Good evening everyone. On behalf of the Patterson Municipal Council, I welcome you to the regular meeting of August 19, 2025 at 7 o'clock p.m. The meeting is now called to order. Madame Clerk, please re call the role. Yes, Council President. Councilwoman
Cotton, Councilwoman Davala, present. Councilman Jackson, Councilman Khik, present. Councilman Mendes, Councilman Omar, present. Councilman Uden, I'm here, Madam Crook. Thank you. Councilman VeZ, Councilwoman
Mims here. Council President Mims, I'm sorry. Okay, we have five present at this time. Thank you, Madam Clerk. This evening's prayer will be rendered by myself, the honorable council president, Dr. Lisa
Mims, followed by the flag salute led by the honorable Shaheen Kik. If we'll all please stand. Let us pray. God our father, we thank you because this is the day that you have made and so we rejoice and we we are glad in it. God, we thank you from the rising of the sun to the going down
of the same. Your name is worthy to be praised. God, we pray according to your scriptures on tonight. 1 Corinthians 14:10, let everything be done decently in order. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. Amen. Salute.
I pledge allegiance 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.
We will now have a moment of silence for all of those that have love lost loved ones and especially for our dear beloved Madame Clerk Jacqueline Murray, for our troops and those who have lost loved ones.
Thank you. Madame clerk, can you please read the statement of compliance? Yes, Council President. Um, statement of compliance with the open public meetings law 2025 2026. The meeting date is
August 19th, 2025. It is now at 7:00 p.m. Adequate notice of this meeting was compiled and disseminated in accordance with the open public meetings law in the following manner. One, the annual notice of regular meetings and
workshop sessions of the municipal council was compiled for the year 2025 2026 on or about July 1st, 2025. Two, a schedule of the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2025 2026 was duly
transmitted on or about July 1st, 2025 to the North Jersey Herald News. The record, the Arabic voice, the Italian voice, the Vaya County Pulse, Dominicanana News, La Cisca International, Ellis Basiel, The
Patterson Press, The City Post News, Tap into Patterson, The Weekly Bangla, Patrika in addition to any other publication duly requesting such notices. Three, the schedule of the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year
2025 2026 was prominently posted in the lobby of city hall first floor in the place reserved for the announcements of this type. Four, the schedule of the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2025 2026 was duly filed with the
municipal clerk. Five. A copy of the schedule of regular meetings of the municipal council was mailed to any person who requested and paid the fee authorized by the open public records act. Council president. Madam consent agenda, please.
Yes. One second. All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine by the council and will be enacted by one motion. The items listed under the consent agenda are numbers 9 through 49. Any item may be removed from the consent
agenda by the request of any council member and if so removed will be treated as a separate matter. So move. Second. Moved by council vice president Davis. Second by council president Mims. Roll call on consent agenda. One second, please.
Roll call on the consent agenda. Councilwoman Dava, yes. Councilman Khalik, yes. Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Uden, yes. Council President,
yes. Thank you. The votes are five in favor, four absent. The consent agenda is hereby adopted. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh, payment of bills, please. Council President, Councilwoman Dav.
Okay. Uh, council members, you've received the summary of dispersements in the amount of 32,268,945. Uh, this was a payroll week of those 32,6,761,359.30 were for payroll. Uh there was $25,57,544.75
which were uh computer checks. Uh there was a big payment uh to the county taxes of 16,519,499.31. In addition, there was also capital fund for $3,21,386. Um those three million included you know
River Street um sore Smith Sunday uh uh road surfacing repairs and so forth. Uh in addition there was a general government for health insurance of 5,266,50.34. My p my motion is for payment of bills. I second the payments of bills.
Roll call madam clerk on payment of bills. Moved by council uh vice president Davis. Second by councilman colleague. Roll call. Roll call for the payment of bills in the amount of 32,6268,945. Councilwoman Dava, yes. Councilman Khik, yes.
Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Uden, yes. Council President, yes. Thank you. The votes are five in favor, four absent. The payment of bills is hereby adopted. Item number 50, Madame Clerk. Item number 50 is a resolution authorizing a memorandum of
understanding for new building at Great Falls Youth Center between New Jersey Community Development Corporation and City of Patterson. Sponsored by Council President Dr. Lisa Mams, Councilwoman Marissa Davala, Councilman Shaheen
Khalik, and Councilman Ibraham Omar. Administration resolution number 25419. So move Second. Moved by council um vice president and president Davo and Mims. Second by councilman Khalik. Roll call item number 50.
Roll call on item number 50. Councilwoman Davin. Yes. Councilman Khik. Yes. Councilman Omar. Yes. Councilman Uden. Yes. Council President. Uh first recreational center. My vote is yes. Thank you. The votes are five in favor,
four absent. Item number 50 is hereby adopted. Thank you. Item number 51, Madam Clerk. 51. Yes. Okay. Item number 51 is a resolution honoring Assemblywoman Siobhan Sumpter as a daughter of Patterson and for her years
of service to Patterson and the 35th legislative districts uh sponsored by Councilwoman Marissa Davis, city council resolution number 25420. So move second. Madame Clerk, um I'd like to please make a note uh that it is
also co-sponsored by council president, actually sponsored by myself, council president Mims, and councilwoman Cotton, and co-sponsored by the rest of the the remaining council. Thank you. My apologies for that. My no problem. So move. Thank you. Moved by Council Vice
President Davis, second by Councilman Khaled, Council President Mims. Roll call on item number 51. Madam Clerk, roll call on item number 51 for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Councilwoman Dava. Uh
I wanted to put something together and I asked legal uh to to assist uh Assemblywoman Siobhan Deser who is a daughter of the city of Patterson, someone who has served uh with grace. Um has brought so much to our city. Uh I
wanted to make sure that we documented her service. uh she won't be seeking reelection in November and I thought it was important that we as a council acknowledge her and uh she is a mentor. She's someone that I respect and I'm
looking forward I know she's not leaving us. She's just leaving the assembly. So, you know, with that said, um my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Khik. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Omar. My vote is yes. Councilman Uden,
yes, Madam Clerk. Council President, uh, Assemblywoman Sumpter, you've done a great job. Your work will speak for yourself and it's not over. God bless you. My vote is yes. Thank you. The votes are six in favor, three absent. Item number 51 is hereby adopted. Item number 53, Madame Clerk.
Item number 53 is a resolution authorizing calendar year 2025 emergency temporary appropriations August 2025 finance resolution number 25 col 422. So move moved by Councilwoman Davis, second by Council President Mims. Roll call on
item number 53. Madame clerk. Roll call on item number 53 for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Councilwoman Dava. Yes. Counciloman Kh. Yes. Councilman Omar. Yes. Councilman Uden. No.
Council, council president, before I vote, uh, I just want to put this on the record. This item is for temporary appropriations, requires six votes. If it does not pass, that means the employees will not get paid, and the city will be shut down for the following
month. So, I'm I'm going to ask u my councilman Uden if he would reconsider. This is just an appropriation just to cover the bills to ensure that the employees get paid. Uh thank you councelor president for giving the chance but again uh he was not in the uh workshop session but Patterson is
waiting for budget introduction which is delaying and I believe this appropriation is going to push us to increase the taxes and I feel that this is not right to how many appropriations we need this I think this is the third or fourth one so with the conscious with
your knowledge I I'm I'm voting negative on it so thank you council president for the opportunity I'm still vote Oh. Yes. Thank you, Councilman. Okay. The votes are five in F. I I didn't vote yet. I'm sorry, Council President. So, let me be clear. The introduced
budget will be before this council in September. Um, we have been working diligently behind the scenes and finance with our business administrator to get this done. Um, and so, as stated to the public, auditor, we're meeting with the auditor this
Friday. um just to go over trying to ensure when the budget was introduced it was at 5.6 we are below that at this point and we're trying to make sure it's at a place where we can come back to the council where we can secure the votes but I want to be clear to the public
those that are supporting it on tonight are supporting the employees to get paid and if it does not pass the employees will not get paid and not will not be as a result of a yes vote. So madam So, so I'm just asking one more time,
Councilman Uden, just for the sake of the employees introduced budget will come before in September. This is just to ensure employees get paid and it's not going to put let me let me say this this will not push the budget
further out. If there is no introduced budget, you have to fill the gap. So the money could come from somewhere. Our employees are working hard every day and I don't want anyone to be upset that a council person did not support the fact that they need to get paid. So I'm just
asking just out of respect and for our employees just if you would reconsider your vote one last time. So you need six votes for this. Am I correct? Yes. All right. Before this I have uh if I move forward I have question to uh uh
BA. Um, yeah, I I have a question. So, when are you planning to introduce uh the budget? So, we're in the middle of roll call. So, they cannot answer, but I will as a council I would as
without without getting the answer, I cannot really change my mind. Okay, no problem. Uh, madame clerk, can we take council's vote? Councilman, we are voting on the temporary appropriations. Um, as you know, this reflects 2%, not 5.6. It requires six
votes. We are in roll call. Um, and we need one more vote for this to pass to pay our employees. Madam clerk, can you continue with roll call with council? Councilman. So, I receive a text from the mayor of this city saying
that he cannot speak to a criminal that is indicted or is in the process of uh through legal situations in the city of Patterson. He referring to me because I just got u um
and he don't have no communication with me and he don't want to deal with government. So I know this is important but the the appropriation means a lot for me. So we know what's in there. That's why we didn't put it up. So what are you planning to introduce
with you? It's the first that sounds good. Right now we're introducing The appropriation means a lot for me. Um I didn't got here to have the luchery to ask question if this represent a tax
increase uh with this appropriation. I know they are u wasting or they are um using based on the u on on the budget that they going to introduce but it's 2%. Yeah. I don't feel comfortable in 2%
into this administration represent a real and responsible budget to the city of Patterson. So my vote is no. Thank you. Councilman Uden is Councilman Uden wants to reconsider his vote. Council Council President. So um again
um I respect all the opinions of my council colleagues both voting positive and negative ways. But here's the frustration that I need to straight it clear that when budget fail budget introduction failed three times right twice
and we did appropriation multiple multiple times I think this is the fourth time am I correct uh CFO these are wrong time I understand they're asking question but but changing of mind and moving forward like this is a totally knowingly crime to me that's
that's exactly what I'm I'm I'm stating but here Since it comes to the point that where employees needs to get paid, all the services needs to be continued. Um these are important that's very true. But a responsible administration
has to be timely manner advanced cannot come the last minute and push us to to approve something. Recently Patterson went through a crisis and that was really sudden crisis. So we
all suffer together but this the crisis silent crisis are there in for Pattersonians silently we all are in crisis in many ways so I feel that this administration has to be more
um pre-planned has to have a short-term and long-term goal what do we have for the future or not so uh CFO I I appreciate that you came here and spoke to me on the back And uh with that respect and considering the current
situation I'd move forward but with that condition that if it comes again another appropriation I would not just vote negative I'll bring the community against here in the council chamber to speak about it cuz people people are
I'm sorry um so this this would very important so CFO with that condition I'm changing my vote but Again, the next meeting would like to see the introduction and clear what we are planning for the uh future. With that
being said, I'm changing my vote to yes. Thank you, council. Council President, my vote is yes, madam clerk. Thank you. The votes are six in favor, one against, three absent. Item number 53 is hereby adopted. Item 52, madam clerk. Number
no, item 56, madam clerk. Item 56. Item number 56 is resolution acknowledging contents and effects of memorandum of understanding between the state of New Jersey and the city of Patterson for transitional aid in the CY 2025
including any applicable supplements finance resolution number 25425. So moved. Moved by Councilwoman Davala, second by council president Mens call. Madam clerk discussion discussion councilman bles
uh through the chair administration u uh Mr. Ba can you highlight us in this understanding anything have changed anything new on here that we should be aware any uh Mr. BA anything you think that uh it will
change the service between the city employees any contract you know any change Mr. BA Council President through you uh Councilman. So if you look at the addendum, the last few pages, it's a 36 37 page document. It'll break down all
the changes that are significant to what you are used to. What page is that? Uh it should be 36 or 37. I think it's two pages on the back end. 30 page 36 and 37. No, it's not there.
It's not there. It was also sent home in the home packet for the workshop and it was also on our desk last week. Can you highlight what can you read on the record what's the changes? Oh, what is new there? I can't see the
page. I I got up to 31. I I I believe is is the administration had to answer my questions though. 37. 37. You say 30 I I have only 33. What was that, Councilman? One and two. Oh, one and two. One and two.
You said 36, but it's one and two. I knew it was. So, it's backwards. Okay. So, we cannot use a used surplus in this um umou. No. If we have any surplus, we cannot use it to balance the budget. No, that is we cannot.
How much are we expecting to receive if uh this memorandum in the standing goes today? 297. How much substitutional aid? Uh we already it's a 29,700 29 29 million
and that will keep us in uh on a hole of what to balance our budget. So we we'd be looking at around a 4% increase right now. 4%. Mhm. And uh and this appropriation that we uh
just passed represent that 4% at the end of the year. No. Of the budget? No. On 2025, correct? So we spending and we appropriating money based on the this budget 2025,
right? Yeah. Okay. On top of that, we are also still working with the state to get additional money. As the council president had stated earlier, we have a meeting with our auditors to make sure that we're adjusting any revenues that need to be adjusted, any balancing that we can do
um to make it better. Have the state have communicated with you uh with administration uh if they have that wish list uh to fulfill from you guys? I haven't had the direct conversation, but I know that there has been conversations, but still you looking to 4%.
As of right now, we are looking at around 4%. So you wasting you spending the 2025 budget at the end of December, we probably waste it and it's going to be based on 4% in tax increase.
Even at the end, the last when we approve this budget, the end is going to be 4% tax increase. So all this 2% that they talking about is now but at the end of the calendar of the year fiscal year and we're just going to do the adopt the
budget is going to be represented in 4% tax increase. That's correct. As of right now yes thank you council president. Thank you council president Councilman Odin. Thank you council president. Um so
additional question was uh councilman VZ was asking question that we are looking forward to minimum uh increase which is 2%. So are you are you thinking that you can keep 2% or you're thinking it's going to be 4%. I'm not sure what what is exact
plan introduction and real budget can you be clear on this that we'll see uh what's your what's your plan at this point? I mean, do you think in keep 2% some percentage higher lower right now? I don't want Mr. B.
Yeah. Sorry, council president through you, Councilman. I don't I don't want to speculate 100% until we've met with our auditors and we've gotten through the financial professionals to make sure that we're we want to make this as tight as we possibly can. So, I'll have a better idea after the end of this week.
Yeah. But, I mean, do whatever you need to do. That's very true. We we need to vote on our whatever we feel is right for our people. But when we thinking about people is we all have to think exactly same way. Think about the
financial burden on our families at this point. I'm not saying what's going to be impact or not but minimum 2% every year because of the transitional aid that we're receiving. That's already too much for our people. on top of this Patterson public schools
is last two time two years they they increased uh on their budget as well. So I think we have to keep that in in in in our head when you're thinking about or speaking about uh unhoused people in city of Patterson and this and that trust me with that budget introduction
and if you think about 4% hike then just know this those people are still under the roof we are going to push them out from their house and they will be on the street one day. So we have to consider that as well. So people not only unhoused people there are different category of people there are some people
under the roof but they're in the in in certain situation that any time for any uh you know hike can push them out of on on the street. So please keep that in head uh when you when you plan for and I think that uh our council body is also
going to consider when they will vote for certain items cuz just know the Patterson is in crisis and every everyone is suffering cuz when you're thinking about um the pay the the mortgage people are paying or or rents
people are paying it's comparatively uh you know uh our our neighbor uh towns we we are paying similar amount and and not receiving the exact service that the other municipalities are getting. So this is very truth. It's not really whether we mention or not. This
is the agreed experience of the people. So please when you come up with the budget, if you need to sit down before come to the uh you know council, I think you need to do so. Otherwise um I I I see that it's going to fail one more time. So um thank you. Thank you.
Thank you, Council President. One second. And Councilman Jackson's next, but let me say this before um right before Councilman Jackson speaks. So, I just want the community to be clear, right? Those are great points that are taking for over 30 years, we've been on transitional aid. So, every year
because we get aid from the state to fill our gap, we have to read and acknowledge that we received the the information that goes with the money that they received. They sent us $29.7 million. It's called the memorandum of
understanding. This item is only saying that we received it. That we as a council member have received it. That's what this item is showing. I also want to put in um conversation as well which wasn't stated that our state legislators
are uh Senator Paul, Assemblyman Wimberly, and Assembly um woman Siobhan something, Assemblyman Al of Z's, they're working on supplemental transitional aid to fill some of that 4.4 4 million gap or $4 million gap that we have. So, we have a a meeting on
Friday with audit. We want to thank our legislators that they have found some. We don't know the exact dollar amount, which will help us close the gap. But before we can get those dollars, we have to approve this item that says that we received it. We're in receipt of theou, which is something we've done for the
last 30 years. So, this is not anything that says we're approving 5% 6%. That's not this item. In September, as we know, previously it introduced came to us for 5.6. If that would have been approved, we would not need to do any appropriations, but because including
myself, we felt like 5% was a little bit high, we didn't approve it. So, you have to fill the gap with appropriations. So, that's why we're here. But in September, we will be reintroducing the budget once again. Um, and prayerfully, it will be supported so that we can move forward
and we won't need appropriations. But this item is only to say that we we acknowledge that we are underou. We're receiving transitional aid from the state and we received $29.7 million. Councilman Jackson, Councilwoman Davila, and then Councilman Veles.
I'm sorry, Council President, you said we received, did you just say 29.7? What did you say? 29. Okay. So, so with with all due respect to previous council members that have spoken, yes, we have been on transitional aid for 30 plus years, but that has absolutely no no that has absolutely
nothing to do with the irresponsible budgeting that we've done. In the past, when I started our budget, our overall municipal budget was 225 million. Now, we're $100 million more at over 300 plus million. Last year, we requested 25
million in TA. This year we requested $33 million in TA and this mayor has gotten more money than any other mayor in the history of Patterson. The co money that the BA still has failed to
give me a report on. And let me just say this, Councilman Udin, I don't have a clue what you was mumbling and and and just uh rambling about, but how irresponsible it is you telling him please do this, please do that. You just change the vote. I'm watching on as
I'm walking up. You just change your vote irresponsibly without rationale behind it. No reasoning. You come here to act like you want to hold them accountable and then they put you in a choke hold and you automatically flip your vote. So what are we talking about here? Like you know in the past you had
responsible legislators. You had Ken Moore sit here. Bill McCoy would sit here be responsible. Pluck things off of the budget line by item line by line. reduce items on the on line items on the budget. You haven't seen any of that yet. The the the the uh finance
committee comes out and just basically reiterates everything that they tell them in the back room. They go back there to prepare the story to come out here and tell us about, but yet there's no responsible reporting. You think the mayor is is is making sure that all all
his cohorts make money to support his campaign while he's campaigning in other towns while we have water crisises going on while he's taking shots at the senator and has his talking about how the senator took trips to um to uh uh
Israel. Him and his wife was on boats in Turkey with the uh owner of Taskin Bakery. But yet and still all you guys sitting here acting like you want to try to be responsible and this guy sitting here has not has not done one responsible thing with regard to this
budget. We we should have had a budget hearing. We should have had a table set up right there with the BA presenting to us what is going to be the impact and then we make decisions on where we're cutting. But we can't do that now because every single week we approve the um the payment of bills without without
a question. I'm the only one voting no on it. And then everybody said, "Well, we've been on TA for 30 years." Why does anybody new even try to run for council? You always talking about, "Well, I'mma do this when I get there." Then you get here and say, "We've been doing this for 30 years. We got to just We ain't got no
choice. We got to keep doing it longer. It's It's just It's ridiculous. It's backwards. While the mayor's out while the mayor's out promoting $6,000 garbage cans And we have the streets as dirty as they
possibly could be. As dirty as they possibly could be. The crime rate is ridiculously high, right? And then the debacle that went on with the water commission. Now all of a sudden they could replace all the bread, all the lines that that went bad over
there. But where's the mayor's appointees at the water commission? And how are they being responsible to the conditions of this community? Oh, I forgot. We just want to see how many developers we could bring in before he gets out of here so they could continue
to fund fund his campaign. Overcrowd the city and continuously allowing the tow company. How many of you were here a few weeks ago when the corporation council read off that it was illegal? The the tow company still charging people for two days still.
And and and then they're confiscating vehicles without even police officers writing the tickets. And that is illegal. But they consistently break the law. But who are they targeting? They targeting the residents while landlords just to just continue on with their
their their rogue activity. Uh uh uh Mr. Director uh Rodriguez Corporation Council. I'm going to have an address for you. There was a woman that was here a few few months ago. Her house was burned in electrical fire. She was illegally evicted. They threw all
her things in the garbage which they which they should not have done. Now, the house is revented. Director, I see you there. The house is revented with no CO, no permits. While you're here, I I I'm going to make the the address public because when are we going to have any
kind of accountability? Obviously, this council doesn't want to do it. And what whatever Udin did today is just an example of it. They forgot to talk to him before he he didn't get the the memo before he came out because now you know they got to they got to flip him on the
skillet hot like he just he had he got caught in it. And I'm not letting you get away with that cuz that right there is the reason why this community is ter is in in the condition it's in. People sit there act like they have your best interest in mind and they don't. They don't. They flipped them on the spot
just like he started bubbling just like a pancake. Turn him over. He's easy to flip. Listen, community, pay attention. You're gonna continue to get what you've been getting for 30 years if you sit here and listen to this rhetoric. There is no way we should be approving the
spending on what's going on right here. No way. This mayor should be right there. He should be at that seat begging the council to help him find ways to balance this budget. Everybody said his friends in in in in
uh Trenton. Oh, they let his ass down now. Now he's What is he doing? He's campaigning. He's too busy to come here. He's campaigning. Then I'mma say this last thing cuz this freaking guy got the nerve to disrespect people. He shows up to Madam Murphy uh Madame Clerk's
funeral just to talk on the mic and got his ass right back on the road. If that isn't disrespectful, yo, I'm telling you, man. It's taken quite a It's taken a lot for me to conte my composure because this guy has no
clue. Like if you too busy, then don't even come. It's bad enough you mistreated her when she was here cuz even when he was a council person trying to ouster her, she when she was putting it putting in the job for the clerk, he he along with
others gave her the hardest time and continued to give her the hardest time. And Councilman Davis talked about it here because she was she was very vocal about how how how she was treated. Then you got the nerve to show up with the same old story how she was your student.
