Council - Special Meeting

We're live. We're live. We're live. Welcome. Everyone, on behalf of the Patterson Municipal Council, I welcome you to the special meeting of February 26, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. The meeting is now called to order. Madame Clerk, please call the role. Yes, Council President. Um, roll call for the special virtual meeting of February 26. Councilwoman Cotton here. Councilwoman Davala here. Councilman Jackson. Councilman Khik here. Councilman Mendes.

Councilman Omar. Present. Madam Clerk. Councilman Newton. I'm here, Madam Cler. Thank you. Councilman VeZ. President. Madame Clerk. Thank you for your service. Thank you, Council President. I'm here, Madam Clerk. Okay. We have seven present. So, um, I'm sorry, Madam Cler. I'm present. Sorry. Okay. All right. Thank you. So, we have eight present at this time. Madam clerk, please read the 48 hour notice and the special verdict special virtual meeting.

Meeting covered by 48 hour notice. Notice of the time, date, location, and agenda of this meeting was transmitted to the North Jersey Herald News. The record, the Arabic voice, the Italian voice, the county pulse, Dominicanana News, Laiskea International, Ellispiel, the Patterson Press, The City Post News, Tap into Patterson, The Weekly, Bangla Patrika. In addition to any other publication duly requesting such notices at or about 11:00 a.m. on February 20th, 2026, such notices were posted on the bulletin board in the offices of the city clerk at city hall.

Thank you, madam clerk. That's the 48 hour and the special virtual meeting notice. Yes.

City of Patterson notice. Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, be advised that the Municipal Council of the City of Patterson has scheduled a special meeting for Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. to be held via WebEx Zoom or in the council chambers, 3rd Floor, City Hall, 155 Market Street, New Jersey, Patterson, New Jersey, for the purpose of discussing the following matters. Public portion um resolutions. Number one, resolution authorizing the award of contract to JA Alexander, Inc. for the 2025 citywide road resurfacing program supplemental 4 public works resolution number 26 col099. Formal action will be taken. Number two, resolution authorizing the award of contract to Smith Sunday Asphalt Construction Company, Inc. for the 2025 citywide road reservicing supplement supplemental 5 bid number 26.03 03 for the engineering division of the department of public works. Public works resolution number 26 colon 100. Formal action will be taken. Resolution authorizing the award of contract to Smith Sunday Asphalt construction company, Inc. for the 2025 state aid road resurfacing Chamberlain Avenue, Burlington Avenue, and 20th Avenue bid number 269 for the engineering division of the department of public works. Public works resolution number 26101. Formal action will be taken. Resolution authorizing change order one for the ARP2 road resurfacing program bid number 25.05 05 for the engineering division of the department of public works. Public works resolution number 26

col102 formal action will be taken. Resolution authorizing change order number one for ARP3 road reservicing program bid number 25.06 for the engineering division of the department of public works. Public works resolution number 26101. formal action will be taken. Council President,

thank you, Madam Clerk. At this time, we're going to open our public portion. For those that would like to participate, please call 973 3211579. The meeting ID number is 8326. Press one to listen to the meeting and press three to be added to the speaker queue. This information was published based on the information that has already been provided by our our clerk um in the various newspapers. It also has been displayed on our website. Once again, if you would like to speak for public portion, please call 973 3211579 meeting ID 8326. Just to listen, star one to speak star three. Uh is are there any speakers in the queue? Madame clerk.

Madam clerk. Uh, not yet. No. Council President. Yes. Councilman Veles. Uh, I just want to uh set the record clear. The corporation council is uh with us. Yes, he's there. I'm here. Okay. All right. Okay. Thank you, uh, Mr. Courting Council for your attendance. Council President, if I may, uh, how about we take an item if we're waiting, you know, since you announced the Okay, we can do that while we're waiting. Um, Madam Clerk, item number one.

Item number one, resolution authorizing the award of contract to JA Alexander, Inc. for the 2025 citywide road resurfacing program supplemental 4 bid number 25.34 for the engineering division of the department of public works public works resolution number 26 colon 099 move by council second by

and Omar who motioned it I'm sorry I didn't hear who motion okay thank Roll call, Madam Clerk, on item number one. Roll call on item number one for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton, yes. Councilwoman Dava, yes. Councilman Jackson, Councilman Khalik, okay. Councilman Mendes. Yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman Omar. Yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman Uden. Yes. Councilman Vez,

thank you DBW and also to the uh engineering department for putting this list together and the money that we got to be able to fulfill this contract. [clears throat] Uh my vote is yes. Thank you Council President. Yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you. The votes are eight in favor, one absent. Item number one is hereby adopted. Item number two, Madam Clerk.

