The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My Public Portal About1997/09/18 A Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Carteret was called to order by Mayor Peter 1. Sica at 7:30 P.M., Thursday, September 18,1997 at the Municipal Court!Police Facility, 230 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, New Jersey - Upon individual roll call vote, the following were noted present: Councilmember Deborah Bialowarczuk John DuPont James F ailace Jack Fazekas Stanley Gutowski " " " " Noted absent was Councilmember William Feingold. Also noted present was Borough Attorney Craig J. CougWin. The meeting was opened with a minute of silent prayer and the pledge of allegiance led by Mayor Peter J. Sica. The Clerk stated that on September 12, 1997, in full compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, a notice of tonight's meeting was sent to The Home News Tribune, The Star Ledger and posted on the bulletin board. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Failace and Fazekas and unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present, the minutes of May 1, 1997 were approved as transcribed and engrossed by the Clerk. This was the night advertised to receive bids for Street Sweepings and the Mayor called for all bids. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Failace and Fazekas and unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present, the Clerk was directed to open and read aloud all bids received which were as follows: 1 10% BID PRICE $47.50 per yard $47,500.00 Total BIDDER A.B. Dauman Carteret, NJ SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 COUNCIL MEETING ROLL CALL PRAYER AND PLEtX:;E OF ALLEGIANCE STATEMENT OF MEETING NOIICE ~lINUTES FOR APPROVAL BIDS Street Sweepings SEPTfl1BER 18, 1997 HELD FOR STUDY ORDINANCE #97-33 Purchi:'.se of Fire Truck First Reading ORDINANCE #97-29 Creation and Establishment of Police Department PUBLIC HEARING .¡y,."",,: ~ ~ ~- Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Failace and DuPont and unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present, the bids were held for study. -- ORDINANCE #97-33 was introduced and adopted on First Reading and the Clerk authorized and directed to advertise same for Public Hearing to be held October 20, 1997, upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and Failace. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace Fazekas and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. Councilmember , Feingold was noted absent. ORDINANCE #97-33 'BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF A FIRE TRUCK AND RELATED EQUIPMENT IN AND BY THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET, IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING $650,000 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $500,000 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE BOROUGH TO FINANCE PART OF THE COST THEREOF" The Clerk stated that Ordinance #97-29 was introduced and passed upon First Reading at a Regular Meeting of the Borough Council of the Borough of Carteret held on September 4, 1997. It was duly published in The Home News Tribune on September 9, 1997 with notice that it will be considered for final passage after Public Hearing to be held on September 18, 1997 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. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and DuPont and unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present, the Mayor declared the Public Hearing to be open: Councilmember DuPont read a directive from the Appropriate Authority to the Chief of Police. "You were advised that the State Statute requires any additional member of the Governing Body, including the Mayor, to deal with the Police Department through the Appropriate Authority and the lines (inaudible) of the authority by law. Furthermore, you are hereby ordered to maintain the current status quo within the operations of the Carteret Police Department until (inaudible) direction of the Appropriate Authority. More specifically, you will not change the work schedule, the job assignments, the rank, the title, the decisions or status of any personnel within the Police Department. This order, of course, is subject to emergencies that might arise and/or temporary adjustments, that you in your judgement find necessary on an operational basis." Hopefully, this will alleviate some of the confusion and order. It is effective today and dated today. 2 An unidentified person asked by who? -,' ",.~.,.' . ~ -"- Councilmember DuPont said by the Appropriate Authority. Someone yelled out. Mayor Sica said they were not going to have any hollering out. In the first place, the Appropriate Authority doesn't have any legal right to do what they are doing there unless it's first concurred with the whole Council. Councilmember DuPont told the Mayor he was wrong. Mayor Sica said they can't unilaterally do something with out first concurring with Council. Councilmember DuPont said by reading the statute, it says the Appropriate Authority is the designated authQrity. Mayor Sica said it says "Standing Committee", is it not? Even though it's the Appropriate Authority. He read "the Standing Committee is appointed to expedite and facilitate the work of the Council, but only (inaudible) borough ordinance, statutory rules and regulations". If this ordinance goes in, that goes in. "The rules of Council includes the entire Council is held responsible for all acts." We have to know about it before we do it. Every member of this Council is responsible for everything any member of this Council does. He said they know it as well as he does. Councilmember DuPont said their intention ( inaudible) is not to change the ordinance. Mayor Sica said then why are they doing (inaudible) the ordinance. 3 JOl-IN SUDIA said he is a life member of the PBA and President of the Auxiliary Associate Membership of Lodge 90 of the F.O.P. He is also quite disturbed about this ordinance for the simple reasons that the first paragraph of the ordinance states" Police Department will consist of one appropriate authority, one Police Director, one Police Chief, etc. However, when you go into Title 40A: 14-118, the first paragraph "the appropriate authority means the Mayor, Manager or such other appropriate executives or administrator officer such as a full time Director of Public Safety or the Governing Body or any designated committee or member thereof (inaudible) established by ordinances for such purposes". Therefore. we don't need an appropriate authority and a Police Director, not according to Title 40. By the same token, when you go further into the ordinance, it talks about the hours. You only have set up your hours in the Police Department and he believes they should be aware that a study has been made of our Police Department in the past as to where the high crime hours have been, what was required in the high crime hours, he is sure that will be addressed later. Further, he goes back to the ordinance again and it states, not the ordinance but the comments by Mr. Stowell, states that there have been an awful lot of costs created by our previolls ordinance, which incidentally was adopted in 1975 and hasn't been challenged since. He has never seen, nor does he think the Mayor and Council has seen documentation of this so called millions of dollars that were lost over the years. ' SEPTÐ'1BER 18, 1997 Public Hearing Con' t. Ordinance #97-29 SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 Conments Con't. Ordinance #97-29 - Mayor Sica asked Mr. Sudia if he could interrupt him. He said that's a complete afITont on him. He was the Mayor that instituted the four and four. There's a reason he went along with that four and four and he reviewed it as they went along with it. The main reason for the four and four, and most people in this room would know, we had some serious problems in our taverns with go-go girls and prostitution and drugs all over the place. We had fighting and burglaries at certain times. He felt that if we had the four and four and had twice as many cops on in our prime time crime hours, that would help clean up the town. In his honest opinion it did more to clean up this town then he could ever do. In 1987 after the contract was up after the first four and four, he looked at eliminating it. The 1987 report showed that 78% of all the assaults in the city of Carteret occurred between the hours of 1700 and 0700. 64% of that occurred in prime crime time when .we had the most cops on. That in itself would have to make you keep the four and four because he didn't know what time his kids came home or his wife had to go to that store and he knows that it's dangerous out there. It made him feel a lot better knowing that we had twice as many cops out there. The expense didn't mean anything. 66% of all the robberies, 75% of them at the prime time crime hours between 10:00 P.M. and 3:00 A.M. when we have the most cops out. 80% of burglaries, 66% of that 80% happen in those hours 56% of criminal mischief, 48% of them at that particular prime time crime hour. Disorderly persons 80%. Drug offenses is the one that really makes him think that his decision was the right one. 95% of all drug arrests were done between the hours of 1700 and 0700 and out of that 71% between 10:00 P.M. and 3:00 A.M. So that is when drugs are the most rampant. Domestic Violence - 75% and 51 % in the late night hours. First Aid Calls, that in itself is a benefit we have enough cops on. Our police are there 99% of the time for the victims of heart attack. Way before the First Aid can get there. That he has personal knowledge of because his father. Drunk Driving, A.B.c. Violations - you read in the paper every day of some drunk killing somebody. 93% of all drunk driving violations occurred in those prime time crime hours. 96% of the 93% actually happen from 10:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. in the morning. That was the most instrumental thing of ridding the Hill Section of all those problems. Mayor Sica said about the economics of four and four, our cops, unlike Woodbridge where they work ten and three-quarters hours over there, they get lunch and coffee breaks. The deal he struck with the police department, Mr. Hojecki can correct him if he is wrong, was that they were going to work ten hours without lunch or breaks. He said if they step out of their car to go to Dunkin Donuts or Seven-Eleven for a sandwich, they better report in that they are out of their car. They better have their walkie-talkie with them. If something happens they better respond, put that sandwich down and leave. They have done that. So the borough gets a full ten hours of work. If they were to work a forty hour schedule, they would only get 35 hours of work because of the lunchtime that these guys are not taking. Weare getting a full 40 hours. By having less shift changes they have less down time. The problem was when they had shift changes at midnight, ITom 11:45 to 12: 15 P.M. there was no one on the streets. That never happened again because we have the shift changes before twelve and after twelve. That shift has twice the amount of people and that's why we were able, in this town, to rid the Hill of that vermin that was up there. To rid Chrome of the vermin that was down there. That's why they were able to shut down most of the bad bars in this town. They still have a couple that they are going to get, but that's what's cleaned up this town. 4 ^.........