The disrespect and just for a point of clarity, I definitely before I cuz I make sure I'm very respectful. I try to be respectful. People don't actually acknowledge that. But I definitely spoke to the family before I take it upon myself to just bring this up.
and and trust me, I got the green light because she was she they they were not happy about how how their family member was treated. So, while we're sitting here pontificating and acting, this is acting class 101. This I'm this is why
everybody's watching it because this is a real this more than reality show. This is acting class 101. They come here act like they're going to do something and look what he does. He's a coward down there. You ain't standing up for the community, man. you just sitting here grandstanding and doing doing a
disservice only to yourself. So I'm ready to whatever you you know what my vote is going to be. Let's just let's get it together. Councilwoman Davala and then Councilman Bles. So community item number 56 is a resolution acknowledging the contents and the effects of the
memorandum of understanding between the state of New Jersey and the city of Patterson for transitional aid in cy 2025 including any applicable supplements. We have anou that we've had for years
and there are certain things that we need to be in compliance. We're not. This addendum is exactly that, reading it and acknowledging that you've read it and that you understand what's on it. That's all that it is. So,
in my responsibility, I know that because we receive transitional aid, we must abide because what's the point of having this council if we can't abide? So, the Division of Local, you know, government services, they could just come and say, "We're going to take
over." Okay? And so we have a responsibility and it is unfortunate. It is unfortunate okay that there are some that do not understand governance that do not understand because we must abide by
thisou if not we don't get that transitional aid and it is obvious that we can't go to the taxpayers. We already byou have to do a minimum of a 2% tax levy. We know that it's not enough. So then how do we do it? You
don't want to increase fees on anything. I mean, I I just don't I I honestly sometimes when I hear some stuff, it all sounds good. And for someone that really doesn't understand this, then yes, we're doing something wrong. But I'm going to say this, uh, council
president, you know, I am ready, uh, to vote. I understand. I sit I've gone to the state. I've sat down with DCA and you know everyone has their right everyone has their right their reasonings how they vote that's okay I'm
ready to do what's right council president thank you very much council council and in addition I just wanted to say you know this is specific to fund balance capital sore operations that it says the city is currently not in compliance with the requirements from the cy 2024 and
previous so this is this is stating all the things that we have not done and some of them that we have um even with the police department uniform construction code UCCC the budget services assessment the clerk's office it talks about everything and it is just
saying acknowledge that you received this document and that you've read it thank you council thank you uh I you know in this part um I'm not going to use the word we because I'm not the administration.
So if the administration have failed in the previousou is not our fault, it's their fault. So for example and that's what the point I I was I was going to speak now and and let's be clear uh we need to put this on
the record staffing requirement the city had current not compliance with the requirement from the calendar year 2024U to maintain properly appointed personnel and statutory position failed to comply by September 30th that means from now to
September 30 2025 may saw in reduction or withholding of all a part of any awarded TA. That's one. There's one specific here. Unifor construction uh construction code UCCC
office fees by September 30, 2025. The city must increase the UECC fees via ordinance to the minimum model fee schedule as provided by NJDCA division of code standards. Failure to comply by
the date that I just mentioned, September 30, 2025 will result in reduction of $1 million of the current year 2025 TA already awarded. So if you're talking
29, it will reduce it to 28 if you don't get it ready by September 30 25. There's another one that is it's talking about reduction. Um that will keep us if
we don't do it it will eliminate it will eliminate $2 million from the current year 2025 TA award which is in equivalent of the state funded incentive that assistant Patterson creating
uh whatever is the sewer operation and and and that's why when I was looking for the pages that highlight this newou and I was looking for that page 31 one or whatever and of course they put the one and two pages at the
end. So it make it difficult to you look look it right away and go backwards. So yes in the past 2024 20 since 2026 I've been sitting here I've been uh proving this memor and understanding and the reason I'm asking why have been changed
as something changed that put us against the wall. Yes, the administration and and and we read the memorandum understanding but they not complying. So if we see any reduction in the TA
they they gave us is not us administration that is not fulfilling the wishes of the state. You know, I just want to bring that up to to the audience because all right, the title says that we acknowledge that we receive
theou that we read it, but they don't want to go deep and where this administration is failing to comply with the money that they they give us. I don't know if the BA I don't know if the BA is going to have a report saying um
or the CFO saying for the next meeting, hey, we comply before September 30th uh with all theou we're not going to get penalized or any money is going to be retained because we have fulfilled what
they are looking for as a as this administration moving forward. Thank you, Councilman. and and and making sure they are responsible, fiscally responsible. I just want to say and the last but not least, just remember the word that the administration just said at the end of
the year when we adopted the budget, they going to come with a straight 4% tax increase. Thank you. If if they get a sufficient vote to pass that budget. Thank you, council. We getting penalized anyway 25 days uh
$25 of a day for this roll call. Madam clerk, roll. Council President, Councilman, um Jackson, one last moment before we before we vote. So within the memor memorandum of theou, it it states in in item J, it
talks about restrictions to tax exemptions, right? And um basically, and I just want listen, I already I'm aware of where everyone's going to do and and how this vote was going to go. Whenever I speak, it's more or less just to educate the public more further on the
the things that's taking place, right? Like he just councilman I don't know what he was talking about down there about, you know, it's sad when you have council members in the street on hanging off the back of garbage trucks talking about boots on the ground not understanding their role, the true role
because when it comes to responsible budgeting, it is the council's responsibility. So to say that if they if the administration fails at meeting the requirements of theou and it's their fault, not ours, that's just a compout.
Much like this guy right here last week was saying how the city does not own the water commission. We don't even understand our role. We don't understand the things that we're responsible for. If you don't understand what you're responsible for, then how are you going
to be responsible for it? So the our form of government is Faulner Act D. That means equal powers. It means council strong, administration strong. If you did not have the council
collaborating so heavily with the mayor, then it wouldn't be such a imbalance in what what's going on here. when but when you have council members who show up at every ribbon cutting and every photo op with the mayor, but now they're mad at them because they got caught on video
doing something inappropriate. Now they're just directing all of their their their hate and disdain at the mayor. You voted yes on every single item that came through here before. Now all of a sudden you want to point your finger and blame it on the mayor. No,
it's the council's responsibility to be fiscally responsible to the residents. And if there's a and if there's a disconnect in that, it's because council members that are here either one of two things. Either they're complicit,
meaning they're involved, or they're incompetent. And in my opinion, it's a combination of both. But you know, the level of incompetency here and the reason why this city is failing is right in front of us. This is an agreement. It's not
something that says, "Wait a minute, we give you money, so you got to vote yes." As councilman was saying, no, this is an agreement. Meaning that we sit down and agree to terms. I'll give you $100, but these are the
things I need you to do. No, I take $90 and I can't do this, this, and this. We have never even been a part of these negotiations because the DCA has conversations with, you know, maybe one or two council members, but they're already the mayor's
rubber stamp anyway. So, when you see this agreement, this is probably the biggest thisou has ever been because now the state is coming forward. They're saying, "Listen, you guys are so irresponsible. You have more employees suing you. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about that
how we got to come together. You guys all got to leave so we can sit here and and vote on these secret uh uh ballots that that when somebody's suing us because something that was done inappropriately and instead of holding the mayor accountable and the
corporation council accountable for it. Oh no, no. Yeah, we just going to settle we settle those things quietly behind closed doors. But all of that's counting against all of the money that we're losing. Anyway, I know I'm I'm going on death ears on this side. I'm just hoping
that you guys are hearing me and understanding what is the problem. These people that that are being responsible for $300 million budgeting have no clue on what they're doing and it's part of the reason why we are where we are. So I'm I'm ready to move
forward. Council President, let's go. Thank you, Councilman. Roll call, Madam Clerk. Roll call on item number 56 for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I'm just going to be really quick, but uh in thisou there's a lot of um stipulation in here
of stuff that has not been done and it hasn't been done by city council members either. And this is in there too. A lot of us sitting up here has not done what we should have done either. U with that being said, my vote is yes. Thank you, Council Councilwoman Daver.
You are 100% correct, Councilwoman Cotton. uh when we talk about things that and we're referring to the administration in this mu it is specific certain items are specific to the council and council's action. With that said, madame clerk, my
vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Jackson. Thank you, Madam Clerk. No, you're wrong. That's totally wrong. Every item that we vote on, every single item, there's nothing. The mayor does not have the power, the ability to do nothing without council approval.
Nothing. nothing. Every single item that comes through here requires council approval. And if the council was saying, "No, no, no. We're not letting you do that." Then guess what? That wouldn't happen. So to talk about being responsible, the
mayor appoints three commissioners to the to the water commission board. Where's the audits? Where's the spending reports? Where's the reports on maintenance? We we don't I don't know. We Let's see what they give us. You can't sit here and act like you're not
at fault. And and I'll just say this last thing. I mean, I listen, I'm trying I'm trying my best, but it's tough. I I So, I'm volunteering again at at Kennedy High School. I'm working with the quarterbacks. I got a good young Dominican quarterback, too. I It's my first time seeing a Dominican
quarterback at Kennedy. And this this kid is pretty pretty tough. Um, so I had an opportunity after a very long time to go into the trailer park of which I'm going to post it again on my page this week to coun the the council guy on the
end. This is going to beautify the neighborhood. I sat here and begged these people. I begged them. $1.5 million, please. This is not what we need. A trailer and still to this day is trash. is sitting there doing nothing
for our community. $1 million. I could give you a thousand of those examples. A thousand of them that the council sets as the and and the mayor was then a council person. I I I'll post a video and you can see all their votes. I I
believe it might have been one of the no vote at during that time. But I'm saying like this thing has a 7 foot ceiling. How you going to play anything in there? No, you can't. Joe, I want you to come see it this week, man. I mean, it's it's
horrible. $1.4 million. And every single one of them went down the line talk about how fantastic it was. And he's like, "Oh, it's going to beautify. If you don't like it, I wish it was in the fifth ward. Who cares what is in? It's still our money being wasted, spent
irresponsibly." So, it's the decisions that we're making that's killing the city. And then you trying to justify your wrongdoing. Just say you don't know and then somebody else could possibly I'm sure somebody in
the audience could come give us better recommendations what to do. But no, we making excuses on why we're failing. Madam clerk, my vote is no. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Khik, my vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Omar. Yes.
Thank you, Councilman Uden. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We are voting for the MOU uh to receive the transitional aid. I totally agree that a city totally depending on transitional aid for last many years is not a strong administration. I completely understand
that and I think we should have plan that how can we not just depend on transitional aid in the future. So we have to have better future plan but since last many years we using it and this year our budget is also depending on the transitional aid. So I think uh
it is important to move forward. So that being said, my vote is positive. My vote is yes, m. Thank you, Councilman VZ. So this is the book of instruction between administration and the city and the state. The only one that we have in compliance to increase the fees for
construction code UCC office fees. So and I believe that's in the agenda today. Um but the thing is that if the state know if the state knows that we increase fees and all that stuff but we don't see revenue coming back I don't
know where what what the administration is doing with the money you know so this is something that administration have to come forward to correct the fiveyear plan or whatever they have to do and I'm Miranda understanding understanding what the administration is doing right what
the administration is not doing right and in this case it's only one item is the decrease of fees of the UCCC. So saying that is the member understanding the acknowledging and the title say that we read it and then we went over it and the administration is aware of what to
correct not to correct into uh uh the function of this administration pointing our fingers and once again if I going to look at pointing our fingers are things that we have proved in the past look at the picture before look what is now and who's taking advantage of that uh
trailer in the first war that was approved in that time that was a a building there dedicated. It was bad. Uh I believe Jumpstar used it for a while. Other agency have used it for a while and other kids have been using that
building uh as of today. So going back and forth and pointing finger I don't know mentioning the guy at the end. I I don't know if they work with this. You guys work with this? No. So I believe not. So moving forward my word is yes on this. Thank you council president.
It's it's not rock or science. You vote yes, you get the 29.7 million. You vote no, you don't get it. That's all this is saying. We need that money to fill this gap or we're going to have to increase the taxpayers by a huge amount. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you. The votes are seven in favor,
one against, one absent. Item number 56 is hereby adopted. Item number 54, Madam Clerk. 54. Item number 54 is a resolution authorizing the award of contract to United Ford LLC for the purchase and
delivery of two 2025 K8A7 police interceptors. Interceptor utility AWD under tips contract number 24901 for the department of public works
public works resolution number 25423 move moved by Councilwoman Davala second second by councilman Odin and Udin roll call madam clerk roll call on item number 54 for adoption councilwoman Cotton
yes councilwoman Davala yes counciloman Jackson, yes. Councilman Khik, yes. Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Uden, yes. Councilman Vez, yes.
Council President, yes. Thank you. The votes are eight in favor, one absent. Item number 54 is hereby adopted. Item number 55, Madam Clerk. Uh, Council President, Councilwoman Cotton, you know, when I came and I forgot to tell you that um when I was in the
office this afternoon, um, Councilman Mendes had called Yes. that he could not he could get a flight back out. Yes, we're aware. I just want to say I answered the phone when he did call. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. Item 55, Madam Clerk. Thank you. Item number 55 is a
resolution authorizing the ward of contract to White and Shogre, Inc. for the purchase and delivery of electrical supplies bid number 25.32 for the facilities division of the department of public works public works resolution number 25 calling 424
moved by councilman second by councilman Dava roll call on item 55 discussion discussion Councilman Jackson we get some details behind what this uh expenditure is for please DPW for item number 55
Okay, council just give a brief overview. He's asking what what is the item? I didn't hear his question. I'm sorry. I'm trying to find out what this expenditure is for. I know um we went a few months here in city hall without air for a moment. I know um White and Sugar
are they are are they the um supply house we utilize to purchase the uh equipment for it just has um it doesn't this is where our um our we get our electrical outlets, wires for like uh ordinary fixes um day-to-day um work in
the city. This is not where we bought the air conditioner unit from from for this building. So, so we spent $103,000 on electrical boxes. More than that, we It's anything from a air conditioner, small window
conditioner to um rails of wire, um anything big fix that we have to do in house or our vendor has to do, they'll go purchase the stuff from our our supplier and do the job. So, so when you say our vendor, which
vendor are you referring to? our electrical vendor. So our electrical contract. Yes. J&J. Right now they're J&J. So they get awarded a contract. Yeah. And then we're the the materials are not included in that on certain project. It's just if whoever
gets it at that rate uh cheaper, we'll go with that. If we can get it cheaper at our vendor or for our guys, we'll buy the supply and they'll just charge us the labor. Okay. So, I mean, are we not are we not matching
up um $142,000? I mean, listen, an electrical box, a receptacle box cost at most $4, $5.
Well, you're talking about wiring up, let's say, a generator. Uh, let's say if this building the generator goes out, we have to get Well, how many times have we done that? And which building last year? Last year. Which building the generator went out? Oh, this is two years. This is a two-year contract. No, no, I get it's two years, but the
one year isund plus,000. The other year is 92. What is it? Um, year one is 70. Yeah. And uh No, I'm sorry. That's white and sugar.
US Electrical Service. The second bid was $55,000. 50,000 one year 103 $103,000 the second year. I'm just trying to have a better idea like what is this money for? We're spending
I want to I want to see an itemized list, okay, of what we spent $69,000 at electricals. Now, I get it if we're buying units, rooftop units, condenser units for buildings such, you know, this size, but
if we're this is just for like miscellaneous um parts that's it's both. It's miscellaneous um councilman and it's major renovations. Uh we do have multiple buildings in the city. Like what what's what's give me an example of a major renovation. Let's say
the the complex with something that they're doing in the complex right now or uh the health department what they're doing the the units they bought in the Yeah, but we approved that on a separate item. We approved that that that those repairs is being done for the um not not all of it. Now, some of it is
through J&J Electric and they're utilizing some but that's something that something that we should have a detailed discussion about because if we have a contract for someone to do work Mhm. that is rightfully so should include labor and materials and vendor
profitability and then we're turning right back around and then supplying them with the material and it's only on certain jobs. Councilman, the other stuff is for our guys to also do work installing air conditioners um stuff like that. I'm not
the electrician. I can get you a detailed description on what the money was spent on, where it went, what building it went in, what room it went in. We get you all that for the for the past contract. That's not a problem. Yeah. I I want to see a detailed list of these expenditures right here. Mr.
Sales, I want to I want to know what buildings, what year, what month, what uh uh who did the job, if it was outsourced to an outside contractor. Are we are we taking notes, Mr. Ba? Because I mean, you haven't provided me
nothing yet. So, um, Madame Clerk, are we are we also taking Well, I I'll go back and double up on the video to make sure I send it in writing, but I want to have detailed uh uh uh expenditure reports on how many
uh receptacles, how many light switches, what cable we we purchased, how many rolls we purchased of what uh was it was 122, 124 14 whatever it was we purchased and if there's an ex an in the remaining
inventory of these supplies and then how are we keeping track of utilization of inventory okay because uh this this is a bit much for the work that I see like I you know I'm not really aware of this level of work
being done locally I know most of the time when this kind of work is being done we're outsourcing it to someone else. So, um I mean, listen, I know you guys are look going to move this forward anyway. Um I don't feel comfortable with
voting on this considering what we just did and how we're talking about being stringent on approving of expenses. Here's just another example of where we need to tighten up the belt and actually, you know, get some in get some
reports from the administration as opposed to just uh you know, and mind you uh director, this is no shade on you. I know you you you know, you handle your responsibilities whenever I request them. I can't say anything about the gentleman to your left, but um I need to
have this this I need to have I need to understand what kind of you know expenses that we're just taking on without being accountable to it. Defin try to have it for you by by Friday. Close of business. Thank you, Councilman. Roll call, Madam
Clerk, on item 55. Roll call on item number 55. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Councilwoman Davala. Yes. Counciloman Jackson. So again, um this is absolutely no shade on on the
director from DPW and or the work that the members of DPW do. This right here is strictly solely finger being pointed at the BA, the former BA, the current mayor for not being accountable to ex to
to to expenses. And I know this is unrelated, but while we're in um a roll call on this, uh just another example how we continue to move the um move these items forward. I'm curious, Mr.
BA, if you can give us an answer today or send a report. I'm wondering why are we after we lost the litigation with the fire department and why is the city now holding out for their 2% increase that they have forcing them back to litigation and then forcing us to take
on these unnecessary legal expenses instead of just making sure like when you guys dropped the ball this p that past week and we had no water, it was the fire department that was that was on on the ready Because god forbid had we
had a fire, we had to have, you know, tankers placed in different different areas. We had to call on other departments which is also going to we're I want to know the expenditures for that cuz I want to make sure the P Valley Water Commission is taking on all the
expenses for those those outside agencies, all the overtime that we had to pay for fire and all those things. And I'm expecting an answer from you sometime today, Mr. BA. Why are we holding out when the fire department when we already lost this in litigation
that the they that through the state it was already granted and and rightfully so everyone is entitled to a 2%. You guys are getting 2%. Everyone in the administration is getting 2%. Why are we doing this with the fire department which we know we're going to lose? I I
know the mayor's just he doesn't care cuz he only has 9 months left but we're going to lose. It's going to cost the taxpayers more dollars and you know I'm hoping we can get an answer on that. Uh, madame clerk, my vote is no. Thank you, Councilman Khalik. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Omar.
My vote is yes, madam clerk. Yes. Okay. Thank you, Councilman Nuden. Yes. Councilman VeZ. Yes. It's a it's a contract uh for three years. If you look at the city u private
development they have being put on hold because the prices of u of product have rising. So what you expect they give us one thing for one penny so it going to go high every year's material is going
to go high. So uh and I know DPW is real um diligent in what they order and what they invest in our city. So this is not an old contract. It's a contract that we always had with them. So and also they are from Patterson. So my vote is yes.
Thank you, Council President. My vote is yes, madam clerk. Thank you. The votes are seven in favor, one against, one absent. Item number 55 is hereby adopted. Item number eight, Madame Clerk. Eight. Item number eight is a resolution authorizing rejection of low bidder and
authorizing the award of contract to the second low bidder absolute fire protection company inc for the purchase and delivery of one 100 aerial ladder truck bid number 25.25 25 for the fire department fire resolution number 25
376. Second move by Councilwoman Zavala and Valz second by council um President Mims. Public hearing is required. Public hearing is required. Yes. See no one move to close.
Seeing none. Move to close by. Second by council mandala. Roll call to close the public portion of item number eight. Madam clerk. Roll call to close the public hearing on item number eight. Councilwoman Cotton, yes. Councilwoman Dav, yes. Councilman Jackson,
yes. Councilman Khik, yes. Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Uden, yes. Councilman Vez, yes. Council President, yes. The votes are eight in favor. Uh, one absent.
Roll call on number eight. I roll caller item number eight. Council president. C. Council Cotton. Thank you. I just want to um it was questioned when we had our committee meeting um regarding um when you put a resolution together to reject a bid. Normally, if you don't go with
the lowest bidder, the lowest bidder then can file a complaint, file a some kind of grievance um that was brought out that they did file, but then they dropped their filing and they did not show up. They're not here tonight. So, they're not appealing it. They're not appealing. So that's why we
can vote on rejecting the lowest bidder. Thank you. Roll call. M. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Councilman Jackson, I didn't quite I didn't quite get that. Can So Okay, let him talk it. Mr. Can can one of the gentlemen please open a discussion.
Um Harry, good evening council member. Good evening. As for the purchasing laws when the second going to receive the contract they have process for part of the processes that we send the
information to the biders who participated regular mail UPS next day an email for them to be aware of the decision making along with that is the same information that everybody receive or other reason why
the the fire department decide to go with the second lobby. Can you explain the reason why to the resolution? Yeah, please chief. Good evening, council. The uh the fire department had a committee that was put together to
research fire apparatus for the city of Patterson, specifically a new ladder truck. Uh after careful research and consideration from multiple apparatus manufacturers, the decision was made to go with Absolute, who happened to be the second lowest bidder.
The committee felt after reviewing the bid from the lowest bidder that they did not meet all the requirements that we asked of them when we put our package together. And just uh on a side note, this is not
being paid for by any taxpayer money. This is coming from community development block grant funding. So for a point of clarity, I I would I don't want to have to correct you this way. Community development block grant money is taxpayers money. That is money
that's provided as a grant to the city of Patterson from tax dollars that can be utilized for a plethora of different things. So this is one of those things, but it could be utilized for something else as well. Not to say that you're right. I understand it's not coming from
the tax levy, but it is taxpayers dollars and it is our responsibility to be responsible with that spending. The reason the reason I'm pointing this out to you and I'm asking you what what brought you to to this decision is
because this council and it has nothing to do with you. I'm I'm appreciative of you guys being responsible and making sure that the bid that you approve was the bid that fit most suitably to the to
to the requirements that you guys would be most comfortable with. And I'm only utilizing this again. I'm educ you you have to take the education along with everybody else. I apologize. But in the past when we had Mr. Wells
here, those of you who remember when he was the second lowest bidder for the clean streets uh uh situation and the the first bidder was double the price of where he was. And everybody in this council kept sitting here saying, "We
can't do that. is procurement. We're seeing the respon the the fire department act responsibly and turn down the lowest bidder go with the next bidder which is actually higher but
to be responsible to the to the criteria of what they're seeking. Just wanted to make that point. I appreciate you for helping me do that. Um, I'm moving ready to move forward. Councilman Jackson, roll call. Madam clerk, council,
uh, fire, I I believe you stated that the first bidder was not in compliance. Correct. That's why we moving forward to the second one. Okay. What experienced in the past is no match whatever is saying here.
