WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=o7ymy7d4tac

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: o7ymy7d4tac):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Called to Order; Roll Call Attendance
- 00:01:31: Invocation and Opening Budget Hearing Discussion
- 00:03:35: Communications, Petitions, Reports Approval and Ordinance Readings
- 00:06:48: Resolutions Discussion and Extraction From the Agenda
- 00:09:01: Discussion on Resolution 26-194: Corrective Action Plan
- 00:17:19: Further Discussion of Resolution 26-194: Training Initiatives
- 00:22:27: Concerns about Training, Document Filing, PARS Evaluation
- 00:31:27: Resolution 26-195 Discussion: Utility Account Management Practices
- 00:45:55: Discussion on 26-195: Union Rules and Schedule Stagnation
- 00:52:51: 26-202 Discussion: Real Estate Services Backlog
- 00:58:01: Resolutions 26-203 and 26-207 Discussions
- 01:02:46: Resolution 26-210 Discussion: Lead Line Replacement Progress
- 01:11:16: Ordinances for First Reading and Introduction, 26-41 - 26-45
- 01:12:53: Ordinance 26-42 and Questions on Property Assesments
- 01:17:39: Ordinance 26-46: Recovery and Transitional Homes
- 01:25:33: Ordinance 26-48: Civil Immigration Enforcement Cooperation
- 01:27:58: Ordinance 26-49: Parking Restrictions for Vans/Trucks
- 01:32:25: Public Comment: Glenn Patterson, Church Street Lot
- 01:38:32: Public Comment: Joseph Chapman, Dog Waste and ATVs
- 01:40:53: Public Comment: Victor Rosari, City Issues and Cannabis
- 01:46:12: Public Comment: Lewis Brady, Speed Humps and ATVs
- 01:48:05: Public Comment: Robin Vaughn, Questions on Ordinances
- 01:53:39: Public Comment: Leticia Peters, Market Prices and Police
- 01:57:47: Public Comment: Ahmed Aguhari, Vacant Properties & Rehab
- 02:03:12: Council Comments and Responses to Public Concerns
- 02:23:39: Motion to Adjourn and Final Remarks


Part: 1

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Yes. Adequate notice of this meeting has been given in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act pursuant to public laws 1975. Chapter 231. This agenda is complete to the extent known. It was sent to the Trenton Times and Trentonian newspapers, posted on the first floor bulletin board in city hall,

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and filed in the city clerk's office and posted on the city of Trenton website. Formal action will be taken. Roll call. >> Councilwoman Edwards, >> present. >> For the record, Councilwoman Feliciano did notify that she will be she will not be present this evening. She's excused

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from this meeting. >> Councilwoman Frisbee >> here. Councilwoman Gonzalez >> present. >> Thank you. For the record, Councilwoman Councilman Harrison is excused from this meeting as well.

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>> Vice President Williams >> present. Y presente. >> Council President Figureroa Kenberg >> present. >> Myself Brandon Garcia Municipal Clerk present. Mr. Colloji I believe is in root and Mr. Bridges as well.

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And Madame President, if you'd like, I'll read the invocation at this time. Almighty God, who holds the fate of man and nation, we most humbly beseech thee to bless this our city, these deliberations, and these thy servants,

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that they may act with wisdom and understanding for the good of our community and thy greater glory. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. And Madame President, I believe our first order of business this evening is the budget hearing. >> Yes, sir.

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>> Okay. And at that time, just to inform all I'm sorry, I didn't know. Okay. So, just to inform all at this time, we will have the hearing for the budget. If there is any public or any or any member of the public, any resident or anyone

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that wishes to speak to the previously introduced budget at this time? Seeing none, Madam President, is there any feedback from the council for a saying? Sorry. Again,

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I hear this is just for the public. And Madam President, I am informed that this is simply a hearing. There is no actual formal presentation at this time for this budget. This is a simply for a hearing. We have I'm hearing nobody from the public at this time. And with that being the case, Madame

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President, if you would ask for a motion to close the public hearing. May >> we have a motion to close the public hearing? >> So moved. >> Second. Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee,

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>> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figuro Kenberg, >> yes. >> That hearing is closed.

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Uh at this time, Madame President, if we could move on to public comment for agenda items only. >> Yes, please proceed. >> And at this present time, we do not have any members listed for any anyone listed for public comment for agenda items. So

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at this point we can move on to excuse me madam president if you want to ask for a motion to approve communications petitions and reports. >> May we have a motion? >> So move >> second. >> Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards.

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>> Yes. >> Councilwoman Councilwoman Frisbee. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez. Yes. >> Thank you, Vice President Williams. >> Yes.

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>> Council President Figueroa Kevin. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. Ordinances for second reading and public hearing. Ordinance 26-39. an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of the abandoned city property located at 271

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Tyler Street to Jupiter Mate LLC as an alternative to demolition under the neighborhood redevelopment and revitalization program. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this ordinance at this time? Seeing none, Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve.

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>> May we have a motion to approve. So move. Second. Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez.

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>> Yes. >> Vice President Williams. >> Yes. >> Council President Figureroa Edenberg. >> Yes. Ordinance 26-40, an ordinance repealing and replacing Ordinance 26-26,

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amending chapter 2, article 11, boards and commissions of the Trenton City Code, increasing membership to the Multicultural Heritage Board from 15 to 17 members. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak to this ordinance at this time?

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>> Seeing none, Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> May we have a motion to approve? >> Some moved. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee. >> Yes.

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>> Councilwoman Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Vice President Williams. >> Yes. >> And Council President Figuro Kber. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. And Madam President, that brings us to resolutions at this time. If there are any resolutions that you wish to extract

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from potential consent agenda this evening or for discussion, >> Madam President. >> Yes, Councilman Edwards. >> 26-194 and 195. So 2023

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207 210 That's it. Thank you, >> Madam President. Pass me. >> Um, resolution 26-205 and resolution 26-210. >> Madam President, I believe 205 has been

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eliminated from the docket. >> Are we certain of that? >> I'm sorry. Are we certain of that? >> Cuz I haven't. >> Uh yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. So, we moved. Okay. Um >> it appears it was pulled >> also. Uh

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oh, those are ordinances. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, >> Council President. Um 194 and 195 after after Councilwoman Edwards. Okay, thank you. I also had questions to those, too. Um, okay. Uh, Counciloman

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Gonzalez, you have anything? >> Not at the moment. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Uh, Councilwoman Edwards, 26202. >> Oh, sorry. 26194. I apologize. >> Thank you. Good evening.

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>> Good evening, Mr. Cherry. >> How are you, Councilwoman? >> I'm well. How are you >> doing? Well, >> great. So, I just have a couple of brief questions. Were any of the findings in this 2024 corrective action plan repeat findings

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from previous years? >> Yes. Uh some of them were um the for I'm sorry we're on 194 at this moment. Um

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these are grant related findings. So under this resolution while some of these are similar findings uh they aren't repeated in the same way as the uh other audit because they apply to only one program year. So we have had

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some similar challenges but you won't see a finding that is identical because they have only monitored whatever program was for that program either. >> Okay. Has the administration implemented any of these already? Even the repeat ones

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from previous years? I'm I'm seeing a lot of recurring things. You know, the CDBG activities, um the the grantee is determined to not be carrying out the CDBG grant activities in a timely manner. These are things that we've been consistently hearing year

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after year. So, how is this being addressed? Do we have a grant writer, a grant monitor that's implementing these plans? >> Sorry for the that I decided to to um respond to those questions. What happened with um particularly with the

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CDBG and the HUD related findings? Um CDBG has a well rather HUD has a rule that you should not have more than 1.5% of your the entitlement money um

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without spend spending it right so I don't know if you remember that in 2016 2017 the city um the entitlement was withheld by HUD and then the city received all the funding in 2019,

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but although we received it in 2019, the money was still um labeled as 2016 2017 money. So, we still had just certain amount of time to spend the money, right? Um but then we

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received the 2019 20 and 2021 um entitlement during CO. So that really put us back in terms of spending the money. At certain point

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when I um became responsible of HUD uh grants, the city had seven times the amount of money that we were supposed to have. So um through a lot of effort

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particularly from the person who is currently in charge of CDBG funding Dr. Diego Mina Capelli we have reduced the amount to about a 3% I'm sorry three times um the amount instead of eight

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seven the amount to the point that now we are not getting any money withheld. So in 2023 2024 we that money was dispersed recently by HUD and although that is a finding in the um the audit we

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are really in good standing with HUD because they we were able to build the team to to be able to respond to the many activities and to the many requirements of HUD. um that you know all the activities that we need to to uh

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perform before we can disperse any money for CDBG to the point that sometimes we need to come with um amendments to the plan because if we don't do that we will lose the money but to answer your question yes all of this is ongoing um

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uh improvements so although continues to be a finding because we have more than 1.5% we came from seven from seven times the amount to three two 2.5 the amount.

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So I hope that by next year we will be within um the 1.5 >> okay >> amount. Um >> okay okay thank you and

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>> Sure. Where are you with reportings with annual and final financial and performance reports that's due within certain specified time frames? I also see this is a recurring finding year after year.

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>> Yes, you are correct. And uh this is um when we get the findings from the auditors, right, we go back and forth with them because sometimes they identified uh things that are really not a requirements just

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because they are used to work with certain agencies and that sort of things. There is not such a thing as a quarterly programmatic report for HUD, right? Um they require that we go in their system and uh get every single

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amount approved. But the auditors don't have access to that system, right? If we do not report the finances, the financial information on time to HUD, they will not disperse any money. Uh, and so I always tell the auditor, you

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really need to get in tune with the federal requirements for those grants. And some others are um that we are late in doing the reconciliation of whatever money we spent for just because of the nature of their

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system. Until they approve it in their system, we cannot reconciliate with the city's finance. >> Okay? And and I tell the auditor the real um indicator for that should be if we are

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being flagged in the HUD system not if we are late in our internal reporting. >> Okay. It it also states here that during the review the documentation could not be located in the file as part of the

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audit trail to verify timely submission. So the it says the original submissions were reportedly retained in accordance with staff statements but during the review it could not be located and this seems to be a recurring issue

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as well. Is there issues with filing? Is there issues with finding documents? >> Well, apparently they were looking for something that they couldn't find. However, um that is also a very

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strict thing for HUD. So, we try to keep the far the files as accurate as possible. As a matter of fact, we need to keep files in digital forms and paper form still. >> I was going I was getting ready to ask,

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are there electronic documents being kept for each? >> Yes. Yes. And even in that couldn't be located. >> Yes. Okay. I see how this can be an issue. This is very alarming and we definitely need to,

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>> you know, do a better job at keeping track of these documents. Otherwise, we >> I agree with you. >> All right. Thank you. I I'll yield to my colleagues. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Uh Council Vice President Williams. >> Thank you, ma'am. Uh thank you, Councilwoman. Good questions. Uh I just

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want to ask you uh to highlight I know we had docket review and I asked a lot of questions at that point but I'd like you to highlight for the public I think it's important uh because I've been asked this about the changes that are going to come in corrections as far as training and what's already occurred to

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train employees uh for their roles to make sure that they're comfortable in their roles going forward and this can cover uh 194 and 195 going forward. >> Absolutely. when it comes to federal grants, there was a mandate that um we

