Council - Regular Meeting

Everyone, on behalf of the Patterson Municipal Council, I welcome you to the closeout meeting on December 25th on December the 23rd, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is now called to order. Madame Clerk, please call the role. Yes. Statement of comp I'm sorry. Roll call for the closeout meeting of December 23rd, 2025. Councilwoman Cotton, Councilwoman Dava, present. Thank you. Councilman Jackson, Councilman Khik, present. Madame Clerk, thank you. Councilman Mendes, clerk pass.

Thank you, Councilman Omar. Councilman Uden, Councilman Vez, President, Madame Clerk, thank you. Council President, I'm here. Madam Clerk, we have six present at this time and four absent. Thank you. Please read the statement of compliance, Madam Clerk. Three absent, not four. I'm sorry. Three absent. You said six. I said I'm sorry. Five present and four abar is here. He's here. Okay. He didn't. Okay. Got it. I didn't hear him say present. Okay. No, because they're working on his computer.

Okay. Thank you. Come here and say it. Come, come, come, come. Just Madam Clerk. Okay, Madam Clerk. I'm present. Thank you.

Thank you. Statement of compliance with the open public meetings law 2024 to 2025. Meeting date December 23rd, 2025. It is now 6:34 p.m. Adequate notice of the meeting was compiled and disseminated in accordance with the open public meetings law in the following manner. One, the annual notice of regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council was compiled for the year 202425 on or about July 1st, 2024. Two, a schedule of the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2024 2025 was duly transmitted on or about July 1st 2024 to the North Jersey Herald News, The Record, the Arabic Voice, The Italian Voice, The Pose County Pulse, Dominicanana News, Laiskea International, Ellis Basiel, The Patterson Press, The City Post News, Tap into Patterson, The Weekly, Bangla Patrika. in addition to any other publication duly requesting such notices. Three, the schedule of the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2024 2025 was prominently posted in the lobby of city hall first floor in the place reserved for the announcements of this type. Four, the schedule of the regular meetings and workshop sessions of the municipal council for the year 2024 2025 was duly filed with the municipal clerk. And five, a copy of the schedule of regular meetings of the municipal council was mailed to any person who requested and paid the fee authorized by the open public records act. Council president Council President, we can't hear you. Madam Chair, payment of bills.

Thank you very much. Uh good evening Patterson. Good evening council members, madame clerk, and everyone that's here today. Uh we were emailed the payment of bills uh in the summary of dispersements for the amount of $6,714,962. Uh out of those 6,714 uh it was a payroll weeks that amount is 6,84,7102. Uh in the computerized checks there was a under capital fund $625,49.60 which was for uh emergency sore reconstruction. the total um [clears throat] in addition there's also a payment uh of a vendor uh for public works of 4250 that making it a total $6,714,962. My motion is for payment of bills.

Thank you. Second and that vendor to put on the record is for David Halls are expired for the basketball court design. Roll call, madam clerk, on payment of bills. Uh discussion uh discussion yeah thank you council president um just quick if if uh CFO added the 4,000 and change uh for M payment it's not here it's not no excuse me council council 250 how much there is a payment for a vendor for DPW of 4,2 250. No, no, he's asking about last week. It's not there.

Yeah, it's not there. It's not included, coun.

Okay. So, so, uh, Mr. CFO, I know you gave me all the copies of why the 4,000 have to be paid or reimbured to this gentleman. Um there still was a question um why we have to pay an individual that flew one day came back the other day um and is charged to the city and not charge from their personal account whatever to ask for reimbursement and then Mr. Boosei as reimbursement in their behalf. So before that payment of bills, he had to justify why. If the um um the conference was uh 4 days and he went for 3 days and one day two individual male and female flew in and flew out. That means that no reason for me if we could flew in flew out and for a conference and and reimburse this individual. So before the

before before the next council meeting I would like a written explanation from both sides from him and from and from you CFO if that's allowed. Thank you council. Thank you. Thank you. Roll call. Madam clerk. Roll call for the payment of bills in the amount of 6 million714,962. Councilwoman Cotton. Councilwoman Dav. Yes. Thank you. Councilman Jackson. No. Councilman Khalik. Yes, Madame Clerk.

Thank you. Councilman Mendes. Councilman Mendes. Councilman Omar. Yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you. Can you hear me? Uh, M clerk. Yes.

Okay. Thank you, Mad Clerk. Was me by mistake. Uh I definitely support uh the payment the last payment of the year for our city employees. I full support of that. But let's take note um uh Mr. CFO council me asked that question at the last meeting. By this time he should have a full detail about the that question about that person that is requesting a reimbursement with two additional guests that we don't know what was the reason for them to be at the league or not. That's that that's I mean it's just unacceptable. He asked that question last week and there's still not a answer on details. So um I voted yes mad clerk.

Thank you Councilman Mendes, Councilman Uden and Councilman.

Let me let me let me set the record clear. This gentleman was not at the Atlanta City legal municipality. this individual flew to Oregon, state Oregon to a conference and uh it's more questionable. So, and we're talking about out of state using grant money and then reimburse a two party that is not even justified in the in the ledger that he had to take that individual to fly in and fly out and pay hotel for one day and fly back to state New Jersey. Uh saying that my payment bill this time is yes. Thank you, Councilman. Council President,

thank you. Great point of observation, Councilman Bles. My vote is yes for payment of bills. Madam Clerk, thank you. Uh the votes are six in favor, one against, two absent. Payment of bills is hereby adopted. Item number one, Madam Clerk. So, Council President, yes, Councilman Jackson, before we move on to the to the item, just for a point of clarity, um I know you know I can't help but notice that was the only no vote, but is this item was that item actually voted on to be paid? Was it on the the uh the payment of bills? No, it was pulled last week. I understand it was pulled last week, but

it's not in this list tonight. No. Very good. Item number one, madam clerk. Item number one is a resolution authorizing budget transfers for calendar year 2025 finance resolution number 25 col 611. So move second move by council um woman dava. Second by council um woman mems discussion discussion council and then council daba uh my question

my [clears throat] question will be directed to the CFO through the chair uh madame clerk um council president CFO uh can you give us a highlight how much we transferring um what are we transferring from what department to what department what will be the cash flow starting the year and um hopefully I could see more cash flow that we don't we don't have to go into a a special appropriation uh starting the year. So, can you give me a highlight and numbers clear numbers? Mr. CFO,

uh Councilman Veles, we're transferring uh $2.9 million. Um we're transferring basically any salary left over in in account from 2025 to pay bills. Um, if you look at the the package, there's a bunch of bills that we have to pay. We have we're transferring 10,000 into the uh clerk's department. Transferring 128,000 into surveys and general's department. Transferring 99,000 into data processing department to pay bills. then we're transferring. I mean, if you just look if you just look at the at the packet, there's a bunch of transfers. And again, it's all to cover payments of uh salary or to pay bills.

Okay. So, you you told me that 10,000 clerk, that's a weak respond. Uh 129 to data, that's another weak respond. Uh and then the 99,000 for me is weak respond. You're using a small department to justify a transfer when we talking about 2,900. Can you tell me where the shut big bill are going to? Why we transferring? What is the remaining of the other two the 2 million and change?

We're transferring 244,000 into social security. We're transferring 131 into Division of Health. We're transferring 800 into the Division of Recreation. 183,000 into parks and shade trees salary and wages. I'm sorry, Mr. CFO, excuse me. Very quickly, can you just outline Councilman Jackson, Councilman Bles has the floor and he's responding to his request,

but he's only going to have to repeat it. Can he outline? Can council president could you have him outline where it's coming from as well those items be telling us where it's coming from Mr. I was going to wait council president. I was going to wait until I was going to wait until it finished because he had to justify if he transferring grant money or he transferring capital money.

