you to the reorganization meeting of July 1st, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. The meeting is now called to order. I will call the roll call. Councilwoman Cotton, here. Councilwoman Dava, present. Councilman Jackson,
here. Councilman Khik, here. Council Mendes. Good evening. Before my vote, I just would like to say uh thank you to the great city of Patterson for allowing me to serve for the last two years, your council president and my council colleague. I'm not looking to seek
re-election anymore. I believe that is time for somebody else to come and lead this council. Uh but it's been a privilege to serve as your council president. I put my heart on this position and into the city of Patterson. Looking forward to see large men serving. My vote is yes, madam clerk.
Councilwoman Mims, I'm here and ready to serve, madam clerk. Thank you, Councilman Omar. Here. Councilman Uden, good evening, Patterson. I'm here. Councilman, good afternoon. I'm trying to fix my little movement fan, but it's not working. It's working for me. My
goodness. Thank you, Councilman. This afternoon's prayer will be rendered by Reverend G. David Riley, associate minister of Highway Church of Christ, followed with a flash salute led by Sophia Alexander and Dedra Paulo, city council staff. With Will we all stand
for the prayer, please? Heavenly Father, we come before you today in humble with humility and with faith, lifting up the leaders you have placed in the city of Patterson. We pray specifically over the Patterson City Council, every elected official, every
staff member, every person working behind the scenes to shape the life of this city. Lord, we thank you that you are the God of order, the God of justice, the God of wisdom, and the God of mercy. And we believe that when righteous right righteous leadership is established, people flourish, Lord. So
we ask you now, grant wisdom beyond human understanding to every council member. Let their decisions be rooted in truth and not in pride. Let it be rooted in service and not in ambition. Let it be rooted in integrity. Be the standard and humility be the foundation. Bring
unity where there is division. break down the walls of partisanship, ego, and confusion, and replace them with a spirit of cooperation, a spirit of peace, and a spirit of shared purpose for the good of every resident in the city of Patterson, regardless of race, background, or neighborhood. Lord, raise
up righteousness, expose corruption, expose dishonesty, and expose injustice. Let transparency and accountability shine through. Surround every council member with godly counsel, wise advisers, and the courage to do what is right, even when it is hard. Lord, now
breathe life into this city through them. Let the policies reflect compassion. Let the policies reflect safety. Let them reflect equity and opportunity. May they protect the vulnerable, empower the poor, and cultivate dignity for every person who calls Patterson home. And now, Lord, we
boldly declare that in the name of Jesus, we declare that the city, the Patterson City Council, is a place of wisdom and not of confusion, a place of service and not of self-interest. We declare that the righteous leaders will rise, truth will prevail, and justice will roll like a river through every decision made in these chambers. We
declare that God's presence today will overshadow this meeting and every meeting go forth, and that Patterson will not be known for division, but for transformation. We speak life over Patterson, life over every street, over every school, over every home, and over every heart. And we believe that revival can be again right here through the
leadership here in Patterson. Father, let your kingdom come in Patterson. Let your will be done in this council on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Let us remain standing for the flag salute. 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. Please remain standing. Moment of silence for our troops and for
those who have lost loved ones. Thank you. You may be seated. Madam clerk, before we begin, this bottle of water that I had here was not sealed. I'm going to need a new one. Okay. Um if
I may, if you may. No problem. Thank you, council. Um, and more importantly, while we have the mayor here, uh, before we have another Hinchcliff Stadium, um, debacle with people passing out, it's 96 degrees in here. This
council has, uh, aotted money for us to have a functioning, properly functioning air conditioning. Obviously, we fail in many instances, but can we at least have some water and some uh you know, whatever this was that that the attempt
to to to provide for the council, we need to be considerate to those in in the audience as well. Do we have enough water for everyone here? U madam clerk? Yes, sir. We do. If anyone needs water, please um please let us know because this is
ridiculous. Thank you, council. the air conditioning not functioning. Can we get an answer from the mayor? What's what's the problem with the air conditioner? Council, would you allow me to open up the meeting and then we can answer those questions later? Absolutely. Madam, thank you so much. I appreciate that. Statement of compliance. The open public
meetings law 2024 2025 meeting date July 1st, 2025 2:30 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 meeting notice of regular meetings and workshop
sessions of the municipal council was compiled for the year 2024 2025 on or about July 1st, 2024. Two, a schedule of the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2024 2025 was duly transmitted
on or about July 1st, 2024 to the North Jersey Herald News. The record, the Arabic voice, the Italian voice, the Vilia County Pulse, Dominicanana News, Laiskea International, Ellis Biel, 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 2024 2025 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 of the year 2024 2025 was duly filed in 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. Thank you. At this time, I will call for the nominations of the office of the of the
council president of nomin. I second it. Second second. I'm sorry. Can you repeat that? I nominate means for president. Mims, we all say it. No, you didn't. Okay. Who made the motion? I made the motion, madam clerk, madam clerk, to nominate councilwoman Dr. Lisa
Mims. I made the motion. Ruby Cotton seconded. There are multiple motions. There are multiple motions on the floor as well. Was there a second nomination? Yes. Cotton. Cotton. Second. Nobody. Any other nomination? No. Someone nominated council. Okay. And who who made the
motion? No. Madame Clerk, I made the motion to nominate Councilwoman Dr. Lisa Mims and Councilwoman Cotton seconded and then others went on. Okay. All right. Thank you. Correct. No other nominations. Thank you. Great. Congratulations.
If there are no more motion to close, is there a motion to close the nomination? Motion to close. Second. Okay. Who motion? I motioned it. I motion two. Okay. Motion by Uden and Veles was seconded by
Councilman Mendes. Okay. Roll call to close the nomination for the council president. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Councilwoman Davlin. Yes. Councilman Jackson. Yes. Councilman Khalik. Yes. Counciloman Mendes.
Mendes. Councilman. Yes. Thank you. Councilwoman Mens. Yes. Councilman Omar. Yes. Councilman Uden. Yes. Yes. Councilman VeZ, the votes are nine in favor, none against. Congratulations.
We We haven't voted yet. We haven't voted yet. We disclose the nomination. Uh, excuse me. We haven't I believe that was to close the nomination, Madam Clerk. I think that was to close the nomination. Thank you, Miss Alexander. Miss Alexander, we we'll
celebrate, but just in a few minutes. Just in a few minutes. Alexander, we have a roll call for the nomination. You could turn off the microphone to the mayor. I'm sorry. One second. Can't confuse you. Not yet. We haven't voted yet. Oh, she got to be very much. One
second, though. We got to vote. Roll call for the roll call for the election of um Councilwoman Lisa Mens. Councilwoman Dr. Lisa Mims. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Councilwoman Davlin. Yes. Councilman
Jackson. Thank you, Madam Clerk. So, uh uh acknowledging that um this is bit of an out of the norm. It would normally be a uh a tussle, but obviously there was um a concessions or let me see a um an
agreement. That's not the right word either, but um an understanding made prior to today, which I respect. I appreciate it. I think this is the first time it was been done. I take my hat off to uh
uh Dr. Mims for um pulling this off. I was actually prepared to barter for my vote today. I see my vote is not going to make much of a difference, but I still will place my concerns or let me say my demands on the floor because
whomever receives the council presidency as we've watched those who have come before today fail us greatly. Um I think it's important it's important to understand the responsibilities and the duties of this council that we have a
responsibility in holding the administration accountable. So, with that being said, I mean, I have three three requests. I just want to make them public because I will continuously badger on them. Um, and that is holding the administration accountable for
reports. Reports on spending, reports on the $40 million that was misappropriated from the PRC, reports on the ARP money. Where is that money? How's it been spent? Who has it in their
pocket? reports on the $110 million at Henchin Clip Stadium. We still have not received reports on the spending of this money. So, whoever was up for council presidency, I was, you know, I thought
that it would be like in years past it' be like 44 I would be one of deciding, but I still wanted to make it public for the public's consumption that I think whomever becomes the president that this council has a responsibility in holding this administration accountable. And our
first priority is our budget and our spending. And those three items I think are major uh priorities. The PRC, the ARP money, meaning the money that was given to the city, $80 million for uh CAR's Act and $110 million in spending
at the stadium. We still don't know where that money is, and I want to know and I'm hoping that our new council president would like to know as well. Madam Clerk, with that being said, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Khalik. My vote is yes, madame clerk. Thank you.
Councilman Mendes, yes. Thank you. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilwoman Mims. To my mother who is present and two of my sons, it is an honor and a privilege to accept the responsibility and the leadership um role of being the city council
president. I want to thank um Councilwoman Dava, Councilwoman Cotton, Councilman Khaled, Councilman um Omar, as well as Councilman Jackson, Councilman Mendes, uh Councilman Udin, and Councilman Veles for your vote of confidence. Um and I'll give a speech
later, but it's time to move this city forward. My vote is yes, and I accept the um nomination. Thank you, Councilman Omar. Yes. Councilman Uden, my vote is absolutely yes because I supported you before and I'm one more time I like to see that change in
leadership and I'm very uh optimist that that change is going to bring um excellence here in the chamber. So I'll speak more but absolutely my yes thank you council so sitting here eight years in the council and six working with
councilwoman uh Dr. Dr. Lelisa means the most important things of today is I was praying for this moment because a lot of people in the city when they come here and when they out there they say they want to see change in the community. They want to see change in the council and I know that every decision that she
going to make she's going to consult high lower up there. So I know she going to bring that peace to the council. So uh my vote of confidence are way back. Uh so councilwoman men's congratulation and my vote is yes. Thank you Councilman. The votes are nine in favor,
none against. Councilwoman Dr. Lisa Mims is the council president, New Jersey. Thank you very much. All right, sister. At this time, we will call for the nomination of the council vice president. I nominate council member
Davala for vice president. I nominate council member Valz for president. I second Valz for a second. Okay. One second. Okay. All right. So, we had a motion for Councilwoman Dav. I nominate Councilman
Omar. Okay. I appreciate it, council, but I decline. All right, we're going to have to go back over this. Oh, we have a motion for Councilwoman Davala. And we have um a second by I'm sorry.
You second. Okay. And then we have one for motion for council uh Councilman Vez. VeZ. Okay. And I the motion by Councilman Mendes. Okay. And seconded by myself. I I to close nominations. Okay. And we
had a nomination for Councilman Omar. No, he by Councilman Jackson. I declined. You decline. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Just two nominations. Okay. Move to close nominations. Okay. Second. Second. Move. Second by Mims. Okay.
Thank you. Motion to close the nomination. Motion by Councilwoman Davis. Seconded by Councilwoman Mims. Councilwoman Cotton. to close nomination. Motion to close the motion. I mean nomination. Motion to close. Move to close. Madam clerk, my
vote is yes. Thank you. Councilwoman Davlin. Yes. To close nominations. Okay. Councilman Jackson. Yes. Counciloman Khik. Yes. Councilwoman Councilman Mims.
No. No. Councilman Mendes. Sorry. Yes. Yes. To close. Gonna take some getting used to. Sorry. Councilman Omar, yes to close. Councilman Nuden, yes. Councilman Vez, yes. Council President,
Council President, yes. Thank you very much. The The votes are nine in favor, none against. We have a new council vice president. No, we just I'm sorry. We just vote on the first
nomination. Okay. Okay. Thank you very much. We found that she got it. Okay. And now we move to um roll call for would roll call for the nomination of
the council vice president for roll call for councilwoman Dava for um vice president. Roll call for the nominations of the coun vice president for councilwoman Dava. Um councilwoman Cotton.
Yes. Councilwoman Dav Davala. Yes. Councilman Jackson pass. Councilman Khik, yes. Councilman Mendes, no.
Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Uden, no. Councilman Vez, they put me in this big situation here, huh? And I could explain later on.
Why my vote? Uh my vote is no. Okay. Councilman Jackson. Yes. Okay. Uh Council President, no. Council President, I think they council president. I think they all voted. No. M. Council President. I said council
president. Yes. So, let me let me say this. Councilwoman Dava, you are a woman of your word. I am going to say it. She No, I'm the last vote. I'm voting. No. So, I just want to say you are a woman of your
word. You There's many things I can say, but I'm going to say that you are a woman of your word. You deserve to uh serve here, not only as uh vice president, but there's many things that we're going to do. There's nothing like coming together, being people of your
word, and sticking to it. Madame clerk, my vote for Councilwoman Dava is absolutely yes to be my vice president. Thank you, Councilwoman. The votes are six in favor, three against. Councilwoman Dav is hereby nominated as
the council pre vice president. Council President, Council President, may we proceed with the presentations of the outgoing president? Yes. So, uh, thank you, Madam Clerk. So, there's a few things that we're going to do. One, um, I will do a
presentation to our outgoing, um, president. I'll come there. So, council um, Councilman Mendes, and then our ladies will come and present me with the gavvel. And then right after that, there's a lot of presentations. So, just stand right there. and then we're going to call you up next in line. Okay. Thank
you. Thank you to my third war councilman. So, I just want to say uh Councilman Mendes, you have served for the last two years and have led this council. We appreciate your leadership and your service. I look forward to working with you. Let's continue to make Patterson
better. Thank you so much for your service. Let me see what I can do. Thank you. U thank you. It is definitely been a great honor for me to serve in this position as council president. This position teach me and help me to work with people that didn't like me, with
people that hurt me in the past, with people that, you know, really tried to put me down. But that position helped me to put things aside and think about the city of Patterson and love the city of Patterson and make the right decision for a resident. I'm looking forward my council president to work with you. You
know, I'm a phone call away and I'm all about teamwork. Pison is a great city, but we have a lot of work to do ahead of us to make Patterson the right place for every resident of this great city. May God bless our city. Thank you to my council ladies,
the ladies in white and red. So, I want to thank everyone. Councilwoman Mims, weeks ago, we spoke and I said that we needed to be the change that we want to see. This is not
about egos. This isn't not about I do it better. This is not about the cherry's mine. This is about coming together and understanding that the city needs change. and we got together and
Councilwoman Cotton, she was very instrumental. We both met and we understood that we are in a society where, you know, men dominate,
but women get the job done. as mothers, as daughters, as wives, as sisters, as nieces, as leaders. And so it gives me great pleasure to have supported you,
not by mouth, but by actions. Actions speak louder than words. God bless you. I'm looking forward to your leadership. I hope that you do not have to use this,
but if you do, you make sure that you do it first knowing and doing what's right. Congratulations together. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. As I said, as we got together and you know, I
always said that we women wear many hats. many hats. We take care of families. We take care of grandparents. We take care of children. We take care our community, the calls that come through our phones. But we are about taking care of people.
And it's about taking care of people and answering their calls and to see what they need, how I can do, how I can help. And I can say you can beat me down all you want, but God got my back. And I know he got my back. He got Councilwoman
Mims back. He got Councilwoman Dav back. We worked hard for our community. And Councilwoman Mims, this been a long time, six years. God said, "Never give up cuz it will come. Never give up cuz
it will come." That yes is coming somewhere in here and it came today. Amen. Thank you. God bless you all for coming out. Council colleagues, let's take a quick photo in the middle. That was good.
I think she said council colleagues eventually eventually Thank you. How'd you do that? It's good. Wow. So used to sitting over there. Council President, Madame President, one more time.
That was funny. Council President, we have I'm sorry. Before we get started, I just would like myself uh and council vice president and of course the mayor's here just to give a few words. But number one, I just want to say to God be the glory for the great things that he
has done, he is doing, and he shall do. One of the things that continues to ring and we talked about it um over a month and a half ago when we first met myself, Councilwoman Dava, Dava, Councilwoman Cotton, and it kept ringing about being the change that we want to see. We
cannot talk about the narrative of the negativity of our city without looking for a brighter and a better Patterson. And so if we want to see that, we have to be the change that we want to see and it must start within
us. So here's a few things that will be starting immediately. Public portion workshops, the list, public portion list will be out at 6:15. It will be pulled at 7:15.
It will only be out for an hour. For the regular meetings, it will be out at 6:45 and it will be pulled at 7:45. That gives everyone a full hour to come in, sign in. That way, we can continue to hear what the residents are requesting or what their concerns are.
We will be starting and implementing a new process through our BA where all of your requests and concerns, they will be answered. We will have them posted on our website and they will be on the podium so that whatever your concerns were the week before you will have answers before you come back the
following week. The second thing is we would like to see professional decorum here in these chambers. I understand that we get frustrated and there's a lot of things that go on and we get upset, but the profanity and the disrespect
will not be tolerated. We as the city council, we will respect the public and the public shall respect the city council. Many people are watching. Many people have spoke negatively about the actions and the
decorum in the chambers. It starts next week where we will start a professional decorum in these chambers. Thank you to all of my family and friends that are here. My mom, if you will stand. My mom
is here. Dr. Eveina. My mother had a stroke, lost all movement of her left side. God raised her up and then during CO she almost died and God raised her up again. And so for her to experience and to see this
while she is yet alive is yet a blessing. I was feeling sad because I have one daughter and three sons and I was saying none of my kids are going to be able to come because my daughter got promoted. Today's her first day as principal in Maryland and all my sons were working and then I get a text
message while I'm at work today. My youngest son said, "Mom, I'm calling in." I told him, "I can't come. I got to celebrate my mom." Him and my 28-year-old I think my 28 year old just ran back. But if my youngest son will stand, he's gonna represent the boys
and he just made employee of the month on his job. And my son, if you need furniture, Raymore and Flynn again. And so I just want to say to my mentor, Assemblywoman Evans, uh my godmother's here, Elder K. Banks, my boss twice, Miss Rivella, who's the principal now of
Kennedy High School, my vice principal, Miss Corino. Um and to my family, friends, and every loved ones that are here. Thank you so much my ladies from ICPC. Thank you everyone for your support, your love, and your encouragement. We
shall move this city forward together. It is our belief that we will work together as a council. We will work with our administration and we want to hear from the public. Let's move forward. Let's do great and let's be the change
we want to see. Thank you once again, council vice president. So I I will be brief since I did have a moment when we were uh handing over the gavvel. Uh once again, uh I'm looking forward to this year. Um, let us
understand because I had someone say to me, you know, politics makes strange bedfellows and, you know, I didn't get offended by that, right? I thought about, you know,
how true it is, right? The only thing that I would change is I'm not in bed with anyone, right? I believe that when you want to see change, you have to pivot, right? And we can't talk about change change and it and and we don't do
anything about it. And so, you know, um for those that don't like for someone to use I've been praying. Yes, I was praying and I was asking for a signal and that signal was because everyone
here knows that I was going to vibe for the council presidency. The outgoing president was fully aware of it. Unfortunately, he did not he wanted to continue in the seat and I understand he did a good job. So, we're
not here to talk on any ill, but to say you did a good job in your two years, but it was time to pivot. And, you know, with that said, you see here the the uh uh family and friends that are here. Um, we knew what we were coming to do. And again, those that
voted no, I'm okay with that because in my book, I've changed and I've passed the page. It's a new chapter. It's a new day. It's a new year here in the city of Patterson through leadership through our Dr. our council woman Dr. Lisa Mims and
I'm looking forward to working as I have been all right because a lot of people think that you know divide and conquer. So you start all the gossiping and all the things the back and forth to divide. I'm not here to do that. I'm here to stand with Councilman Jackson.
Councilman Jackson has a lot a lot of true things that he says. It is true. Okay. But I believe that there's a time and place for everything, right? And I and I'm a little different when it comes to delivery. Um, I've changed in my
almost 12 years being here. Anyone that that knows me from day one, I had a previous councilman of the Third War tell me, Councilwoman, you can't wear your feelings in your sleeves. Okay. And um, you know, with that said, um, I'm
going to I'm going to listen to my second word councilman. and I'm going to cut it short, but I just wanted to say that that it's a new day and I'm happy to be here and you can always count on me. I'm only a phone call away. So, thank you so much, Council President. Thank you, Council Vice President. Um,
mayor, please briefly so we can get we only have a few uh people for public portion and then we want to go right into the quick agenda on today. Thank you, Council President. And I like the sound of that. It dawned upon me that in all my years, especially since we
established the position of vice president about 10 years ago by way of ordinance, I cannot recall ever having a woman as a president and a woman as a vice president. Yes, women do rock and now they're in
power. And Councilwoman Mims, you often say that we're better together. And that's primarily why I'm here, so that we make sure that what you've said in the past manifests, so that we know that we are better together, that we must be united. There's no point in fighting
each other. We should fight with each other for the city of Patterson. We should fight to get our roads resurfaced. As a matter of fact, I'm here today to tell everyone that on the agenda, there's 34 35 more streets that are scheduled to be repaved and a total
of 85 streets will be paved by the time the next reorganization meeting comes around. It's ironic that these two ladies are now respectively president and vice president because it was in 2018 when we
applied for a grant to go to Chattanooga, Tennessee. And the two council representatives were our council president and council vice president. And after that, that essentially sparked the movement that has led to over $116 million invested in improving
playgrounds, parks, and other public spaces in our city. So, we have a track record of working together. Now, let's do it better. But I I would be remiss. I do want to thank Councilman Alex Mendes for his service as council president. He
and I in the past have been at odds, but again, we were able to put our differences aside in the best interests of the people we serve, the Pattersonians. And so, Councilman, I did enjoy working with you and making sure that we did advance a very positive agenda for our
city, whether it was resurfacing roads or social programs like the financial empowerment center or improving all of these parks that our children can enjoy now and hopefully forever. And so, I salute our new leadership team here, our
historic leadership team in the city of Patterson. And I hope that what our council president has said as far as decorum, civility, professionalism, it holds true and that everyone adheres to what you have said, council president, that we want to start off on the right
foot. And that means civility, decorum, and professionalism here in the city council chambers and everywhere in this city because people are watching. As a matter of fact, children are watching and we don't want to subject them to anything that we definitely would not want to have happen to our children. So,
ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate our new leadership team and I look forward to the following year to continue to position Patterson for progress. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Madame Clerk, we will now open the floor for the public portion. How many speakers do we have,
Madam Clerk? We have 10 people. 10 people. Madam clerk, can you call the first speaker? Actually, council president. Council president, I did want to address the councilman's concern relative to the air conditioning. Mayor, one second. Yes. Uh, just a point of order. Uh, Councilman Jackson. Thank
you. Uh, obviously it it uh I guess it slipped the mayor's mind as the third largest city in the state of New Jersey how we don't have functioning air conditioning. and uh we appreciate him showing up today, but relative to him showing up because of his appreciation
as never mind. I'm not even really going to go into much of that. It it's just shameful that we have all the failures that we do. I mean, there's 80 new roads, but I I would like to know like a complete report on how much we're spending on all those roads being paid. But more importantly, how much did we
spend on this air conditioner over a year ago, and we still don't have functioning air conditioning? Well, as far as the air conditioning is concerned, mayor, point of order. We're not going to do a rebuttal because we have there's no air conditioner working and we have a lot of seniors in this audience and I want them to be able
let's get through the agenda. Um, but may I just say July 8th, this Tuesday, it's scheduled to be repaired. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, mayor. Um, so just before our first speaker is called, there is a threeminut uh rule in our chambers. So, I would like it for from
this point forward, there's no such thing as coming to the mic and saying, "Can you extend my time?" I would like it if you want ex additional time that you call my office, the secretary's office the day before you make the request so that we can make the accommodations and have enough time
during our council meeting. So, today, please, we're asking that you stick to three minutes. Um, madame clerk, may you call the first speaker? Yes, council president. First speaker is Eddie Olivaris. State your name, please. Vis Patterson,
president. Um, today I am the first speaker, so I get to set the tone. I don't Okay, so restart the time. I don't know. The mic is on, Mr. Aliver. It's not.
