and Vice President Williams >> present. He presented >> Council President Figureroa Kenberg >> present. >> Myself, Brandon Garcia, Municipal Clerk, present. Mr. Edward Colloji, legislative council and city attorney West Bridges.
Thank you very much. And Madam President, at this time, if you'd like, I'll read the invocation. Almighty God, who holds the fate of man and nation, we most humbly beseech thee to bless this our city, these deliberations, and these thy servants, that they may act with wisdom and
understanding for the good of our community and thy greater glory. Amen. All right. And Madam President, as I understand it, there are no presentations or recognitions at this time. So, we can go directly to public comment for agenda and docket items
only. >> That is correct. All right. Thank you. And we have one individual listed. Mr. Castile, you have five minutes to speak. You may address any item on the docket that you wish. It is a docket item that you wish to address.
>> That would be a docket item. Go for it, sir. State your name and address for the record. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Vladimir Castillo. Live at 310 Maple Avenue. Um, I just wanted to present myself uh and just tell you a little bit more about me and the
development I've undergone within the last 3 years or so, four years since I've been coming here and speaking. uh you know at this moment uh I feel as though I deserve this opportunity for several reasons. One you know I went to
college studied finance at Lehigh University after graduating from Tren Central High School in the top 10 of my class. And the reason why is because I feel like most people they go and they leave trend and they never want to come back and they see it as like a place that's an impass rather I see it more as
you know a catapult a trampoline some a place where you know I don't have to start over I can kind of continue the path that I've been on my entire life. Uh and just to give you a little bit more about my background professionally uh I'm a public works contractor as well as a federal contractor. Uh I'm a
licensed uh HIC contractor, so a home improvement contractor, and I'm also a registered commercial contractor with the city of Trent. Uh I've been able to do various projects with the TUR program in the city of Trent, as well as assist many clients with receiving ARP funds
and being the contractor for most of those projects. And we've been able to successfully over the course of the last three years complete over 30 different projects um ranging from grant-f funed projects to the private side as well. Uh, I just wanted to say thank you for
even considering uh this ordinance and I just wanted to say God bless America and thank you. >> Yes. >> To the public. One moment, please. Okay, moving on. At this time, Madame President, if you would like, could you
ask for a motion to approve minutes of January 20th, 2026? >> Yes, ma'am. We have a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. Councilwoman Frisbee,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figuero Kevin, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> And Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve communications, petitions, and reports. >> We have a motion to approve
communications, petitions, and reports. Please. >> Roll call. >> Council President. >> Yes. >> Um, I wanted just to check on where is it? 2B. >> Mhm. >> Um I think that the the name is that the
correct name Jason P. Woodland or is that Mr. Woodhead? >> Uh we can check in moments quickly. Moments petitions. It might even be in the middle. >> Was that an error? Is it Woodhead?
>> It is Woodhead. Thank you. >> Okay, Mr. Garcia, can we do an amendment? >> We do the roll call. >> Uh, I believe we can change that. I'll ask to the attorneys. Do I require a motion to amend? Okay.
Thank you. Uh, can I have a motion to amend? >> So moved to second. >> Thank you. And that was moved by >> uh it was so moved by >> President and second. Thank you, >> Gonzalez. >> Thank you.
>> Roll call. >> Councilwoman Edwards, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figuro Kenberg,
>> yes. >> Thank you. And with that being said, if you want to ask for a motion to approve uh communications, petitions, and reports this evening. >> May we have a motion to approve with the amendment. So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards.
>> Yes. >> Counciloman Feliciano. >> Yes. >> Council President. >> Yes. >> I'm sorry. >> Look at those. >> I know we're in the middle of a vote. Can I can I just ask Director Bridges? I know this is um it says a tour claim, but are we actually in litigation? Is
that a or is it just a motion to or 2B? >> The door claim is just a um statutory requirement that someone has to serve on a government entity before they can actually file suit. They uh essentially give notice as to what they're claiming and then they have to wait a 90-day
period before they can file um a complaint. So, it's it's not litigation, but it's an indication that litigation is coming. >> Okay. So, I should ask you about it afterwards. Thank you. >> Sure. I'm sorry. >> We proceed. >> Uh, Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figurero Kenberg, >> yes. >> Motion carried. And that brings us to old business for ordinances for second reading and public
hearing. >> Proceed. Ordinance 26-005, Ordinance authorizing the sale of city-owned property commonly known as 340 Rutherford Avenue and identified on the city tax map as block 4403 lotuent NJSA 481213C
to Vladimir Castillo for the sale price of $12,500. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this ordinance at this time? >> Hearing none, Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. May I have a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams,
>> yes. >> And Council President Figo, >> abstain. >> Noted. Motion carried. Ordinance 26-009, ordinance authorizing the sale of city owned property commonly known as 408 and 440 Walnut Avenue and identified on the
city tax map is block 26602 lots 30 and 14 pursuant to NJSA48 1213C to Napoleon Pitts for the sale price of $23,650. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this ordinance at this
time? Seeing none, Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. May we have a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Madame President. >> Yes. >> I just have a >> Council Friszy. >> So I just have a quick question about um actually this these six ordinances. I know we've already passed one,
>> but I just want to know I know that we pulled a lot of these because we they were far we were far behind. >> I want to make sure do we have the proper staffing right now to move with a proper turnaround time? Um have we increased our staffing? Where are we
right now with our staffing? >> Yes. >> Just saying. >> Good evening, council. >> Good evening. >> Um, we did hire one individual to go through the applications. And just so you know, we made sure there were no other applications that were possibly
older for any of these properties. >> Thank you. So, you're taking my question, my next one that you know I'm about to ask you. So, that's excellent. So, so what do what is the average turnaround time should most people when they are now going and getting these properties and we say yes you can get
them. What are we looking at with turnaround time? >> Well, the timing also is has to do with the scheduling to get into the property. We're getting the applicant in so that they can get their quotes and also so that inspectors can conduct their inspections. So on an average for these
particular ones we were able to get this accomplished within two weeks. >> In two weeks. Okay, that's excellent. Okay, thank you. Appreciate you. >> Yes. Yes, ma'am. >> Certainly. Uh, we were at roll call. Councilwoman Edwards,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figuro Kenberg,
>> same. Noted. Motion carried. Ordinance 26-10, ordinance authorizing the sale of city-owned property commonly known as 444 to 446 West Ann Street and identified on the city tax maps block 2301
lots 3 and 2 pursuant to NJSA 481213B5 to Robin S. Washington for the sale price of $2,000. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this ordinance at this time? Seeing none, madam present, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> May we have a motion to approve? So
moved. Second. >> Thank you. >> Roll call. Oh, excuse me. Uh, roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez,
>> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figuro Edenberg, >> yes. Noted. Motion carried. Roll call. Excuse me. Uh, ordinance 26-11. Ordinance authorizing the sale of city
own property commonly known as 468 Riverside Avenue and identified on the city tax map as block 3103, lot 25, pursuant to NJSA 481213C to Kim Moore for the sale price of $20,000.
Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this ordinance at this time? Seeing none, Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> And we have a motion to approve. >> So moved. Second. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figureroa Kenberg, >> if noted. Motion carried.
On to Ordinance 26-12. Ordinance authorizing sale of city-owned property commonly known as 560 North Clinton Avenue and identified on the city tax map as block 21902 lot 4 pursuant to NJSA481 1213C to Kim Moore for the sale
price of $10,000. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this ordinance at this time? Seeing none, Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve, please. So moved. Second. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figuro Kevinberg, >> abstain.
>> Noted. Motion carried. Ordinance 26-18, ordinance authorizing the sale of city-owned property commonly known as 16 Murray Street and identified on the city tax map as block 2605 lot 26 pursuant to NJSA 481213C
to Rammon Himenez for the sale price of $13,000. Are there any right members of the public to wish to speak to this ordinance at this time? Seeing none, Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. I >> have a motion to approve. So moved. Second.
Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figuro Keber, >> abstain. >> Ordinance uh motion carried. Ordinance
26-9, ordinance rescending the sale of city-owned property previously known previously authorized to Luis Besantes and Renee Reyes for the pursuant to ordinance 25-054. Are there any members of the public that
wish to speak to this ordinance at this time? Seeing none, madam present, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> May we have a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> A second. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. Yes, >> Councilwoman Feliciano. >> Yes,
>> Councilwoman Frisbee. >> Yes, >> Councilwoman Gonzalez. >> Yes, >> Vice President Williams. >> Yes, >> Council President Figuroa Kenberg. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. Ordinance 26-20,
an ordinance amending ordinance 25-148, which created the position of economic development representative 4 for the Department of Housing and Economic Development, Division of Economic Development. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this ordinance at this time? Seeing none, Madam President, if you want to ask for
a motion to approve. >> May we have a motion to approve. >> So, so second. >> I'm sorry. That was moved by whom? >> Edwards. >> Thank you. and the second. >> Thank you so much. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figureroa Kevin, >> yes.
>> Motion carried. Ordinance 26-21. Ordinance authorizing the conveyance of city-owned property located on South Broad Street and identified on the city of Trenton Tax Map as block 16308 lot 8 pursuant to the county of Mercer NJSA
4812134 compensation $42,800. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this ordinance at this time? Seeing none, Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> May we have a motion to approve? So moved. Second.
Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Noted. >> Councilwoman Feliciano. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Vice President Williams.
>> Yes. >> Council President Bigo Kevin. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. Ordinance 26, excuse me. Ordinance 26-22, ordinance authorizing the transfer of city-owned property identified on the
city tax map as block 1601, lots 6, 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03 3 and Brutamocker Alley >> to NJSA 4812AG
to the county of Mercer for the sum of $1. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this ordinance at this time? >> Seeing none, Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> May we have a motion to approve. >> So move second.
>> Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, >> abstain. >> Noted. Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams,
>> yes. >> Council President Figueroa Edenberg, >> yes. >> Motion carried. Ordinance 26-23, ordinance authorizing the transfer of city-owned property identified on the city of Trenton tax map as block 11403
lot 4.01 pursuant to NJSA 4812 AG to the county of Mercer for the sum of $139,000,500. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this ordinance at this time? Seeing none, madam president, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> Okay, we have a motion to approve.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Abstain. >> Noted. >> Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez,
>> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figureroa Edenberg, >> yes. >> Motion carried. On to resolutions. Madam President, do are there any resolutions you or the any of the council wish to extract from for questions or from
potential consent agenda this evening? >> Council President, >> wait, Mr. I'm sorry, Mr. Garcia. Um, I'd like resolution 26 uh 93 to be pulled. >> Pulled certainly. >> Yes. Thank you, >> Council President. >> Uh, Counciliano,
>> thank you. 26072 and 26073. Council President. >> Yes, ma'am. >> 26-084 085 086 um 26-089.
Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Councilman Gonzalez. Um just 2681 and uh uh uh 2690 >> 090
>> 090. Thank you. >> Oh, Council President. >> Yes, Council. >> I'm sorry. 26 Oh, no. I think I gave it to you. Never mind. I got it. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. >> Uh Councilwoman Edwards. Um should we
are we uh hearing from any of the people that are being requested to appoint to the transhistoric president? >> No ma'am they've already been appointed so being reappointed. Yes. >> Okay. For which one? >> I don't have any other questions. >> Okay. Perfect. Thank you. All right. Um
Councilman Feliciano 26072. Thank you, Council President. Um, I guess assistant BH Cherry or somebody. My question is for 26072. >> Good evening. >> Hello. >> How are you, madam council woman? Okay. How are you?
>> I am doing well. >> Good. Glad to hear it. Let's begin, shall we? So the question that I have for you is um not too long ago maybe about a month or so ago I had made
inquiry in about the union contracts for um 2281 2286 and about police and fire and where we were when it came to uh negotiations and settlement. I'm asking this only because I see that we're transferring money to and fro. So, I
figured this was a good time to ask the question because I do believe that it's important for us to um to handle the negotiations as these contracts have been out of out of um you know term for a minute. So, what's the status on it? >> Uh well, fire is not out of term.
>> Okay. um the uh or rather they they are just out of term uh for >> right >> 25 um police and the the ASKI unions we are in the process we're working with
DCA to move forward with those um they are continuing but obviously the the the negotiations are ongoing uh I will say however since we're talking about budget things just to add in there. We do have a salary adjustment
line in the budget uh and you will see in our proposed budget for this year uh even one in police directly and those lines go into a trust and that trust is used to cover retrop pay
>> the retrop pay. So, uh, even though we're not there yet, we're making sure that we're putting away the funding every year, we we add a little bit to that trust to make sure that we've got the funds to pay for the retro when when it >> Right. And that was the last time when
we did the last transfer, right, of the 3 million, whatever, we moved that over for police to cover for the retro for them. But will we be good for our ABSME union, the 2281 and 2286? Yes, that is the we have one salary adjustment trust
that covers everyone, >> right? >> Um we expect to be obviously we I can't make any commitments until we've completed those negotiations, but >> we expect that we will be covered. >> Okay. So, you said that you're back DCA,
you're working with them on it. So, have they been the holdup with this? Like what what has been the holdup with the negotiation process? I I wouldn't say that there's a holdup. It's it's just it's just a process. So, there are um
parts of the negotiations where that we're all still working out, >> but it is a conversation that is ongoing. Okay. >> Um it just includes DCA. Uh so there are there's a bit more moving parts than than with with a lot of uh negotiations.
>> Right. Okay. And so the concern was like I said in the email that I sent um the expiration time of them and then how we are here now, right? And so um I know that negotiations are something that's always touch and go as we as we move
along because it's a negotiation. But I do want to formally go on record to say that we do need to make sure that we look out for our employees and that's not just because of the time of year it is. It is because it is the right thing to do. I've always advocated um along with my council colleagues for our
employees to get their just due. So um we look forward to the outcome of this and these contracts being worked out and and settled accordingly. Um and I'll just leave that at that. Thank you for answering that question. >> I completely agree. >> Thank you.
>> Consent, Councilwoman. >> Yes, consent. Thank you, Council President. >> Uh Mr. Garcia, at this point in time, I do understand that there are three individuals here from the Trent Historic Preservation Commission that were appointed. I would like to allow them to just introduce themselves. >> Okay.
>> Okay. So, >> uh, what time would you like to do that? >> I would like to do that right now before we continue with the resolution questions. >> Understood. >> Um, if that's okay. I understand that there is a Carol Rogers, a Tom Phillips, and Merkel Cherry that are here this evening. >> So, can we call them up in that order,
please? Certainly, Mr. Rogers. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Just introduce yourself and let >> Carol Rogers, 912 Berkeley Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey.
Very happy to be nominated for reappoint. >> Thank you. Thank you, Miss Rogers. Thank you for being here this evening and thank you for your service. Thank you. Good. Good evening. I am Tom Phillips, 220 Jackson Street. >> Good evening, Tom. >> Good evening.
>> That's it. >> Quick. That's it. >> Okay. >> Thank you so much for your service. Thank you for being here this evening. >> Yeah, they're being originally No, it's they're being appointed. >> Uh,
good evening. I am the a Merkel cherry >> indeed. >> I uh thank you for the opportunity to serve on the uh landmarks board again and I appreciate the opportunity to work
to not have the historic uh fabric of the city of Trenton compromised. So thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Cherry. One second. >> Certainly a madam president. Okay. Thank you. We're good. Okay.
>> Um, Madam President, did you want to move on move along with resolutions at this time? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. And can I take this opportunity, Madam President, just to alert you to two walk-on resolutions this evening. They're labeled number 98 and 99. You should have copies of them in front of
you, council. And uh, Madam President, if you want me to read those, would you want like me to read those titles or if you'd like to? >> Yeah. Um, you can read the titles, Mr. Garcia. >> Certainly. So resolution 26-98
is a resolution authorizing a shared services agreement with the Mercer County Improvement Authority, MCIA, and the city of Trenton on behalf of the Department of Public Works for the disposal of solid waste generated in the city of Trenton. And
26-099 is a resolution accepting a bid and awarding a contract to Calgone Carbon Corporation for furnishing and delivery of power powdered activated carbon for the city of Trenton Department of Water and Sewer Trenton Waterworks Water
Filtration Plant for a period of one year and an amount not to exceed $819,000. >> Thank you, Mr. Garcia. Um, can we get to the two of these once we're finished with the other resolutions that the council colleagues have already expressed interest in asking questions for? >> Sure. >> Thank you,
>> Council President. >> Uh, yes, Council Feliciano. >> I'm going to have a question on 2698. >> That's fine. I'll get to them in a minute. Okay. I'll ask you guys your questions in a minute after we get through these. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> I believe we're at 73. Correct. >> We're at 73. Counciloman Feliciano. >> Thank you.
Hello. >> Hello. >> So, the question that I have is when did the bid for this go out? >> Uh, so give me one second to pull it up.
Uh this bid was or competitive contract was posted on uh December 16th, 2025 and was opened on January 9th, 2026. >> So we posted it up and then So it was
December 16th, >> correct? >> The holiday time came. and then January 9th it. So when we post this stuff like where where are we posting it at? Like are we doing like a broad search for this? My only question is you know I ask this all the time.
>> We've been using Mercadian for like forever and I'm not it's no slight to them or anything like that but how many years has the city been using them to do the auto work? It's like nine ten years, right? >> Uh something like that. I I don't recall but that seems that seems accurate,
>> right? So, how come why are we not getting other bids from other people? Like the time that we put the bid out, it seems like a short period of time. It's the holidays, like I said, people are moving around the new year and everything. Um, and I only asked because when I was employed at the comprollers's
office, I wrote the report about the um rotation of audit firms and the use and and and the like and everything like that because of the familiarity and just certain things, right? So, how come do we feel like it really is a long enough time to advertise? Are we advertising
broad and wide for this and really nobody else? I mean, I know we said it was just one that came in, but I'm wondering if it's due to the timing that this went out and everything and where exactly are we advertising that we always only get Mercadian for 10 years in a row. We
>> there Well, I will say while we did only get Mercadian this year, it is not the case that we always only get Mercadian. We do at times get other uh uh respondents but uh so far we haven't
seen any that were in the in the price range and competitiveness of Mercadian. Uh this time I I don't think it was the posting time. Usually obviously I can't know what the universe was like but
usually if a company feels that uh the duration is too short or it's an inconvenient time they will and obviously it's up to us whether we want to accept this or not but companies do reach out to us on other proposals and say hey this is not enough time for me
or hey uh you know I'd love to apply but this is not the right time of year. Um and in those cases at least we know that there's interested parties and sometimes can adjust our schedule. We to my knowledge did not get any such outreach
on this. Um all I can say is that we do have people on our distribution list. Um we post it to the website. If anyone what council members or members of the public knows anyone that might be interested, we absolutely encourage
reaching out to our division of purchasing, going on our website, register. We we would love to get more responses. More responses is from my perspective, the more responses we get, the better. Um, but we just haven't it
just hasn't manifested additional interested parties. It may be just that uh you know we're a municipality that's under oversight from the DCA which complicates the way that the audit gets handled and it can be a a burdensome
process. I know that they're going to work from uh where other municipalities might be a lot faster turnaround Mercadian's going to probably be working from now until September >> on this audit. um and other entities may
just not have interest in in um devoting that level of personnel to to this project. >> Okay. >> I don't know. I only ask because like looking with the scope of service and everything and what they're looking at, there's just certain things that
>> I just wonder why they were not picked up on by them or based upon different things that have been taking place, why they would not have looked a little bit deeper into certain things. I just I just wonder that. Um Okay,
thank you. Of >> course. Um roll call. Okay. Um, moving on. Uh, Counciloman Gonzalez 26081. >> Thank you, Council President. Just one
quick question on that. I was just curious to know Oh, I'm sorry. >> Vquest, what specific property or projects are we going to be using them for, or is it for all? This was actually specifically
done for the hotel. We're required to provide that for the grant. >> Oh, okay. >> Thank you. Consent. >> Okay. Uh 26084. Councilwoman Frisbee.
>> Thank you, Madam President. >> So, >> yes. >> Good evening, Dr. Mapelli. >> Good evening. Um, so I just have two quick questions. So, um, the first one is this says for though this is to benefit the homeless. So, I'm always
excited when we're getting grants in because we don't have to pay that back. Um, does this because when you have a fire, you're displaced. The people are now considered to be homeless. Do these funds also apply to those who are displaced when they their homes are when
they're burnt out? >> Um, uh, no. this this um the emergency solutions grant is the little sister of continuum of care. >> Okay. >> Um so it will go into street outreach, rapid rehousing, emergency shelter
services through organizations for uh when we do displacements, we do it directly through the office of uh social services. >> All right. So, and I asked the question because I did see in here um Catholic Charities and I know they have been
helping at times as well with those who are displaced. So that's why I was asking are these funds can any of that go into helping aiding those who have we've had so many fires during this winter and that's why I'm asking um and
I know that there we are short um in spaces where we can help folks especially maintain more than two weeks that's about all we're able to give now. Councilwoman, remember this these grants come from HUD. They're very specific on the way to be used and so they have to
go through a process. >> So the answer is no. They cannot go to that. Even though I would like to for that, as I said, we have our social services and we place them. Um usually when that happens, Red Cross is the first line, then we are the next in line.
>> Correct. >> Excellent. >> Yes. Yes. >> Thank you. Um, Councilwoman, >> so that that's um consent agenda. >> Thank you. >> 85. Um, I wanted to know with this one, how is it, um, how are we tracking the
needs of the individuals as we're going through this? Because this is great that we have this, but how do we keep track um, houses and then how is this information disseminated out to those in the community who are 60 and over so that
they can take advantage of this um, these funds? >> Okay. So fund uh for resolution 085 and 086. These are share agreements that we have every year um with Mercer County and this is for title three and title
20. These funds go for our um uh salaries of the um director of social services and social workers that we have. Uh so it goes directly into um uh funding their um salaries.