But councilman uh bles councilman Jackson is correct. It is listed on our document but because nothing came in our packet on Friday uh CFO it would be very easy if you just talk about as it's listed clearly on these pages from which department is going from here to there. It makes it very simple for people to understand it and that's what they're looking for clarity and read it

and also to clarify if it's grant money because a board of health it is more likely main operated by grants. So he had to make sure there's no council there's no grant money transfer. Why you checking your head, council? Why you checking your head? Uh, council Davala, it's a fair question because in the past,

because we're online and the bickering, I mean, just talking, you have to respect. I'm watching your face. I'm looking at you. Why you shaking your head? Why you shaking your head? Is the fair question out there? In the past, we had way in the past council president well respect I had the floor one one thing is in the past we had transfer grant money to another count because it was left over from that grant and we had to transfer every year my question

was it what my question is my question is to clarify if there was grant money transfer or capital money transfer it's just simple I don't know the expert in finance here the expert How do I council president the expert in finance here Maris Dav being sitting there for three terms as a finance so she highlight us in every item that being transferred then I don't have I don't have this question I don't I don't sit in finance I don't sit in finance council president

Mr. CFO, can you please read the outline for all the council members as well as make it clear? Um, if you look through the sheet, you'll see there's no grant dollars here. So, can you just make that clear so all council members are on the same page, please? Okay. Just to make it clear, we have never transferred capital or grant money from a budget. You can't do that. So, we have never done that. Um, now I'm going to go through every line. So, so that means that means if you don't waste that grant that you councilman allow the CFO to respond please you asked the question Councilman Jackson has the same question let him explain and give the details Mr. CFO, please.

Okay. So, starting with um salary and wages, we're transferring from the mayor's office 15,185 from city council 74,87358. Well, to where I'm sorry,

council president, I have the floor next. Right. Uh Mr. to see a phone.

He's muted. Mr. CFO, could you unmute yourself, please? Hello. Okay, now we can hear you.

Okay, so I'm going down the line from from the package. So I'm just going down the line reading from the department that I transferred from and to. So again I'm going to start roll over. Office of the mayor salary and wages on transfers from 15,185 from city council 74,87358 tons from salary and wages from city clerk transferring 37,1 president. I'm sorry. Point of order, please. Council President, it's not being done properly. It should be He should go through. So, he we transferred $74,000 from city council to where? Every item.

Well, he's what he's doing is No, no. He He's going to go from in one column and then come back down the line and say to where? It should say from what line to what? To what line? So, I don't know, Councilman Duck. I don't know if you have this. What he's doing is what he what he's doing is and it's it was in the email. What he's doing is reading because it's all grouped and it's telling you where it's going, but when he's reading it, it's telling you he's going from from to where and then it's telling you where it's going. And I it's in your email. I don't know if you could pull it up while we're on read a long time.

So, what you don't understand is I don't ask these questions for my own clarification. I understand the process. I've been here long enough. I asked the question so that it could be answered in a way in which the public can easily decipher what's happening. He should be saying he should be reading it out $100,000 from in the mayor's office to where where did that money go? He should he should be stating it right at at the moment that he's talking about that sum of money where it went from to where it's being transferred to. That's Can you When you're doing that,

um, as you group off each section, just say where it's going. Well, it's again, I'm transferring 2 million $2.9 million. It's all going two different places. I'm going right down the line from the sheet that's in your package. Um, there's no other way to do it. Mr. CFO, for example, on this sheet, it says of the mayor,

office of the mayor 15,1852. What department did it go to? City council 74,873. You transferred it. What department? That's what is being asked. So, as you're reading it down the line, just an just say where it's going. Whatever department is going to. Just just say this whatever that total is, this went to that. And then just keep going all the way down the line.

Okay. There's there's no way for me to say that cuz in that department, we only transferred in general government, we only transferred 10,000 to city clerk. So then in business administration we transferred for salary and wages to that department 2668. So it's going to be all different amounts. So either I either I read all froms and then all twos or I read it down the line like I was reading it.

I I think you should read all froms and all toss and you should have an explanation of where it's going. Okay. But if I read all forms and all tooths, it's explained. I'm telling you where it's going. I can read. That's what we're wait. Councilwoman Dav has the floor next. That is what we're requesting. We need to know from each item is going from to where. So if in the first section you only took 10,000, say you took it from where and is going to wherever. That's all that's being asked. Mr. and and council

Mendes have the floor before you council has the floor before you. Councilman Mendes, Mr. CFO, I'm sorry that's C am I am I answering the question or is Councilman Dava answering question? No, we're waiting for you to do the explanation that the questions are in your explanation. But council president the explanation. Okay. Well, okay. One second. Council Mendes. Council. Councilwoman Dav.

Councilwoman Dava. Councilwoman Dava. Thank you very much, Council President. So um unfortunately some individuals some of my colleagues do not have in front of them the list that we have. Uh Mr. CFO do you have the documentation? Yes.

of because it it is very simple, right? I'm looking at it and I know I see all the froms. I see each department in the amount. And then when you look at the back and some of them for the twos are zeros. All right? And so if you look at the first item, general appropriations, right, the general government, you see from you see 1.5 million, right? So 100 uh 1,543 uh,891 with 31 cents and then the two is 10,000. This should be simple. It's you're moving it from one department and it's going to another. I think my colleagues all are on the same page that they're asking where the froms and the toss. That's why I asked, do you have the documentation in front of you to indicate where it's going? I have the documentation in front of me and I was reading it line by line. I'm not sure exactly how else I can do this.

Okay, Mr. CFO. Okay, go again. If we're looking at the first group, general, government, it says there's all these departments. Office of the mayor, city council, office of city clerk, elections, insurance, auditing, annual audit, cultural affairs. Right? There's numbers for some of them. All those departments are there, but not all have numbers. The total is 1,543,891.31. The two where it's going says only 10,000. Okay. So, the 10,000 is going to city clerk's office. Correct.

Correct. Okay. So the colleagues want to know as you're going along if you are um um transferring from one department. They just want to know where it's going. So the first one is 10,000 to city clerk. Okay. So I was do you want me to read it by department? Because I was going by office. Read it as it's in the packet. Start from general government department administration. Read it as it's in. I also want to state that councilman Uden has joined.

So again the first three departments the first three departments are froms the fourth department is a two. So I was just going down the line. So again I'll if I read it as department then for general government I'm transferring from a million5438131 cents to office uh to general government 10,000. And the 10,000 is for other expenses for the city clerk's office. For total administration, I'm transferring from 14,66183 to 300,20792. The 300 The 302 is for business administration salary and wages for $2,6.68. Division of Personnel Salary and wages 70,382 cents for purchasing salary and wages $1,840.80 80 for division of data processing OE 99,869,86912 for savers in general other expenses 128,1130 for finance I'm transferring from 193,29371 to 62,79366 The 62,793 is from accounts and control salary and wages 11,61518. Uh division of assessments other expenses 38,11270.