-.....-.- '---~ Mayor Sica said if the people of this town think he cares about the dollars when it comes to their safety, they're nuts. Mr. Sudia said he totally agrees with the Mayor. He said he is to be commended as the previous members of the Council should be commended for what they did for our Police Department. The Chief himself should be commended for his action in the P~lice Department because he's been a great Chief He looked at a proposal for services dated May 30th and he is a little disturbed because it says here "we're prepared to assist your Borough Council as legal counsel and consultants in regard to the operation of the Police Department and for other municipal departments, if and as assigned. These duties will include a minimum, but not necessarily conclusively the following:" it goes on to review and (inaudible) the timing. Why do we have a Borough Attorney? Why is this ordinance drawn by Mr. Stowe1\? Why hasn't our Borough Attorney reviewed the ordinance. He was totally disturbed by the newspaper article that our policemen, our great policemen, think of nothing but their pockets. He submits that Mr. Stowell and his firm think nothing of their pocket, because first they had a $25,000 nut up ITont for some questionable charges. He doesn't know if that $25,000 has been accelerated, however, in that time, we know there are going to be lawsuits. We know there are going to be challenges and there were in Nutley and a few other towns which can go up to hundreds of thousands of dollar. Before he sees that happen in this town, he would rather them put on ten more cops for that money. The Council ar~ members of his party, but he doesn't think they have used common sense at all, first in the retention of the firm and secondly, in allowing the ordinance to be produced and submitted without thoroughly studying, not only the ordinance, but Title 40. They have to understand or try to find out why Mr. Stowell went into the Borough Code rather than the actual ordinances of the town. The Borough Code is not a legal document. The actual ordinance adopted in 1975 and prior and subsequent ordinances are legal documents. They have been approved by various Borough .Attorneys. He is sure the present Borough Attorney, if he looked at those, would understand that these are legal documents. He told the Mayor he wasn't happy with this. He asked his colleagues on the Council to use their heads and table this ordinance indefinitely. He said if it is railroaded through, he is going to recommend that the Mayor veto this ordinance. Then if this Council decide to override that veto, he will then think about another action. ROBERT HEDESH, 152 Edgar Street. He asked who attended this August 20, 1997 dinner meeting? In regard to the person who prepared the ordinance and the preparation thereof He said it was a meeting with Mr. Stowell in Edison. He asked how long the meeting was? Councilmember DuPont said about four hours. Mr. Hedesh asked why was it held in Edison? 5 Councilmember DuPont said Mr. Stowell was in Edison and they decided to meet him there instead of having him come here. Mr. Hedesh asked if he knew why Mr. Stowell was in Edison? SEPTfltBER 18, 1997 Comments Can't. Ordinance #97-29 SEPTÐtBER 18, 1997 Comments Can't. On:inance #97-29 Councilmember Failace said he thought he was prosecuting: Mr. Hedesh asked "He was prosecuting in Edison?". Councilmember Failace said he believes so. Mr. Hedesh said "Edison Township?". He said Mr. Stowell has no open voucher in Edison Township and no bill was submitted to Edison Township for that day. So, if in fact he was, he questioned why they as the Borough Council had meetings in Edison . He said they should look into it because there is no open voucher for Mr. Stowell in Edison and he has not billed Edison for any services in over a year. He said he had someone check it today and he checked it himself with their finance chairman. Councilmember Failace said the whole Council was not there. Mr. Hedesh said in regard to the article in the paper, they all ran on some kind of motto that said "Pride in Carteret". What Mr. Stowell put in the paper had nothing to do with pride in Carteret. He told John DuPont that he could say that, he could go to anyone of these cops and say it to their face. Jim, Stan, Pete, any of you, but Mr. Stowell can~, because he is nothing but a hired gun. He's going to come in here and "he is going to leave. He has no pride in Carteret, just the same as he had no pride in Ramsey, Nutley and any other place he has worked in. Edison and Woodbridge. He said the Council could say it and he could say it but Mr. Stowell can't. He said he (Hedesh) has probably said it to his face and that's the difference. We say it to their face, we don't say it to the newspaper so that people ITom Edison and people ITom Perth Amboy and Somerville think our cops are nothing but money grubbing (inaudible) Mr. Hedesh said he was at a ship that was burning a few weeks ago with Gary Guiliano. He was at a fire the other day with Barry Auker and some other cops. They weren't looking for any money than. Mr. Stowell is charging this town $150.00 to drive up the turnpike. Mr. Stowell evidently doesn't have a legal library, so he charges this Council every time he goes to the Camden Law Library to do legal research. $150.00 an hour to come up the turnpike. That's being a little greedy. Every time he sits here through any other ordinance, he's charging this Council. So for him to take that position in the newspaper is wrong. The Council can do it. If that was him sitting up there and he sat up there longer than any of them combined other than the Mayor, he would fire Mr. Stowell for those"comments alone. You don't say that to my cops. You don't say that to my firemen. He said he didn't care how good this ordinance was. On that statement alone, it told them Mr. Stowell's motivation for this. He calls people like that lemmings. A lemming is a rodent that is extinct now because it ate its young. He said he always has a suspicion when there's lawyers that only sue lawyers or doctors who only testifY against doctors or cops who want to screw cops. Anybody that goes after their own, would have to start to think because those people tend to be extinct. He said Mr. DuPont tried to make a big scene by saying he wasn't going to enforce this ordinance. He has to enforce the ordinance. He can't issue, as the Appropriate Authority, something that violates a borough ordinance. They can do it as the Appropriate Authority as long as it does not 6 violate the borough ordinance because there are levels oflaw. The ordinance,estate statute and beyond. "'------'--...,.- Mr. Hedesh continued and said what they are trying to do is say "look, we're going to pass an ordinance, but we're not going to enforce it". He said they can't do that. The Mayor has an obligation under the law to enforce it. All they are doing is saying they are not going to enforce it because they are going to take this to PERC, and they are going to run up counsel fees. He has no problem running up counsel fees, counsel fees are near and dear to his heart as long as they are going to benefit the town. This is not benefitting the town. They have allowed their cops to be insulted in public. They have an ordinance that they are not going to enforce and if they are serious about that they should amend the ordinance and put the Appropriate Authority has the right to set the conditions and the hours of work up to a level. Don't put eight hour shifts. Don't put five days. Then that means that they are not serious about changing the four and four He said they are willing to test it either at PERC or in the Superior Court and then if they say the Council has the power without going to the bargaining unit, then they can pass an ordinance for hours of work that are set within their authority. Right now, they are saying no, they are not going to do that. They are saying they are going to set it and go to PERC and the minute PERC tells them yes, they will issue an order telling them to change the shifts. If they don't have that motivation, then they don't need to put any or they could put whatever shift they wanted if they left it open. No one is questioning whether the Appropriate Authority could set those hours, the question is why set them straight now when they are clearly in violation of their normal operating procedure and the collective bargaining agreement. The reason they are doing that is because Mr. Stowell has sold them a bag full of goods. Mr. Stowell is telling them that the four and four and the hours of work are not negotiable. He said he has not agreed on many things with Mr. Bosco, but he is absolutely correct. It's a negotiable item. The Borough has chosen to negotiate it. It was put in the contract over the negotiating table. He was there and if need be, he will testifY that it was put in over the negotiating table because as a Councilman he sat there when it was negotiated and once you negotiate it, it is now in the contract. If they are really serious and they are telling him they are not here to screw the cops out of four and four, then amend that section to leave it open to give the Appropriate Authority the power to set the schedule, but don't set a schedule. JAMES HOJECKI, Carteret PBA thanked the Mayor for pointing out the history of the four and four. He appreciates it. Mayor Sica said they are not his most favorable people, but they do a damn good job. If his Police Department has to be pulled down, he will be the guy to do it When they are right they are right. Mr. Hojecki said he is very disappointed that he has to be here and that this is coming to a vote again. This is the third meeting in a row that he has had to attend and unfortunately, as other people have tried to point out, not enough people are paying attention. As previously pointed out the ordinance change has always been incumbent upon the Council to reflect the contract schedule. As Mr. Stowell stated at'the last meeting, portions of the ordinance that he addressed were made by discretionary input of the clients (the Council). It is plain and clear 42-10 in the Rules and Regulations, since July of 1984 