President. Um, Madam Clerk, can you just restart his time? Can Can you restore his time? Madam Clerk, I will. I will. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, before we start, I would like to once again congratulate the
officers that were promoted uh yesterday. Uh, the police officers that were promoted yesterday. Welld deserved. And I want to thank the chief for being here today. Um the uh I have good news and I have bad
news for the people of Patterson. The bad You got it. The bad news is that with this new arrangement, we can guarantee that nothing will change in the city. The filth, the drugs, the shootings, the crimes,
everything will stay as it is. And Mr. Mayor, I must say that there was a time when I supported you. Uh, but under your leadership, the city's in shambles.
I am not in the business of predicting, but I will do everything within my power to make sure that you lose. I will do the same for the coming up the three coming up council members. I will do everything within my power to make
sure that you do not win because you the city again is in shambles under your leadership. And so it's more of the same. That's what we're going to get with this new uh arrangement.
Um I commend your talk about respect. Not talking for the people of Palestine. to speak for myself. I do not respect this council. The only person that I respect on this council is Councilman Jackson. It's a
man of his word. Integrity. I respect them. The rest of you I have no respect for. I don't care how many different ways you can ask for respect. You're not getting it from me. Well, I shouldn't say that. You can't get respect for me. But I'll tell you what it is. You're a city employee.
I remember a time when you said, "Well, we should be treated like queens." No, we will not treat you like queens. You're a city employee. That's all you are to us. You work for us. The only way you could get my respect is if you improve the conditions of the city of
Patterson. That's it. That's what we hire you to do. It's the only way that you can get my respect. So this year the quorum and all of that it's too bad that the new rules are not on paper because I would have ripped it for no. The answer
is no. You will get no respect from me until you show me that you can fix the city of Patterson. And so um Mr. mayor to say that you're working with Alex Mendes on behalf of the city
of Patterson. It doesn't show the city is getting worse by the day. So this combo, this new combo, it's a mess. Thank you, Mr. Alviveras. Next speaker, Madam Clerk, please. The next speaker is Waha Muhammad. Kindly state your name.
God's name, Wahida Muhammed. First, I want to thank you, Councilman Jackson, for giving us some water because when we got here today, a sign on the door said we can't even bring water or food in here. I don't mind not bringing food, but we couldn't have water. So, thank you.
The other thing I want to say, council president, you just announced that you will now take the sheet away and people that come in from work won't get here in time to say something. So you already telling us whether or not we
have anything to say, you're going to take the sheet regardless. To me, that is a slap in the face and not the way to start a new era of this city. Being respectful to your constituents because we're all not going to be able to get
here in time for you to snatch the the sheet and then we do what? We get up here and we say something that's disrespectful and then you have a problem with that. I think you should reconsider that. But I know that you all do what you want to do when you want to
do it and we have nothing to say about it until the election. The last thing I want to say is I appreciate the fact that No, I don't appreciate the fact that this meeting I've got something that said it was going to start at 12
noon. The reorg meeting was going to start at 12:00 noon. So, I was here because I wanted to be here because I have another event, but I was told by madam uh deputy clerk that that was that was
not the case. So, I don't know how it got mixed up or if it's mixed up, but if you could tell me now if this is the way it's going to be from now on, that meeting in July will only happen at 2:30. You're you're done m Okay. So, just to
respond. So, first and foremost, I did not say I was going to take the sheet. I stated that the sheet will be up for 1 hour. If the workshop meetings are at 6:30, the sheet will be there from 6:15 to 7:15. The meetings that are at 7:00, it will be there from 6:45 to 7:45. I'm
never going to take the sheet away because we want to hear from the public. However, I will not allow public to come in at 1000 p.m. after we've been here for three and a half hours wanting to speak. There should be a proper protocol in place that this is the protocol we're
establishing. An hour is is well enough time for anyone that wants to come in to speak. The meetings are published. It is at 6:30 for workshop 7:00 for regular meetings. The second thing even on tonight our agenda item and I believe it's item number one on the agenda.
Every year we vote on the calendar and last year on July 1st we voted on the calendar and it stated that this meeting will be at 2:30. So every July 1st the dates and the times are listed and last year on July 1st today's u meeting was
voted on last year. Thank you Miss Wita. Next speaker madam clerk. Yes the next speaker is Ival res Eva Razak. I'm sorry. Hi, Miss Frzac. Good afternoon. Good
afternoon, everyone. God bless everyone for being here. My constituents, I love you very much. Well, I'm not going to be a Debbie nanny. I'm going to say congratulations for three wonderful women who are really wanting to work. I have to say something. You guys are never going to hear me come up on this
mic and go off on you guys. If I have to say something, I'll call you and we we can dialogue it because I know I kind of crank it up sometimes, but you guys know I don't mean what I don't mean bad. Now, here it is. Yes, we get a lot of complaints that the city's doing this, the city doing this, but here it is. You
guys can't be held accountable, just all of it, because we have residents in the town that you're you're driving and they're throwing things out their cars. They're not being they're not being clean. But I have something to say. the longer that we continue to fight with each other and knock each other down.
You guys are always with each other anyway all the time. So, how in the world are you gonna screw somebody and say, "I didn't screw you when you know what you are doing." Let's be more humble. Let's be more caring. Let's be more understanding because you see everybody who's out here, nobody's
fooled. They know what time it is. We know what time. Hi, Bobby. I love you. He's down there. Oh, take a picture. No, but once again, my three ladies, Ruby, and I have to say something to Ruby. There's not one time that I don't call
and I don't know something, but I call and Ruby answers. I thank you. Marissa, you do too. S Miss M, you do too. After the fact, cuz I know you're working, mama. All right, you guys. Some other men, y'all better answer the phone. Thank you, Mr. You answer the phone, too. No, but besides the point, no joke,
Pisonsonians, we all need to stick with each other. It doesn't matter what color, how we look, or who we are. Because remember something, the day that something really goes on and you're not talking to your neighbor or you don't or you think you're better than that neighbor, you're doomed. We all want
love. I just got cold saying that. But by me saying this, I'm I'm one of the commissioners for the Patterson Task Force, but I don't need a title to serve my residents. I love you guys. We all need each other. We all need to believe each other. And women, please, women.
This is for the women. Forget about the men. The women. The women. The women. We cannot keep destroying each other. Yes. The more we destroy, the more the men win. Yes. And remember, and I don't mean to be rude, men are easy to lay us down. They're not so quick to lift us up. Only
real men will lift you up. So ladies, instead of hating each other, saying, and ah, and uno, here, let me help you. What do you need? What can we do? One love. So again, thank you, mayor. I'm so happy to see you, Papy Dale. You look so
cute. No, but I really, you really look good there in your spot. But thank you everybody and thank my residents and let's all stay together and love each other and whatever we can do with each other, just serve. I love you all. Thank you once again. God bless us and God bless the city. M woman power, you rock.
Thank you, Commissioner. I love you. Three minutes in time, baby. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. The next speaker is Sonia Wilson. Please state your name. Suria Wilson, Patterson, New Jersey. Greetings, Coun newly elected council
president to the council members. My name is Sonia Wilson representing Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, the Patterson Alumni Chapter. on behalf of myself as the chair for our hospitality and courtesy committee, our president Jaylen Ly, our um and the ladies of
Delta Sigma the Delta Sigma Theta Sort Incorporated. We want to congratulate you um on your new appointment. We know that you will do a wonderful job and these flowers are for you. You grab those grab flowers.
She's going to bring them around. You want to bring them around? Thank you to the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sarity Incorporated. Next speaker, Madame Clerk. Yes, Council President. The next speaker is Dr. Everane.
Yes, my mama. Come on, mom. Please state your name. My name is Dr. Evelyn Sumpter Brown and I'm here to congratulate my daughter on her win today. And I just want to say to all the council, I want to say first give an honor to the mayor and to all the
council. But what I want to say I people come to the mic and they talk all this negativity. But I remember my mother always taught me there was a mother could raise 10 children but 10 children could not take care of mother. So it
take a village to raise a child. So I think it takes a whole city to change the city. We come up and talk negativity about the council. The council can only do so much. I mean sometime I don't even get to talk to my daughter because they have her so bogged down with things
that's going on in the city. I'm not complaining. I'm glad she's able to help, but it takes the whole city working together with the council and the mayor to turn this city around cuz some of the same people that get up into all this negativity, their children are
some of the same ones that's creating a habit. So, I'm just saying let's all work together because the Bible Psalms 37 and 24 say, "A good man's footsteps is ordered by God." So, let's make sure God orders our footsteps. the order what
we say what we do and I mean um m president councelor Jackson I don't have nothing against you but every time they come to the mic you the only council person that does anything that's not true my daughter works tirelessly helping this city because I don't even
get time sometime to have a meal with her but I appreciate what you do for the city I appreciate for all what all of you do for the city but let's come together as a council and a city not one person but a whole city to change this
city. Look at your own households, your children, the people next door to you. Minister, talk to them, mentor them, have have them to clean up. We can do this. The whole city got to come together though. It's not only the council. It's not only the mayor. They
have their jobs to do, but it still takes the whole city to change this city. God bless. Thank you, mother. Thank you, mother. You understood the assignment. Next speaker, madam clerk. The next speaker
is Chanel Fields. State your name, please. Good afternoon, Miss Phils. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Is now Dr. Chanel Fields. Thank you. Um, congratulations. Congratulations U mems on your win and
congratulations uh Davala Mims. I just want to say uh please reconsider the one hour time slot only because there are parents with the excessive rents that are going on in Patterson that work more than one job. And with
working more than one job, some of them struggle. I know because I pick people up that want to come here that don't even have a car that have to take public transportation to get here. So, please reconsider that. I get that you want to do one hour, you guys want to be out at a decent time and things like that, but
there are people that press their way like church to be here to help change the city. So, I would encourage you to extend that time. Uh, that's all I have to say about that. To the mayor, it is about time that you chose to show up
here. There are so many things that this city needs. There are so many issues that are pressing. I would like to know, I hear you saying that more streets are going to be um paved. Is that in the second and the sixth ward or is that in every ward?
Uh no, no rebuttal. Okay. So, we we already know that's one of my questions. And then also will you be coming to the meetings more often? Um as a leader in this city it helps to see the leader of this city be present and
not just present but present because you can be present without being present. You can be around the city but not involved in the things that we have that are pressing. So we would like to see you more diligent amongst those who are not the elites of Patterson but all of
Patterson. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Fields. And just to answer item number seven um is in the agenda. I'll let you get a copy of it. You'll see the list of the addresses of what streets will be be repaved after we vote on it. Next speaker, Madame Clerk.
