Good evening. On behalf of the governing body of the city of Pake, we welcome you to the April 22nd, 2025 city council meeting. In accordance with chapter 231, public laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by resolution of the municipal council adopted on June
18th, 2024, setting forth the schedule of meetings for the year 2024 2025. said notice was published and posted on the city hall bulletin board by the office of the city clerk. Please be further advised this meeting will be conducted in person. The Zoom stream provided is
for viewing only and is offered to the public as a convenience on April 2nd, 2025. Public notice and Zoom instructions for this meeting were published in the Herald News and posted on the city of Pake website at www.c city of.com. Council agendas
instructions are also available on the last page of this agenda. Please be guided accordingly. Roll call, please. Councilman Love, present. Councilwoman Melo, present. Councilman Garcia, present. Councilwoman Colunt, present. And Council President Sher, present.
Should we all please rise? Heavenly Father, we want to thank you, Lord, for allowing us to meet this evening. Heavenly Father, we present to you the agenda that has been set before us. We ask you to please guide us in the decisions that will take place this evening. In your beloved name we pray. Amen. Amen. I pledge algiance to the
flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. If I may, can I ask for just a moment of silence for our dear uh Sandy Sheak who
was a a pillar in this community and advocate for children, adults, and uh human rights. So if I can just um get a moment of silence as well as for the young lady who lost her life in the Jet nightclub, the resident of the city of Pake, who we had a visual for, Miss
Jennifer Conter. Thank you. Members of the council, please be advised that there is an addendum to number 38. Number 38 is on the agenda. Uh but there are some descriptive documents uh that
accompany. Uh thank you for being here ladies and gentlemen for joining us at this meeting. We ask if you have cell phones that you put them on vibrate or off so as not to disturb the person sitting next to you. Uh we are on the
agenda which is available to you if you don't already have it which is available to you on the city's website. It will detail all of the information that's been given to the council including background material on expenditures, resolutions, ordinances, etc. We invite
you to become an active part of this meeting. Um at this point we're up to the mayor's report from numeral four on our agenda tonight. Mr. Mayor, regular report. Council President, I'm going to deviate a bit from my regular
report. We have the family of the young lady in our community, Miss Jennifer Contrus, who unfortunately lost her life overseas along with hundreds of individuals at the Jetet nightclub, including individuals that were renowned
known throughout the globe for their musical talents, their contributions to sports and fashion. This year in the city of Pake, we had a young entrepreneur who was uh seeking her education and her uh her professional
uh advancement in the area of cosmetology through threading and was going to work along with a sibling in uh the field and also open up her own business in the city of Pik at the visual where hundreds of individuals were present from uh throughout the uh
state of New Jersey who came together to express their condolences, their empathy, and their support for the family. And I know that as I was there along with uh Councilwoman Melo and board president Judith Sanchez, we express on behalf of the entire council
in our city, our uh support and our empathy. We acknowledge the presence of her mother Dena, her brother Anthony, her sister Loose, other siblings that aren't present here like Kieran. We also have the father Ramon who's here with us. And as the family is here together,
uh we had announced something very special at the uh at the vigil. I had shared that we would do something special in memory. The vigil actually took place on the day that she was going to announce opening up her business in the city of Pake and her participation
in this field. And I had shared there that uh in the city of Pay, we have a commitment, my administration, my colleagues on the city council, all of us together to see the advancement and opportunities for all those who reside within the city of the state. We would
hope that everyone would go to college and beyond or choose a career, a vocation, a trade or perhaps serve, but that they would be successful. In these efforts, in our common goal and our vision, and our commitment to the community, we have historically provided
funding to help people get Sora licenses for security, flipptomy licenses, pharmaceutical texts, CDL licenses, and much more. that we are announcing something very special today in honor
and legacy of Miss Jennifer Crystal Contras. We will be announcing a memorial beauty scholarship in her name, the Jennifer Contrera's Cosmetology License, where the funding that we will provide for individuals who qualify to
receive their license will now receive the Jennifer Contras cosmetology and beauty license scholarship to pay for their education. In this way, her legacy, her light will continue to shine
within our city and provide opportunities for other individuals, whether young ladies or gentlemen or others who would want to enter into the field to be able to open up their business. So, though on this specific day, Mrs. Contra was not able to open up
her business. We look forward to the opportunity for many businesses to be opened up in her name. And in that way, her vision and her dream will still live and become a reality within our city.
[Music] Hoving Anthony Lraasos. in different areas. Jennifer, Jersey The CDL I thank you for indulging me to allow me to translate. I wanted her mother to be here or be able to hear the words
specifically. So again, this very special memorial is consistent with our approach as we've already been providing opportunities for CDL licenses for Sora, but the naming of it is a new approach. It will be an honorific naming of this
memorial. This proclamation I wish to read into the record. Jennifer Crystal Contreres was born and raised in Pake, New Jersey, and remained a proud resident of her hometown throughout her life. She was the beloved daughter of
Dena Marcelo and Rammon Contas, the treasured younger sister of L. Contras, her lifelong best friend and a devoted older sister to Anthony Contras, whom she lovingly called her son. Jennifer was the light of her family's life, and
their love for her is everlasting. And whereas Jennifer Crystal Contras traveled to Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic to celebrate her birthday and further her dreams in the beauty industry while pursuing her passion, embracing life with joy and purpose. She
tragically lost her life in the devastating roof collapse at the Jets nightclub, a heartbreaking event that claimed the lives of more than 225 individuals. Whereas Jennifer was known for her beautiful heart, radiant personality, and striking outer beauty.