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incorporate a certain amount of training. Um and so uh Diego, Dr. Mina Capelli and his team, they have been attending every single training that um HUD and and their consultant

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um has been uh indicating for us. Um we even had even um provided us with a technical uh with a consultant to to provide technical assistance to to our teams and they have been uh Dr. Diego

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and the procurement office and uh his entire team for CDBG home ESG have been taking an incredible amount of trainings. But the training part is not just for CDBG and HUD. We have been doing trainings for the department

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directors, for the division directors, for individuals dealing with the public. Um the depart the procurement unit has been scheduling at least um a training every other week for the directors for the individuals dealing with

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requisitions and I have issued I don't know how many directives when it comes to trainings and uh compliance. So yes, it has been a real effort in to increase training efforts. >> Okay. And thank you

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>> initiatives. I'm sorry. >> And then uh with the training is are there testing measures uh to make sure that each of the employees who are trained uh pass a certification if they get a certificate or you know source that we usually have for HR departments. Uh, it's funny that you mentioned that

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because I just sent an email a few days ago asking directors to provide me with proof of a training that they were required to attend a while ago. And uh, yes, we do the same for I mean when when it's certificate related trainings,

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everybody needs to provide a training. Um, for example, if anybody in the assessor's office needs to attend the training, before I approve the next one, they need to provide me uh proof of having um passed the previous one and we

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apply that across the board for all the departments. >> Uh, police department in in particular has been doing an incredible amount of trainings too. >> Okay. And then as far as um incentives for training or a building plan, so

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where someone gains that skill, takes the training and then qualifies to do a additional training or maybe something that might be a little higher level. Uh is that being put in place also? Um, we haven't put that in place yet,

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but the expectation is that if you were looking are you you seeking to be promoted, we will be looking in how you took opportunities for training. >> Okay. >> That were provided. >> All right. Uh, my last question because I know we are limited in what we can do

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for trainings. For example, League of Municipalities, there are traings, but it's difficult to get approval from DCA for our employees to go to trainings like that or maybe in academic settings. Is that something in the future that might be loosened up or we might be able

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to take more advantage of the on the horizon? Um, to be honest, I I have the ability to approve for employees to go to the League of Municipality Trainings without DCA approval. >> Oh, okay. That's a change then from what

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I understood. Thank you. >> I would not be able to approve overnight state, right? And I will make I will do those approvals considering the role of the employee, right? Because if an employee works at the water department

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and they are seeking for a a license to to operate the water filtration plant and they are asking me for a training to um for a police training I will say no and that is the extreme but sometimes

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the employees ask for trainings that really don't have anything to do with their current roles and I would not be able to approve that. So those trainings are based on the department um the director's recommendation and the availability of money but I am always

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pushing for opportunities for trainings for everybody. >> Okay. Excellent. And um thank you because there's any I'm sure you can tell from our council if there's anything we can do to help with that I'm sure we would be on board to help where we can. >> Thanks.

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>> Thank you. Consent ma'am from my end. >> Thank you. Um, BA Richardson, I know, um, I also asked some questions in docka review and my colleagues pretty much covered the most of them. I just wanted to just make a comment just because some of these explanations and corrective

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action that were found as they pointed out was, you know, lack of training or files not being found or not where they're supposed to be. Um, you know, something requiring a grant that there was no grant writer for. Um, so I guess my my concern, I mean, you

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you pretty much covered everything. You guys are going to be doing better with with trainings and things like that, but can there be like oversight like maybe monthly or quarterly oversight by supervisors to the employees? And also, is the city implementing PARS at this time?

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>> If the city is implementing what? PARS Ears PARS which is um you know evaluation you know >> well the city implements evaluation at the department level right um

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department directors will be um evaluated by how they manage their budget and how they follow the rules so how they comply with rules right Um,

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I don't know what previous administrators did before when it comes to monitoring the budget, but I I know that I started implementing budget and financial control monitoring meetings. As a matter of fact, we send out

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invitations to the directors today for those meetings and the expectation is to go over their require their requested budget for this year and where they are in terms of uh of the expenditures, right? I want to make sure that at in

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May at the end of May they are not they have enough money for the rest of the year and that we will not be surprised in September that department directors run out of money because they didn't plan uh well so instead of waiting until the end of the year we are doing that

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that was supposed to be done quarterly but I missed the mark um for the first quarter and we are doing that starting next week and then we will do those moving forward quarterly. >> Okay. >> Um

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I don't know if I may as a part of your question. >> I think I will I think so at PARS um you know they're generally every six months um so and it's a requirement of civil service. So I'm just wondering is the city required to do these performance valuations of all employees?

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>> No, we are not not at that level. We are we we really do not have a requirement for evaluations at that level. We have a requirement uh during the next 90 days and then I I am a firm believer that

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everybody should be evaluated at least yearly. >> Yeah. I mean, every six months would actually be better. And it's just a chance to um evaluate things based on are they doing their it highlights what their job duties are, what's expected of them, and then are they moving to these

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standards, and if they're not, you know, what's a correction plan, and we're going to reevaluate this, you're either going to pass or fail or not, and we're going to reevaluate this six months later. I think that would be something that the city should definitely look to put in place. >> We definitely will consider it, and it's something that I really would like to

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do. >> Perfect. Okay. Thank you so much, VA. Appreciate it. Um, Councilman Edwards and Williams both consent. >> I I have another question or two. I just wanted to go back on um

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the trainings. We talked about some of the other trainings, the cross trainining of grant responsibilities, but in one of the corrective actions that's recommended under the ARP finding 2024-004

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under explanation and corrective action. It says that specifications I'll just read the whole thing. The department errored in not grouping what were separate projects together. The department will create a budget for planned uses of government funds. Upon

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review of that budget, a determination will be made to see if goods or services exceed the bid threshold. Specifications will be created for public bidding in concert with the division of purchasing. We will also require procurement training for officials and staff charged

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with creating budgets. So my first question is has the procurement training been implemented? >> Yes. Yes, procurement trainings definitely have been implemented. Um, at least every other week a group of individuals is being trained when it

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comes to procurement services, procurement uh processes and uh all department directors were required to complete the public uh purchasing one and uh at least public purchasing one,

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right? Um some directors didn't complete it when I request it. Um I resent that probably last week or something uh like that and the ones who were not did not completed on time are now ready to

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complete it. But that is happening across the board. Oh, and uh the assistant VA just informed me that they completed a training this morning. That purchasing completed a training this morning.

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>> Okay, thank you. Just in time for tonight's meeting. >> So, where are we with the American Rescue Plan? Are we have we been over budget? Are we overbudget in promises of of

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where that funding is going to be distributed to or dispersed to? No, I don't think that we have been over budgeted with that one, but this is basically we need to have everything spent by the end of the this year. Mhm.

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>> So what we are doing right now is going over whatever monies were um allocated either internally to our departments or or to third parties to make sure that if they haven't encumbered that money, we

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need to take it back and and find an immediate use because it will be a shame if we need to return any money from ARP. >> Okay. I would like to submit just a on a record or formal request for an updated uh copy of to council of where we are

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with the ARP, what's been dispersed, what's still left to be allocated internally and externally, what the balances are for the remaining of the year. Thank you. And >> Sure. >> But I also have um another question. Has any of the goods or services exceeded a

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bid threshold? >> Yes. And uh that applies to to when we use the ARPA money for our own projects and you have you have approved an incredible amount of uh those projects.

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>> Many of the playgrounds for recreation that you approved were utilizing um ARPA money. Some of the projects for the water departments were util utilizing ARPA money. Many projects were

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approved um by this council using ARPA money, but I can't actually provide that in the report. >> Okay. Were there any budgets that exceeded the threshold that did not come before council that >> I don't think so. Okay. >> I don't think that would be the case.

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>> Okay. Thank you. >> Sure. >> I appreciate it. Um just looking forward to seeing an updated ARP. Thank you. >> Sure. Thank you. Um, Mr. Garcia, consent.

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>> Noted. >> And ladies, uh, council, Councilwoman, that covered 194 and 195, correct? Okay. Thank you. All right. Um, 26202, Councilwoman Edwards,

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take it to sick. Apologies for the delay. I just wanted to make sure I didn't have any pertinent questions on 195 before we move on to 202 because they are um two different audits. One's a one's a single audit and

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one's a main audit covering different >> we're not we're not skipping. Thank you. Um >> excuse me. You're not you cannot speak out in council, >> Mr. Garcia. Yes, Madam President, >> can can you

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>> uh at the present time, Madam President, forgive me, but are um are we engaging the public at this point or are we engaging? >> No, we're not. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay, Council Edwards. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. Um for the

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public that may have just walked in, we are currently >> Mr. Garcia, >> we are currently reviewing the resolutions that we have questions on. You're welcome.

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I I I think that we should go through 195 because it is a bit different before we move on to 202 if you don't mind. Council President, >> go ahead, council. >> Thank you. I had separate questions for 195.

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Apologies. I'm just going through my notes. So in this finding the very first one it talks about the standard of operating procedures which we which comes up quite often. It

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says it will be created and followed to standardize account management practices for both city and township accounts. So is this in reference to this is the city of Trenton vacant properties that remain active in the system. So where

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are we with the uh creating an SOP that will standardize the account management practices? Has that been implemented? >> Uh yes. Uh just to be clear, finding 001 is in reference to the utilities.

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>> Yeah. So uh yes they are always working on improving and bettering their practices and they have made um several strides since again this is the audit for calendar year 24 so they have made

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several strides since then but it is an ongoing process that we will continually be improving. How are things going with the utility receivables with the outstanding accounts? >> If I may, I'll give uh director simple

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the opportunity to answer that particular question. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Director Simple Trenton Warden. Sir, >> good evening. So from the from 2024 to 2025

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the uh amount of build accounts went from 16,000 to a second from 16,572 accounts that were uncollected

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in 2024. We had 13,000 in 2025. >> And what is the balance of that uncollected amount of accounts? >> In 2025.

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So now we at 1,162,386. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Let me backtrack a little bit. It was Okay. So in 2024, let's me go over 2024

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numbers. We had a a total amount of 17 million outstanding, right? And that accounted for 16,575 accounts. So now

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we are 13 13,657 of accounts. It went down to that and the balance is now 13 million 111072. >> So 13 million and outstanding.

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>> Yes. And have you implemented a standard of operating procedure that will standardize the account management services? >> Yes, we have. >> Because I believe there are still issues with a lot of customers gaining access to their accounts online to be able to pay them, set up accounts, set up auto

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pay. What's going on with the website? >> The website? Well, we we've been having issues that we're trying to resolve in terms of the website, but our during our collection agencies, we've been able to reach out to more people and we got more frequently responses

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in terms of reaction. People come to pay and and and um pay their balances and stuff like that. Um the website, people that don't know, anything above $500 in payments, it would not accept. You

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have to come in to pay that kind of money. >> $500. >> Yes. 500 or more. Yes. >> Okay. Do you have any plans on modernizing the website in this year's budget? >> Yes, we are. >> That's in that's reflected in the

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budget. >> It is reflected in the budget this year as well as we plan to launch our own website with more information to the public. And when do you plan to do that? >> Um, well, we already just getting some

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proposals right now. We might have to put out to bid because it will be over the threshold. We might have to do a bid for it, but we are already drafted um the specs to the launch of our website. So hopefully by I would say by September

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we should have it fully launched. >> Thank you. And and what's going on with the office here at city hall? Is it still closing at 3:30 for people to be able to come in and make their payments >> for utility payments? >> Yes. >> Um the tax I don't believe so. Uh not on

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not on normal days. That would only be if there was a a special event or they need to do reconciliations that day. >> Okay. So what are the office hours for people to pay their utilities? Uh, they should be able to come in from 9:00 to 4:00. >> 9 to 4.