The next speaker is I believe that's Tammy and Ladies. Please state your name. Tammy Gray. Um, residents of the city of Patterson for over 56 years. First of all, I want to say thank you to each and every one of you. Each and every council member, we
appreciate your hard work. And I I I have to say I appreciate your tough skin because it's tough sitting in those seats and taking the the words that you get from the community. Please don't take it personal because I'm thinking that they don't mean it personally. They're just coming after somebody because you guys are the only go-to
people that they have to go to. So, we appreciate your hard work, Mayor Andre. We appreciate all that you do as well. Thank you. Um my business here today is to thank um Councilwoman Mims and Councilwoman Davala for
it's just a thought of wanting to do to be in those seats to move the city forward. The city has a lot of issues that we know. We're not going to sugarcoat it. We have some problems on every street, every corner. But I do believe that the two of you working
together that you guys can be the change that is needed. I believe that you guys can work together and move the city forward. And with that being said, and Miss Cotton as well, I believe that all of you and the men can move the city forward. We're looking for unity. We
want you guys to come together. You know, it's hard to sit back and listen to you guys um tear each other apart on the mic. It's a team. So, if one person is not playing good on a team, the whole team looks bad. when you point a finger
at one of your teammates, that's not what you're supposed to be doing. You're supposed to be working together, encouraging, encouraging each other so that we can get a better team. So, I'm asking that you guys do that going forward. Please have those conversations privately. We don't need to know all the
issues and schism isms that's going on within the city. We got enough on our plate as working citizens in the city of Patterson, but your job that we elected you to do is to come together, work together, and fix the issues so that we don't have to come here and be on the
mic and you guys hear 3:00 in the morning. We don't want that. We know that you guys have other engagements, other jobs, and other things, family, and other things to do. So, just do me a favor. Work together and get the job done. However, Dr. Mims, I'm here to
celebrate you. and Dr. Dav, I mean, um, Marissa Dav, I'm here to celebrate you. And I have a few women here. We have flowers. We want you to get, we want to give you your flowers while you can smell them. And we know that you can move this city forward. We're looking forward to you and whatever we can do to support you.
Please reach out to us. Thank you, Teamman's Ladies and Purple. Thank you, Elder K. Banks, president of P County, 100 plus women. Amen. Okay. I meant um I
don't have to introduce myself now, but I am the president of the Bet County African-American Women where Dr. Lalisa Mims and Ruby Cotton is a member and is that on her time or
I extended it because you're there. So, okay. But, um we just wanted to say congratulations. Um, thank you for the councilmen, the council people, council women, the mayor and all those who form this great city. And you know, we want
to give honor to Mendes for his great work and what all he has done. But um, I am born raised in Patterson. My father was strategic in the Democratic party helping get a lot of these um, um, elected, but that was back in the day.
And um I just want to thank each and everyone for all that you're doing because I'm back now in the city. So I thank God that I'm able to serve and work with you and thank you so much and we appreciate you. God bless. Thank you
ladies. I'm ready. Thank you. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. The next speaker is Balal Hakeim. Mr. Balal Hakeim, please. Let's go. Please state your name. Good afternoon,
Mr. Bala. Uh good afternoon uh council president and to the council, the mayor, BA, and those of you that have uh gathered here. Haven't been here in over a year. And I just wanted to start out by saying
this here. And I recite that verse from the Quran chapter uh 20 surah as a reminder that I ask that God will loosen the knot in
my tongue so that what I have to say the hearer over there and here will receive the way I'm seeing it in my heart and in my mind because we operate operate on different frequencies emotionally and rationally. And sometime um a word can
cause a fight. You agree? The other thing I'll say is this here and and and I use the Arabic language for a reason because you have some people that speak Arabic. Hibun and Fusikum. Ibrahim Umar the six
councilman. You you you know what that mean? You know what that means? corporate council and fuss. You know what that means as well? Um the council president mentioned change and I'm beckoning you to um
change yourself. As Michael Jackson said, look in the mirror, look at yourself. You cannot bring out the beauty unless you address the ugly. And I'm saying that and there's a broad application because we say we don't want to talk about that which we see as ugly. you
have to address it. There are two types of criticism, constructive and destructive. Leadership is a burden. Leadership is a burden. And the person that assumes position of leadership, especially over
the lives of uh people, if you're not careful how you handle your positions of power, you will lose it in the end. and you cause unjust uh problems in a society that you're trying to govern. I've watched these
council meetings uh for over a year. I'm very disappointed with a lot of the things I've seen. Don't have enough time to talk about it, but um I did want to stop here. I'm walking with a stick. Somebody um called me Moses, but I'm not
Moses. But I was injured and um I'm healing. But I will be back in these here chambers um to address issues and call you to accountability. The last thing and I'm away from the mic council uh president
um we can't separate that which is inseparable talking about the male and the female because I hear a lot of talk if men if if men would come here and say it's about men men then people will be up and raw but I get where you're coming
from. We can't separate that which is separate. We need both of you working together. Thank you, Mr. Hakeim. Next speaker, madam clerk. The next speaker is Myra Torres. Good afternoon, Miss Torres. State your name, please.
Myra Torres. U Patterson resident. Good afternoon honorable mayor Sandre Andre administration and each and every one of the council people here our clerks okay
secretaries because without you we can't move forward so I just want to say something from proverbs chapter 31 verse 25 says she is clothed with strength and dignity she can laugh at the days to
come. Laugh at the days to come also means hardship. You're going to be criticized not only because you're a woman, not only because you're a black American,
but because you have faith. Same thing to you, Councilwoman Davalof. And I I do give honor. I was raised in church. I believe men being the head, women having her place also. But I think
that when God called a woman and a man together, it was to make a family to join, to unite, to work together, to strive together. Okay? Because we came from right here.
We can blame everyone here and no one. I mean the mayor can only do but so much. Administration can do so much and you can only do but so much. We have to come together as a community
also to help you. I can criticize you all I want but does that do anything for anyone? It just tells you that I'm frustrated, that I'm feeling miserable right now with what's going on. And you should know that.
But I also come it I think when we come to you and you just listen and let's try to resolve something. Let's come to some kind of accord. Um I work here. I'm a, you know, I'm part
of this staff, so I understand and I see a lot and I hear a lot. All I can say is God bless each and every one of you. It's a new year. Um I hope you can get together and really work with each other. I have no criticism from anyone because the first
one I would criticize is Miss Davilla and she knows that I come down hard on her because I start from my home. She's part of my home. So all I can say is God bless to each and every one of you. Strive to work together. you're not going to have to
agree on everything, but at least come to some consensus, and it doesn't all have to be public and ugly. So, um, that being said, I also want to give, um, Dr. Mims and Maritz a little something. I'll have, um, the zoning secretary, Bianca
Dando, and Vice Chairwoman Monero from zoning. Just a little gift of appreciation from us. Thank you, Miss Torres and ladies from our zone board of adjustments. Thank you. Uh, Madame Clerk, next speaker,
please. Yes. Next speaker is Marvin Rivas. How many speakers? Welcome, Deputy Mayor Rivas. All the time they forgot my name. Maria Rivas. Sorry about that. Good afternoon to everyone. What a surprise. Honestly,
looks like a but God is good. Chamber est for a tear woman. Councilwoman Cotton. Thank you so much. It's time to work together
because our city needs you. Allian together. Our community need you with no hate. Our community need you with love. Thank you mayor and keep it strong.
Paris have a lot to do. Councilwoman Lilisa Mims, you know I love you very much. You are the president now. Council Vice President Woman Marisa Davila, thank you so much for all you do and I
am very happy that you take this chamber and I know you're going to do a great job. Thank you. And to the rest of the consments, please stand together. No hate. We don't need to see every council
meeting. Hate each other. Fight each other. Let's come together for a better city. Paris need you. All of you. And we're here to support you. God bless you all. And thank you so much. Keep it strong, mayor. Thank you, Deputy Mayor.
We have no more speakers. No more speakers. Motion to close. To close. Second. Second. Motion to close by Councilman Alex Mendes. Second by Councilman uh Councilwoman Dava, Council Vice President Dava, and Councilman Omar. Roll call to close public portion.
Roll call to close the public portion. Councilwoman Cotton. Thank you, Madam Clerk. First, let me just say to all of you out there that came to see the reorganization meeting of the Patterson City Council.
Um, I always say that to say to people, you want people, elected official people, that you see them somewhere and you can walk up to them and say something. You can say hello. You can say a question. And that's what it to me
is about. If you see me, you need to talk to me. But I want to say because to me that's part of the community. You know, I know what word I represent and I tell people every day, I ain't scared to go nowhere in this city
because God got my back no matter where I go. But I want to say to Councilwoman Dr. Delisa Mims, congratulations on being elected the president of the city council. And you know, and it's been a fight.
But one thing I can say for us as women, we don't be holding grudges like that. We don't be like holding grudges. We need to stop doing that. I want to say to the vice president, Councilwoman Marissa Dava, I was the only female
sitting up here in 2012 and then council Dava came in 2014. So me and her was here together for four years, Council Madava and myself. So I want to say congratulations. As I think
someone said out there, um this is the first time we had two females leading the Oh, the mayor said it. The first time that I could remember um two ladies being the president and the vice president. That's to me is another history in the making. Because I just
want to say to to you out there, all my council colleagues, and I've said it over and over all the time, me and you may not vote the same, but at least when you walk out here at night, learn how to say good night. Have a good evening. Be what you need to be. But I want to say
to you all again, thank you to Councilwoman Mims, to Councilwoman Dabala. It's about working together. you know, we have we're from two different families, two different ethnic groups, but we all do care. We care about
everyone. We care about the city. And I know some people have spoken. I'm not going to go into that, but you know, I you know, we you know, it was my husband's birthday um two days ago and he he passed in CO.
Um, and one thing I can say about Eddie is that we walk side by side. It wasn't I wasn't in back of him or I wasn't trying to be in front of him. We walked side by side. We was together for almost 50 years.
And you know, and we learned a lot from each other. And one thing I can say is that he made sure he helped me with my family and I made sure I help him with his family. and you have marriages now is only one-sided. You can't do for the
other side. But and I appreciate my husband because I've been around here since the 70s. But um but to sit here and with my councilman, I appreciate all of you. Um it's about just talking and we could still talk and we might still
say no again. But it is it is like that. Um and you know and I just want to point out Reagard. I got to point out Revel Guard because Rebel Lagard father back in 1968
when he had Dr. King was here and I was a little girl standing on Governor Street 12 years old at the time couldn't get to the church but I was close enough on Governor Street to see that and he was the one who got Dr. came here to the
city of Patterson and every time I see him and Reverend Lagard, you know, he loved the community. He did everything. He loved the community and he shared love and he showed love and he did everything. So, I just every time I see you, especially now, I love your two children, the little ones. They ain't
little no more, but it's about togetherness and I'm going to always be that one. um growing up on a farm, if I had something to say to you, I ain't going to come to the mic with 5,000 people watching to say I'mma blast you out. I'm not going to do that cuz my
ancestor probably pocket would jump out and hit me if I did something like that. It's about if I need something to say, I will. But to all my council colleague, let's just get it going. Let's just get it going to where we got to get done. Let's just get it going. Madame Clerk,
with that being said, congratulations to my sisters. Dr. Lisa Man, President Councilwoman Marissa Dava, vice president. First time in history. Congratulations, Madame Clerk. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman.
Councilwoman Dava. Uh, I am going to try to keep it very brief. um because I can see that it is hot and we still have not gone through the agenda, but I do want to thank council president because it was important to hear the um community
today, the public portion first. Uh I will address a few individuals. One will be Chanel Fields, Miss Dr. Fields. Uh congratulations. I do want to let you know that sometimes change doesn't come very good. But when you let people know
with time, right, slowly but surely, people will be able to come to the meeting and try to make sure that they're within that hour time. Now, I will also say to you that the council president has within its purview as the presidency has the authority that she
can allow anyone through the clerk to to allow them to speak. So to the community, don't ever think that you're not going to be heard if it's something that is very it's in dire need and you can't make that hour within the time of the uh signin sheet.