Item number two is a resolution authorizing the word of contract to Smith Sunday Asphalt Construction Company, Inc. for the 2025 citywide road resurfacing supplemental 5 bid number 26.03 03 for the engine engineering division of the department of public works. Public works resolution number 26 col 0. Moved by council by council davaen and Omar. Roll call on item number two. Madam clerk, roll call on item number two for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Thank you. Councilwoman Dava. Yes. Thank you, Councilman Jackson.

Councilman Khik, yes. Councilman Mendes, yes, Madam Cler. Councilman Omar. Yes, madam clerk. Councilman Uden. My [clears throat] vote is yes, madam cler. Thank you, Councilman Vez. Once again, thank you DBW Engineering Department also for the money that we have for grant to fulfill this project in the city of Patterson and the resurface of the road. So, my vote is yes. Thank you, council president. My vote is yes, madam clerk. Thank you. The votes are eight in favor, one absent. Item number two is hereby adopted. Item number three, madam clerk.

Item number three's resolution authorizing the ward of contract to Smith Sunday asphalt construction company, Inc. for the 2025 state aid road resurfacing Chamberlain Avenue, Burlington Avenue, and 20th Avenue bid number 2609 for the engineering division of the department of public works. Public works resolution number 2610 by Councilwoman Dava, second by Khalik. Second, second Khal, move it. Khal, move it. And second by me.

I move it. moved by Davis, second by Khali, VeZ, Uden, Omar, and Mems. Roll call on item number three, Madam Clerk. Roll call on item number three for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton. Uh, thank you, Madam Clerk. Let me u make my council colleagues understand that when you have all those names for second and move it, it's very difficult for these secretaries to put all those name on second and motion and all that. I just want to remind you, Madame Clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Davala, yes. Councilman Jackson, Counciloman K. Yes, Madam Cler. Council Mendes. Yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman Omar.

Yes, Madam Clerk. Councilman Uden. Yes. Councilman VeZ. I'm not going to rebut Councilwoman Cotton, but she's right. They are expert to put all those name together and make they'll make us proud to build that resolution. the way we amended and second. My vote is yes. Thank you, council president. Yes, madam clerk. Thank you. The votes are eight in favor, one absent. Item number three is hereby adopted. We're going to go into item number four once again to the public if you would like to speak. The caller number is 973 3211579. Press star three if you would like to be added to the speaker queue. Item number four, Madam Clerk.

Yes. Item number four is a resolution authorizing change order number one for the ARP to road surf resurfacing program bid number 25.05 05 for the engineering division of the department of public works public works resolution number 26 col103 so move moved by and second I have a I have a question moved by second by Dava Omar and Uden discussion council cotton yeah last time um director Rodriguez um this was changed order but you never got back to me and tell me why it was changed Why was the increase made

for this is this is a different resolution. The last one was for reduction. This is right. I understand about the reduction but this one is for increase. Yeah, this one increase. It was um to add a street that was in a proximity of the location we were at already. It was below the 20% um council approval. So, uh the administration went ahead with the um the approval to uh to get the street done. Um, and it was only, uh, this one was, um, if I'm not mistaken, 7% of what the total cost was. So, we went ahead and did it since it was in the process. The next time, direct, if you can, put the street that they added on that they did. That's all I need to know. Thank you. Roll call, Madam Clerk.

Okay. Thank you. Um, roll call on item number four for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton, yes. Councilwoman Dava. Yes. Councilman Jackson. Councilman Khalik. Councilman Mendes. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Director, the uh the increase of 7.65 on this street. Please send me the information on the street that we adding on the number four. What? Yes, Madam Clerk. Okay. Thank you. Um All right. Councilman Mendes. Yes. Councilman Omar. Yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman Nuden. Yes. Councilman Vez,

thank for looking into another street to fulfill the uh the program. My vote is yes. Thank you, council president. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you. The votes are eight in favor, one absent. Item number four is adopted. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Item number five. Item number five is a resolution authorizing change order number one for ARP 3 road reservicing program bid number 25.06 06 for the engineering division of the department of public works. Public works resolution number 26 colon 103. So move. So move.

Second move by Davis Mleszen and Omar. Discussion. Councilman uh Mendes. Thank you. Thank you. Director quick question. Um so we're going up 11% from 88 uh 240 to 857 946. Uh what's the street that we adding or what's the reason of being inc of the increased? Hold on, let me get the uh the street Ben. I think Ben's on the line here. I think he's in the uh the public um the public output output rather. Um is the grassy and Birkshshire Richmond as well. Correct. Richmond. Richmond was on the previous one. Previous resolution. Yeah. But the two the two are those three streets. Yes.

And all of that information I made the request earlier today. All of the streets that are on all of these items were sent. There's streets in every ward of the city. Please look at your email so that you can see all the street. I don't have a change order. I don't have the one on the change order. You don't have That's okay. Thank you, Council President. You're welcome. You're correct. I did not get I did not get the change order. I did not see uh Ruby is done. Okay. So, I didn't see this change order. That's all. I didn't see the change order and that's what that's what was asked before like you know what was changed. Uh and that's it. Yeah. Burk Burkshshire and um Deg Grassi was uh was added. Okay.

