Councilwoman Figuro Edenberg present. Councilwoman Frisbee present. Councilman Harrison is called and is excused from this meeting this evening. Yes. Councilwoman Williams present. You presented. Council President Gonzalez presented. Myself Brandon Garcia,
Municipal Clerk, present. Mr. Edward Colloji, legislative council. And city attorney West Bridges. Thank you very much. And madame president, at this time, if you'd like, I will read the invocation. Yes, please. 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. Amen. Amen. And Madam President, as I understand it, you have a there is a
recognition that the council wishes to do today. Uh if you'd like to introduce that recognition. Yes. Um, we were going to have Councilwoman Edwards, who is about two minutes behind. She said she is around the corner. Um, she was going
to read it. So, we can possibly maybe push it back to after public comments. Certainly with that. Certainly. Um, in that case, did you want to proceed with the agenda? We would be at public comment for agenda items only. Yes,
please. Is there uh if I could have the clipboard for public comment for agenda items and docket items only and to the public? Public comment will be five minutes in uh for each individual. You may address any item on the docket or agenda that you wish and
the council is not obligated to respond. We have one individual listed for and that is Cordelia Stton. Please state your name and address for the record. If you wish. Uh oh. Good. Good evening. You got to press the
button. Press the button. That round button. No. There you go. There you go. It's on. Cordelia Stton, 310 Gardener Avenue. Good evenings, distinguished members of city council. It has been a while. Glad
to see you all. want to speak to just a couple of things I saw on the docket which I must say looked very good uh today the resolution I'm sorry the ordinance uh oh I guess maybe I better wait for public
hearing for that one huh for the for ordinance um 50 uh you could special second reading um you can do it at second reading or if you would choose now it is a doc item I think I I want to do it now because I may not be here to the end. I just
wanted to say that is an excellent idea uh to um complement our police force with these special officers. I'm glad to see that uh you're ensuring that they will have the proper training to go out and actually be a help to our police
department and not a liability. I'm hoping that they also get that psychological training that most officers get but sometimes still lack to do the job. and uh they really are uh going to do a service to to the people in the city. I just wanted to also
compliment uh the administration on how they have been able to re bring a resolution to a lot of the city-owned properties. I see that they are being um purchased by I hope city residents to either um expand their properties or to add to their
properties. I think that's a great idea. And there was one other thing. Oh yeah, I want to speak to the ordinance for uh or ordinance 64 where you are amending the chapter.
Again, that thing is really getting uh a work over. Uh I hope that now it is uh to your satisfaction. I'm not completely happy with all the changes that are being made, but uh times change and so um I'm trying to move forward with them.
I do hope that um that'll be all the amendments made to the charter to the chapter and that this council can move forward with the business at hand. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, Madame President. Um those are all the individuals I have for public
comment for agenda and docket items. Um if you I'm sorry. I got there for the docket. Yeah. Thanks. Uh, Madame President, I'll defer to you if you would like to uh for another individual to speak for docket items. Uh, public
comment for docket items only. Um, yes, that's fine. Understood. Okay. Here you are, ma'am. That's just I was speaking Miss M. Oh. Oh, okay.
She's waiting for me. Hello, city council. I'm sorry I got here a little late and there's quite a few items I would like. I wrote them down so I'd make it fast. Uh number one, the 25 dash is 221.
Ma'am, if you could please just say your name and address for the record, such Faith Anne Pearson, 83 Clag Avenue. Uh the National Gun Violence Awareness Day and month for June the 7th. I really appreciate that. I'm also
hoping that this will work in conjunction or incorporated with the ordinance last period that was referencing the locking up of the guns in the homes. I do hope it works in conjunction because
we need to do something about the gun violence. 25-031 is a house being sold for uh Ingram Avenue. it's being sold to a uh
LLC and I was wondering if on any of the purchase agreements with these homes being sold that are city-owned if there is anything that can be stipulated that the homes go into a human being's name.
I understand some of them there's groups of people that want to as a group take the the properties but if there something happens there's no way for you to go to them as an individual whether it's to do something with their driver's
license or or go for their for them to physically be held accountable for the properties that they're purchasing this way I feel if you have something with their actual name and if it part of the purchase agreement for city-owned
properties. It could make it a little bit easier for the city uh council as well as the city elite lawyer. Uh there that there's several of those
homes that are that are coming under the LLC's, but I'm not going to I think that's about it. I covered it all. Thank you very much. I appreciate it and I'm sorry I was late. Thank you, Miss Ve. Okay, Madam President, those are all the individuals we have for uh public
comment for agenda items only. Uh that brings us to approval of communications, petitions, and reports. If you want to ask for a motion to approve. May we have a motion to approve? Comm. Second. Roll
call. Councilwoman Feliciano. Yes. Councilwoman Figurero Kenberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. And Council President Gonzalez, yes. Motion carried. And at this time, Madame
President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve the minutes of April 1st and April 15th, 2025. May have a motion to approve minutes. Some moved. Second. Roll call. Councilwoman Feliciano. Yes.
Councilwoman Figuro Kenberg. Yes. Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Councilwoman Williams. Yes. Council President Gonzalez. Yes. Motion carried. And moving on with the docket. Madame President, uh I believe at this
time and I'll defer to administration, but it's my understanding that ordinance uh with the exception of ordinance 25-50 and ordinances 25-063 and 064, the remainder
of the ordinances uh for this docket are being pulled. Council President Mate, um Director Bridges. Yes, that's going to be pulled temporarily. Um, so we u need to get some a little bit more information.
Until then, we're just going to pull this temporarily. Hopefully that you'll be seeing it um on the next agenda. Okay. So, all of them except for 50 and what other numbers you said? 634. I don't see
all but 50 and first reading. First reading. Yeah. And the exception of what is it? 64 and 63. 63 and 64. All right. Okay. So, that would bring us down that would bring us to resolutions, Madame
President. And I'll just make a note now that we do have two walk-ons. I believe they're listed as 20. They will be listed as 20 222 and 223. And with that being said, are there any resolutions that you wish to extract or that the council wishes to extract
for questions or for a possible consent agenda? Madame President. Yes. Hold on one second. Uh, Council, let me just get that right paper for you. All right, Councilwoman uh, Feliciano. Thank you. 25209. So, Uhhuh. I'm sorry, Council. I'm sorry. I apologize to interrupting
there. We did uh, get rid of a bunch of ordinances, but I do still have to do a call a second reading for 25 050. My apologies. Got it. I'll go ahead and read that. Read that by title. Ordinance 25-50, an ordinance
adopting the classification of class 2 special law enforcement officers in the Department of Police. 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. We have a motion to approve. So move.
Second. Roll call. Councilwoman Feliciano. Yes. Councilwoman Figuro Kenberg. Yes. Councilwoman Frisbee. Abstain. Noted. Councilwoman Williams.
Yes. Council President Gonzalez. Yes. Motion carried. And moving um sorry, Madam President, back to resolutions at this time. Um I believe we were looking for resolutions that would be extracted for questions or from possible consent
agenda. Yes. So, Counciloman Feliciano, you're at 209. Yes. Thank you, Madam President. 211 211 212 213 and 216. Thank you. Madam President, and Councilman Fo
Kenberry, um I had 212 and 213, same as Miss Feliciano. So, whatever question she doesn't ask, if she doesn't ask my questions, I'll ask. Thank you. Just 213. 212 and 213. Oh, 212. Okay. Thank you, Council President. Yes, Council President. Uh
25-210. Uh there's a 25214 25-063. Um was that Sorry, that's ordinance. I take that back. Yeah. And that's it for me. Thank you. And Councilman Williams, uh 2564, ma'am. 064. Yes, please. I
think that's an ordinance also. Oh, shoot. You're right. All right. Thank you. We're all good. We are all good. Um, Councilwoman Feliciano. Thank you, Council
President. Okay. 25-209. Yes, ma'am. Good evening, council members. Maria Richardson, business administrator. Good evening. This is just a quick question. Um, looking at page
four under the work workers compensation, the the 1 million412849. The question that I have is this. Um I know previously we were talking with the law department about um an investigator
that would be um retained or whatever or or looked into or hired, however we want to call it, to go and investigate claims or see what was going on with people. Have we done that? That's the question.
C. Council President, if I may, Director Bridges. Um, maybe um it we we have some investigations going on that I would not be comfortable talking about here, but we have utilized the investigator. If maybe you want to if we could talk
sidebar and you ask me specifically, I could answer it. There's no specific. I just want to know, did we hire do we have someone that we hired that is doing investigations? I don't care about what they're investigating. Did we hire somebody that's going to be doing investigations? Yes, that was the
question. Thank you. Consent. Thank you. [Music] Um, sorry, guys. I believe we had two 22. Hold on. Yeah. Um, Councilwoman Frisbee 210. And I als I didn't pull it up um council
president but 25221 as well please. Yes I have wrote that. Um so 22 um 210 department of finances. I just um would like for you to expound upon I read the resolution and I thought it was a great idea but I
just for the sake of the public if you would just expound upon that. And this this resolution um basically just allows us to appropriate the money that we have uh that we receive in grants. Um that would allow some some of our well we
need to every time that we are going to use grant money for different purposes, we need to do an appropriation and this is basically what this is all about. Um so this is um for three different grants. Um and we need to make sure that
that money is available because we usually get reimbursed after the fact. So we need to appropriate the money. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you. Um Councilwoman Feliciano,
it's 2511. Yep. Thank you. 2511 and 2512. I'm going to be asking the same type question about each of them. So for 2511 where we're talking about MLK and Southern Street, just
curious what safety improvements will be made. Um and then the same thing for uh 212, what exactly what improvements are we are we looking to do right now? Do you have any information regarding this to brand
discount council president if you allow me I will defer to Raina Seura our city's engineer. Thank you. Good evening Seura. Thank you. uh on behalf of director I'm here to respond the questions.
Thank you. So the questions good evening. So the question I have was when it came to 25 111 and 12 if you could just tell us what safety improvements will be made for MLK and Southern Street and then what improvements will be made on 25 to2. Well, every year the city of
Trenton actually apply for grants with the uh NJ do and part of the application uh request a resolution of support. The due date for the application is June the 30th and we are in the process to
complete the application. The process is very competitive and we don't want to submit an application missing documentation uh at the time that we submit the application. This is us trying to be proactive to have a resolution in place
to attach to that application before submission. Um, like I said, we have uh our consultant BRS assisting the city in uh completing the application. Okay. So, did you answer the question about what improvements are going to be
made? Well, the improvement basically all all of the improvement because uh there are very critical conditions right now like a street scraping, paving, um sidewalks, you name it. We don't know exactly the amount that we are going to
receive. So maybe the scope of work is going to be modified at the time that we actually receive the grant, but the intention is to include of the improvement that entails with that area. I just wanted to round about like I'm not going to hold you to I just wanted to know what they were thinking of um
when you were when you were doing this. That's fine. I think it's good, right? Cuz our streets need to be cleaned up. We all know that. Um any idea about 2512? If not, it's okay because you're just asking to apply and accept the award. I just was curious to know if you know, you know. And if not, it's okay to
say. Well, this is in support to other improvement that we apply for the same section. There are some CDBG funding are going to be used for the same matter. So we're trying to concur some funding from NJ dot along with some other funding that we have received for the same
matter. Okay. And then once you receive the funds is always when you put in to to contract to do whatever then we'll be able Exactly. That's when the engineering exactly the scoop of work takes on once we know exactly the
amount. Okay. So for me 25 to11 consent um for me 25 to12 but I know councilwoman Figueroa Kenberg has has a question on that. Councilwoman Figurero council president um I know we
discussed this at my last CPAC Hancock Street. So I believe that um does Hancock have dual ownership with the county or with the state? I know that there's a lot of state buildings and county buildings back there where Hancock leads to. Um, does the county
and state has some responsibility to the maintenance of that street at all? No, it's is totally on the city and yes, we acknowledge that there are like a total eight buildings that that's the main entrance to the parking lot to the county buildings. But the responsibility
and maintenance um pertain to the city even even within that parking lot itself. Well the com the public areas is the one that we actually intended to approve. Okay. Yeah. I know there's a lot of residents that have been complaining by Hancock. I mean it is deplorable but
yeah there's a lot of um individuals who work back there um and other delegates and elected officials who have come to me about this. So, I'm really really happy that this is getting under consideration or, you know, we'll be getting a grant hopefully to get fixed. So, I do appreciate this. Thank you.
You're welcome. Consent for you. Thank you. Um 2513, Councilwoman Feliciano and Figuro Kenberg. Thank you. Just again curiosity now we're doing all this with the street
sweepers and everything. How many working street sweepers do we now have? That's the question. Missora, right? Right. Oh, the third one.
