He said as of May, Frank Raia got a
million dollars and the people got nine hundred thousand. He said Mr.
Raia is paying it back at ten thousand dollars a year. He said Mr. Raia
is paying forty nine thousand dollars in taxes on five million dollars
worth of property but told the Council he pays fifty thousand dollars
and more for sewer user fees but he pays twenty seven thousand
dollars. He said the Council should understand that Frank Raia is not
telling the truth and anyone could go to Patrick DeBlasio and get the
information about the taxes and sewer user fees. He said he went back
to some articles on the Borough and Frank Raia where he said he
doesn't mind investing money in Carteret because we are building a
school, a marina, a shopper's mall. He said Raia said in the article that
he looked at Carteret as an IRA, a pension plan for his family. He said
in the same article Councilmember Santoro, who was President of the
School Board at that time, questioned who was going to pay the
money the School Board loses. Mayor Failace said he understood
what Mr. Raia is doing and commended him for doing what he is
doing but he as a taxpayer was concerned where the difference gets
made up. He said Frank Raia has not given this town anything he felt
the Council should continue to give the money to scattered site
rehabilitation for the citizens of Carteret so they would be sure one
hundred percent of the citizens get the money. He said Mr. Raia lied
and he also lied when he told the Council that ninety eight percent of
the people in his units are citizens of Carteret. He said there was a
problem with that and these people came from other places, even out
of the state. He said he has nothing against low to moderate income
but felt Carteret has done their share and they need to give it to the
citizens of Carteret and insure they get every penny of the money. He
said they do have development that will come in and develop Lower
Roosevelt Avenue. He said if the Council did not believe him the
Council should put it on his shoulders and he would take care of it. He
said when Mr. Raia did Cleveland Arms, he did not get any money
from the Borough to do that, and he did it himself. He said he let a
piece of property sit on Roosevelt Avenue and Industrial Road that he
hasn't gotten any money for which is why he could not do it. Mayor
Failace said Mr. Raia was doing a five million-dollar project in
Hoboken and asked nothing from Hoboken to do that. He said
34
JUNE ?, 2001
according to the roles of COAH; this money should go to each citizen COMMENTS
in town.
Councilmember Reiman said no one on the Council brought up giving
Frank Raia or anyone else money. He said they spoke about getting
one point seven million dollars in additional RCA money to help the
town. He said professional people, Director of Community
Development and the Borough's Chief of Staff who disagrees with the
Council. He said they looked at the advice that was given, he is still
reviewing it and making discussions. He felt to beat up the Council
for turning over all the money to Frank Raia or anyone else was not
tree. He said the Administration said three weeks ago there was no
additional money available he said the Council did not unilaterally go
out and get one point seven million dollars, they had contacts that gave
them the proper...
Mayor Failace interrupted and said Councilmember Reiman knew who
got the money, he did not get the money, Frank Raia's lawyer was
getting a good portion of the money.
Councilmember Reiman said Frank Raia's lawyer gave the Council
information as far as a name and a site or town which would be
looking to transfer some RCA funds. He said how did we get the
Readington Agreement for East Amwell or Cranberry, but the Mayor
sits up there and hoped to give out a five hundred thousand dollar loan
for a Senior Complex that never went through. He said he would have
supported the project for the Senior Complex because they would pay
one hundred percent of their tax value, there is no tax abatement, they
would pay back ten to twenty thousand dollars a year that would go
back to the homeowners. He said a program like that where the money
is recycled; where a portion of it is a loan to a development company
and the money comes back he did not know how the town could lose
with a program like this. He said he supported giving out the vast
majority of money to owner occupied rehabilitation and felt they have
to continue to help the homeowners with scattered site rehabilitation
which would help the homeowners. He said they would also have to
look at Lower Roosevelt Avenue because he felt when you look at the
Hill District and Roosevelt Avenue up the Hill compared to what it
looked like five years ago, it is a vast improvement today. He said he
understood it was a potential policy change but nothing on the agenda
tonight, not one Resolution that brings up Frank Raia. He said he
would like a copy of the information the Mayor had talking about
COAH and how many Carteret people were in Mr. Raia's buildings.
Mayor Failace said he said that the Council should be very weary
because of the number statements that Mr. Raia made at the last
meeting. He said the Council should be very weary Mr. Raia is not
telling the truth to them.
Councilmember Reiman said he would be very weary if Mr. Raia did
call COAH because he would have a problem with that.
Mayor Failace said he did call them and told Councilmember Reiman
to check with COAH.
35
~NE 7~ 2001
9MMENTS Councilmember Reiman said the Council should look to see what they
could do, Frank Raia does not speak for the Borough, only the Mayor
and Council do.
Councilmember Rios said Mr. Raia could say whatever he wants but
that does not mean he is committing this Council. He said the Mayor
was giving everyone that impression. He said Mr. Raia speaks for
himself and the Council speaks for themselves.
Mayor Failace said he did not disagree with that, Mr. Raia says what
he wants to say, the Council will do what they have to do. He said Mr.
Raia is under the impression that he is getting money from Carteret or
he would have not called COAH to tell them that.
Councilmember Rios said Mr. Raia could think anything he wants but
this Council has not made a commitment as far as what they are going
to do with that money. He said what bothers him is the bad press this
Council could be getting that would possibly jeopardize that money,
everyone on this Council would like to see the money come to the
Borough.
Mayor Failace said his point in telling the Council the information was
to make you understand that the information they got was not
necessarily tree. He said the Council should think twice if they are
thinking about giving Mr. Raia any money.
Councilmember Santoro said she had a question about troth, she
remembered three weeks ago asking if there was any other money out
there and no one told the Council if there was or if there was a
possibility of getting money. She asked if that was an untruth or a
changed. She said some of the Council might look at it as things have
possibly changed and the money is found but she felt maybe that was
an untruth.
Mayor Failace said he did know what that had to do with it.
Councilmember Santoro said the Mayor was talking about someone
who states something that is not true and he was saying the Council is
moving on it. She said the Council asked three weeks ago if there was
any other RCA monies out there. She said the Council sat at an
Agenda Meeting and looked at the possibility. She asked what the
answer was.
Mayor Failace said no, and he guessed Councilmember Santoro
expected that the person in charge sits in the office and calls every
Municipality every day. He said that money was already committed to
New Brunswick from North Brunswick. He said there are a lot of
other things that need to be done and the work is out there. He said
Carteret would take your funds if your plan is agreeable to what
Carteret wants to do.
Councilmember Santoro said she wanted to go back to what is untrue
and changes. She said that changed from that point because the
Borough Director or someone who is looking for funds may not be
aware of the situation and finds out after there is money available. She
said the Mayor was implying that this developer is out there speaking
for the Council. She asked the Mayor if he was implying that.