Um yes, I just want to clarify the record here. Um uh uh um Billy Rodriguez, the director, I believe this is this was funding that was u uh available from ARP, right? American Rescue Plan uh that we fulfilled for the streets. Yeah, this was done with money that was already allocated to the projects that that was left over that we just added these streets onto the two projects.

Correct. It is good to set on the record for our residents uh that this is not by taxpayer money. This is a ARP funding and uh that came handy to invest in our streets and uh thank you DPW once again to uh not let let go this money into waste. It goes to our residents and our street and it well needed. Thank you. Thank you. Roll call. Madam clerk. Roll call on item number five for adoption. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes. Councilwoman Dava. Yes. Councilman Jackson. I'm sorry, Madam Clerk. What? We're on item number five. I'm sorry.

Okay. So, we we're already called for the vote. Yes. Yes. Okay. We're in roll call. All right. So, so let let me say this. Um, thank you, Madam Clerk.

Sure. First of all, uh to the the last comment that was just made by Councilman Veles with regard to um this money being utilized by from ARP, you know, it's been incredibly and this is just to the residents to to all the residents, just understand the level of of of uh incompetence and uh uh the level of uh uh mis oversight with close to hund00 million in ARPA money and obviously streets and roads definitely need to be repaired. We have a number of streets that have been neglected for quite some time but uh you know the fact that we have just allowed this money to be spent without any oversight without any reporting. I've asked for reports on this spending for for a great deal of time and we have not gotten it. So just to be able to, you know, spend this as a loose uh loose checkbook, you know, talking about is money that's left over. We should have had notice on how much money was was there, what was it, you know, allotted for in its entirety. And now to, you know, to call a special meeting just to get these roles resurfaced in an effort for the mayor to run an attempt to make himself look good before an election, you know, is uh is shameful. You know, we have a great deal of money that's been misappropriated and not have been spent responsibly. And uh you know despite um the fact that these roads are in desperate need of repair, I cannot just you know continue to just support like you know other people have support these things blindly and allow for the mis mis um the irresponsible spending you know of money that should have been allocated to do something more responsibly. Madam clerk, my vote is no.

Thank you Councilman. Councilman Khalik. Thank you Madame Clerk. This is responsible spending. Um, I wish we have more money to do more re road resurfacing. Thank you, the administration. Thank you, Councilman Vales, for pointing out. Uh, we need to find more money so we could do more roads in city of Patterson. My vote is yes, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Mendes.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. I'm here responsibly voting on this um resurfacing uh legislation and uh this is the the number five, which is the last one. So we have 18 role that that will be resurfacing in this in this fight different legislation. Uh I see a good good amount of the in the third war and the rest of the city of Patterson. I'm I'm I'm always in full support of resurfacing. Uh that's the reason why I cannot miss that meeting and this is being responsible um to my third war resident. They've been asking me for East 33rd, East 39, East 36, East 36 from Bland to the dead end, East 38 and East 41st Street. So they're on the list. Patterson they on the list are war residents. My concern director is with those utility company that are doing business in the city of Patterson. Director I see some of the road that are being resurfacing recently. They going back and they opening those road directory director I I really I really I'm asking you I begging you to please let's stay on top of those utility company. We have a legislation on the floor that when they open those road they got to fix it curb to curb. They cannot put the dirt back into because and patch it a little bit because a few few weeks later we're gonna have a huge pothole in that area and we're fixing the rope or they coming into our city and we got to stay on top of them. We got to make sure that they fix the rope with the standard of quality that that we demanding. So because we investing a lot of money fixing our roles and that's one of the biggest problem the pothole that's one of the biggest complaint if I love the city of Patterson I got I got I got to stay on top of this and I cannot turn around and say that I'm not supporting this because people asking me every single day about this but director let's stay on top of those utility company because what they doing it's not right for the city of Patterson and let's also director check I know the engineers got to be on top of us um so let's get Ellen give a report to the council Who's who's watching those utility company? Who's supervising them

and also the company that are doing the resurfacing? Who's on top and who's supervising those company? Keep you know keep us informed, please. Director, my vote is yes, madam clerk. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Omar, my vote is yes, madam clerk. Thank you, Councilman Nuden. My vote is yes, madam clerk. Thank you, Councilman Vez.