>> So this is staffing only. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. That's >> so we have a match >> right >> with comes from CDBG for these funds. >> Okay. All right. I'll keep looking as the funds come down. Um thank you. And then my last one that that's consent 85
and then 86. Um I it's not actually I don't have a um oh well I wanted to say one I'm glad that this includes that we can give refreshments um to our seniors. Um but also um that's really it for you. I wanted I believe there's a typo on the third page is all
um on the first line. >> Okay. >> Where it says um just recreation grant allocates funding for four senior sit. I believe that should be site supervisors for 35 hours. Uh that's the only thing. Sure. >> And that also is consent. Thank you,
sir. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam President. >> Council President. >> Yes, council. >> Before um Dr. Manika Pell leaves, can I just ask a quick question? >> Yes. >> Thank you. So, doc, I had got asked by a coworker um yesterday
what kind of um services we have for seniors that are blind. um if they wanted to come to the recreation centers or things like that. Um is that something we would consider
implementing? Have we thought about that? And if not, is that something that we can put on the radar? Because basically, I mean, and she's um she was asking for I guess a relative or a friend that maybe would want to just come and get out. Just because they
cannot see doesn't mean that they don't want to participate. But what would we have in place um that could that could assist them? Even if we were looking like from a liability standpoint, I don't know. But if they had like a caregiver
that came with them, if that was the requirement or something, um if we don't do it already, maybe we could look into expanding services because there are people out there. Absolutely. >> Um that asked for it and now that somebody came and actually asked for it, I was like, "Wow, that was never on my
radar." But um so what what are your thoughts? Yes, just real quick. >> That is a great suggestion. We want to expand the services for senior services. Um actually we have now a new coordinator for u the office of aging uh Miriam Vargas here. So she's trying to
implement new services, new protocols for the seniors and of course programming. Definitely this this is something that we can uh explore. Definitely. >> Thank you. So when we have the first senior citizen advisory Yes. uh meeting then that could be something that we
could uh possibly explore and and think about short for. Thank you so much. Thank you, Council President. >> You're welcome, >> Madam President. I'm sorry. There was just one other typo. Um on that same page, >> it says um seniors extra use and I
believe it should say senior seniors exercise. And that is in the first paragraph second to the last line. It says towards $9,450,000 towards seniors
excuse that should be exercised, I believe. >> And that's it. Thank you, Council President. Director, can can we change any um verbiage or make corrections to memos that have already been put out and
signed or or are those just kind of in the record for forever? It's kind of permanent record. >> Yeah, it's it can be changed. >> Go ahead. >> Yeah. I mean, we're not talking about the actual resolution ordinance, but as and the memo. So, that would be good.
Yeah. So her suggestions should be taken into consideration. Absolutely. Sure. They could be changed. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Uh, council vice president. >> Thank you very much. Um, so Counciloman Feliciano jog something in my mind and thank you very much for bringing that
up, ma'am. Um because we also I don't know uh how many uh are served by this or have a need but also folks who are hard of hearing or deaf if we have anyone on staff who uh can uh handle American Sign Language or any you know
communications that way also. That's also something else to consider. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. We have to look into all of those things definitely. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you director. Thank you so much and again congratulations on the reading um senior center. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Yes. Thank you. Um uh Councilwoman Frisbee 26-089 Department of Public Works, Mr. uh interim director Hector. >> Hello Council Hector. We are inter director DPW.
So, I wanted to ask wanted to ask the question, how are our levels right now with supplies when it comes to the salt that we do have here? Um, right now being that we've had such a harsh winter. That's the first question.
Well, since January, uh, as you may recall, we have had two snowstorms back to back that depleted our entire >> stock that we had. We do have 1,600 tons
order of molten salt that has not been delivered yet. Uh, that's not uh a issue with the department itself, but that's um an issue across the state as a whole. So we have we have reached out to them
and they responded that as soon as the ice on the Delaware uh melts we should be receiving some sort. >> Excellent. Thank you. And then the final thing I just wanted to commend you and your team on a job well done. You guys
did a phenomenal phenomenal job. >> Thank you. Um, there are those who will still complain. Never everybody will never be satisfied. But I was actually out there taking videos of your guys. They're just taking and moving and dumping it. I know we even ran out of
place to actually dump it. But um, every call was tended to. I want to thank you for your courteousness because there were people who were not kind when some folks showed up. And I just want to say you did your team, you and your team, they did you did a phenomenal job. Thank
you for your due diligence. Thank you for acting in per um a way that complements what the city this uh our capital city represents and that is excellent. So thank you again. >> All right, >> councilwoman is that consent? >> Yes, consent. >> Thank you. >> Thank you council. Thank everybody as
well. >> Stay right there. >> All right. >> I echo her sentiments. Thank you very much. I know I did post something today that you know Newark did not do so well and I actually commended how Trenton did on these two snowstorms. So thank you so much. Um, moving forward, I know
Councilman Gonzalez has a question for 26090. Um, really quickly, I just want to say that I had a question about I know there was a there was order for purchase of the the um resolution spoke to a purchase of two machines, but the invoice had one machine listed. I was
told that that was revised. Um, can you just speak to that because the invoice only had one machine listed for the 140,000, but the resolution spoke to two. >> All right. So um there's not a resolution to purchase. It's just a resolution to maintain uh these
machines. So last year we paved about 75 roads. >> So after paving these roads, our mill machine and our paving machine usually have to go through u a maintenance period. So JCO is on the Merc co-op and they are specialized vendor that handles
those machine. So that's why all this is all about >> right. But the resolution spoke to maintenance of two machines, but the invoice spoke to one. That's why I was told that it was revised. I just want to make sure. You know, was that uh you know, was that an error or you know,
what are we talking about? >> I don't think that was an error. Maybe because it's a it's one vendor maintaining both machines. So, probably that's why the invoice is just one. >> Hold on. Let me just pull Let me just pull the resolution really quickly just to be sure. 90
Yeah, you have it. Thank you. Oh, >> so yeah, the resolution says um Okay, you know what? >> No, then it was I'm sorry. I'm talking about the wrong one. I apologize. My apologize. My apologies, director.
Sorry. >> Uh Councilman Gonzalez. >> Yes. So, I just have quick questions and you kind of just spoke to a little bit of it. Um, you said we did 75. I was going to ask if we can give an update as to how many we plan to do this year. Um,
and really quick, um, or if you could give us an, you know, email us an updated list as to what's going to be done. Um, but what has been done and what's going to be done? And then two, I wanted you to just speak to the process of a pothole, right? Like what is the process for that? cuz I'm getting a lot
of complaints about that. So, we want to know just for the public to know, you know, is there a number we can call um just so that they can say this street needs, you know, some type of attention. What should we do? Uh director, >> so the number to call is 6099893200.
609-98932000. >> So, they can report it there. That is our streets division and number they respond to alleyways and streets. Well, as far as potholes, um so public works with different season. So we go
into snow season after snow season we go into pothole season then paving season leaves and then back into snow again. So after the snowstorm, it is expected that most of the holes that we have on the streets are cracks. Water is going to
freeze in those holes and crack the street that thus creating potholes all over the city. Well, other than that, there's also tons of work being done around the city. PSNG, water department and other con contractors digging the
street as well. So our job is to maintain the street. Um, right now we are transitioning into fixing potholes right now. But potholes cannot be fixed when the ground is still wet. So we're waiting on the ground to at least dry up
a little bit. We'll be out there for the past 2 three days. LA last weekend we had a little bit of sunshine. Our guys have been out there fixing potholes. We are fixing at least about 40 to 60 potholes per day right now. And then uh
as our paving season comes, most of those streets with many potholes are high on our priority list. So those are the streets that will start to pay first before we go down the line. >> Thank you. Can you um when you have a minute, can you email us like an updated
list? I know we got one like last year before those 75 were done, but at least so we can know when people call and ask us, we can say, "Hey, it's on the list." >> Okay, sure. We can do that. >> Thank you so much. consent director way really quickly. Um, so I found what I was talking about. >> Okay.
>> So, in in the the title of that resolution, it does say resolution authorizing a contract to Bobcat of Jessco, Inc. for the repair and purchase of parts for one Wrin Milling Machine and one Vogle Super Paving Machine on as
needed basis. Um, so that that to me sounds like two separate machines, right? But then when you look at the invoice, it does say quantity one. service repair paving equipment for 14 thou $140,000. So that that was where my concern was. >> It should be two. >> There should be two. Okay. So,
>> council president. >> Yeah. With anybody with was it changed? >> I'm sorry. Not to cut you off. In the description, it says service, repair, paving equipment, repair, and purchase of parts for one word milling machine
and one Vogle paver machine $140,000. So I would think it would be so council to your point. Yeah, that was changed and that was my that was my that was my request to make it changed in docker review and I don't have that. So thank you. >> Yeah, this is the original as you guys can see. Yes, thank you so much.
>> Thank you. >> I have one >> want to make sure that was changed. Thank you. >> I'm sorry. Can I ask him a question real quick? >> Perfect. Yes. >> Thank you, council president. Um >> Yep. >> The re So um what are you the acting director? >> Interim director. >> Interim.
>> Okay. Hey, interim director. So, um, with with with regard to all these potholes that we get, right? Are we using the right material to fill the potholes? Because like they last a while
in some places and then they're faulty again. Like, is the problem the fact that we're not buying the very best uh pothole filler stuff to make it to make it right? Like why do we why do we
have to keep doing this? Like it's all over the city. I mean and I get it and things happen, right? But are we investing in the right material to make it so that we don't have so many occurrences of these potholes happening?
>> So council um most times when these holes have been repaired, they've been repaired temporarily. So >> temporary fill. So what do we >> temporary fill? So >> to get it permanently filled. >> So when the hole is repaired temporarily, it takes 3 months to come
back and do permanent repair. So what happens is we cannot control who digs in a row as far as the the lead program, PSNG and other utilities that have to dig on emergency basis. Now when they
put down temporary cool patches and all that, then the snowstorm comes. There's no way we could control that because they right >> the coal patch that is placed on the ground they had to come back three to four months to come back and do that. Now with all ample time to do that is
hard for us to control it. All we doing right now is just to do um putting bandaids on those roads until those roads can be repaved. >> But a lot of them aren't being tore up by PSC and J G and everybody. They're just tore up period. So the question is
do you keep an inventory log of where you have put temporary patches and where you put permanent fixes? >> Yeah, we do. Uh we do have periodic monthly meeting with PSNG. We have monthly meeting with the water
department. Uh last year PSNG um complemented most of their work by paving most of Honian last year because they duck in that row as well. the water department is doing so um through their program lead service line replacement. >> No, but I mean not through them even.
I'm talking about if I'm just riding through certain streets, they they haven't dug it up. It's tore up. You put a patch on it. Are you keeping an inventory or was under the former director before you? >> Yeah, we do inventory. Do you know where
patchwork has been? >> Yes. >> And where permanent work is? >> Yes. because we gave road opening permits off to them. >> So they cannot dig in a road unless we know that they duck into the road. So you have a record in the city is because somebody dug in it.