has been improper. If it must be changed, then the improper listing offive 8 hour days should not continue to be improperly listed in the ordinance. SEPTatBER 18, 1997 Canments Con't. Ordinance #97-29 SEPTEMBER 18, 97 Comments Con't. Ordinance #97-29 Mr. Hojecki said to accurately, honestly and legally mandate the hours of employment, then it must be worded that the schedule as negotiated between the Carteret P.B.A. Local 47 and the Borough ofCarteret will be the hours of employment, nothing else. Very simple. He have heard Mr. Stowell, Mr. DuPont and Mr. CougWin all state that this ordinance is not designed to change schedules. However, both the P.BA and himself, personally, have found out that through their many years of going through the court system, words are given the most weight when they are written. This would be a very simple adjustment to make to reflect the spoken word will carry the impact of the written word. In this ordinance, in other words, if there was never any intent to make this ordinance law, to implement an illegal shift change, then Mr. Stowell would not have already billed the borough for 41 V> hours of work at a cost of $6,285.00 into the research of implementing unilateral shift changes. He has continued to ask that everyone step back and think clearly so that this ordinance, in it's proposed illegal form, does not take effect. The Mayor and Council has been advised by personal appearance and by letters from both Dr. Bosco, the labor specialist for the P.B A and by Attorney Nancy Makarowski, the attorney in Federal District Court for the P.B.A., of the improper implementation of the hours of employment and by his own letter. To say that he is disappointed to be here again, is a tremendous understatement But, now, to insult the intelligence of this groups of officers, their family members here tonight, the public that is here tonight to speak of the opposition to this improper ordinance as it has since first reading of the first improper ordinance and the other union members present here of various borough employees who have entered into good faith contracts with the borough goes beyond his comprehension. All that is asked, once again, is that the ordinance be amended to reflect the hours of employment that have been negotiated for the past thirteen plus years. To ignore this request and to continue the facade that the schedul~ will not be change, whether tomorrow or the near future, is only wasting everyone's time and taxpayer's money since approximately one-third ofMr. Stowell's bill to date is made up of research into the unilateral schedule change. The P.B. A. 's position on this is unmovable Once again, while they have the chance before PERC in District Court has to repeat what should already have been learned, do not vote for implementation of an improper and misleading ordinance. Save a lot of taxpayer's money in advance for a change and let Mr. Stowell research areas that have not repeatedly been addressed to the Borough for fourteen years. He realizes that like most people who hire attorneys, you rely on his advice, but improper advice can be quite common when someone is being paid to do something. In this case, provide the mechanism to change the shifts for the borough illegally. The mechanics have been in place for many years and Mr. Stowell finally acknowledged and recognized that fact when he had to amend the ordinance in the first place. By the way, he ended up charging the borough for rewriting the ordinance that he should have known about already. The only answer is to be honest with the P.B.A. and the other unions and the public and to be straight and simple and do what should have been done for the past fourteen years. Hours of employment will reflect the negotiated schedules, nothing else. Plain, simplè, nice and easy. He doesn't know what else to say because he was very disgusted when he read that article yesterday. He is very disappointed when he realizes in Mr. Stowell's past bills he actually has the borough pay for his conferences with the newspapers. To him, that is disgusting. Mr. Stowell has never spoken to anyone but the Chief and Deputy Chief and for him to characterize all the cops as narcissistic in their approach, paranoid and selfish, he is extremely disappointed. If Mr. Stowell ever wants to talk to him, he can find him at home or at work anytime he wants. He can ask him anything he wants, but that was terrible. He is very disappointed in the Council paying Mr. Stowell for this type of thing. 8 .;,-:'h~:_".: Councilmember Gutowski said he had a couple of questions for Mr. Hojecki. He said he didn't know ifMr. Hojecki was representing all the PBA.? Mr. Hojecki said he was. Councilmember Gutowski said Mr. Hojecki keeps stating that this ordinance is improper. Which part? Mr. Hojecki said the hours of employment Councilmember Gutowski asked if Mr.Hojecki had a contract with the Borough and the P.BA. Mr. Hojecki said yes. Councilmember Gutowski asked if it was still in force? Mr. Hojecki said absolutely. Councilmember Gutowski asked ifMr. Hojecki knew what Article 13 of that contract said? Mr. Hojecki said not offhand, he will have to get it. Councilmember Gutowski said he had it right here if Mr. Hojecki would like to him to read it? Mr. Hojecki said okay, but he will get his. Councilmember Gutowski told him to read Article 13 from the P.B.A. contract executed by the borough. Mr. Hojecki said Article 13 states the provIsIOns of the municipal ordinances which effect the terms and conditions of employment for members of the Police Department shall be maintained during the term of this agreement. Councilmember Gutowski asked what part ofthe new ordinance pertains to the terms ofMr. Hojecki's employment? Mr. Hojecki said the hours of employment. Councilmember Gutowski asked which part of the old ordinance does? Mr. Hojecki said the hours of employment. According to Mr. Stowell.... Councilmember Gutowski asked which part of the new ordinance does? 9 Mr. Hojecki said the hours of employment. Councilmember Gutowski asked if it is the same in the old ordinance as it is in the new ordinance. Mr. Hojecki said if he was talking about what previously existed in.... SEPTÐ'1BER 18, 1997 Conments Can't. Ordinance #97-29 SEPTÐtBER 18, 1997 Comments Can't. Oròinance #97-29 .".ð';"'"",-.--..,,,..'i<'-'':-'--~~_ "..-,,,', Councilmember Gutowski said what is in the old ordinance right now before they change it is the same language that is in the new ordinance. Mr. Hojecki said with the exception çf one thing. It included in the amended ordinance the standards to be met by the Fair Labor Standards. Councilmember Gutowski said the terms and conditions of employment stated in the old ordinance, eight hours a day, five days a week. Mr. Hojecki said correct. Council member Gutowski said terms and conditions in the new ordinance, eight hours a day, five days a week. According to Mr. Hojecki's P.B.A. contract, the borough is obligated to carry that over. He said they are not saying they have to institute it, but they are, according to the P.B.A. contract, obligated to carry it over to the new ordinance. Mr. Hojecki asked ifMr Gutowski was saying the eight hours? Absolutely not. He said if they are going to change the ordinance..... Councilmember Gutowski said no, it doesn't say that. It says provisions of municipal ordinances which effect the terms and conditions of your employment. The hours of your employment are your terms and conditions. For members of the police department shall be maintained during the term of this agreement. What that ordinance says is five and two. The new ordinance says eight hours a day, five days a week. The P.B.A. contract says four and four. The contract will remain four and four and they will work four and four. That is not going to change. The old ordinance and the new ordinance are exactly the same and we follow that according to the P.B.A. contract. Mr. Hojecki said apparently Mr. Gutowski missed his point. Mayor Sica said the problem is why are we spending a couple of thousand dollars to look at changing it and going back to five and two. Why should we spend between the last bill almost a thousand dollars and the bill before that. He said this ordinance is saying that they are going to have Sergeants, Lieutenants, Detectives, etc., the Appropriate Authority and with the Governing Body, may ITom time to time leave one or more of the above positions vacant as they see fit. There were statements made that if we reduced all the sergeants, get rid of the sergeants, and only have Lieutenants they were going to save $60,000. That's not a statement he made. He asked why did they put that in there? Mr. Hojecki said to finish addressing what the Mayor was saying, apparently Mr. Gutowski missed the entire point of his three appearances here, along with Dr. Bosco. Since there is no need to change the ordinance, the only need that was there for the Council to change has been there for the past fourteen years that they have worked this contract. It should have reflected the hours then It was never done 10 Councilmember Gutowski asked why wasn't it done? Mr. Hojecki said he didn't know. He said he didn't sit on the Council. -. Councilmember Gutowski asked why did Mr. Hojecki tþink it was going to be done now if it wasn't done then? Mr. Hojecki said mainly because Mr. Stowell now goes in the paper and states that four and four is costing taxpayers X amount of money. Now, he is not going to address that because under contractual negotiations that have to be followed he doesn't know what Mr. Stowell is doing making that statement. He said they are in negotiations and are under contract and that shouldn't be addressed. He told Borough Attorney Coughlin that shouldn't be addressed, correct? Borough Attorney Coughlin said he advises the Council. Mr. Hojecki said that shouldn't even have been addressed, so he is not even going to refer to that. He said the P.B.A. fights fair and plays by the rules. Because of Mr. Stowell's statement, as a Police Officer, as someone who has been here for twenty-three years and dealt with many Mayors and many Councilmembers, not too many Mayors, but a lot of Councils, he has found that there is only one thing that carries weight and that is if you are going to say it then write it to reflect what it says., He understands what Mr. Gutowski is saying. If they have to pass the ordinance, show that it says that it reflects the contractually agreed hours of employment. Councilmember Gutowski said maybe the P.B.A. and the Council have to sit down again and negotiate this clause and then (inaudible) the works hours, but until then they can't. Mr. Hojecki said they are in negotiations. He said Mr. Gutowski is missing the point and he doesn't like the thought that Mr. Gutowski is leaving an open door to test it as Mr. Hedesh put