She had a deep love for animals and children, and embrace life with joy and energy, finding happiness in dance, ethnic music, travel, and all things related to beauty and self-expression. And Jennifer graduated from Pake County Technical Institute with a concentration
in criminal justice. She worked with dedication and grace in the service industry, gaining valuable experience across New Jersey and New York in hospitality, sales, and security. In her final years, she pursued her passion for cosmetology, aspiring to open her own
beauty business to uplift and inspire others. And whereas Jennifer's talent and creativity shown through her love for makeup, fashion, and especially eyebrow eyebrow design, a craft she hoped to turn into a meaningful career that would empower and inspire those
around her. And whereas her untimely passing has left her family, friends, and the entire PI community heartbroken, yet filled with gratitude for love, light, and inspiration, Jennifer shared with all who knew her. And in loving tribute to Jennifer's legacy and in
honor of her passion for the beauty industry, I mayor Hector C. Lord along with the city council established a scholarship in her name to support aspiring beauty professionals in achieving their dreams. Now therefore, I he mayor of the city of Pake along with
the Pake City Council and our residents do honor and remember Jennifer Crystal Contas for the love she gave, the ambition she showed, and the inspiration she leaves behind. Let Jennifer's passion continue to inspire. Let her
memory open many doors. I want to call her family up to receive the proclamation. [Music] is a proclamation as well as a certificate proclamation to copies
framed. This remains on the record of the city of the city. I'm gonna ask um Anthony if you wouldn't mind just saying a few words on behalf of the family. Mic. Can you use this mic? From my whole family, um, we want to say
thank you. Honestly, um, I wasn't ready to speak, but um, there's not enough words to say thank you. I remember the day of the visual when, um, when Mayor Laura announced the scholarship in memorial with my sister, we all um, bursted out crying in tears. You know,
it's been a long uh two weeks. Actually, today two weeks of her passing. Um you know, it's been it's been a very long two weeks to say the least. But um Jennifer was um a shining star. She
she touched the lives of everybody who who who had the chance to to know her. And um I'm especially glad that um she'll forever be remembered at least within the borders of this city. And it means a lot. There's not enough words of gratitude um for all of the city council
for mayor Laura and the whole city of Pake for remembering my sister um and my parents' daughter. Um there's not enough words to thank you. Thank you all a million times and [Music]
[Applause] more. Council President, thank you for indulging that opportunity to acknowledge his family in this approach of ours in order to honor family together. This is when they were
available to come, but we're so grateful to be able to have this memorial for them. And briefly, I I'll cut the rest of my report very short and just share a few things. One, the road work on Myrtle Avenue has begun today. It is unique.
Obviously, we're doing a lot of road work and as often we do in the spring, we begin with milling, paving as it's more conducive. We don't do it in the winter. What's unique about Myrtle Avenue, it is the very first road that we're going to implement our bike master
plan. What that means is we will be paving Berno Avenue and adding bike lanes. We have added free bike um program around the city. Let me qualify that. Free if you use our code. There's a code that you can use and then you're
charged with the bike. In order to have a more active city to get our city on the move, we have provided five uh bike stations through our US program. We have a bike station on Wall Street Emp. We went live on Thursday. As of
today, we have about over 200 participants and over 180 rentals. We can call that a a huge success. Individuals are utilizing the bikes. That's just as of Thursday when we went live. In fact, if you go around the
city, you'll see the stations are empty. They are tracked. We're getting great participation. They're returning them back. So, we're very excited about that. as well as the work has begun on the brand new rubberized running and walking track in
Third W Memorial Park around the baseball field to provide individuals with an opportunity to again remain active, fit, and be able to walk without the concern of vehicles or cars driving by you. We're excited about that. as well as uh since we were going to do
work there anyway, uh we have the county fixing our covert our bridge right by the brook, a $2 million project that is not coming directly out of uh our funds here in the city, but rather out of a program with the county. So that work
has continued. We also are moving forward with our allwater park on Harrison, an allwater park for the children and families. This is an extremely exciting brand new amenity in the city of Pink. There's a lot more,
but I'm going to cut the report short there as it is that we began with a very meaningful and uh I I would say heartfelt expression of support and condolences though the loss of Jennifer
Contrarus has left our city and mourning. this opportunity to have her vision, her dream continue through the lives of others, I believe, will will leave lasting and positive impacts not as much as her life did, but reach
further in the lives of others. Thank you very much, council president, members of the city council, those present. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. Are there any questions for the mayor at this time? If not, with the council's permission, we'll go on to hearing of citizens Roman
numeral 5 on our agenda. In accordance with the open public meetings act NJSA104-1 sec, the council opens every public meeting for comments of the public. However, in accordance with NJSA104-12, nothing in this act shall be
construed to limit the discretion of a public body to permit, prohibit, or regulate the active participation at any meeting. Therefore, please be advised that the council will not entertain any comments from persons who communicate obscene material. Make statements which are
considered bias intimidation. Excuse me. In which a person intends to intimidate any individual or group because of race, color, religion, gender handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, or makes comments intending to harass or speak
any offensive language. The person who makes these statements will relinquish their allotted five minutes for public discussion. Is there anyone who would like to adjust the council at this time? Would you be able to allow the family to know that that portion is done? I'm not sure if they're aware that we're done
and we're going into our meeting. I'm I'm sorry. Could you repeat that, sir? The family may not know that we are done with the presentation portion and Oh, they're good. Okay, good. It's lovely to have to have you with us and the invitation is always there. Very good. Thank you, Mayor Joe