>> No water and PSNG duck most of the potholes in the city. >> No, I get it. I'm not even talking about PS. I'm talking about the the regular year, the places that are just wear and tear in the road and the potholes have
formed. Are we aware for those areas throughout the city of where band-aid fixes have been applied? So that way, you know, to go back and say, "Oh, on Greenwood at the light, that's the temporary patch. We have to go back and fill it with the appropriate material."
And do we have the appropriate material so that when we go back and fill this stuff, it eliminates us having to constantly put band-aids on it? Do we need to spend a little bit more money on more appropriate material is the question because if we keep doing this,
we're we're getting complaints constantly and pictures and this is just again wear and tear on the roads. But if it's a matter of us buying and investing in the proper um the proper material so we don't have to keep bandating it then maybe we need to look at that. Have we
have we done that? Is that a possibility? Is that the reason? >> Yes. So we do have inventory of all the potholes in the city but as of now the snow that's melting right now is it starts to reveal new
potholes. So what we doing? We are having surveys all around the city as of 2 three days ago and we are jotting down every potholes in the city. We start to tackle them this going weekend and we continue to work on them.
>> So we have good material. Yes. that will do more than just put a band-aid on these potholes. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Council President. >> Councilman Edwards, >> while we're on the subject, I have a question. Uh, director,
Greenwood was just repaved just a few months ago. >> There's a new development happening on Greenwood between Chestnut and Mammoth. They dug into the freshly paved street
and then patched it back over. And at first it was like a little speed bump, but now it's a it's like a crater. >> And you got to come to a complete stop now to go from from the gas stations to
the train station in that direction on that side of the street on the same side of the street of the development. On the other side, it's tolerable. But on that side of the street, you you'll tear your axles and tires up. I drive down that street every day because I live in Villa
Park and I got to come down here or somewhere in the city. I'm experiencing this. I know other people are experiencing this and I have a I have an SUV, you know, I can handle that, but these smaller cars can't handle that. It's tearing up a lot of people's vehicles. So, what is the standard when
people are paving that road? It should be patched back perfectly leveled. Perfectly leveled. It We fought to have Greenwood repaved for years and it was finally repaved and then they did a patchy patch job. So what what is the
administration doing to hold them to the standard of returning it back to the condition in which they found it and not leaving it to cave in like that with cheap material or I don't know what it is, but this is not good. It's not okay.
And there's other instances like that too in Bismar on my street >> where we had it repaid. I'm sorry to cut you off but within 30 days it was cut into and it wasn't >> back flat and I'm seeing this happen all over a city
>> but I'm experiencing it too. So I want to bring that to your attention just firsthand experience. So, council, it's like um I'm frustrated just as you are. Same way. Uh it's like you pave a brand new road, a draft down
the road, I feel some sense of accomplishment and then come back the next day is a cut. So, it's the same thing that um we are working on. So we have come up with a moratorum list of all these streets um
one year, two year, three years moratorum list uh within 5 years if you cut through the streets you must repave curb to curb and also we are holding accountable too to do infrared so um we don't have sinking the road uh
to to their argument is that just the same thing I just explained they have to temporarily patch the and then come back after 3 4 months to do the permanent um repairs. Um most of these digging are either emergency
digging by gas line or water lines and it's impossible for public works to put hot to these um projects. But um we are going to fix these things. We are working on it right now. And um if it calls for our inspector to put stop to
some of those work, we will do it. >> Yes. I appreciate that. Uh and is there something so on a because it's not always the gas and you know emergency situations. These are new developments. Yes. >> And as we work to rebuild our city and
hope to get new developments, especially since a lot of these buildings have been demolished, they have to dig into the ground to replace gas lines and run new lines and things like that. So that doesn't fall under the emergency side of things. So when they need to pull a permit to dig into the ground for these
gas lines, are they being told this is the standard in which you need to repave this and holding them accountable for that? >> Yes, they are. >> Okay, >> they are. And uh we will we'll do our best. >> Okay. >> And doing better.
>> Is that a contract or something anything written? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes, we do have a return list that we give them. um and they know they have a standard, they have specs on what to do, they have um certain level to compact.
Sometimes the compaction is just not too well and those are things that we're going to hold them accountable to. >> So then what's the response when when you know there's moratorium and they repave it and then it's not up to standard. What's the response to that?
Uh we have to wait and see and see if they did it work first and we have to go back and then re-examine the road and inspect um to make a determination >> and then it's determined that they need to fix it because it's not okay.
>> Oh. Then we going to bring them back to do the work or we put put a stop or heart to any other work that they have to do around the city. >> But you make them pay for it and do it over. >> Yes. >> Okay. That's the response I was hoping to hear. >> Yes. Thank you, >> Council President.
>> Council President, >> Council Vice President. >> Um, I just want to uh thank Councilwoman Edwards for bringing that up because that particular uh area on Greenwood is atrocious and I know it's been asked about before and I'm glad to hear that we're going to be making developers pay
for those things rather than putting hook on the city as may have been done in the past. But I also have another question about a tenant in our city uh the state of New Jersey uh regarding the uh street on Market Street in front of Justice Hughes complex. I know you all
have looked into it and you've gotten enough complaints if you might be able to uh get an update on when they're going to fix all the potholes there or at least put a skim coat because >> it's going to be paved this year. So >> Okay. So are we for this portion now are
we responsible in front of justice Hughes or does that come under state in New Jersey? >> Well we are responsible for the portion before the light and then after the light um that would be the state. >> Okay so from the light down to the uh 29 the river that's the state. Yes.
>> So that's the portion that yeah they haven't done it and it's getting worse and worse. So, if there was a way um to gently ask or strongarm somebody to do it what they're supposed to do, that would be appreciated by many drivers. >> Thank you, Council President.
>> Yes, Counciloman. >> I just have one more question. So when PSEG or other people dig up the the ground when they don't go back curb to curb or like if something is found a miss and let's say somebody rides and
their car is messed up and they file a torque claim form with the city when we go back to address PSEG or whomever caused the issue. Do we also have it where if any torque claims happen
uh in that area that they were fixing that they also would be responsible for that as well or does the city have to eat that um if it's found to be so like do we do we have that in there to to make them pay if claims are put in?
>> Council president might jump on on the acting director's behalf. >> Yes. Go ahead. um those tour claim notes. The purpose of those tour claim nots are to allow municipalities to investigate what's being claimed. So when we get those, they're reviewed. We just don't get them in circular file them. If we see that it's something
that's either state property or private property or something that's not the city's responsibility, we let that be known to the either the person pro plan for the attorney filing the tour claim notice that it's not our responsibility. Therefore, we deny it typically through CRC. Okay. Um, however, that doesn't
necessarily stop people from filing a complaint. Um, if we do get a complaint, notwithstanding, are advising them that it's not our responsibility. Um, we have to handle that through the court system typically by way of a motion to dismiss, we're putting before the court, this is not our responsibility. And then the case, um, assuming that, assuming that
be accurate, will be dismissed against the city. But we try to get ahead of it when we get to tour claims by advising them, any claim you bring against city is frivolous because it's not our property. >> Got it. Thank you. Thank you, Council President. >> Council colleagues, is that consent?
>> Thank you. >> Director, please don't go anywhere. Um, there's a walk on tonight 26098. Um, resolution authorizing share services agreement between the Mercer County Improvement Authority, MCIA, and the city of Trenton on behalf of the
Department of Public Works for the disposal of solid waste generated in the city of Trenton. I did ask about this walk-on. Um can you please um share with us why this walk-on is necessary this evening? >> Mr. President um
this a shared service agreement. Uh we I brought this in front of you for acceptance so that uh DPW can continue to do business with MCI. Um they are the only entity that we have to use to dispose of our garbage um through the
transfer station. So all this is doing is just to authorize us to continue doing work with them. Uh we do dispose of our garbage at the transfer station at Odin Avenue. Uh this is asking that DBW uh seek not to
have it service interrupted. Um they are threatening to interrupt our service if we don't go through this agreement with them. >> So um Mr. Way, I know that I mean we're in March right now. I know you just assumed your position. Um, is this a
normal time frame for this to go through or should this have gone through say in January where we at? >> Well, I'll say this is the normal time frame because u works and modalities starts to be put in place from January
until now. I have gone down to MCI office and had several meeting with them and then uh we were able to come up with this agreement. >> Okay. So here on March 3rd, should this not have been allowed to be walked on? I'm just saying what are the
repercussions? >> Well, the reason why we walked it on is because we have started curing bills from January until now. So um I'm just perplexed in keeping this until next council meeting. >> Okay. Thank you,
>> Council President. Council, >> thank you. What? It says here that the term is for 15 years. What was the term before this one? We do this every 15 years.
>> Well, I think I'll let Colin answer this. This was well before me. So, >> okay. I just we going 15 years. Is this the normal time frame? But what what was the term that expired 1231
2025? What was that term? Um, Councilwoman, as far as I'm aware, we haven't had a shared service agreement in place prior to this. we've been kind of operating on a yeartoear and we're just trying to make sure that we have something in place that works for
everyone that is um >> obvious trackable and transparent for everyone. So >> I'm only ask because 15 years is a long time. >> It is a lot and change between now and 15 years. >> Um obviously we it's a shared service
agreement. go back and and adjust it if necessary. But as the director said, uh this is part of the Mercer County solid waste management plan. >> So we don't have there isn't another entity within Mercer County that would
dispose of solid waste. So if that changes though, we can certainly re uh reapproach this this shared service agreement. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Council President. >> Yes. Anyone else? Okay. Thank you. Consent.
Um Mr. Garcia at this time also um we have another resolution walked on 26099 which you already read into the record. Um Director Simple, can you please speak to why this is a walk-on and why this is necessary this evening? This came in in
the absolute final hour today. Good evening, council president, council members. >> So, carbon is a chemical that we that is mandatory for our process at the filtration plant. Also, if you saw
earlier, we had an an emergency appropriation for for carbon. Um we tried to get this out in time but within our bid specifications we also advertised for a equivalent product that so one company reached out
to us and they said they had a equivalent and they were testing this equivalent product. They never up till this la last week couple weeks ago they never showed up with the test for us the test. So we decide to cut them
and move on. We've never experienced this before with somebody come up because the reason why we do the equivalent method is because we don't want we didn't want to make it a proprietary bid. So this is why we give any other entity an opportunity to
provide equivalent product that we could use that we have to approve. So this that held us up a lot. So we did the um temporary um that was approved earlier that's in the budget earlier. We had to do that because I don't want to take any
chances with any chemicals when it comes to that that plant. So, it's not that we're going to run out, but we're close. And this is why. And I didn't want to take the chance because even when we did the emergency appropriation, the truck broke down and
then we had the snowstorms. I can't take any chances. So, I just want to make sure that we have enough chemicals to continue operating the plant. >> Thank you, director. from allowing this walk- on this evening. Any council colleagues have any questions about this walk on?