Thank you, Council President. Roll call. Madam clerk. Thank you. Um, the public hearing is closed. I'm sorry I didn't say that. Roll call on item number eight for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton, yes. Councilwoman Dava, yes.
Councilman Jackson, yes. Counciloman Khik, yes. Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Uden, yes. Councilman Vez, yes. Councilwoman Mims, Council President Mims, yes. Madame Clerk, thank you. The votes are eight in favor,
one absent. Item number eight is hereby. Good job, Harry. Thank you. Thank you. Have a good evening. So, um we're going to go to item number one and two, madame clerk, in first reading, but I do want to acknowledge that our pose county laborers union,
they are present on tonight. Um, previously this council passed um, private labor agreements in the past where we had big projects that were happening in the city of Patterson. They were not utilizing Patterson Workers First. So, we put in place a private
labor agreement through this council which was approved to ensure that happened. on tonight. Earlier tonight, we approved direct hire agreements that is specifically outlines to make sure that Patterson certified residents that
are certified in different areas, whether it's uh construction, electrician, plumbing, heating, all those things um was approved. So, that was approved earlier tonight. And I wanted to thank the laborers for coming in. I know they're still here. Thank you so much for all the work you're doing.
presidents here and the entire team. Thank you so much, madame clerk. Item number one, please. Item number one is the first reading ordinance. No public hearing required. Ordinance amending Patterson Code Chapter 5, section 52, purchasing
division, purchasing agent as head. General duties to delegate authority to award window contracts to city's qualified purchasing agent administration. Can I get a motion? Moved by Council President Mim. Second.
Second by Councilman Khalik. Roll call. Madam clerk. Discussion. Councilman Jackson. Did Mr. Sealis just leave? Yes. It's for it's so this item it might be
best to get him because it's pertaining to um our purchasing agent. This item is to give him the opportunity when it comes to these contracts and it is listed in the resolution item one. Um and you can further go into it VA but um
our purchasing agent a lot of times when it comes to trying to do this contract work the threshold is very small and limited. So is it being increased by I think uh 10,000. Yeah. Yeah. So, it's on item number one, but if you want to go into it. No, I understand what it's saying, but
I'm trying to understand is this a specific project that we're looking to fill the We've been doing this quite often. We're giving what's being classified as the purchasing agent the go-ahad, but really what it's really turning into is this the mayor able to
circumvent the procurement process. And the procurement process requires that it has council oversight. And if the council, brother Farra, I need you need you to chime in on this. If the if the council is consistent consistently raising the threshold and giving the
allowance of the administration to move forward without our oversight, it just points to the same thing that I just talked about a little while ago. So, I know what the what the what the what the language says. I know what the agreement is about, but is there a specific
project that we're looking to do? What is the reason that they feel it necessary not to bring items to the council? Is it because the council changed the meeting schedule from twice a month to once a month so they they can't get it in? I mean, there has to be
a reason. There's a there's a vetting pro uh uh there's a vetting process for a reason. The council is here for a reason. If we're going to continue to allow them to do without the council's oversight, then we're just not being responsible. So, Councilman Jackson, let
me just read to you, and that's why I thought the BA would do it, but I will proclude to do it. And the resolution, the New Jersey state law changed. So, our state legislator sent it over to our purchasing agent, New Jersey state
statute 40 A-1, New Jersey AC uh C535. It changed and these are the new thresholds. And so we have to um comply with the state statute. So it came to us
by our uh state legislators, came to um Harry and Purchases and we have to be in compliance. Mr. President, one second. I believe you did a pause. And so that's where this came from. It came from our state legislators. It came to us and it g we have a strict deadline
to be in compliance. It came to our purchasing agent. Um and I brought it to uh before this council. Um council member. Thank you council president. Also uh let's highlight that and there's um the
body of the resolution also uh takes the power the business administrator of a head of purchasing division is uh throw the responsibility to the qualified purchasing agent. So the administration though had nothing to do or the mayor had nothing to do where anything is
awarded or contract based on this law is the uh the GPA the qualified purchasing agent. In this case is Mr. Harris Cavalo that he does a great work with this um license and and with his duties as a
qualified purchasing agent. Thank you. Roll call. Madam clerk. I'm sorry council president. I was trying to give allowance to Councilman Jackson. So that's totally incorrect. So we understand who's a licensed and qualified purchasing agent. We
understand what the procurement process is. But it does not negate the fact that everything everyone including Harry Sale and yes I agree he's responsible. Everyone works for the mayor. They take
direction from the mayor. The only way the council can ensure oversight is to make sure that these items come to us. This mand this is not a mandate. This the raising of the thresholds because in the past it was 45,000. Now they're
raising it to where the municipality has the ability to. It's not a mandate that requires us to do this. Otherwise, we'll just say blanket it any contract that that doesn't exceed this amount. But no, there's certain things that come before
the council because the council is endowed with the privilege or the responsibility to be responsible for overall spending. What we should be doing is lowering all the thresholds so they got to come before the council for
every single dime and every single penny that's spent. If we're raising thresholds for various items and allowing for them to have the the ability to circumvent bringing it to the council, then we find out about it after the fact and want to go in in before the
media and complain. Here's your here's your your your time to be responsible right now. But again, I mean, you guys don't understand it. I roll call, Madam Clerk. Council President, Councilman Khaled, what's the what's the threshold now? 17.
No, it's not 175. And the resol said 175. 53. Yeah, it's going up to 53. Council President, I'd like to get an answer from Mr. Ba. Mr. Ba, he he doesn't know.
Council President through you. Um I believe it's 43,000 or 44 currently. 53. It's 53. Thank you, Council President. Council President, Councilman VZ, and then Councilman Odin.
So, let let's let's clear the record here. Um, and I got to I got to speak general. Um, any qualified purchasing agent, no matter what municipality they work, no
matter what under what administration they work, we work Jersey City, Newark or Patterson, they're not going to they're not going to risk their integrity, their license, and the years of service and the municipality they work in just
because they want to do a favor to any any mayor. They have a lot of laws in the books that they had to follow and bringing it to local government. Patterson Harry Savalos followed those rules and laws and that he's not going
to lose his integrity, his years of service and his license. This will do a favor because he works for this administration. If there's any mayor there, anybody's here sitting, he still go by the book. That's why I want to
clear that in the air because this is the I believe one of the departments purchasing agents that I know that will not play with the integrity and license that they hold. So let's clear that in the air
because not even us sometime go up there to say even hi but they do a great job in that office and they don't get compensated the way we should talk about the compensation they should get to be able to acknowledge them better. Thank you council president. Thank you council. Councilman Odin
thank you council president. I don't think anybody's speaking about the credibility of um our purchase agent uh Harry Savvay and I think we all are confident on him. This is not the point. The point is um
do you think he's going to be there for next 5 years, 10 years? That's that's that's that's not the point. point is that council is going to have more control and have uh you know opportunity to ask questions for the items we are
purchasing with with that um is keeping the current threshold. So I think I think it's a good point Councilman Jackson came up with that when the threshold is going after $53,000 is a pretty much it's a big amount and I I
think I think we should now move forward since it's not mandated. we don't have to uh accept it. So I think council should have more opportunity to ask question and should have knowledge that what what are the purchases uh taking place uh by the administration. So I
think I think we we should not support I mean I believe that that's we should have stayed the same so that the council would have clear knowledge is back so I can have better question u thank you um
Mr. SIA. So question from the uh item number one uh regarding the uh threshold. So is it going to be any any way um council president can I ask question? Of course. Yeah.
Okay. Thank you. So uh so is the is this resolutions going to be uh beneficial or giving any advantages to the city or to uh to you if you can explain or or make your process faster. I don't
know what's the benefit of it. Who's the council president? Mr. President that that result of the local finance not propagated by the state is not something that we create because
came to our minds local finance knowledge clarity state window of contract right 175 to the treasur process remain the same if we If price
goes, price quotes will be requested. If we use a state contract, we verify the state contract vendor. The process remain the same. The only thing that change is that between that window from
the calling window 175 to 53, a resolution won't be necessary, but the purchasing process will remain the same. I am responsible for that. We I think I think council understood
that part. But the question is um it's not the mand is not it's not mandated by the uh state that we have to accept it. But question is is it going to be beneficial? How is it going to be uh what's the advantages of accepting it? Advantageous for efficience and savings
especially efficiency because like I mentioned before the purchase remain the same. I say one thing you see on the contract you see on the resolution presented from the city council identical the only thing we will be no resolution needed but the process
remain the same which is to keep and file when we get audit every year but the audit to when the state comes by I don't think audit is going to be anyway same uh I mean thank you for answering the question job easier
I thank you Mr. here is not something new. The only thing is presented now because the threshold number change. This is already in in place. All right. I I mean we had done in the past. Last year we did one identical it was from
175 to 44. Now July 1st the threshold changed to 53,000. That's the reason I presented because we want to make things transparent here. Look we know what we doing here. I'm talking about myself like I have high confidence on you but I'm thinking about the future that let's say you are not in
that position in the future and is it is the administration going to misuse this uh you know threshold that's exactly what in my mind so any answer thank you for answering the question if any other council members have question they can councilman Jackson I don't know council I thought you was a
teacher you looking like you struggling on your on a on a spelling test down there oh my gosh scratching your head It's ridiculous. Eddie, the definition you gave us last week, we may need that again this week cuz I don't know what Councilman Veles was talking about. Mr. Sales, just
correct me if I'm wrong. Just correct me if I'm wrong. If we had a job or a project that exceeds the threshold, then that means it has to go out to a open public bidding process. Sure. Only correct me if I'm wrong, please.
Through the open public bidding process, everyone who's qualified can submit a closed and sealed bid. We open those bids under, you know, um, at one time full disclosure. Correct. So far, right?
That's correct. From everybody of the vendor who decided to attend the opening always on the fourth floor conference room is open on the fourth floor. Understood that. We understand that process. But what it does is it allows that it's an open public bidding process. So if
there's multiple contractors that's qualified and and and um interested in placing a bid, they all get an opportunity fairly through a fair process. Now in this new process, not because it's not a new process, we're
just raising the threshold. So if now I'll ask the question, I'm not going to give the answer. If the if it was a an item that the administration was looking to to have to to outsource and it falls under the threshold and they
brought the proposal to you, the administration brings it directly to you, what happens then? Nothing will happen because that never happened before and it won't happen while I'm here. What do you mean never happened before? Like if somebody bring me a package
again, it's under the threshold. So they don't have to bring you a bid package. They're only bringing you a proposal or for example a quote, a price quote. If it's under the threshold, you're not required to bring a sealed bid package.
The administration then has the ability to bring you a vendor, one vendor only, and you can say, "Okay, it's under the threshold." And what happens? Nothing will happen because that will never take place. What do you mean it never take place?
Because number one, I'm the purchasing agent. I the one or the directors and division directors, they know what the needs are. They're seeking the quote. Administration never get involved with anything we do. Mr. Sales, the directors is the administration. They work under the
administration. So, if a director, let's say, for example, the director of DPW brings you a quote, for example, if they want to fix an electric situation and it falls under the threshold, they vet the vendor. They bring the
vendor. You don't you're not out soliciting for for a a company to do the various odd jobs. They're bringing it to you. You don't know the relationship between them and the administration or the director. They're bringing bringing
it bringing it to you and as long as it's under the threshold what happens number one and foremost it's going to be more than one I'm sorry more than one quote because they start to go for a minimum three quotes so that's the first thing that we need to
deal with okay but this quoting process is not sealed the administration meaning a director is bringing it to you so they know who are the the the potential potential vendors and whatever the quote
uh the uh quote amounts they've already it's already disclosed. So when they bring it to you, they already know who's going to be the proposed uh vendor. Yeah. What it need to be done same day
same time they send the quote to the vendors three, four, five, whoever they and the code to tell them we need the answer for this day at this time. As a result of that the director analyzed
we received two we received three we received four and then they sent it to me to say listen we seek these votes do you have a result of such exercise and then the decision made to because I have
to make sure that the directors they're doing their part because at the end of the day I'm responsible for it. I would never allow anybody to take a pond to be oh well I don't know and the purchasing agent are responsible for that. So I
always tell them three coats minimum because they know their needs. They know how many nails they have to put in their wall, how many 2x4s they need to purchase and everything else. So I'm going just rest it here, brother Savales. And I understand that and I have full confidence in what you do. And
I believe in my opinion what you do is more clearly done when you go through the open public bidding process because now when a director is bringing you three quotes, they've already they they have the ability, let me not make any
accusations, they have the ability to vet those quotes. They have the ability to to be uh uh involved. Let's say it that way in those quotes. So that the one that comes in the lowest is the one
that they are expecting or are or are trying to give the the job to. And that's my point that I'm making to you. There's no way that you of $350 million budget can can go out and and and vet
each and every single quote that comes in. When we go through the open public bidding process, it is much more tangible for you to have the ability to vet it clearly and make sure that there's no underlining
uh uh uh relationships that's being that's being uh brought forward because there is a possibility just like with with the fire department. Sometime we've had situations where you put a bid out multiple times and only one vendor brings it back. the administration could
definitely come to you and say, "You know what? We we went out to seek quotes. We was unable to get them. We only got one responsible quote and it's under the threshold and guess what? It's going to get paid." And if they do that 30 times, 50 times, then we just went
through what 50 times 10 is not it's not that it's $500,000. You're correct about that point because that other things I need to check is the aggregate because first time they spend $18,000. I understand that aggregate with one particular vendor.
But if I got a guy like uh uh Mr. Ake Dunham right there who is very savvy and he has opened up four or five companies, one in his brother's name, one in his son's name, he can then through his relationship come and get four different
contracts in the amount of 50. What is this? 56,000 50. How much is the threshold up to? 53 53 $53,000. He would love to have f four contracts for 54 $53,000. And I'm sure there's other people that would love to have it, too. My only
point to this council is not to you. You've been doing this quite some time. This administration does not deserve the respect to be able to have a a a blank check. We we just went over how we're being financially irresponsible and we
want to raise the threshold for the mayor to have a blank check. No, he doesn't get to have a blank check for nothing. That doesn't negate your responsibilities because what we're doing by giving him this blank check for 53,000 is taking the power out of your
hands to be the uh uh uh procurement officer by by putting it through the process of the open public bidding process. That's my point. I mean, listen, we I'm we already know that this is going to pass. They're ready to vote. They biting at the chip just the bit just to vote yes
on it. But I'm trying to educate the public in the process because people don't understand how these contracts get are getting done and I'm just trying to educate them on further. I appreciate you coming back and explaining it because the BA had no idea what was
going on. Also, if you were known you having in my office before anyone who interested to do being with the city, they're welcome to come by. No, absolutely. Absolutely. Listen, I've brought vendors to you and and we've made, you know, even with with with through the uh cellular phone, you know,
changing over which actually saved the city money. But the point is, you know, I don't have any Listen, we already have gotten a reduction from 33 requested $33 million amount back down to 29 million. $34
million. And now we're going to give him a blank check to write another half a million, $800,000 or, you know, a million, couple million dollars before he he's here nine more months. We don't need to give him no more freedom to do no more spending. Let's put a band-aid on this on this spending and and call it
a day. So, but you know, that's not what they're going to President. Thank you, Mr. Sealis. Thank you, Councilman Khaled. Thank you. Um, Mr. Sealis, who sent out the quotes? Do the director
send out the quotes or you send out the quotes to the to the vendors to have a emergency code or anything? The directors because like I stated before, they know the need which building, which office is going to fix, how many the material that they need and
then they do what's so funny, councilman, what's funny is you've been here long as long as I have. You don't know. You don't know. You don't know the process. I'm I'm just What's funny is you don't know. You're ignorant. It's not funny. It's sad. I'm just clarifying something.
You don't need to I'm just clarifying clarify. You should know. I'm just clarifying something. You should know that. I just explained it to you. Unlike you. I never explained it. No. You ask me what's so funny. I'm tell you I never been to Harry's office. I'm just clarifying it to you. I'm just clarifying
trying to learn. Unlike you, I never took anybody to Harry's office. Like I said, like I said, unlike you, I don't even know where Harry's office is. Unlike you, I never took any vendors, anybody to Harry's office to code on something or anything like that.
Thank you. I just want to clarify. Usually the purchasing agent send out the codes like Well, I I might be wrong. I might be wrong. I might be wrong. Go ahead. I have couple contracts that my office as a
quote got the trophy is one. Okay. Okay. So those exactly how many so that's within threshold. No big I mean because that time like I mentioned before the same day the quotes willow the same day
the court returns and the result is and and if even director send even the director send out the quotes does it come to you or to them the quotes back they come they come to them they come back with the result to me it's my director
I'm I'm talking to him and why you talking on the side council members why you talking on the Trying to educate you, brother. I'm trying to help you. Council members trying to help you. I don't need no education for I'm trying to help you. Maybe you won't continue to vote. Council members, you won't continue to vote so foolishly
if you more educated. Why you always council members? We're trying to move forward so the public can speak. Council members, I do my homework. Obviously, you don't you don't know. If you're going to become the mayor within 9 months, maybe you should support this then.
No, I'm not going to support anything that he's going to be. Council members, he has nothing to do. So he's going to foolishly spend supposedly becoming the council members. Are there any more questions for uh what you got to do? Just don't point finger at me. I'm not pointing finger at you.
No. When you do something stupid, I'm definitely going to point out you stupid. When you do something stupid, I'm definitely clarifying something. I'm pointing out each and every time. Council members, you are more stupid than me. Are we are the questions? Like I never took a question or anybody
to Harry's office to vote on something. That's being stupid. No, go ahead. This is a open public bidding process. Councilman, it wasn't it wasn't unusual. Thank you, Council President. This is open public again. Again, this
Thank you, Council President. So again, this council, I'm not I'm not She gave me the floor. He's still trying to get his get text messages so he could ask the right question. Let him let him let him. No, you don't have the floor. Council council have the floor. Why you council
member? See how he distract the meeting? See how he destruct the meeting? You don't have the councilman Khali, can you finish with the purchasing agent, please? Well, within the purchasing law and there's a $9,000 difference. Now we have
44,000 is a cost of living I guess and is going up to 53,000 for this threshold to be that's all I got my clarification on the on the bidding as far as I know that you administer have a purchasing a
agent he sent out all the quotes and and and um and bids that was my knowledge I learned something that if you within the threshold the director do it on the side. That's I I learned something
today. Usually you go to any of the um of the agencies out there, any co-op, any co-op. That's why the purchasing agent is there to send out emergency quotes or bits in our city or maybe
other cities. The the emergency quotes probably sent out by director, which I did not know. Now I knew there's nothing wrong with it. He want to point finger at somebody. But like I said, I never took a vendor or anybody to your office or called you about it. Oh, do you have a bead or something for these people
unlike other council? Thank you, Councilman Colleague. Councilman Vez. Thank you, Council President. Uh let me remind everyone uh every November we we we attend the League of Municipality and one of the classes I I love is the
procurement and purchasing agents uh classes. Why? because the state changed a lot the law and give more rooms to operate. And one day in one of those classes, one of the municipality came
and say your agenda is so big for little things that could be resolved without being in the agenda and your meetings could be even shorter. Remember that? Okay. So, this is an action and I and I got to ask you just one question.
And you just stated the director sent fire, police, uh, community improvement, any director send you a scope of work of of their needs for that division scope of work. I need this, I need this, you know, I need
you to do this means you have a list of vendors in the city of Patterson and you probably send emails to those vendors saying that this is an opportunity to send a quote regarding the scope of work that they have. Correct? Because there there's a participation of vendors. It
could be corp, it could be independent vendors, but they had to submit a quote. they probably the director don't know the quote that they bringing in because you receive it, you analyze it and then you move forward with the lower quote because you want to save the city of
Paris money based on the scope of work that that director requested. So that's easy. The the the what we really are are saving time is now we meeting once a month on a regular meeting and one workshop a month. So you imagine a
director need something for their department. It takes months to approve something that is a threshold. So once again yes director uh purchase the agent um we we could point administration that they
go and give you a lot of quotes but today is notable that a councilman went to your office and bring business to the city of Patterson. He stated in the record. So moving forward, keep on doing keep on doing your great job. We don't have and I say I stated before, no
purchaser agent in any part of the state of New Jersey is going to lose their integrity, their license, and the year service to do things wrong. Thank you, especially the city of Patterson. Thank you. Roll call, Madam Clerk. Roll call on item number one on first
reading. Um, Councilwoman Councilman Jackson. Thank you, Madam Clerk. So, I'm going clarify because uh you know they're blankly throwing out around accusations and it's amazing people will talk about
integrity. Officers, make sure you stand close to the fire alarms. And then just so those of you who don't know what takes place at the League of Municipalities, it's a lot of drinking that go on down there. a lot of
partying. You know, I'm surprised people had time to go to the classes. I don't drink, by the way, but that that's besides the point. So, again, so the public can understand this clearly, young man, I hope you
listening, brother, cuz we're going to need you one of these seats one day. The process is if it's goes out to open public bid, the the vendor has to seal their bid and
send it in. Nobody knows what the bids are. If they get 10 bids in, they open them all at the same time. There's a committee there. all none of them could be open upstairs on the fourth floor under this brother's supervision because
that's his his job which he does extremely well and at that moment they're all open and compared and then they're put in a list of who meets the the credent the criteria how much is it
etc. When we mitigate the open public bidding process, anyone can have a relationship with the director and say, "Hey, the director could be looking for a service." And if he can't find it because it wasn't
advertised as a open public bid because then it does not have to be advertised. He can then take in a quote. He can Yeah, he can make phone calls, but Mr. Sales isn't sending out any emails to vendors. Hey, I need somebody to put in
a thousand screws. No, he's not doing that. The vendor has a relationship with the director or the director is should know who the vendor is. So, it's a responsible quote. I know you could do the job. I know you're not going to just
take the money and do a bot job. So, he then submits it. Yes, in certain circumstances, if he doesn't know, he could submit three and then they can vet it, Mr. Kvales. But there is an opportunity for there only to be one cuz he can say nobody else submitted a a a
price quote. Okay, it's under the threshold. The the uh uh aggregate expenses doesn't exceed the threshold. We can go with that. And the Councilman McCoy who spent many years up here being responsible can can validate this. So
yes, now there's an opportunity for us to provide a quote or a a contract to someone without it coming to the council for vote. What we should be doing as a council because of where we are with our
budget is we should be lowering the threshold which we are just like the state give allowances is always from here to there. we could lower the threshold so that every single job that needs to be done in the city has to come
back before the council to be vetted. He's saying, well, now we only have one meeting. So, the council creates a problem only to try to fix other problems where we reduce our meetings to only once a month and we say, "Oh, well,
we we want to expedite business." It doesn't make any sense. Now, I'll say this last thing. We all of our phone services were going through Verizon. We all have Verizon. We all had the city. We have city cell
phones that's paid for by that was paid for by the city through Verizon. The bill was astronomical. There was an opportunity when when AT&T opened up the uh FirstNet.