36
JUNE 7, 2001
Mayor Failace said as he told Councilmember Rios the reason he was COMMENTS
telling the Council was because he felt thc Council should know what
Mr. Raia is doing.
Councilmember Santoro said the Council should get the money before
it was decided where it goes. She said everyone needs to get behind
this as a positive issue to move ahead to receive the money or it would
be a blanket issue. She reiterated that three weeks ago there was no
money available and now there was a possibility that there is money
available to Carteret and she felt as Mayor and Council everyone
should be concentrating on receiving the money.
Councilmember Rios asked if it was a troth, an untruth, a myth, a lie or
a misconception that Mr. Riggio told the woman in the audience that
she has no possible chance of getting money. He said she was
concerned that she was told the money was diverted.
Mayor Failace said that the money might be diverted it was in the
newspaper that the money might be diverted.
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Quinones and Sohayda POBLIC DISCUSSION
unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present,
the meeting was opened to the public for discussion.
Mary Fontaine said on May 19th the Carteret Community Action COMMENTS
Committee spearheaded a clean up in Chrome. She thanked
Councilmember Reiman, Mayor Failace, Councilmember Rios, the
Fire Department and the Police Department for their help. She said it
was a success and they would be having another clean up. She said
the clean up was spearheaded by a group that is not political it is a
community based group.
Suzanne Loufty, member of the Board of Education, said she is not
representing the opinions of the Board of Education she is representing
her opinion. She told Councilmember Sohayda that he said it was a
good shot at the money. She asked how thirty four million dollars
sounded to him and what if the taxpayers were stuck with that thirty
four million dollars due to development; due to whichever
Councilmembers or developers. She said it didn't matter who it was
because of but the taxpayers would be stuck with lease purchases and
we have over crowded classrooms. She said now there are three
elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. She said the
Council is getting one point seven million dollars, she asked how
much would the taxpayers have to pay in taxes. She said if each house
had two children where would they put them, she wanted to know if
the Council would take the children in their homes or open nurseries.
She said Councilmember Santoro was concerned when she was on the
Board of Education.
Councilmember Santoro said she was concerned and if Ms. Loufty
wanted to address her she could go into it, but felt Ms. Loufty was way
off base and until she got her facts straight she shouldn't try to talk
about this.
37
INE 7, 2001
JBLIC DISCUSSION Suzanne Loufty said Councilmember Santoro was not at the meeting
)Mt, lENTS to vote on this so she would not address her.
Councilmember Santoro said because she was not there does not mean
she was not aware of it and felt Ms. Loufly should make her point.
Suzanne Loufty said she would read why Carteret would be getting the
money from the town that was giving the money. She read that there
was concern about development of any type and its affect on the Board
of Education capacity. She said North Brunswick's Administrator said
this is a move to slow the housing construction. She said they are
giving away the money because they are worried about the affect of
redevelopment on the Board of Education. She said Carteret is at their
capacity with the Board of Education and has a budget of fifty eight
million dollars for teachers and they have to minimize class size and
she felt this was just the tip of the iceberg.
Councilmember Santoro asked if Ms. Loufty felt the Council should
not go for one point seven million dollars that might benefit the
homeowners of the town.
Suzanne Loufty said she felt Councilmember Santoro understood
exactly what she was trying to say. She said Carteret was already at
saturation when it came to redevelopment. She said she felt if the
Council took the money to fix what was broken that would be good for
the community. She said one point seven million dollars is nothing
because the lease purchase would be another thirty four million dollars
on the backs of the taxpayers. She asked the Council before voting on
any redevelopment they should consider the taxpayers, Carteret could
not afford any more houses, they would have children. She said as a
School Board member she knows there is no room for anymore
children and the taxpayers would have another lease purchase.
Councilmember Santoro asked how Ms. Loufty knew there was a lease
purchase coming up or if she was aware of something the Council did
not know about and needed to be aware of.
Suzanne Loufly asked where they would be getting the funds and
where they would put the children.
Councilmember Sohayda asked where the children were coming from.
Suzanne Loufty said the children would be coming from the new
houses that were being built by Columbus School.
Councilmember Rios said the housing built across from Columbus
School was committed years ago.
Suzanne Loufly said the Council should stop blaming the former
Administration and this Council would be gone some day and she felt
nothing lasted forever. She said the Council should be honorable and
stop this here and help save the taxpayers now.
James Mancuso, Jackson Avenue, said he was on the Planning Board
when they approved the (inaudible) project. He said the Board of
Education came to the Planning Board with the same concerns about
the children coming in. He said they went to the developer and asked
38
JUNE 7, 2001
for details on the children and they told them there would be twelve or PUBLIC DISCUSSION
fourteen children coming into the school system. He said he was at a COMMENTS
Board of Education meeting and Mrs. Bonventure stated that the
Planning Board approved the project, which would be bringing a lot of
children into the town. He said Ms. Bonventure neglected to say the
night before the chairman of the Zoning and Planning Board voted yes
and was one of two who voted for the property by Mr. Baumgartner's
to put in new housing and had applied for all Section 8's. He asked
Councilmember Sohayda if the signs for the cell phones were ordered.
Councilmember Sohayda said he did not think so.
James Mancuso said he was talking to the DOT and some one should
check Title 39 because they would need an okay from the DOT before
installing the signs.
Councilmember Sohayda said he thought the Council was considering
repealing that.
James Mancuso said he understood the Attorney got letters concerning
the trains.
Borough Attorney Bergen said Mr. Mancuso brought that up at the last
Council Meeting. He said that was a while ago and Mr. Mancuso said
the lawyer had not done anything about it.
James Mancuso said the letter was from March and wanted to know
what the procedure was when hiring someone to do something for the
Council and if they gave the Council a report as the time went on.
Councilmember Santoro said they don't give the Council a report. She
said when he was hired last January there was never a report.
James Mancuso said for the same attorney that was hired April 6,
2000, March of this year the attorney sent out letters. He said in a year
nothing was done. He said no one checked on it no one said anything
about it and he did not give the Council any progress report. He said
the only reason the letters went out in March was that he brought it up
in January and called to find out what was going on.
Borough Attorney Bergen asked if he should address what the lawyer
told him after Mr. Mancuso was done with everything.
James Mancuso said several times he asked the Council about the
s~veeper on Roosevelt Avenue. He said the Council should go into the
B orough's Ordinance book under section 222-28 which lists the streets
in Carteret by Ordinance that are to be swept. He said Roosevelt
Avenue is not one of them but the men do it a couple of times a week.
He said he does not know why the town takes our manpower on an
average of eight hours a week.
Councilmember Sohayda said he checked with the County and
requested this.
James Mancuso said by our Ordinance Roosevelt Avenue is not one of
the streets that is to be swept and he did not see why the Borough takes
their manpower at an average of eight hours a week. He asked
39
JNE ?, 2001
JBLIC DISCUSSION Councilmember Sohayda if he was saying if the County decides not to
)MNENTS do anything the Borough would take it back.