I love this my time. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm happy that they call us incompetent because my incompetence position that I have since 2016. Being incompetence, I have 90% of my street being paved. [snorts] Being incompetent, I have 95% of the abandoned property in the fifth ward moving forward to tax payroll. [clears throat] Being in competence, I had 46 new projects in the fifth ward and people with new residents and people coming to Patterson and new business. That's why we call I love the word that we are incompetence. All eight councilmen are incompetent. But the individual calling incompetence this body cannot even since 2016 lobby for even one stop sign because he don't have the communication. He don't want to work with other people. That is really incompetence. And this is the guy calling himself that he want to be the mayor of Patterson. if he turns himself being the mayor of Patterson, I don't know which governor body he will work with if we call us incompetence. So saying that, I'm proud that uh we doing this and the money is there. Uh my vote is proudly yes.

Thank you, Councilman. Council President,

so let me just say this and a lot has already been stated, but I always have to speak truth to power. I want to thank our director, director Billy, for reaching out to me in regards to um getting this done and and having a special meeting. Um and I know sometimes it's election time and it's always put out it's the mayor, the mayor's trying to do it, but I have to say to Director Billy doing your due diligence to get this work um done and make sure that we're on the right track. many people ha are requesting in the city of Patterson and I pray they are watching and I will be listing all of those 18 uh streets that you have advocated in the first ward in the second ward in the third ward fourth ward fifth ward you've advocated for streets to be paved that's what we're voting on those things that you've ad advocated for Halpine Street North first street you've been asking pictures have been posted by so many people in the community and guess what Patterson you've elected us to do our due diligence and get work done. That's why we're here and that's why we are able to finish the agenda within 20 minutes because it's about working for the community and the best interest of the advocacy of the residents. A lot of times it's not that we as council members are advocating. We do a lot of advocacy work, but there are residents that call and and advocate for their blocks and their neighborhoods to get their streets repaid. Patterson, we've heard you. Those items are here. Thank you to our director, to our our mayor, the VA, for working alongside to make sure. And then when we had some wiggle room to make some changes to add more streets, thank you for your due diligence and working to get it done. Madame clerk, with that being stated, these votes on tonight are all strictly for the residents. Anyone that drives through Patterson, they will get to a point at one point in time to say we are

no longer the Dukes of Hazard, that we have safe, smooth streets. Madame Clerk, my vote is yes. Thank you, Council President. The votes are eight in favor, one against. Item number five is hereby adopted. And Council President, we have one person in the speaker queue. Okay. Thank you to the viewing public. Just so that you'll know the entire agenda is completed. Madame clerk, first speaker, please. Okay, Ryan. While we're queuing up the speaker, if you would like to call in, the call-in number is 973 3211579. Uh meeting ID is 8326 star 3 to speak. First speaker, madam clerk,

they disconnected. I'm sorry. Okay. So, just to the public, we have had the uh public portion open since 5:00. It was made, the announcement was made at 5 um o'clock and we've continuously announced it. It also has been published and all the the notifications and it is on the city website. Seeing that there are no more speakers, is there a motion to close? So move. Moved by Councilman Davala, second by Councilman Veles and Me. Roll call to close the special virtual meeting of today. Council, I'm [clears throat] sorry, council president. Do you want to close the public portion first? Let's close the public for portion.

Close public portion. I'm sorry. They just reconnected. Okay. I better move my motion. I got to move my motion. Madam seconds are removed. Madame clerk, uh, speaker number one, please. Okay. Ryan. Okay, we'll wait just one second. We're waiting to repeat.

Okay. Uh, can you repeat the instructions again? So, the caller number is 973 3211579. The meeting ID is 8326 star 3 to speak. We have a we can while they're waiting because they're still not there. We have a motion and a second on the floor to close the public portion. We can close the public portion and if that speaker accuses up we'll take them at that point. Uh, madame clerk, uh, can you call the role to close the public portion?

Okay. I think they're just listening, council president. So, yeah. Roll call to close the public portion. Madam, roll call to close the public portion. Councilwoman Cotton, yes. Councilwoman Dava, yes. Councilman Jackson, yes. Counciloman Khalik, Councilman Mendes. Um, thank you. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh so before uh before we I I uh give my vote to close the poly portion um I just would like to make a comment and um and the comment is is to the to the VA uh Mr. VA. Uh so I received information that opposed the question. Uh council president we are in roll call.

No we closing the public portion. I could make a comment. We are in we are roll call. You you asking a question to the BA and the comments to the VA? I'm not asking a question, council. I'm making my comment to the VA. So, thank you, Council. Let me start. One second, Council Mendes. Thank you for that point of um um insertion. Council member BZ, during this time, Councilman Mendes is making some points of recommendation to our BA. We're in roll call, so there can't be a response. Council,

