Everyone, we're about to start the meeting. >> Raphael, you ready? >> Good evening everyone. And on behalf of the Patterson Municipal Council, my >> I welcome you to the workshop meeting of June the 4th. The meeting is now called
to order. Roll call. Madam clerk. >> Councilwoman Cotton here. >> Councilwoman Dava >> here. >> Councilman Jackson is absent at this time. Councilman Khik >> here. Madam Cler. >> Councilman Ud um Omar is absent at the
moment. Councilman Uden. >> I'm here. >> All right. Thank you. Councilman Omar is here. Um, Councilman Uden. Okay. Councilman Vez is not here at the moment. Council President, >> I'm here. Madam Clerk,
>> we have five present. >> Yes. At this time, >> Madam Clerk, item number seven is a raffle under the city clerk and item number eight, those items will be on consent, madam clerk. >> Okay. >> Item number seven and and eight >> and eight. Okay. Thank you.
>> Items seven and eight under the city clerk will be under consent. Seven and eight. >> Did you read the statement of compliance? >> I'm sorry. >> Did you read the statement of compliance? >> Oh, no. I didn't. >> Thank you. >> Statement of compliance, Madam Clerk.
>> Statement of adequate notice. Meeting date June 4th, 2026. 6:30 p.m. In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA104-6ETSQ, adequate notice of this workshop session of the Patterson Municipal Council has been provided. Notice of the time and
place was included in the annual meeting schedule, adopted by the council at its reorganizational meeting held on about July 1st, 2025, and subsequently revised. said notice was posted in a public place at city hall's bulletin board, transmitted to the official
newspapers designated to such notices and filed with the office of the city clerk in addition to any other publication duly requesting such notices. >> Thank you madam clerk. So as previously stated uh item seven is a raffle for uh
lady of victories and and seven is consent. the order contract for the imaging and records department for your office. Madam clerk is consent as well. Finance items renewal of uh license 16
and the third ward 17 first ward 18 a bazaar >> 19 16 through 19 are all consent madam clerk 18 and 19 >> are all consent item 20 is an award of contract for up
to three months for the third party administrative services consent or regular council members. >> Regular. >> Regular. Number 20 is regular. Number 21 is the authorization for the
second and final option renewal contract with uh Kai strategic insurance partners. >> Regular or consent. Council members >> on consent. 21 is consent. 21 the corrective action plan will be
regular. >> 22 >> 22 >> 22 I'm sorry. >> 23 is just issuing the tax bills that should be on consent. Council >> members council president. Uh may I may I may I please? >> Um through the chair. >> Council member.
>> Yeah. Through the chair to Mr. Ba. >> For which item? >> 23. >> Okay. One second for 23. One second. We'll come back to that. 25 and 26, madame clerk. 25 is for school-based youth programs. Consent >> consent.
>> 26 is um for the give and receive summer program for our youth consent as well. >> 27 consent. >> 27. >> 27 will be consent, but we'll have a brief overview. Our police department, they're here. >> Consent. >> 27 is consent. So 27 is a lease
agreement um for uh our another recreation center at 60 Temple. >> Yes. >> Temple Street. This will be on consent. This is all grant funded thanks to our police department led by uh our director OIC and our lieutenant Sharon Een. This is on consent.
Number 28 is the author. We're submitting a grant application >> for 2027. >> 27. Okay. So, 27 are regular council. 27 are regular. Uh, number four,
resolution authorizing the renewal of a contract with Auto Body Auto for auto repairs for our vehicles under 14,000. Consent. Anyone agree or disagree? >> What's the number? >> Number four.
>> Oh, it should be 40. Okay. said 14. >> 14,000. I'm sorry. Under 14,000. Uh, I have a consent. Consent, madame clerk, for number four. Number five. This is an application to P County Open Space for the Patterson East Side Park,
which they've been fighting for fitness area consent. Does anyone disagree? >> Which one is that? That'll go on regular. There has to be >> public hearing. >> Oh, regular. Okay. Number five is regular and there has to be a public hearing um on the June 9th meeting for
that one. >> Number six is a resolution authorizing award of contract to communication specialist under Morris County Cooperative pricing for the maintenance and repair of communications equipment for the city of Patterson. >> Consent. >> Consent. Number six.
9 through 12. Are all of these onregular or does I I think number 10. Number 10 should be consent. I appreciate the council's um put forward a >> resolution to honor our
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Hey, I don't have no problem. This is teamwork. >> Thank you. Uh, can we add the entire council to number nine? And it's on regular. >> Yes. >> Number 10. Sister city. Can we do that
on consent or regular? >> Which one? >> Number 10. >> Number 10. >> Um. Oh, I want to die regular. >> Okay. Number 10 is regular. Number 11. You want you want Miss um Al Algar on regular consent?
>> On regular. Number 11. Councilwoman uh number 10 was what? >> Number 10 is regular. >> Regular. Okay. Thank you. >> And then the appointment of Jason Bruce should be regular >> regular two >> for the housing authority. >> Did we do 11? >> Huh? >> Did we do 11? I'm sorry. I'm >> Yes. 11 is regular.
>> Regular two. Oh, thank you. >> Uh a letter of support. >> President. >> Yes. >> Um our chair of economic development He wanted us to move forward. This was discussed
resolution to support the application of New Jersey. We all know that uh Triangle Village specifically you and I visited you know just just a few weeks ago. We understand the need uh in in the village. We
understand the upgrades that are going to happen and this resolution is specifically for the LLC to be able to move forward and present uh their application. So this would be a resolution letter of support on our behalf. And I think I I I don't think
that there's any council member that would uh disagree that uh Triangle Village needs upgrades and that our citizens and our seniors need to live in better spaces. And so I I I would ask that this item, since it's
just a resolution for a letter of support, that it be put on consent. If there's someone that does not agree, that's different. Uh because we all have to agree for it to move forward. Council President, >> uh, Council Member BZ. >> Um, I agreed 150% with the statement of
my colleague, Councilwoman, Council Vice President Marissa Dava. But I think the for respect of the community and they don't get mislead. I know the company.
>> Oh, yeah. Yeah. they here and I would like to listen to them uh as we always do with everybody that looking for a letter of support and a need of you know improvement or residence or whatever. So later on and we'll be h happy to listen to them.
>> No, >> we can actually >> So So what we'll do is we'll hold it. We'll we'll hold we'll come back to it. We'll come right back to it. Um >> we'll come back to 15. >> And the reason And the reason, Council President, I'm doing it is because
>> No, it's fine. We'll come back to it. It's fine. >> No, but let me finish my statement, please. Um, the reason is to be transparent and to make sure that the community see that whatever they say from that podium, they see it at the project. That's why I
want to put it on the record. >> So, we're up to 23, correct? >> Item 23 to issue the tax bills. >> I'm sorry. Um, um, Council President, my apologies. We said 13 and 14 both are letters of support.
>> 13 and 15. 15 is removed. Is the entity here for >> 14 is removed. So 13 and 15 will come back. Well, 14 was removed. Somebody took it off. Um 22 regular. Well, 22 we'll come back to cuz Bles had
questions. 23 is consent to send the tax bills out. Anybody okay with that? >> Which one? >> 23. >> 23 is just to send the tax bills out for the third quarter. >> Uh we need we need to have a conversation on that. >> Okay. So we'll come back to that. 24 is
the appropriations regular >> regular >> on 28 this is an application for uh for the resurfacing projects under uh the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund regular or consent.
>> Council President. >> Yes. uh on that on that one. I know this is an application to put uh an application to the uh New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund. Um but in the past, the administration used to submit
the list of of the roads that they are planning to do with that money. in the application. I know you put a you put the street and names or whatever to justify that that that grant that funding. So, can I get a list before uh
next Tuesday? >> Yes, the um the director will be here in a few so we can definitely request that Mr. Ba to make sure the list is attached. Okay. So, >> nothing to do with roads. >> It does. >> It It says resurfacing. >> It says resurfacing. No, it says
resurfacing. Okay. >> All right. So, consent or regular? Uh, council members, >> resurfacing regular. >> Regular. >> 28. >> 29. This is a change order for the dispatch center um for the redevelopment
of our new public safety dispatch center. Regular. >> The change order for the uh dispatch center >> not to exceed $10 million. to change order number one. >> It's up to $10 million.
>> No, the change order is for $89,000. >> How much? >> How much is the change order for? >> Well, there's two change orders. The change orders number one and number two. >> It's two. >> Regular. >> It's on regular. >> Regular.
>> No, he'll be here later. He had a um celebration for his daughter. So, we'll put on regular and come back to it when he comes. >> Everybody need to go to the end because this is >> Yep. >> Yes.
>> This is the book that we presented in our committee meeting and we had to put that in and the engineer explained every item in there that was needed. Um and also my son was in here. >> They can't hear you. Council
>> what happened is that when we requested a different item, everything everybody sometimes want everything in writing. So they make sure they put it in writing for us this time. And this is exactly the change order uh for the two change orders that we have. So, um, I'm going
to request too that each council members get a copy of this so you can read through it to see what the change order is. And it's a lot of it's a lot of of work that had to be done that still needs to be done over there. So, thank you, Council President. >> Council President,
>> thank you, Councilman Mendes. >> Thank you, Council President. I I know that even though uh we have the discussion at the committee uh it's important to let the the the resident know that and inform the resident about what the change mean to the residents. So the director will report that that
he's playing to the viewers and to the taxpayer at home. >> Yes. The so just to put it back on the record the director will be here. Um he had a celebration for his daughter. So I told him that we will for questions he will be able to come to the mic. So he will be here shortly. >> Council president. Councilman Veles
>> just to oh I think the the chair DPW was clear enough the two change order will not exceed the bid amount. Okay. So back in 2024
we did approve the contract and the $10 million 92 thou $92,000. Right. So the the change is not going to uh reflect on the change in the original bid. Um the
even that this was discussed in um in the DBW committee, the fire department was the one that came and gave us all the lyric. Um it it will be helpful to have the fire department again if they if if to explain why if
you want to have more details of of the small change order to move forward. But this is vital. We need this to be able to move forward and have a communication room by next year by this time. So we
need to to move forward. Thank you council principal. >> Thank you. Uh, road resurfacing item number 30, resolution authorizing the solicitation of bids for 2026 UEZ road resurfacing program
under uh the department of public works. I know Councilwoman Cotton, your committee met. You want to speak to um >> DPW item 30? >> This is just situation of bids. This is this is just going out for bid um for the list of
items that that are on the on the list for the road. So >> we have to wait until the bids come back in to see what it is. >> And if you look on the resolution, >> okay, >> the roads are for Rale Road, Van Street, Washington Street, Tyler Street, An
Street, >> Godwin Street, and Del on consent. Council President, >> under consent, Councilman Mendes. >> Yes. Uh, council president. >> Councilman Veles. >> I would agree consent as well. >> Yes. Item 30, consent. Councilman.
>> So, so we we talking about number 30, right? >> Yes. >> All right. So, number 30 and looking at the list is a good thing. Uh, the Ryro Rio Avenue from there to animal shelter. That's our property. That's our property
up to the to the animal shelter. I would recommend administration if it's possible and that's this get paved to put a control access to that that street and we could avoid all that dumping that they got in there because we could pave
the road up to the shelter. It's going to be a highway now for dumping. So if we if we could close the road control assets and not have no people going back there. one the river is back there's safety and at the same
time you avoid the dumping that they have in that in that street going to the uh >> animal shelter so just a recommendation moving forward we could avoid the dumping in there >> what was the recommendation council man what did you say out of here what would you say what you said
>> I don't want to repeat what will be >> I know I can't under no because remember we talked about R Avenue in the DP committee meeting that actually it wasn't going to be paved it was just just going to covered for now because my question was, you know, there's some buildings that are going to be um put up
near RA Avenue. That was my question. And actually, they're not paving it as of yet. They just covering it with asphalt. That's it. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Item 31 is a resolution authorizing a fourth contract amendment,
the proposed new communication center for the Division of Public Works. Council Cotton. 31 >> uh 31 >> item 31. >> Yes. >> Actually,
>> see this contract really is for the engineering department. >> This is a part of the architectural design work >> right >> for uh the communication center. This was vetted in the uh committee >> as you know and the uh architectural work is clearly defined. The scope of
work and the timeline is there are seven pages council members. It was sent to your home packages. Um hopefully you looked at them and it talks about uh the specs. It talks about the pricing. It talks about the week the time >> consent councilman.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It could be it could be. Yeah. because you know you have to have the engineer there to um oversee the project. >> Thank you. 31 is statutory agencies. This is for the library uh contract to creative library concepts to purchase
their furniture. >> 32 >> 30 32 I'm sorry. Furniture and accessories under educational service commission bid >> 31 regular counc >> 31 is regular. 32 councilman. >> Uh I don't know if the director's here.
Yeah. Other questions? >> He is not. >> Okay. U Mr. Ba, what you Oh, >> got they got my back. Uh Mr. Ba, um I
understand that we going to be um with a grand upgrade the um >> furniture >> the furniture and accessories from this place. My main concern will be let's I don't know how many years they
have on contract for this place. If it's five, 10, what will happen if they not no longer in this private development site? Are they staying with this 145,000
investment in furniture and equipment? So if we could send well if he's listening to me. So I I just want to know if any chance the contract is due or they don't want people in there or they don't want the library in there. What are we going to do? Are they going to
stay with the investment or we going to bring it to us to put it in some someplace else? I just want to know if that's the case. >> So can we ensure that the director sends that information before Tuesday's voting session? the request that's been made by
>> last but not least uh a month ago we requested theou uh I believe my colleague on my right side here councilman Jackson from the first war requested theou between the developer and the library and we haven't received
it we have not received it so it is possible as a courtesy to this council to once again request it >> and to see if they could send it >> thank you council Council. >> Thank you, Councilman Mendes. >> Thank you, Council President. Just to
add um just for for the before the next meeting, I would like to know how many library we're covering. It's not to exceed 145,750. I would like to know how many libraries. So, we got Broadway if that if the library and Heritage
Place also is included if we allocating some of some of the funding from here to the Heritage Play new uh library. So, I would like to know if if that's you know the total for Hamilton. >> Great point of reference. Uh can you just make sure whether it's included or not that that information is
disseminated to all council members? That would be great. Uh our next item is uh so our director just come in for number 33. This is for public works. Award of contract to Smith Sony Asphalt Construction for 2026 CDBG road
resurfacing program bid not to exceed 920,96150 for the engineering work. So I am going to ask for a request director. Uh your other items are done but if they have questions you're here. Um I don't see
the uh I don't see the addresses >> where oh it's on the last page. Okay. My apologies. >> Yes, I'm here. >> Okay, I see it now. I'm sorry. >> I see it. I see it. Any questions for our
director? >> We discussed it before. There was a a request before we gave it to the BA, but that was your last item. >> Um, Council President, Council Member, >> director's here. Thank you, director. >> Uh, no, no, for everything you do, but
when we could take a look to the engineering department that we have um to see how we could address um River Street Jr. Everybody's going to say West River Street Jr. River Street Jr. for me is
East Railroad all the way down to 21st Avenue. That road is bad. >> I I I call it I put a name now River River Street Jr. Because if you look at the way that road is going to the hospital, that's railroad, right?
>> What was the road? >> It's on the list. >> What list? What list? >> So, director, cuz we all got the list multiple times. Can you send resend the list out to all the council members? East Rail, Railway, A, Governor Street, all that is on the list and being addressed. Please send that list out to the council.
