That's the real one. All right. Now it's 5:30. Good evening everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the city council on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. It is nice to see so many people here. Roll call.
Dr. Arthur here. Council member English here. Council member Gomez here. Council member Vargas here. President Spanelli here. At this time, we're going to ask the peer leadership program of Jstone School to come up. They're going to be doing the pledge allegiance. And we
thank Brook Smith, the adviser, for having them here and uh doing such a fine job. Our flag is off to the to the right here. Our flags are who's leading us all?
Pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.
[Applause] You give yourself to be Wait, wait. They're still going. Okay. [Music]
Thank you. Thank you. Coming on from that other side. Hold on, guys. Hold on. Got gifts and certificates. too. What do you got? Come back. Come back this
behind you. Um, we got another bag in the box. [Music] certificate. You got them all. Liz, thank you again. Thank you again, [Applause]
Richie. All right, that was a big Yeah, that was a big one. That was a big time. That was a lot of kids like who's taking a picture. Once again, thank you Jstone School. We appreciate it. Your activities here with
the city. Public notice of meeting pursuant to the open public meeting act has been given on December 11, 2024 as amended by the city clerk in the following manner. Posting written notice on the official bolden board in the lobby of city hall. Providing written notice to the offices
of the daily journal press of Atlantic City and violent voice and filing written notice in the office of the city clerk of the city of Vand. Chair, I'll entertain a motion that the minutes of the premeating, conference, regular meeting, and close meeting of September 9th, and the work session of September 16th, 2025 be approved as
submitted. So move. Second. Any discussion? Council. Seeing none. Dr. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Council member Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. This time we'll open up public
comment. Rich. Public comment provides an opportunity for members of the public to inform the governing body about their views. The governing body prescribes the city council's bylaws in the New Jersey statutes on open public meetings when engaging during public comment. As such,
each individual shall have a fiveminute time limit to comment. Cannot yield time to another individual. May only approach the podium once during public comment for any one topic. Vulgar offensive language is prohibited, and the city clerk will not engage in dialogue with the public during this time. The
governing body maintains model courtesy and respect and requires the members of the public to do the same. This time, if anyone in the audience wishes to be heard, please step to the podium, state your name and municipality where you live. Anyone? Miss Williamson, would you like to speak
again or No. C, would you like to speak again or No. Yeah. You would come on up. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Kathy Williamson. Hi, I'm back again. As I said earlier,
I feel that we, the Violent African-American Community Development Corporation, is being we're not a favor. We're not a favorite to this city council because
we're not a large organization. We're in a building with a nationally known large organization and I feel like they get more favor than we do. As I said earlier,
um we got I got an email saying that some of our time was going to be taken away from us. I have here from the city of Vland a schedule with the days, the times, and the hours
that we're to be in that building. I don't feel that it's fair that time is taken away from us when we can't have any of their time. I don't think that's fair because where is it that we're going to if you're taking two hours from
us, where are you going to give us those two hours back? Then I also have statements from where my my president has talked to the mayor and some of
y'all was in those meetings with the mayor when these organizations met. And in those or in the meeting, the mayor said that we're entitled to two classrooms. We're entitled to two classrooms. Right now, as I said
earlier, we are in a room, which I call a office closet. We have no place to store our stuff. No place. Because we're in that tiny little office. Our organization is growing. So, we need an additional space in that building. I
don't see anything wrong with it. They have 95% of the the usage and space in that building. 95% of it. We try to put things out, it gets put back. We try to put things out, it gets put back. The other night, we was looking for
something and we discovered that the janitor's closet had a padlock on it. So, we couldn't go in that janitor's closet. So, what I explained to the president, what I explained to Mr. supporter and to our our advisory board
is that we need to per somehow we need to get tables and chairs for things that we have. We have four events coming up in the month of October. Four one of them is going to be outside. Three are going to be in the building. So now I
have to order I have to order chairs and tables for our events to happen because things are being locked up. I didn't when I wanted to speak with Bob, Mr. Dickerson about some things because I needed to understand some stuff and I
still haven't had the opportunity to really talk to him about it. But I ended up going out buying our own trash cans, our mops, our buckets, everything because of the confusion that's going on. So, I'm not here to fight with anybody because I'm tired of fighting.
I'm not here to do it. All I want to be able to do is take our organization where it needs to go to be able to deal with handle the people out in the community. Let them know that that building is open in the evening. Let them know that it's accessible to them. Let those kids is on that street that
don't have nowhere to go. Let them be able to come into that building and find a sanctuary or find somebody that they can talk to so that and if they can't talk to their parent. That's all I want. I'm not here to fight. I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of it because it
appears to me that nothing for us is getting done. Nothing. And we keep fighting fighting. It's like going in a circle. And I'm tired of being in the circle. So I would like to know, you know, something for us. You know, you're
taking time. I have letters. I have everything that we have that came from city council to the mayor, city council to I mean from VA CDC to Bobby D. has never been answered. None of them has ever been answered. None of the emails from the president, our president to
Bobby D has never been answered. So when I call to want to talk to him about whatever I need to talk to him about, I don't get it. But if I call and talk to him about maintenance, something to do with maintenance in that building, he will call me back in a heartbeat. In a
heartbeat. Thank you. Anyone else? Yes, sir. You have Yes. My name is Marva Milbourne. I live in
Vinland here on Myrtle Street, 16 North. I live right there by Sacred Heart Church. I've been living there 45 years. This is my first time coming to city council meeting because I've been trying to get help because my driveway has a
hole in it. Now the somebody from the mason department came over. I think her name was Stephanie and she looked. I wasn't there. I was at work. But when I called back, she told me that the apron, which
is the part where your car go on, is my responsibility. But even the sidewalk is into my black top because even that's going in. I got pictures where you can
see I got a hole that big in my driveway. If it gets any bigger, a car will literally fall in it. Twice I have taken my trash out and have fell on my driveway.
I'm 70 years old. I've been there 45 years. I talked to Mr. Dickinson and I'mma keep coming back because somebody need to help me with my yard. If I need to do it, give me the respect to come out or call me and let me know. Said,
"Miss, you do part and we'll do part." Now, my neighbor said Stephanie supervisor came with her and looked at my driveway. It's bad. I got pictures of it. You can see it plain as that. Not only me falling, but what if somebody walks down
the street and falls because the driveway is caving in and the sidewalk is caving in. The sidewalk is black from my black top where it's caving in so it's black now. So, it's real bad. And all I just want
the respect of somebody to call me cuz I did call Mr. Dickson back and he said he's working on it to keep in touch with me. I've been paying taxes 45 years. I reserve I need that respect. Call me and let me know what they going to do. They
going to let it fall in or they going to tell me said miss you do that part and we'll do this part. But do something is that bad. If it had been that bad for 45 years, I would have been got it fixed. It just got bad. But during the years like I've had like I used to have oil
delivery. Me and the guy, we got into it because that big truck, what happened was prior to that, five years before that, I had got some cement work done and the big truck backed up in my yard, I guess, to put the cement back there and it made a big hole. And me and my
neighbors, we are I our driveway is joined together. And you should see how they laughed at me. The hole that was in the yard big from that big truck because I order to get in my car, I had to step over it with water puddles and stuff like that. But I never got into it with him.
