Gracia, I just want to say congratulations. You have been uh such an inspiration to myself, to the entire community. You have been there. Um I have witnessed you recite poems at the happiest of events to the saddest in
this city and have given people hope um that they will recover, hope that they will do better, um and encouragement for those that are already on the right track. I commend you for all the work that you're doing with the returning citizens population. They they really
need you and look up to you. You are the epitome of what a second chance looks like. I just want to say congratulations is a well-earned welldeserved. Thank you. So we will just allow her to say a few words. Um if you want to come up to the mic before we take a little
picture. You want to stand? Okay. giving honor to God um for all that he has done in my life. A lot of people don't know my story, but um I shared that with you guys when I talked to you about uh writing letters
for me to the governor. And I just wanted to thank you guys personally because when I got that call from the governor, I had to really explain what my relationship was for with the people that wrote for me. So I just want to tell you guys how you have inspired me.
That's why I asked Pacific people to write for me. Um I thank you so much, Crystal. you know, we go way back, but I thank you um just for being an inspiration to me and my daughter for how we met you um through your program,
your nonprofit. Uh yes, my church sister, my sister in Christ, you know, you the bomb. Like I've always looked up to you and everything you do in the community and I always inspired to be like ladies, a lady like you and Josie
that's really doing the work. Tesca everything. I mean, if I ever needed a big sister or somebody to talk to or an example to lead by, you would definitely be it. Very classy lady. Thank you for all that you do in our community as
well. And thank you to all the councilmen, um the mayor, my pastor Darius Daniels, Pastor Taylor, everybody that wrote for me. Um this was life-changing for me. Um I always said I never wanted to go in
the ground in debt or with this number attached to me. So half the battle is won. I still got to pay my debt. I still owe them money, but that's going to be taken care of as well. Um, I just wanted to thank the city of Trenton as well for
giving me a second chance. When I came home from prison, I always said that I wanted to help people like me. Um, people that wanted a second chance in life. And I did this through a nonprofit organizations for 12 years. But then I
was given the opportunity to work for the city of Trenton doing the same thing. And I feel like I am a blessed somebody. I get um all the time from my clients. Um I tell them if I can do it, y'all could do it because I was sitting on the opposite of the opposite side of
my desk at one time. So um I'm just glad that I'm able to encourage someone else. I want to thank um my director, director um Diego who's a over the health and human services department that um when I need to speak with him concerning
re-entry, he's always willing to listen. I want to thank RB who is now an RBA um Maria Richardson who continues to allow me to stay here to do what I do. And I also want to thank my um boss and
my head supervisor Ruth Carter as well as Janet Porter. Miss Janet does so much that a lot of people don't know about behind the scenes with re-entry. And what I like about Miss Porter is she allowed me to do me. She know I do
re-entry from the heart and I get on the ground with it. I'm in the projects. I'm on the corners. I'm talking to folks on a regular basis. I'm downtown Trenton. I'm everywhere just to see how I can help. And we have a very important meeting tomorrow to see how much more we
can do in the city of Trenton. So, I thank God for supervisors like her, you know, that where I'm able to just be me and do what needs to be done in my community. Again, I'm not going to hold you guys up, but I want to thank my family for coming. Um, my auntie, my
cousin Dion, and my cousin Tracy, and my co-workers Meline. And thank you guys for everything you do for our community and being there for me when I need you. Wait, you going to take a few pictures? We're just going to take a quick group photo down on the right by the podium.
Is it All right, Miss Les, we can go right along into our introductions of the budget. Good evening, council president, city council. Uh Maria Richardson, business administrator. This evening
um we will be introducing our um recommended budget for the calendar year 2025. This budget assumes uh a uh transitional aid for $45 million and uh
10 million $10 million in capital city aid. So now to break the tradition of the last few years, I am going to ask our assistant business administrator to present uh this council and the public
with the details of the 2025 calendar year budget. Good evening everyone. Colin Cherry, assistant business administrator. Um, thank you. Uh, as usual, uh, just to note, this presentation will be posted on our
website once we are done here this evening. So, any members of the public who do not um, hear it tonight or want a copy of it, it is available for you on the website and will be tomorrow. Uh so our overview this year our budget
totals $280.3 million including grants. That's a decrease of approximately 2.4 million compared to last year. Um as mandated by the Department of Community Affairs, we
have included a municipal tax rate increase of 2%. that is from $367 to $3.70. So an increase of 3. The municipal tax levy which
includes schools minimum library tax um and uh our municipal tax that's going to increase from 83.8 million to 85.5 million. Um that's an increase of 1.7
million for the total levy. And um as uh the business administrator stated, this budget assumes $45 million in transitional aid as well as $10 million in capital city aid. Uh we do not have a a um firm
written commitment for those numbers, but those are the numbers DCA has instructed us to introduce the budget with. uh the appropriations cap, which I'm sure you all recall was a challenge last
year. Um we are exceeding the appropriations cap by $21.3 million. So as is we would need to seek a waiver from DCA to exceed the cap as we did last year. Um most of this is in fact
money that was um from exceeding the cap last year. A little over $9 million in public safety. And then last year we also received um a $5 million cap exception to increases in healthcare. We
haven't really seen that this year, but the increase from last year we no longer receive that exemption for. uh and the remainder is largely um salary and and and usual increases. Uh I know that no one can see this from this distance, but just know
that when you do see the document, um this is a detailed comparison of the adopted budget from calendar year 2024 and our introduced budget for calendar year 2025. um comparing all of the various
categories. This is our visual of our revenue. Um the same pie chart that we do every year. Um just so everyone can see sort of a visual representation of what we receive. Um largely uh on the
right most of our state aid and you'll see the other revenues um scattered throughout. Our revenue total is 256.1 million excluding grants which are a little over 15 million. Um as I noted
before there's $45 million in transitional aid assumed here and other state aid. Uh we have 10 million in capital city aid again and we're going to be receiving 59.7 in energy receipts tax which is just a um an automatic
allocation. Our appropriations outlook as usual uh about 40% of the budget is salaries. Um another 20% or so is is insurance. And again uh this will be available on our website for the public. So you can go ahead and download it and
take a look at all of these uh segments as well. Um the department costs themselves are about half of our budget which is pretty typical. We we don't really see a lot of change there. fringe a little over a quarter. Debt service is about 6%
of our total budget. Um general liability workers comp about 4% and the remainder is a collection of other other things. Um we talked a little bit about the taxes but just to restate it uh the
municipal tax levy excluding school and minimum library is going to be increased from by 1.6 6 million um which is about 2%. Uh the municipal tax rate um going out an extra digit is going from
3.672 to 3.707 which is a little over 3 cents. Um and for a property that has an assessed value of $100,000 that's going to be a $35
um tax increase per year. And that is our presentation. Are there any questions from members of the council? Council President, Councilwoman Williams. Thank you. So, Mr. Cherry, I happen to see in the one uh pie chart
there was listed 6.5% in the surplus uh for revenue. Yes, for revenue. Okay. Um, so that being included, that sounds like it's not enough to mitigate a tax increase. Uh, so this
is the tax increase is mandatory from the DCA. So uh, it is true that that surplus has not mitigated it. However, the presence of the tax increase was not driven by the
revenue need. It was driven by it's simply a a requirement of the DSCA to be permitted to ex uh access transitional aid for this year. So under theou memor of our understanding we are
absolutely 100% required to do this. Uh it is not part of theou exactly it is more that it is part of our application process. So, if we wish to access transition aid for our budget, for our calendar year 2025 budget, DCA has
mandated that as part of that application, as part of that request, we must uh raise taxes by 2%. Understood? So, at the end of the day, our property owners and homeowners should know that there's no way around this. Correct. Okay. We it is
mandatory. if if we want the transition aid, this is a a requirement of that. And then I was very pleasantly happy to see the increased amount as I'm sure many folks will. Uh do we know when that
will be locked in and that's assured? We have not received a date certain. Um, usually we receive it toward the end of June, beginning of July, but as of as of today, we have not received any any
notice of the date that we will receive an official response. Okay. So, I'll pray the rosary that we still get. All right. Thank you very much for answering my questions. Thank you, ma'am. Any other council members? That's it. I just have one quick question, but do we have another a
contingency plan for um a budget if they say we don't get that amount? Uh we will certainly re-evaluate our budget as uh required, but we would we would need to know the dollar amount before we really took any adjustments. But as of now, we
haven't heard that this is not what we will receive. So we're operating under the assumption that these are the revenues and the appropriations accordingly. Thank you, Mr. Cherry. Of course.
I think that's Thank you. Thank you. [Music] Next on the agenda is a presentation from Kingsbury. Um an update. This is not on the schedule, but um it is being allowed by council.
Thank you. It was omitted from the agenda, but we're going to they were supposed to be on here to give us an update on Kingsbury. Um, but before we do that, um, Miss Lord, I think I wanted to vote take a motion to approve the introduction of the budget. That's okay
with you. Can we do that first? Motion to adopt the introduced budget. So, we have a second. May we have a motion move. Second on roll call. Councilwoman
Edwards. [Music] So, we're adopting the budget today or is it just being No, if I may provide clarity, you're just you're just approving the introduction of the budget for consideration,
right? Okay. We're not approving the actual So, approving the introduction of the Okay. So, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Figueroa Kenberg, yes.
Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Council President Gonzalez, yes. It has carried. Thank you. You're welcome. And at this time we're going to have a
short presentation on an update from Kingsbury. Hello everyone. Good evening. Uh tonight we'll be talking about uh Kingsberry Towers preservation which we've uh been able to talk about in front of this group for a while now, but uh glad to
say that we're now very much underway with our work. So um we'll go over the the status of the of the renovations. will talk briefly about the potential redevelopment of the site next door and then we'll take questions.
Um, so we acquired the property uh towards the end of 2024 just before Christmas and the the work the construction work that we did went immediately into the vacant units to start the the process of bringing them
up to a livable level so that we could move residents out of their apartments into those temporarily. Um, throughout that process we had a lot of face-to-face meetings with residents. Uh we were also in front of you guys multiple times um and have been have
been a known presence on the site for you know the entire last 6 months and going back two years at this point. Um so as of today we are doing uh full apartment renovations not on those vacants that I was just talking about
but on 38 units in the west tower which are going to soon be the the permanent home for the residents who moved out of those temporarily. Um once they're completed, the residents will move back from their uh temporary apartments back into their brand new home, which we're really excited about.
And I'll show you some pictures. Um and then we'll move on to the two next stacks. So just as an example, we're in the A stack and the H stack right now. 19 stories, 38 apartments. Once we're done with those, we'll do 38 more. After that, we'll do 38 more. Then move move
on to the east tower. So, this is the first unit that was completed, which is unit 1B in the West Tower. And I'm sorry that I actually didn't put a uh a before photo on, but I know many of you have been in the
building and probably have a good idea of what it looked like before. Um, but we want to focus on what what we're working with now. So, wanted to take the opportunity to show this off. [Music] Oh yes, we can talk about elements that
are very exciting in this. Um, at a high level, most everything is brand new. Uh, windows are brand new. The heating and cooling system that you can see in the bottom right is probably the largest transformation in my opinion. Um, gone are the days of a two-pipe system with
heating and cooling behind the walls that was uh, leaky and had been causing issues for tenants throughout the building for a long time. This is now fully electric and residents can control the temperature of their apartments. Uh, brand new floors um, and resurfaced
walls that you can see here. Here's a picture of the bedroom. To the right of this photo, there is another heating and cooling unit in the bedroom with another one of those awesome windows. This is the kitchen with uh granite countertops, brand new stainless steel
appliances, all new plumbing and electric, new lighting, new cabinetry. Um so it it looks great, I think. And uh again, we're just really excited to show it off and very soon to bring residents back from their temporary units into
these units at no cost to them. Uh it's been difficult. It's been messy. We have to move people around their building and that's not fun. They're it. They deserve a lot for what they're living through right now, but in a matter of a few weeks, they go from living in what is
not an acceptable place to something like this. So, we're very excited. Here's a photo of the bathroom. Again, everything is brand new. This we have not begun work on the common areas, but this is an indicative
photo of another property. uh in Jersey that we have done a similar level of repair on. So this just gives you an idea of the sort of finishes and lighting that we're shooting for in our design. And we are very excited to now have a handicapped ramp onto the plaza,
which was uh a a problem that had not been solved for many years. folks in wheelchairs had to go into the buildings into the west tower through the garage. Um, and so if someone was coming back with groceries, they couldn't be dropped off right at the street level and access the buildings that way. So this is uh
while not as cool to look at as the apartment, a huge upgrade. This is a temporary version. This will eventually be a permanent feature. All right. And with that, talk about the new construction.
Uh hello folks. Good to see you all again. I'm going to continue where Eli left off. We included as part of our work in the last six months the demolition of the town homes or lowrises as you may refer to them. The demolition has taken multiple months. It was
projected to be an enduring process, one we took on deliberately as an important phase in the overall re uh new vision. Um, we are by removing those buildings, we're freeing up two and a half acres
again where 60 units were located. We're freeing up that 2 and 1/2 acres for um some reconsideration. Um, one element of that is a consideration for a new building that may
feature a replacement of those 60 town homes. Um I've got 67 indicated here. The concept is to locate those in a fivestory building. um thereby consolidating the density
into a small area of the 2 and 1/2 acres elevators which were not a part of the town homes and anchor it with a space that may be a nonresidential space which we have talked about as a potential home for a
medical arts or healthc care operation. Um such an operation would cater to the aging population that's in the towers in Luther Arms. Um it could simply be a positive response to deliver health care
to local users. Um we have published a request for proposal and distributed it to parties who have requested it and await decisions from them which we would evaluate when they submit their responses in the middle of this month.
um in exhibiting some of what we're talking about. Um, this is the site planning with the existing towers on the left side of the page and the town homes demoed on the right where
we've got the Lshape of the new building. The lighter color corresponds to that healthc care space. Surface parking to support that potential user and a new roadway that acts as a spine to bifurcate the spa site. Um, in some
respects this allows greater visibility to the church buildings behind on Cooper, which are worth every bit of visibility. And we've also tried to recognize that community representatives want to perpetuate the
pedestrian pathway on the uh plan right by the end of the site. We want to keep that pedestrian pathway experience intact. So the um spine that roadway would be a private access way that would have
public uh it would be publicly accessibly publicly accessible but privately owned. Um it would serve the two parking levels that are beneath the two towers and would obviously create access to the new residential and the
new healthcare operation if that was included. And with that, I can bring that to a close. That was a I said two more minutes, but it's okay. Oh, you were saying two more minutes. Okay. Just some other images. I just want to show that um some of the materiality we're
playing with. We did we we want to do something that respects the context. These are masonry facades with some expressions on them. So, it's a playful illusion to the existing towers, but also recognition of
the church nearby. Um, and then we want to celebrate Trenton and its art community. And so we've looked for opportunities to layer on art on the site. These these gestures will be included on the tower plaza as
well as on the surface as as indicated here. And then we're trying to make a big production out of the outdoor opportunities as well. So there would be um green spaces included anticipated since the green has not been the
narrative associated with those sites so far. Boom. Done. Um I know some council members may have a couple of questions or remarks. Um Councilwoman Frisbee. So thank you Eli and thank you Jonathan for um bringing us up to speed and the community as
well. Um you did talk about at the last uh moment there the green space. That's what I wanted to make sure that was brought um to the forefront. Making sure that there's green space enough to uh accommodate all of the um residents with
all these the having the twin towers and now with the uh fivetory the anticipation with that. So thank you for that. The only thing that I did not hear and I'm sure that you've addressed it um we've addressed it um in our meetings is
the elevator issues. Have we resolved elevator issues because I know that um that is one of the uh concerns that it seems to be a continuum with the residents. Take that. Uh the the short answer is yes, but also we're joined by some folks from the site who work every
day at Kingsbury and have seen and use the elevators. So, I wanted to invite them up if they want to speak to that. But, but the short answer is yes. We um we did some cap some light capital improvements to the elevators before we
started construction because there's construction workers in the elevator and there's only two elevators per tower. So, not only are the elevators important for residents to get up and down, but our construction project would not work if we couldn't get materials up and
down. So, in the last few months, it's been pretty good. Excellent. Thank you, Madam President. She was going to say something. Yeah, I'm not done. I'm the property manager at Kingsberry Towers and um we have been working diligently
with our company with um for the elevator concerns. We actually even hired additional security to also make sure that we have constru uh we have um one elevator open for construction
and the other one for the residents so that way there's no um disruption in their movement in the building. So thank you council council vice president. Yeah, I'm I'm sorry. So, I still have the first um my other question is um
since management is here uh what is the process if residents have concerns in the building, what is that process for them getting to you and then the they knowing that there's going to be um communicated back to them with the resolve. So, when we took over in
December, we actually put out a flyer to each individual door to each res. You come closer to the mayor. Sorry. Sorry. Um, when we took over in December, we put out a a flyer to each and resident, each individual resident to let them know our information as far as our contact numbers for after hours. On the
weekends, we have on call maintenance every day available after 5. So, if there's an issue that goes right to the on call uh maintenance technician who gets right back to the resident and addresses their concern. Um, we also are there on the weekends, so sometimes when we're working on Saturdays, they do pop
in as well. So we do have communication with them. Unfortunately, sometimes they feel like they need to reach out to city council rather than to us directly. Even though we did state it would be a lot faster to get their issues um resolved if they contacted us directly so that it
didn't come to you and then you reached out to us and then we reached out to them. So thank you for that. Um so you answered the other one about after hours and that means you have an open door policy. So, I'm appreciative of that.