All I did was make an introduction of the of one of the management people at AT&T to Mr. Saleis. I didn't break any Mr. Survalis is not going to let he just sat there. Everybody talked about how responsible he is. And then they
say, "Oh, I'm not going up to his office bringing vendors." Yeah, cuz you don't have no relationships like that. All you doing is worrying about what you can get out of the deal. I didn't get nothing out of the deal. I made an introduction with AT&T so we could get first net so
that we could have the first responders and and save the city money, have a better, greater service. Simple as that. So all those accusations about me doing stuff, I don't pull fire alarms and run out the building. I don't, you know, hit
people and then make a claim and then go back to the vendors the next day, to the to the uh store owners the next day, try to threaten them to get rid of the video and all of that stuff. I don't have to do that. You got people talking about integrity who have absolutely zero
integrity. But with that being said, um I hope that was a clear enough explanation. Madam clerk, my vote is no. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Um, voting no
on this item is un undermining every director in city of Patterson in director position undermining every one of them questioning basically questioning their in integrity.
um every director. I hope some of them are here and others are are listening. By voting yes, we will become compliance with local public contract law. We're not doing anything illegal or or nothing
nothing out of the book. Like I said, voting no is undermining every director in city of Patterson. They're going to do something crooked. Crooked people think crooked. My vote is yes, Madame Clerk.
Thank you, Councilman Omar. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Uden. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um uh so it's not about questioning the directors or questioning
the purchase agent. This is not about it. when we are purchasing with the uh threshold is a pretty big amount. I would say this is kind of like bypassing formal contract and I would say where is less oversight and uh transparency to us
like as a council members we have to have more clear idea on this besides we all know this favoritism is there regardless we say nobody does that but it is taking place people go by who I know or not so when it's go with that
big amount of threshold I you know there could be of opportunity for the favoritism so for seeing all these things and also I I think that with the long run we can we we may have to um you know um spend more money because there
will be less competition because going to go by um without formal um you know advertisement or contract so I feel that we might have to spend even more money over the time. So considering all the facts um and I highly respect you Mrs.
Vio no question about your credibility but considering all the fact that can take place uh my vote is no. Thank you Councilman. Councilman Vez my my vote is yes.
Thank you council president. Um Harry thank you for all that you can't go councilman. You can't go. We don't have a corner. Yeah, my vote is yes. Thank you. Thank you. The votes are being
four in favor, two against, three absent. Item number one is hereby adopted on first reading. Second reading will be held at the regular meeting of September 16th, 2025.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you um for coming back. Um Harry, thank you so much. Councilman Jackson, madam clerk, does does this item require six on the second reading? I don't think so. But let me check. I don't think so.
Oh, it's four. Four voted yes. How do you know? Who you ask? I'm asking the clerk. She's the parliamentarian. Who did you ask? So, madame clerk, did you say yes or no? Yes to what?
He's asking does it require six votes? I told him no, but I didn't read in the resolution that it requires six votes. Well, we're because this is only the first reading. Um, corporation council's not in corporation counselor if you can if you
if you may uh assist please. It doesn't the item that we were just discussing. Um I know this is a first reading um item. Does it require six on on second reading? No. Does it require six on the second reading? Six affirmative
corporation council. Uh yes. Uh thank you council president. Thank you Councilman Jackson. Uh for that inquiry. Um according to the Faulk Act, uh you need a majority of those present on second reading. So that would be uh five maj majority of the council.
Majority. Correct. Well, no. Uh, majority of the council. So, that would be five out of nine. Thank you, corporation council. U madame clerk, we will Thank you. Um, purchasing agent, we will now go into public
portion. We have um on our public portion list, we have approximately 18 speakers. I'm asking all speakers um to respect the chambers. I know there are a lot of concerns and um situations going on, but please be respectful. You have
three minutes. Um and the rule is that you will call ahead of time. There is one person that called me um and he know who he is. He will be allotted one extra minute. Madame clerk, please call the first The first speaker is Ilia Villan Noeva. She left. Madam cler,
she left. Okay. Next speaker is Christina Conpio. Please state your name. Christina Conpsion, 582 East 31st Street. Um, I spoke to Marissa already about it. Um, he actually walked out,
but I'm so disgusted with Valance. He is my council man and I'm having a real big issue. I just text Marissa all my pictures. Um, I've been putting complaints to the city since 2001
and nothing has been done. Not through the business, not through the mayor. I spoke to um, one of the mayor's workers here. And my street is bad. If y'all know, East 31st, we have that big factory right in front of my house. One,
I'm dealing with the garbage from McDonald's. I go to McDonald's every day to have somebody come and clean their garbage. Okay. My street is pitch black. My car is constantly being broken into. I had to follow the suspect because
police didn't want to come up 21st staff, which he broke into three of the vehicles. The supervisor, which which was a police officer who showed up, did not want to arrest the guy. I'm in court process now
because I had to show proof that I recorded him break into three other vehicles coming up 21st a call the police six times that night and the dispatcher said why you following the guy why because I'm tired of my car being broken into
the factory in front of my house I've been in my house 42 years now I took over my parents house my mom passed away of COVID I have my dad now who I take care ware of this company owns the parking lot right
in the same block. There's only three houses on my block. We're tired of how that parking lot looks. It's disgusting. Vez is constantly telling me, "Oh, we keep finding the the company, finding the company. What is he doing putting the money in his pocket?" Cuz he's he's
the only one talking to the owners of the building. Nothing is being done. I show Maritz, I'm sorry I'm using you, but I send you the pictures. If you come to my blog, this is my son. He can't
play in the backyard of my own home. I have raccoon traps all over my yard trying to catch raccoons that come out 3 4 5:00. We can't be on our in our own yard.
Raccoons is bad. And you know what told me today on the phone? They're animals. They have to be out. But yeah, and then he's living fine in his home. He's living fine. And my own
son can't enjoyed enjoy my backyard. Another thing is I'm a college co. I'm I'm I started off Marissa knows me as a college coach. I'm sorry, President. Just give me a few more minutes. But coaches, we have to
take classes. And I feel like council members need to take classes to be council members because as coaches, I got to get certified every year to be a coach for this city, which I love.
Misconception, I know you have a lot, right? So, we have a rule. Um, Javier, if you'll please stand. Javier Hernandez, he's here. Hernandez, I have his business card. So, we're gonna make sure, but there is a threeminute rule. I'm gonna make sure you get my card as well. Keep fighting because classes has to be
done. This whole council member council meeting, all of you guys take classes as the way we have to take it as coaches. Thank you, Charles. You know, as teachers, how many tests we got to take, right or wrong? Thank you. Just to be teachers here in the city,
right? So have respect for each other the way we have to have respect when we deal with kids. Thank you, Miss Conception. Next speaker, madam clerk. Eddie, get her information. Eddie, get her information. The next speaker is Joel Keys Jr. State your name, please.
Joel Keys Jr. Patterson. LA, I got to start right. Last meeting, I concluded my speech about Charles Florio's racist statement towards Dave Gilmore by defining the meaning of microaggression. I then said that regardless of whether Florio's statement was a microaggression
or not, because politicians are captive to their donors, Florio wouldn't be held accountable. Councilman Veles immediately made my point when instead of inquiring whether or not Florio's statement was an intentional insult or a
microaggression, which is an unintentional insult, he resorted to ego defense mechanisms. He proceeded to defensively distort the primary meaning of my speech by claiming that I call Florio a racist. The first sentence in
my speech was, "I'm here to address the racist statement Charles Florio made towards Dave Gilmore when he said,"Now I'm Dave's daddy." Then I provided historical factors that explain why and
how Florio's statement was racist. Later in his comments, Valz said, quote, "But let's talk with facts. Let him defend himself," unquote. I approached Valz after his comments and asked him if he knew about the racist history of white
men telling black men that they're their daddy or white men calling black men boy. He was evasive, which suggests he didn't know it. And that would be a hypocritical contradiction because he made an assessment about an issue without knowing any facts. Yet he
declared that we should talk with facts. Regarding his statement, let him defend himself. Since BZ gave Florio such high praise, held him in such high regard and endorsed him as supporting the community more than us. It would have been heroic
for him to take a page from Kamishha Rogers Jones, who also approached Valz in the hallway along with me after his comments. Kamisha Rogers Jones heroically said, quote, "Yesterday, I watched as someone that I care about and
love, council president, turn a crisis and what was supposed to be an act of care and compassion into a publicity opportunity. I want to say to you, Councilwoman, I am very, very disappointed in you. I expected much more from you. Not only are you a
council woman, but you're also a woman of God. and the behavior and the things I saw in you yesterday did not depict what I know you to be." If Valz had critiqued Florio's actions, similarly, his argument would have been heroic.
Two, lastly, BZ said, quote, "When you come here talking about people who are racist, be careful. This city don't need no more division at all." unquote. It brings us back to a speech I made about colorblind racism, which means ignoring
or tolerating racist behavior and then charging the person who confronts racism with dividing the people. Ignoring and tolerating racism is what divides people, not the person confronting the racism because there are people who are injured from the racism.
Thank you, Mr. Keys. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. Thank you for letting me. Next speaker, madam clerk, the next speaker is Dave Gmore. Good evening, council, ladies and gentlemen, friends, family, and others.
I'm here because I have to read a mandatory statement uh to put to bed my settlement with some of these people. I will maintain the decorum and the instructions of
the mandatory statement. Public apology before the Patterson City Council in full satisfaction of any and all claims which have been or could have been asserted in connection with the litigation. The parties agree that Mr. Gilmore, that's me, shall attend the
next scheduled council's meeting following the effective date of the agreement and deliver the following oral statement council apology in front of the city council during the public comments period. On October 15, 2024, I came before this council and made a
claim regarding Michael Powell and discriminatory employment practices for firing a blind man. After reading the court's decision in that matter, I learned that it was I was completely wrong. As such, I would not I would
apologize to Michael Powell. Wrong being that he didn't sign it. The parties agree that Mr. Gilmore will not make any further remarks or statements during the Protestant city council meeting beyond the council apology.
End period. Thank you. Next speaker, madam clerk. Next speaker is Bal Hakeim. Please state your name. Uh my name is Bahim and uh I want to um just
say from the top that when a judge can be bribed or any other person that has sworn to uphold the law then know that the entire society is undermined the entire society that means
uh lawyers etc. Um Mr. Gilmore, you know, um, having to have to read this here. This is a bunch of, uh, crap. That's what it is. It's an Arabic word.
I'm in Arabic studies deeply uh, right now. So I'm going through words so we can break these words down, you know. But this word the is is one the worst person ever created. The worst person ever created
the twofaced person. One who says I'm with you and then goes to the other side and say I'm with you. team. Remember that we um have experienced um for over a
week, you know, a issue a uh public health emergency uh regarding the water here in the city of Patterson and the neighboring um cities. You know, I was coming from uh therapy and I stopped at one of the uh stores in the neighboring cities and I
had it slipped my mind. You know, they didn't have any water either. You know what I mean? But yeah, I wanted to use the bathroom, but they did have enough courtesy to have like a a porta potty, a flushing one for people to utilize.
But um and it's interesting that uh the water man broke up there at His Stadium. I don't have enough time to talk about I got to do that on a live and show you some connections. But we have to um prepare ourselves for um these
emergencies within our community. And right now I'm speaking to our community people and particularly um those that um in the marginalized communities, you know, of Dark Hill, the black community. So, we are going to be
uh setting up a number of of these workshops, town hall meetings, so to speak, as we have done in the past, bringing experts in to direct you on what you can do besides just waiting as a sitting duck for government. And often times, um they don't know what they
don't know what to do because they're not smarter than you. You can't think that because they sit on their side that everybody's smarter than you. We're here to help them. I'm not going to go any further. I'll finish on my own platform. Thank you, Mr. Bala. Next speaker, Madam
Clerk. The next speaker is Chris Smalls. Please state your name. Good day, good evening. My name is Chris. Chris Small. Allow me to uh officially introduce myself.
uh will be running for Patterson Board of Head Commissioner in November, November 4th. And I appreciate your support. But I'm here tonight for one reason and for one reason only. And ironically, it happens to be the same reason why I moved to Patterson, New Jersey in 1995.
And here we are in 2025, 30 years later. And unfortunately, my reason hasn't changed. So what is that reason? Before I answer that question, let me ask you this. What do you think? Can you think of a good reason that would make a mother, a young loving mother, separate
deliberately herself from her young six, sevenyear-old firstborn baby boy? Why would a mother purposely part ways with such an adorable child for six to seven years? Well, I was that child. And though I moved to Patterson in 1995, I was born
in Kingston, Jamaica in University Hospital of the West Indies, or as I call it, UI, where I lived humbly with my family at 16 August Road across the street from the 7th Day Adventist Church until September of 1998. And many of many of you may not be
familiar with what happened in Jamaica back then, but you may be familiar with what happened recently with the pipes in the water main break by Henchman Stadium. So many passing residents, children, elderly went without water and without running water for days and days to a
week or more, not having water to drink, water to wash, take showers, flush toilets, or etc. I sincerely felt the despair in the city because I can relate. I know what it feels like as a child not having water, running water for weeks and weeks and up to months. As
I can remember as a child waiting in long lines to refill water bottles and other supplies. And not only that, to make matters worse, we also didn't have any electricity. As you may be familiar with Hurricane Sandy or Hurricane Katrina or
the damage hurricanes can cause sadly in September of 88, Hurricane Gilbert devastated the island of Jamaica, the city of Kingston, and my neighborhood of August Town. Decimated lives were lost. many homes, buildings, road, aircrafts,
power lines, trees, fences, crops. Even the poultry industry was completely wiped out. The poultry industry, meaning no chicken, no jerk chicken, curry chicken, stew chicken, no chicken at all. Just kind of canned goods, canned goods for dinner. So that means we're
eating tuna fish, sardines, mackerel, corn beef, and having uh candle light dinners every night. So, I understand the frustrations and I understand the struggle and I can relate to the families and communities coming together and working together just trying to do their best to uh make the best of the
resources that they have. So I'm familiar with having a lack of resources and on top of that sometimes being the last of resources as I also remember not having water but that's my time so unfortunately I'll finish some other time but Chris Small
patter commissioner November 4th I appreciate your support vote thank you Chris next speaker madam clerk next speaker is Patricia McDow date your name please Patricia McDow New Jersey. Good evening
everyone. This is my first time coming here. I watch everybody on Oh, sorry. This is my first time coming here. So, I've been watching on TV or whatever. So, I'm here for a reason. So, I have a
question and I would like for that question to be answered. And um Michael, I know that you're in my ward, so I would like to speak with you personally if you don't mind. Thank you. So my question is I am a caregiver for my
sickly older elderly brother. So my household which is my nephew is with me. We was affected for a whole week. Many others affected more. So I thank God for my daughter because I was able to go to her home being that I watch my grandson anyway and take my showers and
everything like that. But my question is is that I feel we the people feel that we need to be compensated for this. Um I don't know who's responsible. I don't care who's responsible, but if this was you and put yourself in that situation.
It affected my household greatly. It don't feel good cuz I'm a clean person. So that wasn't a good thing. And then I didn't get my water until the end. But I called down here like I told Dr. Sam, excuse me. And I did get my water delivered like an hour later. So, thank
you so much for that. But, um, I feel like everyone that was affected by this should be compensated. And I did hear the mayor speak. Somebody a reporter asked him a question on on, um, TV and um, I forgot what he said, but somebody needs to take accountability for this
and um, I just want to answer and I would like to speak with Mike and Dr. Mims. I thank you. And that's all I have to say. God bless. Thank you, Miss McDow. Next speaker, Madame Clerk. Next speaker is um Nazari Mcdow. Did I pronounce that
correctly? You said no. No. Okay. Thank you. Next speaker is Waha Muhammad. She's not here, is she? She sitting in the room, please. Oh, she's over there. She's usually
sitting over there. Please state your name. Thank you. Waha Muhammed of God's name. Good evening. I'm here. First of all, let me just send my condolences to Jacqueline Murray's
family. Just did my heart good when I walked in and saw the celebrated display that you had out in the lobby. And I thank God for her being who she was. The other thing I want to know if
somebody can tell me if I see on the agenda where the rent level board members are being reappointed and they were not able to do anything mostly because they couldn't even pick their own president and vice president
and nothing. So I want to know whose idea is it to reappoint them to do nothing. That makes no sense to me. The other thing I want to know if any of you have decided to look at the other I'm sure 100y old pipes in this town with
all these constructions going on some more pipes about to bust and I don't know who's watching that but it's not it does nothing to us the community to think that it's like
nobody's watching this story with all these constructions just overpowering this community and it's like business as usual. So I would like to know if you've even thought about you got another 100 pipe coming. The other thing I want to know and I
know that nobody can tell me this except the line mayor and he's not going to say it but I was told one young lady that live across from where this whole fiasco went on. I know that that the mayor said several times, we are working 24/7.
And she said, "Miss Muhammad, I want you to know that's a lie cuz they cannot work in the dark and there's no lights over there when the sun goes down." So he's lying that he's not working. They're not working. And I really felt good when he said that we're working
24/7 to get this done. And then she when she bust my bubble and said that's a lie and nobody says nothing. It's like this man can say anything he wants to and you all can't say anything. I don't get it.
But you tell us we can't come up here and cuss, but he can do anything he want to do. What is wrong with that picture? I don't get it. And you all sitting there looking at me like, "Well, what you want us to do?"
I don't know. Because at this point it's like we cannot depend on you to do anything with this mayor. I'm up to here. I really am. Councilwoman, I appreciate you and council president bringing us water, but
I'm tired of the foolishness because it's like we get little a little drop here and a little drop there and we should be happy. Well, I want you to know I'm not happy. Thank you, Miss Wahita. Next speaker, madam clerk.
Next speaker is Dr. Chanel Fields. State your name, please. Good evening, everybody. Uh, tonight I come before you um very upset on behalf of the residents.
Uh to all the council, I really need each and every one of you to pay attention to your wards. I know that a lot of you are out there, but I really want to encourage you around the 3:00 to
8:00 hour to walk around your board. I have gotten well over 35 to 45 calls a week. I'm not a council person. I'm just a community servant that really
loves the people. But I should not be getting calls at 12:40 midnight because the music won't stop. I should not be getting calls at 1:00 in the morning because the music won't stop. I should not be getting calls, especially since I
live in Pennsylvania, at 3:00 in the morning because the music won't stop. There are residents in this community that practice lawlessness on a daily basis to where the music begins as early as 8:00 in the morning and doesn't stop
until 6:00 in the morning. That's a 2hour window for our residents that are paying these excessive rents, high taxes that are not able to get a valuable amount of sleep at night. I'm not sure where you guys reside
within your wards and if you're comfortably sleeping at night, but if I got to hear boom boom all night long, I'm going to tell you what that's going to do in a minute. People are going to start taking the law in their hands cuz they're getting
upset. The black community is upset with the music. And you know what music I'm talking about that goes on all night. the illegal, you know, businesses that start off as mechanic shops by day and turn into go- go and lock doors at night.
It has to stop and sitting here like a bump on the log. Hold the mayor accountable, please, because we're going to have more killings. And it's it's it's as simple as
a meeting with the police chief, a meeting with the mayor, and putting police out there in those high crime areas, in those loud music, excessive noise areas. It's elderly people that's
calling me too, y'all. It's sick that they have worked this hard. Some of them have lived in Patterson all their life and they are crying, real tears on the phone because their ears won't stop ringing because they're not getting sleep. We know this is wrong
and we need to do something about it. The mayor, you all need to sit his ass down and tell him, "Listen, enough is enough. If you don't want more crime in this city, do something. stop taking pictures and do something because people
are gonna start fighting and it's not gonna be a good look. Thank you so much. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. Next speaker is Eddie Olivarez. Please state your name. Eddie Olivarees. Good evening everyone. Uh Mr. Jackson, last week I said that it
was going to be the last week that I would address the council in the matter that the manner that I usually um address them putting them down. You know what I'm talking about. Uh, unfortunately I'm going to have to extend it another week. Last week I um
defined stupidity as not me. I mean it was and thank you uh by by the dictionary and lo and behold one of the things that identifies a
stupid person is not my this is not my view. is is that a philosopher, a German philosopher, no less, who says that a stupid person is rattled easily when their views are challenged. Lo and
behold, as I turned to go home, Khalik to he's not here now. He did the most stupid thing anybody could do. He threatened me. Not the first time. I mean, Delisa, you've done it. Uh, one day you said
that you were going to bring real men to deal with me. Mr. Jackson is not a real man. I guess in your view, Luis Veles is not a real men because they're sitting right next to you and you felt the need to bring real men. What you're talking
about is thoughts. Luis Veles also threaten me once. And I must tell you, especially the three of you, Khalig Mims and Luis Bles, when I challenge you, I don't challenge you physically. If that's what you take
away from what I say, then the definition fits like a glove. You're stupid. That's all I can say. Now, when I challenge you, and I've done it, I've asked you, I've asked uh uh Bles, I've asked every one of you. We
can meet. The only thing, the only thing that I ask when I do that is bring your best game. Come prepared cuz I'm going to make you look stupid if you don't. And so, having said that,
Mr. Jackson, unless someone tonight says something or does something as stupid as Khalik did last week, from next week on, you will see a different me. See, not even three minutes today, I did good.
Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. Next speaker is Charles Ferrer. State your name, please. Just to say um for it to be noted, Charles Ferrer did call. He gets one extra minute.
Good evening, Charles Ferrer. So, there's so many places where I could start, but I'm going to start in an area. Your budget should have been presented like around April 30th. Should have been voted on between May
and June. The wrong people are being fined. If you don't say yes for the temporary budget, you get fined. Each one of you gets fined $25. That's stupid because you don't present the budget. You don't put it together.