Connesenti. My question that I have, maybe the chief chief could help me on it. Um, I brought it up last time, but he was out in the hallway with one of the residents. Uh, about the gang gangs that we have. It's a it's a new group out
there, younger kids. There's a lot of uh stabbings, baseball bats. They're all They're all dressed in black. So, how can anybody identify these people? Plus, with the face
mask. Um, they just had one the other day, too. My question on this issue is, is there any way that this council, maybe the mayor, anybody could do an ordinance on face
masks? If you have these face masks, uh, give them a fine because now we're going to the summer, 70, 80 degrees. What are you doing with a face mask? There's no sense for it. You can't you can't pick these people out anywhere because they could hide in
the alleyway. They got to hide anywhere because they're all dressed in black. So, how are you going to know if you're walking by if you got five guys over there ready to jump you? We got a big problem here. My next question
is I just heard a couple days ago that there was five of those bikes missing. I don't know if they were found. But my question is, is there any kind of a tracking device or is there any way because I
know other towns did it. I know whole Vulcan did it and maybe a couple other ones where what your card whatever is a credit card or whatever you're using it covers the bike. So, in other words, if that bike ain't there a certain time,
they can automatically take it take it from their uh account to pay for the bike. So, these are my questions I have tonight. Good deal. Thank you, sir. Um, Chief Guzman, the gentleman spoke
about uh a resurgence of gangs, people wearing masks, uh, dressed in or black. Um, yeah. uh and he asked if there's any way that this can be uh prevented whatever
on the state council or we we don't want to divulge some of our investigative techniques, but we are certainly on top of those incidents that have occur. We're working with our SRO's um and our detective bureau and youth
bureau investigators to combat some some of the things he mentioned. Um rest assure we're on top of it. Um, as far as the mask, that's a different issue that we've been challenged with in the past
uh approximately five years uh because of uh the COVID crisis that occurred. But, uh we we basically know who the gang members are. Um and they've been suppressed significantly in the past two years. the statistics are are really
really uh down as far as gang violence uh in the past two years. Um and it's something that can be looked up on on the website on the state police website, but uh we're on top of that.
Okay. Thank you, sir. Anyone else like to adjust the count? You forgot the last question about the bites. Bes, forgive me. That was the easy one. Mr. Fernandez, can you help us in terms of the bikes? If they're damaged, if they're not brought
back? What What happened? No, there are now five bikes missing. Yeah. So, everything I think people were riding them actually. He was suggesting be done is already done. The bikes are not missing. They just took him a little longer than the two hours that were for
free. Let me clarify because I think this is important. He he brings up a good point. There there are seven stations five bikes per station. So what happens is if if you take five from one station and you leave two on another and then two on another and only return one to
the original station, it looks like you have more missing. You do not have to return the bike to the original station you took it out of because if you're riding, let's say from Wall Street to Brook, you may want to just leave it there. So we obviously there's some growing pains. We're tracking all of the bikes are tracked. If you do not return
the bike, you have now become the brand new owner of the bike at $2,000. It will automatically be taken out of your account because you need a card to take it out. So, we we've accounted for every bike. What happened was initially people were taking a bike. They weren't sure if they were supposed to return it back to
the original station. They weren't 100% sure how to return it to the station. There's a click mechanism. Now, we're seeing less incidents, but that's what's occurred. But again, there is a tracker on every single bike. No, the sparks and uh and handlebars are not made of
diamonds and gold. The $2,000 is just to ensure that people understand it's serious. Has to get returned. The bike usage, you're free to use it around the city. We even have a coupon that if you apply it and it's pure ez free. You get to use it for two hours for free. If you
bring it back within two hours, you don't pay. And other than that, it's $5 an hour. And we've had over 180 usages. But the challenge, council president, members of the city council, is that is that if you go around one station, you might find it empty and it's because
either people are using it or they're leaving at the other station. Ultimately, we go around and ensure that there are enough bikes available in every station. Anything else? That answer your question, sir? Anyone else like to address the council, please?
Being no hands, I move to close the public portion. There's a motion. There's a second to close public hearing. Roll call. Councilman. Yes. Councilman Love. Yes. Councilwoman Melo. Yes. Councilman Schwarz. Yes. Councilman Garcia. Yes. Councilman Colinez. Yes.
And council president chair. Yes. Thank you. We're up to communications on our agenda items 1 through 8. Are there any questions please on 1 through 8? Seeing none at this time. Is there a motion please to accept 1 through eight? Move. Second. Motion and second. Roll
call. Councilman Monk. Yes. Councilman Love. Yes. Counciloman Melo, yes. Councilman Schwarz, Councilman Garcia, Counciloman Colz, and Council President Sher. Thank you. All matters listed under considered to be a routine in nature items 9 through
23. Are there any questions, please, on 9 through 23? Seeing none at this time, is there a motion, please, to accept 9 through 23? Second and second. Roll call, please. Councilman Monk. Yes. Councilman Love, yes. Counciloman Melo, yes. Councilman
Schwarz, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes. Councilwoman Colom, yes. And Council President Sher, yes. Thank you. Uh, on 25. Um, okay. I'm I'm sorry. On 20 on 24, please. Susie, do we have need for a
close session? No. Council President, Mr. Mayor, Mr. No, this members of the council, May 25. Yes, sir. Uh, I did note that. Thank you. Uh, if not, let us go on to 25
through through 49, but let's do 25 separately for the convenience of a member. on 25. Is there a motion please to accept 25? Move it. Motion. Second and second on 25 only.
Roll call. Councilman Monk. Yes. Councilman Love, abstension. Councilwoman Melo, yes. Councilman Schwarz, yes. Councilman Garcia, same. Counciloman Colany, yes. And Council President Sher, yes.