And my last question is the is it um I'm assuming that that the answer is yes, but I just want to confirm it. The tow and there's only one office in one tower, not an office in both towers. Is that correct? We have the management office in the west tower and we have our
relocation specialist located in the east tower. Excellent. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you, Madam President. Council vice president. Thank you, Madam President. I just want to stay on that subject a bit before I ask my other questions about the communication between the residents and
the management company. Um I'm first of all I'm excited to see all of this and um and kudos to you and the progress that you have made so far in this renovations and your efforts to improve the communications. Um there was a recent water pipe bust
um about a month or two ago at this point and there were residents that had complained to the administration. I'm not sure if they complained to council members, but they certainly complained to the administration that they had been calling um because there they didn't
have any water all day for 13 hours. and the administration um had informed a couple of us council members what had transpired and that ultimately they had they were the ones to fix the issue because of a supposed nonresponse or
like just a delay in response from the management company or whoever responds to emergencies. So can can you guys explain like what happened if you have any knowledge of it and um what you've done to improve that?
There there have been a number of instances where there have been pipes that break. Um so I don't know exactly the one that you are referencing, but if it's I think there's maybe two stories that might be conflated here.
Um there was a planned water shutdown at the property probably about a month ago and all the residents were noticed. These guys put flyers on everyone's door and uh in the in the hallways. It was planned from 9:00 a.m. till around 4 pm
and it ended up going from 9:00 a.m. to probably 11:00 p.m. which is a problem. Um but it was an unforeseen error that took them our plumbers longer to fix than was anticipated. And we were all on
call ready to start calling hotels to find people housing for the night if they didn't have access to water. Um, but it's it's construction. It's messy and there are things that happen that we can't plan for, but we are very attentive and hope to make it smoother.
Um, so I hope that helps answer your question, but we're we're very well aware of every time the water is down for sure. Yeah. Yeah, I definitely heard both versions of the story. Yeah. But that we were told they did try to reach out to management before anything got
elevated to the government officials. So, yeah, just wanted to make sure they're able to get through to you guys without a doubt. Yeah. Yeah. So, thank you. Um, I wanted to talk a little bit about uh the lowrise situation. Um, how
much longer do you think it would take you guys to demolish the lowrises? Where are you guys on the funding to rebuild into the fivetory? And it also um I didn't hear anything about a playground
for the entire property. A lot of questions. Three questions. Yeah. One I can definitely speak to is the timing of the dem of the demolition. I would expect the site to be clean, no uh debris left, all the material gone in
six weeks. Nice. I think it could be sooner than that, but I want to I would say six weeks to be conservative. Um, I'm going to hand it over to John to talk about funding for the new [Music] construction. I I think the uh the most
important um statement we hope to make today in this presentation is the concept plan exists and that we are um soliciting interest from the health care operators as part of a driver. So to the extent they engage, there is a financing
vehicle that's established through the state that would allow us to proceed in tandem or in union with that healthcare operator. Um the funding exists and to the extent this healthcare operator wanted to go handinhand with us
on that, we would be ready to go and maybe that's a 2026 start. Um in the alternate we might pursue uh financing through a competitive process through the state in a s and and if successful be able to
pursue a similar timeline. So a 2026 start. Um we're motivated because we don't want to have vacated 2 and 1/2 acres and have it just sit. So while it will be temporarily enclosed during any
delayed start, we do um we do intend to work towards financing and an initial timeline for 2026. If we fail, we would try again and do 2027. Um, I would, uh, to your last question,
um, I think what we would like to do is try to address the play area as a design, uh, element. Um, I showed a number of images of exterior amenities. uh uh assume that play area for younger
residents would be included and it would be um challenge of the design team to come up with something that tied in to the new community that we had created. So it may not be jungle gym, it may be something, you know, more artful.
Nice. Thank you. No problem. Thank you, Councilwoman Williams. Um, so I have several different questions and some of them are covered really well by my colleagues, but I just like to emphasize as far as the demolition clearing the neighborhood,
the residents there have been waiting a long time to have this finished. I would be really it'd be really good if it could happen within four weeks. Uh, we have Memorial Day coming. We have the summer once the heat happens. Um, varmints might be amongst the debris and it'd be much better if it was done
sooner. So that's hopefully that could happen. Point taken and the pressure is on. Thank you very much. Yeah. So uh regarding uh what's the latest on the sprinkler situation, fire suppression for the building?
Um there are a significant amount of fire safety upgrades planned to the building. Um most of which are things that were actually an easy fix like adding smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to every apartment. Um,
some of them include fire doors that automatically close when the alarm goes and an upgraded fire alarm system. All of this is subject to DCA inspection, which was a big topic around when we purchased the building because there were a lot of existing fines and uh
failed inspections. There is not a planned suppression system in the building independent from the standpipe system that exists today, which will be upgraded and made safe. That upgrade uh new motors and new pumps, new boxes for every floor where they plug into the
standpipe system. Um that's probably the simplest rate would be u much greater than it used for. Yeah, it it meets DCA's standards for 2025. Yeah. Thank you. And have you consulted our fire department on these
upgrades so far? Uh I believe we have fire inspections for the entire building ongoing. Uh, so yes, that's part of our permit process. As far as carbon monoxide detectors, would that be something that would also be installed in each included in the in the smoke
detector? Excellent. Because I know the standards have changed recently for TFD. So, uh, regarding security, can you go into a little more detail what that is like, what that, um, actually is now? I know within the last year security if
you could talk about what that looks like what that is for residents because I know uh the company has changed within the last year. Yes. Um security I think today is in a really good place uh maybe better than I expected it to be. In
terms of guards we have 247 armed security in both towers. Um, physically the property lacks what I would call sufficient security measures and that is one of the first things that we're focused on on like the whole
campus as opposed to in-unit work. It includes over 200 uh security cameras, which are much not just more of them, but better cameras than exist now by a large margin that will be monitored 24/7
by people off campus, but also by security guards in the booths. Uh access control, meaning people will only be able to enter the plaza, get onto the plaza or enter the buildings with a key fob, which now is not the case. They they need key fobs to enter the
buildings, but anyone can walk onto the plaza. Um, add in addition to that, uh, we're going to secure the garage, which has been a problem for a long time. Cars can come in and out. People can walk in and out. It's unsecured. There are doors in the garage where you still need to
scan in to get into the building, but now we're going to take another level of precaution and put a rolling door on the outside of the garage once the repairs are complete. So that that's very much uh front and center in our design. No, that's great to hear. Um because even
with uh arm security, I imagine you still have armed security on site. Yeah. 24/7. Are there any cameras in the stairwells of the G towers? There are a few. Okay. We will have one on every landing of every stair. That would be
when we're done. Yeah. Yeah. Because I' I've received I'm sure my colleagues have a lot of complaints. different dealings in the uh hallways in the stairwells, but even um with graffiti, I know we requested that that be painted over because some of it the profanity is
pretty blatant. Yeah. Is that something be kept up with still? Absolutely. That being taken care of. Yeah. That that's not the uh only thing that happens in the stairwells. There's lots of things that I didn't want to describe the other thing that happened. Yeah. It's a it's a family picture here.
So, yeah. Um the other thing is uh regarding the newer building, I know we had some great discussions in um the meetings regarding senior focus. Uh will the new um building where the lowrises are five stories, will that still have a
senior focus or is that still possible? Uh it's certainly still possible. I think the um the in the scenario where there's a healthcare partner involved, we want to engage them in some of that programming. So consider that a TBD.
Okay. And then regarding the uh new building, additionally, I know uh elevators are not an expensive proposition. Would there be a possibility of a third or fourth elevator for the new building um to make sure we're kind of evening out the
usage. So in the towers, if one goes out frequently, the other one gets overused. So you over time you have more. in the new building there. We would anticipate at least one new elevator, if not two. Would there be a possibility of a third or a fourth? Uh, is that something to
consider? I don't know that the um if we're only doing 67 units that we can advertise the cost of a third elevator. That would be a maybe above and beyond the norm. Um, even two might be a stretch for 67
units, but um, I I I note your concern and I think that um, um, you know, we have enough experience in the marketplace to demonstrate that two should support and that would be a new elevator condition. So, look, it's only six floors, that's not 20. So, the circumstances that have characterized
the condition in the new in the in the tower won't affect the new. Okay. Excellent. Thank you very much, John. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you. Lord says keep it on going. Next on the agenda is public comment for
agenda items only. If anyone wishes to speak on any docket items, please come up to the front, state your name, your address. Thank you. Are there any for the public for the
agenda items? First individual is Cherry Garrett. She's here for the public. This is for agenda items only. Okay. Okay. But Kingsbury is not on our agenda as far as that. But yeah, as far
as our official business, that's all. Thank you though. But you can say your remarks when you come back up for your Okay. Good evening, Miss Car. Press the round button. The round button on the on the There you
go. Yes. Hello. Thank you um council president and other council members for allowing me to speak on the budget. I just have a comment about the um a few things on here under department
administration and department of finance. Um I just was here when uh Mr. Cherry introduced the budget. Um for the last three years the budget has not been uploaded to the uh website the city
website. Also I haven't seen any department budget meetings that is open to the public. Um I from my understanding uh when there was the state of the city address there was no budget presented then. Um, also, um,
they're, um, my concern is that we're spending and, um, we're not looking at the cost that's, uh, represented with the tax increase. And also um as long as
we're getting the transitional budget, if you um just for your information, if you go to Department of Community Affairs under the division, local government services, they have all that information for you. And each year they
they'll um inform each municipality what the changes are and how it would affect the municipal budget. Um let me see. Um also my concern I see
um I'm speaking about 25162 and then 25163 there's uh 37 tax sales certificates. Um $1.8 [Music]
million. That's a lot of money. So that means we're not collecting taxes and we're raising taxes. That's a problem. [Music] Um let's see what are these projects. I
see a lot of spending on projects. For instance, 25159 for $48500,000 for a small piece of property. That's a lot of money.
Um, also, you know, some more transparency. We need more transparency. We need more information uploadable on the website. Um, also that introduction budget should have had a copy, the
council should have had a copy of those numbers and um, so should had Mr. Cherry. Uh there's no way we sitting back here even though we heard the conversation are unable to see those screens. Uh let's see. Budget interview
should have Yep. Yep. I think that's really about it. Some transparency and um some up um information that's dealing with the city should be uploaded to the website and that budget is very important. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
Gret. [Music] Anyone else? Next on the list is Robin Vaughn. Hello. Good evening, council. Good evening. Hi. Good evening, council. Council
president and general counsel. Thanks for allowing me to speak. The item that I would like to speak on is item 2537. It's an ordinance establishing a high-rise emergency assistance plan for
multi-unit residential buildings of 40 units or more and mandating certain emergency actions. Uh is there a dollar amount associated with that ordinance? uh if if there is some emergency
assistance plan, it's like what are you assisting? Are you assisting with revenue, with cost? Are you giving uh city resources, public service? Like what are we giving here? What are we providing
assistance? There's no detail here as to what level assistance are you going to pro provide these private owned multi- residential buildings. And I just wanted to say I I
really don't understand the jurisdiction that our government has over these high-rise multifamily buildings. My understanding, and I could be wrong, but I stand corrected. I'll have to engage the law department about
this. Um, so DCA DCA is the housing has a uh New Jersey state bureau of housing inspections. um their role is to manage and govern
and provide appropriate oversight to these privatelyowned multi- residential buildings. The only pieces of property that you guys should be governing and providing
assistance to are the 11 housing developments that is owned by the city through the Trenton Housing Authority. Now, I just want to hear from
DCA as to what are they contributing here? Are they not on their job? Why are they uh linguishing their job to the city of Trenton? And how much money are they
going to be funding this ordinance? Because I hope they don't think the taxpayers of the city of Trenton is going to support this ordinance. And these people who are here talking about the Kingsbury Apartments, why aren't they in front of the state
legislature? Why aren't they being uh why aren't their efforts being reviewed by DCA and the state assembly? That's who govern them. What are you guys going to do? You have no jurisdiction over those
buildings. So, I feel like what we heard here was a big gloss over. And what I would like to know in addition to that, I think council uh council person Jennifer Williams kind of touched on it, but she glossed over
it. How much federal government funding is the Kingsberry Apartments getting via section 8? And what are they doing with those millions of dollars? And how many violations do they
have? and how many of those violations have been remediated and have they paid those fines? So, I didn't hear any of that. So, I feel like you guys are kind
of glossing over stuff and acting out of pocket. This is not and maybe as I said maybe the law director can tell us who has jurisdiction over our city since our law director and the law department
represents the city of Trenton and all of its entities. So we shouldn't be getting into things that we have no legal or con constitution constitutional governance over. We're not the state. We're the
city of Trenton. We have a mayor and counsel. Send a Kingsberry people up the road. Thank you. Thank you. And Lord, just can you remind the public that they must state their address for the record, please? Thank
you. There is no one else on the list for public comment for docked items. Thank you. You're welcome. Okay. Next is the approval of public um of communications petitions and reports.
Yes. So before we um motion to approve Well, yes. Can we have a motion? Um I know there's a question on comm on the communications report. So do we motion that first, Mr. Bridges?
Okay. So, may we have a motion? So moved. Second. Thank you. And I believe Councilwoman Oh. Yes, ma'am. Councilwoman Williams had a question. I'm sorry. Thank you. Um, just
because this these uh certificates uh come up in questions by uh different constituents over time, and I I know I've seen other people ask about them. I was just wondering if I could ask either law director or uh the finance department to explain uh the redemption
tax sale certificate versus a foreclosure sick tax sale certificate versus a foreclosure complaint just kind of for public consumption. But I'd also like to make sure that's highlighted. So then when I explain it to other folks I'm clear on what they are and the
differentials. Thank you. Is there anyone here that can answer that for councilwoman [Music] Please, sorry. Could you please pause the question again? Maria Richardson, B8, I believe she wants to know the
difference between a redemption tax sale, foreclosure tax sale, and the foreclosure complaint. like what are the differences between the three? Yeah. Yeah. I get questions sometimes about um what is a redemption tax certificate versus a foreclosure tax sale
certificate and then I see foreclosure complaint. So just for mainly public consumption, but also I'd like to make sure I clearly understand when I explain it to other folks. Well, a redemption tax certificate is when the owner the pro the yes the owner of the property uh
pays for whatever lean or any other um money owed and then he is redeeming the taxes. Um in the case that that we have in the docket right now, we are
assigning tax sale certificate. Those taxes were already those delinquent accounts were already uh sold and what the city basically when when there is an assignment the city is transferring the
right of the city to collect those interest in those tax sale certificates to a third party. basically to um expedite the process of the city getting paid. So it's similar to uh factoring an
accounts payable. Yes. Okay. Thank you. And then the foreclosure complaint. That's uh Wes, would you be able to Yeah, I I was waiting um I may council president um for for Council Williams to answer your question. for the public's
benefit. There's there's a process embedded in the foreclosure statute to protect residential homeowners. Um, number one, as far as the foreclosure certificates, that's when we're actually going through the foreclosure process. And by that, there's a notice to the
homeowners of an intent to foreclose. There's notice when a comp when a foreclosure complaint is filed and there's per periodic notice provisions even after that legal process is done and the city takes possession of that tax certificate. There is still a time
frame within which the original home voters can redeem that uh property and they can redeem it obviously by paying the uh amount with interest. So, there are protections and safeguards in place all the way up in including after the foreclosure process for a homeowner to
come in and say, "I'm ready to make good on this obligation and redeem that property." So, um they're like I said, they're all statutory. They're all very specific and if it's not filed to the tea, that foreclosure will be undone. Um, but that's the difference between the tax uh redemption to signing that
tax certificate versus a foreclosure complaint where we're going through the process of foreclosing on that property for not paying their taxes. And then I guess my other question with that would be would um someone who has received a foreclosure notice, would they need to have legal representation to file a
complaint or can they do that as a private citizen? Well, they wouldn't be filing a complaint. They would actually be answering it. the city is the uh entity filing the complaint and foreclosure to foreclose on the property. Um if the home owner is interested in making or herself uh known
and making their um uh what their you know their intentions known, they could uh enter their appearance, file an answer, and take the necessary steps with the court. 95% of the time, no one ever comes to court. It's it's usually um done by default because folks aren't coming, but they're told throughout you
still have the time within which to make good on this obligation to reclaim your property. Thank you very much. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you, Councilwoman Williams. Anyone else? We can move to roll call.
Is there roll call on it or consent? So, we're going to put that on consent agenda. Roll call. No. No. What? What's that? That was approval. I'm sorry. Approval of communications and petitions. Yes.
Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. Yes. Councilwoman Felixiano. Yes. Councilwoman Figura Kenberg. Yes. Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Councilwoman Williams. Yes. Council President
Gonzalez. Yes. It carries. Is there a motion for the adoption of the minutes for the March 4th, 2025 council meeting? So second roll call.
Councilwoman Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Biga Canber, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams. Yes. Council President Gonzalez. Yes. And just for
the record, March 18th is listed on the agenda. However, it was not sent to council and ahead of time. So, that's been taken off. Okay. Next on the agenda is um resolutions. A first read. I'm sorry. There there is a first reading
ordinance. Ordinance. Give me second reading. Second reading ordinance. Ordinance 25006 is an ordinance adopting a redevelopment plan for the entirety of the city of Trenton, a depated rehabilitation area.
This is a public hearing. Yes, sir. Are there any public hearing for the adoption of the ordinance? If anyone wishes to um speak to this ordinance, they can do so. Um, I know we did ask the attorneys to be here present in case
any of anyone has any questions um, in regards to this ordinance. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this before he comes up? One person. Oh, yeah. That's it. I uh, Shave Garrett U one
Bruce Park Drive. Um, please state your name and um your ashes. She did. She just did it. Oh, sorry. Didn't hear you. You ready? Yes, ma'am. Um, this ordinance for redevelopment plan.