Seeing none, no. Thank you so much. Consent. >> Thank you very much. >> Gracia, we can proceed. Madam President, if those are all the questions this evening, if you want to ask for a motion to approve a consent
agenda consisting of >> President Council President uh yes, Councilwoman Edwards, >> before we get to the consent agenda, there are a few things on here that I believe I have to abstain from. as being
an employee. I don't want to give any misperceptions or allow for any accusations of voting on county stuff. >> What are what are those resolutions? >> Thank you. Um they are beginning with
021. >> Uhhuh. >> 022 >> 023 082 and 083. >> Uhhuh. >> And 086. >> Okay.
>> And 0 98 that we just walked on. >> Okay. Uh Mr. Garcia, can we roll call 021 uh 022 023 082 083 086 and 098.
>> So yes, you said hold on a second. 02 one is an ordinance that we just >> Oh, that was ordinance. Yes. Oh, 0123 were ordinances we already voted on. Councilwoman, >> so we're looking at >> Yeah, you already obtained >> a roll call for
>> 82 83, I'm sorry. >> Yeah. No, Councilwoman. Yeah. 02122 and 23 were ordinances that you already abstained from. We're talking resolution. >> Oh, you know what? I did go back too far. >> Yes. So resolution 0828386 and 98. >> I did abstain from those. Sorry. >> That's okay.
>> Yes. All of the resolutions, >> those last four resolutions. 828386 and 98. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh Mr. Garcia, can we roll call those? >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Certainly. So that will be now a consent agenda for
resolutions 2670, 2671, 72, 95. One moment. I'm sorry. >> No. No. Okay. So, we are at what was that? I'm sorry.
95. Um, roll call for 73. >> No. >> Yeah. >> 73. She said, "Oh, you asked. I apologize." Okay. >> Okay. >> So, 16. >> Sorry. Yeah. Madam President, we can
actually go forth with a consent agenda this this evening and uh Councilwoman Edwards would be accepting the consent agenda with the exception of abstain abstensions from 82 83 86 and 98. >> Thank you. And um Counciloman Feliciano
wants to roll call 073. >> Yes, of course. So to begin with, if you want to ask for a motion to approve an ex consent agenda consisting of all the resolutions with the exception of 73. >> Uh, Councilwoman Edwards.
>> Yes. Recusal, not abstain. >> Your recusing. Yes. For the record, recusal. Okay. Yes. Mr. Garcia, please proceed. >> So moved. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards,
>> yes. >> Thank you. With those exceptions, of course. Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> And Council President Figuro Kenberg,
>> yes. >> Motion carried. And for a roll call, resolution 26-073. Could I have a motion to approve? Some >> moved. Second. Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman
Edwards. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano. >> No. >> Noted. Councilwoman Frisbee. >> Abstain. >> Noted. Uh, Councilwoman Gonzalez.
>> Yes. >> Thank you. Vice President Williams. >> Yes. >> And Council President Figuro Kenberg. >> Yes. Noted. Motion carried. Moving us on to ordinances for first
reading. Ordinance 26-24. Ordinance authorizing the execution of an amendment to disposition agreement and sale of city-owned properties to Vista Center Development LLC. And Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve.
>> We have a motion to approve. >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano. Mr. Garcia, >> can I ask a question? Council President, >> really quickly. Um,
>> no. >> Go ahead, Council F. I had a question as well. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Can we Um, no. I was saying no. Like, let me just get this off the Please. Um, with regards to this, because it's an LLC,
are we supposed to see the formation documents as we asked for when we said we were moving forward with stuff, even though this is one from before? Um, shouldn't we still have the documentation that we would ask for now?
>> So, Councilman Fissa, that's a good question. I know we had asked um uh CVP myself and Councilwoman Edwards had um had had the question or council I'm sorry CVP and myself had the question because we didn't have our HD committee
this this week. Um we posed a question about the litigation and what these properties actually consisted of. Um and Docker review BA Richardson was not able to provide those answers nor was um Mr. Cherry. Um, do we have answers to
what these properties actually these addresses are that the this consists of? >> Council President, may I respond to that? >> Sure. >> Uh, yes. You may recall that this was um before this body probably a month and a half ago. And the question at the time was exactly what you asked. Where where
were the properties located? Subsequent to that, I believe what's in your packet are basically renderings and maps of not only the properties but the renderings of the uh project itself. So I I I believe that's what we uh provide you was the specific properties um with
respect to the um ownership of the LLC. That was not a question um that was given to me at that time, but I am more than happy to provide that to you guys um first thing tomorrow morning. Um we have a representative here, but I will provide that to you in writing if that is a question that you'd also like answered.
>> Um director, can you can you tell me what those property addresses are, please? Uh if you give me the packet that I gave you with the property after part of the new packet then >> yeah this >> we didn't have them initially >> going to back the rendering stuff
>> the these were the the properties were provided with the with the >> we did not have it for docker review and the questions were not answered for us in docker review either >> and council president the uh original uh resolution from 2008 uh 2007
>> uh that we requested was not provided to us either. Exactly. Thank you. >> So, I'm I'm very concerned about this. >> Well, I will also have to provide the I I don't have them listed off of I don't have them listed here. I have >> the renderings and the location of them.
I don't have the lot and description, but you can see them on here. I will also provide that as well. Um >> yeah, the specific questions that were provided by CVP and myself for docker review, we're asking for those property addresses. Um again we were told by BA Richard Bridges that that which she
would um you know uh allude to the department for those answers which we did not receive. >> Okay. Well I I will provide them. I do have additional documents showing that. I just I I was not anticipating that question so I don't have them here but I
will provide that as well as the um association of the LLC. >> Okay. So respectfully at this time without having that information provided um I would like to table this ordinance. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank council president. May I ask that
we get in the middle of a roll call? >> Excuse me Mr. Garcia CB. >> May I ask that we also be provided that resolution of 2007 originally for this? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Yes. So for um before the next meeting, we would like to have that information.
Thank you. um the list of the addresses um the LLC information as Councilman Feliciano requested and the previous um ordinance information please. Thank you. >> Mr. Garcia, you can proceed. >> Uh certainly. I believe we were in roll call vote for the approval of this
ordinance. So for that purpose, uh Councilwoman Feliciano, was your vote? >> We want to >> What if we want to stop it? >> No, wait. We're already in the middle of a vote >> and pull by administration. Yeah. >> Thank you.
>> 24. Right. >> Ordinance 26. Ordinance 26-25 rescending the sale of city own property previously authorized to Muhammad Islam pursuant to Ordinance 269 25-90 for the property located at 1055 South
Clinton Avenue, block 18901, lot 52. >> May we have a motion to approve? >> So moved. Oh, second. >> Madame President, >> yes. Council, >> I have a question about this. Um,
I know it's going back to the city, but I my question is we know that the if we do we know was there more than one bid put in on this property? And if so, do we contact the previous individuals or entities that
put in a bid on this to let them know that this bid is back on the roll? Good question. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Um for this particular one, I do not know
>> but that is something that we will do first thing in the morning. Uh actually after the second reading for this one. So as we move forward and we have issues um have have these types of ordinance or these
um come up will that be the standard procedure because we know that there were others who previously expressed interest in some of the other properties and if they are make are not made aware and it's now back on the roll. It's I I want to just make sure
that we're being fair to everyone, those who first expressed interest in it, that they get first um added in order to acquire the property. >> Yes. I view it as we're we're going to start the process over, but looking at the applications that are already on file. It's not I'm not going to we're
not going to put it out for the for the public to apply for it first. We're going to first go to the people who already applied for it. So, if this if a sale gets rescended, we'll go back to the people that already applied for the property. >> Excellent. Thank you, >> council president. Can I just say
something real quick to um >> I think director >> Vasquez. Hello, director. >> Hello. >> Hi. >> So, for I just want to just say real quick, thank you for your willingness to work with the council on trying to get
things straight. Um, there was a misinterpretation before at a meeting of what who I was referencing when I said about leadership when it came to Hed. It did not in any way my my comments had nothing to do with you and you stepping
up and stepping in to look to rectify what has been going on. And I just want to thank you for your for your willingness to listen and for you working with the council to try to set the standards so that we can eliminate some of the problems that we've had. And
so I just wanted to say thank you to you um for what it is that you do and for hanging in there and trying to get things straight. >> Thank you. Thank you, Council President. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Okay. Uh Mr. Garcia, can we please proceed?
>> Certainly. I believe we're at roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams,
>> yes. >> Council President Figuro Keber, >> yes. >> Motion carried. Ordinance 26-26, an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 2, article 11, boards and
commissions of the city of of of the Trenton city code, adding two organizations to the multicultural heritage board. >> May we have a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. >> A council president. >> Council Gonzalez.
>> Yeah. I just I see it has me listed as I know I I asked for the them to be added on, but this actually was created by Councilwoman Feliciano and I see my name up here >> like the actual board was created was her idea. So if we could just change my
name to Feliciano. >> Certainly. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> Understood. Um with that being said, roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Feliciano,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figuro Kenberg, >> yes. >> Motion carried. And Madame President,
that I believe that brings us to public comment this evening. >> No. And to the public, public comment will be five minutes for each individual listed. You may address any matter that you wish. The council is not obligated
to respond. Please state your name and address for the record. And first individual listed for public comment is Victor. as honor again. Uh name is Victor Iris, 19 Morland Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey.