>> Lower Governor Street, that's being addressed. >> Yes, >> that being addressed. But when we go to expect uh to see some some work there, >> I'll send you the um update. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Please send it to everyone so they can see it cuz the dates are up there and it's is always updated. Please send it
out. Uh 33 >> consent item 34. We 33 is regular. >> Regular. >> 33 regular. >> Yes. 34. Uh, we can't do payment of bills until the
special meeting. Remember, she changed it. Payment of bills is not till 8:30. >> Payment of bills is not till 8:30. She changed it. The clerk. We don't do it till 8:30 now till the special meeting. We can't do it in a
non- voting session. Per the clerk. So 34. Our last item on the agenda is for uh bizaar addressing uh New Jersey Peruvians to conduct a festival to conduct the festival. All the
paperwork is here. They applied back in July 2025. >> The packet was submitted July uh 2025. If you look in your uh packet, you'll see it's stamped. It's dated. Everything is in there. All items have been
covered. They have their police and EMTs and fire. um covered in the packet. Um council president. >> Yes. Um council vice president daba. >> So uh just for the audience um this item uh the council does not approve uh
parades. Uh the item went through um the department uh through uh Miss Dela McCall and that application that stamp of 2025 was for the parade. The application was submitted. you will see some signatures that are current as the
police fire they they have to wait to get insurance and other payments. Um and so once that all was solidified completely. Uh in terms of the bizaar is when it was submitted and it went through finance and it is here now. Um,
we uh have been celebrating uh Peruvian heritage for many years. As a proud um Latina, born and raised American Puerto Rican mom and Peruvian father, it always gives me great pleasure to be in support of our
festivities. And so if any council members have any questions, I believe I see the entities uh in the audience. Uh but once again, um this is the complete application. Um they also uh did serve
last year as well and we have police here that can say we had no incidences um to the effect that and DPW is here. Director Billy Rodriguez can also attest to this that even the organization uh although paid thousands of dollars
stayed to make sure that um our memorial drive was clean after the parade. So once again, uh, no issues. Uh, if anyone council president questions, they can move forward. >> Thank you, Councilman Bas.
I see the contracts here. But the contract carry a check with it. Before giving a contract, the person had to surrender a check, a certified check or or the fund pay before >> well with with all everything goes
through licensing. So when any applicant, no matter who the entity or organization is, they have to follow the process through the licensing department down in the first floor, uh they they pick up the application. I love the new process that's in place where it's like one-stop shopping now where all of the
entities are at the table, police, fire, everything that's needed. That way, everyone's on the same page. They process it with our event director, uh, Miss Dela McCall. Everyone is at the table. They give all the information, all the pricing. The applicant is aware of what the pricing are. After they
submit the paperwork with all of their payments and it's cleared, then it's sent to us for approval. >> All of that is that's what I'm talking about. >> And that is nothing against the organization parades or whatever. Hurrah. >> Good. My question is
before the police render contract and fire department render his contract or DPW render his contract in exchange they had to give a certified check to guarantee that the service are pay because in the past there was problem
other organiza other organization that after the parade or they pay be before the parade is over whatever then the service are render And there comes the kangaroo checks. They bounce like hell and then there's a
problem. My question is that before they rendered those contract, there was a check certified and why we don't have a copy of those check render certified check or whatever.
So if you would like >> because because because because because I want to be I want to be fair in my statement. There have been a lot of issue when it comes up to parades and especially this one. I don't want
people thinking that we approving parade. We don't approving parade. We were talking about festivals and the rules was set that any anything that comes in front of us to approve certified checks had to be submitted and
payment completely had to be submitted before even application come here. You say that I I recall I recall what year we at 26 on 24. They say before any identity comes here
to get their parade approved, all matters have to be paid before the parade start. The parade start. And um I just want to make sure >> that they like she say that everything
is pay. So I don't see the copy of the at least certified check on here. >> Okay. So I don't want us mixing apples with oranges. There was a concern with the other entity which I'm not going to go into detail cuz that's not the matter
that's on the agenda. If an entity has um a return check or bounce check as people call it, there are different um different processes that they put in place to ensure that the payment goes through. In this case, we now, as I just stated, we have a new process for any
applicant. It's not one or the other. There's a onestop process for any entity. So anyone out there that's looking to do these processes, you're not going all over the place going here, there, they have one meeting with the police department in the room, the events director in the room, fire
department, everyone is in there and it's very clear what the costs are, the prices are, and all of that is made clear once the entity signs on the dotted line, does their due diligence, it goes through licensing, it clears, it comes to the clerk, and now it's here with us. >> Council President, so I haven't I
haven't I haven't finished. I haven't finished. Let me just finish. Let me just finish. >> Let me finish. Council President, >> I know, but one second. >> Um, and so when when it comes to these entities, and I understand we have concerns and questions in regards to um
what they're looking to do, but I always say just look at the application. Our licensing department, they are very clear in the process. They're very solid in what they do downstairs. And I made a phone call today before the meeting to make sure everything was in proper order
as I do with all of these type of bizaars because I don't want to have issues when it comes here and we don't have the paperwork. So I made that call today and everything is here. Council President, but just quickly as finance chair, I just need to clarify. I still have the floor. Council President, I
wanted to clarify something. One second. I still had the floor. Council President President, this application came before finance. And what we just need for everyone here to understand is that the application council vice president
vice president. One second. He does not finish. So, let him finish. >> That's a line of questioning. You've been here 10 years. Thank you, Council Member. >> Thank you, Council President. Thank you. Once again, Peru, I'm not against no organization
because that's the first thing I want to keep clear in the past because there was issue where another organization there was a rule that they put in place that no one no application was going to
come in front of us unless they didn't give a certified check and the payment a contract was in place >> right now. right now. Why don't sip a question? Did they submit like she said that that
check was already in and the pay service was pay? Why we don't have copies of those checks? So simple. We're not saying that that they wrong or they right. I just saying looking at the process. This is the problem Patterson and this council.
I'm not going to pick and choose fight. I'm going to be fair across the board. across the board >> because they want to rush things and I don't hear for rush things. So if I go to look at an application I have in front of me
>> I I let's say so if I make a statement a fair statement that why we have 80 officer in a parade that starts all the way down in the border of Clifton all the way down to downtown. Okay, and pass that and then a festival. Okay.
Meanwhile, other parades had to pay 150 cops. Okay. Shorter, smaller than this one. So, if if you know can be pick and choose who we going to serve in this case. If you telling me that this was
already vetted through finance and check was submitted and payment was done way before getting here. My simple question was why we don't have copy of the certified check that they submitted.
>> I only have contracts but that don't mean nothing to me. That don't mean nothing. That's a agreement to pay. >> But when they in the back say, "Oh, we need to make sure that any organization
before doing the parade pays before the parade starts. pay before the festival start. So right now I'm going by >> certified checks. >> So right before council vice president, this is not a parade. I want Let me read
it cuz we all have the same thing and I want to make sure and I'm going to put my glasses on. >> Festival festival, >> right? Cuz you're saying parade and it's two different things. We are looking at an item that says resolution under Patterson code chapter 129 bazaars
addressing a license for New Jersey Peruvians to conduct a festival not a parade. So we're you're talking about parades. We're we're voting on a festival. So I don't want the you holding uh entity hostages for the wrong information. Council vice president and then
>> so so let me you know when we talk about being fair. Okay. Um we have had quite some incidences with other entities suing the city, suing the council for quote unquote uh wrongdoing whatever. The city has been found not guilty, not
once but twice. This is not the entity. This is not the situation. This application as council president stated and as the resolution has been drafted is specific to a bizaar. The parade is separate. The city of Patterson approves that. Not the council. This council's
only responsibility is once everything goes to licensing. He's speaking about payment. Payment before Exactly. He is correct to a certain extent, but not payment before approval. Why would they pay the police fire and pay every entity
in DPW and this council voted down? So this entity once it's approved by this council then has to have certified checks before the day of the festival. Police has to be paid. That is the way
it is done. It's being done. I've been here 12 years. Nothing has changed. The only difference now is Councilwoman Cotton and I, I believe it was two years ago, sat down with the different entities and said, "We have to change the way we do business when it comes to
bizaars." It is, it is outrageous that you have to have the entity run from one place to another to another to another. Now, they all sit at a table with the application. uh fire, police, uh DPW, uh
Dela McCall, everyone is sitting at the table looking at every document. It gets signed off and then it's submitted to finance. And in finance, then it comes to workshop. Every council member has the right to ask any question because
that is your right. But let's keep it to this. Let us stop picking and choosing, oh, the the the certified check isn't here. We're not being fair. We're talking about a parade. You know, this is not what this is. This is specific to
the festival. And if this council deems it that this entity should have once again uh the authority to move forward with >> the festival, I am looking forward to it. Thank you very much, >> council. My colleague and then Councilman Mendes. >> Council President
>> and then Jackson. >> Okay. >> Thank you. I'm I'm shocked by the line of questioning. We have same applications, same type of application in in our same agenda. Without asking any question, we
put it on consent. Item number 18, >> yes, >> is a bazar license. Same thing. uh there's I saw another one I think on uh east side park >> when it comes to the Peruvian >> on the special meeting without asking
any question and we start asking uh this entity specifically it doesn't talking about fair being fair across the board also >> the number of police in these festivals
>> is determined by the police departmentally I date festival I met with these people. You don't pay now. You get approved. Then the each entity issue a permit before you pick up
your final permits from DPW, from police department, all the other people. That's when you pay. >> Mhm. >> That's when you make your payment. When you pick up your permit, this this is not a permit. This is just we giving
permission for this DPW and the and the licensing department to issue the permit. So before the entity pick up the permits >> the pay council >> is a is a simple process. I don't even know why we
>> I'll say wasting time on this. >> Councilman Mendes and Council >> Thank you. Thank you. I mean, it's it's very important to let the community know that we never determine the amount of police officers that need to be used on any any entity. It's very important that the city of Patterson and the resident
understand that this council doesn't have the power to determine whether they need five, 10 or 100. That's not the police department is responsible and they're in charge of that. We have nothing to do with that. The the question that I have uh for this item,
this is a new entity that or or new members on this entity or it was the same entity that holds this festival last year. >> You're saying the people that are on the application? >> On the application, the organization, it's the same or it's a new or it's a new entity. >> It's the same.
>> Okay. So, if >> the application is in your packet, it is from last year. I went over I went over and I see the same name as last year. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> So the only thing that I need to know if that if there's any pending bill from last year
>> bill >> that's the only thing that I need to know. I need confirmation of that. I need to make sure that everything was paid off and um and that I will be satisfied with that for the next meeting. So I need to I need to have that in writing before the next before the voting section next Tuesday. Thank you, Council President.
>> Thank you. That's a great question. CFO, can you make sure you have that? That is one of the questions that happens at that table with all those people. But please send that in writing to all the council members question. >> He asked was their bill paid in full last year. Councilman Jackson.
>> So if the process is followed and the bill is paid prior to services being rendered, then why would a bill >> be lingering from last year? >> There's so many acid nine backwards
things that take place here. So, first of all, I don't see any issue with the with the line of questioning. He he asked a fair question >> and he was he was berated and beat over the head for asking a question.
Councilman uh uh Khik stepped out, but I do recall that f the the uh bizaar festival that they do at uh Toto Ovo or Westside Park, they were made to pay before they was approved. I don't know what you're talking about that this is a process. No, that woman was definitely
forced to pay >> prior. I'm going to reach out to her to confirm >> because the selective enforcement around here is is is is alive and well. Um further uh council president, you neglected to
say anything to Councilwoman Dava who stood here for just about three minutes talking over uh uh uh somebody else speaking it. I mean, it the the selective process is very concerning and and and I want to make sure that I um
emphasize this because a lot of us sit here, we don't even understand our our authority, our roles. The fact that the council has no power, no authority. Anybody that says that shouldn't even be sitting here. If we disapprove this application, where's the power not lying
in that? if we not have uh scrutiny to make sure that the administration is rendering services fair and and equitably where some entities are required to get 150 police officers and some are only required to get 80. Now, I don't have anything I don't even know about this and I could care less about
the approvals on this, but the the fact that the council that a council person would say we don't have any input on how many police officers are being being selected. You just can't randomly choose a number. There has to be based upon some type of data, whether it's crowd uh
uh sizing and and and things of that nature, which the council definitely has the ability to scrutinize. We definitely have the ability to say no, this not being done fairly. As I recall, Councilman McCoy in his event that he puts on annually, he was forced to get a
whole lot more officers than other entities that is doing the same thing. So, the fact that this is not a this is a fair and equitable process and then people getting so upset when you ask a simple question. What is what are we upset about? You ask the question, it's a legitimate question that's simply
saying, where's the check? I definitely recall sitting here some entities being required to pay in advance. In fact, I I don't know which is which one it was, but I do remember might have been African Heritage because
they were trying to get hold of uh Miss Fiser and she was then they they had a date that was set prior to and and all of a sudden the date was snatched from from them because they said it wasn't paid in advance. So to to to to outline that this is a fair and equitable
process is nonsense. I mean every entity is entitled obviously to come and and and participate, but the question is fair and valid. Now on on another note, council president, I definitely am going to need to speak to the director while he's still here. I know he's trying to
get out of here. um for item number 29. I I don't understand how we have a $10 million uh initial contract and the work that I've seen that's been done. Oh, just on time. A matter of fact, just a little bit too late. Got to
we got to rehash this whole thing because Councilman McCoy's pro project uh uh event was treated much differently. But anyway, how do we have a $10 million project that has change orders that that's I mean are they
excessive? Not necessarily. 600,000 from $10 million is not a great deal. But how do we have change orders without 90% of the work being done or validating
where and why these change orders are are being necessary. I don't all I see is amounts and we we we're being requested to pay another $7,500 >> another council $50,000. Can we bring them back to that item? Cuz that's item
29 and we're currently >> I know you guys put that on on on consent but no that that definitely >> No, it's on regular. It's not on consent. It's on regular >> discussion on that otherwise. >> Item 34 regular or consent. Council members. >> Item 34 for the bazaar.
>> Regular. >> Regular. Item 34 madame clerk is regular. Uh items 22 uh BA or CFO item number 22 resolution to
approve a corrective action plan in response to it was regular but um Councilman Veles had some questions. So Councilman, item 22, you had some questions. >> Uh which one is that again? >> Item 22. >> 22. Yeah, I think I had a question.
>> It's on regular but you got questions. >> Yes. Um I wouldn't ask because probably they go rebuttal before this but um uh through the chair um on 22 and 23 I had a question too right.
Um one of them is that the corrective action plan and and and I needed an explanation on that. You could send it in writing why we are taking action on a correction plan from 2023
when we in 2026. Right? That's one. And why is the delay of it? Um to take us back instead of moving forward. Right. And the second the
second question I have was for the next question I have was for 23. >> We'll go to that next. Let's do 22 first. Um CFO, can you answer the question? We're on 22. >> So for Councilman for item 22, um I believe this came in front of the
council maybe in September last year. Um the corrective action plan wasn't sufficient enough for the council. Um so I reworked it and it's I'm putting in front of the council again. >> Oh, so so you reword?
>> Uh yeah, I changed all the answers. Correct. >> But rewarding the the action plan. >> Yeah. >> But in actual plan, if it's working, if it's corrected, you know, we need to go over uh the
action plan on 23 and three. Basically, I I think if I go read it, it will probably go back to 24 and 25 and we still in the same circle of correcting things in the city and no
action is being taken. >> No, it would be correct at 425. So 25 it has been corrected. >> Okay. So any violation through the state if we didn't do this? >> No sir. >> No. >> No >> at all.