So, we actually have two new ones that are on rotation at this time. We only have two. She said how many working like a total with the two? Total and total of four including the uh the new ones. Okay. So we have four working street
sweepers. Yes. Okay. Thank you, Councilman Figo Penber. So um with regards to this purchasing of parts and services to repair, are these for the two that were not brand new that still
need service or is this in case of um you know just you know a repair or whatever that's needed? What is what is this funding for specific? My understanding from the superintendent perspective is that he's um preparing like a kind of blanket to have it ready
for uh all of the repairs that may comes up. So now we have from my understanding and I know I talked about this again in my last meeting but there's four working sweepers for the city of Trenton. Are we on schedule now with street receiving
schedules as per ordinance as per signs? as per neighborhoods, as per tours and districts and and all of that. Yes, we are currently on a scheduled and that was confirmed this morning. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Consent. Consent. Thank
you. Um, next we have Councilwoman Frisbee 25214. Good evening. Sean Simple, director of Warden and Sur. Good evening, director. So, in reading this, I finally learned what air vacuum handling actually did,
right? That it helps with the pressure um and getting that distributed properly properly. And again my question um is for you now the same if you would expound upon that so that the public better understands um that they'll get the same understanding that I now have
about these air vacuum handling for the department. So these are devices throughout our system that helps with the pressure in each pressure zones as we go along. I don't know how I can't get more technical than that. That might confuse
people, but it's b mainly to control the flow of air within our system to get to maintain pressure throughout the system. So if we don't have these in place and properly maintained what happens there's an annual maintenance system. You'll have um lose loss of pressure in some
areas mainly that's the one of the main things. Okay. Thank you. I just wanted to I just thought it was um interesting. I didn't hear the term before. So like let me have they come every year. Every year is under the now I understand it. So thank you sir. I think 216 is mine
also. Thank you. Yep. And 216 Council Feliciano. Thank you. Good evening Director Simple. Good evening. Just a quick question about this. Um I know we need cleaning services at the water department. I get it. Um, and I see here that they'll be steam cleaning steam cleaning the carpets and stuff, but what
what's going to be is there any intention to actually replace the carpet upstairs on the second floor from from um like water damage from what I'm understanding and and different things that have happened, concerns about uh mold and stuff like what are we is there
anything going to be done about the carpet? Yes, that's a independent contract that we have to put out to do any replacement like that and we will be doing that. We've done in some little some offices so far, but we're going to go throughout the building eventually,
but that's a separate contract from the cleaning company. I know I just you at BA Richardson knows I will use these as opportunities for me to slide in other questions if it pertains to it. So, since y'all going to steam clean the carpet, we might as well talk about replacing it as well. Yes. Thank you.
Consent. Thank you. And then the last one would be 221. Councilwoman Frisbee. Thank you, Madam President. So, I wanted to first say thank you to Councilwoman Feliciano for bringing this resolution 221. 221. That's not the one. That's the
res. Resolution 221. No, it's a resolution 2522. Oh, wait. So, this is different. Okay, you're right. Sorry. I'm looking at this to walk on. That's why it's the gun violence. Yeah, that's so this is a
gun national gun violence awareness um day and I just want to take thank her and I als thank Councilwoman Feliciano for acknowledging and putting this resolution together. Um believe this is her second year doing this and I just wanted to appre say that I appreciate
it. Um, many of you know, some of you may not know that I'm the local gun violence lead for Mercer County Moms Demand Action for Gunsense in America. And each year we have the mayors and other elected officials put together proclamations that declare the first
weekend in the month of June um as National Gun Violence Awareness Day. And it is a rare thing to have all of your council and your mayors on at the same time. And so I wanted to just acknowledge um that we have a proclamation here from our mayor um who
has done it. This is now I believe his sixth year doing it for mom to man action and we have our council members this board since we've been in session for two years now that we've been doing it. So I just want to say thank you. Um we are doing our best to make gun safety
a priority here in our city and everything that we can do every step along with the resolution the ordinance that we passed um at the last session. We are doing that to make sure that we can keep our community as safe as possible. So, thank you. And that is consent. Thank you so much. Thank you.
All right. I believe that was all of the questions for resolutions. And Madame President, uh we do have two walk-ons here. I don't know whether you would like me to uh read the titles to those two walk-ons. They're listed as resolutions 2522 and 223. Could you
please? Certainly. Resolution 25-222 resolution awarding a contract through a fair and open process in accordance with NJSA19 colon 44A20 at se to CDM Smith Incorporated
for lid service line inventory annual compliance engineering and consulting services for the department of water and sewer Trenton Waterworks in an amount not to exceed $143,100 for a period of 1 year from the
date of award RFP 2025-12. That's again resolution 222. Council President. Yes, Councilwoman Feliciano. I'm sorry, real quick. So, is it that CDM Smith is the only
company that we can work with for this? I mean because like RVE came in at 142 655 DEP and I know that you've worked with CDM Smith um in the past Sean Simple director of Warden and
Sword. So we do a evaluation process and I don't partake in that process. We spread it out among uh various engineers within the water utility. CDM Smith probably the this is my take on it. They have an advantage because they've worked
within the system before for many years and they know how they they to do this bid process. They know the system. They know what is required. All right. And the pricing is
always competitive. So it we can't just neglect them. The whereas in the other the other the other one that we're about to read is not CDM Smith this time but another company. And to be honest with you, CDM Smith was late with their
submission to the second one, right? And they want they was upset, but I said, "No, you're late. You're out." Right away. I rejected them. So there's nothing I could do. They they know the system better than other engineering firms. [Music]
I do have one other question. I I think I could ask the question, but if I Okay, thank you, director. So, the question I don't know, you may stop me, but the question I have is just out of curiosity, CDM Smith employs several former employees from Trenton Waterworks
that were with us for as consultant on a consultant basis. Um, so far I know of two employees that used to work for the utility work, but they have been in no contact with any of the projects associated with us. One of them was a engineer that left. Yes. Um,
but she has not been part of any of our projects or anything like that since I've been here. Okay. Thank you. Consent. Thank you. Noted. And madame president, I'll read
the additional walk-on resolution. Yes, please. Resolution 25223, resolution awarding competitive contracting request for proposal through a fair and open process in accordance with
NJSA194A 20.4 four at SEC to Suburban Consulting Engineers for engineering services program and construction management for phase 5 lead service line replacement for the Trenton Waterworks for a period of 2 years from date of
award and an amount not to exceed $2,997,35. [Music] Thank you, Mr. Garcia. Any questions on this, council members? Nope. I guess it's consent. Understood. And with that, Madam
President, if you'd like to ask for a motion to approve a consent agenda, which consists of all but I believe one resolution this evening, which is uh resolution 25-208 and 206.
Yes. So, may we have a motion to approve the consent agenda consisting of Did you want me to read those resolutions though? Uh, you can if you'd like, just for the record. 206. I'll do it. 206
um [Music] 220 221 207 208 209 210. I'm sorry, not 208. 2 207 209 210 211 212
213 214 215 216 217 28 219 222 and 223 So second thank you roll call. Vice President Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Figuro Keber, yes.
Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Council President Gonzalez, yes. Motion carried. And moving on, Madam President, to ordinances for second reading and public hearing.
Uh, we have two of those. I'm sorry. First reading, you mean? I'm sorry. You said second, but I was going to do him at at Oh, I'm sorry for first reading. I apologize. Yes, first reading. and then afterwards we can do the presentation before public comment.
Please. Sure. All right. Thanks. My apologies for uh excuse me. Ordinances for first reading. First reading. Yes. Ordinance 25-63. An ordinance requiring the distribution of utility notices to residential tenants by landlords or
owners of residential premise within the city of Trenton. And madam president, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. May we have a motion to approve. So moved. I have uh is that would it come after if I have questions or amendments I would suggest for that after the
motion? I think second. Thank you. Go ahead with discussion. So discussion. Um Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Um thank you, Madam President. So my question is
um I like the I like the idea. I'm not clear on whether or not, and I meant to ask this question earlier, but um at the bottom where it says section two, mandatory distribution of notices, it lists four methods of notices. Are they are the landlords
required to is it saying that the landlords are required to notify by all four methods? Is this an or? Um that part of it is my first question. Thank you, Council President. Councilman Feliciano. Thank you. Thank you for the question,
Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes, ma'am. Um, I know I can't find mine either. One second. With three business days, provide a copy by personal service posting the same via certified mail return. So it's or it's it's so at the
end because we have the or um after three or four but all of them it's it's by personal service or posting the same. Well wait a minute Mr. Colli one second Mr. Colli.
It's me. It's [Laughter] [Music] me on here. Okay. It gives more options, right? But and at the end very at the very end it says or is I don't know if it's just or
that person. [Music] No, I don't. I want to know if that's what the government requiring. Are we saying that they have to do all four of them? Is it one, two, one of the bread, two of the other? Because it's an order. I think if you do any one of four,
you've been applied, right? Okay. So, so it's any one of the four. It's it's they can do Yeah, the personal Yeah, you can read that. Yeah. So, thank you, um, Mr. Cli. Thank you, council. Um, woman flee.
So, my question then behind that is if it is a or they could do one of the four. How do they verify? How do we know for certain unless we're require making a requirement because if they're posting let's say something on someone's door the tenant can say they didn't receive it the personal services that's usually
something that's certified although I do see certified mail and return receipt on the second um under the third one but how do we know that they've done what they're supposed to do that's the part how are we holding them accountable for
that um so that's a good question I think to the to the point about the posting of the same on the on the tenants's door. I mean, they they could say that they did, and you're right, and the tenant could
remove it off um if they chose to. Um, but I think that maybe then instead of saying on the tenants door, we could say in a public space in the building itself where it would be displayed. Then that
way we could verify that way. Like so if they had like a bulletin board or something like that, a general place within the building itself, then we could say instead of posting on the tenants door, it could be in a in a a open place um in the complex where the
people would be able to see it. Counciloman, I'm going to offer what may be a simple uh suggestion where it has posting same on the tenants door. Amend the ordinance to add to that if received by the tenant.
So posting is valid if the tenant gets it. If the tenant doesn't get it, that particular option number two would wouldn't be valid. You know, I'm I'm just throwing it out as maybe a way to amend it in a non-substantive way so we could get it
on, but I'll do whatever council indicates. So, so then Councilwoman Frisbee to your point with that would it suffice to say posting same on tenants door if and if the tenant receives it
but no you need a and with that that something in addition to because so we could post on the door and in a general addition to place we could leave it on the door and in a public area in the in
the public comment Right. And suggested to follow Mr. Collojis if I may. Council. No. Go ahead. Um fleshed out a bit and or post it in a public in a publicly accessible place if there's a common area. I think if you do andor that would capture the what we're trying
to accomplish. So I think with that part it madam president that it just needs to be something else in addition to not not an or that you can't put a ore there with the on someone's door because the landlord could say that they posted it there and they didn't the tenant the
landlord can put it on there and the tenant take it away and so you you have that. So this why I'm saying whether we can do an email, we can see a common place be it at an elevator, be it at a front a door, something like that would suffice there. I think that would help with that. So council president,
thank you. To councilwoman Frisbee's point, let's just take out the say posting the same on the tenants door and in a publicly accessible place. There you go. Okay. So, we need a motion to amend the ordinance with as indicated by
the council. So, Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to amend the ordinance. I have a I'm not done with the ordinance. Hold on one second. We have two questions on the floor. I still have I'm not done yet. And then I'll go to you, Councilman Williams. Okay. So, thank you for that. And then the other
part is it if the notice results in a payment violation as it says in section three with penalties and non-compliance. Um additional tenants came with um I'd like to see maybe we could should
entertain that tenants if the if if the tenants water electricity is about to be turned off because the landlord is not doing what they're supposed to do. I'd like for it to be added into that the tenants can withhold payment of rent in lie of paying the outstanding utility
violations if it is not brought up to code by within the um uh said violation uh notices. Council president if I could answer that question. Yes. Council I mean director Bridges um one great idea. Unfortunately that's governed by
landlord tenant statutes. we would not be able to put in legislation that would trump um their obligations under landlord tenant. That would be kind of a self-help remedy. So, while it's a good idea and it makes a lot of sense, if that were challenged, it would be stricken from this legislation. So, Mr. Bridges, there's nothing that we can do
to protect the tenants, if the landlord does not do what they're supposed to do, because I'm in a situation literally right now with some with that. Well, I I think that's the spirit and thought behind this legislation. We can legislate. We can't legislate to legislate, right? So, we have this
legislation here and it's a matter of enforcement. So, if there are tenants that are experiencing these issues as part of the enforcement, they need to be confident to bring it to our attention so then we could put it in the right folks hand, enforce the the statute. Um but it to to say that um you know we're
putting in legislation that allows a tenant to withhold rent that's more subject and rape to a landlord tenant dispute. It would be that would definitely be stricken by the courts if if it were challenged. Okay. But I think this is the this is the spirit and the purpose of this to protect our tenants in the city who are not getting these
notifications. And I think the natural flow would be if someone were all to come home and they're they no longer have water or heat and they're informed that it was because their landlord wasn't paying it, they would be able to either the city stat or coming to one of these council meetings bring that to our
attention. So then we could it would help us to, you know, increase our enforcement mechanism with this. So I I think that's really the goal um that I was not the author of this. I don't believe the administration was, but I believe that that was the stated goal behind this actual piece of legislation.