Councilmember Sohayda said that was how he felt because the people
deserve to have clean streets.
James Mancuso said Carteret should do what every other town does
and make the County take care of it because it is their road. He said it
is a Board of Health issue and the County can not refuse to do it.
Councilmember Sohayda said they would only do this for a celebration
or a parade.
James Mancuso said he suggested Councilmember Sohayda check
with the County Board of Health or the State Board of Health. He said
he spoke to the State and they said the County would have to do
something if it became a Board of Health issue.
Mayor Failace said someone should make a phone call.
James Mancuso said he did not understand how the County tells the
Borough what to do.
Councilmember Santoro asked Mr. Mancuso which Committee he sat
on while he was a Councilmember and asked if he ever looked into
this and was he aware the men were sweeping Roosevelt Avenue at
that time.
James Mancuso said he was on Streets and Roads and he never looked
into this and was not aware they were sweeping at the time. He said he
asked at the end of his term and was told they made an agreement. He
said he went to Trenton and New Brunswick for an agreement like the
agreement we have with the lights, the only town with such an
agreement with the State.
Councilmember Santoro said she felt Nick Goldsack should be looking
into this.
James Mancuso said one hundred eighty thousand dollars would be
repaid to Carteret over a thirty-year period came out to six thousand
dollars a year.
Councilmember Reiman asked Mr. Mancuso what one hundred eighty
thousand dollars.
James Mancuso said one hundred and eighty thousand dollars they
might give to someone and if they do give this it would be back pay.
He said at the rate of inflation the six thousand dollars would be worth
twenty one hundred dollars. He said before you know it the six
thousand goes to five, than four, than three, than two, than one.
Mayor Failace said this Council has made it perfectly clear they have
not made a commitment.
James Mancuso said he did not say anything but the thing that amazed
him was Mr. Raia is building a three hundred and eighty million-dollar
project, and Carteret gets nothing. He said he knew Mr. Raia for
40
JUNE ?, 2001
thirty-five years, yet one hundred and eighty thousand dollars out of a PUBLIC DISCUSSION
man's pocket who is a millionaire and the Council is sitting at odds C0MNENTS
with one another over it and he felt it was terrible.
Mayor Failace said the Council has not made a commitment.
James Mancuso said he felt it was about time this town started going
up and giving the people that are paying the taxes and supporting all
the programs a break.
Councilmember Reiman asked Business Administrator Goldsack to
answer him in front of the public even though Councilmember Reiman
has asked him about this at other times. He asked if Mr. Goldsack's
opinion was that the Council did make a commitment and asked for his
opinion.
Business Administrator Goldsack said based on an Ordinance that was
passed in 1997 providing for a payment in lieu of taxes on specific
properties, which included a project Mr. Raja, wanted to finish. He
said it was his opinion based on that Ordinance in fact the commitment
providing the payment in lieu of taxes was made and the former
Community Development Director, on his understanding, on
information provided to Mr. Goldsack while on the Community
Development Board with the County. He said the County made a
commitment of two hundred and forty thousand dollars to Mr. Raja.
He said this was contingent upon the Borough dividing the funds to
finish that one specific project.
Councilmember Reiman asked if Business Administrator Goldsack
believed the Borough had a commitment.
Business Administrator Goldsack said yes based on the information he
had.
Councilmember Reiman asked Mr. Goldsack if he felt the Council
should consider down the road a hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
Unidentified Woman asked "consider it for what?"
Councilmember Reiman said it is being thrown around (inaudible)
salary.
Borough Administrator Goldsack said if the Cotmcil chose to do so in
his opinion he felt it should be a loan.
Borough Attorney Bergen said he felt this conversation should not go
on any longer with regard to whether the Council pays Mr. Raja or he
is owed any money or not. He said his only advice to the Council is to
not discuss this anymore at this time, he could not say anymore but if
they wanted to continue the conversation, he could not stop them.
Dave Crudup, 48 Bergen Street, asked what the Borough intended to
do with the abandoned houses through out the Borough. He said some
individuals are moving into these abandoned houses with no utilities.
He showed the Council pictures of one of the houses someone was
living in by the park near where he worshiped. He asked if the owner
of the property could be made to board the property up so no one
41
INE 7~ 2001
LIBLIC DISCUSSION would be able to get in or out of the building. He felt the police should
ONNENTS patrol the area to see what kind of activity is going on since it is near a
park and a church.
Councilmember Quinones told Borough Attorney Bergen to meet with
Tony Neibert and speak to him about the options the Council has in
terms of local Ordinances or State Ordinances because this issue
comes up a lot. She said she felt the Council should have some policy
in place on what restrictions there are.
Borough Attorney Bergen said we do have an Ordinance and we do
have a State Statute. He said Tony Neibert has started selecting some
properties and Mr. Neibert and himself were working together. He
said Mr. Neibert sent him copies of the letters he sent to the landlord
and they would be walking through the process together. He said there
might be some areas in which there would be conflict between the
Statute and whether they had the due process right but they would be
working on that. He said it would be difficult to do this all at once and
felt Mr. Neibert was doing this the right way a few at a time. He said
they would be working through the first few and moving on the next, if
they did every building in town it would be beyond their control.
Dave Crudup asked if Councilmember Reiman had some of the
buildings in Chrome boarded up.
Councilmember Reiman said there were three buildings in the Chrome
area that were issued violation notices from Mr. Neibert. He said he
spoke to Mr. Neibert who said these property owners were notified
they have thirty days before the buildings are demolished. He said Mr.
Neibert is confident and Mr. Reiman was confident that within forty
five to sixty days if the property owner has not done anything they
could go there and knock the building down. He said they were taking
bids and had set aside twenty thousand dollars in the budget to knock
down the buildings and clean up the lots. He said they would put a
lien on the properties and in due time auction them off.
Mayor Failace said Mr. Crudup has come to the Council in the past
and they have set up the procedure and they have started with the
program. He said it will never be fast enough, but once they get
rolling he felt it would get better.
Borough Attorney Bergen said if the Council did an analysis of what
they could do, he would get it together.
Councilmember Quinones said they brought up the due process issue
and (inaudible) limited to doing anything because of that.
Borough Attorney Bergen said if they could not find the landowner
and they have to serve notice upon them, there might be a due process
problem to move against some properties they would need to be
careful of. He said that is why Mr. Neibert has selected a few and
generally if they could find the owner to get proper service on them
they would be able to move quickly on a number of the properties.
Councilmember Santoro said the Council would like Tony Neibert to
attend the next Agenda Meeting to explain the process and what he
and Mr. Bergen were doing.