Thank you. Uh I would like to this is a bit convoluted and I apologize to my colleagues if we could do 38 as a separate vote. The body of 38 was uh put
on your desk um earlier this evening. Are there any questions on what had been submitted? Mr. Fernandez, do you want to take us through this perhaps? Yes. Yes. So uh council president, this was an ad hoc committee. um that uh Councilman
Monk and Councilwoman Melo were a part of. We reviewed every item. Uh what you see here today is just uh some clarification and some of the discussions and uh some of the math just to make sure that it all evened out. Uh but every single item here was reviewed
and discussed with the ad hoc committee and they had agreed and I don't want to put any words in in the council member's mouth to move this forward to the city council and you have that before you today. The only reason you didn't have this in the original packet is because of that clarification that you know as
we're doing some of the descriptions and the services we want to make sure that it was clear and that the numbers added up to the full number at the end after our discussions and that's what you have before you this evening and that's the only reason that's had to come out. Uh you had the separate clarification
any areas that you're seeing significantly increased funding or significantly decreased in funding. So there is absolutely no increase in funding. There has been no award yet. So what we do and is customary uh every year is we submit this to the federal
government with the numbers from last year. So we anticipated the same amount as last year and then uh depending on what that award says either we can continue as is or we'll come back to the council with any changes or shifting if
there's less money or if there's more money. Right now, we don't know exactly what the federal government's going to do with this program. Uh other than I know that there is a there's a lot of individuals that are going to working with this department. So, there's a big
huge turnaround. So, we are still awaiting. Susie, if in fact the federal government decides to cut ABC on its traditional contribution to the city, um will that then allow the administration and the
council to change the priorities or would we be left with what they would be suggesting? No, you you could change the You're asking me if you get less money than anticipated if you could change these allocations. Well, let's say that summer entertainment uh series, which is
brilliant, by the way, um is going to be, I believe, increased by $10,000 where other things will be decreased or so if you come back with for less money, there's a second chance to re-evaluate this and change
the number. There's a second bite of the apple. Very good. Are there any questions, colleagues? Do you Yes, please. Yeah, I just have one. So um these are the only people who applied that's on there. Okay. All right. Yeah. So there's a cuto
off date and if anybody tries to apply we can't accept their applications. So this is what we received based on what we received and the descriptions that they provided us. We allocated the money um as fairly as possible and trying to
provide service as possible. We as as is typical if someone applies and it's a duplicative service of a program that we already have or that already has been funded then you'll see that those are not funded. Uh there wasn't really many of those that applied that is
duplicative service. Uh so it was very few if you notice there was a lot of allocations to just every single applicant that was here. And that's what I wanted to compliment the committee and I guess administration for kind of weeding out or or I don't know what
happened. Uh because usually we have a few nos because of duplicated services but I I was very intrigued by the fact that everyone got something or got allocated something at this point. Any any other questions on the CDBG
proposal? Okay. Did we uh weather the late did we approve any of the resolutions so far? Um just um number 25. Okay. So can we have a separate vote please on
38 you wanted to do now? I'm sorry ma'am. I think you wanted to do to do 38 now. You said 38. Yes. CTBJ. That's the CTBJ and And the second one you didn't mention which one you wanted
after that. Good deal. So can we have a if there's no objection if we can have a motion on 26 through 37 second. You have questions. Yeah. 38. I
was but I was kind of stopped midway. Okay. The council have a question on on resolution 26 that's to resend the uh resolution for Yeah. So, so I just I just noticed
because the original resolution had funds available in a specific account. Yeah. Okay. That's a great question which uh the mayor has had us, just so you know, looking into these things. It's a federal project. They did not care that we got the
resolution approved and we had to call the company back to stop the order because they were not going to pay. That's as simple and direct as I could make it. They sent the letter. They're like, "We're not paying for this. It's you don't have it. we didn't
pay the the company because we do reimbur right we don't pay them until the the screens come in um they said we're not funding it and then you know obviously the CFOs like this is not money we had allocated so we had to call the company thank goodness the company
hadn't started manufacturing yet and we were able to cut the the purchase of those LED signs before we were left with an inability to pay for them so so when when a resolution says funds are available Because the resolution said funds for
the above are available in account go anticipated to come in. Yeah. So what happens is we have money you get going reimburse that. Right. So so the way it works and our CFO does not create an account until we get an award letter
from the granting entity that allows him to create an account uh with that number in. As we spend the money down, we then go get reimbursements from that granting entity. This is normally some of them we
get ahead of time, but very few of them. In this case, it was a reimbursement program. So, everything we ordered and we have ordered things from here, right? Um that were spent, they then went and said, "Whatever you haven't spent, we're taking it back. We are
redirecting the funding." And this is no longer something that we're discussing. Mayor, I don't know if you want to add what came up today in in our session. We got a letter uh which was an interesting letter from the federal government. Thank you for giving me the opportunity.