Thank you. Um, so can then I then I would like to suggest that for the second violation and for the third violation, um, if we were in agreement to double each one, I'd like to make them not want to not pay attention to what they're leaving what shapes they're
leaving the residents in. So instead of it being 200 of a fine for the second violation, I'd like for it to be 500 for the third one instead of $500,000. I'm in agreement. Council President, Council Fris Feliciano, I'm in agreement
with to double the fines. Yeah. So, we have to amend second violation to 500 and third violation to 1,000. Yes, ma'am. I don't have it. I don't So, council, real, you're welcome, Council President. Before we move to Councilwoman Williams, so you could
catch all these amendments if we do it at one time. I think too um this is where the rent stabilization board would come in handy as well. So to Councilwoman Frisbey's point, Director
Bridges, is there should we mention them at all in this? Like for like the rent stabilization board, like if the if they have the penalties for the landlords not doing it, then can we have something where they also have to be brought before the rent stabilization board if a
complaint is filed by the tenant? Like can we require something like that to be done? Uh you you could, but I think the rent stabilization board is more attuned to the the setting standards for the base rent. I think it's really something that we that the administration would have to
take ownership of and and and be the leader of that or if someone's violating this then we need to be able to send someone from inspections, housing, whatever out there to enforce. It's candidly it's it's going to be hard to enforce um because more likely than not we're not going to have notice of these violations until such time as someone is
affected by it. Right. So um Okay. So yeah, I all great ideas, but I I I don't think it hurts. I think that's more of a conversation to be had with the folks from rental. I think it's a great idea. I just don't know if they have the capability or or you know knowledge of doing it, but I think it's a great idea to kind of belt and suspend it. I don't
I don't belittle that suggestion at all. Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman Williams. Thank you, ma'am. Um, first I just want to say I'm very supportive of uh the suggestion for amending um this uh that was made by my colleagues. But I have a question probably ultimately go to uh
legal councils uh regarding this. Should an agreement as part of a new lease agreement, a renewal also be from both parties, management and a tenant, that management agrees to provide all notices to the tenant upon signing of that
lease. And I don't know if that's appropriate for uh this ordinance, but if it can be, that would be good. You lost me a little bit on the Middle East. I I I got lost there. requirement would be when a lease is entered or renewed sign, you know, for a new lease
or a renew of a lease that management as well as uh the tenant sign a uh cont essentially requiring that management will provide all utility notices to the tenant before the tenant
signs that contract. So they know what they're getting into and that the management knows that they are due to provide all these utility notices before we even get to the fines, which will probably be very necessary. Sure. I really wish you guys would ask me more yes questions because as Mr. Colloji likes to say, no one no one likes to say
no to the council. Um we could ask that we could put that in there, but there's really I I don't think that that's freedom of contract at that point in time. And I think um if the landlord was say we're not going to embed that in our leases, I don't think that we could force them to. But if there's a kind of
a silver lining, this legislation requires them to do that regardless of what's contained in the lease. So hopefully that will um um you know, help our renters in the city understand that. Um and look, there's also nothing wrong
with asking the landlords to um give the legislation or give a summary of that to their tenants as they're entering into these leases for their information. Uh again, that's a hard um requirement to enforce. How are we going to know really
that all of the leases that the thousands of leases that we have in the city of Trenton are including that information? But um you know, I I think it's really going to be a advertisement campaign for our renters for them to appreciate and understand that this is out there for them to protect them from landlords that aren't um carrying out
their obligations in terms of uh fulfilling utility payments, what have you. All good ideas, but like I said, if we we can't force someone to put our legislation into their private contracts. But may I ask one other question? So, it has to probably be a
state level or federal uh remedy for this. We would not be able to provide some resolution to this ordinance for this under consumer protection. Can you repeat that one more time? regarding as to protect a consumer, protect a renter, we would not be able
under the legal concept of, you know, consumer protection and be particularly in contract law. We would not be able to do this. It sounds like that's what I'm hearing and I'm change anything, but I I don't think we'd be able to. Those issues would be addressed again in landlord tenant
court. And and and now to that end, if a um you know, as a hypothetical, if a tenant were to uh come home and discover that their utilities are not available to them because of something that their landlord did, they would be able to proactively go in landlord tenant and
and have that addressed. Um, so there's really some robust, you know, court rules on that and rules and procedures, but um, I I I don't think we would be successful in forcing landlords to put this wording into their leases with every all the tenants that they have. Unfortunately, a great great idea, but
unfortunately it it would if if challenged, again, if it's never challenged and you could do whatever you want, but if challenged, it would definitely get it more likely to not get struck down by a court. Right. Thank you very much. and council president. I had council figuro. Go ahead. Oh, she was
next. Okay. Sorry. Well, go ahead, Counciloman Feliciana. So, you don't forget. Thank you. I'm sorry. It was it was off of Councilwoman Williams question. So to that point now, is it possible that because we're putting out some really good stuff, right, with the restilization thing and
all of this stuff, can we have it where they have to maybe not put it in the lease, but they have to post it like post our ordinances in the common areas in the apartment complexes. So we have to get it to them. So, so once we pass
all of these things and they're done, then can we have it where I guess the clerk's office would then send it to the places, right? They could send it via certified mail or whatever to the offices to say, "Here, these are and you
must put them up." So, is that a new ordinance then that would have to be drafted to say that any ordinances or changes to ordinances must be posted in the common areas in the apartment complexes. They have to be because then
the tenants can see it and we don't have to worry. And then and then we can put even more fines if they don't do it because now anybody could walk in and see because we're requiring them to post it up. Can can an ordinance like that
can we do that? I I appreciate the yes question. Yes, I will. Okay. So, there will I will be crafting an ordinance forthcoming then to require that that would be done. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Figber.
All right. So, I'm going to try not to be confusing with all of this. Um, with regards to paying utilities, water or whatever, isn't it? Um, isn't it contingent on the the the
landlord and the tenant whether or not who would be responsible for those utilities throughout the lease? So, would that just be a factor in the lease? Like either they the tenant is responsible for the utilities or the landlord is responsible for the
utilities? Um, yes and no. If if it is a lease whereby the tenant is the name bill biller and they're getting the bill and paying the bill directly um then then no. But if it were a situation where the landlord is paying and then that uh
those utilities were part of the lease obligation then yes. So then this this ordinance would have to speak something to that whether or not you know who was obligated to pay this um utility based on that lease agreement. Correct.
Correct. Yes. Okay. All right. Okay. And then thank you. And then the second question was um could there be some type of certification of zero balance at the start of the lease that there's no outstanding balance for this utility before this person signs this lease?
Because that happens a lot. People go into these lease agreements thinking that there is no balance. They do not go to PSENG. They do not go to the water company to find out if there's a zero balance and the balance is settled. and now they've signed this lease agreement and then they're somehow culpable or
liable for that cost. I I'm I'm a little confused if I and I apologize council. So So there could be an outstanding balance from a previous tenant or you know from that household prior to the lease moving into this
house. Could there be a requirement for a cert certifi certification of zero balance from whatever utility before this lease moves into this house or signs this agreement so they are not liable for any preceding fees or costs.
So are we talk are we speaking of the scenario where the landlord is responsible for utility or where the tenant is responsible either or either or. So, if I like I'm buying I'm I'm I'm going to lease a new house or apartment and I sign this agreement which says
that I'm responsible for utilities. However, I do not have a certification of zero balance from either utility company. So, now I've signed this. Does this mean that I am liable for the previous fees or is that landlord
liable? Council President, I'm sorry. Council, that's the I wanted to address that. council woman please see y'all know that frisbee. Okay. So from the standpoint of and I and director simple can correct me if council president will
allow it if I'm incorrect from when I was at the water company for the city of Trenton the the balance stays with the property but in the township it moves with the person. Got So to Councilwoman
Figareroa's point, Ke Figo Cro's point, if if a tenant, if the landlord has the water bill in their name and it's and it stays with the property and then the person moves out
and they didn't pay it, then the landlord should be going down to the water department to get the final reading, the final bill to close out that account from that tenant before the new person moves in. It makes it
difficult when they leave it in their own name because sometimes they will just let things kind of linger and go. So to your point of requiring the final reading upon transfer of tenant, that does make sense. Um, if if that's the
case, if if we could impose something like that on the landlords to say you have to produce with every, you know, with with the move out, you have to produce a final bill, a final reading from the water side. I don't know about PSEG or anything else, but I know from
the water side, the bill stays with property, not the person. So, I think that type of thing, you know, can be done. I just keep in mind the big picture. I think there was a a comment earlier about if the tenant signs something, let's say in a lease
agreement that requires the tenant to whatever. We can't by ordinance interfere with lease agreements. Residential tenency in New Jersey is governed by a very comprehensive statutory scheme. Now, something like this requiring the landlord to give the
tenant a document or notice of an issue regarding the utilities, you know, that's fine because that that doesn't in any way interfere. So, whatever we're going to require the landlord to do uh within reason is probably okay. The only issue is we can't do anything that says,
you know, a tenant is not responsible even though they've signed a lease agreement on a certain issue. Okay. Madam President, just to answer that, yeah, that that wasn't the point was basically us there be a certification of zero balance before they sign that lease
agreement or even if even if there isn't that when they sign that lease agreement, they are not responsible for anything accumulated prior to their move in date. That was the issue because that has happened where people have moved in and there's been a prior bill that was
not satisfied and now they're getting built and the the landlord is not paying and the tenant is required to pay otherwise water gets shut off that if I if I may council president Ed jump in. Yeah. So that that again is a landlord tenant complaint that would be brought
against the landlord for not providing what they agreed to provide to in the lease. So, if they were to move in on in January and then in February they're getting threats of their water being cut off for non-payment, they would go into landlord tenant say, "My landlord has breached my lease agreement by not
paying utilities that they agreed to pay in that lease agreement and they would get their um they get their remedies from the the superior court landlord tenant." Wait, Madam President, I'm sorry. Um, director Bridges. No, but my point was if if in the agreement, the lease agreement, the tenant, the tenant
is required to pay the utilities that was in that aspect, then would they still be responsible or culpable for the previous accumulated bill or not? How can we protect that? I I don't know that we can because they
would essent they wouldn't be getting that from their landlord. They would be getting that from the city. So that would that would then require them to prior simultaneously prior to executing their lease agreement to then come to the city and get that certification from that the city itself if the landlord is
not doing what they're supposed to do. So I mean so that would be the certification. Yeah. So it would be a certification from from us from the city. Okay. Madam President, um Councilwoman Edwards, um I just wanted to um speak to some of your comments. Um, Councilwoman,
as a as a landlord, um, PSCG is typically in the tenants names unless it's in like maybe a a building where all utilities are included. But when you sign your lease from the date of that lease, that is binding uh, a contract.
So, if the t landlord tries to charge for services that they did not um, partake in prior to the beginning of their lease, they can take them to tenant landlord court. But I would say um to your idea about there being a
certified zero balance, right? So yes, in the city of Trenton, the water is attached to the property. It doesn't go with the person. So it does need to be um settled out. However the landlord handles that, sometimes tenants are
evicted or they leave and there's still a balance on there. That's the t that's the landlord's responsibility to get that down to zero. Um, but in the city of Tren, you're required to get a certificate of occupancy in between every tenant. So maybe the
administration could come up with a process that requires when they do the inspection for the CO, they can require a zero balance for water and sewer bills before they get issued a CO. and that will help significantly bring in revenue
that we've been missing out on for Trenton Waterworks as well. So maybe that can be an administrative change. I don't know if that's a council change, but maybe the administration could um implement that requirement. So may maybe a suggestion,
council president, it seems like there's are a lot of questions related to this and and maybe it makes sense to have this pulled and putting your questions in writing. so that council can get back to you with all these question with with all the answers. Council president. Um,
yes, Counciloman Feliciano. So, I don't think we need to pull this. It sounds to me like there just needs to be other things that are flushed out and created as a result of this cuz this just specifically speaks to the distribution of utility notices. We're talking about
other things, talking about zero certificates and all this other stuff posted on the wall and ordinances. These sound like all other different pieces of legislation that people can put together um to make it work, but this stands alone on its own face uh as it is. So, I
don't recommend that we pull it. Thank you. Respectfully, um really quick, I don't want to prolong this either, but I did just want to ask one quick question with section two. I know we were talking about posting it in common areas and amending it to say that I see it says
personal where is it? tenant uh landlord or owner who receives a utility notice as defined above SH with three business days a receipt provide a copy of same using um certified mail or electronic communication all of the if they do either one of those that is considered
that they were doing it. Okay. Just want to make sure cuz I see electronic in there so it doesn't if they did that they don't have to post it on the actual door. Got it. Um so can we just read off the amendments please so I can make sure I have it. I have 2563 to include add.