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>> Have you ever considered a stagnated schedule so that working people can come pay their bills and not have to take off of work to do so? >> Uh, if individuals are looking to pay their bills in person, um, to do that at city hall would require us to pay

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overtime for our security staff to remain open here. So that hasn't been a a an excellent opportunity, but we certainly can consider other opportunities and of course um the utility and the website as well as their

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phone service are available to pay those bills. >> You're you're speaking of people working more than 40 hours a week and that resulting in overtime payment as a result of extending hours here at city hall. >> Yes. >> Right. I'm talking about a stagnated

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schedule which will still keep them at 40 hours a week. However, they would come in at different times so they can leave at different times which would would not affect the budget. >> Unfortunately, um Madame Councilwoman, we don't have available security

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officers to have that kind of redundancy. So, we would either have to pay overtime to our existing security officers or we'd need to hire uh duplicate security staff so that we could have security here during the day and security here uh in the evenings.

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>> Okay. And are they here from 8:30 to 4:30? Are they just working throughout the whole day or are they working in shifts? >> The security officers, >> it doesn't sound like they work in shifts. Our security officers currently work just during the day other than

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events of course like a council meeting or a board or uh zoning or something of of the sort. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. I don't I don't have any further questions on this main audit. That pretty much sums up all

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of the findings that I went through. I'm not sure if any of my colleagues have questions. Madam President, >> Council President, yeah, I didn't have a question. I just wanted to state um because I did hear that there are some people having trouble paying um their

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water bills online, but for many of the people that who have expressed that if you go to the Trenton uh city website um Trenton dot trenj.org um and hit, you know, uh Trenton water uh bill online payment, it would come

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right up and it hasn't given anybody that I've spoken to any hard times with uh paying their bills on the city website. Um so I don't know if that could be an um a deterrent if they're going strictly straight to Trent Water Department. I don't know how that's working, but I can tell you for many

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people that I've uh referred there, they haven't had any issues. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Gonzalez. Um, Councilwoman Frisbee. >> Thank you, Madam President. So, I have uh just three well two questions and one suggestion. One, um, Director Sample,

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you said that there when a resident hits $500 or more, they can't pay it on the website. My question is, is it noted on the website that or does it just give an error? >> I think it will give an error. I'm not sure what what the response is noted.

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Thank you. >> Okay. So, um, thank you. And then the other one is following up behind my, uh, colleague, Councilwoman Edwards, if we cannot do stag stagnated terms with people, um,

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coming in to pay their bills, can we have it so that we have at least one day because, as you said, everyone's not they're working mainly the hours that we're working. So, even if we have someone that instead of coming in at uh 8:00, that one individual that well

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those two individuals come in at 9:00 so that we can give them at least an hour extension to uh get be able to get here to city hall to pay their bills if they have to come in. >> Um we

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our union rules make it challenging for us to have different schedules on different days. Um so that would be a a challenge for us. It's certainly something we can consider but at this current time it would be it would be

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difficult to uh make that happen. >> Okay. So you're restricted in how you can do that. So the residents need to know that as well. It's not that you're unwilling. Um the uh rules of the union prohibit that. >> Yes. they would make it challenging to have individuals who had um

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different schedules and of course again uh it could present overtime challenges which would either require us to hire additional staff or pay overtime which as we all know is is somewhat challenging but it is something we can

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certainly think about >> right and I do understand that so I appreciate your response and I'm not talking about overtime I'm talking about just shifting if I come in if everyone comes in at 8:00, maybe we have someone that may be advantageous to them to come in at 9:00 and they stay that extra

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hour. Um, that that's all I'm saying. So, I I don't I don't want to go back for that. That's just so I'm not talking about overtime. And then my other >> I I do I do want to clarify, councilwoman, just to be clear that uh when I talk especially about having building security, we have a limited

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number of security that can provide for the BIS building as it operates. So if we push an officer to a different schedule, we would need to have someone else come in to cover that officer's position when they're not here. So we'd either have to have an additional person

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or have that officer work overtime because to extend the hours on the other side, we just we don't have the over staffing that would allow us to have that kind of flexible um shift. >> Right. Thank you for that. And then the other two, uh, as Councilwoman Gonzalez,

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um, said that there's another link that's directly to the city. Can we have that link, um, on the website that she was saying that she no one has had a problem getting payment, can we link the two so that they can't if they have an

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issue on on the water um website that it will take them to the city one or give them the option? If I'm not mistaken, that's the only link there is the one that to the city website for the city is the only site. >> Yes. Right. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. No more

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questions. Thank you, Madam President. >> Council President, >> Council Vice President Williams. >> Uh just wanted to offer this suggestion, echo my colleagues comments, but perhaps on nights where we have city council meetings, Tuesday nights, uh generally uh we've never not I believe had a

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quorum. So, we have security that's already being paid to be here on a Tuesday night. So, perhaps you can make that a night if you can shift hours uh 6 o'clock or so. So, people regularly can come to pay their bills or at least two times a month. Most months we do meet

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two times a month and in that way overtime is covered potentially uh but circularly security costs would be covered just just as thought. But thank you >> Madam President. I'm sorry. I have another question. >> Councilwoman Edwards,

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>> I have a question. I want to back up a little bit about the unions. When it comes to the scheduling, is every last single employee of the city a union member? Are they only hired through the unions or are they hired through civil service? Because there is a difference.

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I know there's some overlaps, but it seems that these unions have the administration or the city's government in a choke hole, controlling scheduling, staffing, everything. What is the administration's role in setting the scheduling standards

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for employees and not allowing unions to dictate that? Because we need services in our city and that stagnates us in a lot of ways. Um, I just want to say first, we consider the unions to be friendly

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partners of the city. The administration is is very thankful to our unions and we work together with them in cooperation to deliver city uh services to the residents of the city of Trenton. We do not see them as an obstacle. We see them

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as partners. With that said, uh civil service is uh applies to everyone at the city. Most of the city employees are union members. There are only very few titles that are excluded from the union.

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And even if an individual is not a member of their the union themselves, they are certainly welcome to elect not to be. But they um the vast majority of the titles and certainly the titles that we're speaking about now things like cashiers and things like security

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officers those unions are rep uh those titles are represented by the unions. So even if that individual elects not to be a member of the union their work rules follow whatever the union guidelines are.

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that enables us to ensure that we are treating our employees fairly across the board and that everyone is receiving the same same treatment and same um same uh salaries, same work rules, everything such as that. >> Mr. Cherry, just to be clear, the unions

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do not hire city employees. Correct. >> They do not. >> Administration hires the employees. Employees are members of unions. >> Thank you. >> Right. Um >> yes. And to be clear, as a business administrator just reminded me, civil service also does not hire employees.

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Our employees are members of the civil service and we follow civil service guidelines, but the city is the employer. >> Right. So the city sets the standards first and foremost. >> Yes. >> Right. And then there's civil service guidelines.

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>> That is correct. >> Correct. Which supersede unions and great political response. I agree with you. Unions are very, very helpful. A lot of people would not be where they are in the workforce nationwide without unions and their tenacity to fight for

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employees rights. However, at the same time, we have a responsibility to the residents of our city. And every time we ask about, you know, a corrective action or a recommendation is something that needs to happen, you know, to create

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accessibility for our residents, we always receive push back about the unions. And I'm just trying to figure out can is some can something be worked out there with these unions

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with the scheduling and the staffing and things. >> Councilwoman, with all due respect, the last time that you asked me to accommodate the schedule so that we can make it more accessible to the residents, I agreed. Um we were talking

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about the time when um people were coming at the end of December to pay for the leans uh water leans and tax leans to avoid them to be sold. I agreed to open for an entire week paying overtime. The city really cannot afford to pay

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overtime in a regular basis. Right. Um I are more than willing to look into ways that we can have I don't know and this is not a promise. This is just me saying that I will look into it, that we will look into it and see if we can remain

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open for extra two extra hours once a month, but I would need to look into their budget to be able to say and not just their budget, right? Um because we we are assuming that the the staff that works there is going to agree to work

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overtime, right? Some people have children and they want to just work from 8:30 to 4:30. And so I would not be able to change the schedule um just temporarily to feed uh my

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requirements right the schedules if I change it needs to be in a more permanent basis. It cannot be okay this week you're going to work from 9 to 6 right it it has to give the employee certain permanency when it comes to

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those changes. we can look into it. Um, but I think it's a little bit unfair to say that we always push back and not to accommodate those requests because you know that I did you asked me and I did it because we could at that time but that is not something that we are able to do all the time.

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>> Right. Right. And I don't mean to say that you did not accommodate and I thank you for that and for hearing us out back in December, but we're talking about on a long-term scale and not over time. So hopefully something can be figured out down the line, but um I digress. I don't

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have any further questions. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Edwards. >> Would that be Excuse me. Would that be consent? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Uh just as a reminder to the public and this is from the from the council as well. uh for this from the

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council. Please be advised that the rules of the quorum do apply while the directors are addressing matters with council. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Garcia. Uh moving

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forward, 26202, Councilwoman Edwards. Good evening. Good evening. You got there fast. Um, director, can you just give us a brief uh intro on what this resolution is and an explanation of the real estate

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services that this will be covering? >> Sure. Um, what this is for, as you recall, when we went and did the previous ordinances, we had a backlog for agreements and closings. So, we went out to bid so that we had legal services on standby so we wouldn't go through

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that again so that we can keep the process moving with the agreements and closings on any properties that the city transfers. >> How has things been with the closing since the change? >> I actually be really good. It's really good. I I think last I checked with my

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staff maybe we have like 40 left, but that's going to continue as council passes more ordinances. The number is going to keep on going. >> Okay. And and that was out of the I believe it was over

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170. I've left my notes somewhere, but council approved around a little over 100 close somewhere in the mid 100 to 200 range. uh including last year and 2025. So you're saying there's about 40 left from

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that in including 2026? >> Not including 2026. >> So from 2025 there's about 40 left to close. >> Yes. >> Excellent. Um and I assume no closing have happened from the sales that were approved in 2026. So far

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>> the agreements have been worked on. agreements are being worked >> because once you do the agreements and they had to do a title work and all that. >> Okay. Um so with 40 left and due to you know us slowing down the

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process in 2026 there shouldn't be much more than that number for 2026 to close on. Correct. >> Well council we checked council approved the transfer. I think it was up 28 properties in 2026. So then you would

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add those properties with the 40 and we now are moving forward and bringing more ordinances to council. >> Okay. And I know in our Hedot committees we are um going through that backlog of applications. Um where are we with that

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with the backlog? Actually I checked today. Uh previously we had 530 outstanding. today when I checked the number we're down to 322. Okay. So nearly 200 have been are going

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through a process right now. >> Well, what it is is that when we say 530, it's applications, not properties. Yes. So we might have like five or six applications for one property and that's where that's why the number is higher than what it should be.