Um, I know we've had the master plan something. I apologize. I think it's the 250 3 250 250 3 250 250. Yes. Thank you. All right. So, how does this plan play in with as we're just discussing um
discussing funding for the whole city? Um on the federal level, in order to do a redevelopment, that money comes from the federal level from HUD and then that's siphoned through Department of Community Affairs. There is uh cutbacks
on the federal level um in regards to spending and subsidies and development. So putting us in this state, how does that play into the tax increase increases um the funding for, you know,
is this going to leave the city still in a blighted situation because it's been blighted for a long time since um the redevelopment of Mil Hill, but prior to that, the city has been heavily blighted. So, how does this plan play
into what's the time frame for this whole redevelopment? How does the residents currently will benefit from this total redevelopment? And how does this play into the taxes? And since we're with transitional aid, we are being subsidized to operate. How does
this help the city overall and the residents? I would like somebody to break that down in the cost to the city and is this going to increase our taxes even more. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mi. Yes. Yes. Good evening.
Good to see everyone. Good evening. So, so the redevelopment plan, this redevelopment plan that governs the entire city is not project specific. It does not lay out and and allow any specific projects at all. This is a
provision under the redevelopment law. There's two different designations areas can have. One is a redevelopment designation and kind of the little brother of redevelopment is rehabilitation. And in rehabilitation, you're allowed the statute, the state
law specifically says entire cities can be designated rehabilitation areas. We completed that process last September, last October, but it was in the fall. This is a statutoily required redevelopment plan, and I'm giving it
air quotes. It's a plan that you have to have adopted under state law to empower the city with all of the redevelopment powers except for long-term pilots and
eminent domain. Okay. But and for what it does is it puts the city in a position that it can now act on what I would suggest to you is 90% of the projects that come along that we can address them without having go to go
through the process of doing a specific area designation for a specific project. We kind of have them all set this way. This this plan lays out an ordinary ordinary redevelopment plan would lay out zoning for the area. This plan
simply incorporates all of the city's underlying zoning. It makes no changes whatsoever. The city's zoning is what stays in effect. This is really just a check off item under state law that we
have one of these adopted. uh it does not impact dollars from anywhere because we're not addressing any specific project. It simply gives the authority to the city to act in a
quicker manner to make projects happen. And when they go move to make that project happen, that's when you work on trying to get funding from other sources, try to make that project happen. Okay. So, this is just setting that stage to give the city a greater
flexibility and ability to help make specific projects work. Okay. Thank you, Director Bridges. Council President, Mr. Marley, thank you for that presentation. Can you talk a little bit about council's role in that process and and council's involvement with that process
you just articulated? Sure thing. So, so you remain and and listen, the state law, it gets a little confusing because it refers to redevelopment and rehabilitation in some ways interchangeably. In a rehabilitation
area, you have to adopt a redevelopment plan. Okay, can we confuse it anymore? But that that's the kind of thing that happens. But in this rehabilitation designation, the governing body retains the same control that you do within redevelopment areas. So it gives you the
ability you you enter redevelopment agreements in rehabilitation areas. all those things that you're used to in some redevelopment projects. Same rules apply, same authority um within the governing body to help influence those
projects um to provide incentives to make sure that projects are built specific ways that you want to see them built. All those same um authorities tie in to the rehabilitation area. Mr. M. And this and this also is for
small and larger projects like you said. is not specifically just for the bigger projects. It's for this is for homes and every project. Yes. And it gets used for for the most part. It is used for smaller projects. Um it it and it it is
used much more frequently. Okay. And gives the city the ability to use it much more frequently. Sometimes if you have somebody going to do two, three houses and rehab them to go through that redevelopment process and do a spec project specific designation adds three,
four, five months onto the process. That's really just not necessary. This way we're done the process. Those smaller projects can we can just go do those projects. Thank you. Sure. Any other council members? Thank you, Mr. Mali. Um, yes. Uh, Miss
McBride. [Music] Please state your name and your address. Hi, good evening, council. Um, thank you for hearing me this evening, but I have a question for Mr. Collie and maybe he
can answer. Please state your name. My name is Kathy McBride. I apologize. 46 Laurel Place, Trenton, New Jersey. I want the gentleman first started off by saying that you were giving your total power to this
administration. So, I would like for him to come back and clear that piece up because my concern is that when we're talking about redevelopment, the council do not need to move on any redevelopment
without a redevelopment attorney. Because when you start talking about redevelopment, you start going into areas, very gray areas. And those gray areas can land you up with handcuffs on. So you first need to be addressing a
redevelopment attorney. And Mr. Colloji being your council, he is very very much aware of exactly what the council can do and what you can't do when it comes to redevelopment. But when he said that
they need you to vote to give up your power, the council never gives up their power because you are the checks and balances. So when I heard that, I I just need him to reiterate what he said when he first started or ask the um gentleman here, he doesn't have a name plate, if
he could read his first statement, the beginning of his statement back so I could be clear on what he said. Can he do that? You can't read. You can't read back what the gentleman spoke [Music] to that read back to me so I have a
clear understanding of what I heard. Mr. Collie. So, Mr. I don't generally respond to questions from the public and nor does the council, but just to advise you, uh, Mr. Behind you is the redevelopment attorney for the city of Trenton. He's been handling all of the
redevelopment work for the last several years. So, Mr. Colloji, let me be clear. The administration has a redevelopment attorney. Does the council have their redevelopment attorney? because we're dealing with two separate entities here.
So, I just need to be clear. If he's the redevelopment attorney for the city, where is the council's redevelopment attorney? This two separate entities. I can't engage with you on this. I'm sorry. I understand the point you're making. Is
it two separate entities? Now, Mr. uh M indicator. No, I I I don't know. because if he's the um redevelopment attorney for the city, where is the protection at for this body here? I I'm just trying to
give you guys some insight. Um but this gentleman should be able to read that statement back that when he started out, he said, "We need you to vote on this to give us complete power." I I thought
that's what I heard. I don't think I didn't hear the vote. I just wanted it read back because so I could be clear. I can I can clarify. Thank you. All right. Um that was just all I had to Thank you, Mr. McGra. I can clarify. No, I've never ever said that you What I said instead was that the governing body retains that
that authority and that's how this works. And we are redevelopment council for the city, for the administration, for the city council, all viewed as one. uh you you have to take action to approve agreements. The administration
weighs in on what those agreements are when there's specific issues. The ultimate authority rests here with the governing body to to authorize the execution by the mayor of a redevelopment agreement, but he can't act without your approval. And for those
agreements, you can't sign those agreements without his approval and his signature on it. We're the city. We all act as one. Thank you, Mr. Mi. Thank you, Council President. Um, Councilwoman Williams. Thank you. I have a question for Mr. Mali. Yes.
Thank you. Uh, just for the matter at hand, is there any question of a conflict of interest that you would be a redevelopment attorney that would advise the administration as well as city council? No. No, there's none. We we I
been doing this for 30 years and we advise like I said the governing body. We represent the city. Mr. Colloji represents this body. We represent the city and in order to get redevelopment projects advanced and moved this this
governing body needs to be on board with it. An administration needs to be on board with it. You authorize the execution of agreements. They if they're an agreement they sign those agreements. It all works as one. It's not it's not two separate entities. It is the city.
It's just you your decisionmaking process is integrated between the two on behalf of the city. Okay. So much as you would advise, we would still have to consent. And that's where I think uh Ms. McBride's question is actually I thought
a healthy one uh to exercise and discuss this because I'm sure there would be other folks who would have a shared concern. It's it works the same as redevelopment projects which you've been involved in which all you know the meetings are committees of this body that we go over what those projects are
and you make those decisions and authorize it. you get input from the administration on issues, but it's your decision. Thank you very much, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mi. Madame President, council vice president. Thank you. Um, I want to say uh thank you to uh Mr. Mi
for your clarification on on what this process means um for the city of Trenton. Um no, taxes will not be going up. This will actually severely help us significantly help us uh return some of a lot of our city- owned properties back
to the tax roles. And I want to thank the administration and especially director list for working with the ad hoc subcommittee for HED um to bring these things to fruition for the rehab um designation and as well as this redevelopment plan. I do have a question
because this second reading was postponed to today pending uh the review and approval from the zoning board if I'm correct. The the and I can the planning board I was at the planning board in the last 10 days and the planning board approved and recommended
adoption. Awesome. That's all I needed to know. Yep, they did. Thank you. Was it the council? Thank you, Mr. Mi. Thank you. Is there anyone else who wishes to speak on this ordinance? Motion to close on public hearing.
So moved. Second. On roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. Yes. Councilwoman Feliciano. Yes. Councilwoman Figo Kenberg. Yes. Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Councilwoman
Williams. Yes. Council President Gonzalez. Yes. Is there a motion to adopt the ordinance? I thought that was the motion. Okay. Yes. We may have a motion to approve to adopt the ordinance 25-036.
So moved. Second. On roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. Yes. Councilwoman Feliciano. Yes. Councilwoman Bigoa Kenberg. Yes. Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Councilwoman
Williams. Yes. Council President. Yes. This has carried. Thank you. So, are there any council members that have any questions um or they would like any of the items removed from a consent
agenda? Council President. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. 25 156 25 160 25 161 163 165 166 169 66 and 69
one second 66 and 69. Um yes, Councilman Fo 2523 023. Council President 023 is the ordinance. Yeah, that's ordinance. Okay. Um Councilwoman
Frisbee. Yes. Uh 251 158 158. Yes, ma'am. Uh 25169. Mhm. [Music]
Um, and 25-037. Oh, no, no, no. That's the ordinance and we did discuss that. Yep. Uh, what? Okay, that's it. Yes. Thank you, Councilwoman Williams. Uh, thank you, ma'am. Uh,
25160 25 165 25 uh 1 69. Uh 25 uh 171 25173 25174
[Music] uh 2537. That's that's um sorry mistake. Thank you. Uh and that would be it ma'am. Thank you council vice president. Thank you. Um we have uh
25-148 and and 153 on the docket. Oh yeah, that was pulled. 148 is pulled. It was taken off by administration. Okay. Both of them. Thank you. 148.
148 and 153 and 153. Thank you. Is that it for you? All right. So, Councilwoman uh Councilwoman Feliciano with 25- 156. Okay.
Okay. So, so we're not going to pull 148. 148 will remain on the docket. Okay. Thank you for that. What about 153? is we're not they're not pulling either one. Okay. Thank you for that
clarification. Um director listen but councilwoman Williams Councilwoman Feliciano. That was the animal. All right. Thank you, Council President. I appreciate you. Good evening, director listening. Good
evening. Hey, just a quick question for you. We're We're we're using um some grant funds from a previous time period from like the 90s. I just was curious what
what type of grant fund is this that we're using for this? It it'd be um Brownfield's funding that would come out of the the state. So Brownsfields were allowed to hold that money for that long of a time. Yeah. A lot of times when you get a
grant, the grant carries for years. Uh, and a lot of times, especially with environmental work, environmental work is a is a lot of times the great unknown. As you dig into the ground, you find more stuff and then you you retest it and you find other areas that are a
problem and they can go on and on for long periods of time. So, they do leave the grants open for for extended periods of time. I've had projects go over 20 years when you you know when you're trying to dig up the ground and see what's there. Okay. Do you know do we
have to submit any kind of um update for these grants and stuff to keep it open? Is there anything that we like have to do to notify them? You know, we still haven't used it or Yeah, this is a partnership one one with the MCIA. Uh and what what happens is uh we will keep
the uh granting is D or whoever the grant they get a quarterly updates or annual whatever they require. We make sure we update them and then they look over the the project they look over the results to make sure that you know the
issues are still there and uh working with our engineers or our um environmental people uh they they will continue. Okay. Thank you. consent. Thank you. Thank you. Consent.
Um and just for the record, I do want to roll call 25 148 and 153. Um Councilwoman Frisbee on 25-1 158. Quick, can I have someone to the mic, please? 25-158.
Good evening, council members. Maria Richardson, business administrator. Good evening. [Music] Uh, I just would like to have for the public consumption and myself as well the benefits of having this of
authorizing this. Um, I think it's a a great idea, but I think we I just want to have it expounded upon just for uh everyone else to find out about. Absolutely. Um, this basically will allow the city to become a member of the member of the Crown for Police
cooperative pricing system. A cooperative pricing system is one of those um mechanisms, one of those tools that the New Jersey procurement law um allows the municipalities
um to engage with cooperatives um to benefit from bulk purchasing. Um in in a ca in the case of a cooperative, what they do is that they procure a certain number of services
um and they follow procurement law to pro to uh procure those services and then they make a make those services or goods available to different municipalities to access them. Um, in order to do that, the city needs to
become a member of those cooperative pricing systems, but the city doesn't have to pay anything. You know, it's not like a membership agreement or anything like that. But if they, for example, have procured um police vehicles, we are
able to purchase from them without having to go ourselves and procure those services. We still have to uh prepare resolutions and come in front of you to buy those goods or services but we don't
need to procure it like we would have to in a regular basis. Uh it's the same concept as the uh state contract or any uh nationwide uh cooperative agreement. In
this case in this case this is a local one. Thank you. And if we did not take part in something like this, if we were to go out independently on ourselves, then the pricing for us is I I imagine could be higher. Could be higher. We you
know, the state doesn't recommend that you simply go and buy from the cooperative. You still need to do your homework, right? You need to check if the prices are really lower than if you procure the service.
uh regularly, but usually the city benefits from from doing that. It's a cost-saving mechanism. Thank you. Sure. Thank you. Consent. Thank you. Um Councilwoman
Feliciano on 25-160. Yep. Thank you. Um just a couple quick questions. BA Richardson, thank you. Good evening. Good evening. under finding uh
2023-002 about the um youth antiviolence initiative under the explanation um and corrective action. I see it says here you transitioned the grant manager right we underst staffed over there they cause problems for the um for the
submission of the report there's going to be cross cross trainining and everything to ensure um things like this don't happen in case of employee turnover or leave basically what I want to know is um it says you're going to implement a due date tracking procedure to monitor
that the reports are sufficiently and timely completed um and submitted I remember before we had audit findings where we weren't utilizing funds or seeing what was going on. This is like citywide about right and we had different recommendations over time. Have you implement or have have they
implemented over there um the due date tracking procedure to monitor them? Do they have that in place? Yes, they have. Um and basically almost every department handles um grants. we are following up so that they we make sure that all the
reporting happens at the time that it's supposed to happen. And usually um the the sources of funding the the grant funding sources they would you know they send notifications your report is to um
in this case that went through the gap because the person we didn't have that staff person. Okay. And then it says uh meetings and improvements in communication between program and finance involved will be implemented. Has that been done? That is correct. It is happening. Um we have been meeting
with the department directors when we see that some of the deadlines have not been met or are upcoming. We have been meeting with the directors to make sure that those deadlines are followed. So who's actually monitoring? You said you meet me and you look. Who's actually monitoring the grants to to see these
deadlines? Um right now well we have it within the department we have different people handling those grants but also in administration we have been doing that uh along with one of our consultants our financial consultant has been actively
working on that. Okay Mr. Gallagher thank you for that. And then underneath the second one 2023-003 where it says the GASB75 report was issued after September 30th. I see it says before that we were self-insured. Who issues the Gazsby um
report? Give me one second. Council woman, let me just read. That's fine. Thank you. Well, Colin, did you have information about this one? Okay. [Music]
So, um this this type of audit is basically um a requirement from the federal government, right? So when we receive the federal um grants and that sort of things, we need to um to submit
those reports to the grantee to to the source the funding sources, right? So this is basically the audit results that the city will have to prepare to send to those funding sources. In this uh case,
we send it later than what we should. Okay. So the city so we didn't meet the statutory deadline for that, right? Okay. Yes. So then it says the main audit report was submitted towards the year end um and the single order report runs in tandem. I get that wasn't
completed as a result. So the main audit report was submitted towards the year end. And so who is submitting the main audit report? This is the same auditors, right? It's just that we need to Yes. In this case, in this case is Mercadian and
we are talking about the audit for 2023. Correct. But um the thing is that because we received the federal uh funding, we also need to do the single audit. The regular general audit was done at the end of the year. But um this
this statutory deadline for the uh single audit was was September 30th and the audit was not ready. Okay. And how long have we been dealing with Mercadian? I council uh woman, I am
not sure how many years we have been dealing with Mercadian. I know that at least for the last three years we have been dealing with Mercadian, but I'm really not sure. I think it's been quite a while. Um Okay. Thank you for that. Sure.
I think Councilwoman Williams has questions on it, too. Councilwoman Williams. Thank you. Uh so uh VA Richardson, my question has to do with 2023-001 top of page three. I'm sorry, which one? Oh, it's uh within this uh resolution, but the the third
page um it's the very first the same 160 finding. Yes. Okay. Yeah. Finding number 2023001 which uh goes into Yes. Yeah. So it says per 24 CFR uh the recipients are determined to be failing to carry out
its community development block grant activities in a timely manner of 60 days prior to the end of the grantees current program year. The amount of entitlement grant funds available to the recipients under grant agreement uh but undispersed by the US Treasury is more than 1.5
times the entitlement grant amount for the program year and just trails out and continues. And then I I did see the corrective action. The city will update its policies and procedures to ensure timeliness of expenditures is met, including regular monitoring of project status and budget to actual expenditure
review. And then you finish with regular monthly draw downs of CDBG grant funds will help stay on track. Yes. Okay. So that's great to to see. But I would like to ask you a question. Um how did the situation previous develop over time?
Well, CDBG it's um a complicated very complicated grant. Um I think in 2017 the city did not decided that they
were not going to give us any CDBG money home money because of I am not sure and I don't want to sound like I am accusing anybody but they decided not to fund this city um in
2018 Um because of the diligence of some of the council individuals and the mayor, we received again our um entitlement from CDBG.