Division of revenue collection other expenses 13,06578. the parameal law transferring from 1081167 cents to 192,58764. Um departmental law salary or wages uh the the two is 19258764 for other expenses. Um department of public safety transferring from 42,76912 there is no two in that department. Department of DPW the total I'm transferring from 194,677 671 to a million854 21326. The director's office needs 77,39309. Engineering office needs 992976. Uh, traffic and lightning needs 37,82826. Division of streets needs 22447481. Snow removal other expenses needs 198,9248. Division of maintenance salary and wages 8,01966. Park shades and trees needs 183,71556. Department of Public Building section needs 1105819. Department of recreation for salary and wages needs 68616324. OE needs 222612. Uh division of recycling needs 555109. Department of economic development from 2224816 to 65,34519.

The division of economic development salary and wages needs 43 32527. The OE they need 22,0192. Department of Health and Human Services from 41,46584 to 13127667. The 1316616 I'm sorry the 13127667 is salary and wages for division of health 1316767 and merkantile licenses other expenses 109 statutory agencies I'm transferring from 2005209 to 20,51761 historic Preservation Commission salary and wages needs 27817 planning board salary and wages need 17,73744 statutory expenditures transferring from 294,41152 to 28427363 244,37741 is for social Security 11,56650 is for um PERS pension. $27,64061 is for state disability. $175.36 is for police pension, police and fire pension and 51375 is for excise tax. And then I'm transferring from the public libraries from 45,53946 to from salary to OE 45,53946 making the total 2.2,90175472.

Thank [snorts] you Councilman Mendes. Councilman Mendes. That's fine. Council President, that's fine. Thank you, Council President. Council President, Council Member, Council President, CFO, out of 2,91. If I could ask you this question, it's more other expenses than salary and wages. Uh, it's a combination of both. Councilman

tell me how much of the 2,91 other expenses. So meanwhile you get that number. I just want to make this point and probably council Mendes will agree with me. We've been talking about overexpending and if you're going to transfer money just to transfer and not control the overexpending then we could have fall in a budget hole. So you know this administration had to know where they going to put the money when it comes up to other expenses. You spoke about social security pension. you spoke about uh they need this, they need that, you know, but it looks like the 2,00 2,91 is more other expenses that could be freeze to not overexpend in our city if you're not going to if you don't have a plan to expend those money,

Mr. CFO. So, um Councilman, I I'm not sure. Um, Mr. CFO, did you send this this document out to all council members? Do they all have this, Madam Clerk? Um, and if not, can you send it while we're on the call? Because who am I sending it to? Just send it to uh just send it to everyone. Just we receive it. One second. We receive it, but we cannot open it. It's a large file. It's a large file to open in our phone.

I have the floor. One second. The reason why I'm asking it to be sent because it clearly outlines the expenditures of 329,813 and 9 cents. Everything else is salary and wages. So that's why I'm asking madam clerk if she could send it to everyone so you can see the document because it's clearly outlined here. That's what those expenses are for. It's it's about a million dollars in OE. The rest of it is salary. All right. Good.

I And I don't have no problem with the salary and wages. That's contractual. My my my point is if this administration when they see $1 million and they don't have a plan to expend it, they could freeze it to not overspend and gave a blank check to no one to spend whatever they want. And that's a that that's that's how we control budget. Overexpending, too. So, um, if we can go through it, councilman, social security you can't control, sir. That's, um, I I I already4,000. I already I already I already got that explanation. You said that 1 million is other expenses. Social Security is other expenses. Oh, it's other expenses. So, you have to be clear on that.

Social Security is other expenses. Okay. Uh, so you have to be clear on that though. Right. So, madam clerk, if you could send that document out, please, so that um all the councilmen, all council members can see the other statutory expenditures as it's outlined on the back page so that everyone can see what these numbers are and what it looks like as was stated, but I want them to see the actual written document.

And by the way, council president, didn't the last payment of bill, and I read it in the you could go back to the tape. It says that we we was we was paying um uh retiring and all that stuff in that payment of bill the last one. So why we are paying now on this one? Well, remember because it's the closeout meeting of the month, our next meeting is not till the second week of January and based on the state law of when payments are received uh through the uh through this through the federal government, they have a deadline. Okay, gotcha. Any other questions? Yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman Jackson.

Very good. Thank you. So, um my my concern is this. Uh we we we're looking at a significant amount of of buzz transfers, well over $2 million. And um what is uh a bit concerning is the amount that's being um uh directed towards DPW um you know in the final hour and obviously you know at one point I don't recall what the number was and I I do have the document but it's so it's so difficult to to um to to read in in this small email form. But an example, we have the clerk's office. The clerk's office is grossly understaffed. Um, you know, we lost Madame Clerk and and Mrs. Riley, although she's doing a phenomenal job. Uh, I want to I have a question. Um, is is Mrs. Riley and and I don't really necessarily want to have, but is Mrs. is probably being paid out of title pay to be to cover the um the uh uh the the duties that she's she's obviously you know doing a phenomenal job at because you know when I when I'm looking at $74,000 being extracted from the city clerk's from the council's office I believe it was and it was another small amount I think I'm not sure how much the the I don't recall with the numbers whether they ran off but you know the these figures are very concerning when We know that there's positions that need to be filled. We not only are there positions that need to be filled, but there's people who should be um entitled to pay increases that are not that are being denied, you know, certain pay increases. And uh you know, when we look at you know, a sum of $1 million being transferred into DPW, obviously there's a need, you know, snow um removal. it

was it was a couple hundred,000 which wasn't a major you know concern but everything else that we're talking about when it comes from DPW you know these are required services that these people are providing so you know those um not only should those funds have been earmarked but they should have been um uh uh appropriated properly so that we don't end up in this position in the end of the year where we have over two $2.9 million dollars that needs to be moved around because of um you know u um improper budgeting. You know, the budget should be finalizing as close as possible to what they're um what they're being appropriated to begin with. It shouldn't be a scenario where we're moving, you know, uh $1.5 million from one place to to another place where there's an obvious need. and and we know that there's a significant amount of services that are being provided via um overtime. So, this is really just it's a terribly irresponsible process. It's not how we should be going through these things at the last day because what what power does the council have in making these decisions on where this money needs to be needs needs to go? So, it's it's showing, you know, irresponsible budgeting um and and it's really not being um you know, prudent on on the services that's being required and when it's when it's forcing employees in certain divisions such as the the city clerk's office and the city council's office to have to bear and grunt down and bear extra burden because they're not being permitted to hire the appropriate staff. And also make this last point, that money that's being transferred into the um division of personnel, I really want to get a a better outline on where that money has

is going. Um because we know that there was a bunch of inappropriate activity going on within the personnel. There was people who were friends of the former director that was given pay increases that was first of all that was hired that should have never been hired within the city. they were given uh 10,000 pay increases without the appropriate signatures and then um here we are validating it at the end of the year allowing for this additional money to be transferred into that department and it's really not being um um responsible. So my last question that I have and I'm not sure if Mr. CFO can answer this question or Mr. Harry Sabales, but um and I know that it it's it's not necessarily directly pertaining to um the uh budget transfers, but how much this year do we allocate or do we spend on road resurfacing in in a totality?

Good evening. Go ahead, Mr. I apologize, Mr. Ba. Yes. Uh, good evening, council members. Uh, CFO, you had that available or you want me to compile of all the contracts that we did 2025? Uh, we're we're going to have to email that to you, Councilman. That's a capital money. I don't have that here. Okay. All right. If you can email it to me, I'd appreciate it. including, you know, all of the various um pots of money that was utilized to accomplish what was what was done um this past year.