You want me to say it? No, it's Listen, I I'll try to sum it up. We received a letter from the federal government basically saying, and I I won't go over it verbatim, paraphrase, that there was um funding that was made available for a pandemic that didn't
really exist, this is the wording, will no longer be available and funding will now be directed to actual and real health issues um throughout the nation. And it went on a little bit to explain how the pandemic
was not a a real pandemic and that money in previous administrations were uh were directed unnecessarily and there's basically a new sheriff in town and they have made clear what are real health issues and
what we are allowed to apply for. That is not verbatim, but uh I can tell you something. It's probably much better than solving the verbatim red. That's it. We're laughing. So that's it. Basically um to answer your question,
not only here but perhaps overall there there will be a reserved approach in how we will move forward with programs with purchasing equipment as it is that we are not getting clear direction right now. There were a number of contacts
that we had that for lack of a better description accepted buyouts after the buyouts were insisted and presented over and over to these individuals. If we do not have direction on whether we will be reimbursed especially on on grant
dependent programs, policies, equipment or any purchases that otherwise we historically received. have given direct um instruction to my administration to hold off unless it's an emergency. we can justify to the community, to the
council, to our residents that there's a compelling reason why we needed to have that purchase until we can give verification, some kind of assurance, and I have reached out to meet with the brand new contacts, federal representatives, just so that we know if
there's a new priority list, we be more than glad to receive it and and tailor our programs accordingly. There are many needs in our community, diverse needs. And if the approach is now, you know, more of a focus on autism and we go, we
have many parents who deal with that, many families will be more than glad to apply now as opposed to funding for maybe another need that we previously believed was a priority of the administration. But whether it's an infrastructure project, whether it's
health related programming, whether it's affordable housing, workforce housing, whatever direction that this new administration is going to move in, we have remarkable professionals who sharp minds will do their due diligence and be
prepared and ensure that we can give an accurate and appropriate report to the council as how we will be applying for. Thank you. Are there any other questions please on 26 through 37
7? Seeing no lights at this time. Is there motion please to accept? Move it. Second on 26 237. Councilman Monk. Yes. Councilman Love. Yes. Councilwoman Melo. Yes. Councilman Short. Yes. Councilman Garcia. Yes. Councilman Colton Daniel.
Yes. And Council President Sher. Yes. Thank you. We are up to 38. 38. Is this 38? And that would go through
249. I will admit to you colleagues and friends that I have racked my brain over the past few weeks in terms of how to deal with this item. Traditionally what the uh council would do would as terms would mature for a
member um decision was made by the initiator of the appointment in terms of whether he she would like them to be reappointed and this would be a constant process um so that at no time were there more
than three or four members chosen, picked, identified. Um and it was a very fluid situation. I fear that unfortunately we've reached exactly what we were looking to avoid. Um and that is having
everyone essentially start a new clearly a number of members who are being proposed for tonight. Um have been uh well experienced in other areas not in this and vice versa. Um, I would appreciate the council's consideration
on giving us direction in terms of how to appoint. There are seven full members of the zoning board and there are seven members of this council. So, one might think it to be relatively easy for each member to choose one.
Also, there are four alternate seats um which could be divvied up in any way people would like. Um I guess anything could could really be done. Um there is a concern that there is uh some history
and that all the members not be new, but there are not enough resumes for all the members to be new anyway. So, becomes a bit of a moot point. But I did want to open up this conversation um in terms of how the council feels we can best
accommodate the people's will in order to uh speak all you need to do is to press the switch and it would like and I will I will see uh that you would like to speak and Yes, please. So, so at this point um because I have
to admit I'm a little confused. So, how many are um active right now? There are 11 members in total of the board. Okay. Seven of those members are full members.
Four are alternate members. The alternates only sit when a full member is not available. If a full member is not available for one meeting um or two meetings whatever the alternate I have that part council president I have that
but I'm talking on on the um zoning board now how many members are still at as of this expired they're all expired there's only one board where expirations do not take place um and that is the uh
housing authority all other boards when their terms and the end. Okay. So, either way, either way we go, as you um said in the beginning, they're all going to be new terms. Yes. More committed as well. And they they'll be staggered. If I may, they'll
be staggered so that they don't all expire at the same time. So, once you do this, maybe in two years you do two or three of them and two years after that, you can do three of them and so on and so forth. So, they don't expire all the same. Okay.
Are there any questions or comments? Um, I can council I had uh Mrs. Solo has an out. I would like to move her to the position of what I'd like to do with
your confirmation is is to try to get a sense of the council in terms of where we want to go as a whole. If you'd like to make an individual recommendation, um I I think if we can establish that framework, we might be doing ourselves the most justice. Go ahead.
[Music] I mean, I don't have anyone on and I would like to put someone on. So, that's I think we should all have at least one on the on the permanent when the four alternates can be divided beyond the
zoning. Yeah. Is there any other suggestion for the for the permanence? And what was the idea then in terms of the alternates? No, I'm saying I I I'm the new here, right? So, I'm saying I don't have
anyone on the zoning board and I would like to have someone on the zoning board to nominate someone. I would prefer them to be permanent in the Yes. permanent permanent permanent. If I had a second one, I would want to put them at an alternate because I would like to put
one of so my nominations in. Okay. Any other thoughts in terms of how to proceed? Yeah, I think um I agree with Councilwoman Cologne. So there's seven the seven that are permanent and
then the four alternates. Whoever has any additional can be the the alternates. I have a number of as a matter of fact numerous resumes for the alternates as well. Um and even if we follow the uh
good advices of the council woman uh in terms of the uh permanent seven members that still leaves us in a difficult position in terms of the alternate members like who gets who gets what?