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Okay. So, out of those nearly 200 applications that have been removed from this outstanding applications list, are are those obviously they're going to come through

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the Hed ad hoc committee um would you say out of the nearly 200, how many would be coming to us for a vote or because I know a lot of times some of the properties are sold, not available, things of that nature.

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Well, I don't know because at last time I have now ordinances for the next meeting >> and just with that there's 23 parcels in those ordinances that I'm bringing to the n next subcommittee meeting. >> Okay. Excellent. So, it sounds like

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we're on a bit of a roll. Uh, and I'm not looking for any commitments now, but because we are receiving this million-dollar question from the public everywhere I go, um, the applications are still closed. Correct. The city's

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not accepting application still. >> Yes. I'm not comfortable accepting an application and not verifying that someone else didn't apply for it yet. >> Okay. All right. So, as you're going through the rest of the 322, you'll begin to open it up. Yes. And no

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timeline at this time. I can't make any promises right now. >> Okay. All right. All right. I asked for the public that's listening. I asked. You have your answer. Just give it a few more months to see where we are. All right. Hopefully less than that. Hopefully. >> Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate it. That's

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all I have. >> That consent. Councilwoman. >> Yes. Consent. >> The council woman. Moving on to 26203. All right. Again, >> uh this was for the legal services for

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redevelopment for Hed. Can you provide an explanation on this resolution as well? Well, these are this is for the services. So that any issues that we may need advice on and anything with redevelopment, we're using these

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individuals. Uh we currently had been using Mali Gibbons. So he's one of the uh attorneys that have reid on it. So he's being selected also for this again. Okay. So this this is if you have need any legal advice on any of the the

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redevelopment projects that's going on around the city. >> Yes. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Second consent, Councilwoman. >> Yes. Sorry, I keep forgetting to say that. >> Okay. Um,

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moving on to 26207. Councilwoman Edwards, Sean Sample, director of Trenton W. So, All right, one second. Evening again, director. >> Good evening. >> One second. Let me pull up my notes.

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So for this is this can you explain this really quickly in and in terms of whether it's going to increase capacity what is this uh for >> okay we serve five municipalities

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of which includes Hopewell Euing Hamilton so Hopewell is building out at a fast fast Great. And we have to be able to provide safe water for firefighting as well as safe drinking water as well.

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Now with the expansions in Hopewell, we have to do a study. We have to have engineering company to come in and do a study because we have multiple pressure zones. That mean have multiple pump station. So if we could combine them to provide adequate water out in the in the

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in the topell area that's a must. We have to do a study to know what improvements we could make out in that area of our our distribution system because right now with the how Opel is built out we at almost at capacity right now. So without this we cannot offer any

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more extensions of any developments out in Hopewell. >> Okay. Um I I had a lot of concerns. So I'm glad that you're saying this because with all of the new developmenting Hopewell Lawrence >> Hamilton also has some new development

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going. I was very concerned about whether we had capacity not just with our pumps but with our storage tanks as well. As we are moving towards decommissioning the reservoir. We're talking about going from a 100 million gallon reservoir which we only keep at

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about 80% capacity. So 80 million gallons correct. And then we are building out these storage tanks throughout the service area. >> However, the storage tanks >> in contrast to the 80 million gallons we're keeping now is under is less than

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50% of that. So we're talking about 34 million gallons of storage. That's correct. >> How is that going to support the increasing >> Well, we could pump enough water out coming out of the filtration plant. It's

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just the the sustainability throughout the system. This is why we have to boost our pump stations. And part of this design and study is to increase the capacity of our pump stations to provide enough water out in that area. And also

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in the works is another tank in the Hopewell area that we're looking in, but I'm get I'm pushing the developers to finance that out in the Hopewell area. >> Okay. Thank you. I don't have any further questions. Appreciate it.

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>> Have one more. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Anyone? >> Um 26210. Uh Councilwoman Edwards. >> She she had named it first. Yeah. I thought you were saying you wanted to

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ask a question. Sorry. So, uh 210. Yes. This one right here. How many lead lines is this intended to replace with the 3.15 million? So this one here will should give us um

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approximately 700 lead line services in the Trenton. As you know, we might we have three projects right now in the Trenton area, each at 700,000 and one at uh 600 I mean

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600 services and two at at 700. That's ongoing right now in the Trenton area alone. >> Okay. And do you have a projected timeline on when you'll be completed um completely done with replacing the lead lines in Trenton at least?

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>> That's based on funding. Our ability to get funding. You know, every year we go to the I bank. Most of these are I bank funded projects. They all are. Well, one is a federal and two are I bank projects and we get about $20 million a year

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through I bank funded which we get 80% principal forgiveness in Trenton alone. the ones that we have to do in the township, we get about 50% principal forgiveness. So out of the the 20 million, we only have to pay back like $4 million

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on the loan with the I bank. So this is why we're trying to we have to be on time and many times we have to come before you to get approval to move through the process in a timely fashion. So that's why we have to continue moving that forward.

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And you said we may only pay 4 million out of the 20. >> Yes. >> Okay. That's great. That's a a really good forgivable. >> That is what's available to us right now through the I bank. It could change at any time because these are these money come through the the um federal

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revolving uh fund. >> Okay. Have you looked into the bipartisan infrastructure law in the federal government that that would um nationally they have about $15 billion

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that they've allocated specifically for lead line replacement? Have you guys applied for any funding from them from the BIL? >> Well, this is tied into that because >> this is the same funds that is channelneled through the Department of Environmental Protection. Mhm. >> It's the same monies we talking about.

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>> Okay. >> And we try to get it every year. >> Okay. All right. I don't have any further questions. Thank you. >> Thanks, Councilwoman. Council >> Thank you, Madam President. >> Would that be for consent or would that be >> No, we're still on

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>> Oh, I'm so sorry. >> Yes. So you've answered well you answered my first question already. Um but I guess uh the other part of it is you said we get 20 million in funding and this is from I bank with the federal funding. Correct. >> Yes.

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>> Um if you had access to funding that you needed about how much longer do you think that it would take um to get these all these lines replaced and how many phases are they? Because we're at phase five now. Um >> actually six. This will be going on seven this year.

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>> Okay. I mean, yeah, we're seven sealed. Yeah. Okay. >> All right. Um, so the deadline we have with the Department of Environmental Protection is 2031, we have to have all of them completed. >> So, if they have to be completed by 2031

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and we're not sure about the funding that comes in each year, how does that affect us being in compliance? we won't be in compliance with the department environmental protection. I don't know what will be the penalties. I don't know what would be the outcome and

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there end by us not meeting this mark. But uh we're not the only municipality in this in this position. But I'm I'm concerned about us. >> That is why we push every year to get this $20 million every year that you guys have been approving and working

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with us. Um you know, we had a late start with it, but Council President, if I may, yes. >> Um the the federal mandate is that we will be in compliance by 2031, right?

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But this is a mandate without money, without funding. So um the the hope is that they or the expectation is that they are going to move that 2031 deadline for a couple of years. um

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because the federal government is not providing enough money for all the municipalities to address the lead problem. But the worst case scenario is that we will continue to bond uh to complete if it comes to to the

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case that you know that we are going to be totally out of compliance with the EP and that we must uh complete the the lead remediation process. That would be the worst case scenario. Hopefully the I bank will continue to make monies available with um principal forgiveness

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like they have been doing up to now but that is up to the federal government. >> Thank you. And I appreciate the work that I just want I want to just say that the work that you and your team have been doing with our waterworks department and making sure that we are as up to code as we um possibly can with

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the resource resources that we have been provided. Thank you sir. Comply. Um that's consent. >> Thank you councilman. Um, director simple, just a quick question. Have you met with the new D commissioner yet? >> I have met with the the mayor and I met with D commissioner. Yes.

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>> Okay. And I mean, have you guys met in a capacity of where he's uh making any recommendations or setting any guidelines for Trenton Waterworks? >> They are. They're new to the whole system and the the commissioner assured us that he's one of he has an open mind

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and he wants to review what we went through over the last three years and form his own conclusion on on whatever the outcomes were at various times and he's he's willing to work with us.

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>> Okay. Is is is there another meeting to follow anytime soon? Like where he is going to get into kind of the parameters of what's needed, what's not, and where he wants the city to be, what stages he wants the city to be at. >> No, we haven't gotten to that point as yet. >> Okay. All right. Um Thank you. He's he

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has been invited to our next uh Trenton Waterworks um subcommittee. Okay. >> I'm not sure if he'll be at the next one or the one thereafter, but I did have a conversation with him. Um, so that should be interesting to try to get some some information as to where we are moving. >> Okay. Thank you, director.

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>> Thank you. >> All right, that's consent council. >> Oh, consent. Yes, >> consent. Thank you. >> Noted. >> All right. Uh, Mr. Garcia, that is the end of our resolution. Our questions for resolutions. Okay, Madame President, in that case, if you would like to ask for

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a motion to approve a consent agenda consisting of resolutions 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 2011, 202, 203, 204,

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209, 206, 207, 210, 208, 211, and 212. >> May I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Yes.

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>> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> And Council President Figuro Kenberg, >> yes. >> Motion carried.

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On to ordinances for first reading and introduction. Ordinance 26-41, ordinance authorizing the sale of city-owned properties commonly commonly known as 240, 242, and 244 Walnut Avenue

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identified on the city tax map as block 26402, lots 10, 11, and 12. pursuant to NJSA 4A 1213C to Trenton Redevelopment 26 for the sale price of $28,000.

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And Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> Okay, we have a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez,

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>> yes. Vice President Williams. >> Yes. >> Council President Figuro Edenberg. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. Ordinance 26-42. Ordinance authorizing the sale of city-owned property commonly known as 7 and 11 Chamber Street identified on the

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city tax map as block 12901, lots 2 and 4 pursuant to NJSA 481 1213C to Adrien Chalice for the sale price of $15,000. Madam President, >> Madam President, if you want to a motion

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to approve. Oh, I'm so sorry. >> Yes. Yes. Councilwoman Frisbee. >> So, I have a question. Um, back to that ordinance. So, yes. Um, good evening, director. Um, I wanted to know who I see all these different assessments of the properties.

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When assessments are sent in, is it the individuals who are setting in the the assessments or is the city that is submitting the assessment on >> Are you referring to the cost estimation? >> Yes. >> Yes. And the uh purchaser. >> So the purchaser gets their assessment.

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Do we do a verification to make sure or do we take what they their assessor says? No, we we do an inspection, but we also verify that the contractor that's being used to do the cost estimation is a licensed contractor. >> Awesome. And then the other um question,

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when we see listings of other properties uh that uh individuals are saying that they want to purch that they already own in the city, do we do an inquiry of sorts to just make sure that they're not slum lords, so to say, um to make sure

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we're not having someone who has a bad record already come in and do the same uh thing. >> Yes. We check we we check their history. Make sure they don't elicit any monies also like taxes and what so forth. >> Thank you. And last thing I know we did

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you addressed this earlier about uh where we are with uh those that are from the previous year. We are 20 we are up to 2025. So, those that have put in um requests uh about properties as of

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December, let's say, of 2025, those will where those will be the ones that were all coming up. We're not I know we're not accepting anymore right now, but all of those will be addressed if they previously put in for it um and have not gotten a response. >> Yes.