So, I guess we need to talk to our elected officials on the state level to put the fine where it needs to be with the people who create the budget. So, if they're fined $300 to $1,000 for each day that the budget is not presented to you, I guarantee you it'll
be ready to present to you by April 30th. Okay. Um, I'm upset about the water problem. I found some Flex Tape. if I was going to run down there and since it says in the commercial you could put it on on
screens and put it in the water and row a boat that maybe I could have saved that because your problem affected me eight days I'm in Halen lugging water around and all kinds of craziness going to my office in Patterson that had water
because we had no water in Hal because we found out that we're all of our pipes are connected to Patterson. So, I'll be at the MUA's meeting next month because I need them to find a way to get at least one or two of those connections
attached to Franklin Lakes, Wayne, and possibly the third one to Ridgewood. Cuz let's look at this picture. If the pipe was 100 years old, that means it was put in there in 1925. That's a that's a long time. If I had a pair of shoes that lasted that long, I'd be happy. If it
was put in in 140 years, that's 1885. And we're doing nothing. But when developers get this developer fees 12 million, 3 million, whatever to put in their pockets to do absolutely nothing with it, this city or the people in charge of negotiating with them
should be saying wherever you're tapping into, you need to replace those pipes. Okay? This is common sense. So they're not doing anything. If their tax abatements are what they are, who does
the burden fall on? The taxpayers that can no longer afford anymore. Okay? And they're still getting over and getting over and getting over. And when does it stop? 30 years transitional. So if you
don't get the 29 million, they decide to give you five. What are you going to do? You need to negotiate better with these developers because where once a church stood on Graham AB or Rosa Parks and
Governor Street, there's a high-rise apartment building and all of those lines are put in there. You don't think that impacts something? 10,000 new units. Okay. And that's not a problem. Every time you tap in it, you're you're
putting more pressure on those pipes. Okay. The pipes have said, "I've had enough." Soon as that one got fixed, Wayne Avenue, North Helden had one. And I had predicted that at my council
meeting in Hen. Okay. Thank God it wasn't during school time. What's the plan? What's the plan? Right. There is none. Where's the money that we got during CO?
If it's not all used, you better start using some of that money to fix some of these pipes. But you better stop letting these developers come in here. Like I said in the other meeting, Paty Town, they're getting over like a fat rat. Thank you, Mr. Charles.
Next speaker, Madam Clerk. The next speaker is Elvis Durham. State your name, please. Mr. Elvis Dorm, Patterson, New Jersey. Fourth Wall. Coming soon to the fourth wall of
Patterson, New Jersey. DG Market on 370 Broadway, Patterson, New Jersey. This is going to create lots of jobs for the community of Patterson, New Jersey. So everybody that's watching this, go by
that building and on the building they got the information where you could apply for jobs. Also um come do your shop in downtown Patterson, New Jersey. Parking is available in the
downtown area on 65 Elderson Street. We got good security, a big parking garage, and we got other parking garage in the downtown area. Downtown Patterson is the first war, by
the way, in the fifth war. Also, back to school shoppers, school uniforms. You can't go nowhere else in New Jersey. You had to stop in Patterson to get your school uniforms at Center City Mall, 301 Main Street, downtown
Patterson, New Jersey. So, I I advise everyone to get there early because that line is going to be so long. Hello. So, get there early to get um get your kids um back to school school uniforms
at Central City Mall, 301 Main Street, downtown Patterson, New Jersey. Also, we got the movie theater coming back everybody. Um we was complaining about the movie
theater closing down, right? We got the movie theater is coming back. Order for this movie theater to stay open. We need your support. We need your support. That mean go there and support the movie theater. And they're going to be hiring. The movie theater is going to
be inside city mall on 301 Main Street, downtown Patterson, New Jersey. And um I guess we got some clowns here that want to laugh, but um I love circus. I could be a clown, too. God bless you and
peace. Thank you, Elvis. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. The next speaker is Shay Brown. Is she okay? Thank you. State your name, please. Good evening. Shay Brown, Patterson, New Jersey, third board. Um good evening,
city council. So, I hope you're all doing well this evening. My name is Shay Brown and I'm a Patterson City resident, homeowner, parent, taxpayer, and a registered and active voter. You all have way more background knowledge than me when it comes to being a council woman or a councilman. However, I had to
make sure I understood what your charges as elected officials in your roles. A city council is the legislative body of a city responsible for making laws, setting budgets, and overseeing city operations. I know you have additional duties, but the personal jabs, the overtalking each other, the threats, the
fighting, and the constant lack of following the rules of your own council is just ridiculous, and it needs to stop. Stop talking about what you can't get done and pointing fingers and calling people out. I thought the council is about collaboration and developing strategies to solve the
problem. Action. Stop talking and do what needs to be done. We need to see actions. Words are great, but if you just continue to come to every council meeting, pointing fingers, talking about other people, that's not doing anything for us. Come and talk about what has been done and what's the planning stages
for what's going to be done. If there's a problem, what is your strategy? My daughter walked in on me watching a meeting and asked what I was watching because she heard the yelling, cursing, and chaos. She thought it was a TV show. Show my daughter when the people speak,
especially voters, elected officials, listen. respond and react professionally and respectfully. The same goes for us as residents. We have to do better as well. I challenge you all to show myself and this community different. My 14-year-old
daughter is watching us now via live stream. And as other young Patterson children and young adults who may be interested in being of service, as you all are, this is the example you want to follow that you want them to follow. Make a conscious choice this evening to do better and inspire us to believe in
this council again. Constantly showing the tension and loud disrespect for each other has Patterson looking like a joke. People are mocking us. Show us what an actual city council meeting should look like. Patterson goes viral because of how these meetings are run. We are all
not perfect and every one of us in this room, and I mean every one of us in this room, including myself, have skeletons and done things we are not proud of. In the same instance, we have also done and seen the best of each other. I can personally attest to the countless times I've called on council president Dr. Mims for help with noise complaints and
needed support to stop bikers from illegally taking over a block in my neighborhood. She got it done. Last summer was a nightmare. No one knows about that, but it was done. I've called in Councilman Mendes for support with filling temporary potholes near a school bus stop on my block, and he got it done. No one knows about that, but it
was done. I'm sure there are countless residents that can say the same for each of you. Work as you are intended to work. If it is so difficult for you to work with others, then step down and be of service as an individual instead of as a with a cohort. Patterson is in dire need of help. We need a unified council
to make it happen with action. As a special education teacher, I'm ahead of my household and parent of two children of one which has autism. I have to look at how to solve problems instead of harping on them. Looking for others to blame, highlighting deficits and gaslighting rumors. I can't do that. You
want to call people out disrespectfully, do it on your own time, not the council time. There are people here who have responsibilities, families to get back to, and work tomorrow. I expect to see better and this council to prove me wrong instead of right. First Peter chapter 4 10-11. Each of you should use
whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God grace in his various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides. So that in all things, God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him
in the glory and the glory um power forever. Amen. Thank you so much for listening to me and I hope that you take seriously what I presented here tonight. Good night. Thank you, Miss Brown. Next speaker, madam clerk. Yes. Next speaker is Brian Russo.
State your name, please. Hello. Thanks for your attention. My name is Brian Russo. I was born here in Patterson. I'm a volunteer for the North Halen Green Team, co-chair the climate reality project. I went to Bay Pay Community College and William Patterson University. I got a degree in applied
mathematics and work for an insurance company dealing with the auto bodies and towy yards here in Patterson. I saw firsthand the amount of pollution and learned about vehicle emissions, their impact on our health and environment. Each year, as we had more and more climate catastrophes, we saw less profit. Workers in my field were
replaced by virtual workers and now threatened by AI. You may not believe in climate change, but your insurance company does. I became a climate advocate when I realized I would most likely die because of climate change or climate related events. It's an insurance and healthcare crisis. Cost of
living is going up. Life expectancy is going down. A study done by Harvard linked one in four deaths to air pollution or climate change. Our infrastructure is crumbling. We just went a week without water. While some people use single-use plastic water bottles to take showers. Last year, we
spent over 180 billion dollars in America on climate catastrophes. Scientists with big oil companies were able to accurately predict the weather patterns we're seeing today from emissions in the atmosphere. We continue to see so-called hundred-year storms occurring more regularly and of higher magnitude. it could cost us everything.
The CEOs made a conscious decision to invest in spreading misinformation and lobbying to prevent transitioning to renewable energy. They were successful. We give them s we give them subsidies. We pay for the cleanups. We deal with the health consequences from emissions. I'm asking on behalf of Empower New
Jersey, a coalition of over 180 climate organizations. I'm asking for you to support a resolution in support of the New Jersey Climate Super Fund Act co-sponsored by Senator Wimberly and Siobhan Sumpter to charge the major poll polluters in New Jersey to contribute
to a fund based on their emissions to be used for mitigation and disaster relief. Patterson is the first industrial city in New Jersey and is a climate super fund site. The Pake River was once one of the most was once the most polluted river in America. It's not anymore.
Let's keep up that momentum. Let's join New York and Vermont in making polluters pay. I'm asking for you to put it to a vote. I've been trying to contact uh Menendez. This is my fourth time here. If I'm going about it the wrong way, you could all do it. I'm giving you an opportunity to stand with Patterson,
stand with the community, and make polluters pay for the the damages that they knew they were going to make. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Russo. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. Next speaker is David Hart. I got 30 seconds. I'm asking you.
Seriously, you could put it on. Not going to put it on a meeting next week. You could do it right now. That's co-sponsored by Senator Wimberly. Senator some uh some you were talking. Thank you, Mr. Russo. Thank you. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. David Hart.
Joseph Hart. Joseph Hart. I'm sorry. Sorry, Mr. Hart. State your name, please. My name's Joseph Hart. I was born 1961
in Patterson, New Jersey, August the 24th, with my birthday be coming up in a couple days. Things I hate about this town, I see a lot of crap. I take the transit bus, New Jersey
Transit, and you got all these cars and the motorbikes and all this other crap. Where's the sidewalks for the pedestrians? You know, it's not right. And another thing that's messed up is that
there's no respect. Respect is steady in this town, especially for people like me and other people too that's disabled. And there's so much I want to bash on, but I'm not here to bash any of you guys
here. You guys got to do what you got to do. But I'll tell you one thing. Another thing that need to be addressed. I like to see more enforced law enforcement out here. They give these tickets out for illegal parkers and don't give a damn
where I park at and how I park. They block the fire hydrants, too. And that's a damn shame. You know, Patterson used to be like this, but now to me, all the garbage, the recycling, all this crap.
Why not just have the mayor should just have it for one shot, you know? You pick the garbage up, then then pick up the the cardboard and whatever other crap. Cuz to me, it's all garbage. That's why you got to see all the rats and raccoons
and all this. And especially where I got to go up on by St. Jo. Oh man, that's nasty as hell, you know. But that's all I got to say right now. And that's the way I feel about the city of Patterson,
my town, my city. You know, is is the mayor should be here. I mean, there were times Graves was the best mayor of Patterson back in the days. At least he ride up in the hoods and anything go down, state troopers
behind, you know. But this mayor, I don't know what the hell is he, you know. I don't I don't I I just need somebody to be that that care about this town if they're going to be a real Pisonian. That's all I got to say. Y'all have a good night everybody. Be safe.
God bless you. Next speaker, madam. The next speaker is Deborah Hannibal. State your name, please. Good evening, council president, madame clerk, council, Mr. Ba, the administration.
I would like to begin by expressing my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of uh our dear Madame Clerk, Jackie Murray. I had the distinct honor of working
alongside Jackie and I can say without hesitation that she was a consmate professional. She was intelligent, beautiful, principled and unwavering in her integrity. She
carried herself with strength and grace, especially in the face of adversity. And if you know, you know what I mean by that statement. Her courage and her commitment to public
service left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of knowing her. She will be deeply missed and her legacy will continue to inspire us all and I hope and pray that when the family
is ready that we could do more to honor her. Uh so the other thing I want to talk about is that elections are coming and I want to remind people that there there is power. You have the power and
we saw that during the primaries that if you show up and vote you can affect change and it's time for a change. It's time for a change. So please register to vote. If you if you haven't
voted in a long time, well, now it's time because I want you to notice when you come up here, they ask you to sign in. They ask for your address. If you call in to make a a complaint, they're asking for your address. But guess what?
They go back and check to see if you're a registered voter. If you're not registered, you don't count. That's why your communities look the way they look because they know you don't vote and they don't care what happens to you and
what happens to your children. No one is demanding that they build new schools. They're building buildings. They're even going to put in some type of assembly type of parking that looks crazy. It looks absolutely crazy. But I want to bring back hope because there's hope.
There's still some hope and if we vote. So, there's a project in New Jersey called the Million Voter Project and I just heard about it, learned more about it last night, and we want to bring it to Patterson. So, September 20th and 21st, we want to partner with churches,
the League of Women Voters of Patterson. We want to branch out to all of Pay County and have people boots on the ground to register a million voters in New Jersey because we can affect change. You can put other people in these seats. Thank you.
Next speaker. Next speaker is former Councilman Bill McCoy. State your name, please. Good evening, everyone. Uh, Bill McCoy, uh, 15th Avenue. um
where uh two and a half years ago I was assaulted um because somebody thought that um I had more influence over prosecution than I actually do. And that remains unsolved. By the way, council members, I
want each of you to remember that that that could have been you and um you should be asking somebody to to account for that. I didn't come to talk about that, but I want to commend um Miss Annibal for her comments with regards to
uh Madame Clerk. Um I attended her funeral on Sunday, which was my birthday, by the way. And um I want to thank the members of the municipal council that uh and members of the
public that were in fact attended that funeral service. And just to remind us that the clerk is the only employee that the um that the council actually hires
or supervise. And I'd like to say for myself that I thought we could have done better as a community. Um, we have a fraternity and we have a city with resources that
respond and I've seen us responds to funerals in state, out of state in a more um representative way and I think that uh we failed to do that in this case and I just wanted to bring that to your to
your attention. Let me say that I want to thank everybody for their support that showed up at the Jamaica Day and Gospel Fest um on August 2nd and 3 was an outstanding support. Incident free, no violence, no
pushing, no shoving, and everyone had a great time. Um, let me also say with regards to the the water crisis that in fact Patterson is the majority shareholder of Pake Valley Water. I heard the mayor talk about them
as if they were some foreign company that he didn't know about. But we actually own a part owners and it seemed as if Clifton and Pose got together and put us in a minority position. But we have representative on the on the water
commission that governs that body and we should have them give us some presentation on the plans, the pipes and where they're going. I see that I'm running out of time. I must jump back to this other issue. I heard Donald Trump is now uh proposing to get away with um
to ban vote by mail. And I think my assault drove out of that. There was 800 bots that were stuffed stuff stuffed in Halen and I'm looking forward to that case finally coming to an end. Thank you very much, council members. Good night and be well.
Thank you um Councilman McCoy. Madame Clerk, roll call to close public portion. Yes, ma'am. Second. There are no more speakers. Roll call to close public portion. Second. Move to close by Councilwoman Davis. Second by Councilman Khalik. Roll call
to close public portion. Roll call to close the public portion. Councilwoman Davala. Yes. Councilman Jackson. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Let me try to address as many people as possible. Um
uh uh I I probably maybe try to start the end of the list. I believe her name was Miss Brown. And uh with regard to the commentary on um fighting, you know, I had the privilege being a
part of many teams. In fact, I had the opportunity to honor to be a part of the last undefeated state championship team in the city of Patterson,
of which many of my days after school was spent at the uh Henchip Stadium. Brother Keys, I know you remember Shorty who took a lot of us in when, you know, we didn't really have uh
uh much to do in the community. The stadium was like a safe haven, right? But in being part of that team, the year prior, we didn't lo we didn't win any games. We lost every game. I was my sophomore year and uh you know, it was
turmoil with the team. It was a lot of fighting. Whenever you have a team that's not effective, there's going to be discourse. You see it on the NFL level. You see it in the NBA level. You see it in
Congress. This is not a kumbaya. This is not a church outing. People then, you know, I know she uh, you know, she's a godly woman. I respect that she brought scripture here. But there's a reason why there's a a huge talk about the
separation between state and church because this is a place where it's required or necessary to uh to have discourse. See, and and
debate is supposed to bring about that discourse. when you when you when you when there's an inability to debate professionally, right? When people find offense in their accusations is because of what
brother Keys talked about tonight. you know, when there's uh and and brother Olivaris talked about when there's a position that people feel um insulted, they often get defensive and
they get insulted by by truth. It's not about it's not insult. Somebody's calling them, you know, dirty names or anything. The the the definition of stupid is what it is. You can't change that. The definition doesn't change the Bible. I mean the the the dictionary could change
languages but it's still interpreted the same way. But one of the things I wanted to talk about was you know relative to council president which I don't really you know I'm just giving my opinion. She can run the meetings how she sees fit but having people
call ahead and then making a you know a judgment on who is to speak longer. I mean, that means somebody could call ahead and she doesn't necessarily like what their perspectives are, then she can say, "No, I'm not going to grant
that." But truncating people's commentary still to me feels uh that there's it's a misuse of power and it still negates the public's
concerns, doesn't answer the public's questions. A lot of things happened tonight that um the BA did not answer to. Miss Muhammad asked the question and it wasn't answered. Somebody else had asked the question and said and said they were hope to have it answered. I
think it was the young lady relative to um getting reimbursements from the water commission. So from my understanding, water commission is being and and in fact the governor's office placed the burden full burden on them that they are
going to pay for everything that needs to be replaced. That includes if there was an unforeseen expense that you took on as a resident. Please submit those uh uh uh your your your your expenses because through the
administration because again a lot of people don't understand the role. We are a owner. Therefore the mayor through his appointees should be accountable to the residents. That's why you guys hold the mayor accountable. He appoints someone
responsible. And I'll say this, not to talk about Councilwoman Cotton because she's not the only appointee, right? But if the mayor was really being responsible, nobody has a more of an understanding on construction and and and I'm I'm here consistently trying to
hold him accountable. If he really wanted to do the responsible thing, right, he would have said, "Listen, Councilman Jackson, I know we have a difference of opinion, but guess what? you are the person that's, you know, always making the and then that therefore if there was any failures at
the water commission, he could then point the finger at me and say that I was being irresponsible. But if he wanted to be responsible, he would have placed me on that board. But I digress. Um, council president, I would like to make a suggestion. I don't know if you
already placed this in motion, but I think that, you know, through um through the chair, I'm hoping that the council members would agree. Um just like our good our good officer here who lost his life, uh Officer
Franklin who lost his life in the line of duty, madame clerk has been laid to rest in the line of duty. I don't think we've ever had a clerk who have uh went on
uh while servicing. We may have had some who retired, but she lost her life in the line of duty. I propose that we find a space on this wall within the chambers to make sure that it's commemorated permanently
and that she remains her picture remains hanging on this wall the same way we do with officers who lost their life. I you know I propose that we do that for her as well. Um um so I don't I don't recall who it was.
I should have did a better job in taking this note. Um I believe it was the uh young lady complain somebody complained about noise and said that the police need to do their job. So for a point of clarity, police officers their
jurisdiction obviously it goes into your home if you break a law in the home, but noise is not necessarily and and and hours of operation is not a police matter. Now, when it comes to ABC
hotspots, we do have a ABC um police coordinator with the police department that enforces the hotspot ordinance on these various businesses that stay open beyond 12. But the businesses that like um uh body shops
and and auto repairs places that staying open beyond certain hours and then doing business during a certain time. and then also violating what the zoning um requirements are. Those are night
evening time inspectors that need to be placed on on duty, which we don't have. In fact, the only even nighttime inspector that I know about is the one that came to my business, you know, after hours at New Year's Eve. Other
than that, the mayor needs to a lot for these various departments, our our zoning officers, the DPW, because various inspectors doing do their responsibilities are in different
spaces. For example, if they're um you know, blocking the sidewalk, things of that nature, it comes from various inspectors. We have to empower these directors to be able to put inspectors on the job not just um at in the evening
but also on the weekends. So when these guys are conducting what's not business that there could be some level of accountability and that's where because um I believe um Chris Christopher
um forget his last name but no no Smalls that came here tonight the gentleman who who did he lives on Governor Street and there's a he did a live video exactly Charles. So that business that's
derelic blasting m music all throughout the evening although we can take police there. Police don't I mean there's no outside of them violating the noise which they have to have these noise um detectors they can't write a take a
summon for that but someone else in these various departments can if they're staying open beyond the normal business hours and etc. So, the fact that the mayor has not implemented a task force because we've we've done that in the
past to go out and make sure these businesses are not doing what you know what they're supposed to be doing or not supposed to be doing. The one across the street on on Bridge right on on Bridge and Arch and and and uh River, they put a stage up in their parking lot and had
a live performance in their business. They don't have a CEO for that. I mean, the BA should be on to that, but you know, he he's he's not really here for that. Now, lastly, Charles Ferrer
um talked about how we should be holding these developers accountable. How long have I been talking about this? Uh, brother Gilmore, when Councilman McCoy was on the council, I pointed out specifically how Jersey City requires their
developers to do certain things. So, I I brought it here. I did a presentation. Jersey City required their developer to bring forward $25 million to build a school. And and and they do that. They hold their developers accountable when
it comes terms to infrastructure. Yes. You want to come here, you want to, you know, impede on the quality of life of my of the neighborhood, no problem. You want to make a buck on a developer feed, great. But what are you going to give
back to the community? We have not done that. I've been crying bloody murder. So the young lady, Miss Brown, saying, you know, let's talk about solutions. I present solutions every single night. There's not one thing that I make an argument about where I don't present a solution.
if we're going to allow developers. In fact, when count when we when we voted on that uh on that trailer for $1.4 million, I pointed it out then like we cannot allow developers to continue to come into the city, make boatloads of
money, and then not hold them accountable for making a contribution back here. You know, I was I was fortunate on that. I was fortunate that I was able to go to college. I would have never been able to go to college. I went to college on a full
scholarship and it was sports was the vehicle. And in order to get me to the level outside of individuals like Joe Keys that donated his time, but in order to get me to the level to be able to attain a full scholarship, I had to
develop my skills leading up to and the way I developed my skills was I played for various teams that was sponsored by various businesses in the community. The bottom line, uh, I'm speaking. Councilwoman, please
don't interrupt me. Bottom line, just ask you to wrap up. I'm going to continue further if you do that. If you continue to do that, I'm going to just continue on. Bottom line, Trip Trojans, New Jersey Banks, McDonald's,
all of these businesses that have come into our community, they don't they don't make any contributions. Now, I will acknowledge Florio, Mr. Floyd does, but there hasn't been any that has that has had a compounded impact.
So the contribution that's being made, where is it going? You know, 30,000 here to send a kid to Florida, that's not an impact. The consistency of having children to be able to have outlets to consistently go to. So
he's Councilman Kik is absolutely correct. I am running for mayor and I will change all of that. all of that. If you're going to do business in this city, you're going to contribute to the youth in this city. That's the bottom line. If you're gonna get a contract in
the city, you're going to hire the people that live in the city. We have to do that. If you don't have if you can't do that, then you cannot do business in the city. That's how changed things there. And that's how we're going to change the things in the city of Patterson. We got to be responsible. So,
yes, I do provide solutions, do provide options. I can't help it that the council chooses to go another way. And whether you look at it as fighting or discourse, I'm going to continue to point out to you when they're doing these irresponsible uh uh actions
because those irresponsible actions that they try to make it look like we have no choice, it's a detriment to you to to the community. So, I won't do that. M madame clerk, I appreciate the time. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Kik.