Councilman Schwarz You do have a number of people which have been serving reliably consistently. I I know that on the planning board you have people which have spotty attendance um some better than others. You have a
number of individuals which which really have been putting in the effort and the seriousness um that it deserves. um if they've been functioning well and
getting the agendas done properly, um there's that they have been providing the service to the city fairly fairly reliably. That's a great point, Council um Councilman Schwarz. However, I I I think
that um traditionally our zoning board has functioned really well with with whoever the members were and um it's it's fortunate, right? Um for for the people that's there, they have the opportunity to be reliable or whatever,
but um just as some of us who came through those boards, um the quest and you know, and the desire to to reach out for new talent is always there as well. Um, and there's no doubt I'm looking at some of these resumeumés that there's no doubt in my mind that some of these
individuals that's being proposed would would serve um with the same, you know, u vigor as some of the the other individuals. I mean, I think opportunity allows for that as well. Did we want to limit service of an
individual to only one board? presses multiple boards thereby, for lack of another term, spreading around the wealth, spreading around getting people involved. Any other thoughts? I'm sorry. No, no. Just asking who do we
have this potential? I'm sorry. Is that a potential with any of these candidates, sir, or you just wanted to kind of address that before we even got to it. Okay. I I think that's that's been a a
kind of a past practice, hasn't it? With with the serving on several boards. I I don't I don't want to There's been I don't believe there's ever been any preclusion. Okay. I believe it's always been an open field.
Okay. Um obviously there are you know good organizational reasons for for that encouraging us and and the administration not to rely upon the same people and not to exhaust people.
Um, I know that uh Michael Gross who ran for the school board and uh and won a seat. Um, he was an alternate on the assembly board, but he's decided not to continue with that.
Okay. Sorry. I think that speaks to that that same point. Councilman. Yes. Yes, ma'am. just have a little a little bit louder, please. I'm sorry. Okay. I just want to say um which is great. I'm glad
um just the fact that we had a couple of the constituents even interested in, you know, it's very hard to get people to serve on the on these board especially no income coming in, right?
So, the fact that we had qualified people that came in that are interested in learning and being involved is a a big thing for me and I think it's something we should look into and give them an opportunity.
and council president. I I I think that I can speak for myself, but I think my colleagues um we learned our lesson kind of from the rent leveling in terms of when you gave us a direction to submit resumes and we kind of dragged our heels, right? and and we found ourselves
in a situation where our our citizens were suffering and then we had to do a knee-jerk reaction and start getting I think that um I know at least for myself as soon as I got the information from you and the information um at a prior
meeting that there was a need to fill this board, I I jumped right on it and as from the looks of things, I think my colleagues did the same. So, um, so I just wanted to, you know, put that on record to say that, you know, um, I think we learned from our mistakes and,
you know, and now we're being a little more diligent with with getting, um, people across the board involved with local government. Thank you, sir. Any other comments? Any thoughts from the administration? Mr. there.
He's like, "I'm not touching this one. [Laughter] The council once again thanks you for your uh your input. Why don't we do the
following with your permission? Um why don't we number one impose on our clerk to read um all of the names of people being proposed u and who the their nominator is. Sure.
We'll then do the same with the alternate members those four seats. Then we will come back to the original discussion in terms of the seven members. Right. I'm trying to make sure that everyone is u has the
opportunity to to consider everyone. Can you repeat that council president Wely to read the names and the maker of all current of of all members document.
Would you like me to start with the current or the proposed? Um start with the current and then we can go into the proposal please. And this will be for the full members. Yes. So full member currently we have Manaka Basian and that was by Councilman
Schwarz. We have Davy Martinez who's also a full member and that was by Councilman Sher. We have Harold Hess full member and that was by Councilman Monk. We have David Blumenthal full
member and that was by council president Sher. We have Mo Moshe Starvski, full member also by Councilman Chair. We have Yakov Brisman. That was Councilman
Monk. We have as an alternate Yolanda Sodto. That was Councilman Garcia. And we have Sheila Woodson. And that was by Councilman Shar. And she's also an alternate. Okay. for proposed members. Uh the new
nominations are Jamie Montanz for a full member that was by Councilwoman Colon Montanz. Um Councilman Garcia would like to move up Miss Yolanda Sto from alternate to a permanent member. And he also submitted a resume for Jamie C.
Delgado as an alternate. Um, wait. Hold on one second. [Music] Praise God. Okay. Yes. Just for the record, Hyman Martinez is my brother-in-law.
Thank you. Um, we have Ralph Maid for permanent full member. That's by Councilwoman Melo. And we have Da Rhodess. Uh, Councilman Love is nominating her for a full position as well. Those are all the
resumeumés. Everyone has heard and I hope has the chance to reach some conclusions. What I'd like to do is now take the We'll mix them all together. How's
that? and ask you to mix them all together and to read the name and the maker. Um, and we'll go through at that, but we'll go through voting one by one. I I guess the um the question is if
that if just because someone was proposed the name before, right? We might want to change, you know, in terms of might want to change who their
priority call priority one is. For instance, um I can't hear you. What I'm saying is that if if we're opposing one per right so then if for instance um council
wasn't sure you had three as best per permanence right so which one of those three you got you want to move up to okay to that seat in other words right um more than fair right and it's the same thing for
instance um if if we're going to be knocking out some of the permanent people who were there for many years then then maybe I would prefer instead of I don't my name as I'm on for Yakob Brisman maybe I
think that some if if I prefer I think maybe someone else would should be go before him in terms of if that if that's yeah so this what I'm what I'm saying is therefore I know in the past basically
people that were that were there pretty much you as uh as a show of gratitude, you know, we they kept staying on it for many many years, right, for the services and so on so forth. And for changing that, we might want to rethink in terms
of who your permanent which who's one that person you want to nominate as your primary nominee. That's possible. So, thank you, Councilman. um help me understand how that would work practically.