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>> Okay. And if they say if they say that they have not because I'm getting individuals who said they've put in four requests months ago, um do I send them to you your office? Do I how is what is the best way for them to get an answer

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about where their application is? >> Yes, they they would contact my office. I have a certain employees that are reaching out and responding to these questions. >> Okay. Okay. >> Just so you know, like one of the ordinances, one of the properties on the docket is from an application from 2024,

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>> right? I did. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you, ma'am. >> You're welcome. >> Mr. Garcia, do roll call. >> I believe we need a motion to approve. >> Maybe I have a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Second.

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>> Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. Yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Vice President Williams. >> Yes. >> Council President Figuro Ed Kenberg. >> Yes.

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>> Motion carried. Ordinance 26-043. Ordinance authorizing the sale of city-owned property commonly known as 13 Chamber Street and identified on the city tax map as block 12901 lots 5 pursuant to NJSA 481213C to Chioma

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Ugorgi for the sale price of $10,000. Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> Okay, we have a motion to approve. >> So move. >> Second. >> Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Yes. Councilwoman Frisbee,

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>> yes. Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilwoman Gonzalez, I believe she's moved. Moving on to Vice President. >> Yes. I'm sorry. >> Got it. >> Thank you. Noted. Vice President Williams. >> Yes. >> Council President Figuro Kenberg. >> Yes.

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>> Motion carried. Ordinance 26-44, ordinance authorizing the sale of city-owned property commonly known as 519 St. Joe's Avenue and identified on the city tax map as block 2282 lot 14 pursuant to NJSA 481213C to Natalie

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Gomez for the sale price of $10,000. Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> Okay, we have a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. Yes.

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>> Councilwoman Felician, excuse me, Frisbee. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez. >> Yes. >> Vice President Williams. >> Yes. >> Council President Figuro Kenberg. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. Ordinance 26-45,

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ordinance authorizing the sale of city-owned property commonly known as 39 Oak Street and identified on the city tax map is block 1803 lot 72 pursuant to NJSA4A1213C to Glennice Sim for the sale price of

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$6,425. Mad >> President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. >> May we have a motion to approve? >> So moved. Second. Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee,

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>> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figuro Kenberg, >> yes. >> Motion carried. Ordinance 26-46, an ordinance establishing requirements for registration, approval, and establishment and operation of recovery

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homes, group homes, transitional homes, and/or community living within the city of Trenton in compliance with federal and state fair housing laws and certifications. >> May I have a motion to approve? >> So, so moved.

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>> Second, >> Madam President. Uh, Councilwoman Edwards, >> I just had a a question about this. I just wanted a brief explanation from the administration on this ordinance just for the record for the public.

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>> Council President, can I can I chime in? >> Um, Council Member Gonzalez, go ahead. >> Yeah. Um, so, uh, Councilwoman Edwards, uh, this did come up, um, based off of a couple of community meetings that have been, um, that I've held where, um, some

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people are just, there's there's two avenues to this. One, um, they're opening up some homes in neighborhoods without informing, I guess, the neighborhood and community. Um, that was one issue. The second issue is too if we

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do have um you if there is a recovery home or group home or um that wants to open that they just follow the proper uh pro protocols so that that we're not hindering those type of um community transitional homes or youth homes. Um

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excuse me. Um long as they have their correct requirements and um we want to make sure that they're you know following the state law, the city laws. um prior to opening as well as notifying the communities around them. And that's

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kind of where this idea came from or stemmed from. Um I did send it over to Mr. K, Miss Director Bridges and also um both of the directors um for housing just to get their input as well.

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>> Okay. Thank you, uh Councilwoman Gonzalez. This actually looks very great and much needed. Thank you. That's all. >> Thank you. >> I know this was a hot topic around our city. That's why I was like and and that was the reason why we were like because

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you know we did have um some push back and you know it was a lot of talk about the one that was going to open up prior to but I think we put some procedures in place maybe this deterred from you know just just as long as the community really knows and they're following the

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procedure. I don't think that that's an um it should be an issue. But um really quickly too, uh council president, I know I did circulate this and I think council I mean uh sorry director Rasquest did provide some input that I

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just saw this afternoon and I didn't see it until now. Um so I wanted to see if we can pro possibly um make some quick amendments to it. Um let me pull it up really fast.

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Um I think we wanted she just section 4B use rental inspection certificate of approval for rental inspection. So you know what there's some language that I'm going to I guess we need to amend um into it and

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for section B 4B Mr. Garcia um she says we use rental inspection cert uh certificates of approval for rental inspections certificate of occupancy is used for construction. So, I want to change that and put um a valid

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certificate of rental certificate of approval for rental inspections. Can I send you this, Garcia? >> Sure. >> How about um Council President, if you don't mind, we can even just table it to

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the next meeting. That way I can get um what her input was and just make sure that um we have it all in there prior to us approving or can you know what we can approve with a limits and then just >> yeah go ahead and go over your amendments councilman.

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>> So that would be the first one. Um and then it says also under enforcement penalties there are usually titles submissed to who enforce the code like housing inspector or something. Right. Um, >> yes. Oh, sorry.

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>> If she could say what section she was in to make it easy for people. >> Okay. I did I said 4B. 4B for the first one. >> Okay. 4B. >> Yes. And that should be changed to rental inspection certificate of

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approval for rental, not certificate of occupancy. >> So, we're changing certificate of occupancy to certificate of rental. Mhm. >> Okay. >> And then I believe that was it for right

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now. >> So that'll be the only amendment. >> Yeah. Actually, no, the other amendment would be in section seven, which is the enforcement piece. Um, which would be the enforcement officer would be from the housing department,

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housing inspector, I'm sorry. >> Okay. your um enforcement and penalties. I see here a any operator found in violation of this or shall be subject to >> uh so the inspect I just want to put some type of language where maybe it

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says um you know that this must be enforced by the housing inspector >> and Councilwoman Gaza you adding a bullet to this or you are you >> we're going to add a bullet to this okay >> to section 7A um Garcia my apologies

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>> can Can I just make a suggestion that we just temporarily table this so we can incorporate it's going to be hard >> for the for the clerk to basically take and get this verbatim what she's saying it's great ordinance everybody supports but I just want to make sure we're getting you know capturing everything that's being recommended

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>> no no problem I it's okay that's that's fine >> okay so council Gonzalez we can table this to the next meeting >> yes we can motion that >> what is the date of the next meeting >> uh I think June something >> June the what Is that the

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>> fourth? I think fourth. >> June 4th is a Thursday. >> All right. So, Mr. Garcia, we need a motion to table this fourth meeting. >> Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to table, >> have a motion. >> Some moved. >> Second. >> Thank you.

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>> Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes. >> Vice President Williams, >> yes. Council President Figuero Edenberg. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. Matters tabled until

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that is June 4th. >> Correct. >> Thank you. >> Garcia, I'll send you all this in writing and then forward it back to the U director and council president so everyone can view it. >> Thank you. Councilwoman, I'll look for your email.

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>> Thank you. And that brings us to ordinance 26-48, an ordinance establishing local implementation mechanisms, individual rights of notification and account accountability protocols supplementing

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state law limitations on local civil immigration enforcement cooperation. Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. I'd like to make a brief statement before um I just wanted to advise the public that the ICE ordinance, this ordinance

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on the docket represents the culmination of many weeks um of work on the part of our attorneys and departments um and uh some of my council colleagues. We've had two extensive virtual meetings with the various advocates and not only that not

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only and not only did we entertain their input but we also incorporated a large percentage of their recommendations into this final version. Um the final version was also sent to the AG's office and the prosecutor's office for review. Um, we're acutely aware of the concerns of our residents regarding these issues,

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but we've also needed to balance our objectives so as not to unduly hamper the Trenton Police Department in the discharge of their overall duties to ensure public safety. Um, this ordinance is probably the most comprehensive ordinance presented in all of New Jersey on immigration enforcement and related

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issues. And we're confident that in conjunction with the new laws passed by the legislature a month or so ago, uh, state legislature, the goals of protecting our residents will have been met. Um, I'd like to say that other um, municipalities are offering up

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resolutions in support of the state legislation. However, we were able to come up with an ordinance. So, Mr. Garcia, thank you. We can proceed um with a motion to approve. Certainly, Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve.

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>> May we have a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez, >> yes.

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>> Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figuro Edenberg, >> yes. >> Motion carried. And Madam President, that brings us to a walk-on ordinance. Uh, as you wished. >> Yes. >> This is ordinance 26-049, an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 14 of

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the code of the city of Trenton traffic as it applies to parking restrictions for vans and trucks in residential areas. >> And Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to approve. Madame President, >> Councilman Fris, before you um say

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anything, I just wanted to make this clear that this is an amendment to a previously passed ordinance um from council. Counciloman, >> thank you, Madam President. So, I believe with the previous ordinance, I asked this question and I'm not I don't recall the answer, so I'm going to just ask it again. I know this is primarily

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for on public um on the public streets. My question is um how is this enforcable or is it enforceable on private property when you have individuals who buy property that they're supposed to be building on and they use that property

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instead to store bed tractor um their uh commercial vehicles. They leave uh dumpsters there for weeks on at a time um just making it unsightly. Is this ordinance applicable to that or is it

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solely for the um part the private ra for the city streets? >> Council member Frisbee, this is specific to um parking in residential areas on streets. >> Okay. Uh I'll ask the question. Do we

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have an ordinance about and I I know again I I brought this up because this continues to be an issue in the west ward that we that's enforceable about individuals who purchase property, private property and then park

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commercial vehicles or personal vehicles and just use it almost as a dump. How do we uh monitor because I'd like to see them find repeatedly until they stop. >> I I believe that that would be a housing

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um a housing question for inspections. Would it not be? >> It depends. >> Okay. >> On where it's at. So, I was just actually talking to the police director about I think I know what address she's

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referring to, Councilwoman Frisbee. So, he already said to give him the address. So, the police would actually have to assist inspections on these types of matters. >> I there is an ordinance that exists um that I've dealt with like for boats

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parked in in uh driveways of homes and things like that. So something like this may apply to same >> um but that you have to so I know you know the property that I'm talking about it it is I've I've I've contacted the

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department um on more than one more than two occasions because it was it's dumpsters they're putting trucks it is just uh vans there it is so unsightly in the community and and again this goes back to if they're

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going to purchase property and use it for the means in which it was purchased. Um, I'd like to see something done about that. >> Right. And just so, you know, for that specific one, >> they don't own the property that they

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put their vehicles and the dumpster on. And that's why I just spoke to the director of police to get assistance on that one so that he can actually assist my inspectors and hopefully get every get it towed. >> Excellent. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> All right, Mr. Garcia, can we please

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proceed? >> Certainly, Madam President. If you want to ask for a motion to approve ordinance 24-049, I mean 26-049, sorry4. May we have a motion to approve.

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>> So moved. Second. >> Yeah. >> Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez. Yes. Yes. >> Vice President Williams.

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>> Yes. >> Council President Figuro Edenberg. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> And Madam President, that brings us to >> public comment. >> Public comment. If I could have the public comment clipboard, please to the public. The

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rules of the quorum do apply during public comment as well. You may address any matter that you wish. You will have five minutes to address any matter. The council is not obligated to respond. The first individual listed is Glenn Patterson. Oh, and please state your

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name. Do state your name and address for the record. >> What did you want me to state? My name is Glenn Patterson. >> Uh, your name and address for the record. >> And I live 95 Cedar Lane, apartment E6 in some Florence, New Jersey.