no. Perfect. It's not a question that I'm asking. I'm going to start all over again. Mr. the VA. I received information that that DCA, you know, and the administration met and they agreed to sign on on the MOA on the waiver uh for the fire department. Uh I know there's been a lot of uh it's been a lot of discussion between the fire department administration. Uh you know, I received information about all the the litigation that has been going out between the fire department, the city, and Mr. VA. I just humbly going to ask you if if the administration could really pay attention to this. I mean it really hurt to it really hurt to see uh that department getting into getting into litigation with the city for things that need to be done. So if that's the case if BCA uh and you met and they sign of the waiver uh for the salary on the fire department on the MOA please I will humbly ask you to please look into that. I know that I know that have to be an agenda at the workshop and in order for us to vote on and that's the our capacity the administration's responsibility is to work with DCA and get all the job done and put it in our table but knowing that if this is happening and this is already done I would really humbly ask you to please please please look into that please. All right. And lastly, to my third world residents, um I'm gonna mention this again because I have uh a person on East 33rd calling me from u you know he's he live he live on 19th Avenue uh on East 33rd between 19th Avenue and Breham. So it's on the list. So we finally got to get it done. And the resident on East 39 from Park Avenue to 17th Avenue. East 36 from Park Avenue to Brillam. East 36 from Breland to the dead end. East TDA 21st Avenue to market is 41st. So they're gonna be done and and and I'm in full support of the resurfacing. Once again, Patterson, Director Billy, thank you uh for choosing those role. They really they really are in need of being resurfacing and let's watch those

utility company director that are doing business in our city. Uh with that being said, my vote is yes, Madam Cler. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Omar. Yes, Madam Cler. Thank you, Councilman Oden.

Thank you, Madam Clarks. Before I vote, I'd like to uh mention that over the last two and a half years, I say we have done um amazing job. I repaving streets throughout the city and today we have added another 16 street repment. So, I'd like to thank the administration, thank uh Patterson, the PW engineering department for for cooperative action. And I would say today's council is one of the I say more effective one because all the agendas were very supportive uh to the um residents of city of Patterson. also like to mention that after this snowstorm after at the end of this winter season we have to prioritize the potholes um over the city and Patterson needs to know that we are on top of it and like to see that our so our streets are are fully uh ready and drivable passable again uh we are thankful to everyone involved all my council colleagues in support um thank you and my vote is yes

thank you councilman uh Thank you. Madam, this is considered public portion. Uh, thank you for uh those of you watching. Um, I I believe we got disconnected in um uh we got disconnected in YouTube. We'll check into that because I'm watching YouTube at the same time.

Yeah, but it's not recording that part. It's not now. Okay. Okay. Council president we how the legislative body works and administration works. Um, I have to put this together for weaker for we councilman. Nobody can hear you. You're you're coming in.

One second. Yeah. Some things are That's what I was checking. I thought council members and director, there is a order. Council member if he'll um and it looks like he got disconnected. Um he'll come back on and give his his final comments um when we close out the meeting. Council member, we definitely want to hear your comments, but I think he's disconnected. Madam clerk, my vote is yes to close public portion. Thank you. Uh the votes are eight in favor, one absent. Uh the public portion is now closed.

Thank you, Madame Clerk. Now, uh is there a motion to close the special They can't close it because we're gonna give you at the end to do that. Council I'm trying to log in again because they're not Councilman. I was I was in the middle. I already announced that. Councilman Velesz, we are now closing out the meeting and I said you'll get your time to speak at that point. We've already closed out public portion and and I council president

on the floor to close the meeting by council dava in a second. So they had to remove they had to remove the motion because I was in the middle of the vote and if they if if I have already voted the public portion is closed out point of order. The vote was already cast. The clerk count called the uh vote count public portion. We're public portion is closed. Now we're closing out the meeting. Councilwoman Davlin made the motion to close. Councilman um made the second. Madame clerk, roll call to close the special virtual meeting of Thursday, February 26.

Roll call to close the special virtual meeting of February 26, 2026. Councilwoman Cotton. Yes.

Councilwoman Davo. want to thank uh all of my council colleagues that logged in today. Um normally I would have been right there in in city hall uh but I'm getting ready to log off as soon as I finish the statement. Thank you uh to the administration and thank you Director Rodriguez uh for listening. I know that you didn't pick these streets. You have each and every one of us has advocated through our constituents who have requested numerous times all right about these streets. So, I'm just thankful that it's getting done and at the end of the day, as a team, we win. So, thank you. Thank you, Patterson. You're going to be happy. Nothing in life is perfect, but little by little, my mom used to say the cup gets full. So, with that said, have a good evening. My vote is yes to close. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Jackson.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. So, [clears throat] first of all, let me say this to all the residents. If you're watching this, you you've just witnessed uh like anything else, more u pandering and more um uh foolish behavior by irresponsible council. This is no slight on the DPW director. He doesn't make the decision on how money is allocated. This is done by the city council. So, while we're celebrating that, we're now going to have a few new paved roads, we have residents that's that's that are being hit with three times the amount of of of tax increases because of the reassessments. We have irresponsible governance that's happening at every measure where taxpayers are going to be paying the burden. the the the the the all this development that Councilman Valz talked about, let's not forget that every single one of those development projects are within the Garden State growth zone and they're not paying not only are they not paying their fair share in taxes, but they're paying zero in taxes for the first 10 years. And while our residents and homeowners are carrying the tax burden. So here it was, as opposed to council being responsible, we rather line up and lay down for the mayor. And we rather allow the mayor to just run away with a blank checkbook with over close to hund00 million in ARP money, $140 million in tax credits that has been unaccounted for that has that has netted zero dollars in residual income. See, when a council's being responsible, the money you spend, it turns around to make money for you. So, it reduces the tax burden for the residents and the years moving forward. What we've just witnessed is more pandering and more spending, overspending um for roads that's being resurfaced. And yes, they are in desperate and dire need. But had COVID not hit, we wouldn't have had that ARP money. So what's going