Okay. >> So, this item is already on regular. You have questions on 23. Council member, >> yes. Uh the the uh tax >> the this item is res resolution to authorize the issuance of estimated tax
bills for the third quarter of calendar year. So, this item is just to send tax bills out to the res. >> Uh tax bill based on what tax rate we going to send this tax bill? >> 2%. >> 2%. >> Correct. We're not going to see no kind of increment in the tax.
>> It's going to be a 2%. >> Let me let me rephrase this question. In this third quarter, it's going to be reflecting the reval. >> Yes. >> Wow. >> So those individual that received that
reval that was paying probably $10,000 in in taxing and it went up to 20, they go to see their bill there now. Yes. >> Wow. >> Well, you know, we got an expert in realtor here
>> that um knows what I'm talking about. But >> well, who's the expert really the expert? >> Everybody was in campaign season. Everybody was saying that the reval was killing everybody. Everybody was going to live or move from Patterson because the reval is killing the taxpayers. So
my my question was if the taxpayer of Patteradisonson is going to see the increment of their taxes based on the reval not based on the 2% on the reval. >> Yes. >> Okay. Wow.
>> Councilman Mendes. >> Council President. >> Go ahead. >> Uh Mr. CFO. So um >> Councilman Odin. >> Uh thank you. Thank Council President. Um Mr. CFO. So we talking about the the recent reassessment
that uh the value came what's the what's the uh so I'm I'm talking about last year we had 5 some percentage changes right that was the rate >> 56 >> 5.6% Correct. >> And what's the current one that we are
sending right now? >> 2%. >> Um, it's 2.3% I believe because of the reval the the tax rate changes. >> Is it 2.3%? >> I believe it's 2.3. 2.33. >> Before the meeting ends, can you confirm
the percentage uh the exact number? >> Yeah, >> because we have to confirm before we approve it. Um I know this is one of my last meetings could be you know one more meeting left but still my commitment to the people is the same. We still need to
continue fighting for homeowners. We cannot give up. Uh so especially for this kind of items we need to know the exact number how people are getting affected by uh so if you can confirm the number what's going to be the >> so it won't be an exact rate councilman
because um this is an estimate county open space and school they're not exact yet right >> that's just an estimate >> right >> for municipal it's 2% higher than last year right >> so that's um from 174 million to 177 million but the others are estimates so
that rate is going to change. >> What what's the estimate for school district? >> I believe >> 4% >> and they went up four%. >> 4%. >> Before you say I believe, can we have confirmation confirm number four% before the meeting ends? Mr. CFO,
>> I don't have their final numbers though. So again, I these bills these bills are based on last year's numbers for the county school and open space. >> County was pretty consistent on their taxes last five years. I I believe they did not raise their taxes uh if I'm not
wrong, but can we have that information before the regular meeting actually? >> Um >> sure, >> please. Thank you. >> So, let me just put it on Let me just put this on Yes, Councilman Mendes and Councilman Jack. Let me just put this on the record. I'm I'm asking our co my
council colleagues, please read your documents. On the first page, it is clearly outlined the percentage of each entity, county, school. It is clearly outlined with the dollar amount. Please look at the item here. Uh, Mr. CFO, you if you would like to send it out again,
but I want our council colleagues to just look at the documents like it's right there. It's very clear and black and white. Councilman Mendes and then Councilman Jackson. >> Uh, thank you, Council President. Um, you know, due to this reval, uh, we have a record and number of appeal.
Personally, my office, I I help close to 400 homeowners appeal the taxes due to the reval. There's going to be a huge impact on our homeowners. But my my concern is this. When it comes to the budget, we all remember that we switch from calendar year to fiscal year to be
able to get a a a budget adopter at an early age, at the early stage of the year, and now wait until the lasting. And we're going through the same situation. We're in June now and I have not see us going through the budget hearing through what are we doing now Mr. CFO that my concern is that every
year we wait until the last inning and at the end there's no other choice we have no other place to reduce the budget and our homeowners our taxpayer they want they are the one that get they getting the hit every year because we wait until the last inning to adopt the budget. So, how we going to switch that?
And I understand that we're waiting for the transitioning uh dollar amount from the state. But now, we don't have to wait really to that to see to get a document that reflect the budget that we're looking uh forward to approve um to provide services in our community. I truly believe that we've done so. How we
going to do to avoid that and and start with a budget hearing? At the last um budget that we approved, we didn't have the opportunity to sit down with any director. I want to talk to director of public work. I want to hear from him. What are we planning to do? What is the plan to improve the service in our
community with the dollar amount that we're going to allocate from public work and all the different department connect economic development? Because if we want to hold those uh director accountable in the administration, we need to have a conversation and that never happened in the last budget. So I'm I'm hoping to
have that conversation with the budget hearing on this that this time around. So what can we do and what we're planning to do to have this budget in front of us? >> Thank you. So you want me to respond or you going to respond? So I I'll start the response and then um to our BA. So
in in times past we would have conversations which we still will have where all the department heads will come before us. Our madam chair of finance will lead that that conversation in relation to their needs, their best wish lists from their per particular departments. But what has happened in
the past, we would do an introduced budget and start at a high rate and then we get the transitional um aid letter and then we drop go from 5.6 and drop to 3.2 knowing that we really don't want to tax the to pay to tax the burden uh do a b a high burden on the taxpayers of over
2%. So I think it's more prudent because they they confirm and they approved their budget in June that we start this process in July um and uh beginning of August I think is more prudent and have the directors come department heads through the BA the CFO uh to have those
conversations and they present what they want. That way we have a true transitional aid award letter versus trying to assume or try to guess what those numbers look like. I think is is u more prudent for us and more it gives us more um leverage to understand and know
what the real numbers are versus guessing numbers and having the community especially the small taxpayer base that we have have them very upset about it. So just trying to do one one second cuz council Jackson was first but just trying to do some things more efficiently um as it relates to us
working in tandem with our state uh representatives BA CFO as well as our council colleagues. So, those hearings will happen. Um, Councilman Mendes, it's not that they won't, they will. But I I think it's more prudent for us to have meetings with true numbers versus
guessing numbers and having the community in an uproar because they think we're going to do a 10% tax increase. Councilman Jackson, >> we'll let him finish his question. Council, >> I understand. >> Sure. I understand council president but if you if you look at this we already approved from Jan we have temporary
appropriation from January through March 84 million from April to May 93 million 93.3 and now from June to July we have we adding 55 million so in total we have $232,552 already from the budget that we already
expanded so we cannot wait until the last inning to say okay this is the real number we're not going to have real number because we spend all the So we're not going to have time to make them any place because the money it's already gone. So I truly believe that that conversation need to have it need to
happen early in the year and the fiscal year because that was the reason why we say no we're not going to use calendar year we're going to use fiscal year now. So let's have the conversation early that way we could plan could put the right plan to protect our taxpayer. So
that's that's my that's my take on this. >> Thank you Mr. Ba. Thank you, Council President. Just a few comments. Um um the the temporary emergency appropriation just for the public, any municipality in the state of New Jersey that operates on a calendar
budget has at least one temporary uh appropriation like here. At least one if not several. Okay. Um those that are not in the TA program are fortunate that they can adopt a budget by March or April. I wish we were in a fiscal year because the situation we're in is very
complicated. And I'll explain. The governor put out her budget did her budget address in March and indicated that transitional aid communities, the funding was going up 96 million and that Jersey City was not part of that. It's a very encouraging sign for us because we were we had a big ask and there's only
so many towns in that group. So that's good evidence, good anecdotal evidence that we're going to get a very nice number. I meet with the DCA every single week and I keep stressing the question that the longer we do not have our TA number, the more difficult it becomes for us because if and when that number
comes in and it's, you know, lower than we hope for, we're now half half through half of the budget has passed us and we need to find $2 to save $1. So I I repeat this ad nauseium. this when the governor gave her budget address just to
as a comparison the next day the state aid for school districts comes out and they take that number and they plug it into their budget and they have a fiscal year. So their budget starts July July 1 of this summer into next June. So our
board of ed got their numbers and they could do their thing. Meanwhile, we're on a more aggressive schedule because we're in calendar year yet we're waiting for this number. Now in previous years when the city was getting 29 million in
TA and the request was 31 or 32 you could introduce because that difference of two or three in the grand scheme of 300 plus million is workable. Um as we all know I'm not going to rehash our ask is much bigger this year. >> How much? Um, our ask is $78 million.
And and and to explain to the public, 24 million of that out of that 40 plus million that we're asking for, 24 million is health insurance. To this credit to the C credit of the council, the council tried to leave this state benefits program last year, but
the DCA had an issue with it and and it it didn't happen last year. We're working we're working with our insurance broker um to to to try to attempt that next year. We have a 1 in and 10year 25th payroll or 27th >> 27th
>> 27th payroll. Every 10 years based on how the payroll schedule works out we have to come up with another uh round of payroll. That's $6 million insurance garbage etc. We're at 35 million just from those numbers. So I think that's important context. So, could the council
introduce a budget? In theory, yes. But what TA number are we picking? If you pick the 78 number and you introduce a budget and then a month later we get news that it's 68, you have to come back and do this whole thing over again and find 10 million in
cuts or changes. That's very um that's very there's very problematic for a lot of reasons. If you go the other way and are very conservative and assume we're only going to get 55, then to balance your budget, you're going to kind of have to come in high with taxes and do
other things. And then a month later, you could get, hey, Patterson, you're getting 70 and then we have to come back here and do it again. So, so we are in a complicated situation. Um, I I I said this when we did the TAN. The tan is another re we if we were in a fiscal
year we wouldn't need a tan because we have all this money that comes in but it comes in in the summer. We have over 30 million in energy receipts that every municipality gets some portion NTA that comes in in the third quarter of our budget year. So um um I I just to finish
my statements I will say we've internally had over 10 hours of budget meetings with our respective departments. The the budget law requires us to have budget hearings. So, we will do that. Um, and again, I I continue to insist to the DCA that the longer we do
not have our number, the the greater um the rate the greater harm there is to our residents and employees. Thank you, Council President. >> Very good. Whatever, Council President. >> Thank you, Councilman Jackson. >> So, first of all, Mr. Ba, let me correct you. The council doesn't introduce a
budget. It is the administration's responsibility to to introduce a responsible budget, which you guys have failed to do. But you continue to point the finger and place the blame and the onus on the council. >> Yes, I will agree there's many council
members here that are equally as guilty. In fact, they need to wear the wear the uh the belt because while Councilman Mendes is talking about all this nonsense about turning over into a a fiscal year over the the uh a calendar
year, he supported that. In fact, the the the the process of eliminating budget hearings happened while he was the council president. >> And how was he voting then? in the affirmative, everything he supported, he was a yes, he was an automatic yes vote,
as the mayor put it. He carried his pom poms, which, you know, was stolen from me. But anyway, $78 million. I have been on this council for more than a decade. I have never never insulted the public of such.
>> Absolutely. If you if you take the 78 million and subtract the 24 that he claimed, oh, by the way, it's health insurance, which by the way, they voted in affirmative cuz Mar Chiron told us this was going to be a train wreck. They all supported that nonsense to go from
self-insured to the state insured plan and we getting our asses kicked on it now. But if you subtract the 78, the 24 from the from the 78, you're still asking for $54 million, which is more than double of which we ever ever
uh uh requested. Now, look, no, let's not talk the the the the money we borrowed. Let's not talk about the the the uh uh $80 million in CAR's Act dollars that we still have not had a
report on. Let's not talk about the the 30 $40 million of uh uh PRC money that here we are approving a $10 million uh outfitting of the of the uh uh the business incubator, man. Let let alone the $15,000 check for
one employee to come in here and do the guy's job because he's incompetent. he can't get his job done. And this is showing right now to the public how we going to there's no way. No way. So the governor said we're going to increase the state TA to 90 million. So we're
optimistic. Of four other municipalities, we're expecting to get 78 of $90 million. Yeah. How much of a joke is that? It's an insult to come here and talk and pontificate to tell the public that, oh, we're we we're very optimistic. Are you
kidding me? Now, this whole thing, this uh this plan, where where is the the presentation, Mr. Ba, on on the uh uh the outline requirements? It's from 23. We had we've we've had a failing grade every single
year over the last 5 years since you guys have been in place. So, okay. So, he rewarded this. Where is the presentation based upon the changes that were made, the impact that they've made on the community, and how we are now
moving into a space not to receive a a failing grade? Hold that answer because I got more. Where's the presentation or the assessment, Mr. CFO, based on the
new uh assessed values of the impact of taxpayers? We would normally do a do a a presentation based on if your household if your house is valued at this much, here's the projected tax rate, this is what the taxes will be because quite
frankly without an increase at all, I haven't I haven't met one one homeowner yet, not one, that have said because their assessment that they've seen a reduction in their taxes or they're projected to see a reduction in their
taxes. So without even raising the 2%. Th just just by way of the assessment alone, we're going to have an increase in revenue that the taxpayers are going to be burdened to pay. Where's the where's the uh projection on that? Why
are you shaking your head? Well, if taxpayers assessment have gone up triple, if they've more than doubled and tripled in their assessments, how do you estimate a taxpayer not being not paying more money? Every single taxpayer I have that's calling me is like, wait a
minute, I'm not going to be able to afford my house. So, how are you going to shake your head saying no that we're going to bring bring be bringing in the same amount of money that we were last year with new ratables
and new um uh uh assessed values. If a house was assessed at $100,000 and is now being assessed at $500,000, I don't care what you put the tax rate at, there's going to be an increase in taxes. >> That's right. >> To that particular homeowner. And what
we failed to do was been incredibly irresponsible because this where the council has dropped the ball. We haven't even forced them to do a presentation on impact. What's going to be the impact to the to the local resident to the homeowner that owns a two family house? I mean, listen,
I thought Kathleen Long was a travesty for the city. But at least at the very least, she would put together impact uh uh presentations when we changed the uh sewer rate. If a if a homeowner that had this size house, if they they if they had four uh units, if they were using
this much, there was an impact study and it was presented to the council based upon that. So, we can make a a a uh not that this council makes very well mannered, educated decisions anyway. We just simply vote yes. We can't even make
a decision on on whether or not we should approve your temporary appro appropriation or not because you guys aren't aren't bringing forthcoming with the with the information. You haven't given a report a full report on on all the spending. And here we are just being
asked to vote yes on on situations that you're failing to do presentations on. Then you you have the audacity to come here and say, "Oh, yeah, no, we we've repaired it." And then when the next one comes out, we're going to be get another failing grade as well, which you did the year before and the year before. Every
single year, this has been a failing grade by the state. So now you're you're you're suggesting that we should believe that this year we're going to be in good standing. We're going to be able to all of the expectations are met and we should and our taxpayers don't shouldn't
be expected to be burdened so heavily that they're going to lose their home. Is that what you're Is that what you're you're you're suggesting that I just believe that the governor we're just going to get a a golden egg delivered to us is $78 million and we we should be golden. We should be good. Is that what
we're Is that what we're suggesting, >> Councilman? I I you you you went in eight different directions, so I don't know which one you want me to address. >> Um but but >> address the ones that you think is favorable to you. I I'll address I'll councilman I could do this for an hour. I could address every single one one by
one if you'd like to do that. >> Sure. Go ahead. >> So corrective action plan. Now I was not here in 2023 but one audit one comment on an audit triggers a corrective action plan whether you're Patterson upper Saddle River Edison or Newark. Okay. Now clearly there are a lot of comments.