42
JUNE 7, 2001
Borough Attorney Bergen said some of the other due process is that PUBLIC DISCUSSION
there will be hearings on some of these issues. He said there might be COMI~ENTS
some one who owns a building that comes in to the Council to say they
lost their job and they could not raise the money right now. He said if
there was some value in it, the town might have a problem in that. He
said someone might come to them and say their building was burned
and they might be waiting for fire insurance money. He said someone
might ask the Borough to knock the building down if there was some
value in it. He said that would be a decision they would have to make
because you want the building tom down and there is a story on the
other side that may have some equities to it that they have to consider.
Dave Cmdup said the two properties were sold to a developer, he
asked why the Council could not get the developer to board up the
building to keep everything out.
Borough Attorney Bergen said as he said at the last meeting if people
would tell him the owners they could track down their attorneys.
Dave Crndup said if he could find out who owns the property he was
sure the Borough could find out who owns the property, you could ask
some one on Main Street in Woodbridge who owned property in the
Chrome area. He said he felt it was an eyesore and with the traffic
going in and out of there some one would set the building on fire and
everyone would have a problem.
Patricia Rodriquez, 72 Edwin Street, said the house two doors down
from her is an abandoned building and has a red sign on it. She said
no one can imagine having to pay six hundred to seven hundred dollars
in extermination bills because these houses are full of garbage, riffraff
lives in these buildings. She said her husband was out of work for a
year and four hundred dollars was coming into her house and she was
writing a check to an exterminator for six hundred dollars every month
for ten years. She said there is a lot of inter fighting about what the
funds would be used for, whether it was going to be used to fix up
homes or for development. She said she did not make a lot of money
last year and she would like to apply for the funds, but when she walks
down Roosevelt Avenue she felt she would lose her mind unless every
building is redeveloped. She said the area has more hookers than they
have on Forty Second Street in New York and felt it was terrible that
her seven year old had to ask Councilmember Santoro at a meeting
what she could do to get rid of the hookers. She said there was a fire
in her house on the second floor and she thanked the members of the
Carteret Fire and Police Departments and all the volunteers who
responded. She said if it was not for the two-minute response time she
would have lost her house.
Michelle Grandell asked the Mayor how long he has lived in Carteret.
Mayor Failace said twenty-seven years.
Michelle Grandell said she has lived up the Hill in Carteret for thirty
years and has seen what the Hill used to look like before it was
redeveloped. She asked the Mayor to refresh her memory on what
businesses were lost.
43
INE 7~ 2001
IBLIC DISCUSSION Mayor Failace said they went to the Zoning Board and he had the
)MMENTS information but couldn't tell her each of the businesses. He said they
were zoned for residential and commercial use.
Michelle Grandell asked if the Mayor meant the zoning was changed.
She asked what going; thriving businesses were on that street.
Mayor Failace said the same, as there is- no going; thriving businesses
on Lower Roosevelt Avenue. He said they would get that back and
did not have to use RCA money to do that. He said if they use the
same plan they are using now, creating a Redevelopment Agency, he
felt they could have done the exact same thing in the Hill Section.
Michelle Grandell asked if the Mayor was on the Council then.
Mayor Failace said the Hill project was before him, but he was out
there fighting against it. He said he was also there fighting the
(inaudible) and walking the picket line.
Michelle Grandell said that is exactly what Roosevelt Avenue was
before it was redeveloped. She said she did not understand why the
Mayor says a redevelopment of that kind does not benefit the
taxpayers of Carteret. She said six months after that project was done,
her house went up twenty-five thousand dollars in value as did every
taxpayer's house for blocks around. She said the Mayor said there are
mysterious developers.
Mayor Failace interrupted and said there is nothing mysterious about
it, he has their cards.
Michelle Grandell said he has had their cards for eight years.
Mayor Failace said he has not had the cards for eight years and the
Council was in the process of a redevelopment area dedicated to
Lower Roosevelt Avenue. He said when they started that process that
was when the developers started coming to him.
Michelle Grandell said the Mayor said this when the Hill project was
going on. She said he said it at Planning Board meetings that he has
developers willing to come into Carteret and she asked where they
were.
Mayor Failace said they have created a redevelopment area and have a
redevelopment plan and are beginning to move forward with this
Council to give it back to the Planning Board and when it is done. He
said those things would be taken care of by the Redevelopment
Agency. He said that is why they did it that way. He said Ms.
Grandell could come to his office.
Councilmember Santoro said at that time the Mayor would give Ms.
Grandell the names.
Mayor Failace said he has a number of names in the office of people
who came to him that he would give to the Redevelopment Agency, he
did not have a problem with that. He said the Redevelopment Agency
that is set up right now has not asked him about developers or asked
any one anything in the last two weeks.
44
JUNE 7, 2001
Michelle Grandell said if the Mayor is so dead set against Frank Raia PUBLIC DISCUSSION
and she personally felt Mr. Raia was a God. She said she felt Mr. Raia COMMENTS
has done a magnificent job and has a proven track record for keeping
up his property, which have increased in value.
Mayor Failace said the town does not get that increase in value, Frank
Raia does.
Michelle Grandell said the area does, but the Mayor does not live
there.
Mayor Failace said he felt that was an unfair statement. He said he
does not live in Lower Roosevelt Avenue but he does have a concern
about getting it done. He said if they would have created a
Redevelopment Agency years ago, in reference to the Hill Section, he
felt they could have gotten it done the same way they are doing this
now.
Michelle Grandell told the Mayor that hindsight is twenty-twenty.
Mayor Failace said he was not talking about hindsight, he was talking
about moving forward.
Michelle Grandell said she agreed with that and asked the Mayor why
he could not present these developers to the Council.
Mayor Failace said he would present the cards at the next Agenda
Meeting. He said he did not understand the need but he would present
the cards of the people who came to his office, there is one developer
that the Council meets with every Saturday morning who is looking at
buying property and has purchased property in Lower Roosevelt
Avenue.
Michelle Grandell said that was nice and felt he was bashing Frank
Raia's plan but there were no other options.
Mayor Failace said there are other options, there is another developer
that has spoken to members of this Council.
Councilmember Santoro asked if they met on Saturday mornings.
Mayor Failace said yes, they met at the Bus Stop and he was there at
the same time. He said there is nothing wrong with that and he had no
problem with it and they should talk to him. He said he talked to some
developers and the Council spoke to some developers. He said some
developers were at the meetings where they spoke about setting up the
Redevelopment Agency. He said the one the Councilmembers spoke
to was at that meeting and he is making an active effort to purchase
property in that area. He said it is happening and it is working and it is
not Frank Raia and they are not giving out any RCA money. He said
they are doing it with his own money and the people he spoke to are
not asking for RCA money.
Michelle Grandell said she was glad there were other alternatives.
45
2001
UBLIC DISCUSSION Councilmember Reiman said he wasn't here then but remembered
OMMENYS sitting in the audience and had a question about how many developers
then were willing to come into Carteret...