to happen in the next five years, six years to eight years when we don't have that money left because it was irresponsibly spent and then we and then the tax burden on the on the residents have gone up three times the amount because this council refused to move on legislation to remove us from the Garden State growth zone to fairly distribute the tax burden amongst not just the residents but those largescale developers that's patting some of these um election campaigns. uh uh coffers as we speak. So any person that said this was responsible and any person that said this was a beautiful thing, not only do they not know what they're talking about, they are part of the problem that's selling you the residents down the pipeline. So although I'm grateful to the work of those people of DPW and all the things that you've done to uh uh you know continue to work with what's given to you, unfortunately residents of the city of Patterson, the council has failed at its job. Our job is to be stern, to be firm with budgeting. They can't even tell you how much money is left in the ARP uh uh checkbook. They cannot tell you how much money is left from the $140 million in tax credits. They can't tell you how much we've gained. The most we've gained is 2% from the rise, which hasn't been worth anything to mention because if it was, they would have been touting it and bragging about it, but it's nothing to mention. So, I want to congratulate the rest of you council members. Hopefully this is coming to a close with you and your irresponsible uh participation in abusing the residents. You have no answer for the tax increases that's just getting ready to happen. And then to tell tell residents that they have to call someone else and go out and pay for

a uh reval for themselves is absolute irresponsible governance. We not taking care of the residents. We're not rendering services. What we're doing is making sure that developers benefit and the pockets of contractors continue to get fat while those in Patterson are going to have to be concerned about losing their homes. So, I sign out. I want to congratulate you guys for teaming up and doing it yet again, for being the mayor's rubber stamp, um, and watching him do the irresponsible thing yet again. Madame Clerk, my vote is yes. Good night. Thank you, C. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Khalik.

Thank you, Madame Clerk. U is almost time for us to break the fest. I'm just going to vote. Yes. Thank you, Madam CL. Thank you, Councilman Mendes.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh so, let me split uh my couple of minutes in two first of all, uh because I mean, we got to be we got to be clear on this. We're not voting in uh I I hear 100 million. I hear I hear numbers that that I don't want the community to be misleaded. We have a list of 18 road that need to be resurfacing and a responsible councilman and I want to say thank you Billy. Thank you director because now it's not the administration we hired this council hired a company to do a analysis and a study about the road that need to be fixing those road that need to be fixing in order of priority. And that's the reason why we got this list to my resident whoever passed by East 33rd is like a roller coaster. East 39, East 36, East 36 from Berlin to the dead end is 38 East 41st. Those road they are in desperately need to be fixing. I will not come here because I'm running against the mayor to vote against this. This is really being irresponsible if I make if I take that position. That's not me. Every decision that I make, I got to make sure that impact the community on a positive way. On a positive way. That doesn't mean that we we that we don't need to hold the the administration accountable on the spending of the job that they need to do. But we have five legislation to fix 18 roles that really need to be fixing that really need to be fixing. Let's put that clear. And I will go back to my constituent, let them know, listen, we did it because they've been asking me and if they vote me to if they elect me to represent that my job is to do the people's job and vote in support of what they need to improve the quality of life of our community. Besides that, uh you know, Mr. VA. I'm going to I'm going to reiterate what I say because knowing that there's been

over 20 g that the city lost from the fire department is it break my heart because I know how much money lawyer uh how much money that it cost to go on litigation. How much money we have to spend in legal fees from both side. How much taxpayer dollars we have to spend on litigation for no reason. I make my comment again and it was my understanding that DCA met with the administration and they signed on a waiver for the MOA for the fire department on the salary. Please, if that's the case, please bring that to the city council because our job is to take action once it's on the city council while it's on our table. The administration responsibility is to go through with the negotiation. But if that's the case, there's no reason why the administration need to hold on this. There's no reason why we have to go on litigation with the fire department one more time because I know we're going to lose. The administration is going to lose again the same way they've been losing for 20 plus litigation. I I don't know how much money the city is spending all all those litigation. I just don't know. But I don't want to see that knowing that the that the job was done by DCA. I just really don't I don't know what is the situation behind and quite honestly I don't care. I just don't care. As a legislator, our job is to protect the taxpayer dollars and to serve the people of Patterson. And that's the only reason why I'm here knowing the Department of Public Work while they bring it to the table. That makes sense. And we got to put politics aside and support it. That's it. That's that's the reason why we're here. In another note, I I I request uh the tax assessor office. I went there and I spoke with them. So the the deadline for people to ask for a review on the assessment was the 23rd. This past Monday, there was a storm there. I reached out to the county. I haven't got