We want to put I mean not add and and yes under section two number two posting same on the tenants door and in a publicly accessible place. Got it. And then we have doubling the fines from 250
to 500 500 to 1,000. Yes. Thank you. In section three. Oh yeah, that was in section three. Yep. Got it. I just want to make sure I had it correctly. So, Mr. Garcia, can we um I could just do the motion. Oh, he's not even here. May we have a motion to amend
25-063 to include and section two number two to include in a publicly accessible area. And then we on section three, we will double the fines from 250 to 500 and 500 to 1,000. So, move second. Thank you.
And I'll take roll call. Uh, Council Vice President Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciana, yes. Councilwoman Figueroa Kenberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman
Williams, yes. Council President Gonzalez, yes. Um, amendment passed. Are you going to want to vote on this after all, or will this be pulled? That was the vote to amend. Now we need a vote to introduce the ordinance as amended. Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me. All right. So, may
we have a motion to approve um the resolution as amended? So moved. Second. Thank you. Well, to introduce it. To introduce it. Sorry. Y So moved. Thank you. I'll take a roll call. Uh Council
Vice President Edwards. Yes. Councilwoman uh Feliciano. Yes. Councilwoman Figura Kenberg. Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Councilwoman Williams. Yes. And Council President
Gonzalez. Yes. Righty. And moving on to ordinance 25-064. May we have a motion to approve 25-064. So moved. Second. Council President.
Yes. Councilwoman Williams. Thank you. Um my issue with this particular ordinance is uh rule number four through yeah rule number four the presiding officer that the uh council president
may see themselves uh have this is being deleted in its entirety. uh when this council came first came together in 2023 as council jointly uh had decided may not have been unanimous but I hope you
remember that uh that we would not have a council president be able to be council president the next year and the next year and the next year after that to try as best as possible to give all seven members a chance to ultimately become vice president and president. And
I disagree with this and I I recommend that our council not uh vote for this though I'm sure it was uh brought together in good faith because well first of all um it's not necessarily democratic in the sense of that each
member would have a guaranteed at least shot at being um council president over their four-year term. let alone it does concentrate power potentially underneath one person as a council president from year to year. We've had that in the past. Uh sometimes it's worked well,
sometimes it's not worked out well, sometimes in between. Um but I'm also not sure while it has been public as far as being published that the members of the public have really had time to really um consider this and not having a
chance to rotate the position which is something again. So far, this council has operated it upon. I don't see a need for this. Um, we've had three council presidents in three years. Uh, we would theoretically have a fourth of our current body and I think that's healthy.
I think having change each year has been a good thing for this council. Um, each of our presidents have done a good job, but to not be able to offer everyone for sure a chance at being able to lead, and that's something I know we all discuss
is uh people wanting to be leaders. I would recommend that we do not um pass this ordinance with rule four being changed. Thank you, Councilwoman Williams. I'm going to um uh allow Councilwoman Frisbee and um Councilwoman
Feliciano who um suggested some of the changes to this ordinance to speak to it. So, Councilwoman Frisbee, thank you, Council President. So, um from the beginning when we first when I we first got elected, I suggested that it was two
terms, two years. Um I believe that when you're getting in the council seat and you're getting things in motion, you're just getting your footing really. And I found that to be true when I was in the president's seat. I believe two years is um more fitting. And so maybe we even
amend it. We delete that. The council may not succeed himself for um such a position, but that for more than two terms. So being two years um is what I believe is more amicable. I believe I've I've said that from the beginning and I will continue with that. But I believe
that we should um council seat should be op should have the options for being there for two years instead of one year. One year you're just getting things in motion in there. I think you should have the second year to really get things implemented. Thank you. Thank you. Counciloman Feliciano, you want to add
anything? Sure. Thank you. So to that, you know, when we when when all of this was first put together, um it was initially it was a 4-year term for the the former council and how they
operated. And with that four-year term, they had you shall not succeed yourself, which makes sense because you serve four years, flip it and let somebody else get an opportunity with this. And yes, Councilwoman Williams, you're right.
When we said this, it was one year. We want the rotation. We also had in there that the VP would get the first nomination with the thought that when we plan for succession planning that it would have made sense, right, that the VP would then ascend to the president's
seat, therefore allowing the rotation to happen. That didn't happen this time. Either you have the votes or you don't. And that's what it really comes down to. And so in the meeting of the minds and figuring it out and most said that they, you know, well, a few said that they
didn't want the VP to have the first nomination, right, to be the president. So now we're working all of that out to meet halfway with the whole 2year piece of it. It's you can succeed
yourself because if you get the votes, then you can. So this is what what it comes down to. Anybody that wants to be in leadership on this council has to show that they can work with everyone collectively, collaboratively, that
they're going to will be willing to communicate, that they're going to be willing to put forth the good effort. If you get the votes, then you have the votes. We we've seen this now in practice where we had a good in my opinion a great VP that would have
ascended if we had went with the spirit of an at large and a a ward person at the same time to to kind of set it off and then to move with the spirit of transitioning. That did not happen. And
that is the democratic process. People have a choice and I respect people and their choices. So um I feel like this is good as it is. We also worked in where we added uh the month of one meeting for
July, November and August, right? The July, August and November to update that. Um the fact that the meetings are on the first and third Tuesday of the month that was changed as well to add um to address that. Uh, and the part about the
nominations and appointments, about the people coming to appear before council, the ad hoc meeting minutes that when we sit on these ad hoc committee meetings and we sit in these meetings, we should be distributing some kind of report to council. Otherwise, how would we all know what's going on if only three
people are in the room and those three only know what's happening and then everything comes before the rest of the body and nobody knows. So, there were there's a couple of pieces um that were added to this. So that's what I would like to suggest. I will submit to that. I think that this is um I think it's
appropriate given everything that has taken place and the direction that we would look to go. But I also would like to say I would like to see the council rotate. I would like those that want position to be given the opportunity to serve um and to lead the council if it
is the will of the body. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Williams. And then Figuro Kittenberg. Thank you, ma'am. Um first of all you know why do I respect what my colleague uh both my colleagues said when it comes to this. I think each person on this council is fully capable and has expressed that to
communicate to lead uh to try to collaborate over these number of month you know two about two and a half years. Um, so to me, what this process feels like is that once we get to October and November, um, anybody who wants to lead,
who wants to be council president or council vice president is going to have to lobby their colleagues. So, this is a lot like what ends up in Congress. And I'm not so totally sure that that's a good thing. Um, but I don't think that this will
necessarily lead to a good outcome. Um, I don't like the idea that we have to lobby to get votes, but that is the Democrat way. You have to have four votes to become the leadership on council. So, that is statutoily what we have to do. I just think we have been
served very, very well, unlike past councils by having the one-year term that was agreed upon at the beginning. Forever, there's conditions where the result has been a very good result for our council, our body as colleagues, and for our city of Trenton. But I respect
the difference of opinion, ma'am. Thank you, Councilwoman Figuero Kenberg. Thank you. Um, so two thoughts on this one, obviously we learned that having the first nomination for as vice president to president doesn't mean anything. You
either get the vote or you don't. Um to Councilwoman Williams point um I understand where you're coming from and you you know the succession could mean that somebody could have a second term but it's not a guarantee that
somebody would have that second term. So with that being said what we learned about the VP position moving to president is kind of the same thing. You know allow the person's work and um what they're doing speak for itself. it should they be voted for a second term
um should the majority of council think that they've done a great a good enough job to move into that position then so be it and then you know we could always elect a new vice president at the time so I don't necessarily think that that's a bad idea just to allow the possibility
of a second term because it's not a guarantee you know just the same way that first nomination for vice president does not guarantee a presidential um seat Um, you know, in my thoughts, it's the same thing. So, with that is I do understand where you're coming from,
Councilwoman Williams. Um, I don't necessarily think that it's it's a it's a terrible idea. Thank you, Council. Oh, go ahead, Councilwoman Frisbee. I'm sorry. So, um, just to put what I should have said earlier is, um, so for me,
part of leadership is making sure that you engage everybody in, um, with counsel. Um you should not just be engaging any one person two person that that is part of leadership making sure that you are establishing good relationships and yes lobbying lobbying and getting questions answered if anyone
asks for um why you why do you want the leadership position um just like they ask us why do you want to be on council we should be able to answer that especially to our colleagues if we're spending this much time together communication for me is absolutely key one of the things that we might want to
um consider and I think we might want to put in here is that the we would limit whoever is in the president's seat if they are to succeed themselves to no more than two terms. I'll say that again. I did say that earlier. So there no one is in the seat for more than two years. I don't want us to ever go back
to where someone is in the seat three, four, five, so one so many years. Uh that part of it I am in agreement with. But I do believe that yes, we should solicit one another which means we are going to have to have conversations with one another. Thank you, Council President. Thank you. And I just really
quickly I just want to say I I agree totally what um Councilwoman Figureroa Kenberg said. I don't think it's a bad idea and I really didn't want to speak to this because I am in the presidency. So I don't want anyone to think that I'm out here saying, you know, I'm going to succeed or whatever, but I do believe that, you know, if council does wish to
see someone there for more than one term, I don't think that's a bad idea. Um so I agree completely with what she said. That wasn't going to be what I was going to say. Um but on the ad hoc committee where we said shall submit written summaries. Um and I know this
isn't for when we were doing the ad hoc committee uh resolution or ordinance. I can't remember what it was. Um I thought we said we didn't want to have this so we're adding it to here. So that mean we should go back and amend the other one cuz I don't remember us adding that in there. Did we council president? Yes.
That was for something else. That was for the liaison position. So when she was saying the liaison to council this we're telling her to say as our committees for us we need to be responsible. So like how we have our our
hed committee and you know finance and things like that we need to be submitting reports to each other so that way when we're coming forth everybody knows exactly what's going on and can say this is what we met about this is what we talked about. So when you start
seeing these things come forward, we're all on the same page um and understand what's happening. I like that. Thank you. And so do we want to add um really quickly so we can kind of move past this one. Do we want to add that should not um serve more than two terms in here
somewhere? Yes, I'm fine with that amending it. They can succeed. They can succeed themselves but for no more than two terms total. Mr. Garcia, did you get that from me? I
did. Is there a motion to amend? May we have a motion to amend 2564 to include the language after the council president may not succeed himself or herself in such a position. Wait, but no more than two year rank.
Let me go back. The council president may not succeed himself or herself in such a position more than no more than two years. Put that right there. No more than two terms. Two two terms. Sorry. Okay. Two terms. And the same thing for
the vice president or we just saying president. Just president. Just president. Gotcha. Just so council president. Yes. Are we saying for no more than two oneyear terms? Two one-year terms. Yes. That's the suggestion. Yes, ma'am. So for no more
than two one-year terms because the term is for one year now you can do can't do it for more than two terms. More than two one year terms. So more than two years. All right. Thank you. Um uh Councilman Williams. So then would that mean the council vice president uh
can essentially if they're you're deleting that line the council president would be able to succeed themselves in perpetuity or it should be for both because you need to do both of them. Oh, if you're going to do the council president, we think we
should be doing council vice president, right? I think I mean I agree. I think it should be both in a sense. I have no problem with that. Madam President, everybody in agreement? Yes. Have to get the vote. Yep. All right. So, we'll add it to both president and vice president.
Um, so we're going to go to both vice president and president. Um, Mr. Garcia, I'm sorry. to the no more than two one-year terms for president and for the vice president position. No more than two one two one-year terms for the vice president and the president. Correct.
That would be the amendment. Thank you. So we have a motion to amend 24 2564. So moved. Thank you. Second. That's moved by Frisbee and second by Feliciano. Correct. Yes. Roll call. Vice
President Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Figureroa Kettinberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Council President Gonzalez, yes. Motion carried.