Please know that through uh uh the the chair to our uh uh clerk, you would be able to sign up. So no one is going to be left out. Okay? But we do have to keep order. Or order has to be kept. there's business that has to be done and that is across the board. Wherever you
go, there's always order. Okay. So, uh to everyone else, I do appreciate uh to my sister for your words. Um she really means what she said. She says order starts at home and she does come down on me. I am the youngest, she's the oldest.
People think I'm the oldest. Um but you know, uh I appreciate her in her presence here. you know, I'd like to give you your flowers while you're alive. Um, you've been holding it down for all of us since my mom, our mom
passed away. You know, my dad passed away and you've been there. You've been that that strong, that strong person. You've been the spine of the family. So, although you're the head, you've been the spine as well. So, I want to thank you for your words. Um, I said I would
call you Mama Mims, right? It's like I can't say anything else. You're a Mama Mims, right? I want to thank you for your kind words as well. And to all the ladies of the different organizations, you know, to Assemblywoman Evans, you know, people don't know people don't
know our history. It was through CASA program and its executive director at the time that told me, you need to speak to certain people. You were one of them. You took me under your wing. you were assembly woman once uh when when um I
started to get involved and I appreciate all of the advice and look at you now, you know, being our mentor uh council woman and I. So, thank you to everyone else. I'm here to serve. I'm not here if there's one thing that you know about me, I don't hold grudges. I don't hold grudge. There's no need for that. You
can't pay, you know, you can't be in this heart, you know, uh uh free rent, rent free can't can't do that. All right? So, I just want to say that, you know, much love to everyone. Uh, and I'm going to continue to say it as I told our president.
Change starts with us. Change starts with me. And it's a new day. God bless you all. My vote is yes to close the public portion. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Jackson. Thank you, Madam Clerk. So, um, just a few things I want to address
to the public. um and some uh misnomers or misconceptions. Um first let me again say congratulations to all those put in place. But just for a bit of clarity
um being truthful and being real about the circumstances doesn't mean you're being negative. Doesn't mean you're being a fighter. Doesn't mean you're fighting. Some of us took this job to uh to
celebrate. Some of us took this job to cut ribbons. Some of us took this job to uh talk about how great things are going. Some of us or let me say I I took this job to do all the all of the opposite. Let me tell you why.
Many of you know I've owned and operated a business in the city for right under 25 years. I did a a million and a half uh uh 1.4 $.4 million expansion of which $140,000
was granted to me because I had the creditworthiness and because I had all of the required necessities from the Patterson Restoration Corporation, that entity which operates a budget of well over 30 to $40 million, which we
don't know because we haven't gotten any reports on it over the last I've been here for 10 years asking for them. has not come forward. I am the only person in the history of that entity that they've taken to court
and actually filed for garnishment of wages for $140,000. This entity has given more money away to other entities. Every single restaurant that opened in the mall had received from a matter of 300 plus thousand
dollars or more from this entity. And recently it was brought to my attention that there was a proposal brought forward to that entity to actually serve its true purpose not to buy overpriced property or real estate from friends of
the mayor, the previous mayor, not this one, but he wrote it in the affirmative which we spent $6 million for a property that was worth a million dollars, possibly a million dollars. So recently a a proposal was brought
forward before the PRC to all lot $250,000 to my to a program to help minority businesses specifically black businesses during this turbulent times.
That proposal was denied as they just had given $1.3 million to another entity from PI. Let me remind you of the business incubator that we spent millions of dollars and we still don't have reports on. We've done walkthrough. We w we
looked at all this equipment that we've acquired that's sitting there that this mayor promoted. Now we're changing it over to a communication center. We're talking about millions of dollars. Why I watch 15 year old children selling
bottles of water on on the bridge sitting on coolers because they have to make means for their way of life. So, and this is all with all due respect, Mrs. Dr. Mims. Truly have nothing but an enormous amount of
respect for you and uh and your family and your accomplishments that you and your children have made. But I want to um dispel the fact that I don't have anyone. Miss Fields is sitting behind you. She can vouch for this. And many people know
how I do. Never. In fact, I have had conversations with Mr. Olivaris about his delivery. But one thing about me, I'm not going to ask you, pay you, temper you. Your
opinion is your opinion. the brother Anthony that came to the microphone. I didn't know him from a can of paint and that was his words as he was describing it at the African African Heritage Parade. People come to this podium and state certain things. That's
their beliefs. Now, I do acknowledge there are some people that pay people to come to the podium and say things, but one thing that I can show you I can assure you is that would not be me. I do not do that. In fact, I may encourage people not to do certain things, but
they have the the privilege to do so. But when we talk about the failures in this community, how many of you and before you leave the the the building, Brother McKenzie, how many of you can acknowledge we got a major problem with parking? How many of you can acknowledge
that our community is being overrun? It's it's it's it's overcrowded where police officers are towing cars in the wee hours of the night from residents who can't barely afford their daily uh uh way of life.
But yet and still, this council felt it was necessary to approve on the consent agenda. By the way, before I got here, an an ordinance to allow for those developers who want to build three
family houses on 25 by 100 footprints in the first, the fourth, and the fifth wards, mitigating adjustment board, planning board processes. They're going to be able to just put a three family house right next
door to your house and there's nothing that you could be able to do about that. Council, when Miss Patricia McNeel calls me because they're putting something next to her house that she that they didn't even get an opportunity to sign a petition against.
This is the things that I fight about. Council Jackson. Yes. I I don't want to interrupt. I interrupting though. Just a point of privilege. I just want us to be cognitive. I am of the elders that are here. I still haven't spoken as long as either the two before me and you didn't
speak to them. You you have not. So I'm just asking I know you have a lot to say and and it's important people would like to hear it but I'm just I just would like us to be cognitive that is very hot. You have elders that are here and I don't want anyone passing out in the chamber. So if you could just you know
wrap up I'll do my best. Thank you. Thank you. I mean, that's something that we should have thought about before we allowed the administration not to do its job in having um air conditioning properly in place. The mayor is a failure. He's failing every single day
and we're sitting here talking about we just just work together. No, no, that's not how things go. The way things go, I've played on teams. I've gotten paid to play on teams. I've played at a very high level. I've played division one
football. I've watched my brother play on TV uh at in the Rose Bowl. And if my brother wasn't performing, he was going to get pulled out and his coach was going to pull him to the side and told him, "Son, you are not cutting it.
This is not league sports where everybody deserves a cheer and a hand in and a trophy. This is the big leagues. This is the pros. where we need to acknowledge our failures where we have to be able to
clearly allow people to acknowledge their failures. Now, I'll just point this out uh and and I will wrap after this, but just today and council president, I urge you please
now if you're if you're newly adopted um procedure is because we don't plan to allow members of the public to wait in the chambers excessively because this many nights members of the public got to sit here and wait for 3 hours while the
council just goes through items, goes through items, decide when they're going to do the public portion. So, if that's the case and they no longer have to wait, then I would agree. If they if the session if the public session is going to end before they get here, then that's a that's a whole another story. But if
they're asked to wait, then no. But just because the signing sheet is removed and people go to ask to have their name added after everyone sat here for three hours and waited before the session started and then to be denied. As long as the public session is open, no one
should be turned away. That that's that's my perspective and I will continue to to to advocate on on residents behalf for that. We can't pick and choose when we want to do things. We have to have a moment. We have to have
levels of par. I do agree. Those young ladies that came to the microphone and spoke today, they should have been endowed with extra minutes because as the time ran out, the young lady said, "Should I go?" And you said, "No, I extended your time." But we cannot
extend time to those that want to give us flowers and balloons. We got to extend the time to those who care to bring forward their their voices of complaints as well. Councilman Jackson. Yes. I I am asking again requesting we have
elders that are sitting in the chambers. You have spoken now for exactly 12 minutes. We are closing the public portion. I am asking on behalf of our elders. We know it's hot. We've already addressed that the AC will be working on July 8th and I'm asking very
respectfully if you would just vote to close out public portion. We still have seven items to vote on and there will be many other opportunities to speak. I I'll do my best, Council President. Thank you. Appreciate the uh words of
encouragement. And lastly, let me just say this. those of us who come forward to uh be the voice of in of indifference as we still don't know where the $80
million of CARES Act money is being spent as many developers from Christopher Hope project walking away with $40 million in developers fees while residents are still being poorly treated.
While um you know we still continuously come here and celebrate and cut ribbons, there's still people in our community, we're not talking about the homeless that are being injected here from other communities. There's still people in our community that are dealing with difficult circumstances. And I'll say
this, I am a voice of indifference and I'm going to continue to be and I don't I don't have an issue with lining up with anyone who is looking to do that. But um you know, my children are not in this city wreaking havoc. In fact, all my children have been inducted in every single one of them into the National
Honor Society doing extremely well and they are um they're seeing these these poor examples as well and they feel um like they deserve better and I think that is the case as well. With that being said, uh Madame Clerk, my
Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Khik, thank you madame clerk. Uh today is a new day. Yes. I want to um thank everyone for joining us today. I'm looking forward to working with our
new council president, council BP and rest of the council. Also, I want to thank our outgoing council president, Alex Mendes. Yes, he has done a tremendous job for last two years
and like I said I'm looking forward to working with everyone and also I'm tired of hearing same speeches from some of the council member every single meeting. I think we for the new year change the
rhetoric. Stay here positive way and and come up with something new. Instead of hearing the same verses every meeting for 12, 13, 14 minutes, let's come up with some change. Thank you, Madam Clerk. My vote is yes to close the public portion. Thank you, Councilman.
Councilman Mendes. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, so once again, congratulations to our great newly elected council president, uh, Dr. Lissa Mintz. It was a great honor to support you. I know you'll do a phenomenal job. And also to our vice president, Councilwoman at large, Marissa Dava. Um,
definitely it was a phenomenal pleasure to work with all of you and I'm looking forward to continue this collaboration. We have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of work ahead of us to be able to improve the quality of life of our resident in the city of Patterson. We facing many challenges and we must be
sitting the table. This this not about liking each other or getting along or this is about city business. It's about putting Pis first and that's exactly what I'm looking forward to do um in this new um year. It's a phenomenal pleasure to see my assembly woman the
queen of the city of Patterson and I do apologize for the heat. So let's let's get the agenda done. My vote is yes mad clerk. Thank you. Thank you Councilman Omar. Well, first I want to congratulate our new council president, Councilwoman Mims. Our new vice president, Councilman Davala, and I want to thank Councilman
Mendes, for all the hard work he's done these past two years. He did a phenomenal job. Thank you to the public for coming out. And I'm going to be quick because I see Assemblywoman Evans looking at me with that look. Uh, happy heavenly birthday to uh, Ed Cotton, and I'm happy to serve with his better half,
Councilman Cotton. And congratulations, Dr. Fields. We're going to get used to saying that. I vote as yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Nuden. Thank you, Madam Clerk. First of all, I would like to uh sincerely congratulate our new council president, Dr. Mims and
Council Vice President, Councilman Davilla. And I believe that this is not just a time to just welcoming new leadership team but also to reflect on our shared perspective, shared vision for the next one year for the city of
Patterson. And I believe that council should work in the uh sense where we have to prioritize people, not our argument. We have to listen more, argue less. That's what I'm looking forward for the next year. So with that being
said, council president We have to keep Patterson in our mind regardless whatever we do. With that expectation, I congratulate both of you one more time and my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Veles. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Uh first of all, I want to say
congratulation. Um my sister, one of the two amigos, we got three uh council woman Dr. Lisa, congratulation. um six years waiting, you know, and we going to continue working. We got to
continue working. Uh to the community out there, let me make this loud and clear. This morning, I received a text, not a well, email, a roll call for the meeting today.