any respond. We need to have an extension on this assessment. This company assessed 14,000 property without going inside the property. That property was assessed at the market value. It went through the top. I could give an example. my property, one of my property, the taxes went from 9,800 to 5 to 14,600 5,000 and changing at one shot, not including county lo uh school open space and library because we got to that that will be added later. We got to have a lot of people moving out of Patterson because of that. I'm demanding an an extension for those company to go back there. The administration never told this council that there were 14,000 property that they didn't get in. So basically, we paying this company without them doing the job. Nobody knocking my on my door. There was no letter on my table, no sticker in front of my house. So if that's the case and I'm very sure that if this council know that more than 50% of all the property in the city of Patterson were not assessed. I'm very sure that this council will say no no no we got to the administration supposed to present it and change the plan to make sure that they get the job done properly because they getting paid for a job that they're not doing. They're going to have to go back to those property and assess those property the right way. We have people getting 6,000 increasing their taxes, 3,000 and this community. It's already struggling as it is Pis. It's not easy to be a homeowner in the city of Patterson. I could speak for myself because I'm a homeowner been a homeowner for over 20 years in this property with m with multiple property and it's not easy sometime financially doesn't make sense at this point. So we losing a lot of Pisonson and we could

correct that. We definitely could correct that and I'm not going to stop asking for that extension for them to get the job done properly. It's unacceptable and this is on the hand of the administration because the council have nothing to do with us. They supposed to get back to us and let us know listen they're supposed to fix it. We cannot allow this to happen P. So, we're going to lose a lot of people. And to the VA, if you have that document signed by DCA, I really hope that that document will be at the council at the next workshop. We're spending millions of dollars in litigation and this this city is really struggling financially. It just doesn't make sense at all. Billy, thank you one more time. All you your coffee. Good night, Patterson. And before I leave, Council Calli, the third floor, uh Council Dav, Council M, Council Bles, Councilman Omar, um my great council for Yodin, Council Jackson, you all invited uh to say a few words to congratulate the Dominican community and 181 um in anniversary of our independence. God bless you all. God bless you, Pastor. Have a good night everybody.

Your vote is yes to close. Council, my vote is just to close. God bless you. Thank you, Councilman Omar. Council Omar. Okay. Councilman Uden. Okay. My Yes. Thank you, Councilman.

All right. I hope I don't get disconnected because when I was giving kuda to the administration the hard work they've been doing in conjunction with us to make sure the uh the rule get resurfaced and uh and the money is invested in the proper way that the taxpayers requested. I like the word once again in responsible. and being here sitting in the council since 2016 and I'm proud to say that our in responsibility have make our city moving forward. Now, Councilman Jackson is always throwing shots at me and I love it, but he not going to get me out of control. I'm gonna talk on facts. What you have done to improve the quality of life of your ward. what you have done to sit down to public safety and handle the situation of your ward. How many time you have sit down with a committee to handle the situation in your ward? None of it. Never. Never. Never come with a plan. Never come with a proactive plan to serve the resident of the first ward. But yes, we are incompetent. Ladies and gentlemen, and let's be clear, the New Jersey growth, and he don't explain it the right way, we cannot opt out. Yes, we could do adjustment to the New Jersey growth ordinance and the state with the state. That's the only thing we could do. But we at the end of the tail moving forward we could sit down set up a plan that the residents of passing get benefit and also we attract developer to the city of Patterson. What you have done a legislation without teeth. You talk talk

it goes down the drain. You're not convincing people unless you are only attacking people. total different legislation. My legislation, my way to be legislator is to orientate the residents of the board and the city act what the law says and what the ordinance says. So we sit down as an responsible legislator, but we are here to let know the resident of Patterson that before they hear this kind of weak message, they go out and read and go out and ask the professional before putting out their because inari looks fine, but the real issue is that is not. So my good question is what you thanks God of the a incompetence that we have in the city council and I wish council D uh pull herself on mute for screen to her. Um thanks God the incompetent council that we have we could move forward your war that is working together that is working together. Uh second and last but not least, you know, I could see that we in election time. You know, uh some people should get the Nobel Prize, peace prize in the beautiful speech that they give. Why? because they have so much ego in them that they cannot acknowledge an administration is the one administrating the city with the legislative body to get things done.