Thank you, Madame President. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Um, I want to say first of all, I appreciate the ordinance um, amendment recommendations and I do agree with um, with all of them in either way
and I'm glad that we came to a common ground here tonight on um, on the amendments for rule number four. I don't have any further comments about anything else in the ordinance, but that I appreciate it. But uh um I do
want to ask under I'm sorry I'm not brushed up on my Roman numerals, but on the uh third page, this first rule on here says all nominees for council manic appointment. Is that
supposed to say council member appointment? Council president. No, that's that's that's the word council man. Council manic. That's the word. Yeah, that's a word. What does that mean? pertaining to council, a councilomanic
committee, councilmanic duties. So, it's like an umbrella word for various I'm going to Google it now to make sure. Okay. I was going to ask Siri for a second. But one second, council president. Say, "Hey Siri, what is
to to that point though for Mr. Garcia?" Yes. part of this because councilwoman Frisbee had asked about or mayoral we we that was supposed to be in there too. All nominees for any council
maniac or manic appointment uh andor that's why I don't like it. That's why I don't like it. Um andor mayoral mayoral appointment shall appear before council. Didn't we? I see that
because that was in A316 also. It is there. It's listed. Yeah, I see it. I mean, I don't know if we see it. Rule. Yeah. Oh, we're just adding that as a new last line. Okay. All right. As long as it's still there.
Okay. All right. Thank you, Madam President. Yes. I mean, I don't I'm fine with it saying council manic, but I think that's going to cause some confusion, but I did look it up. It is an adjective meaning either pertaining to a councilman or a council woman. But should it just be simplified as council
member? Right. That's what we had. We had council member andor mayor. It just it sorry council president. It just the it I understand like she like council VP is saying but that's just it just we kind of going
left with the we just make a recommendation just just not amend it to council council uh person appointment council member appointment right all right that's it so we adding another amendment
I'm sorry it just looks like council it looks like council maniac at first glance and that's why I It caught my attention, but I changed it and Brandon was supposed to change it and say, "All right. Um, because so we can move forward." So, we're going to do one more amendment to this and take out um Manic
and then add council can council members. I don't even see that on here on the one that I'm reading, but um Got it. Okay. But that's not on this one. That's why. But I get it. Yeah. All right. So, can we just um amend uh have
a motion to amend 2564 to remove Manic and replace it for members? So, moved. Thank you. Second. Got it. Roll call. Vice President Edwards. Yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes.
Councilwoman Figuro Kenberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Council President Gonzalez, yes. Motion carried. And madame president, is there if you want to ask for a motion to approve? A motion to approve
25-064 with the amendments. So moved. Second. So much. Roll call. Vice President Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Figurero Kevinberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, abstain.
Noted. and Council President Gonzalez. Yes. Motion carried. All right. So, now, Madam President, it's the time of public comment. Yes. So, we're so we're going to do right before public comment. I just wanted to actually do the presentation that we delayed. Oh, so
sorry. I apologize. It's okay. We can squeeze that in really quickly before um public comment. And and Mr. Mayor, please excuse us for the tardiness. Okay. I've you were patiently waiting, so thank you so
much. Go ahead. Um I'm gonna allow Councilwoman Edwards to do the introduction and presentation. Thank you, Madam President. Good evening, everyone. I do want to um apologize on behalf of myself for being late today. I got caught behind a very
nasty car accident on the way here. Um, but I I definitely wanted to get here as soon as I can and and respect your time, but I appreciate your patience and waiting for us. Thankfully, it was a very short docket today, so we're here
um doing this a little bit earlier than expected. So, that was great. Um, first of all, this this recognition is about celebrating the 20 year anniversary of Classics Bookstore. If anyone knows Classics, if anyone knows
the Maywars, they are heavily heavily involved in the community. And in fact, I met them 13 years ago this year when I had organized a march against gun violence here at city hall. And I believe he you Eric reached out to me
because I was looking for people to be vendors at the event. I didn't want to just have a rally and we just yell and complain. I wanted to be productive. So, we had Moms Demand Action. We had other gun violence organizations and we had books from Classics Bookstore to include
literacy opportunities for the people that attended of all ages. So, I want to say thank you for that because from that day forward, he has been a part of any organization or event that I've had and I've seen him be a part of just about
everyone else's. There is no one in this city that does not know Classics or Eric and Donna. Um, so I just want to say thank you and I want to read this special recognition. City Council, City of Trends special recognition honoring
Classics Bookshop for 20 years of service to the city of Trenton. Whereas in 2005, Classics Bookshop was successfully recruited to Trenton by the Trenton Downtown Association as part of an ambitious effort to revitalize the city's downtown retail district. And
whereas under the leadership of then TDA executive director Matt Bergheiser, this revitalization transformed South Warren Street from a corridor of empty lots and gutted buildings into a vibrant destination for commerce and community. And whereas
Classics Bookshop began as a co-op tenant on South Warren Street, grew to occupy the full retail space and eventually moved to its permanent home at 4 West Lafayette Street, becoming a beloved cultural fixture in the city. And whereas over the past 20 years,
Classics has offered Trenton readers over 1 million books ranging from classic literature and science fiction to children's books and rare collectibles, including first editions and books bound in leather and gold. And whereas the shop has served as a hub for
literacy and creative life in the city, hosting book clubs, poetry, open mics, journaling workshops, author signings, and even producing its own publication, the bookshop on Lafayette Street, a collection of stories and poems inspired by classics itself. And whereas the shop
has welcomed Pelisser prize winners and local wordsmiths alike, held 1,040 Friday night scrabble games and open its doors to music videos, mayoral meet and greets, jazz bands, belly dancers,
knitters, origami artists and conversations about urban development. And whereas through its books at home program powered by the Safket Literacy Project and I am Trenton Classics has
generously distributed over 50,000 books to children in Trenton recognizing the vital connection between home libraries and long-term educational success. And whereas over the last two decades, Classics Book Shop has done far more than sell books. It has sparked
friendships, launched careers, supported local artists and entrepreneurs, and helped build a community in the heart of Trenton. Now therefore, it be resolved that the Trenton City Council does hereby recognize and celebrate Classics
Bookshop on the occasion of its 20th anniversary in the city of Trenton and thanks its founders and supporters for their enduring contributions to the cultural and intellectual fabric of the c of our capital city. Be it further
resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Classics Bookshop as a token of our deepest appreciation and with heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable milestone. And it's signed by all the council members. If you want to say a few words, you can
step to the mic. Thank you, Miss Donna and Mr. Eric. And good evening, everyone. I'm Donna Maywir, and I just want to thank every member of the council. I want to thank the community uh in Trenton, New Jersey. We moved our bookshop from New Hope to
Trenton, New Jersey. And people said, "Do people in Trenton read?" And we have never looked back to New Hope. We've established a home here in Trenton. And we cons will continue to be here. Um, I want to honor God, of course, first, but
I also want to give honor to my husband, Eric Maywire. I also want to thank my mom. I want to thank my mom who everyone knows as Miss Lorice who held us down in the very beginning. And I also want to just highlight my son who's 20 years
old. He was a baby when we opened the bookshop back then. And just thank you. Thank you to the council. Thank you to the city of Trenton. Yes. Wait real quick. We're going to take a quick picture and then come right back up. But let's make it fast. A fast. for
uh Eric and Donna if you would join us for a photo really quickly. And at this time if anyone else we're going to start the public comment please make sure you sign the uh clipboard. Thank you. You can start I'm sure
[Music] by 7:30. All right. I don't know. It looks like long list. [Music] Mr. Garcia. Certainly, Madam President. I believe we've reached a point of public comment. Yes, sir. Um, at this
time we have we have 13 individuals listed for public comment at this time. Uh, public comment, if I'm correct, will be five minutes for each individual. Uh, they may address any item that you wish. The council is not obligated to respond. Please state your name and address for the record if you wish. Thank you. Uh,
first individual we have listed is Victor Irizari. Good evening. It's a pleasure. Victor Eriari, 19 Morton Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey. My concern again is uh as usual, the war uh the drug war. Uh when your
invocation plays and your pledge to uh to the flag of the United States of America and invocation and Mrs. Frisbee's uh involvement with gun control that is all uh as far as I'm concerned and we all need to be also is uh has to do with the war uh good and
evil uh god and the devil of course now we know it's no it's not not a spirit it's not a like a comic book uh presentation of uh of reality is a people in person to person gods and devils are actual people uh the tribe of
Shabbat and the tribe of Yak uh that's uh before uh any other color people people of color on the planet earth came about uh they were ruling the ruling class and uh they had a war going on it's going on now and it's that war of good and evil uh god and the devil is
being fought now between the tribe of yak the devils in the Bible and the Quran and the tribe of Shabbaz that leads to the god himself that created the planet earth and then the galaxies and people all right and now we uh uh
the approaches that the government uh right now uh Mr. was musket. Yeah. Elon Musk. I think he is doing a good job except for one thing. He has not yet uh addressed the
DNA the EA DEA uh department of uh drug drug enforcement where as experts already have uh confirmed that it's a useless effort to continue this war on drugs which affects uh the uh
impoveration particularly the black community. now black and Hispanic community and all over the planet earth. So that's one as 2020 they have uh uh cost the war have cost us taxpayers $1.5 trillion and I
don't see uh Elon Musk addressing that there is uh a fail operation that is uh taking our money up 1.5 like I said trillions of dollars and uh no one has gone in that direction yet but they going to other areas like the DEI or
other things which people claim and we know for a fact is better needed than uh incarcerating black people that we well as far as I'm cons well I'm involved with the Nation of Islam. I'm Victor X but I'm inactive and in the Nation with
teachers there's five major races and the Hispanics now makes the sixth race and that's uh black, brown, red, yellow, white, which it stopped there at one time. Now it's being revised and the sixth major race now is the Hispanics.
We're no longer tribe like Puerto Ricans, Cubans, uh Haitians, uh Jamaicans. We're one nation now. That's a six uh six uh six major race, which I classify as beige. All right? Because the brown is taken by the Japanese. So
my thing is that the war, good and evil, which falls under law enforcement, which is devil, have taken over according to Revelation 2:10. They're the ones that lock us up now and throw us in jail. And uh it's affecting all the people of color. So we divide all these uh six
major races in two the the good and the bad the bad guys and the good guys. So it's no longer black and white where but according to nature of wisdom at one time the white man was the devil to grab the devil from a black devil cause the tribe of Yakob and now is between good
and evil and all the races are mixed in but we have to separate ourselves from the good guys and the bad guys. And uh again I say that the good guys are being chastised and incarcerated by the black guys which was the original scheme of
the original devil yak and uh I say pronounce shabbaz that's the master plan but now what was started between amongst blacks now it was white and black now it's amongst all mixes of people where there's no color anymore but good and
bad good and evil. So my thing is that Washington DC, we as a city should be an example and go and uh um petition DC again and or as much as possible to stop this drug war release our incarceres what has to be no longer only blacks but
black and whites what you call it a a white trash and then now the Hispanics also and free our people give us that taxpayers money and we can do better things with it than just let it go to waste along for us which they need so much help every year walking around like
looking like astronauts for sometimes or they going into a battlefield. Uh thank you. That's all I have to say. Cordelia [Music] sten I don't know that I can follow that. Uh so Cordia Stton 310 Gardner Avenue.
Just a few things. I won't hold you. Um the the uh dialogue you guys had on the uh amendment to the uh ordinance for the chapter where for the rules of council that was good dialogue. I'm glad
you guys were able to work it out and reach a consensus. Um that works for you. Uh my question actually tonight was uh earlier this year I was asked to serve on was to send a letter of interest of serving on the senior
advisory committee and I haven't heard a word and so uh is anything happening with it we are six months into this year and uh you know when what is the intent my intent was good what was the intent of council are you going to implement this program this uh this particular
committee I think is vital to the administration to get the input of seasoned citizens. And uh uh I know you don't have to respond, but I sure would like a response as to when possibly this uh committee would be getting
started. Nothing. Okay. All right. Well, that was my only thing. I'm just waiting in the wings to hear more about the committees. I would simply say that going forward when the council decides to uh create or establish committees that you uh have a game plan for
enacting it so that the people who do express interest don't become discouraged. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Dayton. Marlene Dublinsky. Good evening, honorable council. It's good to see everyone. I had a few topics. Oh, I'm Marlene Dlinsky. 215
East Front Street. That is the architect building. And it's about that that I want to speak. Um, I was had a few topics I wanted to speak on and I think I might have sent to one of the council members about what's happening. This letter was placed uh on May 28th from our property manager Todd Kimgartner and
it was to the residents and it starts with the subject matter of urgent and capital letters and then protecting your housing assistance. Take action now. Dear residents, we are writing to inform you of a serious federal proposal that could directly impact your housing assistance and the stability of your
home at Architect's Housing. What's happening? The White House has proposed cutting the US Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD budget by 43.6%. As part of this proposal, the current federal programs that provide section 8 rental assistance, including the
project-based rental assistance, PBR program that helps make your rent affordable, would be eliminated or drastically reduced. In their place, the proposal would create a state rental assistance block grant. This means that instead of guaranteed federal support, housing assistance would be handed over
to state governments with less money and more responsibility. States would be required to match federal funding to access it, which could severely limit the number of people who receive help and for how long. How this affects you. If these changes go into effect, the federal guarantee of rent assistance could be removed. The state of New
Jersey may not have the resources to continue helping all current residents. There is no guarantee that you will continue receiving the rent support you depend upon. Seniors and residents with disabilities, like many of you, could face rent increases, displacement, or even homelessness if funding is reduced or denied. Simply put, your ability to
stay in your home. Uh, simply put, your ability to stay in your home could be at risk. This was put out and then there's a page of who to contact more on the state level. Oh, am I too loud? Okay. No, I want Can you pull the microphone down just a little bit so we can hear you better? There you go. Okay. We I'm sorry. And so on this I want to know
first of all if this really is that drastic. I'm going to do some research on this. I love researching anyway. And I just wanted to bring that to your attention uh because I'm sorry about that. I just wanted to bring that to your attention because that was put out to us and they're now filling out uh petitions and I'm going to try to see
what more about what that's about. Um another concern we did have the engineer here and I was just wondering who takes care of between Willow where Thomas Edison is and down by Calhoun because that's an obstacle course. It is so ruddy that you have to actually go around potholes. So I just want to
mention I don't know about that road in particular. And so I think that's um basically what I some of what I wanted to mention tonight and I appreciate that you listen to me reading this letter. So I thank you very much and it's nice seeing everyone. Thank you. Thank you Miss Marleene.