Thank you, Council Jackson. Right before I right before um you, Council Member, um Mr. CFO, um I know this is something that's done every year to close out. What was uh the approximate total of transfer for the last two years at the closeout meeting? I would have to get that information from Councilwoman. I don't have those two transfers in front of me. So, can you provide that information? I I want to see if it's comparable to the 2.9 million. Was it drastically less than that? Um I I just want to see what those numbers are. If you can send that to us at a later date, I will I would be um grateful to receive that. Council member Le.

Yeah. Last question to CFO. Uh CFO at any chance uh in this transfer money that we doing today [clears throat] uh tonight uh do we owe uh money to the any uh uh balance uh to any old contract retroactive to the police department? Do we owe uh to the police department? Yeah, I have to double check. I don't think so. Um we just agreed on a I have to double check. Councilman. Okay. If you if if you agree on that when We just agreed on a new deal for um S SOA which hasn't come through council yet. Okay. When was that deal uh uh done?

Uh I want to say maybe a month ago, a month and a half ago. Month ago. And and and the numbers are clear and the totals are clear. Well, it hasn't gone through you guys yet. So, no, but that that's okay. I understand. But you in your side the numbers are clear and um you just have to bring it to us, right? Yes. And why it was not in the last two payments? If it was a month of greed in the past two months, uh it has to go through it has to go through DCA. They have to approve it

and it has to come to the finance committee as well. It hasn't been presented yet and we also need to see the ratified membership vote. So there's a few steps before that happens. Council member Le um we're we're not there yet. They just had this conversation. I believe last week. So, there's like three more steps before it even gets before the council. All right. Thank you. You're welcome. Roll call. Madam clerk, Councilwoman, I do have a question. Council colleague.

Thank you, Mr. CFO. So, total transfer is 2.9 million whatever. Um, will this department spend all the money by end of the year? Yes, this is the money that's already encumbered sir. Okay. So your your prediction is this money um that we transferring from various department this department which is going to uh they will uh they will spend their money by end of the year. That's a projection. Correct. Yes. Thank thank you so much.

Thank you. Roll call madam clerk. on item number one. Roll call on item number one for adoption. Um, Councilwoman [clears throat] Cotton, Councilwoman Davilla. Yes. Thank you, Councilman Jackson.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Just for a point of clarity for the last question that was just asked here, we are moving um just days away from the final final um you finalization of the calendar year. And I mean, you you know, it would have to be um we would have to go on a spending spree in order to go out with $2 million and just, you know, letting it rain someplace in order for um for us to to to to even fathom that we're going to have this money is going to be able to be utilized or spent by the end of the year. That's not really what happened. What happened was this money has been expended already and it's uh possibly it's running a deficit. So we that you know we're just technically taking care of it on paper but it was already utilized for these situations you know which which is a blatant disregard of the council's oversight of the budgeting process. It talks it says a lot um about the council's negligence and in being responsible for um holding the administration accountable. And here we are in the final hour. you know, we have a list and we really really don't have any choice. Um, you know, if the council was to vote against many of these things today and say, "Oh, well, you know, we're going to move these things around." It really just uh delineates the the the uh the the the the council and the administration and and totally flips over the um the the roles in which being which is supposed to have been played for the council to be um over oversight have oversight over the budgeting process. So you know my fellow council members we failed the community yet again. We've allowed this administration to basically dictate how and where they want to spend money as opposed to looking at the the the

responsibilities of what they um should be uh uh required to provide and making sure that the residents best concerns are being met through our authority of the budgeting process. So, you know, yet again, you know, this is a failing grade and I'm not going to be in support of it. Madame Clerk, my vote is no. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Khalik.

Thank you. Uh madame clerk, if my council colleague, some of the council colleague had this email in front of in front of them the papers, they would not be asking all this correction. It's simple on papers. Every year, every municipalities go through the same process. You cannot predict for each department exactly dollar to cents. And we have over over $300 million budget budget. And of course at the end of the year you have you have to appropriate and reshuffle the money um from one department to another department. Every company does that. Everybody does it. Also we not here some of the council member want to give raises to everybody. As a council body we're not here to give raises. Every member of the workforce of city of Patterson they have a uh union they have a contract they have on on the contract is is is specifically it's pretty clear most of the contract has 2% uh raises every year um so um this is a simple um things that happen every year end of the year and my vote is yes madam cler

thank you, Councilman Mendes.

Um, thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, I was trying to, you know, get as much information as I can and try to ask the right question to see if uh if the CF focs because yes, here we are and I and I I was mute. I didn't have chance to talk, but it's all good. It's all fine. So, here we are. We are the last inning. We tried to uh transfer $2.9 million. And I understand that all the municipality do that. But let me tell you, when you have a when you have a budget that you have control on and those department, you don't transfer 1.8 million to you don't rush it to transfer $1.8 million to one department, $200,000 to another department without a detail an explanation on detail on how we're going to spend that money. Uh that's not what I see on the private sector. I think that I make a comment at one of the last meeting that that we got to do better when it come to the budget, when it come to budget hearing, when it comes to us working on the budget, listening to the director because uh at the at the end at the end is what every administration is saying and look where we are at the last inning and and without any explanation. And as a legislator, I will feel the only way I will feel comfortable voting on this number is by knowing, listen, we putting this amount of money because X Y and Z. There's got to be an explanation behind that. And that's not responsible. That's not We're not transferring 20,000 to$7,000 5,000. No, we're transferring $2.9 million and over a million dollars to one department at the last inning. I don't feel comfortable voting on this and uh my vote is no. Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Thank you, Councilman Omar. Thank you, Madam Clerk. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Uden. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Dez.

So, um I got to pick back what Councilman Khal say. We are over $300 million budget a year. That's a serious serious note there. Other municipality have 14 million budget 5 million budget small surrounding a prosper card the budget is small uh held in budget is small. So moving forward, you know, coming next year, we have to look deep into the finance audit that the city always gets because that will tell us clear what are the downfalls of finance of this administration or any administration that comes forward. So we had to make sure that when those audit comes in, you know, we take time in in the workshop or in the regular meeting to to examinate it to discuss it, right? And to make sure that if that looks good, the negative or the bad will make us clear what we doing in the finance part. you know, at this point, you know, um coming in the last minute without no public input without not looking to the opinion of what really this city need in behalf [clears throat] of the residents, you know, and um just moving like playing cards and I cannot I cannot support this transfer at this point. My vote is no.

Thank you, council president. So to the public, [clears throat and cough] budget transfers is a process that is done every year. This is not the first time it's done. It's been done under other council presidents. I mean, every year this happens. The purpose of a budget transfer is to close out the calendar year of its financial activities within the city of Patterson. The transfer realigns appropriations within department budgets to ensure that there's no deficiencies when it comes to their year-end obligations. A question was asked on tonight with the money, will this suffice to make sure everyone meets their obligations? The answer is yes. However, if it fails, the answer will be no. And there will be over expenditures in each of these departments. The purpose of this process is not a new process. is not that someone did not do their job. And every municipality and every job, corporation, business, whatever you entity you may have, you always have a budget transfer at the end of the year. This is nothing new. It is the same process. It was 2.8 million. I asked the CFO, I just found the document from last year. It was $2.8 million. um last year the budget transfer close out and the year before that it was $2.6 million. So it is the same process at the end of the year to make sure that our departments are able to function and to allow them to do what's necessary between now and the end of the calendar year. So with that being said, to be fiscally responsible, Madame Clerk, I know it requires a twothirds vote um and we will not have that. Um and I just wanted to put it on the record. So, um, in next year's, um, audit, there will be over expenditures. Madame clerk, my vote is yes.