it. He certainly doesn't like that. First of all there is no need for it. For whatever Mr. Stowell's motivation may be to include it in the ordinance that he drew up for the Council twice now. IfMr. Stowell felt compelled to put it in\ then put it in the correct way to reflect that the hours will be the terms that are agreed upon contractually with the bargaining agent. That would end everything. They would walk away. For whatever reason Mr. Stowell feels compelled to go to the paper and say his thoughts. He never spoke to anyone in the P.B.A, just made his thoughts known to the paper and it really does hurt him that the Council is going to pay for.it. He's going to bill the borough for his conference with the newspaper. Why he had to say his personal thoughts in there with one way research, he doesn't know. Ifthe Council feels that they have to back Mr. Stowell, which he doesn't know why they would, but if they feel they have to do that, then do it the correct way. Put the ordinance in to reflect the hours that are contractually agreed upon. Don't put it in just because Mr. Stowell says it's okay and then later on he refers to having the flexibility of managerial prerogative at a later date. "Not me". Those were Mr. Stowell's words at the last Council Meeting. Do everybody a favor, put it in the correct way and he won't have to say anything more. SEPTÐ'tBER 18, 1997 COrmlents Con't. Ordinance #97-29 SEPTÐ'tBER 18, 1997 Conmen ts ('..on' t. Ordinance ~'97-29 ." ~ ~~~.; ISRAEL ITom the Pentecostal Church, said his main purpose here tonight is because they are interested in a lot. Mayor Sica told the gentleman that he couldn't speak about this now. This is only open for this ordinance. At the end of the meeting there will be a public session and he will be able to speak then. JESSIE BAGALA said this time she is here for revenge. This is the third time she has come here and this is enough. Either they do their duty or get off the toilet bowl If they are going to vote tonight, vote. If they are not, don't. She said they were tired of coming. Make sure they vote the way they feel. The way she feels it isn't right. All the people here elected them to do what they thought was right. It's not only what the Council and the Mayor thinks is right, but what the people think is right. If they don't do what is right tonight, she promised them that the next two weeks they will have Channel 9 here and 2,000 people outside. Then they will know what it means to listen to the people of Carteret. She asked them how many people want what they are doing. She said nobody. It's about time they listened to the people who elected them. She said their lawyer can't tell the people what they are asking. She said they demand answers ITom their lawyer. What are they paying him for? MICHAEL MA TERAZlO, Police Officer, said he listened to Lt. Hojecki talk about the work schedule and they are opposed to any changes in the work schedule. He said they are also opposed to any Police Director ordinance. They are also opposed to anything that might violate the Chiefs rights. He said he doesn't think they need a Police Director. Jimmy Hojecki dealt with the work schedule and he will deal with the rest of it. He said they are opposed to anything dealing with the Police Director or anything dealing with Special Police or anything that Mr. Stowell has to offer. Mr. Stowell gets his foot in the door for a $25,000 fee and he's going to end up staying here forever. He has an article where in Ramsey they spent $171,000 when they had Mr. Stowell in there. Another article from Nutley , he came in, they approved $10,000, they went back and approved $10,000 more. He stirred up a hornet's nest there and he has pending litigation there. Mr. Stowell's sole purpose in this area is to come, put his evaluations forth, or sets forth some sort of evaluation and then dig into everything else. His contract hasn't changed in the last four years. It all deals with the same. It says he will come in as special counsel, he'll advise for misconduct, he will prosecute. He prosecuted in Edison too, to the tune of$180,000. The Council authorized $25,000 and his bill is up around $20,000 now and there are no bills for September yet. Out of that $20,000 all he did was bring up something about a Police Director and a schedule change. He said he called around yesterday just checking on schedules and out of the forty police departments that were checked, he guesses they are all robbing their taxpayers. He said he also takes offense to that remark. Mr. Stowell's press release about narcissistic and paranoid and robbing the taxpayers.of$778,000. He said Mr. Stowell does some pretty good traveling from Haddon Heights to Carteret, he gets $1,000 for coming to a Council Meeting. He said he would come to one ever two weeks too. Just for everyone's information, as far as any kind of illegal work schedules or what your not supposed to be working or what you are supposed to be working, North Brunswick, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Woodbridge, Clark, Rahway,. Linden, Garwood and Mountainside are also 12 robbing their people because they all work four on and four off ..------- "";::rc>-ù:'---- Mr. Materazzo said Bernard Township doesn't do too bad, they work two on and two off Bridgewater works four on and three off Dunellon works five -two, five-two and four-two. East Brunswick 4-2. Franklin Township 4-2, HigWand Park 5-3. Hillsborough 2-2,3-2,2-3. Manville has the same schedule. Metuchen 4-2. Middlesex 2-2, 3-2, 2-3. Milltown 2-2, 3-2,2-3. Monroe 5-3, 5-4. Montgomery 3 on 3 off Plainsboro 2 on 2 off, 2 on 3 off Sayreville 4 and 4. South Amboy 5-3, 5-3 ,5-4. Plainfield 3-3. South River 5-2. Hillside 5 on 5 off Marlboro 5-2, 5-2. The town that can't get rid of it's schedule Matawan 7-2,7-2 and 7-3. He said when he came on the job that is what he worked. He said no one said they were robbing the town then and no one should be saying it now. He got a five day vacation on a seven day shift. He said he didn't know if that was fair, but nobody said anything about it then. He doesn't know why everybody wants to revise anything. They have been working four on and four off He said he doesn't work it, but the majority of the guys have been working four on and four off for the last fourteen years. He can't see this guy coming in. All he is doing is creating legal work for himself He's creating an upcoming legal battle. He said they really don't care about the legal battle, they wouldn't like to get involved in one, but they have expended thousands of dollars already in legal battles that went through tederallaw and also with everyone of their contracts and every PERC hearing. For them to spend the money, they will spend it, but he doesn't think this Stowell guy is what we need here. He said they definitely don't need Mr. Stowell drafting up some kind of ordinance. If Mr. Stowell wants to respond to whatever he said' about the police robbing the taxpayers, he happens to be a taxpayer too and he lives in this town. He said he doesn't commute from Camden County or Haddon Heights and he doesn't charge $15000 an hour. If anybody is robbing the town it is Mr. Stowell. 3 Mayor Sica said he really doesn't care what the other towns do. He personally felt that ITom time to time his opinion has to change on certain things, and that's dictated by situation. When he looked at the four and four, he looked at the most critical part of the day when the crime was happening and what it would do to benefit that. Money was not an option. A guy a hell of a lot smarter than him wrote something about the constitution in this country that in time it would have to be changed and provisions were made in that constitution to change it from time to time as situations arose. That's the same thing here. If he felt that the four and four was such a detriment at this time, he would go and change it. He does not think it's a detriment. He does not think that we have an overabundance of people. They keep quoting in the paper that they have one superior to every officer. He really doesn't care about that. If eliminating the 12 sergeants would save us $60,000, that's nothing. What would it do to the morale of the department. What does it cost each citizen of this town, an extra $2.00 a year to have those sergeants. What it does to the morale of the department is makes all the patrolman, all the indians say, someday they will be sergeant. He said that's fine with him. If there were only four sergeants, it only changes four times. Twelve sergeants, it changes 12 times. It gives everybody an incentive to get a better education, to take the sergeants exam, to go to school and learn better police techniques. That is the whole thing in a nutshell. He doesn't think this ordinance and the way it's written is the answer at the present time. SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 Comments Con' t. Ordinance #97-29 SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 HEARING CLOSED Adopted Comments ......- There being no further comments or objections to the Ordinance, the Mayor declared the public hearing to be closed upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and Failace and unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present. Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers DuPont and Failace ORDINANCE #97-29 "CREATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET" was finally adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers DuPont, Failace, Fazekas and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. Councilmember Bialowarczuk atstain:d. Councilmember Feingold was noted absent Approved and Adopted: September 18. 1997 Introduced: September 4. 1997 Advertised as adopted on Fitst Reading with Notice of Public Hearing: September 9. 1997 Hearing Held: September 18. 1997 Approved by: Mayor Peter 1. Sica Advertised as finally adopted: September 25. 