That's not news to anybody in the audience or on the council that there are things that had to get better in 23. Some of which that have been resolved by now and some haven't. But that is the legal process. An audit comes back. There's comments. It's not the state that audits it. It's the council that appoints the auditor. And that auditor
submits that report and based on his comments, which that presentation had to have happened before the council because that's a legal requirement. The the finance department has to do a corrective action plan. So it's it's it's there before you. It's listed on the agenda for discussion purposes. So
we're here and and and that discussion uh is happening. Um again the the the transitional aid is that those are the numbers. We're a city that has a structural deficit and we've hit a very difficult year with with with increases
that no one person or one body can control. you know, so in my speaking about that number, um, you know, that's all the data we have and and, um, and I I'd rather be optimistic about it than report to the council that the total TA
number for all the towns is going up only 20 million because that would be very very a very dark moment for us waiting and waiting and for our employees. So, um, where I can speak with some optimism on this subject, I will because people's lives are
impacted, both our employees and our taxpayers. So, to the extent that I can give some insight to it, I will. But that's as far as I'm willing to go. >> That's part of the reason why the code requires that those who are making these kinds of decisions become our bonafide
residents because, yeah, you're right. People's lives are at risk, but yours isn't. You don't live here. You don't have a you don't have a dog in this fight. You don't have a there's no detriment to you one way or another. Is there do you have a number with the other municipalities that were on that
are on TA? What what what have their have their requests gone up six times the amount of what they what we what they've been getting in the past? >> I I don't have access to their TA requests. >> What do you mean? It's a public it's public information. >> Well, I I I didn't take the work to
Oprah other towns TA request. That's of no uh value to me as the be. >> So So I I mean maybe it's just me. Maybe it's me. If it's announced that the governor is just say, "Oh, you know what? We we got great news. We're going to we're going to make accessible $90
million." And I know that my request was more than a third of that. Would I not look and at least inquire like, "Wait a minute. What? Maybe I get lucky. Maybe the other ones only need five million. Maybe they're responsible in their
spending. So, I wouldn't look to see what the other ones are because if 90 million is being announced, I would agree that's that's great news. But not if other communities need $20 million each and there's three or four of them cuz that's 60 million. Even if they get a reduction to 10, it's still $30
million. Guess what? 78 and 90, there's no 30 left in that. So, I'm trying to figure out like how are we are we just like wishing hoping we just grabbing for straws? You didn't even check to see what the other municipalities requests
were. >> Councilman, you you started by questioning my optimism for the governor announcing 96 million going. I'm questioning your being responsive. >> You question my optimism for it and now you're saying why haven't I done the due diligence to find out what everyone asked for?
>> Because you're getting paid to do it. Those two I'm getting you're getting paid to do it >> to research what other towns are asking for from the state of New Jersey >> to make sure that the residents in the city of Patterson aren't hammered when it comes to the budget process and the overspending >> which by the way you're the signing
authority on >> which by the way you're failing the community quite clearly >> 70 $78 million request and you can't tell us you said $24 million of that is health insurance so it's not like we paid zero in health insurance before. So
the increase in that is what? Maybe let's say if it's 75%. >> $24 million of that maybe. Well, how much was how much we were wealth? One sec, Mr. Ba. Mr. Ba. One second. >> No, I'm talking about in health insurance. >> One second. >> You said it was $24 million alone in
health insurance. >> Increase $24 million increase. >> Increase. >> Increase. Yes. >> Increase. >> Mr. Ba, I just want to I want to bring >> Council President, first of all, I'm not done. Why are you Why are you interjecting when I have the Councilman Jackson speaking over here? Because you
were speaking and he was inter he was interrupting. So I was trying to bring order to that. You were speaking and I was trying to get you to finish to bring it. What your discussion is not on the agenda. We're not talking about the budget. You're off the one who brought it up.
>> But that's so I'm trying this item this item and the failure of this council's responsibility. your colleague next to you brought up the budget in which he talked about how we irresponsibly or we need to change over. Now you got a BA telling us it's dis
it's a disadvantage or is it will be more advantageous to us to switch back to a to a a a fiscal year when we were on the fiscal year before when this guy who's sitting in CFO position is the one who put us in this calendar year to begin with. So when are we going to
acknowledge failures? When is the council going to exercise this authority that he claimed we don't have and fire somebody over here? >> This is what going on Patterson. This is what we got here. >> While we got while we have contract amounts that's coming forward for $10
million with no scrutiny. We didn't do any presentation. He said the law >> he said the law requires budget hearings of which we acknowledge that we didn't even do a budget hearing. We will be >> so so we just disregard the law when it comes to things like that, right?
>> Council, let me go back to being quiet. Let me >> Okay, council member, just put it on record. Once again, we will be doing budget hearings. So, >> but we did not do the budget hearing which has us in this position. We're now do budget hearings. >> We should not have done them yet.
Council member. >> Yeah. >> Council. So the original question was to CFO if the taxpayer will receive an increase in the taxes based on the reval. You don't know he question. He said yes.
>> Hold on. >> He stated yes. >> Right. >> So the 2% that he's talking about that we praise that we didn't raise taxes more than 2%. So if your property was
assessed before the reval $250,000 municipal taxes with $5,000 if let's make believe your taxes your value or your property went to $450. That's what happening from $250 to $450,000.
So, your new tax will be for your property uh at $5,000 uh sorry from 250 to $450 will be $9,000 only in municipal taxes. That 2% that they talking about if it's assessed that we allowed
residents receive a property a reval from 350 to $750,000 new assessment. Okay. only in municipal taxes that 2% that beautiful 2% the CFO
say that we keep it and the and and the council say we keep it 2% is only going to be municipal tax is only $15,000 on municipal council >> now council council >> now quickly hold one second that's the 2% that's 2%
>> point of order >> on the municipal >> portion of order >> hold on >> there's a point of order on the floor >> if I'm wrong You corrected >> right. Well, >> so hold on. The 2% you talking >> the point of order is called council member le. At that point you have to
stop talking so the point of order can be addressed. I called it first. The reason why I'm calling a point of order cuz once again that is not on the agenda. The information you're giving out is incorrect. It is misinformation to the community. And I'm going to request that the BA sends the correct
information to all council members to give a clear explanation. But that is not correct. We are not discussing that. Councilman uh VeZ, I get it that you have questions reassessing before you go to interrupt me. >> Well, I basically
second council. >> I'm not talking about this quarter. >> Point of order. >> I'm talking there were two points of order. I called one two% entire year. >> Council member Le, you have to allow the point of orders to be addressed. >> Okay. Go ahead. Address. Point of order.
>> Councilman Jackson. >> Council President, you're absolutely incorrect. First of all, we're not in voting session. We're not addressing an item. We're not we're not discussing an item in discussion of which a councilman has the the privilege, the right to have
a an open-ended discussion on any matter that he he so fits. We can't truncate what the council person wants to speak about because it doesn't fit into your criteria. We're not on we're not in the voting session. We're not on the item. There is no item that is being
discussed. We're having a broad discussion based on this this matter that has that directly pertains to the budget and these failures that we that the council failed to address definitely impacts the taxpayers. Now outside of
the point of order, I would like to point out C just to because Councilman VeZ is absolutely correct, but you have to take into account that the rate must adjust on a on a broad spectrum. So if everyone's uh uh uh evaluation went up,
>> yeah, >> the rate gets adjusted. So even though they're asking for a 2% increase, there's a possibility that 2% increase may be lower because of the overall rate that's being that's being adjusted, but it still does not excuse the administration for not doing a
presentation based upon first. Anyway, it went outside the scope of the point of order. So >> So back to council me, >> the numbers that I'm giving you is if the the 2% rate will be the the whole entire year. That's why you paying 2%.
Let's make believe it's 2% the whole entire year. The municipal rate 2%. Council council president said that the resolution >> has the rate of the county and etc. But
I'm not seeing the rate. I'm just seeing the appropriation that they having. What? Based based on what? Based on what rate? We don't know. >> We got 4% for we got four. >> Yeah. Go ahead, >> Council President.
>> Listen, I learned something. When I do a pause or I finish or I finish totally, then you could interrupt. Go ahead. >> Okay. So, when when I look at the at the percent yearly 2%, they want to keep it in the
whole entire budget 2%. at the county at the school district at open space is going to be more than 2% in one bill. >> Y >> in one bill. So whoever's telling me I'm wrong, I'm looking at the whole picture.
Okay. So in other words, if your property is assessed $450,000. So you and a year that 2% the whole entire year your your tax is going to be $18,000 only in municipal portion of it
only municipal without adding the county the school taxes etc etc. What I'm trying to say is that that bill is going to reflect not the 19,000 >> in that quarter is going to represent an increase because based on the increment
of the reval that they did. Simple as that. I know you got confused between the 19, the 18. I'm talking of the whole entire year. But in the quarter, we'll be a little bit more. Not 19, but a little bit more while you was paying Council Mendes. Council Cotton and then
then Councilman um Khali. Councilman Mendes. >> Council President. Okay. >> Council Mendes. >> Thank you, Council President. Thank you. I I think that council president I and we we have a very well I have a very sensitive discussion with a lot of people during the reval because the letter that uh the resident or home
owners receive it was uh showing only the municipal portion which is 2.23. >> Yes. >> So and and if the reval if your reval went from 200,000 to 650 you're going to get the 650 you and and and you're going
to multiply that by the 22 2.23. But now on this legislation on item 23 we have open space $1.3 million county $61 million school 80.5 million library 4.8
and a municipal 177. So now we need to add all those open space counting school and library to the 2.23. Yes, you're going to be hit with a huge tax increase. Yes. And we say this during the election time, but it's not election time, but you're gonna get hit. Over
14,000 property were assessed without people going inside a property. What they did in Pisu was a drive by uh uh uh it was a drive by um uh appraisal. It it's just unacceptable. It was horrible. It was unacceptable. We have a very
extensive discussion. They never took action on. So now people are going to get hit really hard. That's the reason why we have over 200 people appealing their taxes. Now, that's the number that we're going to have and and and and that's that's a fact. Now, you know, and and Mr. VA, you're totally correct when
you mentioned that most of the municipality have uh they have one and two temporary appropriation. The problem that I have here in Patterson is that we have four and five and we still don't have the number together. We got to be
we have to be honest with ourselves. I understand that you might don't have you don't have control of what happened in the past, but my recommendation is that we need to sit down because I live in the city. My tax went out $5,000 with the reval 5,000 not including open space
and school and library 5,000. So, and and I help over 400 people appealing their taxes. And and so what happened here is now what we going to do to stop this? Uh if you look at it all the municipality the state help you with
transition aid to help you balance the budget but the the responsible way of running the city is that you depend less and less on transition a that you go and reduce the number. If if the state gave you 25 this year next year you should ask for 20 or 18 because you be more
responsible. Now in the city of Patterson as far as I remember we went from 22 to 25 from 25 to 37. from 37 to 32 and last year we got 35 and now we asking for 78 million. It doesn't make
sense. Now whoever is looking at the state level, they're going to say what's wrong with Patterson because we start with 22 million and every year we asking for more. Last year the state gave us $33 million and then we asked for two.
They've been really good with us and we asked for two in addition. They gave it to us. They gave us 35 million and now we asking for 78. What's going to happen if the state come back and say no, I'm not giving you 78. What's going to happen with us? That's the reason why I've been insisting on the budget
hearing. As council president, you you don't have the authority to put the budget hearing together. That's administration and the last BA say we don't need budget hearing. The number are going to stay the same and there's not going to be no change. But I recommending Mr. VA.
There was no budget hearing at the la the last year there was no budget hearing. We didn't met with no directors. But listen Mr. Mr. VA all I'm asking all I'm asking is that let's put those budget hearing together. Let's have that conversation because we all listen I live in the city. I pay taxes
in multiple property here. I have a skin in the game here like every other people that live in the city of Paris. So all I'm asking is listen we got to be serious about this because this not this is not politic. We playing with people's life here. When that tax bill hit those
homeowners, people that live on a fixed income and they don't have the money to pay the taxes, what's going to happen? We're gonna have more lean in those property and you're going to have those people that they do business in Patterson purchasing those lean and you're going to have more and more people losing their property. So that's
the conversation that I'm asking the administration to have. I'm not here I'm not here I'm not here to fight. I'm just going to ask listen, can we do this? Can we get it done? >> We will. Thank you. We will. Councilman um Cotton, then Councilman Khaled. >> Thank you. Um Council President, I just
want to say to um Javier because he did he did have it broken down um uh with open space in county and schools and municipalities and the library. Um, and Javier, it would really help out if you would say like what was it last year for
the county and what what would it be this year for the county? So they can see the percentage because when you look at the municipal if you look at the school tax, our school budget is 800 million. >> 800 million.
>> The city of Patterson contributes 80 million. We 80 million would only cover two schools for us. That's East Side and Kennedy. That's all they covered. So, we actually wouldn't even have any schools because we couldn't pay for anything.
Um, and I know that um the health benefits um um increased. Now, I know that we're not going to get no 78 million. So, now I think and all the departments already, Councilman Mendez, they're already working thin as it is. I
know they are. They're thin now. They I mean you can't ask them to cut more than what has to be cut. But if Javier now let me just let me just put it out there and I happen to be sitting here when we had city employees you know when you're
talking about health benefits jumped 24 million. I think that the state could have came in and helped us um with you know with increasing the I mean like helping us pay the medical because I mean I got a letter last year from the insurance my insurance company of my
homeowners went up 29%. And I requested to the commissioners of banking and insurance please don't grant them a 29% increase. They'll, you know, because anytime an insurance company or anything wants an increase, they got to
go before that board. Now, they look at all the items and they'll say, and then, you know, they still they still increase it. My auto insurance went up 26%. But the the thing is I know we're not getting 78 million but
we had to borrow I think four or five years ago we had to bond money for and city employees that insurance bills was hitting a million dollars. How do I tell your family I'm not going to pay your I'm not
you're going to go to the hospital but they're not going to see you because the city of Patterson didn't pay their bill. H how you how you think your family is going to feel when when you got to go to the hospital, you got to go to the doctor and oh, we can't see you cuz your
bill wasn't paid by the city. Or how do you feel when when we got to contribute more to the pension and they say, "Oh, you know, you're not getting your check. You know, everybody get a pension check either first Wednesday, third Wednesday, fifth, I don't know. Oh, no. You know,
the city didn't contribute." But Javier, it would really help us to know what was it the year before when you look at because everything went up. The county went up, the school district went up and you're talking about 177
million. You had 24 million increase for medical. Where's our medical hidden? 50 million. Like that's I don't know how we to me I think the state probably could have put a break on
the insurance and banking and industry to say you know we can't allow you can't allow increases like that um uh for medical even if they go back to um we was private we was um self-insured and then we went to the Blue Cross and
Blue Shield uh and we went back to the day and even like they talked about we we even talked about um going from fiscal year to calendar year and everybody thought calendar year was the best way to go there. It was at that time because of medical it was it was
the best way to go because of medical and that's why we went that way because of the medical course and everything. So Javier, please break it down clearly um um clearly um for and those people I
know for a fact that um with the reval a lot of people did do tax appeals and a lot of people did get their taxes um their property value lowered a little. Um and even they came here upstairs on
the fourth floor. They they was they was talking to everybody. I told everybody you can come upstairs to the fourth floor. They will sit down when when you can prove to them the house next to me did not sell for 500. You only sold for 350. So now why is my 500 and this one
sold for 350. So that's why you got to like So but Javier that would really help because now everyone going to be able to see how those others I'm talking about school. I'm talking about county. I don't believe open space ever increase. Does it Javier?