Eventually I got it fixed. I called the cement company and the guy hung up on me. He ain't want to talk about it. So this was about four years ago. I had an oil delivery and he the guy never did it. and he took his truck and backed it all way up in my
driveway after I had got that black top put on. And I came and I told him, "Never do that again. You leave your truck out in the road and and pull the rope up and put it in because I've had damage and y'all don't want to talk to me once it gets damaged. Nobody You hang
up on people and talk nasty to them and everything. I'm asking y'all to please, please talk to somebody and ask them to call me or get in touch with me because it make me feel bad. 45 years I've lived
in city limits and my my driveway is the only one got a hole in it like that. Please, whatever y'all can do. I've never met Mr. Dickinson. I'm willing to come meet him here. I didn't want to push it. And I even have family that work here
and they got mad at me. Don't involve them. I don't have to involve nobody. I can look y'all in the face and I can be here every two weeks because I deserve to get my driveway fixed. Thank you, Mr. Tanetta. Mr. Dickinson, just look
into that, please, and be in touch with the lady. She said Myrtles 16 North, I think. Thank you. Anyone else? Go ahead, young lady. So, hi everyone.
My name is Taran Allison and I am the unit director for the Carl Arthur Center for the Boys and Girls Club and I do want to address some things. The VA D VA,
sorry, I'm not trying to mess it up. I know you guys are changing it. The reason why we are going through so much turmoil, we have been in that building for 20 years. Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland County has been operating for 21. I have been there for six. My
grandfather was there for 14. We have done a lot of things to keep that building afloat that have come out of our pocket from janitorial to trash cans. Every table, every desk, every refrigerator, everything in that
building has been donated or bought by the Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland County. Atlantic County Sheriffs have donated their old um desks which were in great condition. A lot of things have been donated. I take my time to clean
those bathrooms. When things go down with the health department, when it's comes it's time for the water to be tested, we pay for that. Air quality control. Um the air the air quality we pay for. Soil testing. we pay for when
it comes to keeping that kitchen up and running. We handle it. They don't handle anything. They have events and I'm glad that their organization is growing. That's a blessing. However, you can't come in and push us out. We are licensed
through the state of New Jersey. We have to follow protocol. We cannot mix and mingle our kids. We can't have food stored in the the uh classroom three because then we get held liable and um penalized for it. Uh Tina Morton and the
health department, they come through. Corey, uh Miss Carolyn Fiser, the state of New Jersey are they're on us constantly because we are a child care facility, because we're after school and we house children. We feed them. You cannot mix outside food with state food.
We were gracious enough to give you the office. Then what turned into being just we only need the gym till s from 7 to like 10 turned into now 6:00. Now you're putting me out of the building because I
have children whose parents are running behind which life happens. And now you're putting me out of the building, which is against the state law because I have to follow protocol, which is contact uh contact the emergency contacts, then the parents, then the
violent police department, then DCPN. But you're out there yelling and raging and going on when I'm trying to make peace. You put signs up. We lock our items up because our basketball has been broken. Everything in there has been broken. When it floods, I have to call
Harry. I have to get the Miss uh I think it's Pink Piggy or someone to come out. We have to shut the building down. We have to sanitize everything the Boys and Girls Club does. And it's unfair to be talked about in the community to people
who where my grandfather's name, my parents' name, and my name is it sits high. And you're sitting here and you're starting petitions with people who you don't realize is related to me. Will Turner, Albert Morgan, Emily, Emily Camman, all of them were my first cousins and they're trying to ask my
parents, "What is going on? Why is your daughter being talked about or slandered?" Because another c another community organization wants to come in. We have to do our job as well as keeping our children safe. We have to have
fingerprints, background checks, carry checks, uh, watchd dogs. We have to also put up pedophiles because we have children and we're not a daycare. We're an afterchool program. We do mentoring. Some Boys and Girls Clubs in America,
they go till 10:00 at night to keep these kids off the street. We can't do that because we're out of the building. You cannot co-mingle per licensing. What do you want us to do? You think I'm being smart or nasty when I'm just doing my job? I didn't go to college and spend
six years in college to come here and start mess. No, I have a master's. This is not I'm not uneducated. I follow my law. I follow protocol. The Boys and Girls Club has been very quiet. But I'm tired of being railroaded. I'm tired of everyone coming down here to the city
council talking about me, talking about my organization, and making my name bad and railroading us. It's despicable. It's It's un It's There's no Cuth behind it. If you want a building and you're growing, go find a building. You know,
ask the city to say, "Hey, our organization is moving. Is there anywhere else we can go? They've been here for 20 years. Granted, the building needs work, but who does it? We do. Who pays for it? We do. But we're getting railroaded. And now it's the black
community. I am a African-American woman. My parents are African-American. We service minority. Have you not looked at violin? The biggest melting pot, but yet I'm holding the black community back. One of our girls ran for youth of
the year. Do you know Alexa Lewis was right hand to Miss Camela Harris? Karan Harris, he's in college. How did he get there? Besides his grades is the monies that we put up to help him. There
is a lot of things we have done in this community. All right, ma'am. You got to wrap it up. I'm sorry. That's it. My apologies. Nice. Anyone else, sir? Good evening, uh, council members. Uh, I want to formally introduce myself. I'm
Jacobi Lindseay, the founder and executive director of Project Inspiration here in Vin. Uh project inspiration empowers youth, families, and young adults through uh dynamic STEM education, creativity, and community building. Our motto is we build to
inspire so they're inspired to build. Uh we have different age cohorts. We have our culture bugs from ages 2 to three years old and they play uh STEM based uh art and movement, sensory exploration.
Uh we have um our art colony from ages four to five. They do creative things through visual arts, music, uh early literacy and and numeracy. Our visionaries between the ages of six to seven and they do intro to coding robotics
uh uh hygiene awareness and seal basics. Uh our innovators between the ages of 8 to 10. They do robotics, coding, arts, math enrichment and entrepreneurship. our Renaissance group, ages 11 to 13. They
do videography, graphic design, drama, poetry, game design, and esports. And of course, our high school and young adults between the ages of 14 to 24. They do advanced coding, web development, drone flight, music production, uh branding,
marketing, and promotions through business. Uh they receive certifications. They do internships and uh business incubators. We also have a whole family approach. Our whole family approach ensures parents, grandparents and siblings participate alongside the
students. We promote wellness through uh again hygiene, seal and mental health sessions. Uh while um city connect programs, they bring uh we hope to bring uh city officials, teachers, and first responders uh directly into positive
engagement with these families. One of those things includes our new esports league uh where we're going to be working with Dr. Ambrose Nevada Public Library and we would like to uh for awareness and fundraising. We would like to get our first responders, teachers,
and uh officials and whomever that still enjoy playing video games to come out and bring some awareness to the esports and um um help raise some additional funding for our young people so uh we can get them started. our short-term and long-term impacts. Our short-term uh
within a year approve school and tennis seal grows family engagement neighborhood pride through uh our mural program uh which is something that we would like to also do create art corridors throughout the city. when people come into our city to visit or
come back home, uh you can ride through uh these different art corridors that were put together by uh you know, artists and our young people that actually tell the story of those neighborhoods and the history, the rich history that that uh violin has uh as
the melting pot that it is with these different cultures. There's a lot of untold stories that art can tell. And when people come through and they see those vibrant colors, uh, a picture is worth a thousand words. So those art can tell uh a great story.