Caroline Clark. Good evening council. Good evening. Good evening, Tranonians. So, the first thing I want to say is um there was a lot of discussion this evening. I'm sorry. Did you just state your name and address? I apologize. Caroline Clark, 1812
Riverside Drive. Thank you. So, there was a lot of discussion about in particular the the ordinance regarding landlords and the penalties, etc. And I think it is unfair to have those discussions after public comment about
the ordinance has passed. You've changed the ordinance in material ways. You changed the amount of money that a landlord can be fined. So I think landlords or even tenants may want to comment about that. So I just like to
say that I had a problem with that. Okay. Yeah. Um that was first reading so it's not passed yet but go ahead. Okay. Yes. So but we still would have liked to have had the opportunity to comment. Those of us who are here this time may not be here next time. So but thank you.
Okay. So um I'd like to talk a little bit today about the MU MUA. So over the last 10 years Trenton Waterworks made $760 million. And despite making that kind of money under state fiscal
oversight, we're still a financially strapped city. No one offers any real explanation or accounting of the monies. They keep telling us Trenton Waterworks is in bad fiscal shape, but no one provides the numbers. What we do know
about about this whole Trenton Waterworks discussion is that our mayor supports dispossessing Trantonians of the Waterworks. After meeting with DP a couple of weeks ago, I started hearing
rumblings about changing Trenton Waterworks from being a department to being a municipal authority. So a municipal authority is a public entity established by a municipality in
our case council um to provide utilities to water and these MUAs operate independent of the municipal government. So this is a real problem
um for me at least um for our purposes. The MUA removes the authority and the revenues generated by Trenton Waterworks. It moves it from council's governance and puts it under the governance of people we did not
elect. So this is just a more ciruitous route to deprive Trenton from the revenues from the water. The board can do what it wants, not what we the people need. At the end
of the day, the difference is council picks the board members and in the other scenario, the mayor picked who he wanted to give the water to. So, um I think
this is a real problem. This council has shown us time and time again, you do not oppose the mayor. You behave like a choir and he is the choir master. So um because the board is not elected by
us that means we cannot recall them and when they make decisions that are not in our best interest we cannot referendum them. So this is a very important thing for us to know about
muas. Despite the mayor supposedly backing off selling Trenton Waterworks, we Tranonians, do not take your eyes off the prize, the MUA is a distraction. The goal remains the same. Our fight must
remain the same. We should not support any changes to the governance of Trenton Waterworks. Keep it under its current ownership and governance. Yes, get management help, but do not change the
governance structure. The MUA is a nuanced and first step towards dispossessing Trenton of the revenues and the water. Thank you, Speed
Pearson. Again, council, welcome. I'm Faith Anne Pearson. I live at 83 Clag Avenue. This has to do with the city as a whole. Uh on the on May 31st, walking back from a
friend's house, uh there was dirt bikes coming up the street. None of them. I couldn't see any license plates. Shortly thereafter, as I'm walking the sidewalk, though, two uh or two of the mo the street by the dirt bikes were
parked on the sidewalk. There was one that was parked on the sidewalk. So, after I had to go around it and pay by the time I got behind it, I saw it had a Pennsylvania license plate. A police car
drove down the street. Steve Wilson. I pointed to the car because the cop happened to look out the side window. I parked pointed to the sidewalk, but he kept right on going. When I called the non-emergency
number, the lady said, "Well, they could have been going to an emergency." All I wanted that officer to do was get out, tell the guys, get it off the sidewalk and on the street, and I would have been
satisfied. This police department, a lot of these police officers are looking the other way. I see them coming down Clag. They're speeding down Clag Avenue between um 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. usually on
during the week. They're doing 40 45 miles an hour. And we have uh um Mcnite Elementary School on Gerard where Clag ends. There's a crossing guard there that
keeps directing the people to come out. Come on. Come on. I have a lady a resident who's going to talk about that. These are the things I feel as a police officer. I don't care if
you're you should be able to go up and down the streets. You are given a ticket book. Why don't you go ahead and start giving out the tickets? The city needs the money. Thank you. Thank you, Miss [Music]
Mean. Cheryl Snider. [Music] Oh man. Um, good evening. Sherelle Snider, 410
North Folden Avenue. All right. So, I have a couple of concerns. I had never thought I would come in front of council because of something how I'm feeling. I'm always um thinking about
community, but then again, I am a part of the community. When they hurt, I hurt. And I know that a lot of the residents are hurting and I know that I'm going through something. I hear a feedback. Should I just Can you hear me?
Okay. Okay. One of the concerns, stray cats. We have a lot of stray cats in the area in the East Trenton neighborhood. I see a woman that does
not even live in the neighborhood get away with coming, feeding these cats, and then leaving these cats astray. They're going from yard to yard and there's an abundance of fleas. I can't let my poor doggy go out
in the backyard for fear of fleas. And the second concern is the renters and the landlords that get away with these conditions that some of these renters live in. It's not
right. And because they live like that and these landlords don't do anything and we don't hold them accountable, it transfers over to the homeowners. My poor baby Kobe can't go in the backyard because I'm afraid to
have fleas come in the house. I've spent so much money when I seen him scratching and then gave him so many baths. It's it's terrible. And we sell these homes. These are homes that we
sell to these landlords that don't care about our Trenton. This is a beautiful town with some beautiful people. And these people come in to treat it any way they like. We have our directors, we have our
council people, we have our mayors. Y'all look after one another. I see that and it's a good thing. You know, there's the collaboration here, but we need somebody to look out for the community. The community in Trenton right now is hurting.
I went to go try to get a home equity loan so I can fix up my home much better, which used to be my dad's home. That's why I'm a transent family. And our homes are so old, they can always use more help and put so much money into
this house. So when I go for a loan, credit is great. Everything everything's checking off. Charelle, there's a lean on your property from when your dad owned it. And you know who owns it? My
city of Trenton for $5,000 in back in 2008. Because we give these grants to our seniors and we tell them, you stay in your home for 10 years, you don't pay this back,
everything, but there's a fine print of $5,000 that's still owed. What I had no idea about when dad passed away and now the home is mine. And you know, they said, "Oh, Charerelle, no, we can't give you a loan." This is 2008 going back.
And you know what's another thing that pissed me off? Andre Lom, forgive me for naming names, but I had to keep coming back to this man over and over. And then I hear, "Oh, Charelle, you're not the only person going through this. There's
a whole bunch of other leans that the city has on these properties. Why are we holding on to these leans? Why are we holding on to these prop these these leans on properties that people live in that are trying to keep them up? This just made things harder because now I
can't get that loan. Not when I wanted to get that loan to fix up these basements. Some of these basements still have dirt floors in these entrances and our babies are getting put out of their homes because the rents are going up.
And I thought, well, maybe I can fix it up and have a place for them to come. But that dream is dead. But that's okay. I'll go to plan B. I believe in Trenton. I believe in community. and we need to do more centering justice around our community. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Stra. Andrew Baptist. Hello. How you doing? Hello. I'm Andrew Baptist, 265 Highland Avenue, Tren, New Jersey. And I'm here today. Um, I'm the owner of DoubleA Cleanouts, and I do a
lot of cleaning up around the city. And when people purchase houses, they give me a call, me and my brothers, and we come in and we clean out, clean out the houses. So for like the past seven years, 2018, we've been cleaning up the city one house at a time. And we are
here today to try to find out how could we get into getting our own houses and cleaning them out and make the city look better. Basically, that's what we're here for today. Um, thank you, Mr. Baltist. Um, we're
not obliged to answer those questions, but um, if you stick around for civic comment, I'm sure one of us will address that. All right. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Perira, [Music]
go on. Okay. Paul Shore, good evening, council. Wallshore uh property owner at 425 Greenwood Avenue. Uh first uh I wanted to compliment uh council in uh supporting green
streetscapes for Greenwood Avenue. That was a really important meeting. We had it last week. It represents a transportation the beginning of a transportation improvement project that may last many years and
prevent and in include the transit center as well as all the way out to Hamilton Township. To that extent, I wanted to give to the director of public works um a copy of
the New Jersey DO jurisdiction map as well as a copy of the Google maps that shows the boundaries and setback rules for Greenwood Avenue, which is in
ordinance uh 315. 15-240. And I'm not sure who I can give this to, but I'd like to give it to the director of public works. And I give to each council member the I he's coming to help help me. You can give them to me
for counsel. This is this is good. Uh and and the legal advice. So, this is an ordinance that helps support streetscapes and goes to the heart of the comments that we received that
evening through Zoom that in order to make it safe for bike lanes, buses, transit, cars, pedestrians, uh we may need to widen the road. And it
came to my attention tonight that council approves streetscapes for up to 1.5 to $3 million. And perhaps the present contractor and their scope
of work may be amended to include this very next basic step. Realizing that there are many phases to these projects, the next step being to outline in a more formal fashion the setback rules for
Greenwood Avenue. And that is my comment tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Paul. Scotty [Music] Dominique Edward Livingston. Good morning, council. Good
evening, council. How's everybody? [Music] Edward Livingston, 656 Grand Street. Um, I'm here to address a couple issues. Um, one, um, I misspoke at the last, uh,
southward CPAC meeting um, with uh, police director Wilson. we spoke um he addressed when um he addressed when to get the authority to uh pull over drivers uh for uh the smell of marijuana
and um he wanted that into uh city ordinance. Um, I personally am apologizing to uh, Councilwoman um, Jenna uh, Figuro Kentenberg cuz um, I I got on her and I said no, I I I I
disagree, but I actually agree. I very much did a agree with her and all of council regarding that. Um, as a melanated black man, I strongly disagree with any law, rule, procedure,
guideline, practice which could be used to racially profile anyone because of the color of their skin. But on the other hand, the other hand on that coin um with good policing and and public safety officers, I also agree that a law
should be passed for people who smoke marijuana while driving. Now, I am a medical marijuana patient during that meeting or let's just say my girlfriend drove home since I'm on record. Um, I I would like for everybody to
um introduced or even look at a um a law like a open bud law for marijuana like there's a open container law for alcohol. I feel that something to that nature should be um addressed. My
suggestion is to um for officers to see visibly see marijuana and or leaf oils and edibles with the exclusion of paraphernilia and verify the presence of
marijuana. Now to do this uh my suggestion is that officers utilize a device like the breathalyzer. Um, two that I already spoke with uh, director Wilson is, um, one, it is a Halo smart sensor. Now, that sensor they use in
fancy hotels. Um, but I can't see why they can have a small or a portable unit for uh, law enforcement. Another one is a Triton sensor to detect marijuana smoke. Um, I feel that this will protect
citizens and police officers as well. Lastly, and here it comes again, Brand Street and Dayton Street, along with all of the other high accident intersections in Trenton. What I'm holding in my hand
is a police and fire report um from well actually it should be uh March but it's dated um January of 2020 January 11 2025
to March 14th 2009 on the corner of Dayton and Grand this is just dayton and grand there's over 70 accidents in in my hand right now I will give this to you. Over 70 accidents. Um I I feel
that stop signs, stop signs, do not enter signs, one-way signs, and replacing replacing signs like this. Here's another sign. Yes, I'm holding another sign. replacing signs like this that you
could hardly see not just on Grand and Dayton streets but in our city. I don't think that's a big ask for from anybody. I don't think it's a big ask at all. So, uh it's been almost 3 years since the petition that that I came before council
with. It's almost been 3 years and we thank the city tremendously for our new streets. We thank the city tremendously for our speed homes, but right now with without these signs and without the speed homes, they're they're motorists
are going around the city like it's the ND500 or it's the Daytona, you know, Speedway. So, we are told a traffic study is being is is is being conducted every time I call, every time I email, every
time. It seems like this traffic study is never going to happen. We're tired of all the accidents on the corner. We're tired of uh Sir, that is your time. Thank you. You're welcome. Here's
the stops. Thank you. You're welcome. Understood. Robin Washington. I'll emo everybody the rest of everything. Thank you. Good evening, city council. My name is
Robin Washington. I live at 447 West Hanover Street. Uh this is the third time I've been before council. So I'm just going to read this same statement that I read before. Uh the I am a lifelong resident of the city of Trenton and the area which I'm
interested in purchasing is located right across the street from the place I live in. I've been trying to purchase these properties for some time now and had appeared before you before to plead my case. While I do understand home ownership as director uh listed has
conveyed to myself. However, also I understand we need to provide affordable housing for all. Some of our residents are not ready for home ownership and are looking for safe, healthy, and sanitary housing for themselves and their families. I truly understand this as I
was raising my own children and rebalancing through their lives that housing here in the city of Trenton is not suitable for all as we and we as residents who have the ability to have this opportunity should be afforded the prospects. I have been in conversation
with all staff in housing and economic development and come up to closed doors and that includes Mr. Listister um who basically said to me that the properties that I'm interested in purchasing which are directly across the street from
where I live that if in no individual stepped up to buy those properties that they would just sit there and the city wouldn't do anything with them. I had this meeting in his office a couple months ago in front of his staff. He bought up on his uh monitor in his
office uh a view of my home, the front porch, and he also panned to the two properties directly across the street um from my home. He made a statement that there's limited parking there. I live there. I know what the parking is like.