That's council woman. So again, these bills are just third quarter bills. >> Right. >> Right. >> So this for county school and open space. That's just an estimate. That's not the final number. >> Oh, it's still not the final number. >> It's not the final number. No, we have to have these. We have to have this approval. We have to have this approval
from you guys to have the bills out by July for the August 1 bill. So they're estimated. Now once we pass a budget and we get all the final numbers the final numbers catch up to that number which you know if let's say county is a
million dollars higher that will catch up >> but now let me ask you something then when do you expect to get the final numbers from each from the county for the for the budget >> for the school I get it by the end of this month >> by the end of January >> by the end of June county I want to say
maybe the first or second week in July >> for everybody for county. Yeah, >> for the county. They haven't they haven't done theirs yet either >> for Yeah, for county and open space. >> I'm sorry. So, by the end of So, by the end of by the middle of July, we should have all the numbers >> correct
>> from everything. Um, now what about the library? Do they ever >> That's a final number. >> So, last year's number was 4.3 million. It went up to 4.8 million. >> What was it last year? Three million. >> 4.3 million. >> Oh, 4.3. So, now it's up to 4.8. >> Correct. >> Okay.
And the only other difference is the one um the 177 municipalities >> and municipal last year was 174500 and this year it's going to be 177 >> right >> and again that's 2%. >> Right. And then the county. Okay. So Jav
Javier CFO if you can put those numbers together um to see you know I mean so actually people can actually see what the really the numbers look like for you know for for all this and um and what was our cost for insurance uh
before the 24 million? Do you have any idea what we were paying >> uh last year? 48 >> 48 million >> 72. >> Oh gosh. You know, I mean, I can't believe that million. >> Yeah. >> I can't, you know, I'm telling you, you
know, I think that they could have helped out some kind of way because these medical, they're being approved by the state of New Jersey, they're being approved by the board down there in Trenton. Like, how do you keep approving? How do you go from 48 to 72
million? And it's unbelievable. It just I don't know. Like, that's a lot of money. Um, but I but and then you got a lot of uh some of our workers here can't go to certain doctors still. They can't go to certain areas. They got to you
know what I and now I can understand why I see some of them opting out and buying the less coverage because it's costing a lot of money. It really is. So just get those uh for me uh Javier you know for Thank you. >> Thank you Councilwoman Councilman Khalik
and then Councilman Uden. Well, >> thank you council president. >> Well, we we are discussing we are on discussion on item number 23 estimated tax bill. From that discussion
the budget from budget hearing to presentation all the other discussion came in. It's been a past practice estimated tax bill. We have done it previous year. Usually they
compare it to the year before. Usually 2% 2.3% 2.5% we send out the tax bill. So we could have a cash flow. Um and about budget hearing some of the
council colleague mentioned that we we don't have a budget hearing anymore more which is not true. We did have it last year presentation before the introduction of the budget. Usually they do the presentation not
before sending out the estimated tax bills. The whole process and the practice is been there. Uh you could shake your hand which is the fact head which is the fact you could go back last year. Last year we have budget this year we're going to have a budget hearing as well.
>> Yes. This year we're going to have a budget hearing as well. It's coming up. I think is is is we just had the election >> and you know I think probably next month we're going to have a budget hearing. Then we're going to have a introduction
of the budget. >> That's when we're going to have the presentation from the BSO. Everything is plain is there. I'm not saying everything is fine. We have I'm not saying everything is fine. Every
look look out there every city every city out there in state of New Jersey >> is having issue because of the uh um uprising of the medical expenses. Every city >> every city out there uh I just want to
point out is is is there is an uh we not doing anything different than we have been doing in previous year. Everything is in plan. We need to be patient. I know we we love to be self- sustained but we are not. We are a traditional age
city. We have to live with it. We have to ask for the money to the state. Um we love to get off hopefully in future. I'm looking I'm I'm looking bright. I'm looking looking Paris future is very bright. within 6 7
years I think we're going to be off transit transit tier as well. TA as well we're going to be off tier as well. I'm looking at six seven years. >> Yes. >> Six seven years >> to the public who cannot speak out while we're in the middle of speaking.
>> You know I'm I'm speaking and the and the residents of this great city of Patterson understand the direction of the city going in. That's why they reelected the mayor. They reelected our council president. They reelected our
council vice president. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um, council president. >> Thank you, Councilman Uden. And then we're going into public. Councilman Uden. >> Thank you, Council President. Um, so Patterson, what one thing and Mr. Ba, I
want to address that that last year we had uh the tax rate 5.3%. with the significant um increase in our new assessment is is it was really scary the very
beginning but I would say council did a great job when we introduced a budget with minimum requirement 2% increase and this is the reason why the current tax rate is 2.2%. I want to encourage the resident that
the number is not finalized because of the two other budget that that we are waiting for school district and county and school district is taking a big percentage of the taxes and I want resident to be
part of the board of ed uh budget introduction budget discussion cuz it's it's done and they did 8%. That's exactly what I'm saying and they need to be part of it cuz the blame automatically even though
this is my last month as I'm sitting council at large but one thing that people think that all the budget increase tax increase come from the city council that's not the truth though this is what we need to educate ourselves that you know some percentage come from
school district and county so you have to be part of everyone's discussion not only pointing finger to the council and that going to impact that p that tax rate. So I I want to make sure that we have to keep on fighting for the current
tax rate that that we have 2.2%. If any way I'm not sure CFO what's the calculation would be >> uh is there any way the percentage the tax rate can go to 5% like last year? >> I'm not sure what your calculation says.
I I I believe that that should be clarified or you need more time to know that what what's the tax date would be uh finalized what's a what's a you know final number would be that is going to
actually say the the exact uh taxes that people are going to pay we have to keep in mind the current assessed value of the properties that significantly significantly high trust me is some properties are double and I in none of the properties more
than one you know uh you know any way that closure to the last year's assessed value. So I I definitely encourage the resident to be part of the decision the council makes or county commissioners or board of head commissioners and uh again
thank you and county uh CFO I think that need to be clarified that where the percentage or the tax is going to be uh right now it's 2.2% 2% what your calculation says after that budget introduction of the board of ed and uh P county.
>> Thank you Councilman Jackson and then to um Madame Clerk we'll be going right to public portion. Councilman Jackson >> I I just want to be clear Mr. um CFO Mr. BA through the chair. >> So we have a finalized tax rate.
>> No, but Councilman Odin just said that we went we have we were at 5.3 and we went down to 2.3. No, that was last year. We were 5.6. Yeah, he was talking about last year's process. >> Right now, the tax >> No, he's talking about last time. >> Right now, the taxes we're sending is
not 2.2%. That's what he he just said it again. >> No, it's 2%. >> We don't have a tax rate. We do not have a tax rate right now. That's misleading information that you've given to the public. >> I'm sorry, Mr. SO. Can you clarify the current the the current one the the
estimated tax you're sending for this quarter? What's the tax rate on this? >> Can you again it's not a >> it's an estimate. >> It's an estimated amount but it won't be a final rate until we pass the budget. >> What's the rate on this? >> What's the rate on it?
>> We get a close rate. It's it's different. Last year's tax rate was about somewhere around 5%. because of the new assessment, this year's tax rate is going to be somewhere around 2.3. >> So the tax rate is dropping because of the assessment. >> That's that's exactly what I'm saying.
>> So but again, that's not final. That's not final. Once I have final numbers, I can give you an exact tax rate. >> So that that is accurate. Then >> he has the floor. >> I'm sorry cuz maybe maybe what was you >> I can I can put something together for Tuesday and try to give you something close.
>> That was 3%. It's on the tax bill. Please send it out. >> Sorry. Councilman, what were you saying? Council >> that was my point, Councilman, that we had last year we had 5.3%. >> This year the the estimated uh >> No, I get what you're saying, but but listen, what I'm trying to bring
clarity, too, is >> we're So, the council voted to approve a a 2% increase, correct? >> 2% overall increase >> for last year. Yes. >> For for last year. >> For last year. We haven't approved a
budget yet, so you haven't done it yet >> for this year. >> But currently, we're we're we're estimated at 2.3. >> Correct. >> And uh so >> 23 >> 2.23 2.23 2.3 is not that that much of a
difference. But um >> I I just want to I just want to clarify several things. We we most definitely did not do a budget hearing last year. I don't know what councilman kick. In fact, the administration the administration acknowledged that we didn't do it.
>> They acknowledged that we didn't do it. >> So I I'm not sure exactly what you know the the effort to mislead the public >> the effort to mislead the public is is is is crazy. We haven't had one responsible budget act action since
Councilman Morris and Councilman uh uh McCoy left here. There's not been one responsible action to say, "Listen, no, we're going to cut this line and we've allowed the administration to do every single thing that they wanted to do." And and and one of the things I want to
point out, Councilman, when council members are talking and spewing out things, I I hope that you can not do what we allowed the administration to do. Like, for example, Councilman Mendes, you keep claiming you made 400 uh tax appeals. You should provide us
with the data. >> I did it. >> Provide us with the data. How many >> provide his addresses? >> He has the floor. provide those addresses. How many of those residents saw reduction in their taxes? I mean,
that would be great. I mean, if it was me and I did 400 tax appeals, I'll be right here. I'll be putting it on the screen saying, "Hey, right now, uh, Miss Jones at 85, uh, uh, Mlock Street
just had a reduction in her assessment because of the work I did." He's spewing off, you know, lies, putting up fake numbers in in in non-factual context, just continuously misleading the public and and and not
taking accountability and his voting for us being in this position that we're in. >> The fact of the matter is this council has to wear the responsibility of where we in. >> Before this mayor was elected, our budget was 225 million. Now we have a
$330 plus million dollar budget. So we increased the budget hund00 million and the request for TA is $78 plus million. It just talks to you about you know how how inappropriate the spending is. Now,
if the CFO was being responsible, right, and the and the BA was being responsible, you know, all this money we spend out spending out to consultants, we would have hired a consultant to say, how many claims do we have over the last
5 years while we're in the state plan? Because when we were self-insured, we would just pay be paying claims. But instead, we don't even have an idea of how many claims we've paid out. How many requests for insurance uh uh
benefits have there been? Because we can look at then are we is it has it have we been responsible? Have we been responsible with our uh with our choice to to change over to um the state health plan? But we haven't. And this is again
something that I have voted absolutely not on eight years ago. And every single year after that, it it it slapped us in the face. And instead of being accountable for our actions, we said, "Oh, I helped 400 people get tax appeals, but you don't show no data." >> Yeah.
>> Where those houses at? Where those names at? Where's those Cuz maybe Listen, I got another 400 I could give you a referral for the I'll send 800 your way if you work that kind of magic. Let's do it for Why don't you do the the entire city? Why didn't you set up an office
downstairs and do do all the residents when we know our residents have been mistreated? But we put out this false propaganda and we don't want to take accountability for our actions in this. This is not the administration. The council has a responsibility on
budgeting. Not cutting ribbons, not being at barbecues, not being at >> Well, the door's right there. The door's right there. Let it hit. Council hit you >> to the public to the public please. The
corum please. >> Council president please. >> One second. Council president's right there. >> Theorum please. The quorum. >> Okay. >> So we have >> President I'll be brief. >> Okay. >> I still have the floor. Council President.
>> One second. Council Mendes. Councilman Khaled. Now, now I do apologize because I do understand that there's some members of the public that this is way over their head. They're not just they're not going to get it, but they're not paying taxes anyway. They're not the ones being burdened with the tax bill.
They're the ones around here parading uh uh advertising for all for everyone else that's taking advantage of us. And they're around here parading, advertising for council members. is failing failing us at the only responsibility that we have the
presented resp to allow a responsible budget. >> President Council President, please. >> Yeah, I rest. >> Councilman uh Mendes, Councilman Khal, but let me right before right before you before you speak, let me say this. When
I hear it stated that no one is doing their due diligence except for former council members, it is not true. when it was introduced a budget of 5.6% it was our finance committee that found the clause in theou which reduced it down and then the council work
diligently to bring the taxes to 2%. We have for the last eight years maintained a 2% increase where other entities have done double digits, but this council has has fervently worked hard to ensure that
we did not tax the taxpayers 2%. There's proof in that because when you pull the documents, you go back and watch the meetings, you will see the due diligence that was made. So, I get it. other council members were here and we applaud them, but there are council people here that are doing a really great job as
well. And you know, it just sometimes is not stated on the record, but we we vote on it. We vote yes when it's a 2%. If it's 10%, we may vote we're probably going to vote no. But if it's 2% which is mandated because we're on transitional aid after we've done a very
very great job in working with the administration, DCA and local finance board and our state legislators. We're going to make sure that our residents are not heavily taxed. We hear your concerns. We hear the complaints and that's what we do. >> Council President,
>> Councilman Mendes, Councilman Khalif, and then public portion, please. >> Thank you, Council President. And I was just going to say that I'll be more than happy to um submit the list. My office is located at 414 Broadway with my staff. I've been helping homeowners over
400 homeowners. I help them to appeal the taxes. I fill up all the information. But Councilman Jackson, you don't know much about taxes. You don't know. I'm It's not I don't that's not under my power whether whether whether the county will reduce it or not. I do my work a professional job representing
all those homeowner without charging in a dollar with my staff my team and you don't and I know that you don't know much because the deadline was May 1. You cannot help any other homeowner to appeal the taxes because the the deadline passed. Uh so and and let's
move on with that. And I do this for the public and this was not during the election. My office is open at 414 Broadway. You need help, I'll be there to help you. Council President, I know we got public portion. I'm not going to be in the way. Council colleague, please. >> Thank Thank you, Councilman Mendes, for all you do.
>> I was at the tax appeal um uh so-called court in the county today. >> Oh. >> By myself. Some of the council member probably don't even know the process, but they would like to run their mouth. Okay. I was there myself.
Okay. Thank you. And also we try to compare eight years ago we had a $227 million um budget. This year is $337 million budget >> where >> the cost of living adjustment. >> I'm just
>> that's the cost of living. >> Every city out there you see year after year is increase. That's the life. That's the reality of it. >> Yes. >> And also Mr. CFO, did we not have a budget hearing last year?
>> Yes, Councilman. We had a budget hearing for 2025. >> Thank you. Are we going to have one this year? >> We're going to have a a budget hearing for the budget of 226. >> Thank you. He stated that we did not have a the administration said it. We did not have a budget hearing. Probably
should go back and look at the date. Usually, usually usually they'll send an email to everyone the dates whenever the council members are available. We set up the time for the budget hearing. You probably didn't even open your email. >> Uh that tells a lot about caring for the
for the budget and the city, which is the fact. Um that's all I want to clear myself on. >> Thank you. Public hearing, Madame Clerk. We have for public hearing, we have six speakers. To all of our speakers, there's a time clock. Um you have three
minutes to speak. Um once your time is up, the buzzer will um it will alert you and it is time to move on to the next speaker. Our first speaker on tonight, Madame Clerk, is Mr. Charles Ferrer. >> Charles, >> please state your name and address. Mr.