Thank you. The votes are five in favor, three against, one absent. Resolution number one fails. Thank you, Madam Clerk. At this time, to the viewing public, our agenda is complete. We are now going to open up the public portion. For those that would like to participate in the public portion, please call 973 3211579 and press star three to be added to the speaker's queue. I will repeat that would like to participate. Council member,

I was muted when I was trying to reconsider my vote. You did a good explanation. That's why I make Okay. So, um, Madame Clerk, I can, um, I can retract my vote, uh, for Councilman, who is asking to reconsider his vote. Councilman,

no, no, no. It doesn't work that way. It doesn't work that way. She, the madam clerk already called the vote. That vote is done. In order for in order for that for us to reopen, a member of the uh the prevailing part prevailing uh side must make a motion which needs to have a second in order to have a a vote to reopen the vote. It doesn't you just don't I want to reconsider after so you're making Yeah, I want to make a motion to reconsider the whole vote. So you need a second from the other two members that voted. No, [clears throat]

the the second has to come from one of the council members that voted no. Is there a second? That's not true. Council President, the the a member from the prevailing side must be the makes the motion. Anyone else? Oh, there's a second on the floor. Councilman Dava made a second. Roll call to reconsider this vote. Madame clerk, roll call to reconsider the vote. Uh, Councilwoman Dava. Yes, Councilman Jackson.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, you know, to the members of the public, this is just a a clear example. You know, you have a a sitting council members who've been here for a substantial amount of time, who've done multiple um terms and don't understand the process in which the council operates. More importantly, to say that it's it's routine to move $2.9 million is an absolute force. the the council's budgeting process has to be a responsible process in which our budgeting ends somewhere close a 10 percentile of each department. We should not be moving around $1.5 million to a department that's obvious in need. It shouldn't this is not a normal practice and for you know any council member to you know depict that you know this is just normal and routine just undermines the council's authority and undermines the council's ability to be financially prudent and um I can't support this it's it's it's just it's laughable. Listen, find a space in representing the public and stand on it. Don't change your vote because oh it's going to fail you getting a text message that you that you're mand being mandated to change your vote and don't um you know uh uh give false narrative to the public of this is just routine because it's not this is a failure and and again the council gets definitely gets a grade of an F. Madame clerk my vote is no.

Thank you Council Councilman Khalik. Thank you madam clerk. Um, my vote is yes, Council Mendes.

Um, thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, I just was very clear on my last explanation. When you transfer $1.8 $8 million straight to one department because it was a over expenditure. is very clear that the administration was not watching how that department is suspended the morning whether it's an overtime or other matter or other issue and and that's definitely I cannot support that and moving forward when this type of a transfer happen it's got to be a detail it's got to be a conversation before this uh you cannot throw this into the last inning in in order for us to make a smart decision you got there's got to be a conversation a deep conversation behind this and I'm looking forward to hype the budget hearing a better way uh a budget hearing uh directly from each director, not the administration because the director at the end is the only one that knows exactly what is needed on his department and he's the one that will be holding accountable and the administration to perform and they're not the one giving us the number that we approve at the end. So my vote is no madam clerk.

Thank you Councilman Omar. My vote is my vote is yes madam clerk. Councilman Uden, my yes mad. Thank you. Councilman, uh, Council President, this is to reconsider to go back and vote or this is the final statements. This is the reconsideration vote to go to go and vote again. Yes. Okay. Yes. To consider

reconsider. Council president. Yes. So just right before and I will be very quick. Please look at the document that was emailed. We talk about recreation and we mentioning the 1.8 million. The 1.8.5 million is for recreation. So madame clerk, my vote is yes to reconsider. Thank you. Okay. The votes are six in favor, one absent, two against. The votes to reconsider is is Pass. Roll call. Roll call to vote on item number one. Madam clerk, roll call to vote on item number one. Councilwoman Dava.

Yes. Councilman Jackson.

Thank you, Madame Clerk. I have turkey, bacon, and eggs with cheese over easy. Um with my pancakes, please. Um these pancakes are bubbling. They need to be flipped. Uh it's amazing how council members come here to eat breakfast and flipping um all over the place. We have to be responsible. This is not budgeting. This is not the council. You know, we spend more attention on naming streets and cutting ribbons and having celebrations and you know getting people together for for for us to sit here and not do our job. If recreation is obviously in need, then there should be this this should have been budgeted for to begin with. So we can make sure that the services that are needed and required are being outlined from [snorts] the start of the year. We should not be sitting here, you know, at the end of the year and allowing, you know, certain departments to be choked out with the finances that they laid out in the beginning of the year that they need and then allow these these these these funds to be directed into places that the council now has no control. The point of budgeting is because is to to allow the council to have full and complete control over the budgeting process. And people, ladies and gentlemen, you are watching it here tonight. You have people who are in positions for more than a decade that don't even understand the process in which the council is supposed to function, let alone the budgeting process. Madame clerk, my vote is going to be consistent. Although I eat pancakes, I don't flip like one. My vote is no.

Thank you Councilman Khal.

Thank you madame clerk. I think all my council colleague are very competent. They know exactly what are they doing. They know exactly what are doing in football time sometime. Exactly. Everything is funny to councilman Jackson. Um sometime in football term councilman Jackson you call out while budget process or throughout the year going on sometime uh some of the department need more emergency so you're not going to say no end of the year that money you appropriate from the any department that spend this is the the department that we transferring to they basically overspend and the the one from they underspend the budget, the amount that we budgeted beginning of the year. It's simple as that. That's that's how I look at it. And obviously the documents are right in front of us. And my vote is yes, madame.

Thank you, Councilman. Mendes. What is Madam Clerk? Thank you, Councilman Omar. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman Uden, my vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman VZ.

So, moving forward once again, and you know, I'm not going to go after Councilman Jackson because he always his vote is always no. And he's been consistent on that since the past eight years that he be sitting there, nine years. And you know, I'm not going to go against, we all know that he's going to vote no everything that comes uh into the any administration. He be sitting here though. Uh but one of the things I got to say is and council president stated that's that's one of the things that moved me to make this decision is that in the past council Mendes was president and he allowed to move 2.5 2.6 while he was president. I'm not going to sit here and eat my own vomit now that I'm running for mayor. Okay. Now that I'm running for mayor. Oh, we need him to be fiscally responsible in five months. Okay, now let's be clear in this aspect. If I attack something and then I'm going to turn around because I'm running for mayor then that's for me it's hypocrites. But what really made my decision this point is that council president really uh um and it may make clear that some department managed quite good their budget that's why we be able to transfer today. So knowing that there's a needs that had to be met January 1st is social security pension pay the agreement of any contract still pending out there to pay them DPW needs recreation needs and the word that really make me change council president it was a word wisdom

we don't want to start We're over spending. So I want to make sure that the administration understand that we are moving forward but we have to make sure that we have this deep discussion moving forward and not rush the discussion of budget and making sure the community come forward uh um and making sure that they get input. So saying that uh this is a fresh start for this administration and making sure it's going to be tough in the next 6 months and keep this in mind. Don't eat your own vomit because before was good, now it's bad. So I got to be clear on that. So saying that my vote is yes toward.

Council President Thank you. Did you call me councilman? Did you call me madam clerk? Okay. So, thank you. I think enough time has been spent um to the public. Um one thing I will say is that the packet was not sent out on Friday um because we did not receive the information, but as soon as it was received to the clerk's office, it was emailed out to all of the council members. And that's why I made the request in the middle of the conversation and discussion that everyone would be a be able to see it line by line. I'm actually sitting in the office. Although um July 1st when we had our our reorganization meeting, our last meeting was voted on to be virtual. So with that being stated to our employees, your payments are here. I am not going to sit here and not pay employees and take care of the basic necessities of the city cuz that's what this close out is about to make sure that these things are done and in this proper place and to ensure that we are being fiscally responsible. Madame clerk, with that being stated, my vote was yes and my vote remains yes.