I'm proposing to build new with parking attached to the development so that we have mitigated these issues and will be working with the civil engineer and architect to support this development. I am not the one who will build and leave. I'm here to protect my investment as I live across the street from what I am
proposing. I'm pleading with the council to allow the seal to be transferred from the city to myself so that I can get to work to develop this housing model. I ask again, why not me? We have a development that is about to take place at the corner of West State Street,
which is going to uh according to the gentleman that I was in a meeting with at that facility is going to house 170 apartments, 70 parking spaces, retail
stores, and uh uh uh event parking, public parking. This is a plus for the city as it shows we are able to provide space for good sound development for all. [Music]
Um and again I came before to ask why is this taking so long? I provided a copy of the application that I submitted to city council uh the first meeting that I came to that
was dated September of 2019. Mhm. I have not heard anything from anyone. I have come to city hall multiple times throughout the years and spoken with Mr. Roach who always tells me there's a meeting next week, there's a meeting
next week. Whatever day I come, there's always a meeting next week to discuss. So again, this is my third time coming before council to get some kind of clarity and answer because I don't have a cop my personal copy of the agenda
that was passed out, but I was able to look at the agenda and see that there are several properties. I don't know if there are homes or if there are vacant lots that there have been approvals for. I don't know when those applications were submitted or how that process works, but I know that I submitted my
application in September of 2019. And I'm still waiting for a answer from somebody to say, okay, it's being considered. Um, we're we're you're not going to get it, but I don't see why I
can't develop as a beginning entrepreneur in this area. why I can't be able to provide housing. And you have these folks that come from out of town that
don't live in the city, but they come and they collect rent. They don't fix up their properties. There's a property located at 450 West Hover Street that I was interested in buying. And when I went
inside, I didn't notice the black mold because the ceiling was coming down. And these folks think that's that's your time, miss. I'm sorry. Thank you, Miss Washington. All right. Thank you. And up next on our list, if we could
have Miss Pette Dowling step up to the mic or phone, please. And thank you. Hello, my name is Paula Don. I live at 11 Glag Avenue right across from Woodro Wilson School. And in the morning is
terrible with that oneway street going from Courtland to Marberry and Gerard. They turn the corner coming straight and they swing over on the other side because it's not a one-way street and it should be a one-way
street. I've seen accidents happen with the car stop and then going around clag and hitting the car on that side because it's cars over here with it. I live there and it should be a oneway street. Also, the stop signs and the oneway
signs, they don't pay no attention. I brought it to the attention that when I go to the uh on CH in Chambersburg to the senior thing, they have a lighted stop sign and that's what we need because they're not paying them signs
any attention and also the uh parking authority and they say the police go around and take our garbage cans and our buckets out in front of our house. But if you come down my street after hours,
you'll see there's nowhere to park. Nowhere at all. Our street is full of cars. They need to be checked out to see if they're registered. They're not to take them off the street. I've been there for years and it's getting
worse. That's what I have to say. Thank you, Miss Bullet. Uh, council president, that is the end of our list. If you'd like to move on to civic comment now. Yes. Um, we'll go uh Counciloman Williams, please. Uh, thank
you, Council President. Uh, and give everyone for coming. Say, first I want to say uh for Miss Snder, I know you and I had a good long conversation on Sunday. Very happy that you came tonight like we talked about. So, I'd like to direct you first to speak with uh business administrator Richardson, who's
the nice lady in the gray suit right here about the uh situation with your father's property. And then regarding the uh cat issue and everything he sent in that email to the mayor and I regarding fleas and everything, uh if you please talk to this really uh great
man over here, Dr. Ma Capelli, who is the director of our health department, overseas animal control. I think that would be two very good conversations for you to have. Thank you. Um, with that, because I don't want to forget it, I just want to also ask uh
if could uh keep a good Tranonian, really a great tronian, passed away recently. Earl Leester, otherwise known as Top Chef. He was major supporter and member of Fathers and Men United for a better Trenton. Also came to many of the Northward Citizens Police Advisory
Council meetings. Uh that's how I met him and uh he loved loved loved this city, loved the north ward and um God has him in the palm of his hand now and we think about him uh regarding the North Wis advisory
council meeting. Our next one will be on June 18th, Wednesday night at 5:30 Galilee Baptist Church, 440 MLK Boulevard. and uh we're hoping uh if he can schedule it that we will have Raymond Royster who is a deputy director of community engagement for the New
Jersey office of the attorney general as our guest. So uh please consider joining us. I'd like to thank public works for the cleanup of the overgrowth vegetation and legal dumping over on Chestnut near uh Walnut and a community garden uh that
actually borders the northward and eastward. So we're helping a lot of folks with that. Um, graffiti is becoming a worse and worse problem in the city. I know uh months ago I asked about creating a task force to tackle this problem because uh it is beginning
to get overwhelming in some spots on a lot of different streets and blocks. I just want to ask that we do that again. Um it's a problem all over and we really need to start tackling this because it brings our city down. As much as we want to be able to have folks develop
projects in the city and uh purchase houses and fix them up, they have to attract people to rent in them and we want to make Trenton as nice as possible for that. And uh just want to thank uh Faith and Pearson for bringing up tonight also because I wanted to speak about the ATV motorbike situation that's
getting worse and worse and worse. I think we may need to consider what Philadelphia and I believe Jersey City did. Um, and I noticed some reticence about uh banning gas stations from selling gasoline directly to these riders while they're on their machines.
Uh, we had a constituent got in a car accident on our border uh with another municipality as the riders were going around a traffic circle carelessly and in and out of traffic. And I am very fearful as I know u many of you are that
someone might get killed at some point. And additionally, some residents have shared with me some constituents that they're thinking of moving uh from Trenton at some point soon because they don't feel safe walking or riding around the city um and even just, you know,
having more quiet to enjoy where they live. And um that's something we really needed to consider. Uh just want to congratulate Mr. Eric Maywir and his wife Anna uh for the resolution today. Thank uh councilwoman uh at Jossi
Edwards for bringing that forth. Uh they've done a great deal for our city, not just our downtown, and being specifically active and giving folks a place to gather, whether it's Scrabble Night or anything else. And um coming up, uh we have some
other things, uh that are, you know, some more positivity in these troubling times that we're in nationally. Uh this coming Friday night, there's going to be a pride flag raising. Uh, everyone's on is invited. It's not just for the LGBTQ plus community. Please come. We all have
to stand together. What we're saying, particularly with the subject of DEI and how our federal government um is going after citizens, no matter who they are, what they look like, where they're from, or who they love. It's extremely important we stay together. And that's
at 400 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. this Friday night on the Capitol, sorry, on the city hall steps. Uh there's also on Saturday there will be a Trenton Pride Festival from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Milh Hill Park. Everyone is welcome, I'm told. And then consequently at the same time, uh
the Milh Hill Garden Tour will be this Saturday in the Milh Hill neighborhood right next door to where the park is from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Uh tickets are sold at Artworks. It's a great way to see how uh folks u make their yards up. Also, other um non-residential
businesses are involved. some of the churches, but it's a great way if you want to get idea of maybe how you could work in your yard or just if you love flowers, it's and just I want to congratulate Pastor Theater for their spoken word festival this past weekend. God bless
and be safe everyone. Thank you for coming. Thank you, Councilwoman Council Frisbee. Thank you, Council President. So, I want to thank everybody for coming out this evening. Uh thank you for the great discussion with my colleagues and for us getting things resolved. I also
want to say on uh Tuesday, June 10th, um we will be having our Westward community conversations at 5:30. That will be 600 Artisan Street. Uh please come out. Uh we're going to have uh representative
from the Hutat who will be presenting that day along with our entrant director Paul Harris and our uh police department as well. and we always serve light refreshments. Um I want to uh send my condolences to Father and Men United um
with the passing of one of their dear members, longtime members, Earl Esther. Uh he will be his services will be held this Saturday. Uh so a lot of the things that many of them that were going to be a part of they will not be in attendance because of that. They will be uh
eulogizing him. in uh also I want to say thank you to uh entry director Paul Harris on the great job that they're doing with Catwalder Park. The lights are going up around the tennis courts, basketball courts in the open space. It
is uh looking absolutely fantastic. Can't wait for all that to be finished. And with that portion of it said, uh, we were supposed to have our wear orange um, at the corner of Parkside and West State on this Saturday, but because of the lights being installed, we have
moved it to the black top which is over by the museum. So on the inside portion of the park and cat walder park, that's where uh, we're calling it party and orange, but it is our annual wear orange. Um, and we have been doing this now. This is our I believe our eighth
year, 11th year that they've been doing it all together, but for Mom to Man action in the city, we've been doing it now for the last 8 years. So, we invite you to come out this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. till 1:00 on the black top in Catwal Park. That is where Orange um
Party in Orange and that is where we um put our arms around the families and loved ones who have been affected by gun violence. We do some educating. We do some uh counseling of sorts with the um families and we ask that you would come out and be a part of the solution.