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Yes, sir. 0861 08 518 code. >> Thank you. >> Go right ahead. >> Okay. First, I want to say um hello to all the council members and the council ladies.

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Okay. I'm here today um in um ordinance to for years I've been trying to purchase a lot that's next to my mother's house and that's on Church Street. Her address is 261 Church Street.

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My mother has been in that house for over 75 years. Um the house was built in 1865. And um we knew the owner of that property um when he owned it, but he

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passed away years ago. And you know, but since then, we've been we've been taking care of that lot, making sure that uh it's clean. And when it didn't have a fence, we came down to city hall to ask could they put up a fence because we wanted to protect that

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area and plus the side of her house. One of the main issues that I got going on right now with my mother, she's 97 years old, and I'm doing everything I can to provide safety for my mother. And not

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just for my mother, but for that area, too. And for years, I've been coming to city hall putting in applications to try to purchase that lot. And it has never been able

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I has never been able to get it. So the last time I put in a application um it was denied again. So that's why I'm here right now um asking why am I being turned down every time I

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I try to make a purchase on that lot. Why? What's I mean can someone tell me why? I mean, um, if I mean, by record, if you want to check, I mean, I've put in several times for that. Remember the dot adopt a lot?

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That was an application. I did that several times to take care of it. We've been taking care of it. My mom can't do it now because she's she's bed written. The other issue that I have, the reason why that lot is so important to us because it's next to her house.

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And now with her condition, getting her in and out of the house in the front is a problem. I have to worry about getting her out and trying to get her into that vehicle. What I should be talking about too is that street, church street, they come

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down there so fast speeding. Maybe speed bumps can be put in place, but that's another story. We talking about the lot. But if I'm able to have that lot, then I can back my vehicle up in that lot,

331
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exit my mother from the back, allow her put her into the vehicle, and then come out. It's a safety concern for me, for her. And and again, I I just don't understand why like every time I I I try to purchase it, it's like it's

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it's denoted, you know? Like I I I I have no idea. I mean, here's the picture of me here where a couple of months ago I came down and I um I put it in again and then it

333
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was it was it was denied, you know. Um and also I want to just say this, my family, especially the women in my family, they have strong blood. Um, I have my father, my grandfather, mother

334
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lived to be 99 and then her daughter lived to be 104. >> And then my grandmother, she lived to be 97. And my mom right now, she's she's punching at 97. So the women, they got

335
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strong blood in my family. I'm going to do what's necessary to keep mom safe. And having that lot is part of it, you know, it's part of it and it's always been there. We've always utilized

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that lot, kept it clean, protected it, and I've always tried to purchase it, but it's always been, you know, like it's been shot down. Can I have any answers on why? >> Um, Mr. Patterson. Um, respectfully, I would I would just ask

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um, directive asps given reasons for denials on applications. Are they given an explanation for the denial of the application? >> Okay, thank you. Okay, Mr. Patterson, she'll speak with you. Thank you so

338
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much. >> Thank you. Huh? Joseph Chapman. My name is Joseph Chapman. I live 563 Belleview Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey, 08618. I have two issues. One of them I'm

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asking council members to have an ordinance for anybody who have a dog in the city of Trenton to clean up behind their dogs because it's bad when they defecating in front of your home. You got to come home and you got to clean up behind somebody else's mess. I think it should be an ordinance for them. They

340
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should have signs all over the city stating that clean up behind your dog or you be fined and all that. And I mean it's very easy to do it because if you see people I mean if the parking authorities or any police would see somebody walking their dog they don't have a poop or scooper or a bag with

341
01:39:15.119 --> 01:39:31.840
them they should be automatically fine. And I mean it's getting to the point I come home and it's in front of my home and people walking the dogs let them do anytime they want. I mean it's not like that in Hamilton or any other township. People they have signs showing you got to clean up behind your your animal. And

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I have a I have a picture of one sign in the whole city of Trenton. It's off of Brunswick Gabin stating that clean up behind your dog or $1,000 fine. Unleash your dog. And the other issue I have is um down on Hoffman and Oakland Street. They've been riding their four-wheelers

343
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through there like it's the OK Corral and somebody gonna get hurt. They need speed bumps all up and down in that area because there is somebody's going to get really get hurt. I think it's going to be a child because they just come right out. Um, but I'm just asking the council members to like if y'all can get some

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signs put up through the whole city letting people know about their animals. I mean, I love animals. I have my own, but I also like cleaning up behind my eyes. Shouldn't have to clean up anybody else's animal. And there's one I have a camera in front of my home. I see them doing it. And they when I approach them

345
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about it, the first thing they say, "My dog didn't do this." And I said, "I have you on camera." So, I'm asking the city, all the council members, could y'all get some signs, put up an ordinance, find them, whatever case may be, and once they get fined a few times, maybe they

346
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start taking initiative and have a pooper scooper or some bags with that way it would deter them from letting their dogs do this. That's all I have to say. Okay. Thank you, >> Victor Rosari.

347
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pledge again of Victor 19 Mullen Avenue. Two articles by a uh LA Parker and same paper to me was like a treat. First one, the latest one is uh what was this Sunday? Let me see today. uh the

348
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governor Shereel should take another walk through uh Trenton and uh or the other article same paper is unequal treatment for Trenton neighborhoods goes deeper than just

349
01:41:34.560 --> 01:41:50.560
trash can uh trust trash cans right here he made a comment where uh Trenton remains these trashy city filled with many people who accepted these conditions wait for it as normal All right. So, he's complaining about trash

350
01:41:50.560 --> 01:42:07.040
cans at uh George Park and head sold not being uh properly maintained. And Governor uh Sharel, she's taking a she took a trip. She take another trip and uh she's more concerned about uh I guess towards Chambersburg and not toward the

351
01:42:07.040 --> 01:42:22.719
black community. again looked at the it was 19 uh through 2012 and I looked at uh when was it was reported that Trenton uh the Trenton area is uh the fifth richest uh city in in the country. All

352
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right. So, and then again, I'm uh I want I wanted to see I understand now that the money that's coming in from the cannabis is supposed to help uh impoverish the cities uh due to the drug war, Jay Gahoo and uh um Nixon and you

353
01:42:39.760 --> 01:42:55.360
know destroying the black community and spilling over to I'm going say directly to the Puerto Ricans, me being a Puerto Rican American uh uh that uh He actually uh is comparing the

354
01:42:55.360 --> 01:43:12.000
Hilltonia where the mayor is supposed to live. I didn't know he lived that in that area and compared to say Wilbur section, Wilbur section that is and how unfair uh the city uh treats these areas. Some areas are worked better maintained better than others. Then

355
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there's a income income differences on certain parts of the city. Also the average is about 80 80,000 and then you have the low class 30,000. There's a whole lot of thing going on here now. Uh I was looking up to see who's

356
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responsible for the trash collection at least in the parks and it's in two departments come up. One is water uh uh what is it? Water water department. I mean not the water department uh public works and then the other one is recreational. And then the money that comes from the cannabis that I thought was going directly to empowers to

357
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pulling up the city some kind of way or providing um uh programs for the citizens of Trenton to learn how to fix these houses and uh have them for themselves. Uh and uh the money is now

358
01:43:59.199 --> 01:44:14.719
is going to direct directly to the city budget. is divided amongst programs or uh departments or of activities that already in have been in place since the establishment of Trenton. So that money

359
01:44:14.719 --> 01:44:30.080
is going on top of money is already there and as as we can see not properly used then now with the additional money is coming in to make the city better due to the drug war that money is being powered up on something and nothing's

360
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getting done. All right. So to me there's a kind of game where uh a lot of these directors come up here so-called directors and uh I am surprised that they cannot properly address the city council and this is one of the city best city council I ever had directly with

361
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pinpoint correct answers. Now, this doctor uh who's in charge of a of a department or something just came into effect that two or three months ago, maybe last year I think it was uh he was waiting to bring in qualified people put on the

362
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staff to get uh proper location from dogs from Trenton New Jersey from Hopewell somewhere outside of Trenton Jersey back in the Trenton area and he did that and there's money going out somewhere that's coming in but I don't see anything happening in the city

363
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itself. of uh helping the uh the citizens of Tren, New Jersey, and I mean the the blacks and Puerto Ricans. And I noticed also there's a influx of uh uh Latinos coming in uh and there just about the majority in the city now. But

364
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uh I see a lot of progress they are reh accomplishing but we that have been here I don't see them anything going in our communities. Uh I live on the west side but I live around the corner from Hoffin Avenue uh Oakland

365
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Park. I grew up there. I was uh uh recruited there when I was when I was a teenager as a as a club member from that area. Uh so uh this is my home and I love it and I I see that it's uh it's been neglected. Thank you

366
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>> Lewis Brady. >> Good evening councils. Um just like uh 618 Franklin. Um we've had I I've came up here numerous times complaining about uh speed humps. I understand we're going

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to hopefully we're going to get them. But three weeks ago we had a serious car accident where a car flipped over on Ashmore and Franklin. It was raining. The guy admitted he went right through the stop sign

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and I've been compl we've been talking about this and it's and nothing's really getting done. We need to get something done with this. If we can get a stop sign like they have on Cummings and

369
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Ashmore where they flash and we can get that up there so the cars can see it at night time because it's very dark on that corner. Ashmore and Franklin, it's dark and they can't see

370
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the stop sign and the ATVs. We almost got hit by one of the ATVs cutting in front of us as we're driving along the road broad street. They've been going in and out. No head, no

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helmets, no license plates, nothing. If there's something that we can get done, I would I would like to have it done as soon as possible or somebody's going to get hurt. Thank you,

372
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>> Robin Vaughn. Robin Vaughn, 1100 Stson Avenue. I just wanted to briefly put on the record a couple of questions I have regarding certain resolutions and ordinance that's currently on the docket. Uh 26194

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26195 concern concerning audits. I would like to know who are the accounting firms that have performed the audit and have been contracted and won the bid to conduct these audits throughout the

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city. Uh 26198 I'm concerned about this. This sticks out because we currently have a government employee, a municipal employee who is currently active in the

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Trenton Police Department running for mayor. And the Hatch Act clearly says that that's potentially a conflict. It seems that many elected officials and municipal government employees

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don't understand conflicts of interest between their official duties and their personal financial interest here in the city of Trenton. And I just wanted to put that on the record this evening. The Hatch Act clearly states that if there

377
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is a department that receives federal funding, that person can be restricted from political activity. And I would like the law director, Wes Bridges, to uh provide an opinion on that. Um

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because the gentleman is a current employee of the city of Trenton and is currently uh running for mayor. Um the other thing the other one is 2603.