1997 Councilmember Bialowarczuk said three Council Meetings ago, the subject came up on reduction in the Police Force. The Mayor went down into the audience that night and asked Mr. DuPont about the reduction in the Police Force. Mr. DuPont said there will be no reduction in the Police Force. Yet, on the new bill of August 26th, review an extensive (inaudible) department of personnel case law regarding demotions and lay-offs for reasons of efficiency and autonomy - $600.00. Anyone, including Mr. Stowell, who can tell her they are not looking to do this, especially since she finally got what is called a summary, three pages and August 26th was left off She can't imagine why that was left off, it is obvious to her that they are looking to reduce the police force. She also received a letter ITom Mr. Stowell. Because she has been looking out for the town's benefit, she has been objecting to this ordinance for the Police Department' and for the town. She started checking and doing her homework. She started checking and as she called one town, looking at the resume the Council received, it's really interesting. Three years ago we had Mr. Danser for $70,000, she can't imagine what this is going to be. Ramsey was mentioned and Mr. Stowell was there, $171,000. Westwood, in excess of $100,000. Sea Isle City in excess of $165,000. Waterford Township who's city ranks a little less than us, is in the neighborhood of$12,000 and they just got boosted again. Not only that, the Council is correct, we are pretty much at the end of our money. That's the stuff that came up at the Agenda Meeting. Mr. DuPont decided we better not put any more money on for Mr. Stowell right now, because he could only handle one thing at a time. So they were going to sneak another amount of money in at the next Council Meeting. What happens in the interim when a lawsuit gets filed if this ordinance goes through. Who handles it? Who pays for it? She said she is not going to let Mr. Stowell receive any more borough money. Where are we getting this money from. 14 ."....~ '"..:_~ Councilmember Bialowarczuk said she is a taxpayer. The audience is all taxpayers and she would like to remind Mr. Stowell she was very annoyed, yes she is a wife of a policeman, but he had no business saying something like that to the newspaper. He said it in closed session. By going through all these vouchers and checking everything that was on the resolution which is her right to do because she happens to know what she is dealing with at this point. She said she finds (inaudible) and bodies all over the place. She has to seriously question.... ..Mr. Stowell said in his letter to her and to these guys out there that they are paranoid, she doesn't think she is paranoid and she doesn't think the guys are paranoid, she thinks Mr. Stowell has an inherent hatred of Police Officers. He has hurt this town and this town is going to start (inaudible) in the next couple of weeks because we are going to run out of money. We're real busy juggling money around here for a fire truck that's of the utmost importance to this town. $200,000 a year, she doesn't want to hear about. Mr. Stowell might say it's not ethical for her to talk about it, she's biased He can bet she's biased. She's a taxpayer and it's coming out of her pocket. This is a small town. Anytime a person needs a police officer, you don't get, like in the big city, a cop coming to your door imd help you out, you get personal service. They follow up. She said she discussed it with him (?) a week ago and he had hero worship for Mr. Stowell. That's dangerous. He does not know everything there is to know about everything to do with the Police Department because he was once a Police Chief and he is now a lawyer. His track record stinks. And to tell her in a letter fOl1n that she is not his client, but the renegade forum here are, is ludicrous. At this point in time she demands, of this Council, because she is entitled to a lawyer. Ifhe is not, and she is not his client, then she wants her own attorney to handle this business having to do with (inaudible). She said she knows what she is entitled to and she does her homework. She is not waiting a week. two weeks or three weeks for somebody to get the job done around here and making (inaudible). She is tired of it. She wants it done. When people want answers, (inaudible) done together. Not wait a week, not wait two weeks. To and trom Edison Diner. To and front Pay attention people. He billed the borough for to. Mr. Failace told her at the Agenda Meeting, Mr. Stowell was already in Edison that's why they met him there. She abstained. Councilmember DuPont said there were a couple of èorrections. In a report which is open to the public now, dated August 28, 1997, the Chief of Police has a copy of, there is a paragraph that says the staffing levels are correct and therefore he is not recommending any lay-offs. There are not going to be any lay-offs. What our effort is to do here, if they can do it they will be ahead of the game, if they can make someway more efficient or more effective Police Department and can even get more patrolmen on the streets, that's what they want to do. For some reason they are turning it around the other way. August 26th, as Ms. Bialowarczuk said, didn't appear on the bills, she is incorrect. On a letter dated August 31, 1997 it's listed on the bills with a clear explanation of what it was He said he thinks Mr. Stowell is a very honest person, straightforward............ 5 At this point there was a lot of shouting and booing ITom the audience. SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 Corrments Con't. SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 Carrmen ts Can't. -¡";;'''~1· .".~~ Councilmember Failace said when they started out with this ordinance with Mr. Stowell months ago. They thought they could enhance the police force. They thought they could put more police on the streets. He told them this many times. He has been told by patrolman that at times there are only two patrolman on the street in the evening. He said he sees their main concern is the four and four. His problem is not only, maybe some of the policemen voted for him, but he knows a lot more people in town also voted for him. If perchance it were proven that they could save this town $250,000, if they could prove to the citizens that they cpuld do that......you automatically latch on to 5 and 2, but he heard Mr. Matarazzo say 5 & 3, a whole bunch of different ones, if perchance, they were able to do that through negotiations with the police, what's wrong with it? What he is saying is.....he has been in on negotiations for two years, so he doesn't want to go into that. When Mrs. Bialowarczuk said, during the school budget that she wanted to cut $200,000 because the people need their taxes reduced. If they can reduce taxes, if they can put more police out on the street, if they give them an opportunity, which they won't, but if they give them the opportunity, if they can do that, put more police out on the street to protect the citizens even better, then he thinks they have a right to do that and to pursue that. He voted yes. He said he wanted to bring up one other thing. Everyone talks about the Council being so lousy .He said the paper must know and the other citizens must know, this tire is flattened. At this point there was a lot of shouting ITom the audience. Councilmember Failace said he didn't care. He said (inaudible) close about their families, but Jack Fazekas's wife and children are present. His children are present.....They are taking the steps they think they have to take, but that's not the point. They feel they are going to do the right thing or they are trying to do the right thing for all the taxpayers in the town. He voted yes. Councilmember Gutowski said he certainly listened to everyone here. He talked to many policemen on the street over the past three and four weeks. He has heard their concerns and understands they don't want their work schedule changed. He understands what they want and what they don't want. He understands they are in contract negotiations To him this is a vote on an ordinance that doesn't address any of those issues. It doesn't change the work schedule and it doesn't hire a police director. As much as they think it does, it doesn't. When the time comes, if they can come to an agreement on changing the work schedule, they will. If they can't come to an agreement on a work schedule change, then it will stay the way it is, four and four. Simple as that. So with that in mind, his opinion is that it doesn't change the schedule. It doesn't hire a police director and (inaudible) will be addressed hopefully in contract negotiations, if they are not it will stay the way it is. He voted yes for the ordinance. Mayor Sica said Ms. Bialowarczuk .did not say that the bill didn't say it was there. What she said is on the 26th, the summary that Mr. Stowell gave, it was not in that summary. Not that it wasn't on the bill. She read it ITom the bill ITom the 26th where it specifically states they are looking at lay-offs, etc. In the summary it jumped from the 26th to the 27th, it eliminated the 26th. He told Councilmember DuPont he thought he owed Ms. Bialowarczuk an apology. 16 ,,-'-'- '------... . SEPTÐ'tBER 18, 1997 Councilmember DuPont said he thought it was detailed on the 31 st. Cœrnents Can't. 7 Mayor Sica said it says the August I st, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21 st, 25th then there is a bill for the 26th, but it's not in the summary of August 27th. He said what he doesn't understand, if they are not looking into lay-offs, if they are not looking into reducing sergeants, lieutenants, deputy chiefs, then why are they paying thousands of do1\ars. Why are they even looking into this if we are not going to do this. It's kind of silly to spend your money to look into something that you are not going to do. Especially when it is not our money, but the taxpayers money. That's foolish. There are a couple of other reasons he is a little put out about this whole ordinance. About the Police Director, that was tried in this town twice or three times, and three times it turned out to be nothing more than a fiasco. He thinks when Doc Fenick was the Mayor he eliminated a Police Director because he didn't think it was worth a hill of beans. He said he didn't get along with Doc Fenick on everything, but that was one of the things he had to agree with him on. It was wrong and it is still wrong. Why put it in an ordinance? Why pay thousands of do1\ars to put in there that they are going to have a Police Director? Why put in there that they are going to have three lay people from the Council to sit down and write the rules and regulations and the day to day operations of the police department, which we know nothing at all about. He has been here for twenty years and he doesn't think he spent very much time in this Police Department, except to get his fingerprints for his gun license, and when there were serious problems. He would not in his wildest dreams interfere with that police department He doesn't think it is right. He said he is going to put the Council on official notice that he is going to veto this ordinance. He has five days in which to do that. When he gets this ordinance he will reduce it to writing my objections to it and he will veto it. He said he is sitting here for twenty years and has gone through so many investigations and everyone has proved to be nothing. Malicious rumors, etc. If this veto on this ordinance is overruled, he has asked the Borough Attorney and his own personal attorney what responsibility does he have as the Mayor. The Mayor shall preside over all deliberations of the Council. He said he didn't preside