Mayor Failace interrupted to say none but if they set up a
Redevelopment Agency he felt there would have been a different way
to go. He said that is hindsight and he was not saying that but moving
forward that is what they are doing and it is the right way.
Pat Tozzi said he has been instructed by the Board of Health to bring
this up. He said a year ago they got an approval for a ramp to be put in
at the Board of Health to enable the handicapped people in the town to
go to the clinics. He said everything was approved until T&M
Associates came in and then the project died and they have not heard
anything. He said as Vice President of the Board of Health he would
personally go over the Council's head and write a letter to the State to
say the handicapped of Carteret are neglected and are unable to get the
tests they are entitled to because there is no ramp into the building.
Mayor Failace said he was not saying this fell through a crack but Mr.
Tozzi has jarred some of the Councilmember's memories.
Pat Tozzi asked why the town could not buy the Sewer Jet and Catch
Basin Cleaner out of UEZ money. He said the town has so much UEZ
money and other communities buy equipment from UEZ money.
Mayor Failace said other communities bought equipment a few years
ago from UEZ money but it was changed, they tried to get the fire
truck from UEZ money but you can't do it now. He said he agreed
and it would be great if they could but they can't.
Pat Tozzi said on the communications number 32, 33 and 37b he is
very involved with tax deductions for Senior Citizens and property
taxes that are paid to the schools. He asked for a copy of these
communications before they are put on for the meetings because as the
AARP representative he has recommendations and is very involved in
Middlesex County concerning these subjects. He said he recently
appeared before the School Board, the Superintendent had a
Resolution stating they should not be using property owners to pay for
the schools. He said he has appeared before members of the Assembly
who asked him where they would get funds to take care of the school
system if they did not get them from the property taxes. He said he
told them that they should increase the sales tax and use that money or
get the income tax money that was originally set up to pay for the
schools or utilize the funding taxes from gas, etc. He said they told
him that he was not a politician but if he came up with a Resolution or
an answer and if he took funds from one place how could they provide
for other things.
Borough Attorney Bergen said he would give Mr. Tozzi his card and
he would be glad to discuss this with him.
Pat Tozzi said Councilmember Quinones mentioned a letter from the
Governor and if she gave the right figures he felt there was something
wrong somewhere. He said those figures are below a person
authorized for PAAD and he felt there was something wrong.
46
JUNE 7, 2001
Councilmember Quinones said she would show him the letter because PUBLIC DISCUSSION
she had it with her. COMMENTS
Pat Tozzi said he would review it and give the Council his
recommendations. He said he was a very intelligent and versatile good
looking, handsome Senior Citizen.
Mayor Failace jokingly said today was Chico Basilici's one-hundredth
birthday.
Stan Gutowski, New Jersey Avenue asked the Mayor and or the
Attorney what the consequences would be discussing contracts that
have already been signed and acted upon and if it was public
information.
Mayor Failace said what contracts.
Stan Gutowski said Frank Raia, the contracts that the Borough has
signed.
Mayor Failace said he did not mean to speak for Borough Attorney
Bergen but Mr. Gutowski was not saying what was signed but he
meant what the Borough had a commitment to.
Borough Attorney Bergen said he has not been privy to what has gone
on in the past but there are claims that they are not following the
agreements.
Stan Gutowski asked Attorney Bergen if he has reviewed the
contracts.
Borough Attorney Bergen said he has them, he looked through them
quickly. He said he had a package from Business Administrator
Goldsack to look over the RCA's. He said whether it is or it isn't what
Mr. Gutowski was claiming that the Council has violated those
agreements and the Council is saying he hasn't. He said they are
discussing communications that occurred between him and someone
else he did not think it was in the Borough's best interest to do that in
public. He said if he someday sued the Borough because he was not
privy to all those conversations and he does not know what affect they
have on the agreements.
Stan Gutowski said when Mr. Bergen reads the contracts he will see
that it says each one designates five thousand dollars and we have to
fill our commitment. He asked Business Administrator Goldsack or a
Councilmember about a commitment. He said he is basing his opinion
of the Council on what they think about giving a particular developer
one hundred and eighty thousand dollars because of a commitment.
He said in the newspaper Councilmember Reiman said the Council
was giving one hundred and eighty thousand dollars, eighty thousand
dollars as a loan and one hundred thousand dollars as a non-payable
grant.
Councilmember Reiman said he might have.
Stan Gutowski said Councilmember Reiman did say that it is in the
newspaper, he could bring it in. He said what the commitment says is
47
lng ?, 2001
IBLIC DISCUSSION the town has to include RCA money. He said a payment in lieu of
)MMENTS taxes is just that and it is a development commitment which is given
out every day to every city in New Jersey. He said there is nothing
that says RCA money has to be attached to that particular agreement.
He said if you go back and review the agreements they specifically say
five hundred thousand dollars in each agreement. He said he got a
payment in lieu of taxes, he got his incentive to complete his housing
project on the Hill four to five years ago and he has done nothing since
then. He said now he is looking for a hundred eighty thousand dollars
that he contends the Borough owes him. He said the Council should
review the documentation, Mr. Raia got all that was committed to him.
He asked if the Mayor changed the policy concerning the Memorial
Day Parade. He asked if the policy in relation to the Police
Department; if an officer falls in the line of duty the other officers that
go to the funeral get paid for that because they were paid for that in the
passed.
Councilmember Santoro said no, and thanked Mr. Gutowski.
Mayor Failace said for Cleveland Arms Frank Raia was given a
(inaudible) but no RCA money, that was the incentive.
Tom Lang, Colgan Avenue, asked when an amendment was made to
any Resolution does there have to be a majority of the
Councilmembers to approve the amendment.
Borough Attorney Bergen said they have had that conversation many
times before when a Councilmember abstained and the vote counts as
an affirmative vote. He said the abstentions drop out and the majority
to pass something goes down. He said a Council of five members you
need a majority of three to pass it. He said if two people abstain the
Council needs a majority of three you would need two affirmative
votes for the Resolution to pass. He said that is why they say an
abstention winds up counting as an affirmative vote generally because
it reduces the number of the majority it takes to pass something.
Tom Lang asked if they reduce themselves by abstaining would it be a
quorum.
Borough Attorney Bergen said yes, a quorum for purposes of
conducting a meeting is all the Council needs. He said if only three
people were available, two people could vote on a particular
Resolution. He said there are times were a specific majority is
required over and above a simple majority under certain statutes for
certain appointments. He said in those cases an abstention counts as a
negative vote.
Tom Lang said on Resolution #01-182 for the record there were two
abstentions and three yes votes. '~-
Borough Attorney Bergen said in that particular vote the Council
would have needed two people to vote affirmatively for the Resolution
to pass.