Ferrer. Thank you. >> Charles Ferrer, 445 Straight Street, Privacy. So I'm sitting here listening. One of the reasons why I came down is because first of all, the school district's
budget is not finalized. The reason why it's not finalized is because they haven't gotten their numbers from the federal government yet. And if they don't and with that person that's down there, if they don't get a dime, it's coming back to you guys for that
additional money. Um, there's a lot of problems here. Patterson is not at its best when you're sitting here borrowing $70 million. And the thing that bothered me when I read about that $70 million loan that you did you have any community forums with the
taxpayers to ask for their input since you put that on their backs? Uh we talk about the increase from what it was 200 something now it's three something. That's because of all of the apartment buildings that the developers
are putting online. There's about 10 units that 10 apartment projects that are going to be opening up soon. And the only sad part about it, if they're all tax abated, that means they're going to give a small amount. And who will pick
up the slack? The residents. Um, I was curious cuz, uh, council president, when you were running, you put out a post that there was a projection of $280 million in revenue and only a hundred million. Uh, you fell short by 100
million. And I guess that was the C CFO who put that projection together, the revenue. And I'm like, I could see you off 10 million, 20 million, maybe 30, 100 million. And I'd like to know what that project I
wish he would put that out so that we could see how he even came up with that projection because I'd like to I'd like to look at it because there's a lot of issues with it. We talk about more development. So here's a project that I was coming down to speak on on May 28th.
They want to put a 24 unit apartment building at 4656 Sherman Avenue with 31 parking spaces. 24 units, two parking spaces per unit. That's at least 48. You need to have
more than that because you need for spaces to be available for guests because if there's not enough parking, they're going to take the spaces of the people that have already lived there for years. And there's going to be problems. That's one of the biggest problems with
all your projects that are going up. Raw Avenue, 131 units are going to go up there. one parking space per unit. So, where are the other people parking? They can't park on Rale. They can't park on the street that um School Five is on. So,
then they go into Marian Street and Carney Street and they take the parking spaces of those residents. >> Thank you. Next speaker. Next speaker. Madam clerk. >> Not much. >> Next speaker. >> Stop boasting that you're doing. >> Next speaker. Madam clerk, Mr. Joel Keys
Jr. >> Mr. keys. Please state your name and address. >> I don't got time for that. Testing one, two. Recently, one of Councilman Jackson's most active critics on social media
attempted to ridicule him for a characteristic that is actually one of his greatest attributes, separating him from the other council members and almost every other politician in the United States. The incident illustrates one of the most important lessons all of
us can learn about the value of understanding problems from a systemic analysis which is the essence of sociology. The critic whom I will refer to as anonymous Republican attempted to ridicule Councilman Jackson for
criticizing and exposing alleged acts of corruption by members of the Democratic party. Referring to Councilman Jackson, anonymous Republican said, quote, "Yes, speak truth about his own political party. Yeah, he's real smart."
Upon reading that statement, my instinctive reaction was to recall a similar incident involving Malcolm X. Malcolm was debating Gordon Hall on the Stan Bernard show. Attempting to ridicule Malcolm for one of his greatest attributes, Gordon Hall said, quote, "I
will make a prediction and I think we could come back a year from now, Stan, and I think you may find Malcolm preaching a completely separate doctrine and leading some other kind of movement." Previously, Malcolm, I said, "Give it a little time and you'll be preaching a new line, and you are."
Albert Einstein said, quote, "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." unquote. Malcolm X said, quote, "Despite my firm convictions, I have always been a man who tries to face facts and to accept the reality of life
as new experience and new knowledge unfolds it. I have always kept an open mind, which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of intelligent search for truth." unquote. Gordon Hall attempted to ridicule Malcolm for his
exceptional ability to change, which Albert Einstein said was the measure of intelligence. Anonymous Republican attempted to ridicule Councilman Jackson for his exceptional ability to expose corruption. And as I mentioned earlier, the incident illustrates one of the most
important lessons we can learn about the value of understanding problems from a systemic analysis. anonymous Republicans disposition that speaking the truth about your own political party and especially exposing corruption is the template and the blueprint of this
capitalist system that socializes the expectation and acceptance of corruption on the one hand and the apathy and abandonment from participation in the system on the other hand. In other words, it is the systemic cause for
60,000 registered voters deciding not to bother to vote and corruption winning again. >> Thank you. Next speaker, Madame Clerk, Mr. Elvis Dorham. >> Yes. And next, please state your name and address. Thank you.
>> Mr. Elvis Dorm from Patterson, New Jersey. Just want to say this. Patterson, New Jersey is the third largest city in the state of New Jersey. This is not no town. I come here,
wow, God knows what, over 20 something years at the council meeting to hear this grow up. Some of y'all act like y'all doing so much, but the city of Patterson, New
Jersey, don't even have no radiation center for the youth, especially on the first war with the first war supposed to be the black headquarters. We don't even have black businesses. Make it make sense. We
don't The city of Patterson don't even have a major hotel. But some of y'all want to be up here arguing like y'all in fifth grade and fourth grade. It's not only the mayor. It's all our responsibility. But some of
y'all don't even want to sit down at the table with me, listen to my ideas because you think you so high. Man, bring your ego down. Patterson, New Jersey, I'm your black leader. Anybody got a
problem with it, you know where to find me. I got it's a lot of stuff going on in Patterson, New Jersey. I can't do the announcements now, but go on my Facebook page, Elvis Good News,
Dur Ham M. Facebook. My Facebook, Elvis Good News, Dur Ham M. My YouTube channel, Patterson NJ Good News. To be a leader, you have to have something to
show for. This is the third largest city in New Jersey. We don't have nothing to show for. But the thing is, we got each other, but nobody don't want to come together. Everybody think they know so much. You can't even win the election.
You think you know so much. Just imagine if I was running. I would have been in them seats. But at the same time, I would have I would ask for help. I would sit down with people that used to be in this seat so I could
be a better counselor. But some of y'all so y'all head so big, y'all don't know how to answer. Y'all don't even know how to ask for help. So pitiful. I pray for my city. I believe God see everything. And God
about to clean up. God bless y'all. >> Next speaker, madam clerk. >> Yes. Next speaker is Eddie Olivaris. Please state your name and address. Thank you. >> Eddie Olivarees, Patterson, uh, New Jersey. A lot to unpack tonight. Um
before I came I came up I read an article that if if uh the uh Miss Davilla Mims and the mayor had an ounce of shaming their bodies, they would be
embarrassed. Read that article. See what it says about you. It's an embarrassment. >> Now you're an embarrassment. >> Mr. Jackson, you complain a lot. I'm I'm not liking it. I am going to kind of piggy back on the BA statement that uh
let's talk about optimism. Man, you haven't been paying attention when you came here. I don't know if you noticed, but you did not encounter one homeless person, not one addict. You encountered nothing. It's just that you're not paying attention. The city is
it's at its best. This is an article that says, uh, quote, Patterson is on the national stage. Get a lot of that. Honored to be the first mayor in our city's history to present a
new social empowerment program at the United States Conference of Mayors. Our real fix initiative has helped 834 people. You're just not paying attention, man. We don't have anything on the streets. there. No more homeless.
There's nothing. There's nothing. It's just that you're not paying attention. Alex said that um the owners will suffer with the tax increases, but he's not looking at it the right way either. You see, a lot of people will lose their houses with the increase,
but it's going to be a field day for the investors. And Mr. Jackson, you're not I think you're jealous because you're not going to get a dollar from the big investors here in the city of Paris. Did you see Louis Vles? He's going to get all the money he needs next um campaign 2028.
Omar, he's going to get all the money he needs. Alex, if he plays his cards right and he gets back in line, he will get some money, too. Khalik, oh, on top of that, he's got he's got the the school board
that will help him. And Cotton will get all the money she needs. So it's just that you you need to look at it from from other people's perspective >> to him. >> Um and Khalik also said that we're not doing anything different. So
this is why in Brazil we're not getting better because we're not doing anything different. That's why it does not get better. Our city is broken and it's not getting better. And you don't understand. and
that until you do something different, it will not improve. And we celebrate that. Oh, you won. Yeah, you did. But there's zero hope that you will do anything for the city
>> and the people said no to you. Thank you. Next speaker, madam clerk. >> Next, the next speaker is Mark. >> Thank you. Please state your full name and address. Thank you. for you. >> Hello. Good evening guys. Good evening.
I hope you all have a wonderful date. And so today actually there's so many things to talk discuss but I don't understand from where I start. So let me start with my favorite part with the the city of
council and the issue with me with the tobacco license. I hope you guys are working on it. And uh other things uh I realized when the public portion started a lot of councilmen some of them
they just vacate their seats they get out of the room I don't know for restroom use or something but I believe the public hearing is the more participation of public with the city policies engagement with you guys smart
people look towards the transparency you guys are talking about especially in election everybody talk about accountability this thing trust me three years and you guys
running behind I think 3 years of your uh auditing issue. So here my services are here. If the city need I have a team who can help you to completely do do your fiscal account like auditing and accounting everything what you des
needed. Thank you very much. Not enough to say today. >> Thank you and good night madam clerk. There are no more speakers. >> There's one more speaker. >> Oh I'm sorry. >> Yeah. Um Dr. Hh. Um >> Oh sorry doctor. >> Hi. >> Yes.
>> I'm sorry. Good evening. I can't pronounce that last name. If you would >> Good evening. >> For me, announce your name and address. Thank you. >> Good evening. >> Good evening, doctor. >> There was a debacle at the polls this
last meal election with some supporters inside the required perimeter shoving flyers in cars and the faces of voters. I think consequently decent, honorable, well-intentioned candidates don't stand
a chance because of this type of and other criminal behavior. This is injustice. I encourage you from time to time, council, to turn around and look at the statement from the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, that injustice
anywhere is injustice everywhere. This kind of voting fiasco must stop in the city of Patterson. I'd like to end on a positive note and talk about a wonderful event that has been going on for many many years. I remember years ago um council president
I am the one who sold you as a volunteer the the the the altar back top that you purchased. The council has been very supportive. Many of you have been at this event. This is an event by the honorable Elder Councilman McCoy and
it's the Jamaica Day event. It's two days. We have the first day, August 1st, where we're going to have a legend, a Jamaican legend, Sister Nancy, who actually lives in the city of Patterson. This is on the Saturday. And then on Sunday, we have some awesome gospel
performers, including Rhonda Isabella. I encourage you all to come out. If any of you would like a flyer or if you'd like to be a supporter or a sponsor of this event, I encourage you to do so. God bless you. >> Thank you, doctor. There are no more
speakers. Is there a motion to close? >> Motion to close by council. Second by council president Mims. Roll call to close the public portion. >> Second. >> Counciloman Cotton. Counciloman Deava.
>> Thank you uh so much. Uh I know that we're closing the public portion. Thank you for everyone uh that came and um spoke today. Um I I will say this, there comes a moment where we have to
show a level of professionalism as we are elected by the people. But by any means does it mean that we have to stand here and accept insults from the community, specific certain individuals that are bitter because they lost an election. the people have said no to you
and every single time I told you you are affixiated with me. Okay? So just let it go. Let it go. If anybody you should be met as Councilman Jackson, you know why? He got over 3,000 votes more than 4,000 votes more than you. So you need to stop
it. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. So with that said, I am thankful that I've been bought back again. I will continue to serve the people of Patterson because they said yes to me. And even those that didn't say yes, I am your public servant and I will continue
to serve you the same way I serve those that voted for me. So, thank you very much. My vote is yes to close the public portion. >> Councilman Jackson. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. the level of the disrespect.
Sit down. Yo, people are enormously tough guys behind these microphones. It's incredible. That was That was incredibly disrespectful. I don't I don't even >> He was disrespectful to me.
>> And you're being disrespectful even now. Continued dis disrespect. Now, one thing I'll say about Mr. Solivaris. I mean, he did he did very little campaigning. He spent no money. In fact,
most of his effort went towards promoting and advertising my campaign. He's not one of these people should be angry with me because I saw more v votes or whatever the case might be. But I'll tell you what's a true fact. And we'll see if there's an investigation that
takes place on this. this young lady, Miss Hilda Fredmine, um her obituary was March 15th, 2025. This is a fact,
but she voted in this election by mail. Miss Hilda, for me, let's see if anybody's interested in, you know, the the ballot harvesting that they're doing on situations like this. Let's see if Corporation Council or if anyone else
for that matter would like to launch an investigation on how many other deceased people have voted in this election. People are bragging about winning an election, but yet the city is failing. We've gotten a failing grade. got people
talking about moving the city forward. Mr. Charles Ferrer, who I respect immensely, his perspective tonight was the city has never been in this in this poor condition in his entire life. He's
saying that clearly. So, I guess the perception of other people, Mr. Olivaris was being very presumptuous or, you know, facitious with his commentary. I left city hall yesterday for a uh planning board meeting. There was like
nine people sleeping in the in the window downstairs of city hall. So when you talk about the conditions of the city and those bragging about being reelected, I mean, yeah, I I take my hat off to you. I mean, it was a lot tons of Councilman.
>> Hey, you won. >> Councilman, I >> I got it, Madam Clerk. I apologize. And um on that note, Madame Clerk, I know you I know you're standing in uh on May 19th.
And Councilman McCoy, I'm going to need your reflection on this. On May 19th, please make note cuz I'll bring it forward. I didn't want to make mention of it tonight because uh the clerk's not here and and I understand she's the licensed um uh uh uh parliamentarian.
But May 19th, my vote was excluded and yet it was marked that I voted. So I'm trying to figure out where within the law and the code permits for for the clerk to make a vote
on my behalf. May 19th and I believe it was the 17th of April. I never voted, but yet it's marked in an official document that's signed by the clerk
how I voted and saying I voted in the affirmative. That is disenfranchising not just myself as an duly elected person, but it's disenfranchising all of those who who stood forward to support me to sit in the seat. I have the
privilege and the right to vote and no one can exercise that right for me. No one. So, I just want to make note of that. I'm not going to um labor this longer, but I I will reemphasize the condition of the city. Mr. Ba, some
someone dumped a stack of of pallets on the corner of North Fourth and Clinton Street 5 days ago. Greer posted it. I posted it. is still there, but yet we have people bragging about being reelected. And these examples could be
in the thousands. But Mr. B, if you can and uh I see director back there, Bill, I don't know if you saw that. Those pallets that was dropped stack of pallets right in the middle of the street all the way up the hill. Anyway, madame clerk, um please make note of
that to pass that along to the clerk as I am going to be expecting an answer at the next public meeting on how the clerk had the audacity to think she can vote for me. That's not legal. So, wherever
she's found the authority to do so, I would like for her to be to state that authority on record. My vote is yes. >> Council Cle. Yes, Madame Clerk. >> Council Mendes. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, just
once again, I want to take my time to say thank you. Thank you to all the resident of the great city of Patterson because on the last election with very very limited resourcing, people that could check my report. I didn't have those uh big uh developers and heavy hitters funding my campaign with very
limited resource. I was the second highest vocator with a different only 3%. actions speak louder than war. Look at my number at the polling sign. How many people went out to vote for me? I never stopped working for this community and I'm going to continue working for this
community. I love this city and I say this over again. I came in with in this city with nothing on my hand. I've been in business for 20 years. God really give me more, gave me more than I deserve. I have three kids, two one professional, one almost ready to go to
finish college and being a doctor. and my youngest, his graduation is this June and he's going to the marine of this country. So, I love the city and I'm going to continue fighting for the city. During the election time with the we help over 400 people appealing their
taxes of zero dollars without charging a dollar with my team, my staff and if Councilman Jackson uh questioning me, he should ask his supporter. His supporter came to my office and I helped him to appeal the taxes. I didn't turn nobody
back. People from the first war, second, third, everybody was welcome because it's not politic. And my office is still open for people that need help. I'm always say action speak louder than word. It's easy to come here and use this time to attack people. I'm all about result and I'm all about working
hard. Those that knows me, they know that when they call me, I'm there. And people know my cell phone number 9739301436. And this is only the beginning. Election is over. I'm back on track. ready to work and ready to keep fighting, full of energy. So, we're going through a very
difficult time financially in this city. And then when I mentioned uh when I was talking about the the temporary appropriation, um this uh Mr. VA, he agreed with me that many many municipality they they go through one temporary appropriation, but every year
we're going to five and six temporary appropriation and we wait until the last evening to approve the budget. So, we continue making the same mistake. Now with the transitional aid, every municipality received transitional aid from the state. Those that receive it,
the state give them x amount of money, but it's their responsibility to increase the revenue. Now we asking the state every year for more and more money from 22 to 25 from 35 to 30 to 32 35 now $78 million. What's going to happen with
this municipality? What I'm talking about I will I'll close madam clerk. when I'm talking about budget hearing having conversation. Listen, I'm not I'm not making that recommendation to uh to go back and forth with administration to fight is because I pay a lot of taxes in
this city on multiple property. I feeling the pain like everybody else and it's unacceptable. We got to do better and we're going to have to take those tough decision to get the city back on track. MBA, but the conversation
needs to start now. We cannot do the same thing we do every year, waiting until the last inning when there will have no more choice to hit the homeowners with increases. So, we got to do better. Uh Patterson, once again, thank you and we're back on track.