How city council can support uh we're looking to ask if you can u provide mural wall access uh and approval through the art corridor initiative. Uh co-sponsor some of our community events and enrichment programs. uh as I mentioned participate uh and uh lobby
for our participation in our inspiration esports league along with the youth uh which I I want to just stop there real quick. So that esports thing is really going to be big because I think with the participation of first responders and city, you know, officials
like uh police department, EMS and teachers, when they get together with these students, these kids, and they're bonding through esports, it allows them to build a connection from their similarities rather than starting to build from their differences, you know.
Um just sitting here and just, you know, hearing people, you know, try to connect or bond through their differences rather than try to find their similarities you know I think that that's a long road you know but when we start building from our similarities you know uh it's a shorter
path it's it's the path of least resistance and I think that if we can get some of these you know our city officers uh side by side with our you know our youth from the city and they're playing video games now they look at each other from a point of similarity you and also or lastly you know
recognization uh of uh Project Inspiration as a vital partner in shaping this city's future. Uh each one of you guys will receive an an email uh you'll have about tomorrow uh of all of the attributes of Project Inspiration, the full layout of our programs and
initiatives. And again, my name is Jacobi Lindseay from Project Inspiration and I yield my time. Thank you very much. Anyone else? Hi, I'm Leslie Cook and I am coming to speak on behalf of BACDC.
Um, and actually both because I have like connections to everybody. I try to help out everyone. Um, with that said, I would love to say that um, the Carl B.
Arthur Recreation Center. I didn't know it was p it was privately owned. I thought it was a public. Is the city owned? Oh, okay. I'm sorry. I didn't understand that. So, I misunderstood. Like, I was like, wait, I thought it was public. Okay. Um,
I have been blessed that I've been able to work with multiple of the organizations that have used that center and I find that it is very like a great place to for the youth as well as for
all the different um places that we have. Right. So, I would like to point out how the VA CDC has helped me to be able to give back to the community by like letting me use the place for
different events that I had myself. Like I'm doing a photography um class where I can teach people how to do um selfies. So when they need to take a business photo, like get a professional business
photo, they can go and be able to do one without having to go pay, you know, $50, $60 for it. Um, another thing is we're doing the toy drives and last year we were able to help out a lot of children that way. Um, and that like both me and
Kathy we were able to help what like 40 families, 50 families. So, um, and they were able to come in and get five toys each and plus like little I had little, um, stocking stuffing, uh, stocking stuffers. Sorry, I'm not good at talking
in front of people, so I'm going to stutter. Um, but with that said, um, I do not have any hard griev grievances against anybody else in that um, building and everything. I just do
appreciate that we are able to use it um and to do the things that we need to do but we are limited obviously there are times that it would be helpful but I understand
the boy boys and girls clubs situation where they have their rules and regulations that they have to go through. Um, the only problem is that I can see with it is if it's a p if
it's a city-owned building, I'm not sure if I understand how it can't be used by the public, other parts of public as much, you know, as they should be able to use it. Like it should be available to the public
constantly. It shouldn't be a like limited amount of time, not just the BAACDC. I'm not even saying that. I'm saying like if kids want to do stuff in there and it should be kept up by the city, no offense, if it's city owned. I don't
believe that they should be paying all the bills for it either. Um, so with that said, like I would like to understand that a little bit better, I guess, like why it's not a more public
place. it's kind of going to this one specific organization or even the two organizations and that we're not able to make it so it's more accessible to the public, you know, because there are a lot of people
that could use it like be able to help kids and adults alike. So that's all. Thank you. Thank you and have a great day. You too. Good evening everyone. How's everybody doing today? Great. All right. All right. So, let's try to
lighten up this mood a little bit. I have um on a positive note. Um it's about the same area though. All right. So, my name is Jeff Lindsay. Jeff Lindsay. Yes. Thank you. So to begin, the area that we're talking about, which is Fourth
Street, where the call office center is located, this area wasn't community friendly. Let's put it like that. Um, so I took it upon myself, me and some other people that live in that community to start making it community friendly.
Okay. So now that it's community friendly, um, kids actually can come play in the program. um people can actually come outside in their um where they live, barbecue, live a normal life, and don't have to feel like they're
hostages inside their own where they live at in their own community. So, but it just wasn't me. It took the whole community to do this. And guess what? We did this all together. And this is some of the things that not being talked about or being explained.
Now, what's going on with the call off the center? To me, it's it's sad just because we're all sitting here talking about the kids, but the only people that are going to lose with this is the kids, right? So, if we really want to think about the kids, we have to put some of
our differences aside and do it for the kids. Now, everyone may have great points and every maybody may have some great um things that they want to be changed, right? But it's not what you do, it's how we do it. So we really want
to bring about change. We have to change within oursel too, right? We can't ask the kids for unity. And it looks like the people that are trying to help can't unify. So it's looking like, well, what are you guys doing? You guys, like she said, she
has a master degree. You see what I'm saying? But we need master degrees in community. They don't really teach classes how to deal with the community or to deal with people or that or suffering because a lot of people where we come from are suffering.
So we started something called strip summer this summer which went off well. Now is it perfect? No. Is there some things we can fine-tune? Yes. But we're heading in a positive direction. So, I just think if the VC, the Boys and Girls
Club, if they just sit down and just come together and think about the kids, like my cousin said, what brings us together? So, we all want to help the kids. So, let's help the kids. So, if it takes, and this this is for any of you guys, if if if it's anything
in the building, because I know everybody here. If there's anything in the building that's out of whack or out of place, I mean, I'm accessible to everybody. say Jeff got a couple guys that could help clean this out or clean this up.
We'd be willing to do it. Why? Because we want the piece and we want the the um the energy. Remember, it's all about energy. You can come to work or come anywhere with the right energy. But if it's a lot of negative energy, you either going to have to remove yourself from the situation or you're going to be
part of the negative energy. And I don't think it's fair to city council in my opinion to sit here and try to like monitor like we're babysitting grown adults especially if we're saying we are the community activists and we're trying to bring about change in communities.
Now moving forward to back to the real what I'm saying that has substance. The substance is we have done something historical and violent and I'm not going to let anyone or anything try to, you know, damper that out. I just told you
guys it was not community friendly. This is something the police department, no disrespect to them, remember they just want to lock them up. We're cleaning it up. Let's clean it up first before we lock people up. See? So, we went with that mentality of the
cleanup. And guess what? It's working. We're getting guys that wasn't community friendly, now they're being community friendly. We're getting guys that maybe was throwing trash down, now they're picking the trash up. You guys just invested a lot of money into that area,
right? Porter potties, all the renovations you did to the swimming pool, right? So, you don't want to see this stuff go down the drain. You don't want to see graffiti and all this stuff going on out there, but also you guys are living somewhere else, right? So, at
the end of the day, it's up to the people that we live out there to uphold the integrity of our community. So, now when you come around our area, we have integrity out there. We want our kids to really learn because our kids are
suffering. So keep this in mind, boys and girls. VCA say, "As long as we sit here and argue, the kids lose." Now, to get back to what I'm saying, I would like for the city council, my my cousin has um a proposal for you
guys where we would like for you guys to come out and see for yourself the change of how um Carver Village has changed, what they call Sunnyside now. in our area has been gendered with words and
terminology you guys would say. But it took the community to do this. It didn't take the mayor. It didn't take the police. It didn't take the the lock up. It took the cleanup. All right. And thank you for my time. Thank you. You have a nice one. Anyone else?