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Um I don't know who the uh 26203 the redevelopment attorneys uh is these attorneys representing the council, the mayor or the director of the department because the council is the redevelopment

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authority. So, what purpose would these redevelopment attorneys be providing? Uh, the council should or must have its own rede dedicated redevelopment attorney. I we don't know who that is. Uh, I don't know who these individuals

381
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are who will be contracted. And I don't really know who's the mayor's redevelopment attorney. I thought we had one that covered the city, but now we're saying that we're engaging some additional. But I'm concerned that the council, the redevelopment authority of the city of Trenton does not have

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redevelopment representation. And I will go on to say uh 26 to10 um well I'm surprised that these phases are ongoing. I think the uh water director

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needs to let us know uh what's outstanding and what has been completed. I mean 1 C was started back in 2020. um to see that Dukon another I mean how many how many contracts is Dukon going to get I mean I know who you got

384
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Spanelio Dukon um a couple others uh we want to know this uh wrote this I mean are these contracts going out to bid um the other one is 2646

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this is concerning this recovery home in the middle of the West Ward residential neighborhood where North 25 is. You have children. You have the cycle the psycho king organization. You have Shiloh Baptist Church. Calhoun Street is one of

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the most busiest streets that go from uh through through a couple of towns all the way through Pennington through to Euing. Uh I don't know who's going to be eligible to come into these homes. Is it just Tintonian residents who have been incarcerated or I mean uh who has been

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in recovery? Is it going to be people from the county and other districts like who is eligible to be a part of this um home and who is funding this home? Okay, it shouldn't be in the middle of the West Ward and residential community across from Cycle Kings where we give

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family events all the time. Who came up with this idea? Put it in another township not in Trenton. And we have this uh civil immigration enforcement corporation cooperation. Is it for illegal

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immigration or legal immigration? Cuz it doesn't say illegal. I don't know what that is. But uh and that's all I have. Thank you, >> Laticia Peters. Good evening. My name is Leticia Peters.

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My address is 1462 Stason Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey. I have several comments pertaining to what we discussed. What is the market price market fair price

391
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for ordinances 2641 to 045? I'd like to know how do you come up with deciding on the price of these properties to be sold as? And I do agree

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with some of the issues about the speed bumps that we need to put that in the budget especially for Stverson Avenue. There has been several fatalities recently and no one has seemed to

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address this issue. I have brought up this issue I think four three four years ago and we recently had another fatality fatality. Another things that was discussed earlier by another

394
01:54:44.239 --> 01:55:02.000
Trenton was about dogs. We recently found dog mess on our property and people are walking around and not cleaning up behind them and that needs to be addressed and fully enforced. Another thing that I would like to bring

395
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up is about the update of the Trenton website. That better site hasn't been updated in years. It really I thought there was money put aside to update the website. It is horrendous to get through

396
01:55:18.480 --> 01:55:32.880
some of the links don't work. Um, we recently had an issue when someone 5:00 in the morning came in walking around the neighborhood and we were trying to have the police come out because someone

397
01:55:32.880 --> 01:55:51.360
was dressed in a black hoodie and we couldn't find a number to contact. It took the police forever to come out and they were trying to break into cars. I have stated since I returned here to Trenton about 20 years ago that the

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police are not doing their job. And I am appalled to hear that the police have overtime because based on my interaction with the police, they have only done police

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01:56:06.000 --> 01:56:23.360
events and not police reports. And it has been documented time and time again when people from the Westonian has called the police and we're not getting the respect and the safety by the police

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and they are not following proper protocol. And another thing I like to bring up is that I have only come here only when I felt good. This is the first time I've been able to speak because I don't know

401
01:56:45.040 --> 01:57:00.480
something in this building was making me sick or maybe the people who were targeting me making me sick. But this is a great time for me to tell you that people need to speak up and talk about

402
01:57:00.480 --> 01:57:15.760
what is happening here in Trenton. There needs to be a time now to take action. And we cannot no longer be silent. We need to do what we need to do to look

403
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into the future of Trenton, New Jersey. Thank you and have a great day. Paul Shore. Oh, excuse me. Aurelio Rosado. Okay. Paul Shore. Ahmed Alahari.

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Good evening. My name is Ahmed Aguhari. I live at 400 Goran Court, Harland, New Jersey. Uh good evening. I'm a real estate developer here in the city of New Jersey. Um city of Tri. Uh I did a couple uh projects here and I did this

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successfully. I just want to come here today and um express some concerns and I'm hope to get some answers from the directors here. Um the city as we all see if we driving around you will see a lot of properties that's been vacant.

406
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I'm not going to say a year or two. I'm talking about 20 or 30 years properties. Some of these properties are getting demoed because of the hazard condition. I offered a couple of times to take

407
01:58:38.719 --> 01:58:56.719
these properties and redevelop it and rehab it back again and bring it back to life. I did that last year with five properties, actually six from 107 down to 117 Walnut Avenue. They were all, it

408
01:58:56.719 --> 01:59:17.920
was just a shell, no back walls, no subfloors. They were all demolished. I brought it back to life and last month we sold the last house. Couple months ago I um I started getting

409
01:59:17.920 --> 01:59:34.400
a lot of phone calls from the inspectors here. I work with them all the times. So and they know what I did and what I'm doing all the times here. So they keep telling me, Amed, this is something you can do and you can save since the city

410
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spend at least between 60 grand to 80 grand to demo each property. So and instead of spending all this money, I can offer to buy these properties and bring it back to life. So the community will be happy. The city will generate

411
01:59:52.000 --> 02:00:07.920
revenue from the tax and we'll bring this city back to life. It's some streets like you will find at least 10 properties the same condition. People the neighbors keep complaining

412
02:00:07.920 --> 02:00:23.760
about the water emergence or uh uh leakage squatters people keep complaining all the time. So I submitted an application I believe was six weeks ago after one of

413
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the inspectors called me. So, I got a phone call from um somebody from the housing and economic development. We worked on the application and he said, "Okay, they're going to uh submit it to the council."

414
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And then two weeks after I got the answer that said the council refused to do so. So, I just want to know if that's something you guys don't want to do with the city or you

415
02:00:55.599 --> 02:01:12.000
guys willing to working with all the developers here in the city to bring it back to life. This is something concerning. I'm trying to save tons of money for the city for the demo. These properties I just fixed. If you guys

416
02:01:12.000 --> 02:01:29.920
spend 60 on each property, those 300 grand, I would offer to give you money to buy it and bring it back to life. I'm just confused how these stuff works here. That's the first thing. The second thing for the pricing for the uh

417
02:01:29.920 --> 02:01:47.199
properties. I just had the ordinance for another five properties back in October. And by the way, uh thank you for asking the director here about the time and I'm really happy that they found the legal uh uh department or some help from

418
02:01:47.199 --> 02:02:03.440
outside because till now I didn't close on the properties. I got the ordinance on October 2025. We're going to seven month the property is sitting there and all these property as well they have some damage. So every time it rains,

419
02:02:03.440 --> 02:02:20.800
snow, that's cause a lot of damage. So I'm here trying to uh give the support and help the city to bring it back to life because this is the capital. We can't just leave it like that. And

420
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for the pricing. So with the second time I got the second five properties, I paid according to uh the employees here, they told me it's going to be a 50% from the assessment value. So I paid the 50%.

421
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And then people now paying 25% of the assessment value. So I'm trying to figure out who decide which percentage we pay and uh how how it works. Plus I

422
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don't only work with the small properties. This is something >> sir that is your time. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Madam President, those are all the individuals I've listed for public comment at this time. Mr. Wish, you can start with any individual for a comment.

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>> Yes. Um, Councilwoman Gonzalez, do you want to start this evening? It's your room. >> Sure. Um, then I'll be very brief first. Thank you everyone um for being present this evening and sharing your concerns. Um, as far as I believe the question

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arose about the um the recovery center. It is not for us, the city to do. This was it came up because someone privately purchased a home in a residential area without informing the neighborhood of

425
02:03:45.199 --> 02:04:01.360
what their intent was for that home. Um, and so this is not something that the city is doing or that we're looking for funding or taking away or who's going to live in it and who's not. It was more so of the fact that if someone does purchase um a home, which is from my

426
02:04:01.360 --> 02:04:16.800
understanding is legally allowed, it is zoned for that um because it's it's considered a community home. Um that they are following the proper procedures, requirements, and provide us with the proper certificates to state

427
02:04:16.800 --> 02:04:32.080
that they are allowed to operate in such a manner. And is not specifically just for a recovery home. It is also for a youth home. It can be um a transitional home. It can be used for different things. So, we wanted to cover all the bases and that is where that idea

428
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stemmed from. Um I believe I can't remember what else I wrote down. Um yeah, that that's all for tonight. Um thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman uh Councilwoman Edwards.

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>> You good evening everyone. Thank you all for being here tonight. Um, I just want to reiterate or uh some of the the concerns that I expressed earlier with the the corrective action plans from these audits that we heard

430
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about tonight um and a lot of the findings that we have talked through. You know, I'm I'm very concerned at this longstanding struggle with staffing, with operational and financial

431
02:05:21.599 --> 02:05:38.800
um standards of operating procedures and a lack thereof. I'm very pleased to hear that certain trainings were implemented. I'm interested in hearing what the measure measurables are from this training and the standards of operating procedures that have been implemented

432
02:05:38.800 --> 02:05:54.800
and how that's affecting you know the findings of these audits that we're continuing to see recurring findings year after year. Um this requires major accountability and execution. So

433
02:05:54.800 --> 02:06:11.280
hopefully when we start to get into 2025's audit, we don't see the same findings. That should always be the goal. Um I wanted to speak on some of the recent things that was also addressed.

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Uh just going back to the website with Trenton Waterworks, what Miss Peters just mentioned, you know, the websites, these websites need to be modernized. They have not been updated in years. So, I'm very happy to hear that there is something coming down the pike and I'm

435
02:06:26.960 --> 02:06:42.719
hoping that that will be complete by the end of the year because there is a substantial amount of people including myself that has not been able to access their their records with Trenton Waterworks, their billing, set up autopay, pay bills online and things of

436
02:06:42.719 --> 02:06:58.719
that nature for quite some time now. And with the limited hours and capacity that the administration has, it's a hindrance on people coming in to pay their bills in person. So, we definitely need that to be a priority. So, thank you,

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02:06:58.719 --> 02:07:15.360
director, for um implementing that and getting that ball rolling about the overtime with the Trenton Police Department. I'm so glad that Miss Peters brought this up because it's warming up outside.

438
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And I'm looking for preventable measures from this police department. Last year, the police department spent over $3 million in overtime alone. This year, with the proposed budget that was sent

439
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to council, the police department has budgeted for $4.1 million in overtime alone alone. That is

440
02:07:47.599 --> 02:08:04.800
absolutely ludicrous. Something needs to happen structurally within this police department that corrects this and prevents overtime. Reiterating the stagnant the stagnation of the different shifts and things like that. We need more police officers on

441
02:08:04.800 --> 02:08:20.400
patrol so that the police officers we have are not burned out. When police officers are burned out, that results in unfavorable actions from them that shows up in ways of excessive force, of profiling, of

442
02:08:20.400 --> 02:08:37.040
attacking people. We have seen this earlier this year and last year, videos of people um being thrown to the ground by police officers just on Hoffman Avenue, for example. Again, it's warming up outside. For the

443
02:08:37.040 --> 02:08:53.360
last two summers, we had Club City Hall right here outside of these doors with people out here until the crack of dawn doing all types of things. Recently, there was a shooting where three to four individuals were injured inside of the

444
02:08:53.360 --> 02:09:09.280
venue across the street named Weed Man's Joint Restaurant. The person that was doing the shooting was outside of the venue supposedly. I'm not sure. It's an ongoing investigation. I see a lot of uh public comments and

445
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things like that. I've seen videos released by the venue's owner. I want to know what is this administration, what is this police department doing to implement preventable measures because we cannot continue to react to this

446
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environment. This entertainment district needs police officers before the crowds form. And they need to be out there all night to prevent shootings, to prevent fights, to prevent other acts of crime. I'm talking about preventable measures,

447
02:09:38.800 --> 02:09:55.679
not reactionary type of things. Let's save lives, not continue to issue rest in peace type of statements, which I have not heard from the mayor, by the way. Thank you, Councilwoman.