Patterson, we're here to work. >> My vote is your mad clerk. >> Councilman Omar is absent. Councilman Uden. >> Thank you, Madam Clar. Good evening, Patterson. Thank you. Those are here. Um so before I vote for public person I would like to thank every single
resident those who believed in me and allowed me to serve you for four years last four years. This is one of my last um meetings I would say by end of this month I have to step down but my term might be ended but my service my
commitment and dedication to Patterson is not. I'm here to serve you. of stay engaged and keep on fighting for Patterson. With that being said, I again said every time you come here council meeting, I truly like the fact that when people come here, whether they uh
comment in our favor or not and I particularly talking about myself that I appreciate that cuz it shape and it made uh you know gave me the uh idea that how I should make the decision and what is right and wrong for the people of the city of Patterson. And I love to see that people are more engaged to our
decisions. uh and and I congratulate my reelected council colleagues >> and the newly elect Paul Alford and I I I pray for all of you that you know uh that you serve the city for another four years with a dedication keeping the
people in mind and with that being said uh my vote is yes to portion >> councilman. >> Thank you madame clerk. Uh let me show you the power of Patterson. So we have four candidates for mayor,
one winner. 16 candidates are large, three winners. The power is if all the remaining candidates unite and they love Patterson and all those plan that they put on forward in
the platform, they bring it together and work with this administration. We going to be a great city. >> Yes. >> But we going to be campaigning all four years into the next one. We're not going to get nothing done. >> That's good. >> We're not going to get nothing done. So
if everybody want to know the power of Patterson in politics is to put everything behind what happened in the election season and stand together fight what is right question what is right but
bring a solution what is right for the resident of Patterson that's power last but not least I want to congratulate uh the national Hispanics um club and east side high school. Uh they brought to Patteradisonson 36
medals in the competition of the National Spanish Examination. Eastside High School bring home 36 medals between gold, silver, and bronze. And today I honor him. I honor them today, this morning at here, the chambers. And they
gave me this token of appreciation because of the past 12 years before being councilman. I'm being always supporting them and being there for them. And if any other school need my support, remember I got 12 schools in
the fifth ward, five charter school. I have more residents that that are tenants and more high-rise building. I'm the heart of Patterson. I'm here to serve whoever wins and whoever didn't win. We need to move the city forward leaving our egos and agenda and the
side. Thank you, Madame Clerk. My vote is yes. Councilwoman Cotton. Sorry. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. I just want to say that I mean I was sorry I had to go out for a minute, but um um there's a lot of different events that's going to be going on this weekend. Um one of them
is going to be we're orange um that's to like stop the violence or try to curb the violence that that's here in the city. And um I always said that um we need to I remember being volunteering all the time for the schools and
volunteering and helping out and we always say adopt kids, but I think that we need to adopt families. Um cuz kids come from families and there's so many things that's we have so many a lot of good things that that we can actually get done too. And um sometimes we don't
recognize some of the things but but I just want to say this weekend it's a lot of events but I want to mention Teddy Martinez with where Orange uh his program is going to be at East Side Park. Uh also you've got U Patterson Healing which
going to be going around throughout the city to um for different uh events. So if you can join in at any of those events it would be helpful. Um, I want to just put out there, you know, I always want to be positive because we need to stay positive. We can't like be
negative. We got to be like on the uplift. And when people see you kind of uplift, it helps them to get uplift. But, um, there's a young lady and I just want to mention it. That's my daughter's a softball coach for Kennedy High School. Head coach, first female, first
black head coach softball Kennedy High School. We have a She has a picture a picture now. She doesn't have a winning season, but she has a picture that's number one in the county with strikeouts. And you know, we never hear about all
some of the good stuff that's going on with with our children and different um activities that they're involved in. And I always say, let's let's do our best. I I always promote going to games. I always promote, you know, when you go to a game, bring a cooler. Bring a cooler, put some Gatorade in it. Bring a cooler.
Put some chips in it. Bring a cooler. Put something in it. Cuz our children needs that. >> And you don't have to be I always say your child. I did not birth you, but you're still my children. You're still my child. I'm going still look out for you. I'm going still help you as much as I can. Council and I was together at
East High School for many years together with our kids. But there's so many good things going on and let's just look for the good stuff. I always on my Facebook page put all the different events that's that's happening um throughout the city, all different programs that doing all
organizations that are doing things um that's going to help um our children. Um I always say that my husband was part of project 2000 back in the 80s where they followed children from kindergarten through 8th grade. And I look at those
kids now and they're lawyers and they're doctors. So if we going to if we're going to make an impact, we got to make sure that we get in there and and help guide kids or help families to figure out which way how they need to go. >> Thank you. >> With that being said, madame clerk, you
know, >> thank you, council. >> You got to stay on the uplift because this this world is something else now that's happening to this, but we got to stay on the uplift. You got good ideas. Let's bring let's bring your good ideas. Let's let's bring your idea. I always say you don't have to be number one. As
long as you in there somewhere, the middle, the bottom, the top, >> you in there to help the program. You're in there to help people. You're in there for a good reason. >> With that being said, madam clerk, my vote is yes to close. >> Council President M. >> Hi. >> Um, so to the public that is viewing and
watching, thank you for coming. Um, to constituent service, Mr. Javier who is always here um when he shows up to ensure whatever uh concerns that anyone comes to the mic that has from the community he addresses it. And we noticed that there were um no direct
concerns but there was a statement that was made in the comments tonight that I have to address. It was stated that the school board budget was not adopted. It was adopted. The 2026-27 budget was adopted on May the 5th at $851.9
million with a 8% tax increase. Um, it is, you can Google it. It's online. You can reach out to your schoolboard commissioners, but the school board budget for 2026 27 was adopted. It was stated tonight that it was not. It was adopted by our school board
commissioners. Madame Clerk, with that being stated, my vote is yes to close public portion. >> Thank you. The public portion is now closed. >> Um, madame clerk, it is time to go into our special uh special items. >> All the items on the agenda are done.
So, madame clerk, at this time we're moving, we need a motion uh to go into our special meeting. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Councilman Bles, second by Councilman Mendes and Councilman Omar. Roll call to go into our special uh meeting.
>> Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Councilman Counciloman Mav is absent. Councilman Jackson is absent at this time. Councilman Khalif, >> yes. >> Councilman Mendes, >> yes. >> Councilman Omar, >> yes. >> Councilman Uden, >> yes.
>> And Councilman, >> yes. >> Council President, >> yes. Madam Clerk, >> thank you. The meeting is now open. >> Uh, Madam Clerk, can you please read the 48 hour notice? >> Sure. In accordance with the Open Public
Meetings Act, NJSA 104-6 ETSQ, adequate notice of the special meeting of the Patterson Municipal Council has been provided. Written notice of this special meeting was provided on May 20th, 2026,
at least 48 hours in advance of this meeting. said notice was posted in the lobby of city hall, transmitted to the North Jersey Herald News and the record and filed with the office of the city clerk. Thank you, madam clerk. At this time, we're going to do payment of
bills. >> Thank you. Um >> council president summary of disparment for today total payments of bill is $14,42,6767 out of it um about $6.7 million repayment to board of education. We had
a payroll of $5.8 million of a little over $5.8 million. Uh also there was a payment of solid waste garbage disposal as well. I recommend we move the payment of bill.
>> Second by council member. Councilman Omar. Roll call on payment of bills. Madam clerk. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Cotton. >> Councilwoman Dav is absent. Counciloman Jackson is absent. Council >> Council Jackson said no.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Councilman Khik, >> yes. >> Councilman Mendes, >> yes, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Omar. >> Yes, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Uden. >> Yes. >> Councilman Vez. >> Yes, Madam Clerk. >> Council President.
>> Yes, Madam Clerk. >> Thank you. Payment of bills is hereby adopted. >> Item number two, Madam Clerk. >> Okay. One second. Yes. Item number two, resolution under
Patterson code, chapter 129, bazaars, addressing a license for making a difference with the friends of Bill McCoy Foundation, Inc. to conduct a festival finance resolution number 26 colon 257. >> So moved. Moved by Council President Mims and Councilman Bles, second by
Councilman Omar. Was that Omar? >> Yes. Roll call on item number two, Madam Clerk. Councilwoman Cotton. >> Councilwoman Devil who's absent. Counciloman Jackson. >> No. >> This is uh
>> Councilman Kh. >> Yes. >> Councilman, this is a William McCoy. >> Council Mendes. Councilman Mendes. >> Yes, ma'am. >> You're next to me. >> Councilman, please. >> Councilman Mendes. >> Councilman Omar.
>> My vote is yes, madam. >> Councilman Nuden. Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. Councilman Mens, Council President Mims, >> Councilman VeZ voted. >> I'm sorry, you just voted, right? >> No. >> Well, Councilman, >> um, I just want to say that this is the
first time I see a councilman saying no to to next to the applicant. Am I a yes? >> Thank you. Item number two passes. >> I want to change my >> I'm sorry.
>> I'm sorry. Councilman Jackson changed his vote to yes. >> Thank you. Okay. Did I call? Thank you so much. Item number two is adopted. Thank you. >> Item number three, madam clerk. >> Item number three is a resolution under
Patterson code chapter 129 bizaars addressing a license for Patterson Junth Foundation to conduct a festival finance resolution number 26. So move moved by council president Mims
and Cotton second by Mendes BZ Uden and Omar. Roll call on item number two. Madam clerk >> item three. Item three. >> Item three. Uh Councilwoman Cotton. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Councilwoman Dea is absent
and Councilman Jackson. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Councilman Kik. >> Yes. >> Council Mendes. >> Yes. >> Councilman Omar. >> Yes. Councilman Uden, >> yes. >> Councilman VeZ, >> yes. >> Council President Mims, >> yes, Madam Clerk.
>> Thank you. Item number three is adopted. >> Item number four, Madam Clerk. >> Item number four, resolution authorizing the ward of contract to Marini Brothers Construction Company, Inc. for resurfacing and improvements of Church Street, Clinton Street, and Westside
Park sidewalk sidewalks. Bid number 2618 for an amount not to exceed $64,45.30 30 cents for the engineering division of the department of public works public works resolution number 26 col2 259
>> moved by councilman colleague second by councilman uh bles Mendes and >> uh right before the discussion Clinton street is from north 2nd to north 7th street discussion councilman
>> I I agreed on that but in the coun in the workshop director is here yeah director uh director did Did they um fix the um because remember I mentioned about Yeah. about the Kennedy High School. >> Yes.
>> Are they going to push you back? Okay, good. Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Roll call, Madam Clerk, on item four. >> Roll call on item number four. Councilwoman Cotton. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Councilwoman Dav is absent. Council Jackson, >> is he here?
>> He's not here. M. Council >> Jackson's absent. Okay. Councilman Khik. >> Yes. Councilman Mendes, >> yes. >> Councilman Omar, >> yes, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Uden, >> yes. >> Councilman Vez, >> yes, Madam Clerk.
>> Thank you, Council President Mims. >> Yes, Madam Clerk. >> Thank you. Item number four is adopted. >> Item number five, Madam Clerk. Item number five is a resolution authorizing change order number one for the Westside Park renovations project bid number 2405 for the engineering division of the
department of public works public works resolution number 26 col260. >> So moved by councilman colleague second by council president Mims and roll caller item number five madam clerk. >> Councilwoman Cotton >> yes. >> Councilwoman Devela and Jackson are
absent. Counciloman Khalique >> yes. Counciloman Mendes. Council Mendes. >> A buddy. Jasmine, please. >> Thank you. Councilman Omar. >> Vote. >> Yes. >> Councilman Uden. >> Yes. >> Councilman Vez. >> Yes. Madam Clerk.
>> Thank you. Council President Mims. >> Yes. Madam Clerk. >> Item number five is hereby adopted. >> Madam Clerk, let's take Thank you. Let's take public portion. We have one speaker for public portion. Madam clerk. >> Yes. I say that I really don't have to tell Councilman McCoy the three-minute
rule. He is very much aware of how it goes. Councilman McCoy, >> Connie, state your name and address, please. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Um, let me say a very special thanks to to each of you for your for your support
tonight in our 10th session of the Jamaica Day and Gospel Fest in East Side Park. It's a beautiful event uh free of charge to the public. We're still entertaining uh vendors of all sorts to provide um food on the day. It's a
two-day event. Um we have a legendary reggae artist that's a resident of the city of Patterson, Sister Nancy. She sings the song Bam Bam. Um all of the Jay-Z and other folks have sampled her records. She was from the beginning.
didn't really make a lot of money over her stuff, but she's doing that now. Was named Gold in United Kingdom and is all over. She will be here with Lady G and uh another special artist that will be announced shortly. You're going to be
very excited. So, we ask you to mark your calendars for the first and the second and to be there. Roa Isabella is a beautiful young lady coming from the island of Jamaica. She'll be flying in specially for our event on Sunday and will be giving us a marvelous uh
presentation along with some of our regulars um um Miss Mcfallen and others that will be performing. So we look forward to everybody coming out. Um we ask everybody to come in peace in love. It's
a family event. already heard um some plan some folks planning for mischief, but the Patterson Police Department will be present uh to take care of any um disruptions that they may be and we don't expect any. We've been doing this thing peacefully for these many years
and we expect that this one will be the biggest and the best and the most peaceful and enjoyable. So, we invite everybody, family and and friends to come on out, have a wonderful day and a great evening. So, we want to thank you again, council members, and welcome back
to those of us that were reelected. Uh, Councilman Nudin, we appreciate your service and your commitment. We ask you to continue to be engaged as we work to improve our city. So, thank you very much, everybody, and we look forward to seeing you. Congratulations to the winners. Uh, my wife is reminding me,
and we look forward, as always, to see you on the 1st and the second. God bless you and be well. >> Thank you. There are no more speakers. Can I motion to close? >> Motion to close. >> Motion to close by Councilman Mendes. Second by Councilman Khalik. Roll call to close the public portion in our
special uh meeting. Roll call. Madam clerk. >> Yes. Uh Councilwoman Cotton. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Dava. Councilman Jackson. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Councilman Kik. >> Yes. >> Council Mendes.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Omar. >> Yes. Councilman Odin. >> Yes. >> Councilman Valz. >> Okay. So, uh before I I close, I just I received a text that some people telling me why I take off my chain and put it
back. As everybody knows, I I went through eye surgery is still the light is so sensitive to my eyes. So, that's why going back and forth. So, I apologize. I know I don't want to be cool, but God bless Pattis. My vote is yes.