Yes, sir. Good evening. U my name is Karan Harris and um I would just like to start off by saying truthfully, honestly, this is all very sad. This is all very disappointing. This is very heartbreaking because I've been with the
Boys and Girls Club for nine years now. two-time youth of the year winner, threetime youth of the year um participant. I also used to work with the VAAA CDC. But one thing I can truly say,
we are both community impacted programs and I don't see no reason why we all can't get along. Truthfully, now that I'm a senior counselor, I would love for all of us to get together, but there are some rules that have to be set
in place. I know for myself with my classroom, which the VA CDC does use, which is room three, they leave it messy. They leave it trashy. Tables aren't put back right. Chairs aren't put back right. Trash is all over the floor. Everything is being moved
around. Especially, we have younger kids there, too. And I remember years ago before they even came, we used to be able to stay until 600, 6:30, have fun, do things on the weekends. Now, we had to
be out before six o'clock. Now, we have no space to even try to do something on the weekends. And okay, yes, if you want to stop by six o'clock, that's perfectly fine, but there's a way you have to do it. It has been very, very disrespectful by the way that they have talked to some
of the staff, the way that they have talked to the boss, the way that they said that they had to get out of the building even though children were still there. My question is, are you really really for the youth? How are you going to put youth out the building when their
parents aren't there? How are you going to put youth out the building when we're supposed to be lifting them up and encouraging them? I know for me, I used to struggle with anger issues when I were younger. If it wasn't for the Boys and Girls Club, I promise you, I would not be in college. I would not
be where I was today. They have helped me out a whole lot. And like my boss said, we've been there for 20 years now. And for them to try to put us out the building is very sad. And I'm not trying to bring religion into this because I'm a youth I'm a minister in training,
but I remember a scriptures that that says when brethren dwell together and that's what it's time for us to truly do. We need to honestly dwell together because we all go to church, VAA, CDC, Boys and Girls Club, we are all religious bound.
So we need to honestly stand to those morals. We need to honestly stand to those principles what the Bible talks about. It's time for us to honestly stick together. If there's confusion, there's a certain way that it needs to go about. Not yelling, not screaming, not nasty talking, not cops having to be
called. We are both community centers for the youth. And at the end of the day, like it has been said, the youth is the ones that are going to be impacted by this. Whether it's a good impact or a bad
impact, we have lost some youth because of the VA CDC. We had parents tell us, "Oh yeah, they said that D, they said this, they said this, that, and the third and bring their children there when they don't have truthfully the both sides of the story."
So what needs to be done is some type of solution where we can continue to keep our programs going. they can keep continue to keep their program going even if it has to be at another spot because truthfully we were there first and as
long as I've been there for my nine years I can't ever remember it being problem after problem after problem after problem with the Boys and Girls Club in that Carl Arthur building I want you to truly think this is a building named after somebody that made
an impact in this community if he was still here living would he be truly truly satisfied or would he be heartbroken Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Good evening. My name is
Miss Jo. I'm here ma'am. Speak into the mic so we can pick it up. Thank you. My name is Jo Nut. J O Y C E N U TT I'm here to support the Boys and Girls Club.
I don't understand as Karan said, but we cannot get along. But the Boys and Girls Club have been there over 20 years, I think. And I've never never heard of a problem like this where they want to get somebody out. The VAT I've been I'm in
that organization. I think we should be able to get along. These the Boys and Girls Club is supporting kids and I support the youth, all kids, all races. It doesn't make me any different. But I don't think it's right that they want to
take the building. It's plenty empty building in Bomb. While they can't go and try to get a building somewhere else instead taking over the Boys and Girls Club, every year it'll be getting bigger and bigger for the Boys and Girls Club. The parents
that bring their children there, they need a job. The kids need a place to come after school to be safe. Our kids have to be safe. They have to have somewhere to come to be safe. So, I don't know why we just can't get along.
This should never have came to. We should have got together with the VAC and talk this thing over. I don't think it's right that it had to be all this commotion in it. I heard in the court and all this stuff the police had to come in. That's not necessary. That
didn't have to be. We could come together and talk it over. So I just say I don't think it's right that they want the building now. It's plenty empty buildings in Bing. They can get another building somewhere else. They got a big organization. Let them get a building
somewhere else. That's all I got to say. Thank you, ma'am. with all due respect to the people that's been there at the Boys and Girls Club for the amount of years that they've been there. And I'm just saying this because, you know, I was born in that neighborhood. I grew up around there. uh and you know the years you've
been there. Yes. But the generations that the people that are fighting to try to be there, we're talking about generations in in family history. And uh I I've saw the impact of what ever since I moved back here back home from Miami, I saw the impact that's been going on
within the neighborhood, you know, uh too in the neighborhood and then in the building, right? because I I know Chris, we were on the uh the tri you mean the uh uh tri county uh uh uh board together. Um
when it comes to people right in the community, it's about one one of the things that I learned is about who you listen to. Who are you listening to, right? Because who you listen to determines on what it is that you actually gain and can add into your life. With these young people and these people within the community, who do they listen to? people from the community
that look like them that they know generation wise. They know their mom, they know their grandma, they know their grandparents, they know their cousins, the aunts, the uncles, you know, all the way down the line. Um, I know this summer I've been to a lot of events and things within the community and you know, again, with all due respect to the
Boys and Girls Club, the events in the community that have that I've seen that's been impactful was VAC, you know, and that's that's just on my what I've seen, you know what I mean? But again, One thing I also know I know the Boys and Girls Club have a you know they have
other building you know so if if it's about tugof-war with a building then it's is a simple that I believe is actually getting you know expanded upon if I'm not mistaken but if the people in the community do have measurable impact then I think they should continue on
because they're they're dealing with people you know that are are them are families that that they've been dealing with you know and all I know is I know, you know, there's another building on Crystal Avenue that the boys and girls are, you know, are at because whenever I had to go meet with Chris, that's where
I met them at at at the one on Crystal Avenue. So, I don't understand why the one on Third Street is, you know, the tug of war match and I know that, you know, the numbers, you know, aren't really there like that either because I've been in there. I've seen it, you know, so I know what's going on. Um, but
again, I I just needed to say that because, you know, just watching it, it's like a tugof-war over a building that you aren't that isn't even reaching the numbers that it needs to, and neither is the one that's already being expanded on. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Lindsay. Anyone else? Good evening. My name is Betty Maven. I work there as a food service worker. I do the meal times and things and a lot of problems we have such as the food in the classrooms
that they felt like they didn't have to tell anybody. But we get cited for that not only by your by the county or violin. We get cited by the state of New Jersey. And that lady don't play. One time she was there and I happened to
hear her say, "I'll close you down today." So why should we get in trouble for their food that they put in our classroom? We moved it and we covered it. I was there when it was moved and we covered it. We didn't leave it uncovered. We took it back in the back
and covered it. They could have left there. You know what they did? Came in and did it again. It's things like that. A lot of things that they might not understand that we do, we have to do because we are governed not only by the city, by the
county and the state of New Jersey. They really should know some things before they do some things because um it's not about spite because it's nice that they have the group that they have at night. A lot of people that come in and do our program, they look at
the table where they have the papers and they say, "Oh, this is nice." And I said, "Yes, that's the club that comes in at night. You would have to talk to them, but they have nice programs." Never down there. Never down them because anything that's for the use is
good. Anything that's for them is good. I don't care what group it is. If it's good for them, they should have it. But don't down us just because we don't do things the way you want us to because we don't have no choice. It's not personal.