My vote is yes, Madam Craig. Thank you, Councilman Omar. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Uden. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Um thank you those who are here and those who are watching us live and uh many of you shared many things but I would say the
um many of you shared about the water crisis and I would like to thank everyone individual the organization based uh stepped out and supported the community in the crisis but one thing we have learned that um
we have to have clear knowledge as what are the um plan for the Pacific Valley Water Commission what are the uh next jobs on the uh pipelines. So this kind of clarity is important and it is it is
as as we have mentioned and other council members mentioned that we are we are the uh owner of the Pacific Water Commission one of the three municipalities US Clifton Pik and we should have a
knowledge that what are the pipes are aging what are the uh works that scheduled what you know and and this kind of knowledge I think our council members should have um clarified from Pacific Water Commission. So I would I'd
like to see there is a subcommittee created by by us from the council and uh council have direct communication with Patterson uh with Pacific water commission that what are the um pre uh plan or what are the uh infrastru
infrastructure that in pipelines for the work. So I like to see that before anything happens that that we experienced uh in the last week. Uh we don't want to see that coming back again and again. Uh but we have to be prepared for this. So with that being said, I'd like to thank everyone those who
participated. I'd like to uh thank my wonderful team that were out there for seven days and nights. Um and I I'd like to thank all the contributors that that came up and supported our initiative. So thankful to everyone. Uh with that being
said, my adjustment. Thank you, Councilman Deles. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um I just want to uh cheer same sentiments. Um Speaker Christina from East 31st Street uh came to the council here and
explain about a situation about a lot three houses away or two houses away from her property. East 31st between 20 Avenue and 21st Avenue has three houses,
one mechanic shop, and that lot that parks limos, and she lived between one house and the uh auto shop. Miss Christina, I understand your frustration.
Why you call me every time when there's a situation in your block at the middle of the night, send me videos to address quality of life issues there. I haven't failed you. I send PD when it's PD situation. I send community improvement
when it's community improvement situation. I send zoning department and Mr. Inspector uh inspector director Castro is here from zoning and he contests that this property have been issued summits.
I don't collect money from summits. The summits money is collected by the courts and you could go and operate the records and how many tickets they have gi. So yes, I have a relation with the consition. This owner, not even from the
fifth ward, it's from the third wise him how he had to maintain his property. It's not my fault. It's not your fault that mother nation, we got raccoons everywhere. I got raccoons in my house.
I had to buy a a a a situ a you know a electronic device to scare them away rodents and all that stuff because now my husky is going to be fighting with the skunk and everybody around the backyard. So if you
understand that this time of the season they come out but director Castro uh director Gilmore they aware of this property they have visited DPW have visited this property to address uh the quality of life and the
issues there. So, but to say I'm responsible to say that I take money from owners to not address the situation. They the one that address the situations when we report it and sometime I tie them send him emails and
pictures and all that stuff um regarding quality of life regarding um quality of life allow music. PD is aware how many times I call um PD at any time of the day uh any time of the night to address
quality of life in the fifth ward. I know where the hospital are. I know how to report them but meanwhile we in the street to address that sometime we are risking our own life
trust me and they know where I live. So, uh, the lady that came here and made this speech, um, and and about that she watched a meeting, this is an eloquent message that she sent. And I commend her because she finished with the word of
God. I know the separation between the church and the government. But I can ignore that if we don't listen to that word of gospel living in us, we we cannot go nowhere. Um,
Mr. Joi, um, I respect you a lot. I like the lyrics and the the the point that you bring here. I understand your frustration, but sometimes I say, why not go there and
tell this individual right in his face, 175 Broadway, listen, I have a problem with you. Let's sit down and talk about it. You know, it's free to speech. You could come here and announce it, but I think he got a policy that he could go and knock his door and tell him how you feel
regarding things. I think he will listen to you and probably come to a consent to move the city forward. You are the gentleman just to audience out there. Um, you guys recall the incident of a gut
and gun situation. Councilman, no. And I got to put this in the record. This individual joke with another council member went to the prosecutor's office to charge me with eight civil
complaints of criminal charges and I knew that was going on. And I received a letter from the prosecutor's office that there was no credible evidence that I commit any crime against him or against Councilman Jackson.
So meanwhile they fight against me, I let the Lord fight for me because the truth always comes out. But still, Mr. Joy, I gave you a hug the other day and I didn't even know the letter was in the mail. So in other
words, if you are frustrated, you have the right to seek help and the right to go to the person directly and probably bring ideas that really are going to move this city forward. You're a professor. You're a professor and you
teach stealing. You you sir, I didn't interrupt you when you was here, but I was listening to you. You're a professor in P County Community College and I have and I have complaints of parents how you teach regarding us regarding us.
Okay. Counselor. Uh but that will come on their time. Uh about the water situation, you know, I don't think neither of us knew that that pipe was behind the stadium. Okay.
So, madam madame president, I'm not going to go like other councilmen trying to stop you, but I just want two minutes. Nobody, not even me, knew about that pipe going behind that that that mountains or or behind the stadium there.
One thing I had to praise is the water commission did supply with their budget the water to the resident of the city of Patterson and the fire department and the OEM did the job to use it the right way to deliver their the water to a
different part. And I also commend the councilman that came out and did what they had to do without complaining, without pointing fingers and do what they have to do to certify the residents of Patterson. Madame clerk, um my vote is yes to close the public.
Thank you, Council President. So, I'm gonna say this before we close. Um on July 1st, I I I had an ask and that was for the level of respect, not just from the community side, but from
this deis. And we have to be careful as council persons when you antagonize someone in the audience and then you expect them not to respond because you know they are going to respond after you make your commentary to someone directly pointed in the audience. So we have to
be the change that we want to see. If we don't want to cause that kind of interaction or that kind of um uh disruption then we have to stop creating it. So, I'm going to reiterate it not
just from this side because we can talk about the community coming to the mic all we want, but if the if the council members are doing the exact same thing, then we're just as wrong as the community. So, I'm going to ask again to our council members that we be the change and the reflective decorum that
we expect that we we exemplify it as well. Um, to our BA, please I need us to check into the 911 system. Someone called me today. They called 911 for an incident of somebody very um irate and acting erotic. It took 45 minutes for
someone to come and so they challenged me to check it and I called 911 and I did not get anyone to answer. That's a very serious situation. I'm not sure if it's a one or two time thing, but I wanted to put it on the record because those individuals are watching. to the
public that are that are present and viewing. Thank you so much for coming out and sharing your issues and your concern. Um there was the 35th Legislative District on August the f 14th. They sent a letter to
Governor Murphy in regards to the crisis. Senator Wimbley, Assemblywoman Sumpter, and Assemblyman Abdelaziz. And these are the acts in regards to the water crisis. One, emergency financial relief directing funds from the state
emergency reserves or available pro relief programs to offset residents and small business expenses incurred as a result of the crisis. Two, utility bill credits or forgiveness collaborating with the Pa Valley Water Commission to provide account credits or forgiveness
for the affected billing cycle recognize that customers have paid for undelivered or unsafe water service. Three, small business assistance. Deploying rapid response grants or zero interest loans to help small businesses recover from
lost revenue and spoilage of goods for infrastructure resiliency investment prioritizing state and federal funding to accelerate replacement of aging water infrastructure to prevent future largescale failures. Uh this letter and
I will post it on my social media page on tomorrow. Please share it. But this letter was sent by our 35th legislative district team to the governor on August the 14th. I will put it on my page. Please share it. And I'll put it on a
lot of the U platforms as well so that community will know that the 35th legislative team led by our Senator Benji Wimbley, Assemblywoman Son, Assemblyman Abdelaziz, they are fighting and advocating and Triton on our behalf.
There's many concerns and and commentary that was made at the microphone and um there's many grand openings. The food pantry uh Lorenzo and Mr. Rucker called me today this Thursday at 2:00 at 77 Park AB. They will be having the uh
grand opening or ribbon cutting of the food pantry this Thursday at 2. There's also a new restaurant on Broadway called Pico de Paio um on the corner of Broadway and Summer. And then at 583 River Street, I forgot the name, but in
this if you go to 583 River Street, there's a new supermarket, a new store that's there. They have amazing fish and macaroni and cheese. I'm just putting it out there. Brother Mark, uh 583 River Street, I can't wait to come before this week is over to come and try it out. In
closing, I want to say this. Mems never has to use crisis to do politics. During the water crisis, my family didn't have water.
My water was affected because it was low pressure, but I wasn't out of water. So instead of me complaining or pointing fingers when it initially happened we didn't the water wasn't here from Pizzake Valley Water Commission in the beginning. So I made some phone calls
and received 40 cases traveled to the senior buildings with the van dropping off bottles so they could take medicine. Then another company called I have another 40 cases. Still went around didn't take photos of anything. There
was only one photo that was taken and it was from one of the businesses that donated the water because we went to a subacute uh care center where we had our seniors that are 98% Patterson residents that were there and they said that they were running out of water and the
reserve was low. So we went there first. We called Mr. Michael um Jordan um who's watching um we called him made the round robin and just went to different places. I commend the water commissioner, OEM,
everyone. Even um where we myself and Councilwoman Davala when we pulled up to Co Arms and the seniors were a little upset with me last week cuz they said, "Why didn't you say anything?" Because we got your back. I'm like, "But it wasn't about that for me. I don't have
to do the back and forth." When we pulled up, myself and Councilwoman Dava to Coat Arms, we were there to meet fireman Troy Ays, who's the OEM coordinator, our fire department, and our police department. And when we pulled up, the seniors were outside um
waiting on water. We went inside to the property management office to let them know that we had cases of water that were being delivered and a 6,000 gallon tank, 18 foot tank gallon that was coming to bring water for their flushing
in that building. Water had been distributed the night before by Councilman Jackson um at that building. And a big shout out to Silver Fox who had took ice cream and potato chips. Actually, Henry Adamson said he took ice cream and one of the seniors saw the
chips. So, he ends up having to give the chips to everybody in the building. So, we were just there, myself and Councilwoman Dabler, only with OEM. We weren't there for publicity. We weren't there to make a name for oursel. We were working in collaboration as all council
members have been doing all that week. going to let them know that we were bringing this 18,000 18 ft 6,000 18 ft trailer that was carrying 6,000 gallons of water to their building to help them get prepared. And that's what we did. We
went inside. We questioned how many people live here. There was 204. So by the time DPW pulled up with the water from brother Troy ears, they only had 168 cases. I made a phone call as council vice president Dava can attest
and one of my partners delivered 50. So they already had like 13 cases from the night before that councilman Jackson had delivered through the OEM process and then they had flow. The flow was on the first to the seventh floor and then sporadic in 8 through 13. There was no
water and so we were there to assist. We were not there because this is our job. So we weren't there to politicize. We are elected officials. We were there to walk work alongside of OEM and that's what we were there for. And so I know
you're watching COA Arms and I wanted to say it because you you told me uh the night before you got the water from Councilman Jackson, Silver Fox brought the ice cream and you were thankful for the water that was brought the day after. So all of us, every council person, I've done it on social media,
I'll do it again tonight. every council member. I saw everyone out there working in the community. Sometimes it wasn't just in their wards. They were all over the place because in the beginning it was like they thought it was in certain areas, but we found out that it was in other parts of the city. So, everybody
just went to work. And that's what we do in a crisis. That's one of the things I respect about Patterson and I love about our community. When we get in a crisis, we get to work and I appreciate that. So for me, it's never about politics. I didn't capture any photos. As a matter
of fact, Councilwoman Davlin and I, we didn't take any photos. My phone was actually dead when we were at Coat Arms. It was dead. So, um, and then the last thing I want to say, cuz someone said to me, they said, "Well, mess, you're good if you take a photo, and
you're good if you don't take a photo." There's some people that if you don't take a photo, they say you didn't do anything. Then there's some people that if you take a photo, it's politics or it's photo op. So, you're never going to please everybody. But I just wanted to put it on the record as a woman of God
and as an elected official. We were there working. That was our role as elected officials to do what we were doing, not just at that location, but all over the city. and our co-arm residents and our seniors. You know, I love you and I wanted to come back um to
give that update. And so with that being stated, u madame clerk, um my vote is yes to close out public portion. Thank you. Um the votes are seven in favor, two absent. The public portion is now closed.
Item number two, Madam Clerk. Item number two, President. Yes. Um, I know there was some community members that had some direct questions that the administration still has not answered. I mean, I don't
know this process, but um, is the BA going to answer to any of the questions that the residents had or So, thank you for the um, answers. So, we have constituent services that is now here in the council meetings and all of
our residents that had concerns, they will get a followup. I came to the office and talked to constituent services after our last meeting. He followed up. We had 13 speakers. Only four that came last week had complaints. Out of the 18 that came on tonight, I took note of the questions and concerns.
They will receive a followup by um before by tomorrow or Thursday morning um regarding um the severity of their situation. So, they will definitely get a response from constituent service. So, just for a point of clarity, because I thought you said there would be a report
based on all the questions that's asked by the council as well as those asked by the constituents from the administration every week. I I I thought that's that that's what the uh the point that you were driving home when when you initially took the presidency. I thought
the questions that we asked cuz I still haven't gotten anything from the BA and I know that well I don't know what those answers have been for um for the residents that have come forward with these with these uh concerns.
So yes, every meeting the questions and or the concerns are outlined very clearly and succinctly by our um madame clerk and our secretary. They are emailed out. responses are attached from our business administrator. Um, and
they've been doing that for a while and has been more co um, coordinated now with the BA. He is working directly with them to make sure those responses are sent to us via email. So, I'm just the only one that's not getting the requests answered.
Is that what this is? I see your answers in there as well. When I see the emails, your questions and the answers are attached as well. the report for Henry state spending is and I'm glad I'm glad you asked for PRC the report for
so Councilman Jackson you you challenged me on July 1st and you said I'm going to support you to be council president and you said but there's three things I would like I want to see the ARP dollars and the way they're spent so I want the public to see that I'm handing it to you
it's been emailed but I want to give it to you. You also asked for a Hinchcliffe Stadium, which is not our report. It's the uh the board of ed, but I took the due diligence to meet your challenge. And here's the Hinchcliff Stadium report, and I have copies for all
council members. The PRC report. We're waiting um for the final response. There is an initial response that will be coming out sometime this week, but I was happy to accept your challenge and all council members will get the following reports as well. Madame Clerk, roll
call. No. First reading. Item number two. Item number two. Item number two. Item number two, madam. Yes. Item number two is a first reading ordinance. No public hearing is required. Ordinance amending the uh the chapter 183
construction codes uniform of the Patterson Municipal Code pertaining to certain fees economic development. So move. Second. Moved by Councilwoman Davis. A second by council discussion. Discussion. Uh I have a few question to the
director. Yeah, go ahead. Come right here. Just Oh, just come. Good evening, director. So, uh thank you for staying that long. Um so there are some fee has uh changed on these um things. So I'm looking at the uh the
comparisons the least and um I would say the number is very um different based on the item items and I what I'm trying to address is that when when I take a look at the new construction fees where um
the current fees is 0.03 per cubic which is moved to 0.04 04 which is very slight different right but when it comes to the um certificate of occupancy especially CCO continue
occupancy uh this number is very I say a very drastic change which is $151 to $400 okay uh well first good evening council so the reason why you see um somewhat of a significant increase as it relates to
the CCO is because it's not technically required from the construction department to issue. So I will defer to our construction official who can explain it in more in more or less detail or technical information.
So um a CCO is really in lie of violation whenever the construction official will revoke the the CO for a building whenever there is a violation where nobody can occupy the building. Okay. So the owner will request a CCO inspection
uh to bring it back to compliance. It's not for the sale of a building. It's not for the sale of a structure or a sale of a one or two family house. All right. It's not really for it's not required. It's only whenever I revoke a CEO which is which in most cases should be rare.
So for my understanding and understanding of the people. So let's say I purchase a property and when I go for uh occupancy is he co or CCO that when I it's nothing you don't come to my office whenever you whenever you lease out an office or a building.
No I'm saying let's say someone a new buyer purchased a property they have to come to the community improvement. No, they would have to in the case of a one or two family house, they would have to go to fire prevention and they would inspect for carbons carbon detectors and
smoke detectors. If it's going to be a building, it's going to be also fire prevention, but they're going to look at specific things. It's fire prevention, not construction. Construction department is only for construction purposes. But isn't it they require continued occupancy or not?
No, the the cos was was never revoked. Okay. the yeah the reason I want to make sure that the new home buyers are not getting impacted by this um significant uh changes because other numbers I felt that it could have changed more because
where 03 and other numbers um and four that's not actually changes like really small number where you can make changes actually because if someone can invest $500,000 to uh come up with a new
construction they can invest $500 somewhere $5,000 somewhere. So I feel that that way you can we can collect more revenues than CCO does. This is what the logic I'm thinking. So again, if you want to move forward a certain ways, it's okay. But yeah,
you know, um we also didn't want to be punitive because it's been um well over a decade since the ordinance had been increased. So we wanted to do an incremental
rather than such a harsh drastic but this is the state minimum. No this is a good move. I wanted to see actually bigger number trust me on especially on the new construction cuz that change is a slight changes is really a very small number changes. So
since we are going to the uh crisis at this point because of matching the budget situation I thought he could have come up with actually better better number on this. So there are other items that have not been on the on the fee schedule since 2011 that we're
introducing in this ordinance. Well, I'm I'm fully supportive to it. Just only question was I don't want to see the new home buyers for some home buyers are getting impacted by this uh 400 hours u uh you know.
Thank you. I appreciate it. Yeah. Thanks, Councilman Jackson. So what are those items that's that's that's included now that was not there before? Uh so the solar is a new addition that
was never included on the original ordinance. Um there's also issues related to plumbing but there are a few items on plumbing. Um the kind of definitions of backflow preventtors the big one is mechanical.
Anything any HVAC equipment is a free permit. um EV car chargers. Uh certain fire items are not on there. Um it's it's a small number, but it's also there it's a lot of permits in the city that we have to go away for free.
So, two things. Um I would like to see and I I I'll guess do some homework as well. the comparables for mirroring communities because what I'm getting back from a lot of people who actually do construction is that it's very expensive to do
business in Patterson. Not only expensive, but it's it's a very lengthy process that in other communities is uh you know is it it's not as uh as um strenuous but uh relative I want to go back to the CO
scenario. So if there's a storefront that's operated as a barber shop for 30 years, there's a co that exists there. And then you said that, you know, unless it's revoked, which is very rare, the co still exists there. If that storefront
is sold or not the building is sold, but the storefront is is ceases to do business and it has a new um tenant that then becomes a flower shop. that CO that's existing there is no
longer or let me let let me let you take it from there what what is the scenario it remains it remains right there they would have to go to zoning department to get approval from zoning for construction purposes they haven't done any construction if a pharmacy comes in
in lie of a B use a pharmacy is a Muse group they would have to go to an architect for change of use analys if it's the same use group and they're doing no construction construction. They have no business in my office. They would have to go to zoning. No, I understand they don't go to your office because your office will be
issuing the permits for construction sub code, but their CO still has to identify as what business what what what type of business they're doing in the UCCC. It does not legally does not. I'm not saying from the purposes of the
UCCC. I'm asking does is is their CEO required to reflect the kind of business that they're doing? No. So there's no such thing I mean from from my understanding it was called the
continued use of occupancy or CCO that's required to be acquired. So to your to your definition, a new business moves in, they don't need to report to the city what kind of business that they're operating at or or be privy to acquiring
a a certificate to actually do business in the city. At a municipal level, that's at the city. That's the city's responsibility. But at the beginning, it would be zoning. I understand everything that is
uh being presented starts in zoning and zoning then either gives it the in the approval if it fits the the the the master plan and and it fits into that zone and etc. Once they get a a a a
denial letter, if it's a building per se, then they will move forward through the process of going through planning and zoning. I understand that process. What I'm asking is when a new business comes into into um into existence, we're
not talking about major alterations. We're not talking about moving um uh uh non-loadbearing walls. We're talking about a new business that that comes into place. they're re they're re uh organizing so to speak or changing from
the the example again from a barber shop to say a nail salon. There's various requirements, state requirements as well when it comes to nail salons and and and things of that nature. So if there is no oversight process on the exchange or
change of a business, then that means the neighborhood is subjected to potential businesses that's not that should not be in that area and or the businesses may not meet certain requirements. For example, if they move non-lowbearing walls and they don't
reconstruct the the uh uh the the fire sprinkler layout, there's concerns of that. So, how do we make sure because in Patterson we have tons of businesses that's operating under the radar illegally, etc. If you're telling me
right now that we don't have a process that requires a business to get a CCO, that means the previous business could have been doing legitimate business, but the now the the future business, they could be doing something that's that's inappropriate. How do we know if we're
not putting forward a process of inspection, etc.? So, that's where enforcement comes in. So, that's where we have the zoning office that are doing their routine visits or just based on telephone calls that are received in the office. That's
when we are alerted that there's possibly a potential issue in which the zoning officer will deploy a member of his team to go out and take a look at the issue. It is at that point that if they determine that it's an illegal use, they are then provided with um
documentation for them to complete um for a zoning permit so they can apply for that particular use, but they're also given a fine for nonconformity. Okay. before the director um of zoning speaks. and director, if um if I may,
what we're doing then is we're we're allowing or we're putting we're putting the cart before the horse because if we're not going to require a business to come in and fill out an application to actually comm to start
business, then we have to have a a robust inspection department that's not going to miss because we have thousands of businesses, thousands. And if no one reports it, how do we go in and give a fine when we didn't? He's tell he's saying because I was always under the
impression that you are if you open a new business, you're required to obtain a certificate of occupancy, not for the building, but for the business and if you sell the building, which I think we need to change this process because now
we have owners who live in Brooklyn or wherever, right? How do we notate who's the owner and then hold people accountable for the things that they're doing? We don't have anyone on file. You didn't do any construction. It wasn't a major construction job. You didn't have to go
through UCCC. So now we have no owner information on file. We already don't do it. Now we don't keep it in the um in the tax office. We only keep an address. If you want to get in contact with the owner that's violating a local law, it's almost impossible to get get in touch with them. Now, you got to send them out
a notice via mail. So, this right here needs to be thoroughly thoroughly discussed because we should have a requirement in place. Just because they don't have to go through UCCC and they're not doing construction, etc., they still have to get an approval through zoning, they should have an overall inspection if
they're opening a new business because, you know, they move some some pipes around or, you know, um you said you you you have fire that that that you you oversee as well. So at the very least if fire should be required to go see the
the inspection or let's say a building sub code and fire because you opening a new place. Did you change any walls? Did you change anything around? Did you move a drop ceiling that needs that's required above and below? There's so many different factors that people's
lives are in line, you know, at risk because we're just saying, "Oh, you don't have to do that." People are breaking the law like crazy in Patterson. They're doing whatever they want to and it's you you guys are the first line of defense. So I don't agree about one, we're just looking at tacking
on fees. It should not be about fees. It should be about responsibility, holding people accountable and how do we do that if we don't have a a specific process in place that's requiring people to leave their information, their their
personal contact information on on owners. And so when they're violated, they can't utilize the excuse they wasn't noticed. And also a a a continuous use of occupancy or a renewal because this is is COCCO and there's one more, isn't
there? COA, I'm sorry. CFA CFA COA approval of what? Certificate of approval. And what is that when I when construction work is finished?