over the meeting at the Edison Diner. He said that was against the law because he has to preside over it. He continued reading" and sha1\ develop the meeting thereof". So if they have a committee and are having a meeting, he is supposed to conduct the meeting. "He shall see that a1\ the laws and ordinances of the borough of Carteret are faithfu1\y executed and fo1\owed". He said he can't selectively enforce this ordinance. Once it is called to his attention, and he knew the five and two was in that ordinance all these years and he has mentioned it at negotiations every time, if this is passed he has no recourse but to issue a directive to the Chief of Police that he fully execute this ordinance. The Appropriate Authority does not have the right to te1\ him to execute only parts of this ordinance. The reason why he is going to do it is because he has been through a lot of investigations and nobody has found anything wrong with what he has done. He is not going to subject himself to somebody's whim because they passed this ordinance and he didn't enforce it. He said he didn't intend to be here much longer and it was not worth it. He is not going out on a bad mark. SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 ORDINANCE #97-30 Approving Lease Agreement with M.C. LA. Public Hearing Hearing Closed Motion to Table Tabled Recess Reconvened Cauncilmember Fazekas Noted Absent Cauncilmember Fazekas Noted Present The Clerk stated that Ordinance #97-0 was introduced and passed upon First Reading at a Regular Meeting of the Borough Council of the Borough of Carteret held on September 4, 1997. It was duly published in The Home News Tribune on September 9, 1997 with notice that it will considered for final passage after Public Hearing to be held on September 18, 1997 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. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and DuPont and unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present, the Mayor declared the Public Hearing to be open: There being no further comments or objections to the Ordinance, the Mayor declared the Public Hearing to be closed upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers DuPont and Gutowski and unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmember Failace and Fazekas and unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present, a motion was made to table the ordinance. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Failace and Fazekas ORDINANCE #97-30 'AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE ENTERING INTO, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A LEASE AND AGREEMENT WITH THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF COUNTY-GUARANTEED CAPITAL EQUIPMENT LEASE REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 1997 OF THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY" was tabled. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. Councilmember Feingold was noted absent. At approximately 8:40 P.M., a recess was called. At approximately 8:55 P.M., the meting was reconvened. Councilmember Fazekas was noted absent at approximately 8:55 P.M. 18 At approximately 856 P.M., Councilmember Fazekas was noted present at the meeting. ...,<..,~ Councilmember Feingold was noted present at approximately 8:58 P.M Mayor Sica said they were looking into getting a fire truck by virtue of the M.C.U.A. and maybe saving the borough some money. The Council, Patrick DeBlasio looked at it. The savings is probably around $50,000 over the expectancy of the bond, but it's $50,000 none,the less. The Clerk stated that Ordinance #97-31 was introduced and passed upon First Reading at a Regular Meeting of the Borough Council of the Borough ofCarteret held on September 4, 1997. It was duly published in The Home News Tribune on September 9, 1997 with notice that it will be considered for final passage after Public Hearing to be held on September 18, 1997 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. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski 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 declared the Public Hearing to be closed upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and Fazekas and unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers DuPont and Bialowarczuk ORDINANCE #97-31 "AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIRE EQUIPMENT FOR THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY APPROPRIATING $15,000 FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND-FUND BALANCE FOR THE COST THEREFOR" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. .9 Approved and Adopted: September 18. 1997 Introduced: September 4. 1997 Advertised as adopted on First Reading with Notice of Public Hearing: Seotember 9. 1997 Hearing Held: September 18.. 1997 Approved by: Mayor Peter 1. Sica Advertised as finally adopted: Seotember 25. 1997 SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 Cauncilmember Feingold Noted Present Conments ORDINANCE #97-31 Capital Improvement Re: Purchase of Fire Equiµnent Public Hearing Hearing Closed Adopted SEPTf11ßER 18, 1997 ORDINANCE #97-32 Capi tal Improvement for the Purchase of Police Radios Public Hearing Hearing Closed Adopted ~1EITING OPÐŒD Public Input on Resolutions ~lEETING CLOSED The Clerk stated that Ordinance #97-32 was introduced and passed upon First Reading at a Regular Meeting of the Borough Council of the Borough of Carteret held on September 4, 1997. It was duly published in The Home News Tribune on September 9, 1997.with notice that it will be considered for final passage after Public Hearing to be held on September 18, 1997 at approximately 7:30 PM.. 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. Upon MMS&C, by Council members Gutowski and DuPont and unanimous affirmative vote of the full Council present, the Mayor declared the Public Hearing to be open: There being no comments or objections to the Ordinance the Mayor declared the Public Hearing to be closed upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers DuPont and Failace and unanimous affirmative vote of the full Council present. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and DuPont ORDINANCE #97-32 . "AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF POLICE RADIOS FOR THE BOROUGH OF CARTERET, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY APPROPRIATING $25,000 FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND- FUND BALANCE FOR THE COST THEREFOR" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. Approved and Adopted: September 18. 1997 Introduced: September 4. 1997 Advertised as adopted on First Reading with Notice of Public Hearing: SePtember 9. 1997 Hearing Held: September 18. 1997 Approved by: Mayor Peter 1. Sica Advertised as finally adopted: September 25. 1997 A copy of each Resolution was placed upon the table for review prior to the meeting in accordance with the Rules of Council and upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and Failace and unanimous affirmative vote of the full Council present, the meeting was opened for public input on all resolutions. There being no comments or objections to the resolutions, the Mayor declared the public hearing to be closed upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and Failace and unanimous affirmative vote of the full Council present. 20 RESOLUTION #97-285 was introduced by the Mayor,and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and DuPont RESOLUTION #97-285 "DIRECTING THE ISSUANCE OF RAFFLE LICENSES TO HOL YFAMILY RC. CHURCH AND KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CAREY COUNCIL #1280 was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. RESOLUTION #97-286 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and DuPont RESOLUTION #97-286 "AUTHORIZING BIDS - FIRE TRUCK" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative RESOLUTION #97-287 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and Failace RESOLUTION #97-287 "RESOLUTION APPROVING CHANGE ORDER" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, .Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. Mayor Sica said he would like to talk about the Sports Facility for a minute. He said it was opened Sunday and everyone was well pleased with the way it came out. He met with the company who assisted him in taking the tanks out and they are going to submit a bill to the borough, but he thinks they are only going to submit a bill for concrete and they will donate a good portion of their bill to the City of Carteret. It's a company that he does business with. 21 SEPTiltBER 18, 1997 RESOLUTION 4.'97-285 Raffle License Adopted RESOLUTIC~1 #97-286 Authorizing Bids - Fire Truck Adopted RESOLUTION j~7-287 Change Order - Abbott Contracting Re: Sports Facility Adopted Car.rnen ts SEPT~lliER 18, 1997 RESOLUTION #97-288 Professional Services - James Durek, Esq. Re: Deputy Chief Hack Adopted RESOLUTION #97-289 Refund of Tax and Sewer Fee Overpayments Adopted RESOLUTION #97-290 Payment of Liability Claim Re: J. Vesey Adopted RESOLUTION #97-291 Certifying G. Carpenter Supervisor, Streets Adopted RESOLUTION #97-288 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Failace and Fazekas RESOLUTION #97-288 "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR LEGAL SERVICES was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. RESOLUTION #97-289 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Failace and DuPont RESOLUTION #97-289 "AUTHORIZING REFUND OF TAX AND/OR SEWER FEES OVERPAYMENT" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. RESOLUTION #97-290 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Failace and Bialowarczuk RESOLUTION #97-290 "AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF LIABILITY CLAIM DEDUCTIBLE" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. RESOLUTION #97-291 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Failace and DuPont RESOLUTION #97-291 "CERTIFYING GEORGE CARPENTER - SUPERVISOR STREETS" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. 22 - RESOLUTION #97-292 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Failace and DuPont RESOLUTION #97-292 "AW ARD OF CONTRACT - SURVEYING SERVICES" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. RESOLUTION #97-293 was introduced by the Mayor'and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers DuPont and Failace RESOLUTION #97-293 "AWARD OF CONTRACT - SURVEYING SERVICES" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. RESOLUTION #97-294 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and Bialowarczuk RESOLUTION #97-294 "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR LEGAL SERVICES was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. RESOLUTION #97-295 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and DuPont RESOLUTION #97-295 "INCREASE IN HOURS - JASON ABELLO" 23 was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. Councilmember Fazekas abstained. SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 RESOLUTION #97-292 Surveying Services - J. Cilo Re: Harrison, Lexington & Natthew Road Project Adopted RESOLUTION #97-292 Surveying Services J. Cilo Re: Industrial Rd. Project Adopted RESOLUTION #97-293 Professional Services - Bonding Attorneys ~ldtanir.