However, because they gave us the money from 2017, the monitor from 2018 and the process to um the approval process is really really
time consuming and difficult. The city was not able to spend all the money at the time that the statutory time. You are only supposed to have one and a half as he mentions here. If you have more than one
and a half and the um the city receives around $2 million, if we have more than $3 million at any time at hand, that is a finding for the audit. We were late for more than than one year because m we
received 2016 2017 2018 at the same time. Then co happened. So we were not able to spend the money. Um now we are at a good in a good good standing with HUD in terms of timeliness but
timeliness is a finding. So I don't know if I explained that. No you did. And I would imagine that would preclude us from actually applying for additional funds at a certain point. No, not really. We haven't been able to. We have continued to received our yearly
entitlement until this year. 2021. It would have uh we received 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, but they send you a letter telling you you are not meeting the timeliness. And uh if you're not able to justify why
you might get your money um withheld or and sometimes you will have to even return it but that has not been the case for us. Okay. Thank you very much. Consent agenda please. Consent. Thank you. Thank you. Next one is Councilwoman
Feliciano. Thank you. All right. Ba Richardson. So, as we talk about um the utility receivables and reserves um being evaluated
annually, they're supposed to be monitored periodically. Uh uncollectibles are to be written off. Is this practice being done? There are discussions of doing that. Um so they haven't written anything off
yet. uncollectibles. We have written some uncollectibles um in small amounts, right? Once we uh go through the process of identifying all the uncollectibles that we have depending on the on the amount we have
to come to city council so that you can approve that. We only have and I don't kill me for not telling you the correct number but I think that we can only uh wave or declare
uncollectibles below $20 or something like that. So we will have to come before council to do that. Right. Okay. And then the inactive accounts and duplicate customers and unexplained adjustments investigated further and resolved by the city. Is that happening?
We are in the process. Yes, we it's happening now. Yes. And then the staffing plan, I know there was some changes about collection and reconciliation of this. My concern is this, right? Because we're talking about the water utility, the whole
regionalization possibility of this happening. You know, I'm not a fan of this. I'm not I'm not with it. Um, I just feel like still even more needs to be done when it comes to the billing and collection uh procedure. I think that more needs to be done and
looked into when it comes to different aspects that are being handled at that water utility. When it comes to issues of back billing, when it comes to issues of agreements that were made with different locations, when it comes to meter sizes, when it comes to complexes
not being charged for the correct water usage for for units that should be charged that are not, like we y'all got to go deeper with this because there's some serious things going on and monies that we could have and have had over the
years and um we we just need to dig dig deeper with that and get this under control before anyone wants to just say that we're just going to hand anything over because I just I think that there's still more substance to this if we got this together. Um are they still using the
collection agency? Um no, we are not using a collection agency. So how are we going to collect the funds from the townships, the inactive and delinquent um balances? like what are we what are we doing with that because we
use the we use the collection agency for the township. So what are we doing to collect from the townships? Yes, I we are actually in the process of putting a specifications together to be able to continue to use but um a collection
agency but at this point we are not doing that. Okay. I feel like Yeah, I feel like again more needs to be done when it comes to to all of this when it comes to that water utility.
Um, I know you have people in place that are trying to that are trying to collect, but they they need to really make better assessments of what's going on. um working with the inspections departments looking at like houses that have multiple mailboxes on it, but then
they're registered as one house, but then there's three units in it, right? So then there should be three separate meters. Like there's ways that we could be getting money that I don't believe we're even looking into it to really exercise what we could do to get the money. Absolutely. And I I agree with
you, Councilwoman, and uh I I agree that it has to be a more concerted effort to do that. Um as we speak this week, we we um are handling a couple of those cases
where we have a uh property owner that we were charging, I think, for two properties, but then it's not just two dwellings, it's four. And so we we are really addressing those issues and
hopefully we will be able to be uh more conscientious about addressing them. Okay. Council member Felicia, can I just jump in real quick just to ask a question? Can we sue? Can we I I know we get threatened about they were suing us because of you know this water
situation. However, can't we start taking action against them for not paying us because these there there's like millions of dollars that are owed to us. I will defer to our law director. Council president MA. I think we should be aggressive. Yes. Yes. Uh yes, that is a remedy that we have that the first
phase in that has started in terms of uh omnibus letters that have gone out to all of these delinquent delinquent accounts advising them that if payment is not made or if they do not contact TWWW to arrange payment plan that uh litigation will ensue and that is both
for uh residential as well as municipal clients. So um they understand um what our expectations are and if they don't get back to TWWW in the requisite period of time litigation will will start at that point in time not so much by way of a collection agency but more so by a
collection law firm that will be initiating those um actions against the delinquent accounts. Thank you Director Bridges. Thank you Council Williams. I'm I mean Feliciano. I don't know why I keep calling you Williams today. Um no you kind of just being more aggressive because it was on the same line but go ahead. Are you right? No. And then to
that to that point, council president, um again, previously I brought up the whole issue of the Euing Town Center and what had happened and the monies that these rates were allowed that hadn't even come before that council to even be approved.
Then when I asked about you know us looking into there's a lot going on that I am hopeful that we are looking into these complexes and centers and what is the remedy for us to get what we are due here. I don't I don't think that we're
doing enough to to really make this happen, right? And I'm I'm just getting to the point where the more we keep hearing about and getting these letters and this whole regionalization and this this that, right? Over the last 10 years, I asked for the revenue reports of the water utility, we came in at like
what, 770 something million dollars and then they said it was 660 million to fix it. We got money coming in. Like what are we doing? Um, I I just think we need to do more when it comes to that. Um, I just wanted to say that again on the record.
Um, when it comes to finding 2023-003, the deposits, it says for inspection, it still does not have the staff needed so that one specific staff member can be assigned to submit the deposits in a timely manner. They're in the process of hiring two additional staff members. What do what's the status
with that when it comes to um deposits and everything that has been resolved? Okay. And then but with the deposits there's other people that oversee and sign off. Yes. On like that one person that's assigned to it. Is it the person
that's just they don't just take it and just do what they want. Somebody has to approve this like sign off on a deposit with them. Yes. Okay. Um, and then the last one, the finding of well, two more real quick. I'm sorry.
202304, um, the personnel and payroll functions. One, two, three. The third one, finding for six out of 25 employee terminations, no approval and/or processing date was ever documented. Um, the city's working with each director. What is the status
when it comes to a a human service uh director here? A human resources director here? Like what are we doing? I know I asked that a couple times before, but I just what are we doing with that? Because I know everybody's like trying to do
different functions and everything, but we need a human resources direct like somebody that really could get down and know what they're doing to help us get this together. What are we doing? Actually this this actually um this finding really doesn't have much to do with the human resources department but
mostly with the departments themselves. Right. Right. Um we don't have a centralized human resources department but the the individual departments perform several of those functions. In this case
we are talking about the camps forms. M um when the departments terminate a an employee either a permanent or a a seasonal employee they are not reporting that they were not reporting it on time
to personnel. So this is that finding there. After we receive these um findings, I sent and I actually met with the directors and I said, "You have 72
hours to submit your camp forms when it comes to terminations to personnel." So that was the measure that we took, but it really this didn't necessarily reflect on the department of personnel. Right. No, I get that. But
respectfully, if a a personnel director would make sure that the directors did submit the camp forms because the personnel director would house the ultimate recordkeeping, right, of of the camp forms and personnel forms and things like that. We've really I'm sorry
for interrupting you, Councilwoman. We really did not have a process in place, right? It's one of those things that okay department directors need to complete camp forms but we are not telling when do you need to complete the camp forms. we left it open open-ended,
right? So, if you submit it within a year, it's okay until we see this um finding and I and we realized that we really didn't have a deadline to submit in this case, right? So, now we are
following up on that. Okay. Uh with the directors and um making sure that they submit the the camp forms on time, right? Um but just for the question oversee that is um that it's in our
budget that um we requested that position in our budget. Okay, good. Thank you. All right. Um that's it. Thank you, council president. Thank you. Thank you. Consent. Yeah.
Yes. Consent. Thank you. Sorry. and she coming back to you, Councilwoman Feliciano. 25163. Okay, we back at it. So, the question that I have for you is Thank you again.
We have here assigne, right? We have all these tax sale things. Um, and then down the column where it says assenee and assigne is the people that bought these leans, right? Um, yes. Bought. Okay. So, Trenton Opportunity 8 LLC, they have a
lot of what's going on. Um, but their certificate of incorporation was filed 34205, right? They filed the paperwork 34205 just kind of I mean, explain. Can you explain just for all of us to hear what exactly happens when these people
take on this these these um certificates? what happens and what is they they they have to the person has to pay that person first right well I am going to if you don't mind I'm going to go a little bit earlier than that okay fine thank
you um these addresses and owner uh owners of record listed in that form there they didn't pay their taxes right so the city
put a lean on it Right. So now the city collects interest in those leans or eventually those properties are foreclosed on. But the city needs to pay year after year after year until
actually the property is either foreclosed or they redeemed um their tax sale certificate. In this case, the city decide uh okay, somebody shows interest
in buying those tax sale certificates and for the city they are going to pay the delinquent amounts and they are also going to pay for the interest. So we don't have to wait for them, right? So this is a good deal for the city, right?
But how much interest does So now this third party owns it, right? So this Trenton Opportunity A LLC owns that. So now I Joe Blow house owner have to pay them. You will pay them. And if you don't pay them, most likely eventually they were foreclosed on those
properties. So how much do they get? How how much whatever whatever amount of interest we have, they are not going to get more than what we already sold the tax for. If if they are getting an 8%
interest, if the city was getting an 8% interest, that's what they are going to get. It's not going to be more than that. So, it would be an additional 8%. No, not an additional. The city is basically selling the right to to
collect those those delinquent accounts. So, just to be clear, I'm sorry. So on the first one, $1,69349, they the they the homeowner only has to pay Mr. Duncan $1,69349. That's all they have to pay
him. Interest that they owe plus the plus interest on top of Yes. that Yes, that's that's continuing by the way. Yes. That's that doesn't stop at 8%. That's continuing. Yeah, it doesn't stop. I just think that this is interesting
that this this LLC that just came out of nowhere in 34 2025 that's a whole lot of property and a whole lot of interest. I just was curious about that. Okay. All right. Thank you.
Consent. Go ahead. Um 25-165 we have Councilwoman Feliciano and uh Councilwoman Williams. All right. I'll be quick on this. What is the status with the Reading Center? Um, I've been getting complaints from the senior
citizens that would have been there that they can't get in there, that they feel left out. They're not being included on trips. Yes, you made provision for them to go to another location, but they're asking for what is going on with this center specifically. So, hey, Dr.
Minapelli, can you just tell us what is happening with the Red Reading Center since we're rejecting the bids to uh this here to fix it? Good evening, Dr. Diego Mapelli at Department of Health and Human Services. Um uh the resolution for 25165 is rejecting the bids for the
writing senior center uh rehab through the CDBG program. Uh that bid was uh came up too high. the allocated um uh funds that I put for that uh renovation is much less than what it came in. So um I need to reject it so I be able to
rebid uh the the project. Um the reading center is being yes the the physical the building it is a historic building. um in order to rehab that building, it has to go through uh a process of um uh
historic um organizations uh an environmental review um the CDBG protocol. So it takes time. It's not as easy. We we have we have to follow the federal regulations for it. Uh but we have we are in a good stage now that you
know once we um uh have a developer then uh 10 months 10 to 11 months after that we'll be able to uh reopen the reading center. And so when it comes to the to the seniors and stuff that are there um are
we making provision for them to include them in various trips or things like that? We try as much as possible to include everybody on the on the trips, on the activities that we have. Um, uh, Ruth Carter and her team tries as much as possible to include everybody and
make sure that we have the same thing for all of the the centers that now have been displaced. Okay. All right. So, I look forward to seeing the rebid and hopefully we can get this underway for them. Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Thank you, Councilwoman Williams. Thank you, ma'am. Uh so
director uh councilwoman Felician did a great job asking some of the similar questions that I I wanted to ask particularly seniors are chomping at the bit. They've been chomping at the bit for a long time regarding the writing center. Um the roof we were told was to hold up and then you know now it's it's
gotten more complicated. So, can you spice out a type timeline of when it you believe I know it's a guesstimate because we have other agencies when the construction reconstruction will start and when you expect it to end. So, I heard you say 10 months. Yes. So,
everything it is on the base that I'm going to get. So, right now we have a rejection. Then we're going to add now the the ribb it takes 30 days. After that, we need three weeks to review and accept or reject again. And after that
it will take its course of um a few weeks to you know go through the contract and everything else. And then after once we have the contract then is is 10 months 10 to 11 months we predict. Okay. So we should expect to see rebidding approval selecting of a vendor
and hopefully maybe July you'll come back with an approval for a appropriation for this. Absolutely. Yes. Okay. That that would be wonderful. That would be the case. Yes. Okay. Um and then also as far as with the u reconstruction, will there be any um
meetings or any outreach to seniors who previously have used the center or also North 25 which is right there to uh make sure that they have some input on things that might happen for the property because I know it's been a long time since conversations were held. Uh uh yes
but um we have a planning and engineering uh firm that already built the specifications of what we want for the senior center. Um so um that is already set. If I were to change anything right now then I have to start the process from the beginning according
to the uh HUD regulations. Oh yes yes. So there were public hearings before the uh the the the process for comments regarding what they want and everything else. Yes. Yes. Okay. Uh and when were those held roughly? Do you remember or do you have
information? I know it's been quite a while. That's why I'm asking. Yes. I think we started everything the end of 2024. I don't have the the exact date, but we did. We did. All right. Well, just once things get going, maybe we could have a
conversation with the seniors to find out when it's open, what type of events they'd like, activities, and so forth. That would be uh very Oh, yes. Absolutely. All right. Thank you very much. Yes. Consent agenda, please. Consent. Thank you. And uh Councilwoman
Feliciano 166. Thank you, Council President. I'm just curious now with this purchase of this fire Oh, I don't know if you'll know this. With the purchase of this fire truck, how many fire trucks are we now up to in the fire department? I know
Director Douglas isn't here, but we have Battalion Chief Kevin in his place. Thank you. Getting the night off. How you doing? I'm sorry. Could you repeat the question? So, with this firet truck addition, I just was curious now, how many fire trucks now do we have? Because
I know we had some that weren't working and we allowed, you know, some new person. So, how many how many working fire trucks do we have now? So, including this purchase one, we would have 13 total in the fleet
and 11 that work as of right now. Okay. Okay. So, we're working our way back up. We're working our way back up. Yes, ma'am. All right. Thank you. You're welcome. Consent. Thank Thank you,
Councilwoman Frisbee. Councilwoman Feliciano, Councilwoman Williams on 251 169. Councilwoman Feliciano. Thank you. Go left. Go right. My right. Left. Thank you. Just quick question. when planting these trees on the streets, right? We're
not We're not planting any trees on the streets. Oh, well, where are you planting them? No, this is uh an inventory of all trees within the rightway in the city of Trenton. So then we can better determine where trees need to be planted and how they can be better maintained. Right. So, okay. So, I get
that. So, still this my question still remains the same. Thank you, director. um you're doing the inventory of it, but when trees are planted on the streets, right, when you when you decide to plant them, will do you give the residents notice like if it's outside of
somebody's house or something like that, do they get notice before that even happens? Do they have like how is that decided? Do they have the option to say no? So, there is notice given. There's there are public meetings. The trees that are being planted now, there have been 800
trees planted since 2021. And they're being planted in spaces where there are no wires, ideally where there are uh existing tree pits or where there were former trees uh and away from problem areas. We have been getting calls from
residents who have had prior bad experience that we don't want trees here anywhere. But the city's position is very clear. what we're not going to ever be as a as a desert and we want to make sure that our tree canopy is well preserved. We are cognizant of ongoing
issues as well and we are and we're addressing that on the other end with my u with the shade tree division and all and multiple companies we have on board that are addressing the concerns that are coming through gov pilot with the trees that are on people's houses the
trees that are invading people's uh all manner of things. Yes. you know. Okay. So, you do notify the people and give them a But if it's like right in front of somebody's house, do you put outside of a a public meeting that they may or may not know about, do you put a notice
on their door in their next and to say, "Hey, we're going to put a tree right here in front of your house." Proper notification is is given. Yes. Okay. And then when you when you do this, you have your inventory so you know the streets
and where you located. How often is maintenance done by the city for those trees, especially the ones in front of homes and stuff? Well, now listen, be honest now. The older trees, you know the answer, but the new trees, they're babies like you're, you know, you have
to nurture them. Listen, they planted a lot of trees on West State last year and then we had a drought. You know, it's like, you know, we might have another, we're planting a lot of trees now in partnership with a lot of organizations throughout the state. D gave us a lot of money. There's a thousand trees that are supposed to be planted. Listen, if we
get a drought, then you know, we're buying a water truck. So, our plan is to do that. Not only there's a water truck, but then you got to get tree guards because those of you who have deers in your neighborhood, the deers are going to tear those trees up and then it's just then they're dying before they can mature. So, it's a it's a process. Now, again, those of who've been here for 100
years will tell you, listen, the older trees, yeah, but I am working on that. We have three companies on board. I would hope to get some more money so I can bring I do if I have my weight I have 10 companies because we need to get through this backlog of people. There's no reason where anybody should be on a tree list for 10 years. That's right.