When the construction work is finished. I thought that was a CO. No, that's for occupancy. Mhm. So if a building cannot be occupied or building reason, that's when you're installing chairs or flooring and
occupy it. Okay. Well, if we can, you know, outline what we're doing with this process. I'm sorry, director. Go ahead. Uh generally we work very closely with the construction office. So in theory if
we do uh visit a property that's conducting business that's not approved then we would immediately contact the construction office and let them know that there was work conducted at the property that was not approved and they would issue violations to correct it. Um
there we're trying or working to try to get uh business registration going where we can force property owners that have commercial spaces to register with us so we can at least have a last approval or
file of what's supposed to be there in terms of records and possibly maybe a fee. Uh I know that Merkantile has not been doing that. Um we you know we we used to work with them. Um there's
different processes to do it. Obviously, the office is complaint based and u you know we we go out if somebody is complaining and we also can do sweeps in an area where where something is reported to be an issue. But like they
said, zoning is the land use office. They're the ones who determine the use of the building. Whatever is non-conforming or whatever is new has to be present to us first. And then the construction part, the actual mechanisms of constructing this good fit out or
whatever it is that you're doing will go to the construction office and those are the fees that uh they're trying to be amended at the moment. So I get it. I get it. We're doing fees and and the focus here is fees which uh
you know I'm just not in agreement with. I mean we you know we're feed burden enough. the fees will just it's the fees are really just to sustain the office to make self-sufficient um and that will allow enforcement to be
more robust in the future. Well, with all due respect, I know this has nothing to do with you and I'm going say it anyway. The fees that's been collected, although it was found in the past by Mr. Labzo, that those fees should go directly back to your office
to fund the operations that has not been. So the fees have been going directly to to the to the administration, the mayor to be irresponsible on his delegation of where where the funds are going. So but I still want to
make sure and corporation council can weigh in on this as well that we're doing something that's going to continuously have a level of accountability. When a new business opens, they should definitely be required to receive some type of
certification certificate from this department, whether it's a CEO, CCO, COA. I think there we we've discussed it in the past where the ordinance does have something called a certificate of nonconformity that can be issued. Um,
and I'm not saying that should be fee based, but it's in there where something can be issued to a certificate style where it doesn't mean that you need a CO, but that the business is permitted uh and that it was uh registered. Well, last question. I apologize,
council president, very quickly because this has definitely happened to me and and director Castro, this definitely happened to me. So, in the in the in the event where a building
is older and we know because in the past, and I'm not saying it's still going on, but the young lady that used to work there would go out and accuse business operators of not being having a legal occupancy.
Then, would they accuse me of that? And then I in in the archives, it had to be found that there was an existing CO. So my point is I get what you're saying that we could probably implement something else but if there's a co a process of certificate of occupancy
and this question then goes back to director Gilmore because during the time when he cited the art factory for all of those various businesses that had occupancy but had no certificate then what you're saying to me means that that
was irrelevant. But the court upheld that those individuals in fact did need to have certificate of occupancy. It wasn't about the overwhel over overall owner. It was about each individual business that was operating there and they had it had had to have an
individual certificate of occupancy. And if we don't do that, then we run the risk of all of these businesses being able to say, "Hey, I' I've been here for x amount of years." and then grandfathered in or you know a new business that says the one that was here before me they was doing it for the last
30 years. No, a new business should be required to get a certific certificate of continuation or a certificate of change or something of that nature should definitely be reviewed if a structure had a nightclub in the in the
1970s and is now a barberh shop and the cos is still saying nightclub. Obviously, that wasn't approved and that's something that we need to look into. Correct. So, what what how do we change that? That's my point. Yeah. So, it's a multi-layered approach. Right now, we're talking about the
construction office, but there's additional ways that we can actually bring in oversight. That would be through the introduction of a business registration certification. So that's a different process that would register each and every business within the city so that there is a document that
actually accounts for the intended use and what the business is actually serving as it would require an annual um reertification so that we can verify it's done in other municipalities but this is a separate conversation. It's
still needs to be vetted. Don't we have a process of mercantile um licensing in merile merkantile right so that's how the business are registering so it's not currently working at well it's not up and running right now for I
don't know why that process so we have it in place then council president I'm sorry councilman vez were you done councilman Jackson yeah I'm done councilman thank you council president um first of all I want to commend the Uh uh the new
position, Mr. Rash McCoy, assistant zoning officer. Welld deserved, Mr. Rasho. Um I know you could do a racial. Sorry for my sorry for my Spanglish
Puerto Rican Tyino. You got some blood of Tyenos too, Jamaica. Uh but I would I want to commend this uh new position that you have. Um I know that as a constituent services that you lead that
division in the beginning 2006 you do a great job here in this department. Um madam director what we doing here? You know really really what we doing here? What
we doing to incentive to attract new business owners in the city of Patterson? What we are doing to incentive those individual to come and invest in our city, what we are doing is like scaring people
away with this fees. And not not only that, uh, Councilman Councilman uh, Udin stated that he just want to make sure that new homeowners or people that want to do new construction
don't be hurt in this process. This is not singling out projects, but from the small to the big ones, they had to get more finance. They had to probably they have a number to new
construction. Now they had to turn around everything, the application because uh the change of fees, what they getting back is my concern. Um, are they getting back uh on time approval,
inspections, on time um not waiting 30, two months, six months probably for a a a stamp to operate. I got I got individuals calling me that uh their business are being closed because
um a reinspection of a plumbing, you know, or reinspection of electric or they they need to do an appointment through the council. Do you have a question for the directors and their staff or you just making points? No, no, no. I'm doing the experience
first that people are having out there and my question is what we doing to incentive really to bring new business into the city of Patterson and not just put a block. Council member, the question your point is not their that's
not their operational incentivizing businesses to come to Patterson is separate and apart from the current conversation we're having which is on the increase in construction fees to assist with the sustainability of that department. Right now without the
increase in fees the city is unfortunately you know cashstrapped but it's also leading to the inefficiencies within the department because it's not self- sustaining the fees that would be increased would help support that division to so that Ahmed as a
construction official is able to hire recruit and retain individuals to then help the projects move through the process efficiently. Right now there's a backlog in projects because there's not sufficient staff. Okay. It's not adequately staffed because there's
they're not collecting the fees that they need. So So here comes my question now that you put that on the floor. The state took over the police and gave him $10 million. The state took over this office. You did not take over the office. They oversee the office.
The state is there to collaborate with the city. Okay. So Okay. So collaboration as a collaboration. You don't think the state council hold council president there's a question related to the construction fee on the table it is it
is no it's is operational you requesting the council to increase the fee for operational but at the same time headline news say that the state is overseeing this office. Don't you think that the state should give you a hand
and say you need you need funding to operate this this uh office? They overseeing this office. Don't you think point of privilege? Point of privilege. Director, why? Why? Point of privilege. Yeah. Councilman, you are directing questions
to the director and her team in regards to the the um operation the state. No, but regarding the state's role and responsibility of what they're doing in that particular department, they are here before us for increasing
fees that have not been increased since 2011. If you want a separate and apart conversation to identify what the role and responsibilities have been or why the state is here, we can do that. Okay? But we but this item before us, it's
either you're going to vote yes or no. We have our madame clerk here. We have our secretary people in here. they're still impacted with the Ballwater advisory and that question that's not what we're voting on. I I I'd like your points of reference, but we can have a separate and apart conversation or just
ask the chair of economic development to be a part of their committee, which is fine, but madame clerk, we're ready to vote. So, so let me ask you a question, council president, to if may I um to direct the question then to the BA not regarding um the whatever this increase
fee doing. Mr. BA to the chair. Uh is it possible that um knowing that the state is overseeing this office that you could ask them if they could fund it too? Just write a letter. What you normally do? He'll take that as a point of recommendation. Madame clerk, roll call.
Council President. Councilman. That's nice. Very good. Director, last question for you. Last year, how much money did your office bring in? Collectively about the department or the construction office? No, the entire department. Everything.
Zoning, CI, construction, sub code, everything. I don't have the numbers on the top of my head, but I know since January, there has been significant revenue that has been collected out of that office that exceed $1 million that was not being
collected previously. So, okay. What what you what more than that, but that's that's specific to the construction office. What I believe you're referring to is the derelic fees that was not collected correct previously. That's
not what I'm referring to. What I'm trying to get a gauge on is profit or uh uh uh in inflows versus outflows.
a basic snapshot on what what your operations cost us through the budget. You should pretty much have an idea because I know you just recently just going through the budgeting process. So, what is the office generating? So, we're increasing fees right now, right?
Because we're talking about uh the the inappropriate staffing levels, not being able to fulfill permits, you know, timely and things of that nature. you talk about, you know, there's a deficiency in in in in staff.
So, my question to you, because it was directly posed as a as a uh as an accusation from the previous um sub code director that the office brings in substantial amount of money and yet it's being
misdirected or redirected, let me say. And relative to Councilman's point, right, and trying to uh um nitpick on whether or not the state should be making a contribution, if the office is
generating enough to to uh uh uh to sustain and to increase volume by if the office is generating enough revenue every year in order to justify hiring more staff, that's letting us know that the
administration's is not being responsible with the money that's being generated. So, as we're here making a proposition to increase fees, which you know, in many cases right now in this point of time, it's impacting outsiders
more because more developers come to the office with proposals than people from inside. But the way it actually should be, the way it impacts the individuals in other communities, it impacts the residents. So ultimately,
once this whole developer thing goes away and they they decide they no longer interested in or they they suck the lemon dry, those fees that we're implementing now, they're going to directly go impact the the the the residents and the owner occupied
facilities. So again my question is about like in general how much is the department generating yearly in revenue and then how do we do a a comparison on what is it costing to run the department
how many employees whose salaries and etc. So right now the department the entire department has about a $4 million budget. So, if we look at each division individually, um I would say they generate with the
exception of um zoning, I'll take them out of the equation right now because they don't even have, you know, fees. Um that's another area that needs to be looked at. Um for a basic permit, um the fees that are being
charged out of the zoning office are very minimal at best. are not even competitive with what other municipalities are charging, big or small. So, um the construction department annually brings close to $2 million.
Uh community improvements. If you take a look at um what they bring in in terms of the vacant and abandoned properties and foreclosures, they're hovering about 1.2 about 1.2.
Um zoning again is about 200,000. Yeah. Um so again I can you know present a more formal look at what the numbers are. I don't want to spitball and just you know but but we have I mean these these are these are the details that we need. We
should have these details relative to considering raising fees. Especially if we're going to talk about why are we raising fees. If you're saying we need to raise fees so we can increase capacity, increase productivity, then we have to make sure that the fees that we're increasing
doesn't wind up in another line item. The other thing is this. I thought through zoning, every time you have an application come through, put a special uh special application through and etc. that those are all fees that's going through zoning, right? Planning and zoning is
um the the permits that are free are the permits that are required to obtain a construction permit. So the pre-approval to obtain a construction permit, those are free. The ones that are not free are the developers applications, which are the ones that get reviewed by the board. These are the general fund. Those
require escro payments so that they can be reviewed and then in turn go in front of the board for a hearing. So, but those fees is that was that included in the number you gave the director what your department is generating the 200 plus thousand? Yeah, those fees for application fees for
special meetings and things of that nature. Yes. So, I was I was under the impression that those fees went directly to the professionals and etc. that you know these are third party in uh uh third party
professionals about relate to the escrow that relates to the review of those applications by the third party vendors which is separate um I'm happy to detail specifically if you want a budget breakdown for each division I'm happy to do that um the issue was for the
construction department again this relates all to the construction department fee ordinance all of the fees previously were going into the city's general ederal fund. They were not going back to a dedicated line item specific to the construction office for them to
utilize. That's the issue. That's what we're trying to correct and rectify with the introduction of this ordinance. So, and I I'll wrap here, Councilman. Um, okay. So, therefore, that's something that needs to be definitely on this council. This council has the
direct responsibility to make sure if we're we're always complaining right council members of and this is goes back to Mrs. Brown where she's talked about no no one's given a solution. council members always complaining that people are complaining
it's taking, you know, extended peri lengths of time to get permits. But if we sit here and allow for the money to be extracted from the department and we don't allow for because a city of our size, right,
should have multiple subcode inspectors. Shouldn't be one building inspector, one plumbing inspector, one electrical inspector, one fire. We should have multiple. It's impossible for all the applications to come through and and and and director I'm not sure if you've
managed to to begin to digitize because even even the process of taking in you taking in let's say board applications you have eight different what what are they required to supply nine because there's eight board members how many plans are they required to supply
up to 15 plans 15 plans and then I've gotten multiple there's one that director been gracious enough to help me with a a a a client or a constituent that has had their plans lost
four times, three, four times. So, we have to look at process. What are we doing? I mean, we just raising fees and we're not what what what the what the residents are crying about is not about how much taxes they're paying, but it's about the amount of services that
they're not receiving. So, if we're going to raise fees, then that means we we have to be willing to represent that by way of services. And we can't do that if we're just going to allow you and and the mayor to just raise the fees and
then we don't have an outline on one how much does your department produce, then how much is required on the output. So, we know exactly what the expenditures are needed to be. And lastly, I'll just say this thing. I would like to definitely see the CO process,
you know, whether it's is is not required, just make sure that it's implemented because we have to have you you have people that are doing illegal construction on apartments. They got a twobedroom, then they reconstruct it, turn it into a three or four, and then
if there's no CO when it when the place was taken over, see, the CO process will allow for that inspection even though there's no construction. But if there's a change of hands on the property, in order for the new owner to obtain a
continued use of occupancy, there should be an overall inspection that takes place. That's definitely something that we have to build in because people are making acquisitions of properties, they're altering them and then they say, "Oh, it's like this when I brought it." But that's part of the re- rental
process. So, like I said earlier, it's really a multi-layered. But I'm sorry, not to interrupt, director, if they don't have a rental, right? Let's say if it's a if it's a um a an owner occupied two family, right?
Then they got somebody in the basement, they have someone You know, we still have to have a CO process for the new acquisition because if they don't come down because they got their brother living in the second floor apartment, they're not required to get a a rental
certificate, then we don't have an idea. We need to have a process of inspection on acquisition of property because it goes through taxation. And when there's a change of of hands, taxation, there there should be a communication process amongst all the
departments, division of taxation, a new property change. We need to get an inspector over there. We got to get in your property. That way, we don't have to be do, you know, doing these paying astronomical fees for reassessments. No. Agreed. Thank you, C. Thank you, Councilman. Um,
great points of reference. Just take those points of reference and work it through our economic development committee. Councilman Khali, I I just want to clarify a couple of thing. Um um Councilman Jackson, I do agree with everything that you said.
According to state monitor, our um ED department UCC as well is short of staff big time. That's one thing. Um and also that this department should be self
sustainable. Yes. Meaning they should be able to generate money is not a revenue generating department. They should be able to generate the money with the fees or whatnot they collect and they should have enough employees to run their
department sufficiently so the residents of Patterson could uh uh get proper service. This is one of the way of generating revenue not for the other department for for your department so you could hire enough staff to run that
department. That's what I understood from the meeting that I had with the director and and and the state monitor. I just want to clarify that for everyone. Thank you. Roll call, madam clerk. Wait a second. Roll call, madam clerk. Council president. Councilman. Um let me just ask you
director um uh once now how many employees would you say you said there's four four department in under in the construction department. Yes. There are roughly if you include the sub
if you include the the sub code officials and the inspectors including the technical and clerical staff it's close to 20 I would say about 17 about se yeah yeah 15 to 17 individuals okay now and and and how much how many
would you say that's that that's needed more so right now our sub codes and our inspectors are part-time or more than part-time, which is the biggest issue. To get through plan reviews and to do um
inspections, we would need to bring in at least I'm sorry uh 35 staff total. It would be an increase. Uh both sub code, inspectors, clerical, technical assistance would be
needed. Put in full-time. So, actually you probably need about 15 more people. Yes. At least. So, so um by increasing the fees, it would it be would it help you to Yes. to get the more staffing
that huh? Yes. The more staffing that you would need to um get to where you you need to get because as of now I believe that um I think you know everything is so backed up. It's taking people's too long. I
think one of the biggest issue is that people sometime wait two years to go before a board and they don't and they don't um pay for a special meeting. They wait for a regular meeting. So I think um that that really needs to be looked at too regular
meeting opposed to special meeting. So so with this increase that will help you get your numbers up to what you need to get up to. Correct. Historically, there has been no uh budget of record on the department to understand where we're supposed to be at. After this year and after next year,
we're going to get a clearer image of what is actually required and needed for the department for my office, for your office. Yeah, there will be reports produced and a budget produced and projections of what is going to be needed for the office. Okay. We started to do that, right? So, we've
started to do that. So we have actual uh documentation and we've done an analysis from the start of this year to present. So we have an idea of what is needed to to really operate that department to really operate it. Thank you director.
Thank call on first reading. Madame clerk. Yes. Roll call on item number two for first reading. Councilwoman Cotton. Councilwoman Councilman Jackson.
So, uh I mean I'm I'm a I'm a bit concerned. I raised I believe what is a a number of very important um uh uh items that should definitely have some some adjustments to this thing before
this moves forward, you know. Um what is this? I don't I I actually I I think this is a this is an effort to to drive someone else's um agenda realistically because if we don't know
what our department is need in need of by not knowing we know what's needed. We need staff. We need body director in the middle. Roll call. Oh p question. If we don't know what we're generating and what's already in the office, you
can say you need staff all day, but if the department is already generating what's needed and we don't have those, we don't have those figures and we don't we don't know exactly what what is needed, how we're going to acquire. We don't even know if
these increases are going to be substantial enough to cover what's what the need is because we didn't outline a plan by saying listen if we want to cut productivity or or increase productivity by 50%. Well, we need this many staff
members. It's going to cost this much. Like this is what this is how you present a plan to do something. You don't just increase fees when we don't know the volume of what we have, how much these fees are going to increase revenue just based on the volume, right?
We could have we could come up with we could have come up with a report to say last year we had 250 plus thousand applicants. If those applicants paid this, then this is what we would have generated. This how much staff we could have put in place, etc. That's showing a
robust plan on what we what we need, what the projections are. But we can't come here and say, "Well, I don't quite know. It's about this much, about that much, and then not have an outline and the plan of what it is that we that we're that we're aiming for." Cuz now
we're just pulling out a gun, shooting in the dark. You know, I'd rather have a sniper on the roof than than somebody, you know, with less no experience on the ground, you know, just busting off caps. Um, I can't support this. It's not not not um it's not it's not ready. Madame
clerk, my vote is no. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Khal. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Uh, I would like to see a uh what my Councilman Jackson talked about projection as well before the
second reading. Um, I'll I'll support the first reading. Before the second reading, I would like to see a projection. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Omar, my vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Uden. Thank you, Madame Clerk. So, um,
directors and, uh, everyone else who are present, just notice the operation done by community improvement and all the departments um, and economic development. Um, people are very frustrated about the situation, shortage of staff. Um even right before the
meeting starts or in the meantime when I was speaking to uh Mr. Castro so many people when you're leaving the text on people door people trying to reach back call at this number nobody responds to call that that happens you know that so this is this is frustration is going on and everyone knows that this is
particularly this department when someone calls for suggestion and people calls regularly for these things and uh I showing two of those uh text messages that came today uh to Mr. professor. So when we uh navigate people to that
particular department, people really scared to go there because of shortage staff, lengthy of the applications and everything. I like to see that it's moving forward, the process getting faster. Also, when it comes for um uh inspectors available, I think there
should be inspectors you should hire for the uh weekends as well because so many illegal construction takes place on the weekend. I I have heard on my own years that someone was suggesting someone a construction someone saying oh do this
on the weekend nobody's available at that time so think about how people are thinking mindset and we don't want to see that contin continued so I like to see um yes it is very true that you have to have clear projection and how this um
increase is going to support you toward hiring more individuals for the department or whether um we have to allocate more money from the budget or push more money from the budget for particular department or not. So I think that would be better for the council
members to know where are you standing at this point. But I like to see that if you have enough money to move forward, hire more individuals and again your leadership is commendable. No question about it. With that being said, my vote is yes.
Thank you Councilman Councilman BZ. So before the uh state monitor monitored this office right this division UCCC
we had eight employees that's way before the state started monitoring four inspectors plumbing building electric and fire inspector Right.
Plus the UCC director that was at that time was Jerry Labzo. Five. You have another clerical another clerical seven. I'm counting the cubics that they were sitting. It's like seven
employees. Right now you stated that you had 17 or 20 employees. That increase. Um couple months ago the salary of them went a little bit higher that they they
got a raise for the work they doing. Um so you are being fully staff plus the health I'm talking about seven employees that you had seven or eight employees before the state came in
now you had 17 18 employees roughly 20 that's what you say with the help of Mr. Washington things have been working good and now you have another UCCC individual cooperating the office. What I want to
see is before I made my decision is next next the second reading is what was the revenues coming in in that time with the 17 uh n seven employees that you had 17 employee you have now how
many revenue have been coming into that office that will tell me is being self- sustained now I believe the funding was not going directly to UC CC you say with this ordinance it will correct that. Now
let why not correct that first and see if it works and then start raising the fees right so there there's no that that trust me you going okay we need this money but now we're going this way now
going that way I don't I don't feel comfortable especially This is not telling me that you're going to grandfather individual that already put projects in it in in in the in the
division. You're going to now enforce those project already in there to adjust the financial because you increase the fees. You understand what I'm saying? So now if this will start for new projects
is totally different. But it's not. You're going to take the old project and submit the new fee on it. All right. But you say no, but I haven't seen the real numbers.
Madame director with all your respect you know um you was fishing for answer from your colleagues you know the your worker to see how many employee you have um how much this one revenue comes and this and that without coming with a straight um numbers and that means that
you guys sit only to look at the table how much the fee was before now how you want it now instead of justifying those fee and what it's going to bring is really into conclusion Uh I don't know if it'll change my mind
for the second reading for this moment and my vote is no. Thank you Councilman Counc Director. There's many um requests that came before. Please try to provide all that information to uh all the council
members working through your committee so that we can get through second reading. Madame clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you, council president. The votes are five in favor, two against, and two absent. Item number two is hereby adopted on first reading. Second reading
will be held at the regular meeting of September 16th, 2025. Madame clerk, items three and seven, please. Together. Item three and seven together. Item number three and seven. I will read
item number three first. Ordinance repealing establishment of handicap parking spaces on county roads. And you don't want the list is want me to read this list. Just read the um
short list. Just read the title and the resolution number. Okay. Well, it doesn't have a resolution number because it's a first reading ordinance. Just read the title. Okay. and and state that it includes the county and city roads.
It includes the street addresses. Okay. Uh then item number seven, no public hearing required. Ordinance repealing establishment of handicapped parking spaces at various locations. Moved by council president Mims. Second
by Councilman Omar and Councilman Khali. Three and seven for repealing three and seven. Roll call. Madam clerk. Okay. Roll call on items three and seven um for approval on first reading.
Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Yes, you voted. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Coun Councilman Jackson. Yes. Councilman Kh. Yes. Councilman Omar. Yes. Councilman Uden.
Councilman VeZ is out. Okay. Uh Council President. Yes, madame clerk. Thank you. The votes are six in favor, two absent, three absent, I'm sorry. Item number
three, and seven are approved for first reading. Approved for first reading. Um items four, five, and six to be read al together. Madame clerk, title. Sure. Only for first reading for establishing
handicap. Yes. Item four, five, and six. Item number four is an ordinance establishing handicap parking spaces at various locations on city roads. It's a public works item. Um
and item number five, sorry. Okay. Ordinance establishing handicap parking spaces on various locations on city roads. And we have item number six, ordinance establishing handicap parking
spaces at various locations on county roads. Moved by Councilman Khal, second by Councilman Omar. Roll call, Madam Clerk, on establishing handicapped parking spaces for items four, five, and six. Roll call on items four, five, and
six for approval on first reading. Councilwoman Cotton. Councilman uh Jackson, yes. Councilman Khik, yes. Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Uden, yes.
Councilwoman Mims, yes. Thank you. The votes are six in favor, three absent. Items four, five, and six are approved for adoption on first reading. Second reading will be held at the regular meeting of September 16th,
2025. Motion to close the Oh, item number 52. Madame clerk, we will table it. We need to um for item number 52, we need to request that the owner is present due to the uh call to
service. Um, I know there was a miscommunication for this meeting, but for our next meeting, we would definitely need to have that there. Motion to close. So, move by Councilman Khalen, second by Councilman Omar. Council President,
Councilman Jackson. One, I I don't understand how we're getting ready. We're still conducting business. We don't have a BA here. We don't have a a a corporation council here. Um, I I get that there's, you know, somebody he has to use the
bathroom, but I mean, somebody has to be here, you know. Um, before we even begin to close, I I need to I have some concerns that needs to be answered by the uh by the BA. Can you see if the BA is in the
hallway, please? Oh, he's in the restroom as well. Okay. Um, so, uh, yeah, yes, there's a motion and a second on the floor to close. Yeah, I call for discussion.
But you're waiting for someone that's not present. We don't know how long they're going to be in the bathroom. So, we can't close discussion if I can't. If we get a call to question, we can't. Is there a call to question? First of all, the meeting should the meeting should halt once the BA is not Is there a call to question on the floor
so we can move forward? Yes. The call to question is we our code says for when through operations we have a repres representative from the administration there meaning the BA the BA is responsible for being here. We
have if I have a question for him he can't just close the meeting without my question being answered because he had to relieve himself. We could wait till he gets back. I mean, you know, it's and I get it. I mean, he has to use the bathroom. I have no issue with that. But just moving forward to rush the meeting
closed, you know, uh it's it's not appropriate. I won't we won't be here again until a month and a half from now. There's a call to question on a floor meeting to move forward. Madame clerk, continue the roll call, please.
Roll calls um to adjourn the meeting. What what was the answer to the caller to the call the question to the point question when a caller question is called that mean you're supposed to answer that means you go to the next person call the that means council my colleague is the next person for roll call
nobody we haven't started a roll call we didn't call we started it counciloman Khan voted yes not vote she did not vote we didn't call roll call we're not in roll call we're still in discussion anyway first of all Councilman Khik made
a made a gesture today with regard to the merkantile. This council again according to our code we're supposed to operate and sit function as the board of health all of the inappropriate activity
that's been going on at the board of health whether whether merkantile license is a perfect example of that. But Mr. BA. It's been brought to my attention that the uh division within um the health department for for the lead
inspectors, they haven't been working full days. They've been coming in punching in in the morning and then leaving because of whether it is inadequate uh uh air conditioning in that division or or such. But I've been
getting a lot of complaints from residents that are saying that they can't they have not been able to obtain reent certificates and things of that nature because they can't uh schedule for um lead inspections.
So I would I would like to have an answer on that. I mean I know you can't do it today but you can you can apply reply to me via email. But this uh this selective uh uh uh uh operational situations is
not is not appropriate. And and I'll just I want to make this last suggestion. Whether or not the administration sees fit, I think as a council we need to see fit and hire a professional to come in and do us do do a uh survey of this
facility. This is now the third person I know of. We lost two that have been dealing and managing cancer. Obviously, you know, there was a time when when uh there was some work going on downstairs and we did not allow for those employees
to be relocated out of the building when there was a specialist being removed from this building. So I would like to get a report on that on on how many employees were left working in the building while the aspest was being removed and if the administration cares
to do it or as a council body because again it's equal powers we should take the objective to evaluate the facilities because people are working here every day and their lives could be at jeopardy. So, if you want to move on
now, council president, I have no problem with that. Thank you, Councilman. Um, roll call, Madam Clerk, to close. Roll call to adjourn the meeting of August 19th, 2025. Councilwoman Cotton. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I just want to say to the listening audience that um um
I did attend our funeral services for Madame Clerk. Um outstanding. She was outstanding person. Um, and I said and when I spoke at the funeral, I said she um looked out for all nine council members. So I with the family, I just want to
give them my condolences again. She would truly truly be missed here um with all the hard work that she's done. Also, I want to bring up the to the point where um about the water. I want to thank all elected official, all everybody in the community, all of you
out there who put forth the hand of helping our community um with the water crisis that we had and that we still continue to have. I just want to say also that um it's still not over with
yet, but um I want to commend especially our OEM director Troy Ays him to save Valley Water, some of my DPW people, some of my fire department
people were rolling in 16, 18 hour days for 10 days, 11 days. They still doing it because it's not completely over with yet. They're still placing pipes in. They're questioning. And I said that when when it's still not completely done
and I know our director and Troy Air, I want to commend you. You did an outstanding job and you're still doing an outstanding job and that you will provide the reports that will be needed by all people in the community in the city of Patterson. They
um and putting in um 18 hours a day for the last 10 days, 11 days um replacing hundreds of feets of pipes um working 18 hours, going home for 4
hours, get something, come back home, come back four or five hours later. So, I just want to commend all of you that that that done that. Like I said, short air, the OEM department, uh the state valley water, um and all the stuff that had
been discussed will be discussed. It will be discussed and things is not finished yet. Reports will start to come in because everything is not finished yet. Troy, I just want to commend you for your outstanding job that you've done and you
will continue to do and you would do it all the way to the end. And I just want to say to all my council colleagues and all the community out there, everything that you do, like everybody sometimes doesn't need to know everything that that's being done, but um to the
community um in certain areas we still underwater alert. Um just look at the map closely. I know which I didn't understand either that um I am south of Broadway. So meaning that
where I live, Councilwoman Mims, we're in the Ballwater alert in our area. Going past the other way towards 14th A, 15th A on Broadway, uh is not in the Ballwater alert. So please community
look at the map to see where. And for all those that came out tonight and like the young lady, I got to say that um people them children are watching because when that little girl told me that I saw you on TV and she's only watching because her mother and father
is watching. Um so they see that. But also I want to just mention too again that valley water has been replacing water main lines. They have been for the last two years they have been replacing u water manes. So reports will be coming
out. Troy airs. I want to commend you again to all you out there community. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for all what you continue to do. I just want to do a special shout out to Black Lives Mel uh Black Lives Matters, Ellie Thomas, Mature Sister Shironda Roberts,
um setting up the showers, um over there at Kennedy High School, and for everybody, everybody who's who who put in who did something, who delivered to people homes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Like someone said before, God
sees what you do. If nobody else does, God does. So, thank you very much community for everything that you do. Madame Clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Jackson. Thank you, Madam Clerk. So, I too want to give credit where credit is due. I
appreciate all the work done by everybody, not just Troy, but by by the entire department. Um, but I will say this, the the residents deserve proper representation and we're not getting that because the very first
thing considering the crisis, Mr. Ba, you know, if you make take note of this, we should have had a presentation brought to the public by the OEM director, by yourself, by the mayor realistically on what what
exactly happened. But the the OEM director should have been giving us an account of what was spent, what was being um uh uh supplied, who was being responsible for it. We should have had a, you know, how many cases of water. We
set out a full report that was given publicly to the public on everything that was that was uh that was that was done. Furthermore, I'm asking this council, we should have we should have a a a
committee of the whole meeting with all of the the appointees from Patterson that represent the Pake Valley Water Commission and we should have a full report on we can't just go out, yeah, they have been replaced. What people know is there was a line that broke. We
lost a you know how many gallons of water did we did we lose in our reservoir? How much how much you know how much did did we lose uh uh relative to you know days of service? How much how many people were out of service? And
furthermore, how much is it going to cost? And we should have we we should have projections based on the budget uh and operations of the water commission as well. There should be a presentation given to the public, but the entire city was impacted. We all over the national
news and we still not we're still not being responsible. How many um lengths of pipe was replaced? What's the size of the the pipe? We should have pictures. I got some pictures. I'll send them to you. Mayor, councilman. Council cotton. I'm finished.
We should have pictures of the site. We should have pictures of what the what's been replaced. We should have, you know, air aerial shots from a drone from wherever. But we have to start being more accountable to our residents. We're not because the residents don't come out
enough and and and and state that this or make demands on these things, but in other communities they do. So that's the first thing um you know relative to council members understanding our role even city officials because the first
day that that that the uh distribution of water was being done Yeah. Everybody was welcome to have it, but when I went to various u um uh departments with expectations of having water delivered, and this is this goes back to Councilman
um Mims's commentary earlier, the initial uh uh consensus was we don't take care of those buildings because they're privately owned. It wasn't until 5 days later that the mayor or whomever felt it
uh necessary to require for the water commission to supply the tankers to be able to supply water for people to be able to flush their toilets. That would have been a that was a much more responsible thing to do. It wasn't until Frank Filipelli was riding around giving away water for people to flush their
toilets and I did a live post 5 days later after we was telling people from the towers we can't bring them water. We were telling um um co- arms and and Triangle Village, we can't bring them water because they're privately owned. It was council members saying it. It was members of the administration saying it.
Even the mayor was going around saying it. If we are responsible for providing a service to all the community, we don't just get to say we don't we we we we don't get to do that because it's privately owned. Yes, I agree. There should been some level of accountability
to those owners, especially in the towers. The the the the UCCC department should have went there to visit and saw the conditions and nobody could flush the toilet. In order to open a building, you got to have working plumbing. So if your plumbing stops working, therefore
the building should be shut down. We you should those landlords should have been required to either provide that water or put all their residents up in a in a hotel just as if it was a fire. So I'll leave that there. That's us being
irresponsible. I will say this. Um, to the Murray family, listen, you'll be very hardressed to find another person as beautiful as Miss Jackie Murray. And I'm not talking about just her exterior, but her, you know,
the beauty that she exumed from her um personality and her interactions with everyone. It's it's a very rare occurrence to come across someone um like this. Someone who takes consistent um abuse and yet always does, you know,
takes it in with a smile and continues to, you know, render support to everyone who who uh who actually does abuse her. I want to give credit to those members of the council and various members who did not uh uh show up and and try to u
put on the show after you know uh um definitely being a part of this mistreating mistreatment. And I'll just say this, you know, um just as humans, but as men, when we sit back and watch people be um abused and you know, even
if we if it's not us doing it and just not stand up when that happens and then some of us that even showed up as if we had a true concern for that person, it's uh it's it's rather embarrassing and um you know, just enlightening on where uh
how far people would go with their your evil intent. But, um, council president, I hope that we can make a decision on that. Maybe at our next meeting, cast a vote that her her picture, uh, you know, forever be,
um, placed on the on the walls of this of this chambers and never allowed to be removed. Um, I think at the very least, you know, she deserves that. And with that being said, u, madame clerk, I appreciate the time. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Khik.
Good night everyone. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Omar. So, before I do vote, I just want to thank uh more than a few people. And if I miss anybody, I apologize. But yes, I do want to commend all my council colleagues, Councilman Cotton, Council,
Council President, our vice president, uh Councilman Kik, your team was out there during the crisis. Councilman Uden, your team was out there till 3 in the morning. I commend you on that. Councilman also um and then a few other organizations and a few other people.
Mutual Sisters, uh Black Lives Matter, the fire department, OEM, Troy Ares, as uh my council colleague, Councilman Jackson stated, Frank Philipelli was driving around with a with this pickup truck with a big water gallon and just giving people water. And uh a big big
shout out to Mike Maggley and his team because they delivered I I think the I think I might be off but it's close to seven trailers over 150 pallets of water. Uh thank you uh future commissioner uh Mike Rmaglia. It's been
sincerely appreciated by all our colleagues and uh also to a few of our board of ed commissioners like Hector Neves and Joel Ramirez. They were out there giving out water and uh it was just a commulative effort by the city of Patterson. I know councilman uh council president reached out to me. Go here, go
there. I did. I had one of my residents tell me, "Hey, my mom needs water." And while I was on the way there, she said, "Never mind. Councilman Jackson gave it to her." So, you know, everybody did their part. And um that's how we pull through and get through uh tough times here in the city. And with that
being stated, good night Patterson. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Newton. Thank you, Madam Clark. So, before I close today's uh meeting, I would like to uh express my sincere condolences uh
to Madame Clark Morris family and I'm extremely sorry that I was not able to attend the funeral because I was out of the state and uh came back actually yesterday. So um but I missed her when she was appointed to the
uh appointed as a as a cler of the city. Um she knows and those who are in the meeting uh is in our office close to her. They know that how how much I was for her to make sure that she got
appointed. um and she actually served with with her heart and soul and she set an example but um it is very unfortunate that she's not with us but her legacy her works it will
be an example for all of us in the future um Clark for the city of Patterson uh again I'd like to commend um everyone all the individuals organization that came out during the water crisis.
It's not it was not the time they're pointing fingers but I I really appreciate all the support that came up. people came up from their own self to stand by the community members and this is a strength and when we united and certain situation and who I personally
got supported by I like to commend them uh personally um I say BD supermarket 7 days from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the morning uh disturbed usage water with no limit
and we don't know how many thousands gallons of water are distributed from that location for usage home delivery water. We went to one of my friends house on Matland Avenue um and my colleague from Patterson public school Fathma Chery and
Shafi Chhaturi. Every day we we have collected 400 to 600 uh gallons of water from their house for home deliveries. um from Fresh World Supermarket, we got over 800 cases of water for distribution
and so many other organizations that came out. Um as my C council colleagues mentioned that Pacific Valley Water Commission uh also distributed um Micro Maglia came out big time and supported our community members. our council
colleagues also shown their support and they they did their level best to support the community members. So I really appreciate all the efforts who are done during this crisis but again at the same time we have to remember that we don't want to see the similar crisis
in the future. those aging pipes um should be re-evaluated and specifically water commission needs to um give us a clear idea that what's our infrastructure which one should be replaced and what are the works uh that
are scheduled and what should be done in the near future or not. So that kind of like uh advanced knowledge uh should have um for for uh for the uh for not occurring certain uh situation that that
that Patterson experienced recently. With that uh uh note um again uh Patterson uh thank you for allowing to serve um serve us and again uh again I I totally forgot about 50 plus volunteers
from different high school colleges and I always say generation Z is amazing hardworking and some of the kids were working from since morning early morning until late night and I'm I'm I'm grateful to them and to their parents for allowing these children to uh come
up and uh be supportive on certain situations. So, I'm grateful to uh every single individual that uh came out. Um with that being said, uh Madame Clark, thank you uh very much for everything. My vote is yes.
Thank you, Councilman. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh I echo the sentiment of my colleagues and uh I'm not going to mention all the names that they mentioned. I echo also um a big thank you to all of them uh to all the
organization that was mentioned today at this meeting uh regarding the effort of the water uh supply and distribution of uh the resources that they have in place. Um I want to say thank you to uh councilwoman Ruby Ken. I know that she
is the commissioner for the water commission and I don't need no more report. I have a direct one from her and she always detail us any situation that going on the water commission. Um, also I want to say thank you to Assemblyman
um at the Loziz um our senator Benji Wimbley and also Siobhan Des for uh the communications sent to the governor of New Jersey regarding uh and the assistant of the governor uh regarding
the water main break in the city of Patterson. Also, I want to send uh a big thank you to our Congresswoman Nelly Poe, knowing that she was taking care uh international um agendas and um uh her
duties as a Congresswoman to fight for all of us. Um on and abroad, the uh the United States. uh a big thank you because her communication also was noted with the officials of the water commission and those individual was
involved to make sure the operation goes uh fine. Also, I want to thanks the legal department uh to be uh always diligent into making sure that the law was um making sure that the law will follow and that no uh precaution comes
back to the city. I have to commend that legal department that always there looking for the benefit of our city member that if other things had to be done probably better but in an emergency um is an emergency and um and the action
that comes forward is the one that we commend. Um, like I said it before, the OEM Troy U Troy um Hayes uh did a great job with the resource that the water commission gave
him in hand to do it around the city. And um this is a lesson um when things comes um in the way they and the fashion that comes in that we don't predict. We wake up in the morning, we find the the situation and um and this side work
towards the communication with the community. Councilwoman um Mims, I want to thank you for keeping us the council members in the highlight of every day, every moment that uh was going on in the
city and making sure that um that you know that that that it worked. it worked properly. Uh I I did I did I did a screenshot of something here. Um and and and and I
just saw it. The Patterson Fire Department in New Jersey from August 8 up to today, the Patterson Department responded fired 1,299 total incidents. Okay. 1,299
incidents, 26 reported building um fires and five structures fires since the start of the water emergency. So they was working and uh we always was praying that not big incident
happened in the city but they was working out there and I commend the fire department also the Patterson police to assist uh all of them to do the right thing. So saying that um once again my condolence goes to the Murray um family
and um and everybody knows how I feel so I don't want to repeat it again. So saying that um madame clerk, thank you for your service and all the secretaries in the office for the service and also for the police department that was here assisting and not guarding the fire
alarms. Uh my vote is yes to close the public portion. Thank you Councilman the meeting. Sorry. So to the community as we go to close this meeting on tonight um once again my heartfelt condolences goes to our
amazing madame clerk uh Jacqueline D Murray which I called her diva. Um there are a few things that have been done so I wanted to um openly state them once again. We have the bun abundance that are hanging on every building.
Councilman. Councilman. We have the buttons that are hanging on every building throughout the city. The flags are at half staff for 30 days. We have a memorial that is downstairs when you walk in the city hall. On the first floor with a wreath that represents uh
the black, gold, and the green um of her nationality from Jamaica. On the third floor, we have two table set. one with a black cloth that is um being replaced with flowers every week. We're thank thankful for our Madame Jane Williams Warren, our former mayor who did it one
week, Madam Sonia Gordon who came in another week, and then in the middle table there is a another photo that was done by uh Minister David Riley um with different photos and shots of her that is in the middle. Um the request,
Councilman Jackson, thank you so much. That request is already being done. So there's two things. We will have a picture that will be in here with a wreath that will hang in the chambers from now until eternity. And then there will be the other picture that will hang in the clerk's office that will show
forth her picture right where the other clerks are identified on the wall so that we will not um forget her. Um once the family is ready, I've spoken to her husband and her daughter. We will do a memorial service, but as I've stated to
many people, we follow the direction of the family. When there is a loss and people are um in grieving, you wait for the family before you move forward. So once we get the the green light to do that, there will be a a memorial service
on her behalf for the water crisis. Um Councilman Jackson, um you're correct. um myself, council uh vice president Davala, we have spoken to the mayor, fireman Troy Ays who is our OEM coordinator, um Jim Mullen who's the COO
um for Pake Valley Water Commission. There will be a full press conference with um our commissioners will be present. They will be um sent a request Council Cotton um Carmen as well as Mr. Levine um and even if the other
commissioners want to be present and then it will be sent to the council members. So there will be a press conferencing. We're we're not pushing the press conference to happen right now because it's not completed. It's not finished and we do not want to divulge out half of the details until everything
is final. They have sealed off and resolved the 30-inch pipe. They are still working on the 24in pipe. They've given a date, but I don't want to give that out to the community because things can happen. So once that is totally completed, there will be a full press
conference to the community that will clearly outline led by our OEM coordinator and the mayor and uh the CEO of Pake Valley Water Commission with all those present as they asked us to come to that that uh press conference to detail all of the things that happened,
what they found, how much water um was lost, and those things will will take place. That request has already been made. Um but as of today there's still a ball water advisory in effect for certain areas and they have not yet totally resolved the 24 inch. So once
that are resolved there will be a a final report that will come out with all details. It will be open and then if people need to get the additional information they can make that request. I want to say uh that we are not violating the sunshine law tonight. We are closing
before 12. So thank you madame clerk. Thank you to our secretary, to our BA corporation council, to um Raphael, um and as well as our police officers and all of those that have come out. And in closing, Mature Sisters, Black Lives
Matter, Sigma, Gamma Row, I think they came out. It was so many people that helped during the water crisis that you may forget someone. I know I saw um Malachi's mission. There were so many people out there that were assisting. So, if your name was not called Charger
to the head and not the heart, we probably don't have a full robust list because so many people, Sheba Thomas, I have to give you a big shout out. Um, and so many people were helping as soon as they saw us out there all times of the night. They were like, "Well, what can we do?" And they were just taking
cases, right? I called um Councilman Omar. I was like, "Can you to take her to these houses? They can't walk, whatever." And he was going in and going up steps and doing his thing. So to everybody that participated and helped in a crisis, it shows the true gem of
the residents that live in the great city of Patterson. When we're in a crisis, we rise to the occasion and we don't get flooded in the waters. So I want to say thank you to everybody that came together, collaborated, and made it happen. And in closing, although you may
not see everyone saying stuff, sitting here, it does not mean that they're not asking questions. We have committee meetings where a lot of questions are asked, where things are being challenged and done. That's why we're attaching the committee uh committee meeting reports to the back of
the agenda so that you can see that we are meeting. These items are not just placed here, but there's some great discussion going on in our committee meetings. And I challenge our committee uh council members to please attend the committee meetings um that you are assigned. Madame Clerk, with that being
stated, it's time to go home. home. I got work in the morning. God bless you, Ryan. I love you. It I'm sorry. Thank you so much. Good night. Thank you, council. My vote is yes. Thank you, Council President. Before Madam Clerk calls the vote, just for a point of clarity, I understand we already know
the mayor's going to do a press conference. What I'm talking about is a committee of the whole where the council the council has the ability to question. We We don't have a quum. We had a quorum to close, but we don't have one now. Well, I understand that. But the council
So at the point where there's no quorum, we have question. The meeting is adjourned. The meeting doesn't adjourn. That means it can't close it. No, it we can't close it. It closed cuz I voted. So she didn't call. She didn't call it. Everyone voted. We voted. So the meeting is closed.
The votes are seven in favor. Two absent. The regular meeting of August 19th, 2025 is here by June. Good night Patter and good night our beloved.