¡on & Scotland Adopted RESOLUTION #97-295 Increase in Hours - Jason Abello Adopted SEPT~tBER 18, 1997 RESOLUTION #97-296 Assistant Violations Clerk - Susan Gadecki Adopted RESOLUTION #97-297 Revised RCA Agreement Adopted RESOLUTION #97-298 Approving Cancept Plan - Bellmead Adopted PAYNENT OF BILLS RESOLUTION #97-296 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers DuPont and Failace RESOLUTION #97-296 "APPOINTING SUSAN GADECKI - ASSISTANT VIOLATIONS CLERK" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. RESOLUTION #97-297 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and DuPont RESOLUTION #97-297 "RESOLUTION APPROVING REVISED AGREEMENT - RCA" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. RESOLUTION #97-298 was introduced by the Mayor and was referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and Bialowarczuk RESOLUTION #97-298 "APPROVING CONCEPT PLAN - BELLMEAD" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Fazekas and DuPont, all bills appearing on the prepared list, properly audited and signed, were ordered to be paid. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, DuPont, Failace, Fazekas, Feingold and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. 24 The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of a communication from the Carteret P.B.A. Local #47 conceming the opposition to Ordinance #97- 29. Upon 1\1MS&C, by Council members Feingold and Fazekas and unanimous aftirmative vote of the full Cou,.~il present, ;¡ was ordered to be received and placed on file. The C1erk stated that she was in receipt of two resolutions from the City of South Amboy concerning a) Resolution of intent to retain Municipal Assistance Program and b) Resolution opposing proposed Permit Reform Act. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Feingold and Fazekas and unanimous affirmative vote of the full Council present, they were ordered to be received and placed on file. The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of a communication from Police ChiefJoseph Sica concerning the opposition of Ordinance #97-29. Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Feingold and Fazekas and unanimous affirmative vote of the full Council present, it was ordered to be received and placed on file. The Clerk stated that she was in receipt of the following reports: 1. Inspection of Buildings - August 1997 2. Treasurer - August 1997 Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Gutowski and Failace and unanimous aftirmative vote of the full Council present, all reports were ordered to be received and placed on file. BUILDINGS & GROUNDS: Committee Chairperson Bialowarczuk said they were moving right along. FINANCE & ADMINlSTRATION: Committee Chairperson Failace said he spoke with Mr. DeBlasio this week about the budget. It's on course. We've tried to set aside some money to buy a fire truck ånd allocate some money to pave our roads. He said they are moving in the right direction. He thanked Mr. Manetta and his staff for the work they did on Ethnic Day. In his years in Carteret, this was the biggest and the best. With that he reported progress. FIRE: Committee Chairperson Fazekas thanked the Fired Department for (inaudible) the fire equipment and he thanked the Governing Body for making it possible. With that he reported progress. 5 SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 CO~1t1UNICATIONS Carteret P.B.A. Local 47 City of South Amboy Police Chief Joseph F. Sica REPORTS Departments Committees SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 Canmi ttees Cantinued Councilmember Fazekas Noted Absent PARKS & RECREATION: Committee Chairperson Gutowski complimented Mr. Manetta and his staff for Ethnic Day. Also to Beverly Hedesh and Mrs. Grandell who conducted the Little Miss Carteret Contest on Saturday during Ethnic Day. The young lady that won was Gina Gilligan. It was a very interesting and exciting contest. The girls were very nervous but they managed to come through. Committee Chairperson Gutowski said as the Mayor stated the Recreation Building is open and the parks are open. He would like everybody to go and take a look at it. It's a nice thing. With that he reported progress. POLICE: Committee Chairperson DuPont said they did have the second reading for the Police Radios. They have had a problem for a couple of years but that ~ill all be taken care of AlI.the radios will be replaced. That's a big step. Ethnic Day was terrific. It was great They did a great job. As far as the Recreation Building it's great that it is open. It's a beautiful building and they took care of the environmental concerns and they did the right thing and it worked Ql,t well. He reported progress. PUBLIC WORKS: Committee Chairperson Failace said they finally awarded a contract to survey the property, Lexington Avenue, Matthew Avenue and working on the Industrial Road. They have some funds and they were able to get some funds from the State. Hopefully, they will continue this project every year and try to do a few more roads. He said he was asked to be a Judge for the Little Miss Carteret Contest and he will never do it again. Not that it wasn't fun, but it was the hardest thing he ever had to do. He reported progress. At approximately 9: 10 P.M., Councilmember Fazekas was noted absent from the meeting. 26 Mayor Sica read the following proclamation: MANY FACES - ONE F AMIL Y WEEK WHEREAS, New Jersey has a proud history as one of America's original thirteen colonies and even before the birth of our great nation, as the home of the Lenni-Lenape, the Powhatan-Renape and the Ramapough Mountain Indians; and WHEREAS, New Jersey continues to contribute to the rich history of our nation by creating and nourishing leaders in fields including agriculture, arts, business, communications, education, humanities, politics, sciences and social services; and WHEREAS, New Jersey is the home of people whose combined ancestry links to hundreds of nations and represents more than 106 different languages; and WHEREAS, the Many Faces - One Family leadt<rship and public awareness campaign is a resource that promotes successful strategies for improving human relations and generates an appreciation of New Jersey's great treasure, its diversity; and WHEREAS, the quality oflife we enjoy in New Jersey is best achieved when all people learn to live together respectfully and work together humanely; NOW, THEREFORE, I, PETER J. SICA, Mayor of the Borough of Carteret do hereby proclaim SEPTEMBER 20 - 27, 1997 as MANY FACES- ONE FAMILY WEEK in the Borough of Carteret. 27 Mayor Sica said he doesn't know any community in the State of New Jersey that better fits that One Face-One Family than the City ofCarteret. He has been doing some survey work as to how diversified our city is and how much we try to help one another. He doesn't think there is a community in the State of New Jersey that has afforded more opportunities for people to have houses, as shown tonight with the Saginaro and Raia projects. The other projects we are looking at, also with Wolf to provide Senior Citizen Homes in the city ofCarteret. That in itself shows there is One Family-One Face. He is quite put out at some of the other communities that shrugged their responsibility when it comes to that kind of thought There are so many towns in this state that have shrugged that responsibility that makes it an unbearable burden on little towns like Carteret, where we try to help poor people. In the next few weeks he is going to be taking around some big people to show what they have done to their community and how they downtrodden the poor minorities. He is not talking any color or any race. SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 ~1AYOR Proclamation ~lany Faces - One Family Week SEPTiltBER 18, 1997 Mayor Con' t. Ethnic Day Industrial Road Mayor Sica said a minority to him is a poor person. Unfortunately, the minorities are some of the majorities, there are too many poor people and too many people that shrug their responsibility and don't lend a helping hand to help those people out. He said they had a tremendous argument here tonight, or discussion concerning the Police Department. A lot of our problems in the City of Carteret were predicated and constituted by poor people not having anything. By cleaning up the blighted areas is probably the most important thing to make the society a better place for everyone. If you give someone a decent place to live and a warm bed and a full stomach, you don't have time to worry about making problems. He said that is what they will have to do. In the next couple of weeks they will see some very nasty things said by him in the newspaper pertaining to that particular issue, One Face - One Nation Mayor Sica complimented every body on Ethnic Day. He said he thought it was a tremendous success. The people who worked behind it, the Parks Department ran around all day trying to keep ahead of the trash that was being generated. The enthusiasm of the different organizations was unbelievable. He said there was only one problem and it won't happen again next year. There was one group from out of town, who somehow got in there, we will try to straighten it out. He doesn't think that it was something done with any intent, but he wants to keep Ethnic Day in Carteret fair. Carteret is the most fair and ethnic town in the state. Mayor Sica said they had an important meeting at the City Hall in reference to the Industrial Road. He was real happy to see that the taxpayers of Port Reading are so enthusiastic about that. A lot of people ask him when they are going to do something with the lower half of Roosevelt Avenue It's virtually impossible to do anything with it as long as we still have a narrow road with tractor trailers and tankers going through there Yesterday, with the help of Mr. Gutowski, Mr. Feingold and Mr. Failace, they were at the meeting with him and they stuck with him and they put it right to the city of Woodbridge that the City of Carteret is not going to idlely sit back and waste any more time. Weare going to give them two months at the most to substantiate the fact that they are going to work in conjunction with the city of Carteret and get this Industrial Road done. We've instructed our Engineering Department and Woodbridge's Engineering Department to go to an Engineering Company, Samuels, to get cost estimates, so we can go to Trenton and try to borrow $300,000 out of our U.E.Z. money to do the engineering work that is necessary to build that road. If the UEZ allows it, we offered to pay for the whole engineering costs and then we will be reimbursed by Woodbridge. He thinks they were forceful. He was called by the newspaper today and they said that Mayor McGreevey in Woodbridge, wholeheartedly agrees with us, except he wants time to go to Trenton to find some money. That's fine, but Carteret knows how important it is to Carteret, we're also going to Trenton and the Federal Government and any place we can get money. Ifwe can't get that money, he thinks this Council and the people in the city should be dedicated enough to put there money where there mouth is, we will borrow the money and pay for it because it is the only salvation for that part of the town. The way the truck traffic was taken out ofthe Hill and it has become an asset to the community, we fully intend to make the Chrom area the same thing. 