And those that was in that thread in the meeting on the email noticed that I responded that I was not going to be in attendance in the meeting today. I was out of the
city down south. Even McCoy called me to say, "How you doing?" What did I tell you, Councilman McCoy? I was not going to be in the meeting today. And as a person that has experience, he say by law, you need to be there. So I
say I don't want to be part of the United States uh federal unit that they come and arrest you. You have to come and vote, right? But yes, I'm here still. When the vote of councilwoman pass, I
asked my colleague, who's the next VP? He said, I don't know. He didn't even share with me that he was going to nominate me. God is good because what happened today here it was set
from yesterday on because in the past I even text council woman Davila the other day I think it was Thursday or Wednesday will you support me for council president and she said no. So that was not a surprise because she
never supported me. That was not a surprise. She never supported me for council president. And and let me say this. I'm not upset. I'm happy. You know why? Because in the this past eight years, I've been sitting in this council. I've been working with
every of my colleagues to get the job done. The before and after. That's a lesson for a lot of people going out there on time, not on time, be prescreded or disagreed.
In the past when I was the chair of DPW before I left the chair of DPW, there was a list of more than 10 streets in the four in the in the first word to change directions and listen and that the councilman they asked me to put it on the agenda. I said let's move it
forward because it's for the first word and we need to work towards that war united true or not councilman because when I sit here I don't look at who war is it. I look as Patterson needs us to work together and we're gonna continue
working together. Now I always say it's easy through here but have it in here. It's easy through the mouth but have it in here and do it with action. And last day the other day I said in the Peruan
parade it's it's easy to call for unity. People are talking about ceasefire for years. People even talking ceasefire this past month and the bomb are still shooting back and forth, back and forth. If that's the real unity that the city
wants, I always say go back to the tape on 2024, 2023 from 2018, every July 1st that they do a new reorganization meeting about unity, about being together. So I know
councilwoman mince because I said at the beginning you me and probably some people here have something in above and before we do our decision we make sure that our decision is aligned with the heart of God
and let and let me say this loud and clear nothing you could throw pictures from over there and put it in a in a social media you could slander me you could do a lot of stuff but nobody's going to take me the heart to serve this community and continue serving because
the people of the fifth war put me here and I got to continue working the legacy of Maria Magda that sat here working hard for everyone no matter where they come from no color what they have or what religion they had and I'm going to continue to do it with all my heart.
Last but not least, I know some people come here and they do the freedom of speech. U assembly woman, they took more time than me. Thank you. Um some people come here and and they could exercise the freedom of speech. Uh
corporation council, I don't know where he at, but we have uh spoke this before. This gentleman is paid by the taxpayer money. He's a city employee. He's a legislative aid from Councilman
Jackson. I understand that he's doing a freedom of speech. I understand that he come in here and express itself. But to receive slander statement and accusation and all that stuff, something had to be done. The taxpayer money is paying this
guy to come in and and deliver all his anger against us. I don't think something's wrong. I recall council I I will wrap up. Uh Councilman McCoy could testify on this when I was in the other side of of this of this chambers
as a resident pass. Never came there to that podium to slander any mayor sitting there or any councilman sitting here. I used to bring my ideas. I see the thing. I bring it up and work towards it. Corporation council put a question on the ta on the floor regarding an
legislative aid. I understand they could use a freedom of speech, but he's a city employee and he getting paid by taxpayer money. Um, I don't know how to separate that without violating his right of expressing, but at the same time, it'll
match being a aid for the city and then coming down here as a resident and attack us like council. Yes. Point of order, council. So, so council, yes, council president. Yes. I
I just want to reiterate because I want to share show fairness. It is extremely hot in the chambers. We have a lot of elders. We only have seven items on the agenda, which should not take that long, but I know we have a lot that we want to talk about, but I'm just
asking if we can wrap. There will be there will be a lot of time in between. um to have that conversation. But Councilman BZ, if you could just, you know, come to a close, please. President
point of order is addressed after he finish finishes his statement. He's in the middle of roll call. Council. So, thank you, Council President. And last but not least, uh Mr. Mayor, uh you have uh give order to send the employees of the board of health because the temperature was more than 90 degrees
inside. um in here is 90 is 85 degrees in here outside is 95 degrees. I don't know uh what's the different but we have to take that in consideration. Saying that uh council president thank you for the consideration on it. Madame clerk my vote is yes. Thank you council
president. Just to address the point of order, Councilman Jackson, Council President, please be brief. And just for a point of clarity, whenever there's a point of order called according to Robert's rules, it's an is the point of order is is heard at that
moment. And if Councilman Blesz uh so cares to um to utilize slander when he's speaking about myself, he should have an accompanying uh law and as a point of order. We
cannot just indoctrinate our own perspectives and opinions. We operate by rule of law. We're governed by laws set by the state. We're governed by laws that we actually uh adopt. And I would appreciate it, council president, if if
council members are going to um place items, place motions on the floor that we at least understand that it's it's uh uh uh it's in accordance to how the process and procedures of this council works. His opinion may be one thing, his
feelings may be one thing, but your feelings don't matter here. We operate by way of a law. Thank Thank you for that point of reference um Councilman Jackson. And so I'm going to make a request again now as the sitting pres council president um I would like to
purchase um I would like to have purchased Robert rules of orders for all of our council members. And I just want to state on the record, if someone is in the middle of roll call, a point of order does not override the person that is in the midst
of speaking to to vote. Point of order will be addressed after that person votes and then it is taken. There is no such thing as a point of order that is called in the middle of somebody going to vote. So, I want to put that, but that will be on record. But let me close because I'm going to be the change that
I want to see. And we're going to you're going to continue to hear me say that. First and foremost, the request is the the sheet will be out from 6:30 from 6:15 to 7:15. As stated, the sheet will be taken by our secretaries. Someone
comes in at that point. After that time, they will see the secretary. They will come and let me know what this situation is. They will have a conversation and then we'll be permitted at that moment. But we cannot allow the sheet to be left out there until 10 and 11:00 at night.
We just can't do that and we're not going to do it. The second thing we will put in place, which is a part of our ordinance, is that when we're going to close or to vote, council members only have two minutes. I understand that there's a lot of things we want to say, but we have to follow the orders and the
decorum that is listed in our ordinance. So, as that stated, madame clerk, my vote is yes. Um, to all of our residents that are watching and to those present, I apologize that there is no AC air conditioner here in the building. Thank
you to um, Councilman Jackson for mentioning the water and that is being dispersed to everyone. But let's move forward. Madame Clerk, my vote is yes to close public portion. Thank you, Council President. The votes are nine in favor, none against. The public portion is hereby closed. Madame clerk, let's move
to the agenda. Item number one, Madam Clerk. Item number one, resolution setting the contents of the annual meeting notice pursuant to the open public meetings act, including time of meetings of the municipal council for July 8th, 2025
through July 1st, 2026. also addressing virtual meetings and scope of meetings and setting the location as the city hall council chambers 155 market street Patterson New Jersey um city clerk uh
resolution number 25 colon 340 so move second moved by councilwoman Dava second by council cotton roll call on item number one madam clerk roll call on item number one councilwoman Cotton yes councilwoman Dava yes counciloman
Jackson. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Before I vote, um, Corporation Council, with regard to, and I understand we're set in the calendar here, but with regard to that item that was approved at last week's, uh, um, consent agenda, I need to address that and bring that back forward. Those items include the first
W. I know it's is not pertaining to this item, but before the 45day um uh uh provision expires for that item, I need to have that item readress for those three family houses on 25 by 100s. Madam clerk, my vote is yes. Thank
you, Councilman. Councilman Khalik, yes, Madame Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Mendes. Yes. Thank you, Councilman Omar. Yes. Councilman Nuden, yes. Councilman Vez, yes. Council President. Yes. Thank you.
Votes are nine in favor, none against. Item number one is hereby adopted. Item number two, Madam Clerk. Item number two, res resolution designating newspapers to receive notice of council meetings under the sunshine law. City
clerk item resolution number 2541. Can we have a motion? Some move. Moved by uh Councilman Mendes, second by Councilwoman Dav. Roll call. Madam clerk. Roll call on item number two for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton, yes. Councilwoman Dava, yes. Councilman
Jackson, yes. Counciloman Khik, yes, Madam Clerk. Counciloman Menddees, yes. Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Nuden, yes. Councilman Vez, yes. Council President, yes. Both are not. I'm sorry. So, I just want to say
for this for number seven. My my vote is yes, madam clerk. Thank you. The votes are not in favor, none against. Item number two is hereby adopted. Item number seven, madam
clerk. Number seven. Sure. Okay. Item number seven, resolution of the city of Patterson authorizing the submission of a request to the New Jersey urban enterprise zone authority for Patterson UEZ emergency road restoration project 2025 through
2026 in the city's urban enterprise zone in an amount not to exceed 3,982,743. This is this is Can we get a motion? Moved by Councilwoman Davis, second by uh Councilman Uden and Councilman Mendes. Discussion. Council member Le.
Thank you, Council President. Did you One second. Councilman Bles, did you get the motions? Motion by Councilwoman Davala, second by Councilman Uden, and Councilman Mendes. Discussion. Councilman Bles. Thank you, Council President. Uh let me uh
let me be clear on something here. If I don't if I don't get it right, let me uh try to get it right. So, council president, um I was looking at the proposed UEC
uh 2025 ro resurfing. Um, I went into the UEC uh road resurfacing project uh emergency road resurfacing grant or what how whatever they call it here in this paper but it says that this
money is only used to be used in the coder or uez. Okay. Um and all in infrastructure in the uee cordurers designated as a uee. Um I I noticed here the list are they
good streets? You know they need to be resurfaced but I I could count I could count with my hands that you probably have only one or two they are from the county uh sorry UEZ zone. The other one are inside
street like plum street like uh peach street nor broccoli um nor broccoli is behind the you know Marshall Street that is not a uee zone
you know that's a uee zone is you telling me that h clicks post with the bar is that's a that's for one business a uee zone that one so just to so so I I just want I want to I just wanted to to
he could bring if it's possible Mr. Mayor uh or the BA what's the statue that you know whatever uh UE rules allows that because my my my reading here is saying that infrastructure has
to be the money had to be invested in UC quarters or industrial areas. So, so Madam President to Mr. Mayor, please. Thank you. There's a map attached in addition to the roads that have been
listed for resurfacing. I want to give credit to our uee director, Dipto Roy. He identified $4 million in urban enterprise zone funding that we could use to resurface our roads. and our
engineer Ben Dearrow was very meticulous in using the map and then crosspollinating it to make sure that we identify the appropriate streets that fall within that urban enterprise zone. This is something that's never been done in this city before, utilizing urban
enterprise zone money for road resurfacing. So, we are not burdening the general operating budget. We are identifying a source outside of where we normally find the money. For example, we use CDBG. We've used ARP. We've also
used state aid. But in this instance, now we have UEZ money. And we strongly urge that you support this. These are 35 streets. And the breakdown is seven of those streets are in the first ward, seven are in the second ward, four are in the third ward, five are in the
fourth ward, primarily Bunker Hill, which is a business district. Four are in the fifth ward, and six are in the sixth ward. So the two wards First and second have seven each. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to com one one second, Councilman Menace. I also want
to commend our director for utilizing the map to pinpoint based on our priority list that was requested some years ago that we would create a priority listing of all the streets across the city, which was a request I made and this council um agreed to it.