Council President Menz. >> Thank you, Councilman McCoy. As always, you know that we're always there. If I am not on vacation, I will definitely be there. If not, I will definitely have representation. Madame Clerk, my vote is yes to close the public portion. >> Thank you. The public portion is hereby closed.
>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Can you please um read into the record resolution items 6 through 10 to enter into executive session? >> Yes. Res can I have a motion to enter into executive session? >> So move. >> Second. Okay.
>> Moved by Councilman Mendes, second by Councilman Khalik. Can you read them into the record first, madam clerk? >> Item number six is a resolution authorizing an executive session to discuss pending litigation in a matter of David Gilmore versus City of
Patterson Law. Resolution number 26261. Item number seven is a resolution authorizing an executive session to discuss pending litigation in the matter of Desiah leak versus city of Patterson law resolution number 26 col262
formal action will be taken resolution authorizing an execut I'm sorry formal action will not be taken during the executive session resolution authorizing an ex executive session to discuss pending litigation in the matter of
estate of Odell versus city of Patterson law resolution number 26264 and resolution authorizing an executive session to discuss pending litigation in the matter of Vincent Tuesta versus City of Patterson Law Resolution number 26
colon 265. >> Thank you. We have a motion by Councilman Mendes, a second by council my colleague. Roll call on items six through 10 to enter into executive session. >> Councilwoman Cotton. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Councilwoman Davis Alder.
Councilman Jackson. Thank you. Councilman Khalik. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Council um Mendes. >> Yes. >> Councilman Omar. >> Yes. >> Councilman Uden. >> Yes. >> Councilman Valz is absent right now. Council President M. >> Yes.
>> Thank you. Executive session is now open. We kindly ask all members of the public, media and staff who are not required for this discussion to exit the chambers at this time. The live stream and public recording will now be paused
and the special meeting will reconvene following the executive session. Thank you. I >> Okay, next. >> Madam clerk, we will now continue with the we need a motion to uh reopen up the workshop.
>> So moved by Councilman Khalik, second by Councilman Mendes and Omar. Madame clerk, roll call. >> See if anybody >> second. >> All right. It was moved by Councilman Kik and seconded by Councilman Omar. >> I second.
>> Okay. >> Second by Mendes. And one voice at a time. I'm sorry. Um, >> roll call. Madam clerk. >> I have to hear from her. >> Roll call to um, roll call. Councilwoman Cotton.
>> Okay. Councilwoman Davis is out. Councilman Jackson. >> Well, what is this? >> We are re-entering the public session um for the special meeting. >> Okay. Um Councilman Mendes. >> Yes, Madam Clerk.
>> Councilman Omar. >> Yes, Madam Clerk. >> Councilman Uden is out. Councilman Vez. >> Yes, Madam Clerk. >> Council President Mims. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um the meeting is now reopened. we can call the public back in.
>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. We will now um continue with the remaining items on the agenda. Item number 11, Madam Clerk. >> Are there the P Are they still out there or >> No, >> they're not. Okay. >> Yes. >> No one out there. Okay.
>> Item number 11. >> Yes. >> Okay. Item number 11's resolution authorizing settlement of pending litigation claim in a matter of David Gilmore versus city of Patterson law resolution number 26266. >> So move >> second.
>> Moved by Councilman Veles, second by Councilman Omar. Roll call on item 11. Madam clerk, >> Councilwoman Cotton, Councilwoman Davis Elen, and Councilman Jackson. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. So to the
public, this is an example of how political retaliation cost the public money and um a great deal of money, too. A little shy of a million dollars, but my madam
clerk, my vote is yes. >> Councilman Khalik, >> yes. >> Councilman Mendes, >> thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, you know, one one of my the most difficult vote that I that I have to put on the floor is when when we uh voting on settlement.
Um, things that we never created, things that that could be avoided. Um, if we stop what has been going in the city of Patterson for years about this political retaliation and so on and so forth. It's really sad that this the first
settlement is $700,000. So in total, we're going to do a settlement of $1.1 million. But let me set the record straight. Just because we voting on this because we get the the recommendation of the lawyer, the legal team that recommend us to set up to do
the settlement after they fight. We had nothing to do with this and it's really sad. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. >> Thank you. Um, Councilman Omar, >> my vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you. Councilman Odin is out. Councilman
Veles. >> Councilman VeZ. >> The only thing I got to say is that we cannot throw rocks in the when you have a glass house. So
if this is fair, it's fair. If it's not unfair, it's not unfair. But I think one thing I could say that we could put this behind with this settlement and we had to move forward. This is a lesson for everyone
for this side, the council, a lesson for the administration and a lesson to everyone that comes to the podium and everybody out there. It will set an example. No matter who started or who ended it, the taxpayers, well, not the
taxpayer in this case, the insurance on it, um, had to fulfill the situation. Thank you for your service, Mr. Gilmore. My vote is yes, >> council president me. >> Yes. >> Thank you.
>> Item number 11 passes. >> Item number 12, Madam Clerk. Number 12 is a resolution authorizing settlement of pending litigation claim in the matter of Desiah leak versus city of Patterson law resolution number 26 colon 267
>> moved by council president Mims second >> second by councilman Khalik roll call on item 12 madam clerk >> councilwoman cotton >> yes >> councilwoman dav is absent councilman Jackson >> yes >> counciloman k >> yes >> counciloman Mendes >> yes >> counciloman Omar >> yes
>> council from Uden Miss. Councilman VZ. >> Yes. >> Council President M. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Item number 12 is adopted. >> Item number 13, Madam Clerk. >> Resolution authorizing settlement of pending litigation claim in a matter of Steven Crarampton versus City of
Patterson law resolution number 26 268. >> Yes. >> Moved by Council Member Veles. Second by Council President Mims. Roll call on item 13. Madame Clerk. >> Councilwoman Cotton. Counciloman Davis out. Councilman Jackson,
>> no. >> Councilman Khalif, >> yes. >> Councilman Mendes, >> yes. >> Councilman Omar, >> yes. >> Councilman Uden, I'm sorry, he's out. Uh, Councilman, >> yes. >> Council President Mim, >> yes. >> Thank you. Item number 13 passes.
>> Item 14. Item number 14, resolution authorizing settlement of pending litigation claim in a matter of estate of Odell versus city of Patterson law resolution number 26 colon 269 >> move >> moved by council second by
>> second >> councilman Khalik roll call on item 14 madam clerk >> councilwoman cotton >> councilwoman Davis out council Jackson I'm >> sorry madam clerk which item is this >> 14 >> 14 item >> Odell versus city of Patterson
estate of Odell. >> The state of the estate >> estate. Mhm. >> Yes. >> So So just to to the to the public, um just to be clear, you know, I I believe in fairness. I believe
in integrity. and the fact that this this gentleman um life was lost and uh yeah, I understand there's an obligation from for some to to work favorably for the city to make sure that we can save the municipality as much money as
possible, but when it comes to life, we have to value that a little bit more. And um and this is not the first time that I've um made mention of of these types of circumstances. I think that we could have done better by this family and by the estate of someone who lost
his life. My vote is no, madam clerk. >> I'm sorry. Your vote was >> no. >> Thank you. >> Councilman Khik, >> yes. >> Council Mendes, >> yes. >> Councilman Omar,
he's out. Okay. Um, Councilman Uden is out. Councilman Valz >> in this case. First of all, I want to say send my condolence to the family and also to the victims that went through this accident is not easy go to
an accident like this type of accident. No matter what the compensation will be, it's not going to bring the individual back. >> So, u my vote is yes. >> Thank you, >> Council President. >> My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. I'm sorry.
>> You said yes. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um, >> item number 14 is hereby adopted. >> Item number 15, Madam Clerk. >> 15. Councilwoman, uh, resolution authorizing Yes. >> Madam Clerk, I I have a question before you call the next item.
>> Councilman Jackson, >> is there now a a a practice of not calling the vote? >> She called it. She's been calling them. >> I did. >> No, she called the result. >> She didn't call the vote count. like we we've always it's eight in favor, one against, four yays, three nays. I'm just
asking for >> I'm just kind of following the procedure of the new clerk. So, correct. Like me. >> That's that's why that's why I'm outlining it because I noticed that that's the the the uh practice that's been taking place. So, I'm I'm curious
before I do my research on whether or not what what's required. just um asking well you're saying you're just following so you weren't directed. >> No. >> Very good. Understood. Thank you.
>> Item 15, Madam Clerk. >> Resolution authorizing settlement of pending litigation claim in the matter of Vincent Tuesta versus City of Patterson law resolution number 26 270. >> Move. >> Moved by Councilman Bles, second by
mess. Roll call on item 15. Madame Clerk, >> Councilwoman Cotton, >> Councilwoman Davis out, Councilman Jackson, >> Councilman Khik, >> Councilman Mendes, >> yes. >> Councilman Omar and Uden are absent. Councilman Vez,
>> yes. >> Thank you. >> Council President, >> yes, Madame Clerk. >> Okay, thank you. The votes are six in favor, three absent. Item number 15 is up here. >> Madam clerk, can we have a motion to close the special meeting of June 2nd? Second move by Councilman Bles, second
by Councilman Kika Mendes. Roll call to close the special meeting of June 4th, 2026. >> Councilwoman Cotney. >> Councilwoman Davis out. Councilman Jackson. >> Yes. >> Councilman Kh. >> Yes. >> Council Mendes.
>> Yes. Madam Clerk. >> Council Noar Nuden out. Councilman BZ. >> Yes. Madam Clair. >> Council President Mims. >> Yes. >> Thank you. The votes are six in favor, three absent. The The workshop >> meeting is hereby >> adjourned right adjourned. Yes. >> Move to adjourn workshop.
>> The special meeting of June 4th is hereby adjourned. Can I have a roll call to close the special meeting of June 4th, 2026? >> We ready to workshop now. >> Oh, workshop. >> Close the workshop. >> Move to close the workshop. >> Sec. Move to close the workshop by
Councilman Mendes. Second by Councilman. Roll call to close the workshop of June 4th, 2026. Councilwoman Cotton, >> just want to say uh I just want to give a special shout out to um Lieutenant
Sharon East Lacader on her retirement of 43 years in the Patterson Police Department. I wish her well. Um and whatever new life she's going to have in being in retirement. Um congratulation on your retirement, Lieutenant Sharon
East Lacer. And don't forget um this weekend we have many events going on. We're orange for the violence to stop the violence in the city. U make sure you go to East Side Park for Project Reconnect uh with Teddy Martinez and also U Paris and healing collective.
We'll be going around. I myself will be doing my annual lunchon for National Council Negro Women. I will be traveling down to Edison. Um, this is for me to raise money for our national headquarters, which is on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the
Capitol. Um, to make sure that National Council Negro Women make sure we keep that out. With that being said, everyone, thank you all for watching tonight. Um, I wish you all well. God bless you all. To my colleagues, have a good evening. To my administration over here, have a good evening. To my clerk
and my secretary, have a wonderful evening. You all out there, have a good night. God bless you all. Madame clerk, my vote is yes. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Dav is absent. Councilman Jackson, >> yes. >> Council Kik, >> yes. >> Okay. Council Mendes.
>> Um, thank you, Patterson. All the great support. Uh, school year is almost over, Patterson. I'm going to start my campaign. Stop speeding in the city of Patterson. We're going to have a lot of children out there going to the summer camp. A lot of senior taking our kids to
the park. Please Patterson, slow down. Let's stop speeding in the city of Patterson. We're going to have a lot of kids, a lot of family enjoying different parks and different places of our community. And we have people speeding on residential zone that you're supposed to drive 25 miles per hour. We have
people going 50 and 60 miles per hour. But when you go to over town like Horton, uh any Clifton, you slow down. Please slow down with Patterson. Please, let's protect our children. Let's protect our our senior and let's the let's make the job of our police
department easy. Patterson, let's protect our community. Uh so once again, Patterson, thank you. Uh to all those resident, to my third world resident, I'm going to start my uh town hall meeting um my summer town hall meetings. I will let you know about the location and the time. Uh and my office is open
at 4:14 Broadway. Uh if you have any question, you could stop by. My secretary is there is there every day from 2 to 5 uh to address any concern that one of my constituents have. Okay? Or any Pison resident. You don't have to be in the third war to stop by my office. God bless you Patterson. Um and
let's do the right thing for our city. Um Mr. VA. Uh I'm definitely looking forward and and council president to to start having those uh the dialogue about the budget hearing and going through the process of how we're going to get the number right for our residents. I'm
extremely concerned about the increasing tax that homeowner going to get. Uh that going to put a lot a lot of people in our community uh at risk. It's going to put those resident that living a fixed income in a very difficult position. Um, with that being said, madam clerk, my
vote is just good night, Patterson. >> Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Omar and and Uden are out. Councilman Vez. >> So, I want to use this time. I think Council Mendes is uh watching my Facebook a lot, but today I posted a a
video um following a incident that I just saw and noticed. and resident Patterson, you know, since 2018 only 2018 from up from 2018 from now to now,
we had serial public safety concern with with this dirt bikes, bikes, our ATVs and all those illegal bikes on the streets. You know, we have done our side. We have enacted the ordinance for
address the illegal bikes. We also u address uh the dispenses of the um selling the gasoline to those vehicle that are not registered or whatever. Uh but I'm sending this message to the New
Jersey attorney general. you know, please take off the handcuff from our police department. Every time we want to dress the ATVs and the dirt bikes or whatever, the first thing they say, they we cannot chase them. But I understand
that. But at the same time, that order comes from the New Jersey attorney general. So take the handcuff from our cops. >> Let them do the job. We got laws in the books and they will do it according with
the law because they are trained to do it the right way. If I would say back, they wasn't. So, I like the uh courtesy that my colleagues have. I wish they could see what's going on around. Okay. But because I'm the last one to speak,
everybody get up and leave. >> No, I'm the last one >> now. Except the council president. Um but and council woman we sit here and we wait till everybody speak but it's time to they speak they leave this is disrespectful
put order in this chambers time to put order just kidding ladies and gentlemen stay safe stay blessed hug your family tomorrow is not promised my vote is yes
>> thank you um council president >> yes so good night patter Patterson, be safe, stay strong. My vote is yes, madam clerk. >> Thank you. All right. >> Okay. Did you call the vote? >> I'm sorry. Yes. Um I didn't count. Hold
on. >> Yes. >> Um yes, >> you called the vote. >> The workshop is hereby closed. >> Yes. >> Is it by June? >> Good night, Patterson. To the parking lot by myself. >> The regular
Tuesday. Tuesday, right? June 9th, 7 o'clock p.m. Thank you and good night, Patterson.