Madam clerk. Yes, sir. I'm sorry. I need to reconsider my vote. Please, Councilman Jackson.

And I and I apologize to the public. This is only because of, you know, some uh negligent statements that are being made. First of all, yes. I I mean, I would have to acknowledge myself that I've been the most consistent voting with my voting. It is not true that I only vote no. I vote yes on anything that I believe is properly done and properly, you know, and beneficial to the public. for us to move $850,000 from the library and then give the money to wherever with 70 plus,000 or whatever the case might be to personnel and not that's not being responsible in our process of budgeting holding the administration accountable. We haven't had one budget hearing this entire year. We have not allowed them to come forward. It has been a total irresponsible action by the council to to to mark this as a routine uh behavior is just showing the council's derelict misunderstanding of its responsibility. We have a responsibility to the public. We have a responsibility to make sure that all of the departments are adequately funded so that they can render services to the public. to say that well we don't have a responsibility to give certain um you know um departments raises. Well, we all know that in personnel the the the outgoing personnel director gave illegal raises to certain members of of her staff without this council's authority without 375s being signed off on. So no, this is not being responsible. And for those who have who are willing to change, it is amazing as a council person with such tenure. And Councilman, I I give you a lot of credit because you you you you ask a lot of pertinent questions through the process, but then to be compelled in the final minute, in a matter of seconds by council president, no, it's not what she said that compelled you. It is the

result of the vote that actually called for you to go back in and have to vote again because you knew that it was not gonna that it wasn't going to pass. So that's not being responsible to the public. And for anybody that's painting the picture and yes, Councilman uh Mendes in his tenure as council president, if you go back and count all those votes, I did not vote in the affirmative. I did not change my vote once because I was the chairman of of the f vice chair of finance or chairman of public safety and or the vice president. I never did that. I've always been very consistent when it comes to us being responsible for budgeting and for us to allow for this administration to hijack close to a million dollars from the library and yet we're saying that we we love the the the the activities that we need to support for our youth. You're lying. You're lying or you don't understand the job that you're doing. And obviously from tonight's meeting, there's both item both uh aspects of that have some merit. So, I'm going to stand firmly upon what I what I vote for, and I never flipped, never ever have I betrayed the public's trust, and I won't start now. I've been very consistent in my voting. And this was very irresponsible. And I'm hoping that some of the young, you know, my young colleagues, Mr. Omar and and Udin start understanding what's going on also because just voting yes and not not even having an understanding or at least an explanation of why at least these guys they lie but they come up with something creative and and and it's uh you know it's it's it's disheartening but madam clerk my vote is no

thank you the vote council president council president may I one sec council member yeah c thank you council president one second council Yes. Because you

as you have spoken, I am asking you. I know you're going to do a a a rebuttal, but I'm asking you to make it very brief so we can close out and get to public portion. I mean, the community is watching and the votes are already here. So, I don't want the community to see a back and forth because of statements that are made and then someone responds and you keep the community is watching and it becomes embarrassing. So, if you could be very brief so we can move on to public portion um so that um our public we can hear from the public. Council member Le very briefly, please.

Correct. Real briefly, Council President. And and this is what I'm going to say and and and I'm not going to rebuild Councilman Jackson. Uh he [clears throat] got the right to say what he wanted to say. But to the audience out there out of four of out of four words that I mentioned and one that I mentioned council president was overspending I mentioned four that are more stronger. So one of them is social security employee social security had to get paid. If they get hurt or something happened or they had to go to social security and ask for retirement early retirement and get pay at least they got that payment there. Second pension people that serve our community needs to get paid. The third one, DPW understaffing with our equipment. They need that money to be able to have our street clean our sweeper working and and and at least lift the morale that they the money is there so they could use it for those street that we always call to make sure they get cut and and and trim or whatever, you know, from DPW and also recreation. We're not hurting the library. That means the library have managed their budget. some money got there and saved and then we could use it for other things. I know we're coming back and budget again and we're going to budget again the library the way it's supposed to be budget but that's responsibility of administration to make fear that the budget reflect the community need four items that I mentioned based on one did not really move me but was overspending and it's strong one council president and I use that one because it's true we don't want to go over spending now we want to be fiscal responsibility let's vote we already vote on it I think is is is good to move forward. It will give a zero start to the administration making sure that when the budget comes in we don't see overspending and we could balance that budget to make sure that every department and every employee be benefit

on it. So saying that I could continue saying yes to something that's good for our community. Thank you madame clerk. Please call the votes.

The votes are six in favor, two against, one absent. Resolution number one is hereby adopted. Thank you so much. Um to the viewing public once again the agenda is done. Um at this time we're asking um Ryan I'm not sure if we have anyone for public portion to anyone speaking just to uh allow you to understand you have three minutes. The it automatic the system automatically cuts you off in 3 minutes. So please make sure within your three minute time frame that you um state your purpose of what you want. Please call in 973 3211579 star 3. Madame clerk, do we have any speakers?

Council President, we have no speakers. Council President, there was someone who was inboxing me asking for the um for the pin. I I think that uh it I don't know if the announcement was made. Yes, I've made it four times, but I'll announce it again. If you would like to call in, please call 973 3211579 and press star three. So you have to press uh you have to do the uh meeting ID number too, council president. Oh, sorry. Meeting ID number 8326. I'm sorry.

I think that was the the issue. Someone is saying that um she's giving star three. That's not the code to call in. And 8326 meeting ID 8326

and then press star one to listen to the meeting and star three to be added to the speaker queue. We will give it a minute or two. Um, especially for the person that is trying to get through. Um, Ryan, are there still any callers in the queue?

No, no callers. Council President, I'd just like to say that um I do have to leave. Okay. So, I'm just letting you know that I'm leaving the meeting. Okay. Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman.

CO move to close it. Uh second a councilman. We have a motion to close and a second. Motion to close by council member Alles. Second by Councilman Khalik. Roll call to close public portion. Madam clerk. Roll call to close the public portion. Councilwoman Dav has left. Uh Councilman Jackson. Thank you madam. The person disconnected or person disconnected.

Yeah, because people are trying to call in. I mean, this is a blatant violation of sunshine. And I move my I move my motion. Not my We We didn't properly announce for the public to have uh adequate access. We We announced it less than 30 seconds later. that someone's making a motion to close up the portion is ridiculous.

Well, also I want to put on the record that this was published as well. So, not just in the meeting that it also was published, but I will repeat it again. If anyone is looking to participate, please call 973 3211579. The meeting ID is 8326 and please press star three to be added to the speaker's queue. Is there a speaker, madam clerk? Yes. Ryan is um putting them through now.

Yes. Hello. Yes. Good evening. Hello. Yes. M Asar Patterson, New Jersey. You guys can hear me? Yes. I don't hear me. Um, we can hear you. Can hear you.