It's not personal. And I would appreciate it if they moved that food out of that classroom. Thank you. That's it. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. Good evening everyone.
My name is Wendy Lopez and North Thirst Street and the community leader for that area for 20 years. Um I been living in my area for 36 in my house. So I was the person to be half
crazy. I went to the citizen club. Okay. They offer me to be president and be part of then and it was a big problem, a big one. Drugs, alcoholic, balkers and everything that time talking
about a long time. So they jumping in my house too. People want was have different issues. So my main concern I see the different that I need to clear that area. I was the person I went to everybody door in
my area including the boys and girls club. I did the first beauty page with them and a fashion show. My main concern that I was caring for the children and for my people that was living around my area. I said this is
me. I know you don't know me and I was the person who create neighborhood day and it was like a 300 people in my area and that day Saturday I said let's get to it. I went to the houses, talked to the parent. I want would you like to do
a fashion show with your child to make the different in our area because it was really bad really bad. And that time it was a uh a kill somebody killed Anthony and there was a plaque and it was a lot of issues and I went to each house and I
knock on the door. I said my name is such and such and I want to make the difference. So how we going to make the difference? Unity. If we unit the boys and girls club and the BDC, I work there
now doing classes for ESL and also citizenship for anybody who wants to be United States citizen. I do my free time. I don't have to do it. But I care for my neighborhood.
I came here uh with the point with the houses. I went to you guys too and I brought the people and they say you want to be shine let's get shine because the better you shine the better is your community it
work like that but we need to have communication both sides like the lady said Miss Betty we need to sit down both area and myself too because I live in in there and my club I adopted the third street the name
so boring in Cano. And what I do, I work with the youth. And every year what I do, I close the street and I pick along with my with my my neighborhood. I picked the outstanding student.
I I gave free free I went to talk to you. Would you like to help and let's get team? And that's what I create the neighborhood day. We're going to have 20 years next year and with God's will, first God, we're going to celebrate
because is a unity for our group and everybody around the area. So, we shine. You guys shine. And the main thing that I'm here is because I went to um her uh Miss
Elizabeth and different people that I would like to have a meeting because in our area is a park. They have a park s Clark Park. It's nice to have a now they have like a wheel for the kids to play.
Before it was nothing. It was trashy. I create baseball team with my neighbor's kids and it was growing growing. Now the kids they're out our kids for our group they was the first kid to have the scholarship in
here and violent $20,000. What happened to my kid? My kid got the $20,000. He went to our counsel. He went uh he did really well. He finished
He did welding. He went to New York. Okay. New York. He working under the school team. Finished that. He came back to my island with his family. We celebrates the accomplish to them that everything was good. Today's day my kid
I call my kid. He's in a nuclear plant in Salin. I got two police officers in the courthouse. I got an account person and also I got a little kid as an artist now that he
going to be celebrating um the gallery in Bris that will be um accomplishing the job that a just nine years old. So my main concern is to bring the kid I'm sorry I'm gonna be fast you have to wrap it up.
Yes I'm going to wrap it up. So what I we like to have is a mural they have into that area that is dirty and I have a lady that he wants to do a mal and telling about the outstanding
students. Uh you would have to you would have to bring that to recreation because they can that's the reason that want to but I want unity in both area in the boys and girls club and the uh BDD. Thank you.
Thank you very much. A lot of good things have been said tonight. The most important is our youth are the most important thing. And the reality of it is uh Mr. Porter, I'll give you a second. I you got up a little
late there. Uh but um the most important thing, this young man, Mr. Harris, the adults got to figure it out. The kids get along. The adults have to figure it out. And
I've said this in youth sports as when I coached, the adults ruined it for the kids because they couldn't get along. So the kids suffered. And that's what's going to happen here if the adults continue to do it. Mr. Porter,
good evening. Um, just want to walk in any way. Albert Albert. Thank you. Um the KBY Arthur Recreation Center, keep in mind recreation center.
We Elizabeth uh Dr. Arthur and myself attended New Beth AM Church. My pastor was Evelyn Booze. She was a part of the Carby Arthur Recreation Center in terms of having two classrooms
and the Boys and Girls Club had two classrooms. My pastor shared with me and Dr. Arthur and I had this conversation too that during CO her two classrooms were taken over by the Boys and Girls Club. She
came over to the center, talked to Chris about it, told him how she felt and packed her stuff up and left. I said before she should have never
left. You shouldn't take over two classrooms during COVID that belong to another organization. So that went by. Then we had a discussion Dr. Arthur and I about the availability since pastor had left. So we did talk to the city.
The city blessed us with coming into the facility. We had a great great meeting with Chris Reverend Wade Gay Lord and Rosier. Great meeting.
Great meeting. The meeting was very very um friendly. We talked about everything. The issue came up. Do we want a classroom VADC or the office? And the question that Anthony Scott, myself,
Marilyn Becka said to Chris, if we took the office, will we have accessibility to the classroom? He said, "Sure." So we took the office because we knew that the classrooms would be available. Had a great meeting. So then we had a Zoom call later on about
something else. And we talked about the building. We talked about the kitchen in terms of the cabinets, the walls, and stuff like that. And we agreed the four of us that we in the kitchen we'll have the wall the cabinets near the other end.
They will have the cabinets near the refrigerator that belongs to the boys and girls club. We will have this left side of the wall in the recreation center which they will have the right side of the wall. The wall up front we will split in half. And we begin to do that.
Great great time. When we had events, I personally asked Chris to come to our banquet. I asked Ethan and I used to be real tight. Ask Ethel and Claudia. So they did, you know, they had other things to do. So that didn't stop us and
stuff like that. So in reference to it getting out of hand, yes it did. We had a meeting with the mayor, Dr. Arthur, Paul Spanelli, Merlin, and Reverend Scott led the meeting with the mayor. We told the mayor what was going on. The
mayor said, we asked him, could we have two classroom? The mayor said, yes, you can have two classrooms. All right, that never came to fruition. And that's why some of the frustration is in here, per se. So, the mayor said yes, it was never
executed. And we keep coming back back about about this what the meeting was held in the mayor's office. There's a young lady named Ella Borin that was uh they ran visions of hope when they took over the two classrooms. Ella was on her deathbed. Ella went to
come to that meeting. I said and Bobby D and Dr. Arthur and Paul can vouch for this. I said to the mayor, Ella wanted to be here. She'll tell you what happened when she ran visions of hope with boys and girls club. All right. And that invitation and Dr. Arthur was
witness that she told me the same thing she told Dr. Arthur. All right. So in reference to working together, you know, we have things that we put in the building per se. We don't want anyone touching those things. Paul Spanelli
came down this weekend. Dr. Arthur, the prosecutor, and other folks came down this weekend, and Paul said, "Give me a tour of the facility. We took the tour of the facility. We discovered a bathroom that we didn't know it even exists in a classroom. It was filled with storage stuff.