And uh but I I have a small amount of people. I got five, you know, and there's 18,000 trees, 12,000 trees. Uh you know, but the issue becomes how do you do that with the amount of time you have? So, between our staff and uh private contractors, we're getting
closer and I'm hoping to come to you guys with our budget and say, "Listen, I need some more money." Yeah. Okay. Thank you, Council President. Council Frisbee and then Williams. Thank you, Council President. So, good evening. Um I have
two questions on this one. um is in taking the inventory of the trees that we have in our city right now. Are we being cognizant of whether we have male female especially when it comes to the pollen count? We know that male trees uh
are high in pollen. So that's my first question. Yes. So I talked to the experts today and I was informed that uh the trees that we're planting now are insectpollinated which means they are not uh strong when it comes to allergy issues. Um yes. So they don't have to
produce as much pollen as the traditional trees. Yes. So that's the answer that I can give you. Okay. Thank you. And then the other question I have for as so I love the idea that we're actually taking inventory of the trees. I think that's very responsible of this uh city. There are many trees that are
uprooting properties. Are we going to give priority to those when we find out especially um I know I I could give you a whole list of properties in the west. I'm so sure they're in other sections of the city as well. When we find out,
okay, our trees have done damage to property. Are we going to prioritize getting those trees taken care of to minimize any more damage? And then how do we go about restoration? So we have um that list I mentioned is
through gov pilot. We have all of those concerns. Uh it's just getting through them timely and we are actively working on it. There's no good answer. We are actively working on it. But listen, every tree that you have that's pulling up pushing up a sidewalk isn't a tree that should be taken down. I understand
the resident's concern, but listen, if we took down every single tree that we got through G Pilot, there'd be no trees. And then we have another issue that's so we have listen so most of the time we go there's trimming but it's not going to be the answer the residents want because we're not cutting down
every tree. We can't it just it's not healthy for the community. So I asked that question with respect to for instance on the street where I live there are several trees that actually one tree that's doing damage to like three different areas. And from me it is
and from the residents the feedback that I'm getting is that they are health issu health concerns when people are rolling people are riding whether they are in a stroller in a wheelchair whatever it is in that part portion of it where it is uprooting the sidewalk. Can we do
something about that so that it makes it safer? Like we did a phenomenal job on Belleview Avenue that they would just those trees had done a whole series of damage and we took care of that. Is there something that we can do when we find out that there are other trees in the rest of our communities that are
doing damage, have done damage? Can we make sure that we're marking? We know, okay, we need to get these sidewalks flattened out and whether we're not killing the trees or not, don't have to necessarily, like you said, take them down, but as long as we know that the communities are safe for inhabit um inhabiting that space. Yes, there's a
process to do that with and to fix the sidewalks. But I want to give you an example. We called one of the state contractors who's on contract with us. And for a single street to trim the trees is $24,000. That's for a single street. And
listen, Trenton is only 7.5 square miles. But you consider that if we did every single street now, we're working our way, but I just have to stress that that it's a process and it's going to it's not going to be done overnight. It's not going to be done in a year. The priority trees will be addressed, but that's 24,000 for one street if we did
that for every single street. So, it's a priority. But yes, those streets, those sidewalks that are pushed up, yes, they're at the top of our list. We're slowly getting to them and we're partnering with traffic and transportation and public works to address those issues because we understand, listen, a you don't want to
pay out any more money, do you? So again, so we're trying to work on that as well. It's just a process and that's not the answer people want to hear, but listen, there's even if I had all the staff in the world, I still couldn't get to all those trees in that kind of time. Thank you, Director Harris. I appreciate you. Councilwoman Williams. Thank you,
ma'am. Uh, Director Harris, my question just has to do with uh with this program, what's going to occur. Will they also be incorporating uh the many, many, many tree stumps that have been left behind by previous uh cutings because that's really an eyesore. It is.
Uh and also inhibits people from being able to park and open their doors to get out of the car if they have uh passengers. Yes. Yes. And we what we do is with the companies we have on board now, just so you know, we are doing our best to address those stumps as well. Uh
you've sent quite a bit. We've been we've addressed quite a bit in the north ward. Yes, that's going to be a part of the inventory. Okay. Thank you very much. One of uh my constituents said, "The best thing I see sometimes is the stump grinder." Right. Yes. So, thank you, Councilwoman Figuro Camber.
Really quickly, turn to Harris. Um, with regards to the money that council passed, I believe it was last year for the sidewalk project, I think it was half a million dollars or something like that, are we expected to receive more money of that nature for the sidewalk repairs because, as you know, there's an
abundance as my colleagues have talked about. Yeah, that's not me. That's uh that's public works. Uh so I can't speak to that, but that's public works. Okay. I'll address it later. Thank you. Um before you go um count interim director
um just going back so I can understand I know you said we can't take cut down all of those trees where the sidewalks are lifting but is there like a priority let's say if it's like lifted five to 10 inches then that's that we repair that and then we also take the tree down is
yes that my understanding yes so although we don't respond timely we have pictures and assessments are done of every single tree so those that are a priority are being addressed. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Is are you guys okay with consent? Council President, I think
though the the question that you were asking is it a specific like your criteria like for right for for what is an emergency? What's priority? Right. Like if it's five, you know, two inches off the ground and this that and the third like what what is what would make
mine more a priority than her? Vice versa. Well, the priority trees or the dead trees, the branches that are hanging over people's homes or low where that could fall. Like for example, there's a tree right here on we got a call recently and a branch that fell into the middle of the state street. So
that's the priority. It's always the dead dying diseased trees. Um but do I have do we have a standard whether a sidewalk is 6 in or 10 2 feet off the ground? I don't have a standard for that. you know, we log the complaints
and we address them as we can. Okay. I mean, because we do have kids that run up and down the sidewalks. We have people with strollers and all of that, bikes and Yeah. Okay. If I may, but I think the questions are very uh insightful and I think important because
I I would offer to work with uh Director Harris because one of the things that we have from the city is that Guff pilot. when people report dangerous conditions, at that point in time, the city is on notice of a need to fix that. And when we are on notice, if we do not rectify that and someone is is then injured,
we're then liable for that. So, I think these questions are very good and it it gives us some food for thought in terms of meeting with director Harris as well as um Mr. Santo and Mr. Aniteri down at public works to maybe prioritize those ones that are potentially causing the city some liability. So, I I think
they're great questions and and we we will address those. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Harris. Um, consent agenda and then Councilwoman Williams with 25-171. Yes. Thank you very much. Um, so this
project I'm just really glad to see it finally come before us because I know this has been um asked for and waited for for a long long time. uh could you kind of just highlight for uh the public uh who may watch this or here tonight what so for those who don't know there's
a parking lot across from is that the uh capital city farm the police parking lot there's some there's police cars parked there now um we are uh going to take that lot it's going to be a part of our larger acet greenway park that's going to be a parking lot but it's also going
to address the need the immediate need of the folks that are on Grant Avenue that basketball court. You know, on social media recently, there was a constituent who took some action to improve that area. So, in this parking lot in the back, we will be building a basketball court to address the needs of the residents on that area. Um, that's a
temporary court until we fully fund the one on Grand Avenue. So, what you'll see here is just a long narrow parking lot and part of it goes on to Sheridan Avenue. And what's going to happen is it's going to connect to the greenway, which I hope to be back to you at the end of the year talking about the skate
park, you know, because there's multiple phases for the greenway, but that's basically what it is. And there'll be ballards there uh that separate the basketball court from the other spaces in a nutshell. Yeah. And then uh just my usual question, do you have a a
guesstimate timeline of when we might begin? Yes. So, what's going to happen is it's 120 days from the notice to proceed. Okay. So, we're looking good for the following. Yes. All right. Thank you very much. Consent agenda, please. Thank you, Councilwoman. You for 70 173
and 174. Councilwoman Williams 173 and 124. Sorry, I was just trying to clear. So, uh, regarding these two, um, if you could talk about, uh, the consolidating of the the grants
and what that's going to mean for this project because I know we're talking, you know, millions of dollars, but at the end of the day, I think if I remember right, we were trying to gather together a much larger sum for this whole project. So, we have a lot of open grants with Green Acres, and what
they've said recently is, you need to start closing some of these projects out. So we came to a consensus whereas they're consolidating a lot of our grants. This is the second one you've approved. That's what this is in a nutshell. Consolidating multiple grants and so one account will allow us to go to apply for more money to fund this
project. This is a $20 million project. $21 million project. So and we can't we don't know if we can count on the federal government at this point. So we're looking to uh D and they continue to fund us at high levels. So we're excited about that. And then how long do
you uh believe the reimbursements will take from D? Yeah. Uh you know that it it's a lengthy process. We we've been guessed. Yes. Would there be any anxiousness on their part given change of administrations in Washington? No.
But just so we're clear how this works is once the legislature appropriates money that money is appropriated. So deep now whether green acres takes they can make some improvements as to the reimbursement process but as long as that money's been appropriated it's
theirs for us. Okay because I guess my question comes from being will expect future um appropriations coming from DC to New Jersey. You might be some folks who might want to hold back on issuing checks that have been committed to us.
Right. Right. But all of this money is appropriated and where it needs to be. So now what we need to do on our part is we need to get the building. Okay. That's what we need to do and that's what I'm trying to push. I don't believe in keeping money on standby for projects indefinitely. Understood. Thank you. Um and then uh
regarding 174 because I I saw that and with this is a project that is sorely needed obviously. I mean everyone's asked you about doing this regarding the surrounding antique lighting. I didn't see that part of this project. Going to understand it's a part of the project. Okay. It is. Yes. Yes. Yes. Can you explain as far as the lights being
repaired? So the the plan is well the most important thing since we're talking about sidewalks is anybody who's been outside the plaza it's a you know it's liability here and there. So the sidewalks right lightings rails uh everything all of the antique lightings
will be restored. Uh all the lighting along the side of the building yes everything would be restored. The problem what we're doing here is with this particular thing is you want this is a historical this historic building so you want very specific vendors to work on this. The problem is that
universe is very small. So we have another vendor to add and then when we go back out to bid we're hoping with more competition we can get a better price. Okay. That would be great because my understanding is historically I don't know how many years those lights have
been out but the main conduit that would supply the power that is something it's not that we that's an unknown at this point. Yeah. All of that was built into the scope. So ideally if we like the last it was 4.6 million right that's
what the cost was to do it the last time which is too high. We have roughly half of that. So if this was done to completion, you would have like it was when it was built in 1911 essentially. That's what you would have. No, that'd be wonderful. And just uh one last
question, a small request because um we have such a beautiful historic building here and in other cities and even I was example and I've said this in the past to your predecessor and the mayor uh is in Belfast in Northern Ireland, they have their city halls very similar to
ours. if you saw a picture like oh my gosh it's very architecturally and they actually have tours for citizens for tourists who come to tour this the city hall. So I just like to suggest once this work gets all done if we could have tours that'd be available maybe one
afternoon for Trentonian certainly school children for the school system I thought that I think that would be something that would be really wellreceived and it could really help with you know civic knowledge. No, I I agree. I don't think many young people know that this this is not even the original location. It's actually
right down the street. So, I think that yes, having that information is useful. Thank you very much. Thank you, ma'am. Consent agenda for both. Thank you. All right. So, um, may we have a motion to approve the consent
agenda consisting of 25- 155, 156, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164,
165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, and 180. So move second.
I'm sorry. Roll call. Council um woman Edwards. Yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Figeroa Kentenberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee,
yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Council President Gonzalez, yes. It carried. Now, on roll call, we have two resolutions. Resolution. Oh, sorry. Go
ahead. Resolution 25148. [Music] It's a resolution providing for advice and consent to the mayor's appointment of Joseph Antonello, a regular member to the animal welfare advisory board for
the term of May 1st, 2025 to April 30th, 2028. [Music] Motion to approve. Is he here? Is Mr. Joseph here? Oh, thank you. Hello, Mr. Joseph. Good
evening. Could you just state your name? Um, and maybe just the reason why, you know, you want to accept this position or interested in this position. My name is Joseph Antelo. I worked uh for over 11 years with the city as an animal control officer, humane law enforcement
officer and an animal cruelty investigator. So I know the pro problems in the city very well and I know the troubles that the shelter has had over the years. So I think my unique experience in that with this board will be able to give some positive ideas of
how we can improve not just the animals welfare the employees and officers at the shelter as well as the city residents. Uh that starts with education I feel and uh having a robust volunteer program again I know it's kind of gone
by the wayside and uh engage more rescues. the best way to take care of the animals when they come in, move them out as quickly as we can because there's always more coming in. Next thing. Thank you. So, any council members want to ask a question? Councilwoman Figuro Kenberg
and then Councilwoman Williams. Good evening, Miss Santel. Thank you. Um, thank you for your interest in this position um for the city. I asked this question before when you weren't present. Um, have you been informed exactly what it is that you are required
to do? What what it is that you will be doing in this position as it relates to um animal welfare um the animal shelter. No, we haven't yet. We need some guidelines from either the council or director Min
Capellius what we should focus on. Um then after we get those guidelines, I would assume we'd have independence about what we want to bring to you that we think would improve, but we haven't gotten any direction yet. So,
thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Williams. Thank you, ma'am. U Mr. Antino, I'm really uh glad to see that you've applied and you're here with us tonight because given particularly um I know your passion for animals, but also your experience as a humane law enforcement
officer, I think would add a great amount to the effectiveness of this board. So, my question, it kind of dubtales with my colleague, uh Councilwoman Figuro Kenberg. uh what would be your expectations for this
board? Um and what would say to you um at the end of your term on it uh or time on it that it was a worthy experience? I think cutting down on the amount of animals that come into the shelter, helping the people keep their
animals in their homes. A lot of times people give them up because they can't afford them. Uh, a lot of times they have health or injuries. They can't afford to take care of them. They want up to shelter and the city has to take care of them. I've been saying for many years
the shelter is grossly inadequate for what we need. It needs to be much larger than martyrm. So if at the end of three years maybe is some shovel if the ground to at least start that process, I'd say it would be a success. And uh going around and meeting with community
organizations would be a big help. and uh telling them what the uh how to best take care of their animals uh what the city ordinances are and what the state statutes are about the care of those. I'm sure the city city residents don't know a lot of those ordinance and what
they are. So would you say that there's a um a great gap in communication with citizens even after they adopt an animal from us? I say there's a great gap in dealing with the citizenry first of all to begin
with so that they know what their responsibilities are about just obtaining rabies vaccines and getting their animals licensed making sure they don't run loose. Um, yeah. I say after they're adopted from us, well, in the past, I can't
speak for now. I'm retired just about six years now. We used to follow up with the adopters many times. We used to have a foster program. We'd follow up making sure everything was still good with the pet, cat or dog. And um, that's why our
volunteers were a great help at that at the time. they were able to do a lot of that because the officers and our staff, we hardly had anybody there. We were constantly running in the streets. Um, we were humane law enforcement officers at the time. So besides uh being an
animal control officer, we had to enforce in uh the laws of the state and the city. So we were constantly busy out there. So that's why I said earlier a volunteer program would be a great help for that. And uh that's why we can visit the houses where these animals are going
to live and approve of that. A lot of rescues do that. They just won't rescue an animal to you until they come and expect your property. Uh so we need to be out there in public a little bit more showing the best side of us, I think. All right. Thank you very much, sir.
You're welcome, Madam President. Yes, Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Good evening. So, you sound like you're well versed um with this. My my question is, have you worked in a animal facility? Previously, I volunteered a lot in
animal shelters when I lived up in North Jersey, but uh my actual experience at a shelter is working with the city. I started in 2008. So, you've only worked within this within the city of Trenton in this capacity? Yes. Since 2008. And
what has been your relationship with um those in the city? Has it been a amicable um have you gotten uh so that folks are learning one from the other? How what was your relationship with those then at the um time? Well, the way
I personally worked with the people in the city, sometimes they just need to learn um you're not doing this correctly or you need to help this animal in a different way. We're trying to instruct them first. Sometimes instruction doesn't work. You go to the next step where they might have to come to court.
But I'd say all in all most of the people worked with us when I dealt with them in the city. Some people didn't and they were had to go to either municipal or superior court depending on what was going on. We handled the cruelty cases at the time, not the police department
as well. Okay. So it's not So you So for the most part, you're saying that it's been an amicable relationship with you and those who you worked with, shared with? Yes. Okay. Um, one of the questions I wanted to ask
you, sorry, I just went from a um Oh, so with the and this is um what I I asked with with everyone, we have a fantastic um health director in place now, Dr. Mikapelli with the animal shelter. Yes. Are you good with following his
direction, his guidelines for how the animal shelter is to be uh run? Yes, I think he's very passionate about approving the conditions down there. I've spoken to him a number of times. So, yeah, I would have no problem with that. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. Can we
roll call this Lord motion to approve resolution 25-148? So moved. the mic on roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, yes.
Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Jenna Figueroa, yes. Kenburg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Council President Gonzalez,
yes. Motion carried. Thank you all. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. Do we have Janina Cal a call here? Is she here? Okay. Janina Cay. Oh my god. And so the same thing, if you could just say your
name in a quick brief as to why you want to do this. Yep. Uh my name is Janina Cay. Um my interest really stemmed from wanting to join the board. stemmed from um just my care for animals and my interest in working with this vulnerable
group of animals from the shelter um and really just coming up with creative ways to find homes for them. Thank you. Any council members? Council Williams. Thank you. Um good evening, ma'am. Thanks for your patience. I know it's been a long night. Uh so my
question as far as uh your background with animals, can you talk a little bit about that? Yeah. Um um I've owned dogs before. I've worked with a lot of Well, I've owned pit bulls. Um and most of the dogs at the shelter are pit bulls. Um I think
that's the extent of my work with animals. But um really I think my role or my understanding of the role is to work um with the community to find ways to get these dogs adopted um and come up
with just creative ways to work with um not only the community but businesses and people who can potentially spread the word and get these um get homes for these animals. Okay. And did you happen
to adopt any of your dogs from Tren? No. Oh, okay. Um, were they maybe from another rescue? They were from my family dogs. Oh, okay. Gotcha. My siblings. Yeah. Because it, you know, one of the things I was curious at how people's experience was has or, you know, has
been working with rescue groups or even adopting through Trenton ourselves. So, all right. Thank you very much, Council President. Councilwoman Feliciano. Thank you. So, it is good to see you here tonight. Thank you for coming forward to
um to volunteer your time to be a part of the process. Um I wish you the very best with it. Hopeful that we would move in favor of like I said again um to have you to be a part of it. I think it'll be a great
addition to uh to the board. Thank you so much. Thank you, Council President. Council President. Thank Council Frisbee. Yes. So, good evening. My question is the same as to the prior um individual. Have you had prior experience working in a shelter before?