And based on that priority list and some of the council members here that advocated for these streets, I'm happy to say that they are here. So I know they have some concerns or questions, but this is what they've asked for. To the public that is viewing, I want you
to know that from there there are an estimate of $4 million that will not have to be taxpayer dollars that we identified through urban enterprise zone dollars that will cover streets in every single ward of the city that are needed.
Yes. Um I will be able to and if you'd like to go on our website and it's posted, I will also post them as well. Great job to our UE director working alongside with our um with our committees here to make sure that our streets get repaid. Council President, I
have it finished. Thank you. Thank you. President I have it finished. Just uh just a just a recommendation. Um may I because I haven't finished. You are not done. Okay. Council member and then council. Mr. Mayor, so I like that you went out
and think out of the box when to use the funding for uee. now, right? But when it comes up to patrol and cameras and uh cleaning quarters or whatever, please also think out of the box and put all the UEZ zone into effect because we just
cannot clean Broadway or you know or Marcus Street or Park Avenue just center blocks because it only that's what will cover for that little space there. So to expand the service of U the funding of UAZ in the city of Pass it will be it
will be nice. So same way you expanding this funding to go in different street there are needed so to to make sure that all the service is expanded to the last but not least council president I I requested a list because I recall 2022
2023 re re resurface um uh grants came in and we include some of those street like Madison Street be street um uh Molton Street so we don't want to we don't want to put some on street that already supposed to be resurfaced with
another grant and now we're using that as to pitch for that money and then divert the money to another place. Thank you council president. Thank you councilman. Councilman Mendes thank you council president. So the question that I have is based on the list uh we have four different road in the third war. We
have east 15 between river street and fifth avenue but we also have east 24 between uh route 20 and fifth avenue. based on the map mayor it's the same US zone uh east 243 they're in totally disrepair so I would like to know how can we included on this
list because if you look at the condition of east 15 is not as bad as this 24 23rd I mean and I will tell you it's not as bad maybe have like one plot hole I will say but those two road they really need to be fixed and now we could utilize the UC funding that we have now
and you know because I know there's other plan for last section vote. I would like to see that done. So, Council Mendes, Councilman Mendes, that's a good point of reference. Administration, just take that point of reference. We could talk about it another time. We're ready to vote. These are just recommendations.
It does not impact what we have here on this list. At this point, Madame Clerk, roll call. I wanted to elaborate on something, Council President. And that mayor I within a minute. Within a minute. I can do this within a minute. Within a minute. We'll come back to it, Mayor. We'll come back cuz then it's going to
open the floor for a rebuttal. Roll clock. Madam clerk, roll call. Roll call on item number seven. And I did not get to announce uh the department and the resolution number is an economic development resolution number 2546. Councilwoman Cotton.
Councilwoman Davlin. Yes. Councilman Councilman Khik. Thank you, Madame Clerk. This is a big win for Patterson. Thank you, Director Diptoroy. Also, you see every word is getting streets. Second word got eight of them. And um
once again, thank you director. My vote is yes, madam cler. Thank you, Councilman Mendes. Thank you, madam clerk. I've been a strong supporter of our res the resurfacing of our road. The director, great job that we utilizing this funding. I believe it's the first time that we're doing that. Let's pay
attention to those two location because we got to get it done and it's within the map. With that being said, my voice clear. Thank you, Councilman Omar. Director, I commend you. Great job. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Nton. It's a good move for sure. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Vez. Thank
you for clarification with that map that I don't still don't see. I thought it was a highlighted map, but that's why we had workshop and presentation. That's why mayor the communication start to stop fluiding. You cannot just bring a document here in the today and just ask it. We don't have that conversation. If
we have that conversation, then it's easy and we could avoid a lot of questions. Uh, my vote is yes. Thank you, council president. Let's be the change we want to see. Madame clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you. The votes are eight in favor, one absent. Item number
seven is here by Council President. Vote item number six, Madam Clerk. Just wanted to provide an update. One second, mayor. Item number six, Madam Clerk. Item number six is a resolution reappointing Robert W. Parchment to the city of Patterson board of adjustment
sponsored by Councilman Michael Jackson City City Council resolution number 25 col 345 move it second discussion moved by councilwoman cotton and Jackson second by councilman colleague second second councilman Odin discuss
discussion discussion councilmen counc um um I don't know madame clerk will testify on this but in the past there used to be resolution they used to put the address of the of the commissioner on the resolution and way back that was in the past. I can't hear you. No. So
there that's corporation council. Always get that. Yeah. Any question? There's no um I council president I'm just saying way back I'm not saying now way back they used to do I don't know if the norm has changed. Way back even a constable used to be appointed and they
put the address there you know because we don't have even a resume from this individual. I love the one that I see here from Vivian Gaines, but you know, put a resume and everything, but you know, great great point of reference. Uh, he
is a reappointment. When he initially was appointed, his resume was attached. So, if you need that information, I'm sure the clerk or one of the secretaries could provide that with you. He is a reappoint, which is different from a new appointment where you will see the information is attached. He is being
reappointed. Um, and that's why you don't see the address, but if you check with the secretary, madam clerk's office, they could provide you with that information. I have the address. Roll call, Madam Clerk. Roll call on item number six. Councilwoman Cotton,
I'm sorry I didn't hear your vote, Councilwoman. Your microphone is down. Who's voting now? Madam clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman Dava. Yes. Can you hear Council Councilman Khalik? Yes. Madam Clerk, Councilman Mendes, yes. C
Councilman Omar, yes. Thank you, Councilman Uden. Yes. Councilman Vez, no. Council President, yes. Thank you. The votes are seven in favor, one against, one absent. Item number six is
hereby adopted. Item number five, Madame Clerk. Thank you. Item number five, resolution reappointing Muhammad Alam to the Patterson Board of Adjustment. Sponsored by Councilman Shaheen Khalik. Council
City Council resolution number 2544. Moved by Councilman Khalik. Second by Councilman Dava. Council Which one is that one? It says number five. Number five. It says Khalik or you number five. Khalik. Number five. Number five. No, number five is Councilman Khalik. Roll
call. Madam clerk. One second. Madam clerk. My appointment u on the body of the resolution is wrong. Yeah. The discussion. The discussion. Discussion. Councilman Khalik. number five. That's from the body. It
should not be an alternate. It should be a It should not be alternate. Correct. It should not be alternate. We uh I brought this issue up before and um as you know uh you are absolutely correct, Councilman
Khalik. We had a previous discussion um we had a previous discussion where when someone new is coming on those new appointments are are alternates and then it goes by seniority. So for example your person as well as Councilman
Mendes's person should be moving into voting privilege. Um me being the tenure my person is alternate one and then uh the other appointment will be alternate two. That is how it it operates. So you're correct. Corporation council, can
you make this adjustment? Actually, actually the adjustment is there already. I'm sorry. I uh Okay. I did I did not follow it. Uh on the 5th now there for uh Okay. Thank you. I just want to I read I read the first. That's
why I got No problem. Councilman Colleague. Roll call, Madam Clerk. So you had to correct the bonding. No, it's fine. Oh, okay. Roll call on item number five. Councilwoman Cotton, yes. Councilwoman Dava, congratulations once
again on your reappoint. My vote is yes. Councilman Khalik, my vote is yes, Madame Clerk. Councilman um Mendes. Yes. Thank you. Councilman Omar. Yes. Councilman Uden. Yes. Yes.
Councilman. Council President. Council President. Yes. Thank you. The votes are eight in favor, one absent. Item number five is hereby adopted. Item number four, Madam Clerk. Item number four, resolution appointing
Vivian Gains to the city of Patterson Board of Adjustment, sponsored by Councilwoman Dr. Lisa Mims, City Council. Resolution number 2543. So moved. Second. Moved by Councilwoman Mim, second by Councilwoman Daba and
Council and Cotton and Councilman Udin. Roll call, Madame Clerk, on item number uh four. Roll call on item number four. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Councilwoman Dav. Um I want to thank you, Council President, for um the clarification.
There's been a lot of confusions year after year. Somewhere along the lines, things did not go correctly, but we are here now doing it right. A new person coming on board cannot become a full voting member without going through its
proper training, being a boardcertified member and then going through being an alternate one and alternate two and so forth. So, with that said, I'm so looking forward to seeing Mrs. Gains um you know, come on board. Uh she has been
instrumental in our educational system. Uh she is a true Pisonsonian. She loves our city and I know she's going to do right by the board and Patterson. Congratulations, Commissioner Gains. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Kik.
Congratulations. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Oh, sorry. Councilman Mendes, my vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman Omar, my vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman Nuden, yes. Councilman Vez,
100%. Yes. Council President. So, I first want to thank um Trice Barbie Watkins. I had an opportunity of appointing her and she served for six years in this capacity. She's done a
phenomenal job, but I believe that as we continue to grow and move that we give other people an opportunity. I think Miss Gaines will do a phenomenal job. She's an educator. Her husband knows real estate and development. I think it would be um an add a value ad to um that
particular uh board. Um and we want to continue to do and to see and be the change that we want to see. My vote is yes. Thank you. The votes are eight in favor um one absent. Item number four is hereby adopted. Item u madame clerk,
last item on the agenda. Item number three, madam clerk. Item number three is a resolution appointing Akas Ali to the city of Patterson board of adjustment sponsored by Councilman at large MD Ford Uden city council resolution number 25 col 342. So move
second. Moved by Councilman Uden, second by Councilwoman Davala, Councilman Mendes. Uh discussion. Yes, there is a discussion. So I I was reading and that's why I said thank you
for the clarification. I did read that the item says they're a full voting member and they are actually an alternate two. So let the refer uh the record reflect corporation council that there that needs to be amended to
indicate uh alternate two. Again the previous just to make it point the previous appointment was a full appointment. uh the councilman now is appointing somebody new just like I question therefore um just bringing that
clarification the body of the resolution does not reflect that. Yes. So just a just to uh to reiterate right we had this in the past when a new person is being appointed to the board if there has been someone that has been alternate
one and two those appointments are moved up and the new appointments become alternates one and two. If there are two people being brought on and the two are being moved up at the same time the council person with the seniority becomes alternate one and the other will
be alternate two. that has been the practice of this council. Um, as we can see, I'm grateful when I came on my my um person was not able to serve for a few years and then that she was able to get an opportunity to be a part of the
voting body. So, that is the process. We have to be fair across the board. There's people that's been waiting as alternates and so we have to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to serve in a voting capacity. Councilman Uden. Uh, thank you, Council President. Every time
appointment comes we debate and it doesn't sound good for the uh appointees and it looks like that we are debating on them. Actually there should be a clarification on the ordinance that we're working on and that should come from the uh corporation council or
whether we should bring some kind of amendment clarification on the paper instead of fighting every single time we appoint someone. That's one thing. Second thing is when you said alternate one and two who decides that is it comes from the chairperson of the board or it comes to the council that needs
clarification as well. Okay. So um just for alternate one and two that is done by seniority. So if if someone has been on the council I I need I need the answer from the corporation council. I I didn't hear you. I need the answer from the corporation council. legal advice.
Coun Councilwoman um council. Um wait one second. Corporation council. Are you going to mic now? Council President, can you hear me? Hello. Are you going to say Can you hear me now? Yes. Thank you uh uh for the opportunity to respond. Thank you uh
Councilman Uden for that inquiry. Um I believe Dr. Mims is correct. the past practice has been um as she stated, of course, um we can enshrine the practice in the ordinance at the council's uh suggestion. It would be up to to council
to vote and approve that. So, it's currently not in the ordinance, although that's been the past practice. And of course, um these items are subject to council's review and approval, both the appointments as well as amending the ordinance. Thank you for that clarity. U councilman Khalif
Council president actually I wasn't going to speak but um for clarification again 2020 Mhm. The same issue came up with my appointment. My appointment was a full-time appointment.