Tom Lang asked Councilmember Sohayda again about the streetlights
on Carteret Avenue that were out. He said they have all been fixed or
replaced.
48
JUNE 7, 2001
Councilmember Sohayda said they have not been touched, they all PUBLIC DISCUSSION
needed a new ballast. COMMENTS
Tom Lang said every light is lit and he thought it was because of
something Councilmember Sohayda did to get them fixed. He
explained how the poles were numbered and the repair department
went about fixing them. He said they would not come to the town for
one or two lights, they would come down for ten lights.
Councilmember Sohayda said six phone calls were made for
streetlights in the Lower Roosevelt Avenue area. He said three calls
were from the Police Department, one from Mr. Surick and one from
him. He asked Councilmember Rios about the tanker spill that
happened in front of McDonald's that the town responded to and
cleaned up. He asked how that worked as far as getting reimbursed
from the County HAZMAT. He asked what the total cost of the clean
up was and if there was any reimbursement from the County yet.
Councilmember Rios said he doesn't believe they have got anything
from them.
Brian O'Connor, Fire Chief, said today the Fire Department received a
check for $540.00.
Mayor Failace and Brian O'Connor spoke about the check in a very
low voice, which was inaudible.
Tom Lang asked Mr. O'Connor if the Borough was justifiably
compensated for services in his opinion.
Mayor Failace said it is what they claimed and not necessarily what it
cost the town.
Tom Lang asked if it cost the Borough more to service the incident
than what they were reimbursed. He said why should the Borough
take the loss if it was their job to respond and clean up and are not
doing it because it was cheaper to let the town do it.
Councilmember Rios said they got five hundred and forty dollars and
they were still waiting for Public Works money.
Brian O'Connor said it covered the overtime cost of manpower but it
does not cover the manpower in fire prevention units. He said there is
only certain recoupable funds they could get.
Tom Lang said for an example if the town turned out two trucks they
would only give the town twenty dollars per truck and for manpower
they would only give you a dollar for every man that comes out.
Brian O'Connor said they wouldn't pay for volunteers.
Conncilmember Reiman said the Mayor and himself discussed a Bill
from the Senate about repaying Municipalities for accidents and
responses on State highways and roads and they wanted to put a
Resolution on to support that but they would eliminate any money
coming back from response on the Turnpike. He said the town
49
lng 7~ 2001
JBLIC DISCUSSION responds to many accidents on the Turnpike and he has information
)MHlgNTS from last year that was forwarded to him from the Fire Department
concerning this. He said he wanted to send this information to the
State Senate for them to amend the Bill.
Tom Lang asked if there was anything we could do about that or was it
just a way of life.
Councilmember Reiman said he could not make the State reimburse
the town.
Tom Lang said he worked for the Turnpike and the Garden State
Parkway for several months and was on the EZ Pass. He said the
Governor wanted to do away with tolls and several people were up in
arms and that did not happen. He said between the Turnpike and
Garden State Parkway five hundred and fifty million dollars has been
spent on EZ Pass over the past five years. He said EZ Pass was
supposed to make things easier and eliminate congestion but now they
are talking about knocking it down. He said he wanted to bring this to
the Council's attention because there would be an election coming up
and Shundler stated that within the first nine months after his election
he would eliminate the tolls and he felt that would be a bad move. He
said Bob Franks also committed to eliminating the tolls, James
McGreevey did not commit to getting rid of the tolls but he agrees
with it.
Mayor Failace said, as Mr. Lang knows this is a campaign issue and
the opinion is the people want the tolls removed but they are not
looking at the cost. He said there was a meeting with the Turnpike but
the Mayor had to attend a graduation at the Gateway School.
Tom Lang asked if there was any correspondence or report on the
meeting.
Councilmember Santoro said they should be getting reports on this
shortly. She said she felt confident in the next six weeks the Borough
would be getting a meeting with the Turnpike where they would be
presenting some kind of plan.
Councilmember Rios said he attended the meeting also and the public
should know that the Turnpike is committed to making improvements
to Exit 12, they gave the Council their word and he felt it was a step in
the right direction.
Tom Lang said the State requires members of the Redevelopment
Committee to go to two classes. He said they want money for
registration and asked if the members should lay that money out.
Councilmember Reiman said seventy five thousand dollars has been
set aside for this and the money will be paid from the account.
Mayor Failace said Mr. Lang should see the Business Administrator or
Patrick DeBlasio about this.
Tom Lang spoke about when the class would be held and asked if they
were the classes that they would be taking or if they would be getting
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JUNE 7, 2001
someone else in. He said they haven't had a meeting because the last PUBLIC DISCUSSION
meeting was cancelled and they have no agenda. COMMENTS
Councilmember Reiman said the meeting was not posted properly.
Borough Attorney Bergen asked if he was contacted about classes
directly.
Tom Lang said he was contacted by the Clerk's Office and by Rutgers
University.
Borough Attorney Bergen said he would like a copy because they
spend a lot of time trying to get someone to call him back to tell them
how they got the program.
Tom Lang said the Redevelopment Agency's next move is to wait for
the Council to make a move.
Mayor Failace said the Council has to wait for the Planning Board
Attorney, and the Borough Attorney has been working with the
Planning Board Attorney to finalize what they have to do but felt it
should not stop any progress from the committee calling people in or
having discussions.
Borough Attorney Bergen said at the next Agenda Meeting they would
have a heating and adopt it formally.
Tom Lang said he was under the impression that if they had no
Agenda they could not move forward and they were waiting for the
Council's recommendation to the Planning Board.
Councilmember Santoro said that was on the set plan but the
committee has other items they could start adopting and go over the
by-laws and things they need to set up.
Councilmember Reiman said they might want to meet with some
Executive Directors from other areas like Perth Amboy and view what
they have done.
Tom Lang said he needs some guidelines because he does not know
where the properties are. He said he needed some input or direction
and did not want to take time off from work where he makes four
hundred dollars. He said he does not want to do nothing all night
because the meeting was cancelled and he lost a night's pay.
Mayor Failace said the members of the Redevelopment Agency should
have the information, as far as the area and in the book there is a
mapped out area.
Councilmember Santoro said he should see Nick Goldsack, Business
Administrator for the book.
Tom Lang said he has the book but he was not sure what they could or
could not do and asked if they should wait until after the classes to see
what they could do.
51
JNE 7, 2001
UBLIC DISCUSSION Mayor Failace said he understood there wasn't going to be a meeting
ONMENTS this month because of the summer.
Tom Lang said if the Planning Board took action they would call for a
June meeting.
Borough Attorney Bergen said one of the first things Mr. Lang might
want to do is review the plan itself because the Council would adopt
the map by Resolution and then the final plan. He said the Council
goes to the Planning Board for their recommendations and then they
by Ordinance implement that plan. He said if the members have issues
with regard to that plan they might want to go over the plan as it exists
now and make some recommendations or make an addendum to the
plan before getting it approved by the Council and Planning Board.