Was this going to be your first? This will be my first time. Um I do have experience working with like grassroots organizations, which I think this position really needs. Um, just working with community members, working with different businesses I think is a big
part of the role and trying to find ways how we trying to find how we can house these dogs, how we can get the shelter even um, recognized. I think a lot of people in the community don't even know that the shelter exists. So, I think that's for me a really important thing um, to
start off with. So, no, I haven't worked with um any shelter before, but I've worked with people, communities on a local level um to get things going. Thank you. And then my last question is um knowing that director Makapelli is a
health director, do you have any issues with helping with the helping not helping going along with the guidelines that he sets in place and to helping actually re to reinforce that as a board member? No issues. No. Thank you.
All right, we can move to approve resolution- 153. So move second. On roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes.
Councilwoman Figueroa Kenberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez, yes. Motion carried. Thank you. Congratulations. Congratulations.
Um, can we have We're moving on to first ordinances. May we have a motion to approve 25-023? So move. Oh, okay. Questions on 23. Um, council, we got it seconded though.
Okay. Second. Thank you. Councilwoman Figareroa Kenberg. Um, someone here to speak to this ordinance director listed left. BA is there anyone that can speak to 23 20
25- 023. He's gone. No. Good evening. Good evening. So my question my question with this is um I had these concerns before. We obviously I'm I'm happy that you know properties are moving these lots that are that have
been sitting that people are able to purchase them. Mhm. I just want to be clear about what again what a buildable lot is, a buildable size lot and and how these negotiations are coming about because, you know, we're kind of all over the place with how much we're
selling these properties to people and there's different sizes of these lots. And if you look at the code um 315-4.3 um there's there's a codification of what RL1 and RL2 which are low density
single family homes and um RM1 RM2 which are medium density. Um and this lot particularly for 2523 is 18 um 175 square ft. um per the code um a row home
in medium density can be 1500 square feet. So my problem that I have is when these ordinances when we're listing these properties and we're saying we're selling them and we're classifying them as quote a small vacant narrow strip of land that has been unused or um does not
allow for any other viable use other than a side lot. That's not completely accurate. If per the code, we could build on this lot if it were as small as 1500 square feet. This one in particular is 1,875 square feet. So why are we
mislabeling some of these properties in order to get them sold? And how is that process working? Well, regarding the specifics of this law and its compliance with the code, I'd have to pass that over to our uh
city city attorney. But we are we do have a process. We do evaluate these lots on a case-byase basis and we do work with the proposers. But as I said on this particular lot and its compliance with any specific code, I'd have to turn that over to to the
attorney. There is it it is spelled out in the statute what that undersized lot is. Um the representation that was made looking at this was that it fit into that definition. Um I think unfortunately Mr. Lon as well as Mr. Mi have both left and they would be able to
talk granularly about the spec the the specifics of the size of the lot andor if it's contiguous. Um I don't think they were anticipating a public hearing on this now being the first reading, but maybe that's a question you could email Mr. list and Mr. Mi can get back to you
with respect to the specifics and their understanding as to why it falls in that definition of unders sized. Thank you, Director Ros. I was actually going to um suggest that Madam President, I'd be satisfied to submit this in writing to director list and get an answer for it for our next council. A second reading.
Okay. Thank you. No problem. Can we roll call this Mos? [Music] Roll call for first reading. Councilwoman Edwards. [Music] One second. First reading.
Are we? Yes. Councilwoman Feliciano. Yes. Councilwoman Ken Figora Kenberg. Yes. Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Councilwoman
Williams. Yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez, yes. Motion carry in first reading. This requires a a public hearing and second reading and that will be scheduled for May 20th, 2025. We have a motion to approve 25-026.
Second. Any more questions? Any any discussion on this? Okay. On roll call for first reading of ordinance 2526. Councilwoman Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano,
yes. Councilwoman Figeroa Canber, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez. Yes. This carried and it also needs a public hearing and second reading and that it will also be
scheduled for May 20th. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve 25-029? So moved. Second. Okay. On roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. Yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes.
Councilwoman Figueroa Campber, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez, yes. It's also carried. A motion to approve 25-030.
So moved. Second. Okay. On roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. Yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Figeroa Canber, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman
Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez, yes. This also carried. We have a motion to approve 25-032. So moved. Second. Woman Edwards. We not reading. Councilwoman Edwards.
Yes. Councilwoman Feliciano. Yes. Councilwoman Figo Campber. Yes. Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Councilwoman Williams. Yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez. Yes. This also carries. May I have a
motion to approve 25-034? So moved. Second. A roll call for first reading of ordinance 2534. Councilwoman Edwards. Yes. Councilwoman Feliciano.
One second. [Music] Yes. Councilwoman Figero Canber. Yes. Councilwoman Felicia, I'm sorry, Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Councilwoman
Williams. Yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez. Yes. This also carries. Thank you. May we have a motion to approve 25-037, an ordinance establishing a high-rise emergency assistance plan for multi-unit residential building of 40 units or more. Madame President, we've
got a motion first. Yes. I'm so moved. Thank you. Second. I know we have some questions on it. Um so before I get to the questions, I just wanted to state the reason for this um ordinance that came about. um it is not going to burden the city. This actually was drafted so
that the city does not incur a lot of the costs that we have incurred in the past. Um there are collaborations with different organizations and programs. Something that uh director Douglas and I have worked on um because of some of the emergency situations that we've had in
the past and these the some of the owners of these buildings are relying on the city of Trenton to incur most of the cost for these emergencies. So that was the reason why we drafted it so that we can have a plan in action and that way
we're not responsible for funding the property. Of course, if there's an emergency, we're going to assist. However, um we just want to make sure that the owners are, you know, having some type of responsibility when it comes to taking care of some of the
emergencies that we've had. I know council vice president spoke about it earlier, but the water main leak um Trenton had to actually pay to get that pipe fixed ahead of time. So, we paid almost I think it was $18 $19,000, I can't remember the dollar amount. And so then we want to put this in action so
that way now we're getting reimbursed by those owners and that was the sole purpose of it. I know there's some suggestions and ideas and I'm welcome and opening um all and I know director Douglas is not here. He did send a written statement and I'll read it after the questions are done and I know we
also have Chief Battalion u Battalion Chief Kevin here to answer questions also. Um so Councilwoman, first of all I'll let you go first and let me take notes please. Thank you Madam President. So one I want to commend you because I I love the idea that we're actually putting emergency um efforts in place
for the residents that we're being proactive with this um to make sure that we have something prepared for them. One of the things that I did want to ask um that to put an amendment in is that each that they would be required that this
would be uh posted and given whether it be emailed or um a hard copy to every resident that occupies a building that is 40 units or more. Um, a lot of the times just like with the rent uh restriction um with rent increases that
are still a lot of our residents are getting these increases and they don't know that they that law has changed for the city of Trenton. We just want to make sure that they are aware of what is going on that is to aid them um in an instance like this and this is something that's very important because folks
might feel destitute, leave town, do whatever because they don't feel there's something in place for them. Um I just like to make sure this is um required to be posted as well as sent to all the residents. Thank you. And also just to jump right into um Mr. Colli at first we were we were going back and forth because of some state regulations and
making sure that we were able to enforce this and after he did some research it um we kind of took some of the things out of this ordinance to make it so that we are able to enforce it. really is just a plan in place that they can have a process so when things happen, you
know, the proper people are notified, the residents are notified, just have a a process for communicating the and and rectifying the situation. Um, I'll go with Councilwoman Williams. Did you have I think someone else went before me. Oh, I can't I don't remember who went. You went No, Councilwoman No. All right.
Thank you. Uh, I think this is a wonderful idea. Um I'm really glad to see it because one of the issues that came up uh in the first year of our council was about disaster preparedness particularly coming out of Kingsbury. So, um I'd just like to um ask possibly
if we could consider amending the 40 down to a number of 20 or 25 uh because we do have some sizable I guess you would technically call them a mid-rise buildings but they are ones where um even 20 units might overwhelm the system and Miss Carter or Ruth Carter has done
a phenomenal job as has health department but just in case we have a building of 20 units or more 25 or more that they also um would come under this. Ma'am, thank you. Um, would you did you want to speak to it? Um, Battalion Chief
Kevin, I know. And I'm going to read Director Douglas's statement also. You know what? Why don't I let that go because he'll probably end up saying the same stuff I was going to say. Okay. Um I know he just wanted me to read it just
in because he was not able he's in a training out of state and he just wanted to say um the office of emergency management and the fire department respond to all potential threats to public and private entities that have direct effects on our community. It has been established by the federal, state and local governments that once an
incident has been esta stabilized and deemed safe, it shall be placed in the recovery phase and transferred back to the building's managers or owners. It shall be the responsibility of the manager owner to maintain the property without the taxation of municipal resources. The city of Trenton has been
subject to the failures of private property managers and owners who have failed to maintain proper maintenance of residential properties which affects city residents. And then also this does, you know, we did ask for copies of inspection s um certificates for their
fire for um different um entities that would require that would help um us make sure that they're maintaining the buildings properly so that we can try to prevent some um emergencies. Of course, some things are going to happen unexpected, but the whole point is to us
be a little bit more proactive in that area and that they're communicating it with residents and uh with the city. Did you want to still say something? Okay. Sometimes I forget how smart the director is. Um, so kind of I'm just a
fireman so I can I'm going to bring that down to u and actually I want to give credit to former councilwoman Vaughn because she um she brought it up uh kind of in a different sense of the thing. But the issue we had and that is being addressed by this and it's not an indictment of them 20 years ago when we
closed the firehouses and we lost fire inspection. the DCA had to come in because we couldn't do it anymore. Um, and sometimes that means we're out of the loop. We're not getting this information at the fire department. We don't know half of this. Uh, when the buildings lose power when uh they had
the fire on 319 South Broad and the fire pump went down and the building might have had been evacuated because the DCA was going to close it. We're not aware of any of these issues anymore. and stuff like this is kind of the first step into bringing the city itself back into the fold of its own buildings. So,
thank you. Thank you. Um, go ahead, Councilman Williams. Just like to request if I may offer an amendment to the uh 20 units and above. You did. Oh, I didn't know if you need me to formally ask for that. Sorry. Oh. Oh, thank you. Well, I was going to
include some of the amendments that you all just mentioned. Thank you. Um, I think that was it. So, may we have a motion to approve? Let me just make sure I can read it right. Ordinance number 23-037. 25.
Excuse me. We're doing 37. Oh, 25-037. An ordinance establishing a high-rise emergency assistant plans for multi-unit residential building with an amendment to say 25 units or more. And also we can include the language of
the emergency plan being posted and maybe the common spaces of each building being made available upon request. Oh made made available upon request.
[Music] [Music] Thank you. So, we're going to we're going to just approve it as is and make the changes and necessary amendments um in writing before um for the second
reading. Thank you, Mr. Colli, for that. So, moved. Thank you. Second. Roll call for first reading of ordinance 2537. Councilwoman Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes.
Councilwoman Figeroa Kentenberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez, yes. Motion carried. Thank you. Thank you. A motion for
25-039, ordinance authorizing the sale of city owned property, commonly known as 839 Prospect, um to Lorraine Robinson for the sale price of $15,000. So moved. Second
on roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Figora Kenberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez,
yes. May we have a motion to approves 25-040 ordinance authorizing sale city owned property not commonly known as 26 Sylvester Sylvester Street um to Terrence Chu for the sale price of $4,000. So move second. Thank
you. on roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Figeroa Kenberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez,
yes. Motion car. May we have a motion to approve 25-041 ordinance authorizing sale of city-owned property commonly known as 449 Cyerson Avenue to Derek E. Do for the sale price of $3,000. So
moved. Second. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. Yes. Councilwoman Feliciano. Yes. Councilwoman Figueroa Kenberg. Yes. Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Councilwoman Williams. Yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez.
Yes. Motion carried. May we have a motion to approve 25-042 ordinance authorizing the sale city- owned property commonly sell city-owned property commonly known as 16 East Burn Avenue to Jack M Kundai for the sale price of $5,000. So
moved. Second. Councilwoman on roll call for a motion to introduce Councilwoman Edwards. Yes. Councilwoman Feliciano. Yes. Councilwoman Figo Campberg, yes.
Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez, yes. Motion carry. Thank you. May we have a motion to approve 25-43, ordinance authorizing the sale of city-owned property, commonly known as
36 Fountain Avenue, to Shamar Santo, for the sale price of $15,000. So moved. Second. on roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes.
Councilwoman Figeroa Kenberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez, yes. Motion carried. May we have a motion to approve ordinance 2544 or ordinance authorizing the sale of city
owned property commonly known as 42 and 67 Oak Street, 202 Pake Street, 140 Spring Street, 323 and and 498 West Handover
to BL Investor Group LLC for the sale price of $40,000. So moved. Second on roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Pelisiano,
yes. Councilwoman Figeroa Campber, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez, yes. Motion carry. And then we have ordinance
25-045 ordinance amending ordinance number 24 24-019 and ordinance 25-002 to correct a lot designation. So moved second call. Councilwoman Edwards. Yes.
Councilwoman Feliciano. Yes. Councilwoman Figueroa Canber. Yes. Councilwoman Frisbee. Yes. Councilwoman Williams. Yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez. Yes. Motion carry. May we have a motion to approve 25-46, an ordinance providing for the
safe storage of firearms within the city of Trenton. So moved. Second. Council President. Yes. Hold on one second. Um. Yes. Thank you, ma'am. Uh, I don't see uh Director Wilson or Representative from Police Department, so maybe more
appropriate for uh Mr. Bridges. Just a couple questions for clarity. So with this um it would be a clear requirement I and I I really like the idea of this uh ordinance. I very much do uh that all gun owners which would be you know
licensed gun owners obviously um would be required to have a uh a gun safety lock as well as a gun safe for their firearm. That's correct. Okay. Uh, and also with
this, because there might be some folks who question it, of course, uh, this would not be a violation of the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms. That's correct. Also, okay, thank you very much, ma'am. Council President Councilwoman Frisbe. Yes. So, um, I
brought this ordinance forward because, uh, for several reasons. One, I wanted to strengthen the uh way folks carry and conceal um weapons here in the city and have a stronger definition of it. I wanted to
make sure that um every household not to offend anyone with their rights. If they have a right and they have a weapon, it is um purchased legally um then there is nothing that is a um infraction against them. But if they are not harboring it,
if they don't h they do not have the weapon properly um did not obtain it properly, then there are penalties that will come along with that and that is for everyone. And then we have put in there a clear definition of what a firearm is and um what goes along with
that. So I'm excited to present this and um get this so that our city's streets are safer. Thank you, Madam President. Um thank Council Feliciano. Thank you, Council President. Just just a quick question. Wait a
minute. For I guess for Councilwoman Frisbee, um just just to be clear, I I like the ordinance. I I thought that people always had to um lock their firearms up um in any way. But the question that I have is for number two
where it says about the violation, right? for any person that leaves it out and then somebody commits a crime with it. Yeah. Um I don't know. Excuse me. Um ma'am, can we just
can is can we just get back to with this business? Okay. Thank you. So, um, if they leave the firearm out, if they don't, so if they don't have it secured, uh, in a container or anything and
somebody broke into the house and then took it and then committed a crime, that the person that didn't lock it up is going to have a penalty if it's proven that it was their gun and it wasn't locked up in the case. So
everything is on a case-byase basis, but this does say your every gun is supposed to be secured properly. So yes, if they have it under the back bed, if they have it in a shoe box, all of those things, that means you have your gun stored in properly. So the answer to that would be
yes, ma'am. Okay. Okay. I think I think Um, okay. I mean, I get it. I just I just was wondering if and we could talk about this offline. Just if we kind of state that that that p that that person also gets in trouble. That's why I was
asking. I I I get your concept, but maybe if we could kind of flush that out a a little bit that they two Oh, it's not just the individual, right? Yeah. Yeah. The one who own it owns it and of course the one who stole it. So, yes, there um repercussions for the owner
that Yeah. So that they understand like Oh, okay. So, I see what you're saying. Don't let me leave this on the bed, right? I'mma get it, too. I just I understood, but I just would like to see it. So, we Yeah, I'm with it. Okay. Thank you. That was it. Thank you. Thank
you, Miss Lores. Microphone. On first reading for um ordinance 2546. Councilwoman Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Figueroa Canber, yes.
Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez. Yes. Motion to approve 25-047, an ordinance regulating the parking of vehicles near stop sign. So move. Second.
Council president. Yes. Um so uh with this ordinance I just would like to suggest and my question would be uh will there be a public education campaign that we will be enforcing this because this uh I think it's sorely needed especially for blind spots um in all of
our neighborhoods but we really need to make sure that there's a media effort uh in Spanish and English to make sure that and Polish and uh Creole to make sure that folks know that this is coming and that they will be ticketed for it cuz this will uh definitely surprise a lot
of people. Right. Thank you for that. Um Counciloman Williams, this was also drafted with the um complaints that we received throughout um council meeting and actually we're adjusting it to allow for more parking space from the stop sign. Um cuz I think it was 50 ft. So
people were getting ticketed from 50 ft. So at least now they have until I mean for 25 ft. So hopefully it would help. But that's a great point that we can um bring up and make sure that it's advertised properly especially at our community meetings. Yep. And even maybe they could
send a press release. Thank Thank you, council president. Yes, ma'am. Um when we are looking at um this before second reading if we would also um have it amended uh where there is a painting of the curb to identify the 25 ft. So some
residents who don't understand what 25 ft is whether it is painted yellow or there are stripes that are put on the curb um so that there is absolutely no room um for doubt with that. Thank you. We can discuss with director honorary off the line. Thank you for that
suggestion. Yeah, councilwoman Figuro Kenberg. Um this actually came up. Thank you for this. Um, but this actually came up recently at my CPAC and uh, one of the constituents was asking for this specifically.