Well, I I'm a little bit I I'm a little bit I'm not sure because No, because No, but basically, just to be fair to these people that will be that are going to get bounced off, right? There might be someone who would be more than happy to be off, right? If we're if if the per we
have five permits there now, right? And if we're going to tell someone, you were there for the last 10 years, but we have, you know, one of one of you two guys have to go, one of you two guys have to go, there might be one or two that, you know, they were thinking anyway of, you know what, my time, I
gave enough time, I'll be more than happy to let this other fellow, let him take that position. So what I'm just what I'm saying is that if we're changing basically how we've been doing in the past, I'm a little bit lost, right? In terms of who who was there for the last 10, 15 years,
who wouldn't mind taking a step back? Why would I want to nominate someone who's anyway ready to semi-retire, whatever it is, wouldn't mind retire, and let someone else take that place? That's obviously it's not something that
we could do in the next three minutes, right? But that that's that's my point. Yeah. Go ahead. Councilwoman, please. Yes. And also since we are going into we're actually going to stagger the expiration the
terms that'll give the new ones the opportunity and if they don't um fulfill their duties meaning with attendance next time you'll become an alternate or you'll get off bumped from from the list and then the ones that have served for
over five or 10 years they can become alternates because I mean obviously they they enjoy it and if these new ones do not fulfill their duty, they'll get bumped and they put it back as I think that's an option, especially since we're
coming up with staggered expiration. Yeah, we extend some hag staggered expiration. So, some folks in the cracks had I need some practical direction, please.
Do we go name by name and or would everyone like to write down his or her particular name for the one of seven? Yes, ma'am. We need seven. And there's how many alternate? Four. And there's 12
lanes. No, 11. No, but I'm saying between the both of them. There's I'm sorry. Between both. There's current. There's a bunch there's a bunch more than we have in the seven and a bunch more than we have in the
11 and then four new resumes and then Miss Sodal to move up to permanent five. I wouldn't mind I don't want to propose I just don't know who to propose because I don't know who would prefer to take a step you know
I think this is council is going to take tonight the only suggestion that I can give councilman is that we do this by closed ballot I don't know how long to to effectuate this everybody I don't I don't mind doing this I don't mind this process
question is who do who's someone here has to take a back seat I'm not sure who to propose if if if there one or two members here say you know what if it's a matter between me and and let him take it for whatever reason
anyway I'm busy whatever it is I just I I'm going to know I think you'll forgive me sir but I think that that I think that each member of the council might have done that I would have probably grabbed your shirt your coattail and told you Okay.
Are there any thoughts? Any other thoughts in terms of help us to get this done? I guess maybe call every councilman one by one and that the councilman will nominate whoever he prefer to have in
that board. I'm vote on it. Any thoughts further to Councilman Garcia's suggestion which seems to be on point. All right. Um
with no one to the excuse me I counted 12 names. There's seven C's plus four alternates. So it's really one person that's really either a couple that are stepping down if we decide to all have a permanent and just one member that's
on either of these two is not going to make the list this time around. I counted 11 because Yolanda Sodto is moving up. Is moving up. So that's she's she's on both. Yes. Yes. Both as a proposed as an
alternate and as a She's currently serving as an alternate, but Councilman Garcia would like to give her the opportunity to move to a permanent spot, leaving that alternate spot. That would be this call. So what we'll do if this is all right, I hope we will ask our clerk to read the
name of a member and ask for who the member would like to nominate as a full member of the board. We will do that in this order to everyone's pleasure.
Um, I would ask not to have abstensions or can you choose me after I hear everybody else because we all want to be in that position. Um, and we all understand that all of these names are extremely important to you. Uh, and with good reason. Um, but
to effectuate moving forward. Now, now can one of us take um the position of a person who was proposed by someone else on council? Ostensibly, it's it's would be councilman monk first and then it would
be you. Okay. Um that is the order the visual order. I'm talking in terms of the some of this currently serving that no one is currently serving. Okay. So that was proposed, right? A name that was
proposed. Say, Councilwoman Melo proposed a name. Yes. And I would like to to take that person. Council Melo already made the nomination. No, she comes after you. Okay. If you made the nomination, then Council Meow would be in the enviable
position of having a cake and eating it, too. Okay. That was a canard that my mother used to always say to me. Council president, would it be okay for us to vote on number 38 and then move on to the zoning resolutions?
That's CDBG. We did CDBG, didn't we? No, sir. Okay. So, let's vote on is there any questions on CDBG? Second. Motion and second on what number is that? Number 38. 38. Councilman Monk, yes. Councilman Love, yes. Counciloman
Melo, yes. Councilman Schwarz, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes. Counciloman Kolanz, yes. And Council President Sher, yes. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Yes. We're going to move on to item number 39. It's a resolution appointing a full member to
the zoning board. The term is set currently to expire December 31st, 2026. The first name we have is Manakam Basian. No, excuse me. What we're going to do is Councilman Monk will be asked who is his nomination.
I wanted to Okay. The list that you have is not relevant at this point. Yes, sir. Do you have a name, Councilman Monk? Um, Jakob. [Music] Can I please have um I have the
nomination. Can I please have a motion in a second? No, ma'am. No. Just continue with your list. Okay, next one. Number 40 is for also a full term in the zoning board. Term is set to expire December 31st, 2026. Councilman Love, can I please have your nomination? Shila
Woodson. Thank you. Um, the third is for a full term. This one is also set to expire December 31st, 2026. Councilman Melo, can I please have your nomination? Raphael May.