Okay. Right. You know what I'm saying? I sincerely ask that over this whatever you call holiday vacation or whatever you guys are taking that you guys really step back and take a look at who you here to serve. Like you done got into a position. You just forgot who you're here to serve. You're serving yourself. That's not what you got elected for. saying you really have to be able to take I'm saying it's such a criticism. You're not always right. Everything you do, you're never wrong. And I truly hope you're not raising your grandbaby in that concept. You know what I'm saying? Secondly, there's no way if I'm working at my job, I can get up and go to the bathroom five or six times, take emergency calls, etc., etc. You put all these demands on the public. three minute limit, can't get no overtime in the speak or whatever, you got to do this, you got to do that. Apply some of that to yourself. You guys get up and leave the meeting or you say if you think somebody came to address you, kind of leadership is that I sincerely hope that while you guys on this vacation because when you come back, it's election season and it's up. I'm saying so you really need to step back and be able to handle some constructive criticism. You're not always right. Nobody is always right. You can't be wrong. Accept it. Stop giving the money away saying to the administration to just do what they want to do with it. That's not what the city that is not your position. You do not work for the mayor. You work for us. If you don't understand that, you don't believe it, you need to know election time is here. So when you come back at the January, February, March, it's signed. So get ready to put your platform out there because we coming to

check that you told Bal Hakim that the next meeting was going to be held and you know it's going to be held saying virtual. You didn't tell him that cuz he saved what he had to say to the next meeting think it's going to be a next meeting and it's not a next meeting. It's virtual. You never mention that. Stop being a hypocrite. You're not all say dooms say. You got a certain position. You're going to hold that pos that president position for a couple of months. It's going to be somebody else turn. And be able to accept that when it come back to you, when it come back to all of you. Peace be upon you. I hope whatever you celebrate, you have a good year and blessing. But listen, stop doing this to the people. Please stop. You're not all set off. If I was at a job and I went to the bathroom five times, I'd be fired. Fired. Soon as somebody get ready to speak, you guys got to go to the bathroom. You got to emergency call. You got to do this. You got to do that. Apply some of that decorum to yourself and stop applying it to us. We elected you. You didn't elect us. Please.

Thank you. Um, no more speakers, Madam Clerk. No more speakers. No more speaking. Is there a motion? Move to close. Move to close by Councilman Bles. Second by Council President Mims. Roll call to close the meeting of uh December 23rd, 2025. Madam clerk, roll call to close the meeting. The um closeout meeting. Um Councilwoman Councilman Jackson. Yes. Councilman Khik. Yes. Councilman Mendes.

Uh, thank you, Madam Clerk. So, before uh just um very quick before my last vote, uh I want to take this time to wish all my resident uh a merry Christmas and a new happy new year, new year 2026 full of love and blessing. Let's put God first. Let's put God in the center of our family in front of our future project. And I I I just I was answering a text, you know, but uh uh one of my constituent asked me like so why you never answer and yeah, why you never you know rebuttal and I I told my constituent that I'm I'm a very classy u elected official. I respect all my colleagues opinion. I never throw jobs by my council colleague. That's not that's not the reason why I'm here. I'm a very classy person and I and I'm responsible for the way I conduct myself. Um I'm very responsible for the way I conduct myself. So that's me and everybody know the way I am. I'm all about business, nothing personal. Uh but Pis 2026 is going to be a very uh it's going to be a big year. Uh you know, let's let's stay together. Let's pray for our city. We're facing a lot of challenging. We're facing a lot of ch a lot of challenges right now. Just have to go out and see what we're going through. Love your family. Help those in need. I would like to encourage my panasonia that if you know somebody that is going to have dinner alone, if you know somebody that doesn't have any family tomorrow, call that person, give them a call, you know, invite them to eat with you. Invite them to the table to have dinner with you. Let's hug somebody. We have a lot of family here that they are on their own. They don't have anybody to spend Christmas with. Let's be kind with those people, you know. Let's love our brothers and sister. We need more love in our community. and let's pray for the city of Paris and God bless you all and let's make this 2020 city a great year. Piso, my vote is yes, Mad Clerk Pis.

Thank you, Councilman Omar. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Uden. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman, this is to close a public portion. My vote is yes. Yes. Correct. Council President.

Yes. So to close a public portion. So, I want to say very briefly, I agree with the speaker. Thank you so much, as I say every week, to anyone that calls in from the public to take time away from their busy schedules. I agree that no one is always right. But I do want to bring clarity to a statement that was made that it was not stated that the meeting was virtual. The meeting was posted from July 1st of this year that the closeout meeting will be virtual and it was voted on by all council members because the c the dates of our meetings are uh they are voted on and they're scheduled a year in advance. So our meetings are already scheduled all the way up until June 30th of next year. Secondly, in our [clears throat] last meeting, if you go back and listen to the tape, you'll hear me say at the end that our meeting on Tuesday will be virtual. Not made a decision by myself. It was a decision made in our calendar uh that was created for the whole year for 2025 2026 and all council members voted um for that calendar. That is done every year. This is not a new process. It is the same process every year and it was stated and published as such that this meeting will be virtual. Um with that stated madam clerk, my vote is yes to close the public portion.

Thank you. The votes are seven in favor to absent. Public portion is now closed. Motion to close the meeting. Motion to close the meeting by Councilman um Mendes. Second. Councilman Oar. Roll call to close the meeting. Madam clerk, roll call to close the the closeout meeting uh of December 23rd, 2025. Councilman Jackson.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um so to the public, I'm wishing everyone a happy holiday and um hoping that everyone's family is well. Um [clears throat] just for a point of clarity um council president I I I do understand and I agree that you know the the um the outline of our scheduled meetings was in fact voted upon um in the year

but uh the it doesn't necessarily mean that the count that the public has access to it. I think what people have were were were suggesting is that there was not um uh and that not to not to insinuate that this that it's required but it is in good practice just to let people know and make be made aware that um our meetings are going to be held differently mostly because you know I think that it should be a practice that when we're going virtual all city employees everyone should be required to be on camera the public is entitled to know who is responsible for what, who's making decisions on what, and everyone who's being paid by the city of Patterson, specifically employees, should be one required to be on camera. We're here, you know, they're being paid to work here and, you know, um, the synenographers on camera, so everybody else should be on camera. Nobody should be, you know, um reading off uh uh public material um without uh showing themselves and and presenting themselves to the public. Um secondly, and more importantly, I think that, you know, the way in which this meeting was handled today was was poor at its best. Um, you know, there's there's several people who have been texting saying they've been trying to get on and the process is uh uh hi councilman, I've been trying to get log in, but it keeps cancelling my calls. So, um, it's not a very it's a very cumbersome process and we should make it, you know, a lot easier. In fact, we should

we should open up a portal um for members of the public to also be uh uh be allowed to come on and and and have their faces shown uh on this on this this platform. It's very uh uh capable of of doing so. we have the capacity to, you know, control it and uh we should allow people to have a login to to make it a lot less um um you know uh uh difficult for people to log in and and that's just my opinion. But obviously, you know, this is done with the intention to um to sideline or muffle the public's responses, which is, you know, which is not healthy. Um you know, I I'll rest it there. I hope that everyone ends the year well. And to those who are calling in and inquiring on why, you know, certain council members don't have a rebuttal is because they are incapable of doing so. I mean, you know, if there's a a full understanding of the process, we wouldn't be in the position that we are in. And there's not very much that could be challenged when when there's factual context that's being brought to the table. So, I'm urging everyone to to be mindful of that. and you know for you know all our voters to get you know get yourselves geared up because uh you know if our city you know is ever going to realize a true and actual change we have to make the effort to change it. With that being said madam clerk I appreciate your time. My vote is yes.