Storage stuff. All right. All we asking for is two classrooms. All we asking for is what the mayor said in his office on the sixth floor that we can have. We didn't ask for the total building. We just wanted the respect. If you're talking about the prime time when kids
are out of school, it's the time that we are not in the building. How many parents are going to send their kids out at 6 or 7 o'clock in the evening to come to a program? We do have the Black and Latina Mail. We do invite people to come from all over
the place and but we're not going to sit and just say that, hey, we're going to take the burden of the blame. All right, Howard, you're timed out. Thank you. Nobody can come back up as the rules. You cannot come back up and talk about
the same things. I'm sorry. I didn't want to talk about Oh, you can bring you can give that you can give that to the clerk. My name is Dr. Elizabeth Arthur. Carl Arthur was my father-in-law. And yes,
Karan, he would be very upset to see what's going on here today. I have gone. I talked to Chris Vulkar. I asked him if there was any way we could get together and talk this over and settle whatever the differences are. We are adults. As
Kuran said, there is no reason why two programs cannot exist in that building with some civility. It did when visions of hope was there and Mrs. Boyin really stepped to Chris a few times. There were challenges. It was
not always easy, but they got along. I don't see that here today. And if there's anything that can be done, I wish it would be done. Otherwise, I would say vacate the building, bring it back under recreation, and I have said this to the
mayor before, and everybody will have to be scheduled to go in that building from that point on. There is no reason to be to have this kind of animosity in this room today. God knows Pastor Booze would just I'm
sure turning over in her grave because her passion was to have that be a safe haven for children to help them with after school pro I mean with their homework or help them improve their abilities in school and we had multiple teachers there
certified teachers that help children so if there's anything that can be done I know it's challenging but we should take the opportunity now to sit down at the table and be civil with one another and and really occupy that building
together because and I said to Chris, your program complements Mr. Porter's program. You're servicing the children and he has the adults. There is no reason why this should be happening. That's all I have to say. Carl Arthur,
I'm sure is turning over in his grave as well. Thank you, doctor. All right, we are going to end the public portion at this time. Thank you everybody for your participation. You are invited to stay. We do make public comment at the end.
Okay, Mr. President, I present ordinance number 2025-60. Ordinance authorizing the execution of a contract of sale and other documents necessary for the acquisition of certain property in the city of Miland from 621
Elmer LLC known as block 4007 lot 4 on the tax map of the city of Miland which is ready for a public hearing. John entertain a motion ordinance number 2025-60 to be be taken up for public hearing and open to the public for discussion. So move. Second.
Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Council member Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Anyone in the audience like to be heard on ordinance number 2025 60-60?
Seeing none. Chair obtain a motion the public hearing on ordinance number 2025-60 be closed. So move. Second. Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Council member Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Chair entertain a motion ordinance
number 2025-60 be taken up for final reading and adopted according to law. So move second discussion by councel seeing none. Dr. Arthur yes. Council member English. Yes. Council member Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes.
President Spanelli. Yes. Ordinance number 2025-60. Ordinance authorizing the execution of a contract of sale and other documents necessary for the acquisition of certain property in the city of Vinland from 621 Elmer LLC known as block 4007 lot four
on the tax map of the city of Vinland with the vote of five yays. This ordinance is hereby adopted. Mr. Francha, please submit ordinance number 2025-60 to the mayor for his approval or disapproval. Yes. Thank you. I present ordinance 2025-61, ordinance authorizing the execution of a
contract of sale and other documents necessary for the acquisition of certain property in the city of Miland known as 1462 Almond Road, block 21101, lot 57 on the tax map of the city of Vinland, which is ready for a public hearing. J entertains a motion and ordinance number 2025-61
be taken up for public hearing and open to the public for discussion. So move. Second. Dr. Arthur, yes. Council member English. Yes. Yes. Council member Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Is there anyone in the audience who wish to be heard on ordinance number 2025-61?
Seeing no one, Chairman obtain a motion the public hearing on ordinance number 2025-61 be closed. No move. Second. Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Council member Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Chair entertain motion the
ordinance number 2025-61 be taken up final reading and adopted according to law. So move second discussion by council. Seeing none. Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Council member Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes.
Ordinance 2025-61. Ordinance authorizing the execution of a contract of sale and other documents necessary for the acquisition of certain property in the city of Miland known as 1462 Almond Road block 21101 lot 57 on the tax map of the city of Miland with a
vote of 5 days. This ordinance is hereby adopted. Franchetta, please submit ordinance number 2025-61 to the mayor for his approval and disapproval. Yes. Thank you. Present ordinance number 2025-62. an ordinance rescending ordinance number
2025-43 and amending ordinance number 2001-2 to allow for up to five additional 5-year renewal terms for an existing cell tower lease between the city and Sprint Spectrum Realy Company LLC successor in interest to Sprint
Spectrum LP for space on a municipal water tower located at 382 West Butler Avenue which is ready for a public hearing. Chair entertain a motion ordinance number 2025-62 be taken up for public hearing and open to the public for discussion. Second. Dr. Arthur.
Yes. Council member English. Yes. Council member Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. President Spanelli. Yes. Is there anyone in the audience who like to be heard on ordinance number 2025-62? Seeing none. Chair, I entertain a motion to public
hearing on ordinance number 2025-62 be closed. So move. Second. Dr. Arthur, yes. Council member Gomez, yes. Vice, excuse me. Council member English, Gerbal, yes. Council member Gomez, yes.
Council member Vargas, yes. President Spanelli, yes. Everything's a test. Everything's obtain motion ordinance number 2025-62 be taken up for a final reading and adopted according to law. So move. Second. Discussion by councel. Seeing none,
Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Council member Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Ordinance number 2025-62. Ordinance rescending ordinance number 2025-43 and amending ordinance number 2001-2 to
allow for up to five additional 5-year renewal terms for an existing cell tower lease between the city and Sprint Spectrum Realy Company LLC. successor and interest to Sprint Spectrum LP for space on a municipal water tower located at 382 West Butler Avenue with a vote of
5 days. This ordinance is hereby adopted. Mr. Francetta, please submit ordinance number 2025-62 to the mayor for his approval or disapproval. Yes. Thank you. Present ordinance number 2025-63, an ordinance amending ordinance number
2002-33 to allow for up to five additional 5-year renewal terms for an existing cell tower lease between the city and T-Mobile Northeast LLC. Successor and interest to Omnipoint Communic Omnipoint Communications Enterprises LP, a
Delaware limited partnership for space on municipal water tower located at 2245 Magnolia Road. Chair Entain a motion or witness number 2025-63 be taken up for public hearing open to the public for discussion. So move second. Dr. Arthur. Yes.
Council member English. Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Anyone in the audience would like to be heard on ordinance number 2025-63. Seeing no one. Chair will entertain a motion public hearing on ordinance
number 2025-63 be closed. Second. Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. President Spanelli. Yes. Chair obtain a motion ordinance number 2025 63 be taken up for final
reading and adopted according to law. So move. Second discussion. Seeing none. Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Ordinance number 2025-63,
an ordinance amending ordinance number 2002-33 to allow for five for allowed up to fiveyear additional 5-year renewal terms for an existing cell tower lease between the city and T-Mobile Northeast LLC. Successor and interest to Omnipoint
Communications Enterprises LP, a Delaware limited partnership for space on a municipal water tower located at 2245 Magnolia Road. With a vote of five yays, this ordinance is hereby adopted. Mr. Francetta, please submit ordinance number 2025, that's 63, to the mayor for
his approval. With disapproval, yes. Thank you. Present ordinance 2025-64, ordinance amending ordinance 2005-32 as amended, chapter 676, article 2, section 676-12,
entitled VDI, city sponsored events, which is ready for a public hearing. Chair Entain a motion ordinance number 2025-64 be taken up for public hearing and open to the public for discussion. So move. Second. Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Vice President Gomez.
Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Is there anyone in the audience who would like to be heard on ordinance number 2025-64? Seeing no one chair will entertain a motion to public hear ordinance number 2025-64 be closed. So move.
Second. Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Chair entertain a motion ordinance number 2025. That's 64 be taken up for final reading and adopted according to law.
So move. Second. Discussion. Seeing none. Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Ordinance 2025-64.
Ordinance amending ordinance 2005-32 as amended. Chapter 676 article 2 section 676-12 entitled VDI city sponsored events for the vote of 5 years. This ordinance is hereby adopted. Franchetta, please submit ordinance number 2025-64 to the mayor for his
approval. With this approval, yes. Thank you. I present ordinance number 2025-65. Ordinance amending ordinance 2023-7 as amended chapter 358 section 358-6 of the code of the city of island entitled
firearms permits which is ready for public hearing. Jan a motion the ordinance number 2025-65 be taken up for public hearing open to the public for discussion. So move second. Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes.
President Spanelli. Yes. Is there anyone in the audience who would like to be heard on ordinance number 2025-65? Seeing no one chair intend a motion to public hearing on this number 2025-65 be closed. Second. Dr. Arthur. Yes.
Council member English. Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Chair entertain a motion ordinance number 2025-65 be taken up for final reading adopted according to law. Move. Second. Discussion by council. Seeing none,
Dr. Arthur, yes. Council member English, yes. Vice President Gomez, yes. Council member Vargas, yes. President Spanelli, yes. Ordinance number 2025-65, Ordinance amending Ordinance 2023-07 as amended, chapter 358, section 358-6
of the code of the city of Vland entitled firearms permits. The vote of 5 days. This ordinance is hereby adopted. Franchetta, please submit an ordinance number 2025-65 for the mayor to the mayor for his approval. With this approval, yes, thank you. I present ordinance number 2025-66,
which is ready for first reading. Chair entertains a motion ordinance number 2025-66 be taken up for first reading. So move. Second. Dr. Arthur, yes. Council member English, yes. Vice President Gomez, yes. Council member Vargas, yes. President Spanelli,
yes. Ordinance 2025-66, an ordinance to amend and supplement ordinance number 8, which revise the classification and compensation plans for the city of Miland city engineer and supervising engineer. Gerald entertain a
motion that ordinance number 2025-66 be passed for first reading that a public hearing be held on Tuesday, October 14th, 2025, 5:30 p.m. So move. Second discussion. Seeing none. Dr. Arthur, yes. Council member English. Yes.
Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Present ordinance number 2025-67 which is ready for first reading. Entertain a motion ordinance number 2025-67 be taken up for first reading. So move. Second.
Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Ordinance 2025-67. Ordinance authorizing the execution of a contract of sale and other documents necessary for the acquisition of certain
property in the city of Miland known as block 2201 lot 64 34 West Park Avenue rear and block 2201 lot 62 Amos Avenue. Chair entertains a motion ordinance number 2025-67 be passed for first reading that a
public hearing be held on Tuesday October 14th 2025 5:30 p.m. So move second discussion seeing none Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English. Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli.
Yes. Present ordinance number 2025-68 which is ready for first reading. Understand motion ordinance number 2025-68 be taken up for first reading. So move. Second. Dr. Arthur. Yes.
Council member English. Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. Ordinance 2025-68, an ordinance to amend and supplement ordinance number eight, which revise the classification and compensation plans for the city of account clerk.
I entertain a motion ordinance number 2025-67 be passed at first reading that public hearing be held on Tuesday, October 14th, 2025, 5:30 p.m. So move second discussion by councel. Seeing none, Dr. Arthur, yes.
Council member English, yes. Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. City Council has approved the following matters listed in the consent agenda are considered to be routine and non-controversial and will be adopted by
one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a council member so requests in which the case the item will be removed and considered with an individual vote. All matters on the consent agenda have been presented to the city council during either the work session or the premeating conference and appear on the
consent agenda without objection. Their titles will not be read individually and to the record but will be properly memorialized in the meeting minutes. Entertains a motion to approve all items on the consent agenda. So move. Second. Dr. Arthur. Yes. Council member English.
Yes. Vice President Gomez. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. President Spanelli. Yes. At this time, we'll have council members have the privilege of the floor. Dr. Arthur, I want to say thank you to the Jstone students for coming tonight to lead us
uh the pledge of allegiance. And also to remind you our next meeting, we have a board of health meeting coming up. And thank you to those who came out in the community as well. That's it, Mr. Vargas.
Yes. Thank you. Uh again, I'd like to thank everyone for coming out tonight. Uh as I said about two years ago that I would like to see these two organizations organization come come to city u the recreation department so we could uh decide their faith in the
future because I believe that these both organizations mean well for our kids. Uh again it was said about adults going back and forth and somebody had mentioned uh it's about the kids and people that know me that I've been involved with kids for many many years.
They come first with everything. So if we continue being being in these organizations that leaders you have to act like leaders. So, with that said, I hope that the city does uh decide that it'll be uh taken
and moved to recreation so we could decide. You may not like what we decide, okay? Just want to let you guys know that because we're going to be fair and sometimes not everybody's going to agree what we have to say. So, with that said,
again, thank you. And again, the the children come first. Thank you, Yes. Um, first and foremost, um, we always say it's about the youth. We started the night with the flag salute, and that is really what we're about. We pledged the
allegiance to the flag. We hear our youth lead it, and that is our future. I started writing a lot of things down. I have the utmost respect for the woman to the right of me over here, um, Dr. Arthur. As she spoke, I could feel disappointment,
a lot of hurt, and some anger. And anyone who knows that woman, there's nothing but fairness that comes out of that voice. They've played the game a lot longer than Mr. Gomez and myself. They know the
history a little bit more. So, it shouldn't be personal. And that's what I feel. I see a divided room. For those of you who don't know me, I sat on the violin board of education because I believed in the youth. Spent 12 years doing it. I look
at coupe out there. The way we used to handle things the old way, we sat down face to face. It wasn't black, white, Hispanic. We're people. We're adults. Okay? We are exactly what the youth looks up to.
I know we're better than that. I know we're better than that. It really comes down to a lot of things. I I see two sides that are bringing their belief to the table. And Mr. Vargas said it pretty well. A lot of times with the Vinland
Board of Education, both sides came to me. They wanted a yes, but one of them was leaving with a no. So I suggest something that I suggested all the time. It was really three simple letters, an
acronym. CCT, which really meant communication, collaboration combined with transparency, no BS. Let's put it on the table. If it's truly about the youth, let's put
the personalities aside. We try to check them in the parking lot. There was good discussion here today, and this is my ninth month. We're coming to a close. This is the first time I'm I I felt a vibe that really was
crazy enough in a positive way for the youth because I think a solution is going to come out of this. Would it be a positive one for one side for the other? But we really have to think about the nucleus which is the youth. Everyone did come up here and speak a little bit
about that. But when you really let the pave the tire hit the road on that pavement, don't say it, mean it. Really mean it. I could really talk forever and I know Mr. Spanelli gets a little bit nervous. I
again I took a lot of notes and I can tell you Mr. Spanelli is a bulldog and if he's going to now now you got his attention if you didn't have it already. And when we talk about solutions, I'm a plumber by trade. This suit and everything, this is you could put
lipstick on a pig, I always say. But I'm a plumber by trade. I got paid and made a great living out of finding solutions. If I didn't find the solution, I didn't put the food on the table for the family. We didn't eat. Now, in my retirement, I teach the
youth how to be plumbers. There is nothing more satisfying than that. Let's really think about why we're here and what we're here to achieve because this thing called life, we don't have it forever. That's really all I have. And Dr. Arthur, thank you for a little
reality tonight. Thank you. You know, a friend of mine told me a long time ago, there are three sides to every story. There's your side, there's my side, and somewhere there in the middle lies the truth.