I just want everyone to refresh your memory. Yes, he was a full-time appointment. Meanwhile, as you recall, in 2020, my election was tied at the first uh time with the shenanigan.
Then I won in November. Since there was a laps lapse in four or five month my reg regular appointment was taken out and they put it in as a alternate so I don't think we need any any more
discussion so it's I mean it's been prospected and I've been waiting what four four years now four years four four five years for my person to become a regular voting member if I may I think
Um I'm just clarifying at the same at the same time I bought this amendment to the ordinance that we have in place as well. Yes. Most of the council member uh declined
refused to to update the ordinance and council member was against it as well against the ordinance. Now is not convenience for you. you want to read the the the ordinance and put it on the record and want to
come on. Let's let's work as we've been working with this ordinance and uh and move forward. Thank you, Councilman. Can I just ask a favor? This is the last item and I know we'll it's going to be a reiteration. Can we just go to roll call
and then whatever comments you have, you can make them during roll call. Council President, can we do that? Uh no, but I got some requests. No, I want Okay. Uh, Councilwoman Cot and then Council to go for votes. All right. It's really not it's really not much to go through anymore. I've been found this since
2012. My appointment power was on there 5 years before they became an alternate. And it it is not, you know, I I say it again and I say it all the time. You don't like the answer, but that's the answer. That's the answer. Your appointment is an alternate and nobody's
not going to change it. You got to move up in rank. If you become elected again in 2026, then you hopefully that your appointment again will then move up. That's how that's how it go. Council, if you if you if you if you um
I'm a council woman. If I change my appointment to another name, then that appointment now becomes an alternate. Even though I'm still a council woman, but I changed my appointment. I changed the person who was there before that. So that person can't be an alternate now. They got to become I mean can't be permanent. They got to become alternate.
That's what we're trying to get going. Thank you. Roll call, madam clerk. Thank you, Council. Roll call, madam clerk. Roll call. Any comments can be made at roll call. Roll call, madam clerk. So you you saw me and you let her speak. That's cool. Roll call, Madam Clerk.
Roll call on item number three. Councilwoman K. We're voting on it. We're voting on it as an alternate two. Two. Okay. Right. So we're voting on the amendment first. Roll call on item number three as amended.
With an amendment. With an amendment. Yes. It has to be stated. We're voting on item three per per the amendment as an alternate number two. Yes. Roll call.
Council President, may I very briefly? Yes. Corporation council. Uh for the purposes of this, I think it should be clearly stated that there's an amendment being made. Yes. Um a vote on the amendment and then if the amendment passes, then a vote. So can I get a
motion for the amendment to so move to change the language to state uh motion on the floor by councilman colleague, second by counciloman Davala. Discussion, right? So Councilman Khal Councilman Uden. Uh thank you. Uh I don't mind to go with whatever law says.
I'm I'm completely um obey that. But the point that every time the question arises and know all council member becomes the attorneys because of not clarification on the ordinance and that's why we all play as an acting uh attorneys and explain the
laws and we should not have done that. We should clarify on the paper instead of just straighting every time what happened in the past. Number one. Number two, when you said this amendment needed for this one and we need to vote for amendment, what happened to the uh other commissioner that was stated alternate
by mistake on the paper. Correct. We did not do the amendment. Great question. When I called into the clerk's office cuz I guess you're referring to my appointment because I was familiar with what the process is. I made the request through madame clerk secretary and corporation counsel that my new person
coming on was alternate one. So I was very clear as to what it was. So I don't need to make an amendment. My request was to put in them in the proper perspective which is clearly outlined in the resolution. Roll call on the amendment. Madam clerk,
roll call to amend item number three. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Councilman Khik. Yes. Amending to alternate tool. I'm sorry. Council Davler. Thank you. It's fine. Councilman Khik. Yes. Councilman Mendes. Yes.
Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Uden, yes. Councilman Vez, this is the This is the vote for finish this topic. Oh, for amendment. Okay. Yes. You said yes. Okay. Council President. Yes, Madam Clerk. All right. The votes are eight in
favor, one absent. Um, roll call to vote on item number three for as amended. As amended for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Councilwoman Dava. Yes. Counciloman Khalik. Thank you, Madame
Clerk. I know this individual at Kasali. I know he will do a great job in that u board of adjustment. Uh alternate does not mean that he doesn't get to vote. Many time many of the other other uh commissioner are absent. That's when he
needs he gets to uh step in. And I'm I wish him best of luck. My vote is yes, madam clerk. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Mendes. Thank Thank you, M. I do apologize when my mom's call me. I gota I got to pick up the phone. I better pick up the
phone, you know, just but you know, just for the record, uh you know, my appointment uh the board of adjustment is being uh it's been waiting for since 2020. Now that now this year that appointment will have voting power. So I know the process is there. So um hopefully, you know, so uh you know, it
will be completed. double border is very important for the city and uh and they they got to continue the meeting without interruption. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Omar, my vote is yes, Madam Cler. Thank you, Councilman Uden. Before I vote, I one thing I just want
to state that I believe it's a great addition in the board of adjustment. He's a strong voice and I think board of adjustment should work better and faster. Mhm. And this is very important. many projects are on hold for many many
years. So we when you say we need to move the city forward we have to work with all the boards to make sure that all the boards working in function as well because last about a year so they were not in function. So with that being said with that expectation the hope of the better pattern for next tomorrow
from tomorrow my vote is yes. Thank you council president. So for me no no no matter I'm sorry councilman I'm so sorry. Oh okay I could start again. for me no matter as a regular member or terminated member please when that secret board secretary call you for have
a quorum be here those contractors pays a lot of money those studies cost a lot of money and also thinks out of the box you know go out there look at the project don't go by political motivated agendas just go
by what you see and and and you study on on the situation last but not least madam ba um I to the to the chair. Um I know we we we increase the stipen for
those um commissioner the I just want to know the alternate alternate um commissioner are getting paid also when they come in right great okay that's that's important so making sure the agenda is complete no matter you regular
or art to name make sure that the they have a quot for those meeting um saying that my vote is yes thank you councilman council President. Thank you. Great points of reference. Councilman BZ, my vote is yes. Thank you. The votes are eight in favor,
one absent. Item number three is hereby adopted as amended. Motion to close. So move. Second. Motion to close by Councilman, second by Councilwoman Dava and Councilman Mendes. Madame Clerk, roll call to close our reorganization meeting of July 1st. Roll call to close
the reorganization meeting. Uh, Councilwoman Cotton. Oh, she's gone. She laughed. I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. Councilwoman Davlin, thank you very much. Uh, once again, I will be brief. Uh, I just want to say congratulations once again to uh,
Councilwoman Dr. Lisa Mims. Great first meeting. Uh, although you've ran this meeting before, but great first meeting as the actual uh, sitting council president. Uh, thank you to the community. Thank you to the outgoing president uh, for all your work. Uh and
I also want to just say that we had some discussions today concerning uh some of the board of adjustment appointments. They have nothing to do with the individual but with the position. And I know we have our vice chair of the board of adjustment here. Thank you for coming and thank you for serving. Thank you for
you wanting to serve this city. All right. And do write by the people uh in the board of adjustment. I know our chair is watching as well. So to our chair Joed Roim, thank you as well. And to everyone, Madame Clerk, I know this
is tough. It's hot, but I want to say thank you for the fans. They worked very, very well, and I appreciate it. To the secretaries, to everyone, to my colleagues. Bye-bye. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman
Khalik. Good night, everyone. My vote is yes. Councilman Mendes. Um, it's afternoon, council. Still not yet. You know, we're leaving early today. But, you know, once again, congratulation to council president and
council BP um in your position. Um, it's um, as I mentioned before, uh, we're facing a lot of challenges this city. We got to clean this city. We got to get this city back on track. We definitely and we got to make sure every decision that we make here impact our resident on a positive way. And that's what we
should be focusing on. Uh, my assembly woman, it's great to see you. It's hot, but you stay all the way until the end. We love you. We appreciate you. And may God continue blessing you. Commissioner Oar, it's always a pleasure to see you. Uh, and the leader of the Jamaican
community, Mr. Keith Waxton. Always great to see you. Always great to see you here. Um, so Patterson, let's pray for our city because, you know, we have a very important decision ahead of us. Uh, cooperation council, I love to see you losing weight. You almost look like me. Not yet. Not yet. But you look
great. You look sharp. You know, make you making me go back to the gym. So, God bless you, Patterson. Council Khali, always a pleasure. Council to see you, Ibraim. Um, great, great, great, great, great meeting. Good afternoon. My vote is yes,
Councilman Omar. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman. I want to thank my two aids, Via Vanoeva, Nairoi Vargas for being here and uh always being working out there. Thank you. And also uh a a good a
good advice to my colleagues, you know, be careful with this. If you go to send a text to the mayor, make sure you send it to the mayor, not to me talking about me. Make sure you send it to the mayor, not to me talking about me. Last but not
least, I welcome to the community to the Jamaican festival, right? We all going to be there. We all for real, not for one day. Yaman, not one day, all the day. So saying that, listen, I love what
I do. I got to stay positive. I got to stay focused. The community need me needs me. and we got to continue working together. See you next year at the same time. Watch the message. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Council President.
So, once again, I just want to thank my council colleagues for the vote of confidence uh unanimously to become the city council president. There are changes that will be taking place. Council committee assignments will be readily available before our first
meeting on next week so that we can get to our committee assignments and we can move the ball and and work together. My prayer is that we will work together. Please, I ask I beg the community. I am a new council president. Give me the
opportunity to serve and to lead as I will do the same for you. Thank you so much. And I also want to congratulate, no one said it, Councilwoman Davalon becoming the chair of the Patterson Democratic County Committee and myself as serving as her the co-chair of the
Patterson Democratic County Committee. We're looking forward on both levels to make sure that Patterson unifies, strengthens, empowers, and it builds together. Let us be the change we want to see. Madame Clerk, our secretaries,
uh our officer in charge, Murray, who was here, our director, uh Jerry Spezial, Irma Linda Raphael, Madame um Mr. Ba, uh the mayor was here, corporation council, um and to uh Gabby from Tap into our police officers and to
everyone that's come out. Let's continue to build and not battle. Looking forward to a great and successful year. Lots of work to be done, but we will be the change that we want to see. Madame clerk, my vote. Commissioner Carr, you
got an event. Oh, to my good friend Commissioner Carr. He has an event with John Join J John J. Awards of Excellence Independence Gala on July 19th at 700 p.m. Also, I see uh Councilman Bill McCoy here for Jamaica Day and August.
August 2nd and 3rd. I'm looking forward to my festival. You know, I come for festival every year. So, let's make sure a lot of great events that are going on. We support, we celebrate, we apologize. Once again, please go get a drink of
Kool-Aid or water or soda and cool off. Have a great day, everyone. My vote is yes, madam clerk. Thank you. Welcome back to our secretary Sophia. Continue to pray for Madame Clerk. Yes. Council President, before I announce the votes on behalf of this one second, council
colleagues. Before I announce the votes, on behalf of the city clerk and the city council staff, we'd like to congratulate you as our new president and Councilwoman Dava as our new vice president. The votes are six in favor. Before you announce the votes, August
1st is the Jamaica flag raising. I just want to announce. Okay. The votes are six in favor, three absent. The uh uh reorganization meeting of what is this? July 1st, 2025 is hereby adjourned. Good night, Patterson.