There's a lot that goes on and they need our support. I also want to remind folks that our uh city is a food desert in many areas. Um many of the pantries have closed that there's still some that are open. Um I want to let folks know that
there are um some pantries that are still open. And if you know of a pantry, please make sure you share it, especially on um social media. There are people in our community that are hurting. One of the places that I do know of is Greater Mount Zion Amy Church, 42 Pennington Avenue. They are there. Please go on the website. They
actually have I believe it's on Wednesdays and Saturdays that they have their food pantry. Also at um Calvary Pentecostal, 471 Parkway Avenue, they also um have a food pantry open on Saturdays. And I believe they started at
um 10:00 a.m. as well. Um also you can uh Google it for in the city of Trenton um there are a lot of food pantries that are still open, but there are several that have closed. So and I invite you to please check on your loved ones, check on your neighbors. Um I happen to do the
do the very thing on yesterday and found out that one of my neighbors was suffering. Found out he has COVID and that he doesn't have anyone to go out and shop or do anything for him and he didn't think to ask anyone. and just with that conversation, I was able to help him. You don't know what everyone
is going through. So, I implore you to please check in on somebody, especially if you haven't seen them in the community and you're used to seeing them. With that, I am going to close by reading a portion of the city's mission statement, which 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 pe all the city's people with respect and compassion. I thank everybody for coming out. Please get in safely and enjoy the rest of your
evening. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Figuro Kenberg. Thank you, Council President. Um, thank you all for coming out tonight. um to address the dirt bikes that was brought up. We know that that is an ongoing problem not only in the city of Trenton and other, you
know, urban cities. Um you know, I I'm happy to embrace any solution that we could come to. They're dangerous. They're loud. Um they don't necessarily want a separate trail to be able to ride on. They want to ride in the streets. They want to be seen. Um, so I would
embrace anything that we could come up with to help deter um the dirt bikes in the city of Trenton um and get that under control. Um, with regards to picking up of the garbage cans and things like that for safe parking spaces, I understand that that's a
nuisance. We don't have parking. Um, but at the same time, we can't be saving parking spots. It's, you know, it's illegal. We and it's it's it's unsafe. We have to do something about it. Um, I would unfortunately we had streets being paid in the south ward and I had public works calling me telling me that people
wanted to fight the public works employees because they were picking up uh chairs and stuff in the streets and they weren't unable to pave the streets. People weren't moving their cars. We want streets paved but yet we're not in compliance. You know, we have to, you know, we have to make up our minds about
what we want if we want to move this city forward. Um, I think that maybe the city of Trenton as a whole should be permanent parking with visitors parking um passes. That might solve some of our problem. We have way too many um people in in in houses that aren't zoned for
multiple family homes and everybody has a car. We have a problem. So, we need to be more forward thinking in how we're going to solve that problem. Um, I do want to thank the Department of Public Works. They recently just got six streets paved in the South Ward. um and
an alleyway and so many more to go. Um I agree with the woman about the renters's conditions and having no accountability. I have that I get complaints all the time. There's there's um nothing worse to look at than a home that is just unckempt and it just brings down the
entire street, the entire block. Um, so we definitely um need hopefully to get more inspectors for the city of Trenton so that they can um show up to these areas so they can educate folks and that they can, you know, hold um homeowners
and renters uh accountable. I completely agree with this. Um with regards to Mr. Livingston's comment about me wanting um vehicles with marijuana smoke to be stopped and and assessed, that was not true. that did not occur. Um I know that
director Wilson was at my last CPAC meeting and he did say that was something that he was um that he wanted to implement that did come before council. I do feel like nobody should be driving while impaired or under the influence. Um but that is another conversation and I know that there have
been cases that have been appealed as was brought to my attention tonight by um law director uh Bridges um and also to Mr. Livingston's Point, Dayton, and Grand Street stop signs, things of that nature, traffic studies. Um, I do trust that Mr. Santo is doing what he's
supposed to be doing as he does for all aspects of the city of Trenton, and I do, um, I do trust that these things will get done in time. We just have to be very, very patient. Um, other than that, um, Southwest CPAC meetings have been
going great. Our third one, third month um in a row will be this uh June 26 at 1746 St. Bartholomew Church um 1746 South Clinton Avenue at 5:30. Um Trenton Police Department uh in our community
officer will be there. uh public works director and um either pub um parks and recreation um interim director or our fire department and director will be there um contingent on the community needs before that meeting. So, thank you
all again for coming out tonight and have a wonderful evening. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Feliciano, thank you, Council President. Welcome. Good evening, everybody. Thank you for sticking around and for uh hanging out with us tonight during the council
meeting. I appreciate my colleagues for the fruitful dialogue that we have. I feel like we are really continuously growing um as a council and I can appreciate the conversations and the input that everybody brings forth. Um especially I I get excited about how as
we're like thinking through the um through the ordinances or the thing that we bring together like oh hey well let's take it to this extent or hey let's look at it this way. I love that. So, thank you all for that. Um, shout out to Dr. Diego Manikapelli.
They had the Reading Center open house for our seniors um on Friday. It was really, really nice. So, him and his team did a nice job. They had a singer come in, I think from Baltimore. He was crewing to the people. They were dancing and shaking and slapping fans all over
the place. So, they were happy. So, it was nice to pop in and be able to check them out and see what's going on. With regard to the senior citizen advisory board, names have been submitted to the administration. We've been waiting. We're going to circle back around again.
So, this should be resolved hopefully within the next month. this should finally be resolved because it needs to be resolved because we've been submitting and resubmitting and asking and it just seems to be held up in one place in particular
um administratively. Congratulations to the Trio Upwardbound uh graduates. They graduated on Saturday. Um I had the awesome opportunity to give words of encouragement to them. Many of the children were um students of Trenton
Central High School. So, we shout them out and congratulate them. Congratulations to Mitsy Teal, who opened up her uh Shape It Studio, which is actually the the um old daycare
center that's right on the corner of Cal Home in Belleview, right there in the little courtyard where Shiloh is. She had her opening of the studio. So, that was exciting. Everybody be sure to check out Mity Shape It over there and and get in shape for the summertime so we can
have a good time. The gentleman's ball was on Sunday as well. Shout out to all of the gentlemen of 2025. It was a wonderful event seeing all the students um together and it was beautiful. I've
always I've bought tickets to the event, but this year was the first time that I actually went to the event to actually be able to see and bear witness to what happens. So, I just want to congratulate the Urban League guild and everybody that put that together with the children and work with them on it. It was
wonderful. Let me just say this again real quick. Um, when it comes to the water company, the water TWWW, I've said it once, twice, maybe three times. This might be the fourth time that I'm going say it. I'm not with
the the centralization of it. You know that, right? You know that. I'm not with it. And I am nobody's puppet. and neither is the members of this council when it comes to Mayor Reed Garciora. We respect the mayor and there's nothing wrong with showing respect. No one follows suit or taps, you know, to
anybody's beat. We do what it is that we need to do to move the city forward in the way that we feel that it's best. The mayor has not come to us and said that we need to centralize nor asked the council would we move in any direction to get rid of Trenton Waterworks. So let
me just put that out there right now. We are a body of seven independent people who will vote as we see fit based upon our own decision makingaking capabilities which we are all very highly intelligent and capable to come
to rational decisions when it comes to what's best for the city of Trenton. I would pull out my resume but it might take a while. So, I say this, we for the city of Trenton. I'm
for the city of Trenton. Trenton Waterworks. I'm not saying take it. I'm not I'm not going along with it. I was the one that told y'all what the money was. So, I'm doing the due diligence and looking to see what's happening. And the council is doing their due diligence to
see what is happening, right? And so I just wanted to say that the mayor at no time has come to Trenton City Council as far as I know. He's not come to any of us and suggested that we go along with this or that that was the direction that he was looking to go in. He did say that
he did meet to hear what it could be. And he said this publicly at the D meeting about the regionalization. as a responsible manager, he would listen to different um possibilities if things were to happen
or to go that way. For him to turn a blind eye, that would just simply be foolish. So to that, I just want to thank everybody once again for coming out. Tren Waterworks is not for sale. Ain't nobody trying to give it away. God bless. Have a good night. Thank you,
Councilwoman Feliciano. Councilwoman, Council Vice President Edwards. Good evening, everyone. Um, well, in that spirit, I'll just start my comments off on that. No, Trenton Waterworks is not for sale. There is no
council member on this dates that support such actions at all. And if anything were to be brought forward to us, we would communicate that with the public. Nothing has been brought forward to us to this very day. Um, I want to say that nothing can happen without the
advice and consent of these council members. Thank you. Um, I want to say uh make a couple of announcements. There is a first early voting started today and the last day is on Sunday. Early voting
mon uh Tuesday through Saturday is from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm and on Sunday from 10:00 am to 6 pm at the Perry Street Firehouse Headquarters. Please exercise your right to vote. Election day is on June 10th and polls will be open in your
respective districts from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm. Next, there is a an event happening at Mercer County Community College downtown Trenton this Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and this is about how to start
a legal cannabis business. The city has been inundated with with so many illegal or unlicensed dispensaries in which this council has been and administration as well has been trying to figure out legislatively because there is no
legislation that exists to authorize the city to shut them down and keep them from being open. Right now they're just fined um endlessly until they I guess decide to shut down. But um hopefully the state will get it right soon and I
do know the administration has been meeting with the Mercer County prosecutor to pursue different options that the municipality can take to shut them down. But please join us. I am a panel member. We have a member from the state's CRC which is the Cannabis
Regulatory Commission. We have two cannabis dispensary owners um from the Trenton area. Um, one being in Euing, um, Simply Pure, Tahara Johnson, the owner, and then one right here in Trenton on South Warren Street, owner of Moja Life, um, John Dockery. And we do
have, um, uh, cannabis advocate Leo Bridgewater also on the panel. So, um, please join us. We are encouraging these illegal dispensaries to please do the right thing. Legitimize the hustle and come to the city and the council and to
the state in proper manner and not just going rogue and on your own. It does the entire industry and our city a huge disservice. So please um take advantage of the opportunity. Um I want to say congratulations to Project Smile Gear Up
on their 25th anniversary this past Friday. They celebrated also at Mercer County Community College downtown. Um it was an honor and a privilege uh to attend the program from fifth grade to 12th grade. And um it was a part of
laying the foundation in thousands of kids' lives throughout um their history of their program with college preparatory services, college tours, field trips, entrepreneurship, education. You name it, they did it. And it changed lives. It saved lives. They
kept a lot of kids out of prison and out of early graves. Um, so kudos to them on the continuity of their program. Um, lastly, I want to Oh, next I want to talk about the city-owned property purchases. I'm I'm very disappointed to to hear that there are
continuous issues. Um, the council, we have been working diligently with the administration to try to streamline a process that works for everyone. And in fact, the ad hoc committee for housing and economic development, we are meeting with the administration this Thursday.
So hopefully we'll be able to hash out some of these issues that we're still seeing happening. Um, and in closing, I want to talk about a lot of the issues that's been going on on a federal level that is impacting people um, in our city and could
potentially impact even further with some of the proposals in the 2026 fiscal budget that um, Trump's administration is has put forth to Congress. It hasn't passed yet, but um I just want to just make a quick little comment that
hundreds of people just recently lost their jobs due to defunding of job courts. They def they're proposing uh defunding lie, social services, social security, and all kinds of things. This is what happens when we don't vote. And
voter turnout in the city is very, very low. and we open ourselves up to being vulnerable and being at the mercy of people who do not have our best interest at heart. So, please again exercise your right to vote this coming week here or
this coming Tuesday. Thank you. Have a good night. Thank you, Council Vice President. Um I'm going to be very brief. Thank you everyone for being present this evening. Um, first I want to say congratulations to Eric and Donna and their family on um, 20 years of
being here in the city of Trenton. We um, certainly appreciate all of the work that they do and all of the activities that they have put on for our city. Um, to Miss Stton who left, I know about the senior advisory board to begin. That is something that um, I know was um,
spearheaded. So, we'll collaborate um councilwoman Feliciano and I to make sure we can kind of get some responses and answers on that because that was one of the things that um I know I spoke with council vice president for this term that we wanted to make sure that all of the boards were up and running.
Um so, we want to make sure that that's one of them that is um functioning. um to Miss uh Clark, I I don't want to repeat every single thing, but we've expressed this several times, several times, and several times that we are not in favor of selling the water
department. Um nor are we a choir and um you know, do everything that the administration wants us to do. Just because we're not battling with them in public or even arguing or just being disrespectful does not mean that we agree with every single thing that is brought forth. um to um the dirt bikes.
We all know that's an issue. There was some We've been trying to work on some solutions about that. I'm glad Miss Sherelle is speaking to our director currently um about the stray cats and those issues that she's having there. Um there's some things about the uh fixing
of homes. Um, I've been having some in some meetings trying to find funding so that homeowners um can um obtain some type of grant money and funding to help fix their homes whether it's inside or outside. Um so, you know, I'm just
working on those things, but as um council vice president just stated, there's a lot of defunding that is going on in different areas and cuts that are coming down the pipeline, but some things that we are working on to bring to the city of Trenton. Um, also what else I was going to say? Um,
the selling of the home across the street, Miss Washington. I um am sad to hear that you're still going through those things. But I do want to be clear that um council does not see those applications. Council is not a a part of that process. Only thing they it goes
through the actual housing department and then once all of that is worked through then it comes before us to say yes or no. So, I just want you to know that we're not a part of that, like the process of that part. Um, but just know that, you know, we will follow up to ask what is the situation with your current
one. And I know that Director Bridges spoke to some answers that he's trying to get as far as the process itself um and making sure things are done fairly and correctly before we um put forth any more properties in front of council. uh
to Miss Dao. Thank you for sharing of the traffic control, the traffic issues that she's having in her area. Um and also just briefly again, thank you all for being present, for staying with us. Um shout out to Trenton High. They're going to have their prom on Friday and I
know it was mentioned about the early voting, all of the uh LGBTQ events and also the gun violence events that are occurring this weekend. Thank you and have a good night. Thank you. And Madame President, if you want to ask for a motion to go into executive session. May I have a motion
to go into executive session? So second. And so solicitor, is there anything I must do? We anticipate a vote coming out of executive? Yes. We anticipate do anticipate a vote coming out of executive session this evening? motion to go into executive. I
apologize. I apologize. What is that motion? Frisbee Edwards. Thank you. All say I. I. Is there any opposed? Not opposed. Thank you.
No, I'm good. on it. I should have had to tell you something. Yeah, I get it. We can buy it, but then you know you're not getting no cars when you got to pay two million. I'll defer to you. However you want to do it, I want you to
I I've said it very open. Thank you.