Uh I'd like to uh address the article by L A Parker. Uh he's on point. The only thing he doesn't uh do and I believe when you bring some to the table, you have a resolution or something to argue or debate. And uh
there's always one sided where he's accusing and uh bringing out four individuals uh department of uh well, you know, first of all, city hall, the mayor, uh city council of the uh police
department and so forth. And there's nothing wrong with that. But the solution I mean I believe he should bring something to the table as intelligent as he is being that he uh again calls themselves a advocate for immigration and representative of I guess down in Tendon and uh those needed
help as far particularly on I believe we live on Franklin in the Chambersburg area. uh being that this is a problem again that um no one wants to acknowledge that there's the war of good and evil which is God and the devil but is actually physical
like what's happened what happened to Iran uh these so-called Muslim representing Islam and are not but representing uh communism socialism which is uh what we call well I call the devil's actual
devil's politics and not God's politics which is democra Y and uh uh capitalism according to the Bible the way I see it and uh uh these law enforment these four this four there's four examples that uh
he brings all four off in the paper and two of them have to do with law enforcement and uh the individuals that uh these guys these officers have experiences these you got lieutenants then from lieutenant underneath is a captain and sergeant so forth and then
trust uh train uh street officers would to do what the the one with the less seniority or rank. What he did was to uh in other words steal something property from the police uh cage or lockup and he got reprimanded to
the point where he went to the PPT or something like some kind of program and alcohol treatment and so forth. So he got away with it. the ones with higher ranks, they were allowed to retire with pensions. Now you got two other uh examples, one in Mercy County, one in
healthcare uh system where uh they in the way it is written here lost their jobs or got heavily penalized. uh there's uh and then law enforcement from corrections all the way up into uh you know uh let me say what I say state police in New Jersey for example each
officer gets about approximately when I was a correctional I think I got about maybe eight nine 10 well I say maybe a nine of what do you call courtesy cards who are passed out to individuals who they who the officer feels uh is uh was
worthy of getting one of those cards. So, and there was a calculation where in New York there's 24,000 uh police officers and each one gets 20 cards maybe once a year. That was like 48,000 people out there besides law enforcement officers which is 24 with
cars, courtesy cars that they can once stopped by officers uh they can with uh are not penalized. Now, these are for these pen these uh violations are supposed to be for minor uh infections. But so if you're speeding
or parked illegally, okay, that's minor. Okay, you can go. But some of these individuals are carrying substances that we know are directed towards now I'm going to get specific because I've been here a few a few a few year now. Uh specifically through the tribe of
Shabbaz, which is the bloodline of Jesus Christ through Mary his mother. She had uh uh African which is African. You take that back further Asiatic bloodline. So uh this is directly primarily uh specifically to uh destroy the what we
used to call black community but now it's actually trial of Shabbaz cuz you got black people destroying them. And that's Lucifer against uh uh what I call Elohim. All right. The the god the god uh uh go the godhead. So, um, my point
here is that I'm saying that the officers we have in Trick, New Jersey, like I came up and during the time I came up, there was a a process where gang members and drug dealers and uh, so so would be gangsters could uh, infiltrate law enforcement and the
military. And I did that and I, you know, I did pretty well. But then as I matured then I changed my way of thinking my my mindset and I got more into politics and then I got into religion. So I
>> Oh thank you. Shenique Talia Pharaoh. Oh Jesus. We got to come. Hello. Good afternoon everyone. My name is Sean Arthur. I'm a resident of West Trenton. We are here to honor our council woman, our friend, our sister
leader Crystal Feliciano, and we're from Black Women, New Jersey. Um, good evening, um, council president, um, vice president, and all our council colleagues. It's so good to see you tonight. Thank you for all of your service and everything you do for our
great city of Trenton. Um, as you guys know, uh, today we're here not only as a community member, but on behalf of Black Woman New Jersey, your sisterhood rut in honor legacy, faith, and the woman who came before us. Crystal has experienced a tremendous loss recently, the loss of
her grandmother, a true matriarch whose life have shaped generations. We understand that behind every strong woman is often a praying grandmother guiding you with your v her voice, the foundation of wisdom and strength. And tonight we just pause for one moment as
your community, as your sisters, to honor that legacy. As you have served so many of us in this great city, we wanted to know that your city is standing behind you, that your sisterhood is with you, and as you
grieve, we're grieving with you. On behalf of Blackwoman New Jersey, it is our privilege to present you with a revol um this resolution as a symbol of our love and our gratitude and remembrance not just for the life she
lived but the legacy that she has and will live through you and so many other life that she has impacted. Crystal, may you feel surrounded in this season by the love of your colleagues, by your communities that you serve, by the
organizations that you're in. Not just for this moment, not just during the funeral, but after. We love you. We're with you. And you are not alone. And as you, our
council woman, serve this city, our great city of Trenton, New Jersey, we wanted to let you know personally and publicly we stand with you through your grieving. Thank you. >> And we want you to treat yourself. Don't
cheat yourself. We got your little gift card here for Cheesecake Factory. Um, so we're going to give this to the clerk. >> Okay. >> The clerk serves council. Um, do we get this too? Okay.
Thank you for all you do. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Merkel. Jerry Good evening, uh, council president, council vice president, and, uh, council members.
Uh, first I just want to share my condolences, uh, for, uh, Councilwoman Feliciano as at your loss. uh couple of things
and there are more observations and maybe some potential suggestions that uh might be considered. One is um we we have a the the residents in the city need a little help at least
around the arena. Now, I'm in favor of of individuals coming to our city and trying to being a destination place and uh them uh taking advantage of some of the great events that they have at the arena. But the individuals over in those
areas, we don't have for the most part off streetet parking and the residents are being disrespected and and uh dismissed to some extent by individuals who are coming from outside of the city.
My suggestion is that you take a look at how maybe you can use the uh parking enforcement officers. That's a a a time where you can maybe generate a little revenue for the city. Uh let the individuals in the community know that
you care about their uh quality of life and uh give us an opportunity to to park at least somewhere near uh where we uh reside. And I've been in the city for over 44 years. I know for some of you
that still makes me a newcomer, but I'm not going anywhere. So, and the other thing is related but different, and that's about the space holders, the space savers, the chairs, the sofas, the
refrigerators, whatever they decide to put out there. My suggestion is that maybe stickers are issued to again maybe parking enforcement officers, uh, inspectors and department of inspections. And I don't think it should be something
that's on the shoulders of the police department, but have the stickers with some message that says this was issued by an official of the city of Trenton. What that does, you put the sticker on the item and then the individuals come back, they pick it up, have them move
the item out of the space and it it it uh decreases the chances that there are going to be conflicts between neighbors cuz if the item is moved and someone thinks it's their neighbor, then what they are inclined to do is decide that
it's an issue. Now I sh for 8 hours one snowfall and seven and a half the other. So I understand the need to want to save a space but I saw individuals uh actually traveling now with their buckets they put this the wherever they
decide to park they'll stick it there and if they're going to come back to that particular spot. And finally, something just uh as a uh item of interest in my role as the um
chief operating officer for the Henry J. Austin Health Center. You know, we've been around for about 60 years now. Uh the uh resolution 26096. Just a couple of questions
about you know have there been any uh modifications to the uh technical functions since the original bid was issued? Are there any agenda or amendments that revise the scope of the
ordinance? Any changes affecting original timelines, deliverables or performance standards? are any changes to uh to the required service delivery locations, any changes to language uh outlined in
the comprehensive services and that's just as a matter of interest. Uh thank you. Appreciate you allowing me to come before you. And I know I said it was going to be a complaint, but I
didn't really complain. Aziz Bay. Good evening. Um, just wanted to say that uh I just moved here from Brooklyn, New York. Um and uh
my first time being in a council meeting and uh it's an outstanding city. You guys are doing a great job. Um the city reminds me of my hometown. I grew up in um Brownstone, Brooklyn and Bedstey. And
uh I came here because it reminded me of Brooklyn. So I was like, "Okay, I could get a house here. It's cheaper like, you know, do it all, you know, do it on my own." Um, my family said Trenton. But, um, I seemed like, uh, I made a
right decision. I'm happy they elected a great council. Um, I did have one complaint, however, though. Um the corner of my property 302 West State Street um the sidewalk around the around the house um was first impacted by um
from what I'm told either Amazon or Comcast was digging right in front uh of the house on the sidewalk and it looks like a complete mess and I can't seem to get them to correct the problem. Not just me but my neighbor at 304
uh West State Street. Um and um they came and kind of did a patchwork job, but then there's dirt and gob everywhere. I contacted the inspector and uh they said they're trying to get the contractor to come back and correct the problem. But uh it's an it's an
issue for me because I wasn't even notified that they were going to be doing any digging or laying any uh what they say internet lines underneath the ground. Um but that's one side and then it's a corner. saw on the corner of Calhoun um which was there has nothing to do
with Comcast. It's just the the sidewalk is very uneven and I you know would like you know some counsel myself on if I can get any help correcting that uneven sidewalk because I notice when people walk around the side of the house they tripping on brick that's been there for
ages. Um I don't know how many decades it's been there and uh you know I don't want the entire liability to fall on me but um other than that um I'm looking I told all my people back in Brooklyn you know they got to come to Trenton you know good people you know hopefully
bring some tax revenue and keep you guys in business and we continue to grow this uh this great city of Trent. So, thank you. Thanks, >> Robin Vaughn. >> Hi. Good evening, council.
Robin Vaughn, 1100 Dyson Avenue. Um, Oops. I just want to say that we all know lots going on in our country, in our state, our county, and
here locally. Many common issues. We can't hold DJT, the orange man, accountable when many of us are behaving the same way. And many of us have tons of
conflicts of interest. And conflicts of interest uh prevents you from doing your job that you signed up for. So I I I the Mercer County Democratic Committee meeting
and I saw there the president of council. I saw there the law director and I saw there the mayor. So again, we're a nonpartisan municipality.
And um the last voting record that the county clerk sent me, uh most of city residents are registered una. They're not registered as Democrats. They're not registered as
Republican. They're not registered Libertarian, Green Party, or anything of the like. They're registered as unaffiliated. So, when you go out there and cape
and for a party, it tells a lot. It tells a story. You're bought and boss, you owe. And um when people pay for your campaigns, uh this is what happens. You're compromised. And you know what it feels like when you
got to vote the way they tell you to vote, right? So, I'm just going to end that there. And one thing I do want to talk about is the NJBIA article on Trenton. The city of Trenton,
New Jersey has the largest foreclosure rates in the country. And I just want to hope that your the council is doing something about that as well as the director of housing and economic development. Now, my one concern is I would love to
know how many employees of the city of Trenton are impacted by foreclosures. I don't want any of our workforce who works for the city of Trenton that are paid by the taxpayers of the city of
Trenton at risk or in financial hardship and are losing their homes. The mayor is responsible for the local economy and you as well. And you want to keep the you want to keep Trentonians and particularly our workforce housed
because some of you recently recently after you became a council member became homeowners, right? Uh so um we want to make sure our city employees because our surplus at
Triton Waterworks allow us to ensure that our city workers maintain market level incomes so that they can afford their houses. The the mayor and we are being taxed out of our homes. Our
incomes haven't been increased. Right? So get the union, get the mayor, get them at the table. Make sure Tintonians and our city workers, their salaries and income are raised above the tax
increases that he's been divvying out and you guys have been improving uh ever since you've been in office. So, I do want to know how many people in the city of Trenton working for the city who are part of those on that foreclosure list.
It better not be any city workers and the mayor needs to get busy giving those increases before the election using our lucrative surplus that belongs to the taxpayers. And I hope that money is
staying in Trenton cuz by law the surplus is ours. Residents and taxpayers of the city in Trenton try me. And I know that the judge moved the date once again. So there's a concept of
intervening and enjoining. the taxpayers are will not allow this court case to be kicked down the road and the date being adjourned. Okay, so I'm going to end there. Thank
Shaquila a maker and Hello everyone. My name is Shaquila Amaker. I live 211 Parkway Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey. I spoke to you guys about a year ago about rent increase, houses,
all types of landlord situations. I want here to say I'm not out to bash all landlords. There are actually some in the community that work with their tenants, understand that emergencies happen, death, crimes, children being hurt, that their
tenants might be late in their rent. But there's also some out here for greed, and it's getting bigger and bigger every moment. So, I'm here to inform you that there's some houses out west Trenton that are now running $3,200.
$3,200. Housekeepers make $15 to $16 an hour. Security officers in your city make $18 an hour. Hospital workers, lucky if they see 20. Amazon, 21. There's a lot of
people that can't afford it. I don't work for the city, but I know this community. I've spoke to people at the rescue mission that have social security. They can't find anywhere to live because right now Dolly Homes,
Cityside, and Kingsbury are not taking no lowincome families. Roger Gardens is full. They can't take lowincome families. That means the more and more we allow landlords to evict, those families will be forced to live at the
rescue mission. Unfortunately, it seems like there's no answer. You can talk to whoever you want at the city and it might be I don't know we're working on it. Social services will tell someone if you're not working we'll help you. And that shouldn't be the narrative of
the conversation. The conversation should be if you're working we'll help you. I know you set things in place for them not to raise the rent but I'm here to tell you I have a list of landlords just not obeying by that. bullying,
harassment, threatening to put properties up for sale. Property managers from Hamilton, Trenton, especially South Broad s listing and bully tenants to pay the extra. Yes, they're still doing it. Two to $400.