So everybody can come and tell us their story, but we have to decide what the truth is. And it really isn't up to the council, but it's up to operations and th those that are employed by the city. So I'm hoping for a positive uh
conclusion to this, a collaboration, if you will, that will help grow the city even more because our slogan is where it's always growing season. Absolutely. So let's grow some positivity. Thank you. Yes. Yeah. Um just like um Dr. Arthur
said, I want to thank uh Johnstone Peer Leadership for coming out tonight. Um I'm from from Center City. I love Center City. The reason why I'm sitting up here is because of the vote of Center City. Um we seen two organizations that are not getting along right now. However, um
I've also witnessed over the last few months how many organizations are coming together and doing positive things in the city. So, I I refuse to let tonight dampen that. Um, I think we're doing great. We're building great momentum. Um, finally, people are throwing away
their pride and working together. And I I personally witnessed that. And, um, I just hope that the two organizations that are here today can figure that out because the momentum is fun. The momentum is great. We're making a difference here in Violin. And we would love for you guys to join us, right? But we don't need anyone stopping us. We're
going to move this thing forward. the kids of of the city are going to have an opportunity whether you're with us or not. We're going to we're going to open up them doors. So, I thank you guys for coming up here and voicing your opinions and and your and your problems. But, um I think this needs to be figured out and
join us. We're building momentum. Thank you. Pretty much been said again, Dr. Artha, thank you because I know this is uh in your heart over there with with the Coral Arthur Center, but uh Councilman
Gomez is running a program for the youth that I just actually went to kind of observe as an old man in in this community at 72 years old, but I've been in this government for this is my 13th year, and
there have been great strides in this city at all different angles since our administration took over. And it's it hasn't been a me. It hasn't been the mayor saying me. It's been collaboration of everybody working together and not we
don't look at color. We didn't look at race. We didn't look at religion. We looked at people and we said, "Hey, we're trying to do this. We need help. We need your help. You guys got to work it out as adults. If we work it out, which eventually if
it doesn't happen, we will. And somebody, if not everybody, will be unhappy probably, but that's that's life if you can't work it out on your own because now you're asking for a mediator to work it out. And he doesn't have any interest in either side other than he
would like to see both sides function well because you both have a good mission. But we're I'm we're watching every nationality, every business type of person has gone and talked to this sound
mind, sound body and what they were doing uh to try to help these kids start their own businesses and financial literacy and a whole bunch of different things going on and just amazing. I taught in Atlantic City my whole life. So I've dealt with minority kids my
whole life. That's 34 years of my life where I took kids into my house because in the old day you could do it. Today you get sued. But they were going to get shot on the street. Parents asked me if I would take them home. So I took them back and forth to from Vinland to Atlantic City. So
they go to school and then they came home. They grew up with my son. You guys are in the same building. You got to get along somehow. And and fighting with each other. You can fight. You can come here. We can listen.
City council can't do a thing. It's it's an administrative scenario, but you guys can do something to make it work. So, both of you can be in the building, but you have to have a civil conversation.
You can't be blaming each other. You can put your grievances out on the table and have the conversation civily. And if you do that, you'll figure it out on your own and both you will be able to coexist. If not, I don't know what's going to happen in that building.
All right? So, you know, I mean, Coupe, you come upstairs, you guys come up, we work stuff out. You know, I'm playing in a golf tournament for Mentor on the Green and stuff like that coming up. You know, that's all good stuff. It's helping kids
and and unfortunately my son couldn't come back here because there was nothing for him because he's in television and there's no TV here as you know that. So all right but 40 violent education you know we we get ripped on how bad our
schools are. My son went through the entire public education system and at 43 years old is the vice president of a major television company. I don't have to worry about him. He did better than me. And that's all I worried
about. That's what parents want. That's what you guys are working to do. That the kids can do better than the generation before them. You got to put all this nonsense aside and talk to each other in a manner that is respectful and get it fixed.
It worked before. It wasn't perfect, but it worked before. It can work again. And the young lady came up here. I hold that certificate. I'm a principal. So I hold that certification that says in daycare there's certain rules.
They got to be followed. They can't break them. They break them, they lose their certification. I dealt with it at St. Isador's church with the same problems where people wanted to come in and do what they wanted. They had a daycare in there. They couldn't do it. They argue with me,
I kick them out. I said, 'I'm telling you, this is what you can do and what you can't do. Well, we're not doing it that way. That's not the way we do it. Have a good time, you're out the daycare state. I don't want to do that to anybody. It's
not my purview. But just like we're teaching our kids to cooperate and be, you know, civil and and to have a vision of where you can bring yourself and how to talk to
people and how to dress and how to present yourself, we better start remembering that as the adults because words have consequences. And there's been a and listen, I've heard both sides. I'm I got friends on
both sides of this issue and I'm catching it from both sides and that's okay because I signed up for it. But you guys got to fix it yourselves. There's not one thing the city can do. It's not a city council issue. It's an
administrative issue. And if it's an administrative issue and we can't resolve it, I don't think either party's going to be happy. That's just my call, my gut feeling. I don't have any inside information, but Mrs. Williamson to your statement
that you said you didn't feel hurt. I understand that, but believe me, we hear you and we bring it we bring it to administration and and administration. We had these conversations about the two groups got
to deal with it. Now, the building needs work. We know it. I think we'd like like to get it fixed, but when we get it fixed, I'll be honest with you, nobody's going to be able to be in a building at all because of the construction.
What happens when you when the building's fixed? It's not going to be anybody's home. It's going to be a community center owned by the city that the city's going to make decisions on who's in and out of it,
as we do now with other buildings. Whether it's under recreation or whether it's under administration, you're going to have city people making that call. So my suggestion is do the best you can to be civil with each other and work out your differences. We had a
lot of people up here willing to to to be the mediator for you that are from the community that understand the community. Some, you know, some people said, "Hey, listen. You know, you guys, you listen and about and you don't live there."
You're right. I was not brought up there. I was brought up on Eastern Oak Road, but at four years old, I was out in the fields picking. I understand work. At 13 years old, I was running Javanni's delicatesscent
because he left and went to went to Italy every summer. And I was the little kid next door that was working in a store. And he says, "You're in charge. You got to do the orders. You got to do this. You got to do the schedules. You got to make sure that everything's mopped. Hey, guess what? You're all there.
It's a work ethic. And that's what we're teaching the kids. That's what that's what we're teaching. You're teaching the kids. I don't like to get on a pedestal like this, but I am so tired of hearing this and that it's the same stuff over and over and over. And I don't believe as
adults, you can't get over it. you can't have the conversation and resolve it. All right, at this point in time, thank you very much for coming. I'm glad everybody came tonight. I'm I'm hopefully that we can get a resolution
out of it somehow. Uh but at this point in time, there we are. And obtain a motion to adjurnn. So move. Second. Dr. Arthur? Yes. Council member English? Yes. Vice President Gomez? Yes. Council member Versus President Spanelli. Yes. Thank you everybody. You have a
great night. Be safe going home.