Thank you Councilman Councilman Khalague. Thank you Madame Clerk. uh to my council colleagues, um madame clerk, to the residents of Patterson, everyone have a happy holidays and happy new year as well. Um good night everyone. My vote is yes. Thank you, Councilman Mendes. Councilman Mendes, you're on mute, Councilman.

Thank you. Thank you, Mad Clerk. I appreciate it. So before my vote butter c I got a picture right now 10 and east 29 field cold didn't pass by that coordinate 10 and east 29 yesterday this supposed passed by yesterday I just got a picture tonight there's a large amount of garbage there if we could let uh BPW director u Billy knows about this that way they could reach out to Phil I don't know the reason why but all the garbage is on the container based on the picture that I look at that I'm watching and it's regular garbage 10 avenue 10 and it's 29 uh spot of the third for so Pis before my vote I want to say thank you. Thank you to all the resident that for participating over on our animal toys giveaway. It was amazing the amount of people that we have. We have a beautiful float. We went through the all over the place in Patterson third war, fifth war, fourth war, first war. Uh we miss uh a large portion of uh council second war but we passed by some of the street but it was a lot it was a beautiful was a lot of fun. We gave out toys to hundreds of children. We put a lot of smile on our children uh face. Uh tomorrow I'll be visiting some family that requested that text me. Uh but you know, so we have some toys for some of the family that send me those texts. I have the I have them on the list. So I'm looking forward to pass by early tomorrow and drop those toys for the children. Tomorrow is Christmas. Once again, Patterson, let me wish you all a merry Christmas. Um you know, and a new year full of love and blessing and health. You know, we got to be healthy. We got to ask God for help. You know, we going through a we have a lot of people in our families, in our community struggling, going through a lot. So, so let's pray for our community and let's put God first because I know 2026 is going to be a phenomenal phenomenal phenomenal year. Patterson, God bless you all. Merry Christmas and happy new year. Patterson, good night. I vote yes, Madam Clerk.

Thank you, Council Councilman Omar.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um to the city of Patterson and to everyone else, I want to wish you guys a happy holidays, merry Christmas, and a happy new year, Bis Navididad. And also uh to the six board residents. I will be doing a uh I will be bringing Santa to uh the six ward. So look out for the look out here. Look out for the sirens. Uh we are going to make our best effort to get to every street. If you do live on a dead end street, please come out to the corner. And uh you know it's a it's one of the best ways to spread holiday cheers. And uh with that being said, madame clerk, I want to wish you a happy holidays, merry Christmas uh and a happy new year. And to all my council colleagues, I'd like to wish you guys a happy holiday, merry Christmas, and a happy new year. And um thank you. My vote is yes to my vote is yes, madam clerk.

Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Uden. Councilman Uden. Okay, he's not there anymore. Councilman VeZ. Councilman VZ.

Thank you, Council uh Madame Clerk. Uh first of all, it have been a tough year for the municipal government. Uh we have lost our clerk. uh bad situation have occurred and um and I got to say that I'm blessed that God have hold me and continue serving for the city of Patterson. As I always say, we not all perfect, but we always try to reach the perfection that God's allow us to be. I don't use the word of God just because it's like eating peanuts or whatever. Some people will use it like real liberal and pug and everything that they say or do. But the action speak by itself. Let's just pray for everyone. Let's keep on saying if we going to be united, be united for real. And if we gonna pray for each other, let's pray for each other for real. Um, thank you, Councilman Mendes, for going through the fifth word and Marcus Frie almost four times. I thought that nobody received the message, but your floor was four time in one street. So that that means that you like the fifth word though. But um um I enjoying it. Uh let's take in mind that when um when people are using flow uh to try to abide with the noise ordinance because sometime decel go so high that it will make our cars alarm go off. Seniors especially I receive few call not a 100 call like everybody say I receive a 100

calls or text few calls from some seniors that uh they ill and um sometimes this kind of noise or whatever uh disturb their peace. So let's keep in mind our seniors especially in the fifth for that I have a lot of seniors. Um let's keep on doing our work. Uh 2025 is almost ending. 2026 is around the corner and let's do what we have to do. Everybody has the conscious. Everybody has things to do and let's make sure that we deliver what the last speaker said. They got we got elected because them to serve them and that's what we doing. Councilwoman Mintz has been here for two terms already and she's being servant. You like the way you like it. like the way she does it. But every council here in this in this city council have their way to serve. People will like it, some people won't like it. But the important thing that the service is getting delivered and please understand that our position in the city of Patterson is a legislative service legislative part making sure that we create ordinance and making sure the administration is running the right way that everybody expect any administration. So um thank you to all the city employees for their service. Thank you for the Patterson Police Department and Fire Department and all the city employees that have gave their service in this 2025. Harry Sabalo, we competing praying for your dad and praying for your family and thank you for your service and taking command of

an important office that I know you're going to do quite good. And Melinda, thank you for your patient. and um also uh Raphael Gonzalez always up there and behind the cameras with his expertise to make us look good. Man clerk for your staff. I'm always grateful and to the staff of the city council, our secretary and to all our aid that we uh appoint to make sure that our job are quite easy. And to my lovely wife, thank you for allowing me to be her husband and at the same time her counseling. God bless you all. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas and God bless the city of Patterson. And my vote is yes to close this.

Thank you. Thank you, council. Council President,

thank you. So, first and foremost, I want to say to our employees of this great city that work day in and day out doing an amazing job. sometimes with limited resources, limited personnel, um, and just limited ability for many other reasons, right? Dealing with deaths in your family, sickness, illness, your family members, and so many things that have transpired over the course of the 20, 25 years. I just want to say thank you to all of you. Thank you to our residents um, as well for all that you have encountered, you have endured, all of our staff, our secretaries, our aids, to all of our council colleagues. I want to say thank you to all of you as well for the sacrifices that you make serving your various wards or serving the entire city of Patterson and working alongside of the administration. Are we perfect? No. Do we make mistakes? Yes. Do we ask questions? Yes, we do. Do we attend committee meetings? I can say for myself, yes. Do we come to our workshops and our council meetings? I can say for myself, yes. There are many things that we can do better. There are some things that we've done great and I just believe that we have to continue to work together because in order for us to move the city forward, it is going to take collaboration, connectivity, and to make sure that we are concerned about what concerns the residents of this great city of Patterson. To all of our residents, happy Hanukkah, happy Quanza, merry Christmas. Um, happy birthday. [clears throat] Um to myself, my birthday is Saturday. Um and I know our council with Vice President Dava, her birthday was on the 19th. So I want to say happy birthday to all that are celebrating birthdays in the month of December and all that are celebrating anniversaries. One of the things that I will close and I will say as we close out 2025, 2025 has been a year of challenges, but it's also have been a year of

celebration. We have to choose what we want most. whether it is peace or chaos. And I choose peace. God is a God of peace. God is a God of love. And in order for us to embrace and move the city forward, we have to operate in all of the above. With that being stated, to the public, to my uh to Madame Clerk, to our BA, the administration, to our my council colleagues, and everyone that watches our meetings, whether it's in the city of Patterson or all over the world. Thank you for your calls. Thank you for your text messages. Thank you for providing information and even criticism to make us do a better job in serving you as the as the public that we love and were born and raised in. Madame clerk, with that said to all of you, have a wonderful 2025. For the remaining days, um, as we come back in 2026, let's do things bigger, better, and wiser. Madame clerk, my vote is yes.

Thank you, Council President. The votes are six in favor, three absent. The meeting, the closeout meeting of December 23rd, 2025 is hereby adjourned. God bless you, Patterson. Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Happy holidays, everybody. Happy hell years.