You have a property that was sold out West Trenton to a landlord who stated she can't afford the property. And because she can't afford it, she has used every angle to put out a mother with a disabled kid and a tenant who has been paying their rent on time for
years. This is unacceptable. I have also went and talked to people. Some of these houses don't have cos. We pay rent. I'm here to ask the city, is it legal for landlords in Trenton to
collect rent without no certification of occupancy? No lead inspections. I don't think so. There's a higher ordinance or higher than the city where someone can get those answers and I'mma walk people through it. Also, not only that, we have
an issue of landlords not disclosing who they are. This is the city registry where the landlord is supposed to fill it out. Most of these documents are incomplete. I have found several landlords that change the spelling of their name, their
emails, also not filling out the back of their tenencies. Therefore, you cannot find if your rent has been increased more than 25% which is in the city ordinance. I get it. You guys do a lot. You got a lot on your plate. You offered
to sell houses to tenants. You said you wanted the city to buy it back. But also in the process of you doing this, a lot of LLC's have took equity out on their properties to purchase more properties in the city. There's a tenant right now
who has been living in her house for over 13 years, never missed a beat of rent. That landlord pulled out $200,000 in equity to buy two more houses possibly, but that's what he did. That tenant had no lease. that tenant has
always paid all their bills and now they got to own another bigger property in tren. I've also have seen that a lot of the landlords are within the city. Some of them are renting their houses out that Doug Palmer designed for them to live in at a
reasonable rate for twice the rate. I don't know where the conversation starts and I don't know where it begins, but a lot of you are running for election and a lot of people are thinking that you don't care because they're sleeping in their cars. They're sleeping in vans.
710 Styverson was just sold to a LLC. If you drive by there, you will see wood. Madam President, those are all the individuals I have listed for public comment. You can start with civic comment with whomever you wish. >> Thank you, Mr. Garcia. Before we do
that, um Dr. Diego, um I know you're here really quickly. Uh Mr. Cherry had some questions for the Department of Health. Mr. Cherry, if you wouldn't be so kind to restate your question so Dr. Diego can answer your questions.
>> Thank you. Really quickly so that he can um respond to you. >> Thank you. Uh again just questions about uh the resolution 26096 and whether there had been any uh
changes or modifications in terms of the scope of work that was required in terms of the location for the service deliveries in terms of how uh the uh in the company or or uh vendor that
received the award would be compensated. And if so, if if if there were any changes, if there's an addendum with dates and times just for references. >> Thank you, Mr. Cherry. Uh, Director Mapelli, if you could please just address that, if you have any response
for that. >> Sure. Um, I think this question is more for the purchasing agent because the application is still there. Um, but, uh, not that I know of any changes. So, >> Okay. >> Thank you.
Um before we move on as well, one quick thing. Um, Councilman Feliciano pointed out to me that in resol resolution 26098, um, when we're talking about the agreement for 15 years, I think we need to adjust the date um in the the second
to last whereas on the second page um it states the term uh commencing on January 1st, 2026 and terminating on December 31st, 2039. believe that needs to be 2041 or 2040 2020 2041
2041 yes so if we can please amend that um Mr. Garcia, >> I've noted. >> Thank you so much. Thank you, Councilwoman, for pointing that out. Um, okay. Moving forward to civic comment. Thank you so much. Um, I'd like to get
started. Councilwoman Edwards. Counciloman Edwards. Counciloman Gonzalez. Thank you, Council Presidents. Um, first, good evening everyone. I will be short today, but um, thank you all for being present. Um, condolences and prayers of course to our
Councilwoman Feliciano and her family. Um, I also wanted to take a moment just to thank public works and all of the city staff who did um, work really, really hard during the second winter storm that we had. Um, I think you guys did a great job. And as stated earlier, everyone is not going to always be
happy, but I think you do guys did an awesome job. Ladies and gentlemen, did did a very good job on this last snowstorm. Um, as far as the young lady who just spoke about the rent, um, and stuff, that is obviously something that council, we have been, uh, fighting
since the very first time we got on on council. Um, and we were able to get that rent index stabilized. So, for it to be continuing, it is an issue. And I'm glad that she brought it forth so that way we can try to uh work with our directors and see if we can um bring
that to the rent stabilization board, which is now active once again to help with those kinds of concerns. I know she's out there. I will give her um a call um after this meeting is over, just to make sure we get those right um addresses um because we won't know that
that's occurring unless someone comes and tells us cuz it shouldn't be occurring anymore. Um, so thank you for that. Um, happy Women's History Month. Um, and I think that's it for me tonight. Have a good night.
>> Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Thank you. Um, I I'll just start off on that note that notices about the rental cap, uh, increase cap that we had did should have gone out to all of the
registered rental properties in the city. I believe that, you know, just putting things on the E codes and putting them on the website or something like that is just simply not enough. Like, people are not paying attention and checking the city's website and codes to see if these laws are changing
on a day-to-day basis. Many people don't even know that the city has its own laws and things that uh we govern by. So we have a list of all the registered rental properties in the city. I have the list too. We need to mail them. The
administration needs to mail them because this is happening all the time. So our rent stabilization office might even be overwhelmed or in in inundated with a lot of these requests. I read the notices next to the elevator on the first floor where they're hearing, you
know, um landlords even combat it and try to get a higher increase. So, uh, you know, I know that they're working there, but that the outreach and information needs to get out there directly to them. I want to also talk about the the
backlog of the property purchases. I'm glad to hear, you know, a as we're meeting with the administration that these things are being worked on and as we're catching up with the backlog and vetting them through the H adha committee. We're hoping that that application process will be back open
hopefully soon. So, the next time we meet, we'll be asking what uh what timeline are we expecting to open up the applications to the public again because many people are anxious to uh submit an application to purchase a property.
I want to say uh in terms of the expired contracts that we talked about earlier this morning, it was brought to my attention uh for the like third time that uh by Waterworks employees that they are working out of contract. And in
the same regard for the police whose contract has been expired for a couple of years, we're constantly seeing emergency things being walked on because of expired contracts and we've been approving them since we've been on this council. But things like this is
unacceptable. It's reactionary. We should, the administration should be knowing when these contracts are going to expire and being proactive in making sure they're negotiating ahead of time so that when it expires, they have a new contract ready to follow right behind it
and that people are not operating out of contract because then we're entering gray areas. And I do know that some of the police contracts and things like that, but the unions state that until there's a new contract, they ought to follow the previous one that is expired. But they shouldn't have to do that. Now
we're getting into retropay issues and things of that nature. So that's why it's important to stay on top on top of these things and not be trying to catch up once they're expired. And I'll say the same thing about the funding of the city. I've learned that the city did not
apply for any funding for the 250th at all. There's the city has no money to do any planning for the 250th. And we've seen this across multiple departments, waterworks included, where grant opportunities exist and the city is
simply not applying for them. And I know that comes down to a staffing issue with capacity to be able to implement these grants and keep up with the reports and things like that. But we have to do better. We have to do better. We're leaving a lot of money on the table and then now taxpayers have to pay for these
things. We're we're scrging around searching for money and and again reacting rather than being proactive. We shouldn't even be in the second third month. Oh my god, today's the third of the year of 2026 when we knew the 250th
was coming up years ago. Multiple cities including Philadelphia started planning five years ago. So, we have to do better with, you know, because we're missing a lot of opportunities to get funding here in the city.