Tom Lang said he has had since February to look at the book.
Borough Attorney Bergen said Mr. Lang might want to call the
planner that developed the plan to go over it.
Tim Horton, Captain, Carteret Fire Department, said he started in the
Fire Department in 1972 and they call it compensatory time which has
been in effect since then. He said he would like to clear something up,
they are not getting paid for that time, and it is specifically in there to
be taken at no cost to the Borough. He said it could not be taken as
overtime or anything that would cost the Borough. He said they take
this for things such as doctor's visits or family problems they use the
time for that. He said he could not speak for the Police Department
but the Fire Department uses their time this way so they don't have to
call in sick and do not cost the Borough any money. He thanked the
Korean Veterans.
James Mancuso said children are crossing the street on Roosevelt
Avenue by Tommy's Hot Dogs. He said there are no crosswalks on
Roosevelt Avenue, there is a crossing guard there but there are no
markings. He said they have been asked to mark Roosevelt Avenue
for the last year but they still are not done.
Councilmember Reiman said they are trying to put laborers in traffic
maintenance.
Councilmember Sohayda said the machine just came back, it was fixed
once, came back but had to be fixed again.
James Mancuso said it was something else the County should be
doing.
Patrick Crilley, 4 Capp Street, asked if the Council felt it would be
beneficial to keep the old truck as a second truck. He said the twenty
five thousand dollars they would be getting for the sewer truck trade in
he felt it was usable and the men could get twice as much done.
Councilmember Sohayda said that truck is so old and a job might take
three hours to do in the old truck but fifteen minutes in the new truck.
Patrick Crilley said he always thought the intention was to get a
second truck and keep that truck. He said if it was not beneficial he
52
JUNE 7~ 2001
was not going to argue that. He asked Borough Attorney Bergen if PUBLIC DISCUSSION
any Councilmember or the Police Committee Chairman have the right COl'II'lENTS
to extend a benefit to any organization without coming in front of the
Council specifically reinstating the benefit of paid time off.
Borough Attorney Bergen said he was hoping no one would ask that
question because he felt there was another important issue as to
whether or not someone has time. He said if it is overtime and the
person gets comp time there are issues with the fair labor standard act
that have to be complied with. He said it was not a Councilmember's
authority to give or take away because there might be some wage laws
regulating what has to be given. He said if it is overtime the person
might be entitled to comp time or time and a half. He said he could
not tell Mr. Crilley what they are entitled to or not but he asked what
the law says.
Patrick Crilley said this reflects a change that is not in the contract. He
said he felt even though it was passed practice for many years and was
discontinued but he could not remember if it was discontinued by a
vote of the Council at a Public Meeting or a poll at an Agenda
Meeting. He said it was brought before the whole Council and may be
they did it incorrectly when they eliminated it two years ago. He said
there has been a new signed contract since that time and he felt this
was a change to the contract whether it was put in the contract or done
verbally he did not believe they overstepped their bounds. He said he
felt this decision has to come before the full Council and asked Mr.
Bergen to investigate that.
Councilmember Santoro said he could get back to her on that but it
was a choice by the committee.
Patrick Crilley said whether it was a choice of the committee or of
herself as the Chairperson he still felt it had to come before a vote just
as they amended another contract for whatever reason.
Councilmember Santoro said that would not be a problem as long as
the Attorney told them what to do and she would have to look at that.
Borough Attorney Bergen said he wanted to understand that no one
was ordering them to work without pay.
Patrick Crilley said no but they were giving them an additional benefit.
Mayor Failace said they gave them a day off for mamhing in the
parade.
Councilmember Santoro said in the past there was none.
Mayor Failace said they did it in the past and they took it way for two
years ago.
Borough Attorney Bergen said the Council does not order them to
march and give them time or money.
Mayor Failace said the Council does not order them to do anything,
they do it on their own and those that march get another day off.
53
2001
Patrick Crilley told Councilmember Fazekas he welcomed his
JBLIC DISCOSSION involvement with the Parks Department. He said everyone knows the
)I, IHENTS Parks Department is near and dear to him. He said he was there a few
years ago chastising Councilmember Fazekas for not having a
Committee and he hoped Councilmember Fazekas finished out his
term contrary to the rumors. He said Councilmember Fazekas has
mentioned his nine-year plan and wanted him to know the Parks need
to be ADA Safety Compliant by 2005. He urged the Council as he has
done before to consider the hundred thousand dollars they took out for
the Parks Department to achieve the compliance and go back to the
plan to upgrade all of the parks. He said he knew the Council was
applying for grants and the town has done well with Green Acres but.
Councilmember Santoro interrupted to say this is not Green Acres, the
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars is a reinvestment that is
separate from Green Acres and the Council should have the answer
within two weeks. She said that was specifically for Park equipment
to bring the town into compliance.
Patrick Crilley said that was a one shot deal.
Councilmember Santoro said they could achieve a hundred and fifty
thousand dollars in comparable money, not from the taxpayers and felt
it would be beneficial.
Patrick Crilley said the Council would be finalizing the budget for this
year and he hoped they did not miss any opportunities because the law
says this needs to be done. He said he did not know why they could
not do this sooner than 2005. He said the Council did a good job
coming in with a four-cent increase at forty-eight dollars. He said he
did not think sixty dollars is a terrible thing to pay on the average for
the one point. He asked if the installation date was in September
because people have been asking him. He said the people who are
scheduled to do the installation called him and he told them to call the
Parks Department. He said he thought the company might feel there
was an urgency to get this done but he did not know if there were any
penalties but they were paid. He said Councilmember Fazekas might
want to follow up on that because there was an urgency from the
people in the neighborhood to get it done.
Robert Kately, Parks Supervisor said they got the equipment seven
months ago and his goal was to get it installed in September and he felt
they were right on schedule. He said he had to respond to the Mayor's
statement. He said in November or December a local masonry
contractor donated his labor to erect a small memorial for former
Mayor Peter Sica. He said Joanne Kisselman Chairperson of the
Board of Disabled who pushed for this project donated the bricks. He
said the Mayor was misleading everyone by saying the Parks
Department was not doing anything. He said that was not true. He
said the bricks were donated and the Parks Department bought some
top stone for two hundred dollars and the cement and foundation,
which was another two hundred dollars. He said he had a man assist
Mr. Semenza while doing the job, which took a day and a half to two
days. He said shortly after that Mrs. Kissleman wanted to buy a tree
and he said the town should buy it but Mrs. Kisselman insisted they
buy the tree. He said they bought a very fragile tree, which was
54
JUNE 7, 2001
planted in a very high traffic area and the tree lasted a month and a PUBLIC DISCUSSION
half to two months. COMMENTS
Councilmember Fazekas was noted absent at 10:30 P.M. NOTED ABSENT
Robert Kately, Parks Supervisor, said a few weeks after the tree died COMMENTS
Mrs. Sica came to him and suggested they plant another tree. He said
the tree was planted where the soil was extremely compacted and
should be removed and replaced with fresh topsoil and Mrs. Sica
wanted to pay her own personal landscaper to improve the whole area.