Um, Chief Santoro was at the meeting um, and stated that per state statute, this is not allowable 25 ft within the the parking the the stop sign. So, I'm just I just want to make sure that everything was clarified that this is allowable within
the city of Trenton. um per state statute. Thank you. I know that it was um shared with our legal department um and Mr. Colloji chimed in and also did his research and we found that it was allowable. Um so that's something we can also discuss just to
double check but um to our understanding it is allowable in in Trenton. Okay. Thank you. Thank you Councilwoman Feliciano. Thank you Council President. So then just for the record if Mr. ology could just state that this is allowable
so we have it just for the record within the the the feat. Yes, it is. Um an individual actually I think raised this issue during uh some conversation with the council. We researched it thoroughly. We are able to do this. There's an exception for a
school zone. It's all laid out in the ordinance, but yeah, it's absolutely permissible. All right, cool. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. K. Thank you all. Yeah, gorgeous. Thank you. Okay. Roll call for first reading of ordinance
2547. Councilwoman Edwards, yes. Councilwoman Feliciano, yes. Councilwoman Figeroa Kenberg, yes. Councilwoman Frisbee, yes. Councilwoman Williams, yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez, yes.
This ordinance um carries. All of these ordinance need a public hearing and second reading and they will all be held on May 20th, 2025. Now, public comments. Public comments. Do you have a board? So, just for the
public, um you have five minutes and council is not obliged to um respond during public comment. However, they may respond to you during civic comment. Um and if you could state your name and address when you come forth. Thank you. Lord, who's the first one on the list?
Sarah Cumington. Can you press the Y? Hello everyone in the city of Trenton. Hello city council. Hello West Bridges. Hello everyone in the thing and everybody on Zoom. This is Cheryl Thompson Coington. And what I would like to say is in the city of Trenton, I see
a lot of discrimination going on with the disabled and handicapped because I am one. Looks can be very deceiving. Now, as far as this parking enforcement in the city of Trenton, something needs to be done. You guys just had something up here about 25 ft. But you guys had
the city of Trenton got a lot of work being done on the city of Trenton streets and people that had placers from city of Trenton. People, you came out put the lights plates on there. We had placers. We had parked in front of our house. Then you got the city of Trenton got the work recreation people out there
drilling holes and everything. Houses done caught on fire. Then that put then they parking in the parking spots where we're supposed to park at. So therefore then you got Car McNair and everybody else riding around parking the forest. Now I know everybody a lot of Trenton New Jersey is related to Cheryl Cington
over 90%. So therefore, if you're going to have the city of Trenton people and workers, construction workers, people there, where is the disabled postal park at? That's number one. Since you want to give out tickets and impose all this different type of stuff 25 ft and what
you going to do about the people in these city of Trenton trucks, big trucks parking at the corners on the streets and people like me looks can be very deceiving because my doctor gave me my disabilities. It's a lot of them. A lot of them looks to be very deceased. So
where we supposed to parking and then we getting tickets. That's number one. Number two is the city of Trenton is the only municipality Yuing Lawrence when you have handicap parking. We don't pay for uh the little things that you got to put in the things. We the only city in
Trenton Trenton New Jersey that makes people pay for the parking and handicap got a lot of this. Then then I want to talk about parking enforcement. Now, that's what I'm that's what I'm here for because like you just spoke up 25 ft from there. Y'all had City of Trenton uh
trucks on Franklin Street. House caught on fire and everything. I walk outside. I'm on the right side of the uh street by the TCA bar, 400 block. Here comes uh Karen McNair. Okay, give me a ticket. I know how to read. I know how to spell very well. For master's degree from Rder
University, doctorates and everything from Ryder University. Looks can be very deceiving. Okay. So that's why you can't assume about people. You have to get to know people. Okay. So now I got a ticket. So I go down to Trent Municipal Courthouse yesterday. Okay. And then they wrote down her name. Raquel
Kamacho, which is the court director. Now August 5th, 2012. I covered three kids in this city. Cops. You got some cops that don't even have bullets. I have a bullet right there. Bullet my back. Right glass. Pins and rods. I cover three kids. Okay. When this is horrible. So I go down there to talk
about this ticket to get a court date because if you don't get a court date, you get your license suspended. I need my car for medical reasons to get the doctors. So I go down there, I said, "Well, I need to schedule a, you know, court date so I can I have my pictures.
Do you know?" She tells me, Raquel tells me, looks to be very deceived. She says, "Well, you have to fill out the paper. My arm goes in and out. I have a lot of physical therapy." So the next thing you know, I said, "Well, I can't write certain ways." Well, you didn't write it in the lines. She took the paper back and then
gave me another paper. Okay. So, that's what I want to say in front of city council cuz one thing about Miss Coington, I'm far from stupid and I'm highly educated. So, I'm going to put this on the record right now. Okay. To constitute a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, in a municipal building by staff workers, the
action must involve discrimination against individuals with disabilities and fall under the preview and either title two or title three. Okay. Deny of a program asking if a staff member through access prevents a person with disabilities from accessing a benefit minimal program services or anything. That's a violation. That becomes a
lawsuit. I'm putting it on notice here right now. You need to get with your city account. I asked her Serena Baker is your disability advocate and I said, "Well, she's the advocate. Can you have her fill out the top form that you want me to fill out?" Why do I have a bullet in my arm? You know what they did? They
called trip police on me in the hallways yesterday. Okay. Officer Miles and Officer Kuzarmm, lady cop. He comes up to me. Oh, you got to leave. I said, I'm not leaving for nothing because I need to schedule this court date. So then he
says, you don't have you don't you're not disabled. I've been with Capitol Hill since I was a baby. Nothing mental. Nothing mental. You heard all them degrees. Nothing mental. I have a lot of physical disabilities. Bullets, collapsed lungs, open heart surgery
three times since birth. Pins and rods. I cover kids when other people in the street would even cover kids in this city. They ran past Mo on Hoffman Avenue when them drug boys was shooting. I wasn't born with bullets and I have bullets. And all I ask is for like Artha Franklin say
RVSPCT. Now, before you this time, I deserve this time. That's what I do. I deserve this time. Remember the date I told you? May 15th. May 15th, I think. When is that? The city stat. That's the date I gave you
earlier for the city stat. Can somebody explain that? Remember I told you you could come here and then it'll be all the directors and everyone here. Yes, it should be all of the police department. Correct. You'll have the director here also. Thank you. Okay. And I just one last thing before I walked out the door. Dr. Kings bear. Remember you said I
could say welcome. Thank you. But watch how people treat people with disabilities at that municipal. Thank you, Clark. Carol Clark. Let's stay in here and God bless
everybody. Stop ballot disabled people in the city. That's all I got. Thank you, Miss Coington. I will email you more. Okay. Thank you, Miss Carol. You state your name and address, please?
Caroline Clark, 1812 Riverside Drive. Okay. Good evening, council. Good evening, Trentonians. I'm here to talk about DP's RFP to regionalize Trenton
Waterworks. So, D put out a RFP about regionalizing But I believe that DP is interfering and regulating the
management of a municipal's internal affairs. I am asking council to please find out for me and other Trantonians where does D get the legal
authority to put out that RFP with respect to regionalization in the governmental space. Regionalization typically means consolidating services within a region
and usually that's done to save money. So historically we know about schools being regionalized. We know police departments are regionalized. But what we do know is at the end of the day, the only reason for a municipality
to regionalize a department is to save taxpayers money. But regionalizing Trenton Waterworks does not save Trenton's taxpayers any
money. It cost us money. This proposal proposes sharing up our money with four other municipalities. So there is a benefit to the taxpayers
in Hamilton, Hopewell, Yuing, and Lawrence, but it is an expense to Trenton. So there is no benefit for us to engage in this regionalization
endeavor. Moreover, we are not consolidating services here. The other municipalities do not have a utility service to combine with ours. We are the
only one that has a utility. So this is not a consolidation. This is taking our asset and sharing it up amongst other municipalities. So I'm just not sure why
would we would even think about doing that. I read that Trenton Waterworks suffers from underinvestment. The solution for underinvestment is to appropriately invest. So why would
DP then suggest that we should take monies that we should be investing in Trenton Waterworks to give to other municipalities? They identified a problem underinvestment and then they proposed a solution that is
counterintuitive. How would you take the money that we should be reinvesting and give it to other municipalities? Then DP had the
audacity to say regionalization um is beneficial and equitable to the region. Well, let me say this. Of the five municipalities in the
RFP, Trenton is the poorest. Why would you take money from the poorest municipality and give to the richer municipalities and then have the nerve to call it
equitable? I think we have this this this paradigm confused. It's the other way around. Okay. the the the median income in all those other municipalities is almost twice as much as Trenton's.
Trenton is one of New Jerseys poorest cities. So why would a progressive governor, a Democratic county executive, uh uh uh I I believe that I should have more
time. No. Um Miss Clark, I was going to let you finish your thought for that thing, but not more time. Well, all right. I'll just finish my thought. So, if we are poorer than those districts and then you're taking money from us and
we have all these Democratic um uh governor, executive uh and our mayor uh supporting this. I hope Tranonians take note that the Democrats are not our friends. Thank you
so much, Miss Clark. Next. Um, Lord, what? Candida Torres. Okay. Next is Cherry Garrett.
Okay. Victory Dad. Good evening. So again, it's a pleasure. My issue is uh who politics and religion. Uh young the lady that was here, ma'am, I don't know your name. I just read this
I'm reading this article that says uh by Solomon Abdul Rafman from I believe we was a reporter for the Tranonian back in August 19, 2021. He breaks in his article that Trenton this
uh Trenton is as classified or rated as the fifth richest city in in the US. Uh rich uh fifth richest city in the US. And then it also says that Trenton falls
within five with as far as violent cities in New Jersey is within one or one website says it's five. is it's piping order from 1 to five. 1 to 10 is five and then seven and another one. And then
um uh the crime wave here in America. Well, I believe personally, let me get to to the point that I'm trying to make that uh crime in America and racism in America both are myth and uh and man-made and uh the problem and trend.
Oh, there's another article here that uh uh let me see. Well, anyway, it's saying about how many arrests that are being made here in Trenton, New Jersey, and uh it's being posted about the good job the law enforcement is making. And previously, a
few months ago, maybe last month, I was uh reading something I was making a comment on a book that I was reading um that uh law enforcement and their concept or ideology of u being able to combat crime the way they want to do it.
It's a myth. That's three minutes already. So, uh, crime, um, crime basically is cultural. It was designed for a particular purpose. Again, I go back to the scriptures and it's also politics. Scriptures being that the war,
good and evil, God, and the devil. All right? Uh, that's the religious part. Uh and then the the political part is that it's a design between two groups of ancient black tribes uh of the planet earth and that's
the tribe of Shabbaz and the tribe of Yaku. But back uh now keeping this in the boundaries of Trent I mean America what happens in DC is because it's a result of Trenton in the revolutionary war. Of course, uh the
first victory in that revolutionary war was here in transit, New Jersey and further on and went further to uh free America from Britain and the Europeans and then established itself as a world power in the United States. So I'm saying what's going on in Trenton, New
Jersey is designed and orchestrated for particular people what used to be the African-Americans in pursuit or searching or looking for the black messiahs to save the planet earth in righteousness. So now crime and uh how all the all the things we're going
through in train New Jersey as a result of the war of good and evil. But politically it's man-made because evil people who are now we talking about God and the devil. We talking about criminals and the good guys supposed to be cops where the devils are actually
people just like saints. Devils are people who are working in these areas that are designed where are blessed where we were blessed uh with government from God to live as uh civilized people
and uh that's not happening because of the corruption again by bad people in positions of leadership and law enforcement military that they uh of course do not belong in. So my thing and the one thing I I'm I'm uh disappointed
about I was thinking about it yesterday or day before is that we uh say now be direct uh Puerto Ricans and African-Americans I think we have a duty to black people and uh white people not white people brown people black people
uh let me slow it down a little bit Puerto Ricans for the Hispanics and African-Americans for so-called Asiats or black people. Now we have these powers, positions of power that we can make these uh legal changes in politics and we do not go about it and do the
correct thing and we uh attack each other instead of attacking the bad people of all colors in these positions that are not being utilized uh properly. Now you got the Democrats and Republicans and Democrats regardless of color consider the Democrats as a
demonized uh group of people. and playing Christianity and capitalism and so forth and yet they doing the devil's work or criminal activities. So that's my comment for tonight and I really supported within Puerto Ricans and African-Americans.
Thank you Mr. Ozari. Sorry. The next next person Kathy McBride. Good good evening. My name is Kathy McBride at 46 Laurel Place and um I would like to first invoke my right
under the Faulner's act for my 10 minutes. Um Mr. Bridges could explain that to you or Mr. Colloji, but I am invoking my right to speak for my 10 minutes under the Faulner's act. Mr. K, is that or Miss Can you speak to that?
Mr. Okay, they amended the ordinance to f Well, I haven't seen any amended ordinance and I said I haven't seen an amended ordinance and I am invoking my right as a citizen for my 10 minutes or act. They're going to cut you off at 5
minutes. The Fogers Act says I am allowed 10 minutes and I intend to take it. So, I'm here tonight to speak to the RFP from the Department of Environmental Protection. I would first like to say
I'm so discouraged because a lot of questions has been asked tonight about the water department. So, the water department was founded, the Trenton Waterworks Department was founded in 1801.
The council established a board. It also went to referendum in the 1800s for us to be in total control of our water department. We fast forward up to
2009. We had another referendum put on the ballot to keep control of our water department because we did not want to sell our water department. today when I hear about the Department
of Environmental Protection sending out an RFP, but nobody is talking about the fact that Euing Township, Hamilton, Lawrence, and Hopewell, part of Hopewell
owes the city of Trenton millions of dollars. There is a list that you could get as council members showing a breakdown of every nonprofit
organization that owes us money, every municipality that haven't paid us a dime in years. These things need to be enforced. When you talk about regionalization, you're talking about
taking more from the residents and the taxpayers in Trenton. Just say like we agreed to this regional regionalization. They put this board together and if all else fails, the taxpayers in the city of
Trenton still have to pick up the pieces. We have lead line replacements. We went into an agreement with all of these municipalities for their lead lines. Can any of you tell me to this
date if Hamilton, Lawrence, or Ewing paid for their lead line replacement. Every family in the city of Trenton had to pay $1,000 for the lead line replacement,
but they replaced the burrows lead lines before they replace ours as taxpayers. They went to Euing, Larson, Hamilton first. So then we said, "Okay, you did theirs. When are they going to pay us?"
Because you're charging the residents of the city of Trenton $1,000. When is the other municipalities going to pay us? Can anybody tell me to this date if we have collected any money from the
lead line replacements from the other burls surrounding Trenton like you have collected those thousands from the residents of the city of Trenton. All the bonds that are issued from the water department falls on the backs of
the residents of Trenton. The fact that they're talking about regionalizing our water, most of our income comes from that water department. The taxes, we don't have
enough ratables here to lose our water. Then I hear about the tax leans in the tax sales. Someone asked the question about how much is the interest rate? It's 18%. It's 18% when you're
late. That is what the city charge 18%. So if I can't afford to pay my regular taxes, how am I going to pay the 18%. And then you, the city, we take the 18% and the tax that we owe and we sell that
off to another person. So we don't know how much their interest rate is. So what I want to say to all of you could just finish could speak to it but it is not mandated for 10 minutes during a public beating act according to the Faulner act
that we just received but I'll let Mr. speak to that. Well, he will have to and so I'm going to finish my thought. Say to each and every one of you here today, we need to think hard and strong about anyone coming to us wanting to
take part or ownership into the Trenton water. They say, "Oh, it's about creating a board." Well, when you go to Macy's, this is just an analogy. When you go to Macy's and you don't like what they're selling in Macy's, you can't go up to the board members and say, "Hey, I want to create another board." Thank
you, Miss McBride, for that. I just want to be respectful to everybody else that only had five minutes, but according to the Faulner, we don't need to do the 10 minutes. Okay. Well, Mr. Collia, you need to get that to me. And we can't I can't send you written legal opinions. I can tell you right now, the
Faulner Act says that the council shall determine the rules of its own proceedings. In 2023, the council amended its rule regarding public comment from 10 to 5 minutes. I've got the ordinance number um if you need it
and the clerk's office can certainly No, I I I want to go back to the Fognes Act, so I'll do so. Thank you, Mr. McB. I think the fogness act says I have 10 minutes. All right. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. Next, Mr.
Lud Robin Vaughn. No, that was Thank you, Robin Vaughn, 1100 Styverson Avenue, Trenton 08618. Uh, I appreciate the comments from my um
my neighbors. I believe both Miss McBride and Caroline Clark lives in the West Ward. So, yes, here we are again. Our customers and rateayers feels as though
that they have a stake in an asset and a department that belongs to municipality of the city of Trenton. I don't have to reiterate what Kathy McBride stated or Miss Clark or others as to uh where the
assets of the city of Trenton belong. I think our law department is well funded. We have all the top law firms in the state of New Jersey. Mr. Bridges needs to deploy them
and push back on the state of New Jersey. Start representing this city. Mr. Bridges, we need you. We deploy the residents and taxpayers of this city deployed a
petition already. We have 250 signatures and climbing hard copy 55 online and this petition has only started today. So we're coming for you Mr.