Ladies and gentlemen, the administration no matter you want to give kudo to DPW, board of health, any other department out there, they are the one that with us the legislative body, we make things happen. Your ego is so big that your word to say thank you mayor is is is incredible. And you cannot go to your constituent saying I made this happen if the administration did not made it happen. And let's be clear, every res [laughter] down. So I I want to make sure that nobody's in the back room button taking me out of the screen. Okay. and I have to investigate how this happened because I'm not pushing no button here. So, last but not least, leave your ego aside. I know it's election time, but give credit where credit is due. Let me say this. Let me say it clear. Stop doing the campaign. You council Mand was president two years in the city of Pass [clears throat] in the council. Okay. This issue with the fire department is not from today. It's not from last week. You was council president.

I think he's having technical president. Okay. But now because you running and I understand if you want to make your point but lobby found two years behind or be before today this is not for now. So the administration is working on it when it comes up to the table to us to vote on it and to ask question that time is coming and you can make all your questions that time. But to make it a political uh uh uh a political uh statement on it, this issue is not for now. It's from way back. Okay. Last but not least, ladies and gentlemen, 14,000 property was assessed based on the formula that they had. 14,000 property because the owners did not allow them them to put go inside the property. So please ask them to go back to your property and get assessed the real way. So last but not least, God bless you all. Stay safe. Once again, Felisia Domin. And let's keep on moving. Patterson. My move is yes to close the call for uh the council meeting.

Thank you, Councilman, Council President.

Thank you, Madame Clerk. And I I um appreciate all the commentary that's been stated, but let me say this. Uh in the list, there are 16 streets that are being uh repaid. Based on the residents, I advocated for East 39th Street. And let me list the streets in the first ward that they reached out to me at large to get done. And I know these residents are watching. Halpine Street from Hopper to North First Street as well as North Second Street from Halpine to Bell A. I know Pastor Weldon and Christ Temple will be excited about that. Bel Alvin Main Street, also North Fourth Street, Halpine in the Dead End. These are some of the streets that some of the uh community members and some of the church members reached out. We did some survey work in that um area and there's many others and I will make sure they are listed to let the community know it's not about politics. It's about advocacy when it comes to the streets. We live here. We don't just pop up into a council meeting. We live in the city of Patterson. We advocate for these streets. We hear your concerns and we come to the administration and we fight to get it done. The AR AARP dollars, that list has been given out over 10 times to every council member. When I became the council president July 1st, I myself printed it and labeled every folder and gave it to every council member. We know where the dollars were spent is very clear. We know how the advocacy work amongst all of our council colleagues that advocated for a lot of those projects that got done as well as the uh tax credit dollars that was fought for by our former and late congresswoman um Pascal, our now

Congresswoman Poe, our assembly uh our senator Benji Wimberly, as well as uh Assemblywoman Siobhan Sumpter. When it comes to the advocacy work and partnership and coming together, we're making it happen not just for one person but for all. And I have to say this in close. To hear a council person and a former councilman talk in regards to an MOA process in regards to the fire department to allude to the fact that someone is holding it up and then putting us in jeopardy by mentioning mentioning arbitration is shameful and it is embarrassing. Everyone on this council knows the process. There's a you have to go to DCA. It has to be reviewed by our corporation council and the legal department. Once it is released, it has to go through various committees and then once that is done is reviewed and approved, it then comes to the agenda. There is not one council person since I've been on this council that has not supported the fire department or the police department. So to elude or to insinuate or to put false information into the community as to that degree is is is degrading. We have to learn how to come together and work together to make sure that the benefits the residents the residents benefit and our employees get what they so rightfully deserve. Let's stop playing politics and making promises that you know you can't deliver. making promises that you know you're not a part of. You are not the mayor. You're not in that position to make those promises or to even advocate for those things. You have to make sure that we follow the process at hand. And to do it and to make it seem like we're doing something

or the administration is doing something. No, we are following the process. Shame on you. Madame clerk, thank you so much to my council colleagues, to the BA, to our director, Billy, thank you to all of you that are here. Let's keep moving the city of Patterson forward. I I want us to be in a position, this is my prayer, that there comes a day that p people that are watching the meetings will stop talking about how embarrassing it is to see the disjointment, to see the division, and to see the name calling among council members. Let's work together. We're better together. That's the only way we can get it done. This is not the election panel. We're not on a forum. We're here to do the city's business. With that being stated, Madame Clerk, to the public, good night, Madame Clerk. My vote is yes to close this meeting. Thank you, Council President. Um the votes are eight in favor, one absent. Um the virtual meeting, special meeting of February 26, 2026 is hereby adjourned.

Good night everyone. Thank you. Good night. Good night. matter. Who was that?