He said he explained to Mrs. Sica that the town was going to do this
because the Mayor wanted them to do this but the only condition was
they get to it when they had the time since it would be a couple week
project. He said they both agreed and they went down and made a
design according to what she wanted. He said she picked out samples
of the decorative brick she wanted around the monument, when she
brought it back he put in a purchase order for seven hundred and fifly
dollars. He said when the bricks came in he put it in storage and again
explained to Mrs. Sica that he would do this when he had a chance to
do it and there was never any mention of Memorial Day, a service or
anything of that kind. He said two weeks before Memorial Day Nick
Goldsack, Business Administrator asked if he could do something and
he told him they were on it. He said they removed and replaced the
clay dirt and replaced it with six hundred dollars of topsoil. He said
unfortunately it rained the entire week before and it was mud. He said
he planted twenty to twenty five flowers around Mayor Sica's
monument. He said every year the Parks Department buys five
hundred dollars worth of flowers and the bulk of the flowers are set
aside for Memorial Day. He said they wait for the last possible minute
to plant the flowers because the kids have a tendency to destroy them.
He said he could plant the flowers on Friday and they would be
destroyed on Saturday and there are no flowers for the service on
Sunday. He said this year they spend six hundred and fifty dollars
because they added two additional flower boxes around town. He said
the flowers were bought in two stages, the first batch was bought a
week before Memorial Day, the majority of the flowers were planted
at the monument and the Parks Department received a lot of
compliments on that. He said the second batch was delivered when he
was not in the Parks office and when he returned there were ten flats of
flowers that were unacceptable and he would have not paid for if he
was there to receive them. He said seven of the flats were of the
pictures the Mayor had and out of the three remaining flats most of
those flowers were around Mayor Sica's monument and some are by
Tommy's Hot Dogs, some are by McDonald's. He said the seven flats
the Mayor has pictures of were the flowers he refused to pay for and
this was two days before the weekend. He said he immediately called
the landscaper and gave his phone number to the Business
Administrator to give to the Mayor to call. He said he told the
landscaper he would not accept those seven flats of flowers, which
were just removed five days ago. He said the landscaper removed
them and replaced them with forty-eight geraniums, which was more
than the cost of the seven flats of flowers. He said he felt the Mayor
did not have to make a public spectacle of this, all he had to do was...
55
NE 7~ 2001
)TED ABSENT Councilmember Quinones was noted absent at 10:30 P.M.
Councilmember Reiman said they do not allow Department Heads to
3MMENTS come to Council meetings and argue with the Mayor and Council.
Mayor Failace said Mr. Kately could talk to him, it was nothing bad.
He said as far as he was concerned as long as Mr. Kately did not curse
and scream at him he could say anything he wanted to.
Robert Kately said the Mayor should have made a simple phone call to
ask what the seven flats of flowers were doing in the park dead. He
said he would have told the Mayor and felt there was no need to make
this a public spectacle. He said as far as the "nuts down at the insane
asylum in the Park", again he felt that was totally uncalled for. He
said for the last two years he has headed this department and has
headed the nuts that worked for the department and was personally
very proud of what they do in the Parks Department. He said he
would defend anything they do and anything he does anytime in front
of anyone. He said because he was not the person the Mayor wanted
to head the department there was no need to try and publicly humiliate
him.
NOTED PRESENT Councilmember Fazekas was noted present at 10:35 P.M.
Mayor Failace said if Mr. Kately was going to get to that point there
COMMENTS would be a problem. He said he told Nick Goldsack that he wanted
Mayor Sica's monument fixed up in any way shape or form and Mr.
Kately told the Mayor he did not feel there was any urgency.
Councilmember Santoro said she did not know the Mayor spoke to Mr.
Kately to authorize this.
Mayor Failace said he did not talk to Mr. Kately, he told Barbara Sica
that he would not allow her to pay for any of this.
Councilmember Santoro said she did not know at that time the town
was doing this.
Mayor Failace said he asked the Business Administrator and did not
expect the Parks Department to put everything down and spend
thousands of dollars. He asked Nicholas Goldsack, Business
Administrator to see Mr. Kately and have the monument look
presentable for Memorial Day but he felt it looked terrible. He said he
called Nick Goldsack on the phone Saturday and he did not like the
answers but if everyone was too busy and there was no urgency...
Robert Kately said he spoke to Mrs. Sica and Mrs. Kissleman several
times this week. He said Mrs. Sica does not have a problem with that
not being done. He asked the Mayor to walk in the park and see what
56
JUNE 7, 2001
the men have done since the beginning of the week. He said PUBLIC DISCUSSION
unfortunately his efforts went to the Veterans for Memorial Day. COMMENTS
Mayor Failace said that was not unfortunate and asked Mr. Kately not
to do that. He said the bottom line is he is a Vietnam Veteran and he
appreciated what the Parks Department did for them and that the
monument looked good. He said he told Nicholas Goldsack, Business
Administrator he wanted it done for Mayor Sica's wife, no matter what
it took. He said Mr. Kately said he had no time and the men were too
busy. He said he did not tell Nick he wanted all the stone work done,
he wanted it made presentable but he felt it was not presentable.
Councilmember Santoro said this is an item that should be discussed
one on one with the Business Administrator, and not during a meeting.
She said the Mayor never spoke to her and she was in charge of the
Parks. She said the Mayor criticizes when the Council doesn't discuss
things but she did not know about this.
Councilmember Santoro made a motion to go into Closed Session for NOTION MADE
personnel matters.
RESOLUTION #01-187 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to RESOLUTION #01-187
the Council for action. RESOLUTION TO GO
INTO CLOSED SESSION
Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Santoro and Sohayda
RES OLUTION #01-187
"RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION"
was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Conncilmembers ADOPTED
Fazekas, Rciman, Rios, Santoro and Sohayda voted in the affirmative.
Conncilmember Quinones was noted absent.
At approximately 10:36 P.M. a Closed Session was held. CLOSED SESSION
At approximately 10:39 P.M., upon MMS&C, by Councilmcmbers MEETING OPENED
Rios and Sohayda and unanimous affirmative vote of the full Council
present, the meeting was opened to the public.
57
NE ? , 2001
There being no further business or discussion, upon MMS&C, by
DJOURNED Councilmembers Quinones and Sohayda and unanimous affirmative
vote of the full Council present, the meeting was adjourned at
approximately 10:40 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Municipal Clerk
KMB/cp
58