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>> Uh, Council Member Frisbee. >> Thank you, Madam President. So, I wanted to say thank you to everyone that's out here um this evening. Um, so if I get remiss, I want to make sure we acknowledge our police in the back. Thank you for being here. And I also want to acknowledge our security who

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when um we did the this mayor had his state of the city. I want to commend you on your appearance and your presence. Thank you for being here. I know it might have been um a mistake in not acknowledging you, but I just want to

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say thank you for being here. Thank you for the work that you do making sure our city, our city hall in particular is always safe. Um next, I wanted to go to um Mr. Patterson, I'm glad that you had a moment to talk with uh Director

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Vasquez. I appreciate when someone is always concerned about their mother in particular, fathers as well, but mothers I'm tend I am tender to. Hopefully that's something that we can get um corrected or at least um in the process. So I remain hopeful with that. There was

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a lot of talk this evening about dogs um and people not take cleaning up behind them. Um it that is something we actually do need to take a look at especially we don't have um the signage to for him to say it's only one and it

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may just been one that he saw. We need to increase that um signage as well in the community and making sure that we get um that taken care of. For those who are experiencing issues with ATVs, I myself am experiencing issues with ATV.

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Again, ATVs, our police are not allowed to chase them. It is a hazard. it is a health issue, health concern, but they are um getting them off the street slowly, one by one. So, I want to just say you may not see it maybe right

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directly where you are, but it is happening. Um if you're coming, if you come out to the civic uh the CPAC meetings, you'll hear more about them, which is what we encourage. Um you'll get the stats and you'll see that crime really is going down in our community. Um and I I get excited about there. if

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it fluctuates and we know the heat is going to take its toll, but um come out to the the CPAC meetings and you can get some updates. Um speed bumps. Um Mr. Leticia, I I appreciate you coming out. We cannot get

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speed bumps on Cyber Narrow. It is a main throwway, especially with the firehouse right there as well. Uh so we'll have to see. Maybe we get uh flashing lights and the same thing with Lou. Um, we need to see about getting lights out there. I want to do real quick. I want to ask people to please

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check in on our elders, our seniors, even animals. With this heat that is out here, dogs should not be left out. Check on our seniors. Make sure that they're hydrated. Um, they're not in a room where there's no air air. Um, if they have issues, please have them call the city to find our a cooling station.

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Director Way, I wanted to commend him. Today was a crazy day as we all know with the heat and he went the extra step and went to check on his men and women that were out there that had to work out in this heat and I want to just say thank you for that. That is absolutely

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to be commended. Thank you for that. Um I say be careful to all of those who have to work in this heat and don't have the affordability to uh stay home or have your job say or you don't have to come in today. police. Um, be mindful of

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those and be appreciative. There was someone who said that our police were not respectful. They were when she came in and had concerns. I suggest you get the badge number, get a ID number of some sort and report it to our police director. This way we can

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hold them accountable for the most part. Um, we have great officers here. We are about to graduate another class. Um, I'm hopeful that we can get our numbers up so that we can get um, things moving in the city. Um, with that, I want to acknowledge we have some events that are

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coming up in the city on May 23rd, which is next week from 12:00 to 3:00 at 471 Parkway Avenue. It's called Tinker and STEM. If you like all kinds of messy stuff, especially snakes and nasty bugs that I don't like, this is a place for

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you, not for me. But that's at 471 Parkway Avenue on May 23rd on 12 o'clock at 3 o'clock. They do really great work. I'm just kidding. I don't like snakes, but they do really great work out there with this. Also on June 6, something that's very dear to me, Mom Action from

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Mercer County, we are having our party in Orange, which helps to wrap our arms around those families that have been impacted by gun violence. I encourage you to please come out. We always partner with the city. It is always a great time. is emotional for some families as well. And we ask that you

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would come out and support them. And the last thing is that on at the Cure Arena, 81 Hamilton Avenue, there's a souped up sandwich where our young chefs are going to be out there putting their uh finest on display. And Madam President, if you just give me one moment to read a

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portion of our mission statement, which is that the city of Trenton recognizes that the people of Trenton have made us guardians of the public trust. We are committed to govern with integrity and fiscal responsibility to seek to seek excellence in of the in the city's operations and to serve all the city's

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people with respect and compassion. Thank you and everyone get home safely. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Council Vice President Williams. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh thank you very much for everybody being here tonight. Um for those of us here in very very nice air conditioning, I must say,

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uh there's another heat wave when we have a council meeting. Come on over. you have the best air conditioning in town. Almost wanted my winter coat. Uh so I wanted to start with I just want to say thank you to uh our officers uh who

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are here uh with us each meeting now to make sure that we're protected. Uh it is important as uh unfortunately we saw uh the news yesterday of a triple homicide in San Diego, California at a mosque. um

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t country is going through some rough periods and we want to make sure that we're safe when anyone comes to city hall and particularly for city government functions. And to that point, I just want to also extend my uh thanks to the security guards uh for your performance. Uh it was great to see uh

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folks entering city hall being wanded to make sure they didn't have weapons, including city council members, because that's the way it should be done. Uh, everyone uh must be made sure that they're safe when they enter here for the safety of everyone else.

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Want to also thank you uh to the Trenton Kowanas Club, Mike McCormack. Outstanding job uh organizing a cleanup this past Saturday at Locustill Cemetery uh in preparation for this Saturday's uh CE uh Memorial Day uh celebration and

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remembrance. Um it was very interesting. Uh the news got out to KYW News Radio in Philadelphia and two uh senior citizens took it upon themselves to drive up from Oakland, New Jersey, which is near uh Collingswood uh to come up and give

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us a hand on a very hot Saturday. So that was quite welcome. And just so everyone knows, please do come and attend. It's at 11:00 a.m. this this coming Saturday. Uh Locustil Cemetery is at 73 Hart Avenue. As most people know, it's Trenton large Trenton's largest

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surviving African-American cemetery, which is also a key part of our history. And that additionally has Civil War veterans who rest there after fighting to save our country uh during the Civil War. So, please attend and pay tribute.

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Uh I can assure you it's a very moving uh ceremony. I've been there um number of times. I also want to uh make sure everybody knows about uh our Northward Citiz Police Advisory Council meeting tomorrow night which is from 5:30 to 7:00. All

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are welcome. Uh if any from administration wants to attend, please come. Also, our special guest is going to be John Bodner, who's the general manager of the Trenton Thunder, who's going to talk to us about the uh baseball club, uh the different renovations and things that have

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happened at the stadium and their efforts in our community to try to uh be involved in Trenton and make Trenton a better place to live. And I think it'll be an interesting discussion. Uh if anyone has a knows a young person is interested in sports management as a career, it would be a good night to

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bring them to a CPAC meeting. And of course, you get one-on-one time to discuss issues with our Trenton Police Department and community relations who do a great job uh as well as other city departments. And then I also want to uh also just say

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a measure of thanks for the tree uh park opening unveiling that we had recently at the corner of North Olden and Lawrence Street. Uh, thank you, Tantum Director Harris, Mayor Gooiora, as well as Jay Watson, New Jersey Conservation,

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and uh, BRS and Randy Balm, as well as Isisles. Uh, I believe it was 21 trees were planted to try to help mitigate heat island effect in East Trenton neighborhood. So, if you're driving on North Olden Avenue, look to your side and you'll see a beautiful bunch of

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trees that are going to be taken care of and that'll create a little micro forest in East Trenton. Finally, um I just want to uh just say that um we are making progress in this city. Uh things are getting better. This

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coming Saturday is an example of that. It will be the last of our ward uh cleanup events. It's the north ward's turn and uh as director we issued a challenge. Uh 97 tons were I believe collected from the west ward. Congratulations to the west ward. But

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north ward let's get on it. Let's try to win this year and have the most tonnage. But please make sure when you bring your yard uh waste, anything from your household, no electronics, no chemicals, but bring it all the way to the curb so you make it easy for our great city

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employees from public works to pick it up. And if anybody has any questions, you want to schedule a pickup, please call 609-9893200. Again, 609989-3200. Have a great week. Stay cool and God bless. Thank you.

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Good. It's five. Good. I don't think she'll ever finish in three. Good evening everybody. Um, thank you for joining us. Um, I just want to echo a lot of what my council colleagues said. You guys pretty much covered everything as far as um, comments

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tonight. um just that um there is an ordinance for you know cleaning up after your dog and I'm sure once our police force gets more readily um filled you know we'll be able to to provide those quality of life and deserved issues in

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the city of Trenton um I also want to say uh to Mr. Brady, I did put in the request of your stop sign. It does require a traffic study. Um, so hopefully that will come to f fruition soon. I think you said that um you've been approved for your speed bumps. No. Okay. I think you need more signatures.

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So, we'll keep working on that. Um, as far as the um the accounting firm or the the actual consulting firm for the ordinances 26194 195, that's Mercadian. Um, and other than that, I want to thank

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public works for your tireless work um, with all the cleanups. You guys are doing an amazing job as always. And thank you for cleaning up on the side of 29 recently. That was atrocious. >> It was atrocious. >> So, thank you so much. It was brought to

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my attention from a few. So, thank you so much for getting on that. That was it was great to see you guys out there, but to see what was dumped is really, really crazy. I really hope that at some point we're able to put cameras in all of our alleyways in the city of Trenton to, you know, start finding people and stopping

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these dumpers because they're coming, most of them are coming from outside of the city and they're just dumping trash in our city and it's it's it's sad. Um, but thank you guys for all your hard work. Um, a couple announcements. um city stat meeting tomorrow at 5 in city

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council chambers. Um you know, a lot of people were complaining about the time of city stat and now it's at 5:00, so hopefully you can make it after work. Um and then my community Southward community meeting is this Thursday um uh

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from 5:30 to 7 o'clock at Holy Trinity Church. Um the directors are normally there um to answer all questions from the city and we have a special guest of the foundationmies who's coming to discuss the impact of this new school coming up on Grand Street um in the south ward um and all around the city,

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right? Um so if you haven't been coming to those community forums in the south ward, please come out. You know, they they're very eventful and very informative. Um other than that, happy and safe Memorial Day weekend every to everybody. um remember to thank our veterans who served and and to thank the

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families of the veterans that are serving right now in the senselessness that's going on at the helm of our current administration. So with that being said, you guys take care, take care of your loved ones, your elders, um take care in this heat, get home safe, and thank you so much for joining us.

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>> Madam President, if you want to ask for a motion to adjurnn. >> May we have a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. Second. >> Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Edwards, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Frisbee, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Gonzalez,

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>> yes. >> Um, Vice President Williams, >> yes. >> Council President Figuro Genberg, >> yes. >> Motion carried. Meeting adjourned. Thank you. 7:54