Bridges. Okay, Mr. Bridges. So you are not doing your job. You're not representing us. You are there because of the taxpayers. So if you want to continue to cape for Reed, cape for
Reed, the mayor, Mayor Gusty, keep caping for him. Okay? We pay you the taxpayers, the residents and taxpayers. So push back on D. Push back on DCA. They owe Trenton millions of
dollars in pilot money that you haven't gone after. They owe us money from uh transitional aid that they have not paid. They're not even here being
represented. Where are they? No one on this council even calls out DCA. They supposed to be providing the oversight. Instead, they're working to overtake assets with
outsiders and political operatives. So you guys are up here elected. Defend your city. The Department of Water is ours. Those folks out in the out in the uh townships, they're just they're just
customers. They're just rateayers. They can go elsewhere. They don't have to we don't have to service them. They have no stake in any department in the city of Trenton, let alone our water department. They're just here trying to
steal our revenues. Go to Aqua Water, disconnect from our system. What they need to do is go to their mayor, go to their council, they have one, and ask them to raise a resolution to disconnect like
Robinsville did. Robinsville over there that used to be a part of Hamilton Township. They are with Aqua Water. Let Hamilton do the same. We don't care. I don't even care because I know how this is going to go. They're
overstepping a municipality, a self-governed city. You can stay quiet and cape for the folks who put you in those seats, but the residents is not going to go for it.
That's this is our worthy utility. We're the taxpayers. Those poor municipalities don't pay taxes here and we don't pay taxes there. This is not about rate paying. It's about taxpaying. Trenton Waterworks is fully backed by the full faith and credit of
the city of Trenton taxpayers. Even if they were hypothetically came on board, how are you going to collect taxes from them? You sit back and you don't say nothing. You don't talk about things that are important. You gloss over
things just like you glossed over the Kingsberry apartments like you have jurisdiction over there. You have no jurisdiction. Go to the state, write a resolution to the state legislature and tell them to do their jobs. But that's not your job. And because of that,
nothing will get done. You're doing the the people at Kingsbury a disservice. Next door is Amanda Parsons. That's it. Thank you all. Um we're going to move to civic comment and um I'm
going to start with council vice president tonight. Thank you, Madam President. Good good evening everyone. Um, first I want to say uh congratulations again to uh the honor bestowed on Mayor Palmer to have uh the
annex at city hall renamed after him. Um it was a it was a wonderful ceremony and and a welldeserved and earned honor. I want to say uh just comment on some of the things that were said tonight uh
about Kingsbury. I want to thank them for coming in and giving another update on where things are. But let's talk about how this all came to be. Kingsbury has been in a severe state of dilapidation for
decades. Um that I grew up all over this city, all over it. And I used to hang out in Kingsbury in my teenage years. And that place has always been deplorable. And here we are 20 years later. And up until the beginning of the renovations, it was still in the state
that it was in. From when I first entered this office, one of the first actions that I had did was to reach out to the state, Kingsbury, the rest of council, this mayor and the administration, and every
elected official within Mercer County. Understanding that three units or more is under the jurisdiction of DCA, of the state of New Jersey. Yes, we are fully in understanding of that. However, the people that reside in those towers and
those lowrises are Tranonians. They are residents and they were forgotten by our state. So that's why I personally professionally reached out to extend an olive branch to start the conversation
to see how we can fix things within those towers. We had conducted tours of Kingsbury Towers and those lowrises and we firsthand saw the deplor deplorable conditions of it. Legislative district
15 has been at in each one of these email threads. They have been invited to the meetings and assemblywoman Verina Jackson Reynolds Jackson has been meeting with Kingsbury in her own time. However, this
council in regards to protecting Tranonians and making sure they had everything that they needed and everything that they wanted to have a good quality of life and good healthy environment for their families, for seniors, for everyone that's in those buildings in now and in the future to
come has good quality living. the previous managers and previous owners of the buildings were not living were not um doing their part. They were not renovating the building and were blatantly ignoring or maybe had missed
correspondence from HMFA because highrises like those every 10 or 20 years are supposed to undergo capital improvements. And those letters went unanswered until this council stepped in and demanded that something be done. Now
they have new developers, a new property management team and new ownership under this council. So the hundreds of residents that live in there now are being finally pro provided a good quality of life and the tenants are very
very active in which they were not before. They were not at the table. They were not even in the room and now they're developing their own boards and the new owners of this entity is inviting tenants to be on the board with them to have even further
representation. That is what this council has done. And though yes, it's not our jurisdiction, but our residents, our constituents live in those buildings and they deserve better. And it wasn't until we had stepped up to the plate
then things got done. So, I commend my council colleagues who have been meeting bi-weekly for the last nearly two years with Kingsbury development team to make sure that they had access to HMFA,
access to other resources and information that they needed and while and and allowed us to advocate for the residents of this city to make sure they have a good quality of life and that they're safe. So, I just wanted to talk
about that. Moving on to another alarming situation in the city that has transpired over the last week. There has been reportings about 17 reportings of of a Latino um looking individual, a man
who has been breaking and entering into homes in the late hours of the night and seemingly targeting single women or women who are left alone at night while the men are working overnight and have been um things have been stolen. They
have been um sexually assaulted to an extent. no type of uh rape situations, thank God, but other sexual type of um things has happened. And um I just want to say that I'm highly disappointed that
this seems to have been going on for months and the public was not made aware of it. I'm not sure if all or none of these women um that have been uh you know violated it through breaking and
enterings and what have you has reported every incident that has happened. But apparently the police department has been aware of this and the public has not been made aware. Um and I'm very disappointed in that. I think that it puts a lot of people um at risk and that
when things like this happen, these things need to be brought to the public's attention um so that we can avoid it. So I would say and most of these incidences has been happening in the west ward um please everyone ladies
everyone men lock your windows at night set your alarms make sure your doors are locked so that people do not have easy access to enter your homes while you are sleeping. Please protect yourselves. Please stay vigilant. And if something happens, please speak up. Thank you and
have a good night. Thank you, Councilwoman Feliciano. Good evening everyone. Thank you for coming and joining us tonight. And for those that stayed um for the public comment as we went through the business of the city, we appreciate you and hearing what it is that you had to say. So, let me just touch it real quick
about the Trenton Waterworks. I've been asking questions this whole time um about Trenton Waterworks from the time that I worked at Trenton Waterworks part-time to when I left till now. Um it is no secret that there are things that are not that have not been done
correctly. I stated a couple of those things here tonight. Don't think that we not looking into that. I'm not looking into what it is that needs to be looked into. I am not for the regionalization of Trenton Waterworks. I've said that before and I'm saying it now. I am not
for that. It is an asset for the city of Trenton. I believe that we need to do better and that we need to look deeper into this. I am concerned about the employees that work at Trenton Waterworks. We going to bring everybody in. Are we going to push some of them out? Who's going to oversee it? And what is happening? Who were the people that
we put in place that were supposed to make sure that we were okay in the first place, right? And why are we not okay? Second, D. There was discussions between uh amongst our council members for those that have not been coming to the meetings possibly not watching online
but there have been discussions we have asked about DCA says one thing D says another thing but those two seem to be bump ahead so it's almost like it's by design that there are different areas in which we are faltering and that is unacceptable we have asked for
consolidated meetings of which it has not happened but we're not sitting here blind to the fact that something is wrong and things need to be done. Nobody's co-signing, nobody's stepping up and bootlicking or nothing like that. We here doing the work and asking the questions, right? So, I just want to
make that very clear. Um, when it comes to Kingsbury Towers, I agree with Councilwoman Edwards in the fact that, okay, yeah, the state oversees certain buildings like that. And then when we look at Trent Towers and stuff, but those are Trentonians, and those are
people that, you know what, they vote, they live here, they reside here, and they deserve our attention just like everybody else. Um, I know that I personally uh have gone into Trent Towers previously with Marge Caldwell Wilson when we first got into this thing and I wrote to the management company
myself. Even though it was the state's people, the legislators, I ain't got time for that. Those people are looking at me saying, "What about us?" Right? And me as the elected official said, "Yeah, what about you? What do I need to do to help you?" And so I had gotten them better security in there, pest
control services and the like and did my thing to help them to be treated fairly and equitably just as a homeowner in the city of Trenton or those that live in the Trenton Housing Authority. Trenton is Trenton and everybody deserves our service and our attention if we can
help. Now, yeah, we called up the state uh legislators as well. Well, what are y'all going to do, right? But if they ain't doing it, we can't ignore it because these people deserve a good quality of life as well. And I've committed myself to do what it is that I
can to help all Tranonians to to live in the lifestyle that they deserve. And I have done so. Um, I do want to say shout out to the Outdoor Equity Alliance and the New Jersey Tree Foundation. They partnered with the city and they
partnered with a bunch of business uh owners. They they came out and volunteered on Saturday. They planted some trees down West State Street. I thought that that was really cool when I watched the process and was talking to the people. You know what I mean? It ain't my thing cuz I don't have a green thumb, but I appreciate the people that
were out there doing the work because what it did do was it brought people together in a collective way that they wanted to improve what was going on and to help the city. And that's important. There were men there, women there, there were children there, there were business owners, there were residents. Everybody
was there and they collectively worked together to make it happen. I do want to shout out Director Anna Tier and his crew um for looking to address the need of a resident out uh West Trenton, Ivy Avery. We all met out there one day
about signage for the crossing guards out there and now they're looking into getting things to be put in the street that will indicate to kind of slow down at that curve when they coming up. um prospect to swing around onto West State
Street to prohibit cars from just flying through when the crossing guard is there. They're looking to make changes and looking to make things happen and we're looking at creative approaches on how it is that we can help the city. Um the light is out at what was it?
Belleview. I put a post up about it. I'm sorry. But there there's a couple lights out in the city. If y'all want to see the status, look on my Facebook page. I hate to say it like that cuz I don't have time to tell you, but I did contact transportation. They gave us an answer. They are working on it and they're
looking to get it fixed. Thank y'all for coming out. God bless. Good night. Thank you, Counciloman Feliciano. Council Williams. Thank you, Council President. So, uh, first I'd just like to uh make some announcements. Uh, the next North Assist Police Advisory Council meeting
will be at Galilee Baptist Church on May 21st, Wednesday. We're back to our third Wednesday schedule from 5:30 to 7. Uh please join us. Uh also uh this past Saturday we had Mayor Palmer's celebration uh the dedication of the
annex uh for him and it was a beautiful uh afternoon, beautiful morning. Uh so I'm sure there's video of it everywhere, but it was a great day, great positive day in our city. uh voter registration deadline is coming up May 20th for the
upcoming June 10th uh primary election particularly for governor. Uh please check your reg your registration status. You can register online at vote.nj.gov. Again, vote.njov gov rather. Um and also make
sure that you can register to vote if you haven't previously or you updated your address. Uh Trenton Tonight is coming this Friday night, May 9th, in downtown from 5 to 7:00. Uh and it's presented by the Trenton UE, the Urban Enterprise Zone. So please come down,
have some fun, uh spend some money at our businesses. Bless you. Also, this Friday, uh from 4 to 6 in Cow Water Park will be the kickball day of fun uh for teens and adults. So, if you haven't uh played kickball in a while, uh might be some little bit of good exercise, way to
make some friends, uh meet some other Trentonians. Uh also coming up on Thursday, May 15th at 6 PM is the Trenton Eat Local event at Royal Cakes, 240 East Street. Uh that is in the North Ward, part of our downtown. So, please
uh join them and also uh look for other activities with Trenton eat local. Uh, additionally, um, with, uh, just some comments I want to make on some of the issues from tonight. Uh, regarding the other municipalities in TWWW, my
understanding is that Hamilton Township uh, recently or soish recently, uh, did pay $700,000 towards what they owe. Uh, they still owe us more money as do other municipalities. We should be going after him. And I know Mr. Bridges is looking
at everything he can do and I am confident in what the law department law department and our city will do to make sure we get that money because they owe it to us. They're not going to take our waterworks. We saved the waterworks in 2009 2010. We're going to do it again.
We're not going to have D or someone try to pry it from us. If we have to, we'll fight in the streets. We'll fight in the hills just like Winston Churchill said, but they're not going to take it. Um, this is something that belongs to Trenton. It is our greatest asset and
they owe us the money. Start paying the money. I'd like to also uh congratulate and say thank you to the two more two new members of the animal welfare advisory board. It's uh great to have a final compliment and we look forward to what they'll do in the future to make sure their animal shelter uh is better
than it was before and we'll keep on improving in the future particularly uh when it comes to the care and love of our of our uh four-legged friends. Uh also um I see Captain Beerudi and a lot of the firemen were here tonight from engine number six. It's a great night
after several years of uh looking into this problem and I was thankful that uh the fire department asked me to come out in the summer of 23 to see how bad the wood floor was that we indeed will now have a contract approved and everything as of tonight to repour a concrete floor
at engine number six on North Clinton Avenue. That is a great thing for our city and for the surrounding neighbors uh and residents because it will cut down on uh time for uh fire trucks to go to fires, but also now we won't have the
problem of not being able to have fire trucks inside the firehouse in the winter time because of the cold uh freeze in the water. So, um I just want to close with uh two small things. right after the big things. But regarding Kingsbury, I could
not be prouder of this council and what we've done from originally two years ago touring Kingsbury, identifying the problems, bringing them to the public, but also with our subcommittee, making sure that the developers are here tonight did all the right things and
made sure while they were waiting to get approvals done for everything they had to do, they took care of the folks who are there now. Things can always be better, but we've done a lot of great work together. The final uh ask I have I want to ask of this of everyone is if
you see someone blocking a fire hydrant with your car with their car, please call 6099894000 and report that vehicle so it will get fined. We need to stop people from parking in front of fire hydrants for safety sake. Thank you very much. God bless. Thank you, Councilwoman
Williams. Um so I'm going to kind of be brief. Um, one, I just want to thank everyone who stayed and shared their thoughts and concerns with us and council. I know it was a long meeting, so just want to say thank you for your time. Um, to Miss Thompson Coington who left out, um, I did speak to her earlier
and we don't want to tolerate anyone being discriminated against regardless of whatever the fact is and even being spoke to in a certain manner. So, those concerns will be um, sent over. So, thank you for sharing that um, with us. And as far as the parking, as we all
know, we do have issues with the parking. We're trying to come up with our solutions. We we've been working on different things and that was one of the reasons why the uh parking sign came up tonight. Also, um to Miss Clark, Miss McBride, and Miss Vaughn, thank you for your thoughts, for sharing and being
engaged. As always, um I personally am not in favor of us selling our Trenton water department as mentioned earlier by most of my colleagues who said it very well. Um, and as I mentioned earlier in the meeting, um, I think we just need to be more aggressive now and start getting
our money back so that way, um, we can have the funds and start to reinvest into the infrastructure and do the upgrades that are needed at our water department. Um, but like I I do agree with us, we need to be more aggressive in collecting the money that is owed to
us. And some of those requests were made. Council members, I know we did request for and it was shared with us what is owed to us from different municipalities. And that's where a lot of the pressure is coming from because we know we have over millions of dollars being owed to us from different avenues.
Hamilton, Yuan, a couple of them. So I agree with you 1,000%. I am not in favor of selling a Trenton water department and nor were we involved in or approve or agreed to have D send out an RFP. I know they don't seek approval from us
but we were unaware of that. We we found out just like everyone else found out. So please know that uh this council for the most part most of us here I can't speak for every single person that that some are not here but the ones that are here I can tell you that we are not in favor of it and we are asking the
questions. Um, and I know Miss Bourne also mentioned the pilot money and money that is owed to us from DCA. So, that's something we'll definitely do some research on. Um, but I do want to make a quick um couple announcements. Thank you to my colleagues for supporting the
ordinances that were brought forth. I know we was just going to do some working out and some kinks, but I appreciate that. I mean it the the whole purpose was for us to not continue to have the burden placed on the city when it comes to financially um taking care of certain emergency or
certain um malfunctions in different buildings that are house some of our residents. So we just I just want to say thank you for that. Um, and then I also want to send prayers out to Joy Ingram who was actually hit um by a vehicle and just just you know the sense of um
humanity like some people the person that hit her actually drugg her for a while while she was on this bike and then jumped out and ran. So, it's just like where do we actually, you know, come together as a community and and deal with those issues? Like who could actually leave someone after they've hit
them, drug them for a while, and then get up and just run out and leave. So, prayers going out to the Ingram family. Um, and just let her know that, you know, we've been checking on her. Um, a couple of more announcements. There are preschool enrollments that are going off. So, if you have a three or fouryear-old, please, please, you can
register your kids for free at one of our preschools. um food pantry. There's a grant is a kickoff for a food brand pantry for North Clinton benevolence project that's going to be this Saturday, May 10th at 10 a.m. Um I know uh Councilwoman Williams brought up the
circus squad and then also the K kickball. There's a circus squad tenure celebration at the Cur Bank of Arena May 8th. The kickball starts Friday at Cowwood Park. Um, and then we just want to um acknowledge our Asian-American Pacific Islanders, which it's their
heritage month. It's mental health awareness month. It's also Jewish American Heritage Month. And then I also want to say happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there, specifically my mother, the ghetto much. And I believe that is all I have for this evening. Thank you all so much for being patient
with us and being here with us this evening. Thank you to our directors also for staying in here and Miss Dores for stepping in um for Mr. Garcia. Good night everyone. Sorry, executive session. We're so we're not going to have We're not going to have executive session tonight. We just
need a motion to adjourn. We need a motion to adjurnn. Please move second. That was what that all about. Call a roll. Lord, you got to call a roll call. Les roll call to adjourn.
Roll call for Councilwoman. Speaker. Speaker. Speaker. The microphone. Microphone. And it's a lot of moving parts. Just come on. Trying to go home, honey. Yes. That's the one. Feliciano. Yes,
Councilwoman Williams. She said Councilwoman Williams. Councilwoman. Yes. Okay. It's 9:30. Oh god.