Lastly, or or not lastly, I am a little disheartened to one of the earlier comments by a constituent during their public comments about the uh when he alluded to, you know, the article with LA Parker and and that was in relation to former employees uh with
time theft and things like that. And in relation to, you know, with the police, I'm hearing a lot of backlash from the community. So, I would be remiss if I didn't say this, that everyone should be held to the same standard. The police officers did walk away with their pensions, not convicted by any court
like these employees were, and that's not right. And the public has been saying that for a long time, and now this is case in point to hold everyone to the same standard. Police officers should not be able to get away with some of the other things that people are
Council Feliciano. >> Thank you, Council President. Good evening, everyone. Thank you for coming out tonight um and listening to us as we deliberate the business of the city. As you can see, it is no easy feat. Um but
we get the job done. And so I want to extend another hearty thank you to my colleagues for the fruitful discussions and questions and um us getting through the process this evening. Thank you to everyone for every call, every text,
every email, every smile, every hug, every kind word um that people have extended to me and my family, excuse me, during this time um of great loss for us. Thank you to Shenique and Bernice and Sean and um my sisters from Black
Women New Jersey for the wonderful surprise tonight unexpected and the um in the resolution in honor of my nana. She was a wonderful woman. She lived to see 103 years and um I'm blessed to have had her in my life and she helped excuse
me raise my daughter along with my mother and so I'm glad that my daughter also had the opportunity to experience her and her amazing presence and love and and who she was and we will be um funeralizing her this Saturday. So, I
ask everyone to continue to pray our strength as we move through that process. To everyone that spoke tonight, thank you for coming forward and saying what it is that you have to say. Mr. Cherry, thank you. I love the idea about the stickers on the items and things like that, right? Marking the saves or things
to kind of bring things to people's um attention about what they can and cannot do and then notifying it uh or or identifying it as uh something that came from the city. Thank you, Dr. Dr. Manikapelli for hearing out what um we
talked about about senior citizens that are that are blind and what kind of services. I I do look forward to us working together with the senior citizen advisory board to get things going. Um I'm excited for the multicultural heritage board that will be coming
forward. And the reason for that again was to bring all the different diverse communities together to help and bring forth a message about what it is you'd like to see with the city and and then what it is that you can contribute at the same time. Sometimes everything isn't always about money. It is about
pulling people together and the resources. People want to help, but they just need to have the opportunity to be able to do so. And so I'm excited that we're able to make that happen. I do want to say I touched on it earlier about the contracts with uh 2281 2286
and the and the police and fire back December 24th. I have uh sent a message where I asked what is the status of the contracts for police fire 2286 and 2281 the latter of which expired in 2024 which was 2286 and in 2023 2281 asking
for the timeline and exactly what was going on. Um I was informed that per theou DCA has to be a part of the process. Uh there was a request to have a meeting with them and then I asked again on February the 19th. Hey, what is the answer on that? And now we're back
here again asking where we were told that now they're back resuming having the conversation with DCA to make it happen. I say all that to say that this is why in my opinion and again I'm grateful uh for the ad hoc committee for theou for us to go over this together
with the administration just so we can ask questions about how things work and so that we can understand what's needed and what we can do um to help make things better so we understand the things that we can do the things that we can't do. Councilwoman Frisbee
said that she was excited to see, yay, we can have refreshments on the one hand, right? But then on the other hand, we're told that DCA said, "Don't give the people in Trenton the turkeys because they just um you can't do that." So, I don't I don't know. I look forward to us moving forward together,
continuing to do the work of the city, continuing to bring forth legislation to help the people, continuing to listen to the community, um and meeting everyone where you are so that we can put forth our best work. And so I thank you for believing in us, for trusting us, for
working with us, for helping us. Um, and then for those that do, for trusting us to know that we are doing the very best that we can within our respective capacities to bring forth a good product for the city. Thank you again for
coming. God bless. Good night, >> Councilwoman Frisbee. Thank you, Council President. So, I wanted to first start off by sending my condolences publicly to Councilwoman Feliciano and her family um 103 years. That is an absolute blessing. I also want to acknowledge
Black Women New Jersey. Thank you for coming out this evening. Um Chenique, Bernice, and Sean for that. I thought that was absolutely wonderful to g her up. So, thank you for that. Um when it comes No, before I even go into all that, I want to remind everybody that
this weekend is daylight savings. You will be losing an hour. Don't show up at church late and act like you didn't know it is daylight savings. Get up early. I also want to acknowledge um happy um happy women's history month
um to everyone to all the phenomenal women that I'm surrounded by and those of you that are here and that have phenomenal women in your space. Um when it comes to holding of spaces, I know that we do have an ordinance. I also believe when it comes to the parking that we're supposed to have our um our
sanitation department, you're supposed to go around and collect those items and throw them away. If I'm wrong, please let me know. And if not, then we need to implement that um picking them up. We'll just have a nice little storage room. We want to just be trash. But we can have folks who want to come in and get a
refrigerator, a chair, table, whatever it is they're putting out there, give it away, not sell it off. But you should not be holding parking spaces. Um, so yeah, I like the idea of a sticker because then that means you've gotten a warning, but the law is the law. If we say you're not supposed to do
it and is the ordinance, then pick them up and throw them away. Uh, I did daylight savings. The rental notices, I said this when we first um started this and I'm going to say it again. We do need to do mailers. We need to do cards. We need to I know it it's a lift but we
our city is worth it and people being empowered to know their rights is really important. So we need to spend the dime and send out a mailing a little card just like as if when we are running for council and running for our seats and we're putting all these mailers in
everybody's mailboxes. We need to do the same thing when it comes to this rent stabilization. Uh folks are being taken advantage of. I did um give my card that is my ward, West Ward. I did um want to make sure that it is being addressed and
I will be that hound that is on it. I will absolutely um love to deal with those landlords. So bring them on, send me the list. Um I want to welcome Miss Aziz Bay from Brooklyn to coming over here into our beautiful capital city. We welcome you here. I did give you my card
as well. I look forward to helping to try to resolve the issue that you're having you and your neighbor as well. Uh I think that was it. Um Chenique, she that's the woman that took the uh the issue with the branch. Um I know that my
name did not come out of um one of our constituents lips, but I want to let her and everybody else know I am unbought and unbossed by anybody. Um, in the words of Shirley Chisum, um, I do what I do because I believe it is the right thing to do. I will continue to operate
from that area. Um, with that, I am really done. There will be no Westward Community Conversation this month because I'm being honored by the James R. Holly Hollyy Foundation on that day and I thank them publicly for it. And then the following week, I have other things scheduled. So for those reasons,
I there will not be a Westward community conversation. A portion of our mission statement is recognizing that the people of Trenton have made us guardians of the public trust. We are committed to govern with integrity and fiscal responsibility, to seek excellence in the city's operations, and to serve all
the city's people with respect and compassion. I thank everyone for coming out. I especially thank our directors, thank our law department, and everyone who keeps us on our toes. I thank each and every one of you for coming out here this evening, and I hope that everyone gets in safely. Thank you. Thank you so much, Councilwoman. Council Vice
President Williams. >> Thank you, Council President. I just want to uh say thank you to everyone for being here tonight. Um I know uh it's not easy, particularly in a weather like we had today. It was very raw out, so it means a lot for you all to be here and everybody who's watching us. Um I also
want to extend my condolences to Councilwoman Feliciano and her family. Um, I know uh grief affects everyone differently and I hope God has placed you in a in a safe uh place right now and this week as you get ready to uh send your grandmother home to God.
Um, I want to also uh say thank you to public works and natural resources. Uh, they did a lot in the past several weeks, this past month. uh health department for everything they've done to try to open warming centers and take care of our homeless population. It
isn't easy and as that young lady uh mentioned earlier, we do have people unfortunately sleeping in cars in our city. Uh homeless issue never goes away for Trenton. It actually gets worse because we are a place that more people
feel safe in than they do in suburbs or other places. So, uh, please keep, uh, folks who do not have a home in your prayers and, uh, please pray for our city of Trenton that we have those resources to be able to help them and help everyone in our city. Um, with
that, I also uh was very moved by what that young lady said. Uh, we need to strengthen our landlord regulations and inspections. uh this council from day one has spoken out on these issues and getting homes into the hands of tranonians and a rent stabilization
board was a very important component of that. So I'm looking forward to seeing how we can help our citizens who rent clearly know who to call when they have an issue particularly with landlords who are increasing their rents unfairly and
quite frankly illegally. That is important. Everyone should know how to do it. If it's simple with billboards, let's get some billboards around a city. We have a city of 55% ren versus a 45% home ownership rate.
That's disgusting to my book. In 2000, we were a majority homeowner city. We need to get back to that. Um, I do have a few announcements uh regarding um this Friday we have uh
March 6, 11:00 a.m. at Trenttown Market at 16 West Ingam Avenue. There's going to be an American flag installation as part of the Kuanas uh Club of Trenton's 250 uh 250 flags for uh 250 years uh
campaign to try to get 250 businesses and residences to put American flags up in their uh window uh or on their uh property for to celebrate America's 250. That's at 11:00 a.m. Uh, everyone's invited and Trent Town uh Marketplace is
sponsoring a day of history, food, and live music. Uh, Terrell Smith, who some many people know is the sponsor of that. So, please, uh, come and join us on Friday. Additionally, on March 18th, uh, we have our North Says Police Advisory
Council meeting. Uh, we'll have a special guest at Galley Baptist Church, 440 Martin Luther King Boulevard. Uh the meetings from 5:30 to 7. So please come and be a part of that. And I'm glad uh Mr. Cherry brought up about parking enforcement because I wanted to say
something about that tonight. And I'm really glad you mentioned it because tomorrow night we are going to have 7,000 people at the arena for a concert by an artist named Shy Platsker. And that will be followed up on Thursday
night. A lot of people know about the Journey concert. That's going to be 8,000 people. Uh, from what I understand, that's a sellout. I don't know when the last time we sold out a big concert like that, but it's been a while. And before CO, we always had problems with uh concert patrons
particularly taking over neighborhoods and parking spots. So, I really do hope parking enforcement and uh TPD can be out in force tomorrow night to ticket cars, to make sure our residents have places to park, and also to help navigate people through the city. Uh
Mercer County has uh placed a lot of uh information on social media warning people about parking uh issues and track traffic issues from 4:00 through I guess probably about 11:00 tomorrow night and uh Wednesday night uh Thursday night.
And that's why, you know, these are great events for the city. People do want to come to Trenton. People feel comfortable in Trenton. We want them to come and have a great time, spend money, support our economy. But we do need to make sure that our residents have places to park. And uh with that, I'll close my
comments and uh just say God bless everybody and have a great week. >> Thank you, Council Vice President. Closing us out. Good evening, everybody. Thank you all for being here. Um as everybody already said, um Council
Feliciano, uh you are more than just a colleague. You are a friend and a sister. So, um, my deepest, um, condolences for you and if everybody could take a note from your book and, um, carry yourself through the way that you do, we'd all be in a better place.
Um, thank you, um, Black Women New Jersey for coming out and supporting her, for really showing sisterhood this evening. That that was really remarkable. So, thank you. Um, thank you again, Director Medapelli, for getting the ball running with Reading Senior
Center as along with the county. um for assisting us. Um those seniors were were so excited um and and rightfully so to be getting their senior center back. Uh Councilwoman, Council Vice President um Williams, I know that you have uh voiced
your opinions and and and definitely try to push the envelope for that. So, congratulations to you for getting that done um in the North Ward. Um that was really remarkable to see and for all the seniors that were there and were just so hopeful and anxious and um grateful. It
was it was really really great to be there be part of that. Um I wanted to address the the what uh Mr. Cherry and others had talked about about um people um saving parking spots when they they they shovel out
snow and you know it's public parking on these streets right at the end of the day. Um there is an ordinance I mean in there is an ordinance article um 6 section 20 257-34 obstructions that prohibits placing objects in public streets that obstruct them and that includes chairs, cones,
trash cans, furniture, etc. Um under the city code, the Trenton Police Department has the authority and responsibility to enforce street obstructions and can remove or um order removal of anything violating that section. the Trenton
Police. The ordinance itself um is generally administered and enforced by the Division of Streets of the Department of Public Works, but actual enforcement actions on the streets uh like removing those obstructions are carried out by the police. And the reason why that is so is because a lot of the residents, you know, they get uh
aggressive. You know, when you want to move their cones, you want to move something that they have. And our public works workers are not do not h they're they don't carry. So, the police are the ones that should be removing these objects. Public works um can definitely
um in my opinion alert the police when this happens, but police should be following up to remove these objects or at least um coming out with DPW or showing up for DPW to remove these items. So, there needs to be a collaborative effort on
that. Um that was something that um interim director Wea did um express at one of my CPACs or multiple CPACs um and is something that we definitely looked into together. Um so it is something that we need more concerted efforts from
our our police departments um to help enforce that. Um with regards to a comment made by constituent Miss Vaughn, um you know, many of us are Democratic committee members. Um, I don't know if some of us had invisible cloaks that she
couldn't see certain people. Um, but this is a nonpartisan role. Um, none of us are bought um by the Democratic committee. They cannot support us because this is nonpartisan. It is what it is. We are committee people, most of us in our own rights. That has nothing
to do with anything. Um, again, I wish sometimes she would stick around so we can talk back to her and and answer her responses or respond to her, but it is what it is. Um, so that is just a misconception. Um, you know, sometimes she's on point
and sometimes not. Um, again, um, happy women's history month. I did have something for everybody. We have six strong women on council and I do apologize. I forgot to put them together to bring them, but I will have them for our next council meeting. But I do have something for all of us. We are six
amazing women on this council and we are really killing it. You know, we take a lot of heat >> and you know, we are doing our best to work with this administration. We do believe in this administration. We believe in the people of this city and you know, onwards and upwards. This is what we're doing. So again, I want to
thank you all for being here tonight. Um, and get home safe and keep warm and let's let's hope for spring soon, the good weather. Have a wonderful night everybody. With that, Mr. Garcia, can we move for a motion for adjournment? >> Is there a second?
>> Yes. Again. >> I I >> I got one eye. I got another I >> I >> All say I >> Is there any opposed? None opposed. Meeting adjourned.