28 ,~- Upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers Failace and Feingold and unanimous affirmative vote of the five (5) Councilmembers present the Mayor declared the meeting open to the public. ISRAEL (?) said he would like to take this opportunity to thank the Mayor and Council. They thought about a location, Block 268 Lots I _ 6 between Mercer and Edwin Street. It's an abandoned deserted area. Their main purpose is to construct a Temple at the location. They believe as a congregation they could be a positive figure to the Chrome area of Carteret. Being a positive status would get many people involved and they are a Spanish and American speaking congregation. They could outreach to the public in many ways. They have many plans to reach out to the people that are in domestic violence, drugs, alcohol addition. Due to the fact that the location they are in right now, they don't have the freedom to do that because the location is not theirs. They are very limited in reaching out and making notice that there i~ a better place in Carteret and no one has to hide just to take a walk or to play in the playground. Their plans are to get as many people involved in making the community better. There is a better position than having negative people walking around the area in the night or during the day. They want to outreach. By having a temple put up, he feels they can be a positive influence by having different activities and getting involved with the Police Department, Councilor whatever needs to be done. With the Council's approval for this project plan they could progress and do something about the Chrome area and low income personnel, like the Mayor had mentioned the before. They could go inside the blighted areas. People say things and it never gets done. As the co-pastor of the church plan and want to do it. That is why he is standing before them. This is a plan and they want to act on it as quickly as possible. Mayor Sica said he would take it upon himself tomorrow to look at that particular lot and block number. The Governing Body has done this on a few occasions. He said if no one else is promised that piece of land he doesn't see a problem with it. Another church has asked them for a piece ofland and he doesn't know if it is that particular piecé. We have given land to the Church on Essex Street. The Church on Edwin Street and a Hispanic church up the Hill. He said they will work towards it. He will look at it tomorrow. He told Israel to call him on Monday. Israel asked the Mayor to keep in mind when he mentioned a church he didn't mean four walls. They do not want to stay inside, they want to go outside. 9 JOHN SUDIA said with regard to the police ordinance and members of the Council saying that they are satisfied and they are going to adopt this ordinance, he would suggest at this point that the Mayor and Council would take into consideration to pay Mr. Stowell whatever he has coming at this point. Take their losses and let the Borough Attorney do the work that he will be paid for with regards to any further legal activity within the community. SEPTÐtBER 18, 1997 PUBLIC DISCUSSION Land Donation for Church Police Ordinance SEPTÐ'1BER 18, 1997 Daumann Negotiations . '"----.... ,i';h'........ Mr. Sudia said, secondly, he was looking over the bill list and under garbage and trash, a company that he is associated with, has been approved for removal of recyclable wood in the amount of $640,000. However, his bill which hasn't been disputed, in the amount of $70,000 for garbage collection has not been on the bill list. He suggest the finance members look into that because the Borough Treasurer received the bill the day before the Agenda Meeting and assured him the bill would be on this list Hopefully, that bill will be paid so that they can keep collecting garbage. Councilmember Failace said he didn't recall seeing it, but they signed everything that was given to them. Mayor Sica said he would check on it tomorrow and if it was inadvertently left off the bill list, he will make an emergency check for it. MICHAEL MATERAZZO said the first thing he wanted to address was that something was mentioned about somebody cutting someone's tires and somebody receiving threatening phone calls. He doesn't know if that was directed at the officers or made to insinuate that some officers were involved, but he would like to clear it up. Councilmember Failace said he didn't know who did it. It was either a police officer or a supporter of a police officer or some nut. He didn't know. Mr. Materazzo said that is three different people. Councilmember Failace said because of this they were threatened and they think they have taken the proper steps towards finding out who it was by taking it to other authorities. Mr. Materazzo said just as they have their opinion, he doesn't think it was any police officer involved. Ifhe is not mistaken, two weeks ago somebody had mentioned. to Deputy Chief Hack that Mrs. Fazekas or Councilmember Fazekas had threatening phone calls. Deputy Chief Hack called Mrs. Fazekas and she denied any knowledge of any threats. If need be Deputy Chief Hack can come up here and verifY that. It was investigated that night and she denied any knowledge of it. Councilmember Failace said there has been a lot offear and they have taken it further Mr. Materazzo said the other thing is they have been without a contract for two years. They have sort of been in negotiations. There was a remark made about the schedule being negotiated at the table or something to that effect He said they show for the meetings and quite a few meetings have been scheduled. It's been two years. They usually work on a three year contract. We are now approaching the third year and there is still no movement on it. He asked if anyone would care to answer. Mayor Sica said they can't speak about it as long as it is already in arbitration 30 ....-0-. .--- Mr. Materazzo said he just wanted to clear it up. The four and four was not put on the table. Any schedule change was not put on the table. An unidentified man said he would like to thank the Mayor and Council for the wonderful job that was done over at the park and the new walkway. It's a good improvement. Mayor Sica said somebody rode on it and cracked it already. The same man said he believes they should put some kind of screening on the windows at the recreation building or they will all be broken. Mayor Sica said they were looking into that. He said those windows are special windows that is why they weren't fixed yet. They will be in this week He said now the building is open and getting used the kids won't break the windows. Ifit happens again they will have to do something but right now they don't want to take away ITom the aesthetics of the building. He said he talked to the Council and they are going to have a dedication oflhat building and name it the Veteran's Sports Building. The veteran's desetve something of that magnitude named in their behalf The Council agrees. JOSEPH BUFANO told the Mayor and Council that on Saturday the Carteret Specials are having a Softball Tournament. There are ten teams involved. It's a fund raiser. Trophies will be given out. He asked people to come out and watch the kids play. He asked that they show their support. It starts at 9:00 A.M. and should end around.6:00 P.M. Mayor Sica said that is why he says Carteret is one face and many nations. There are so many things that go on in town that the newspaper doesn't announce. It's a shame. Lt. JAMES HOJECKl said, for the record, he spoke earlier and expressed how he personally and every police officer that he knows are extremely di sappointed to pick up the paper and find Mr. Stowell's unsolicited remarks directed personally and generally at all the police officers. He hasn't heard imy one comment about him. He is being paid. His past bills rei1ect that he bills and expects payment for conferences to the papers. If they are going to pay him to make those comments, is the Council saying they support him in his statements? Or does he just make statements on his own, but he is going to be paid anyway? He said he doesn't understand it. Mayor Sica said he has made it his life's ambition not to comment on anything that rag (newspaper) says. If it was said it was said in poor taste, but he doesn't know if it was said. He is not going to make comments towards it to lend any kind of credlbility to it or against it. He said he knows what the officers Pie and they know what they are and that's enough. Lt Hojecki said that's why when he heard Mr. Failace put out an inference that the police officers are involved in something like this, he doesn't even know what they are talking about. He said they are not discussing it. They are only throwing out a general inference. After he read those \~,~~~~ ~~\ ~~~~~1 ~~~\~~~~~, \\~ Üae\\\\\ ~~~ the 'QO\l\t. SEPTÐ1BER 18, 1997 Negotiations Park Recreation Building Softball Tournaf1ent G.c'lrteret Spec.ials Police ~¡atte¡:s .- SEPTiltBER 18, 1997 Police ~1atters Can't. Councilmember Failace said when the audience and the police laugh when it was slated Jack's wife was threatened bothers him. Lt Hojecki said Mr. Failace never saw him laughing Councilmember Failace said that wasn't an affront to the police, he said he just said somebody did it Lt. Hojecki asked if anyone would like to comment about Mr. Stowell's latest publicized..... . Councilmember Failace said maybe Mr. Stowell can explain that was not exactly what he said to the newspaper. Like the Mayor said, that's what this paper does Lt. Hojecki said let's take the opportunity here and take some tree time to settle some problems here. That was terrible. ADJOURNED There being no further business or discussion, upon MMS&C, by Councilmembers DuPont and Failace, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, J;d/;;~;~ 'KATHLEENM BARNEY, Municipal Clerk KMB/sj 32