Um, the next one is also a full term. It's also set to expire December 31st, 2026. Councilman I mean Council President Sher, can I please have your nomination? No. I You want to do that? Councilman Schwarz. Um, Councilman Garcia, can I please have
your nomination for a full term? July 7. Councilwoman Colo Montinez, can I please have your nomination? Um, Jamie Montinez. Uh, Council President, Sher, there's one last spot. Would you like to make a nomination? Starvi,
can we read just go over what we just did? Yes, sir. Um, for Councilman Monk, we have Yakov Brisman. For Councilman Love, we have
Sheila Woodson. For Councilman Melo, we have Ralph Maid. For Councilman Schwarz, we have Manaka Basian. For Councilman Garcia, we have Yolanda Sto. And for Councilman Colts, we have
Jamie Montinez. Everyone hear the names? Any changes to the names? We have now four opportunities in terms of uh serving as alternates on the board.
That's correct. Can we have a list of who the who the possibilities are? Currently, um, we have the members that were not reappointed if you would like and we also have a resume from
Councilman Garcia for Jamie Delgado. Okay. So my question is who who has applied to either permanent or or the secretary seat um has not been chosen all everyone has been appointed that was nominated and
then we have Dave Martinez Harold Hes Blumenthal uh Peninski and that's it that's um and D roads and D roads sorry okay Um what I'd like to do is we'll do
this exercise one more time. Um looking for people supporting not only a candidate but supporting another person's candidate clumsy but it'll take us there. Do we need to hear the names
again? Not hearing. So if we can start the process this time going from month to month. Council meas, do you have a nomination for alternate position? No. No.
That's fine. Councilman Garcia, do you have a nomination for alternate position? Yes. Jamie C. Dato. Excuse me. That's the That's the song. relationship.
Yes. I have to decline. I have to decline because uh he I use him as a as a project before. Okay. Could you say that one more time? We couldn't hear.
Let's take uh Jamie the guy off the list because I He's a contractor and I used him before. I mean, this is his son. It's not him, his son. But still, okay, we'll withdraw the name Jamie Delgado. Do you do you have any other name?
It's the sun. The son. So, but but he's asking to pull Yeah, Joe's asking. Yeah, I know it's the son, but he's still asking. He would be permitted still. Oh, are you asking me is it permitted to
He's He's the son of the He's not the contractor. It's permitted. It's not your contractor. His father I used his father before. You just used his father randomly as a
contractor. Yes. Oh, that stays. Okay. So, we're going to stay with the name Jamie Delgado. Needs to be disclosed. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Okay. Next.
Councilman Schwarz, do you have a nomination for alternate position? David Bloomman. Thank you. Go to Melo. Councilman Melo don't have an author.
Councilman Love D. Rhodess. Councilman Monk. I'm sorry. We have three so far. Yes. Very good. Thank you, Councilman Monk. H. Um, that would complete them. Council President Sher, what's that? That would
complete the That gives us the That gives us the four, right? Doesn't come to me. No. Can we hear the names please, on the alternates? Yes. For alternate, we have Jamie Delgado by Councilman Garcia. Councilman Schwarz is uh
Blumenthal. Um, Councilman Love is Da Rhodess and Councilman Monk is Harold Hes. Are there any concerns? Are there any questions? Can I have one motion, please, to ratify all members as as discussed, seven
members for the zoning board permanent, and four alternate members of the zoning board. I move that we eradicate the seven members for permanent positions as well as the four alternate members for the zoning board. And I second motion
and second. Roll call, please. Councilman Monk, yes. Councilman Love, yes. Councilman Melo, yes. Councilman Schwarz, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes. Councilman Colz, yes. And Council President Sher, yes. I apologize to my colleagues for this arduous task, but as
I'm sure you will recognize, um, this is a critical board, as all boards are to what we do. We are up to remenule 8 on our agenda. If I may draw your attention to number 50, an ordinance adding
article 5, lithium battery safety regulations to chapter 139, fire prevention of the city of PA code. Is there a motion to set back for second and final reading at our meeting of May 6? Motion. Second. And second roll call,
please. Councilman Monk, yes. Councilman Love, yes. Councilman Melo, yes. Councilman Schwarz, yes. Councilman Garcia, Councilman Col. Yes. And Council President Shear. Yes. Thank you. Number 51, please. An ordinance amending the designation of restricted parking for
disabled persons by New Jersey license plate number. Is there a motion to sit for a second and final reading at our next meeting of May 6? So move. Motion. Second. And second. Roll call, please. Councilman Monk? Yes. Councilman Love? Yes. Councilman Melo? Yes. Councilman
Schwarz? Yes. Councilman Garcia? Yes. Councilman Coline? Yes. And Council President Shear? Yes. Thank you. Um, payment of bills. Are there any questions on the bills, please? Seeing no questions at this time, is there a motion, please, to accept the bills presented by the clerk?
Move it. Motion. Second. And second. Thank you. Roll call. Councilman Monk. Yes. Councilman Love. Yes. Councilman Melo. Yes. Councilman Schwarz. Yes. Councilman Garcia. Councilman Colonz. Yes. And Council President Shear. Yes. Thank you. Administrator's report. Mr.
Fernandez. Not this time. Council. Thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor. No. I think your business administrator just explained to me and I have made a statement. I just want to be clear for the watch. The father Jamie Dut may not
get appointed. No. No. No. All right. Sorry. I didn't hear. That's why I his son. Yes. Is there any other business that we have before us tonight? I don't believe so. That being the case, is there a motion,
please, to adjourn this meeting? So move and second. Is there a roll call, please? Councilman Monk, yes. Councilman Love, yes. Councilman Melo, yes. Councilman Schwarz, yes. Councilman Garcia, yes. Councilman Coltz and Council President Sher, yes. Thank you. This meeting is if
you work right back