Council - Special Meeting

everyone we're about to start the meeting. But the are you ready. Good evening, everyone on behalf of the Patterson municipal Council. I welcome you to the workshop meeting of June the 4th. The meeting is now called to order roll call matter part.

Councilman cotton. Councilwoman develop. Councilman Jackson is absent at this time Councilman to leak him in a book. Councilman good. Omar is absent at the moment Councilman didn't come here in a park. I thank you Councilman Omar here. Councilman didn't get Councilman the last not here at the moment Council president.

I'm here, madam clerk. Yes, that president, yes, madam clerk item number 7 is a raffle under the city clerk and item number 8 those items will be on consent, madam clerk can item number 7 and an 8 and 8. Item 7 and 8 under the city clerk will be under consent. 7 and 8. Did you read the statement of compliance? I got it. I'm sorry? Did you read the statement of compliance? Oh, no, I didn't. Thank you.

Statement of compliance, Madam Clerk. Statement of adequate notice, meeting day June 4, 2026, 630 p.m. In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA 10-4-6 ETSCQ. Adequate notice of this workshop session of the Patterson Municipal Council has been provided. Notice of the time and place was included in the annual meeting schedule adopted by the council at its reorganizational meeting held on about July 1st, 2025 and subsequently revised. Said notice was posted

and the public place the city hall's bulletin board transmitted to the official newspapers designated to such notices and filed with the office of the city clerk in addition to any other publication duly requesting such notices thank you madam clerk so as previously stated uh item seven is a raffle for uh lady of victories and and seven is consent the water contract for the imaging and records department for your office madam clerk is consent as well finance items renewal of license 16. The 3rd Ward 17 1st Ward, a team of bizarre. 1916 to 19 all consent, madam clerk. All consent. I am 20 is in a water contract for up to 3 months for the 3rd party administrative services consent a regular Council members. Regular. Regular number 20 is regular. Number 21 is the authorization for the second a final option renewal contract with a high strategic insurance partners. Regular or consent Council members on consent. 21 is consent. 21 the corrective action plan will be regular. 22 22, I'm sorry 23 is just issuing the tax bills that should be on consent Council members of cost of president.

Yeah, I mean I through that you have a lot yet through the chair to Mister BA.

For which item.

23.

Okay, one second for 23 one second will come back to that. 2526, madam for 25 is for school-based youth programs consent. 26 is for the given receive some a program for you. Consent as well.

27 consent.

27 will be consent, but we'll have a brief overview of police department. They're here since 27 is consent. So 27 is a lease agreement for our another recreation center at 60 10%. Yes, simple street. This will be on consent. This is all grant funded thanks to our police department led by a director or I see and I was in the sharing East and this is on consent. Number 28 is the author was submitting a grant application. 2727 okay so 27 a regular Councilman count 27 a regular. Number 4. Resolution authorizing the renewal of a contract with auto body auto for auto repairs for vehicles under 14,000. Consent anyone agree or disagree. I'm a 4. I was to be 40 okay. 14,000 pounds, I'm sorry on the 14,000 pounds. I have a consent consent, madam clerk for number 4, number 5, this is an application to say County open space for the Patterson East Park was they've been fighting for fitness area consent does anyone disagree. Which was that number 5. All right, OK number 5 is regular and they have to be a public hearing on the June 9th meeting for that one. Number 6 is a resolution authorizing a water contract to communication specialist on the Morris County cooperative pricing for the maintenance and repair of communications equipment for the city of Patterson consent and that number 6. 9 to 12 are all of these on regular or does I think number 10 number 10 should be consent. Yes. Yes.

Yeah, I don't have no problem. This is teamwork.

Thank you. Can we add the entire council to number nine and it's on regular? Yes. Number 10 sister city can we do that on consent a regular. Number 10.

I want to die regular.

Okay, the 10 is regular number 11 you want you want miss out Al Gore on regular consent on regular number 7. Councilman and then on number 10 was what number 10 is right regular okay, thank you and then the appointment of Jason Bruce should be regular regular to for the housing authority to do 11.

Did we do 11, I'm sorry and yes 11 is regular record. Thank you.

A letter of support. Yes.

our chair of economic development this item was discussed uh

We all know that triangle village specifically you and I visited you know just just a few weeks ago we understand the need in the village we understand the upgrades that are going to happen and this resolution is specifically for the LLC to be able to move forward and present their application so this would be a resolution letter of support on our behalf and I think I don't think that there's any council member that would disagree that triangle village needs upgrades and that our citizens and our seniors to deserve a need to live in better spaces and so I would ask that this item says is just a resolution for a letter of support that it be put on consent If there's someone that does not agree that's different because we all have to read for it to move.

Council president council member last. I agreed a 150% well the statement of my colleague Councilwoman a large Council vice president. But think the for respect of the community and they don't get mislead i know the company they hear and i would like to listen to them as we always do with everybody that looking for a letter of support and a need of you know improvement or residents or whatever so later on i will be happy to listen to them

We can so so what we'll do is we'll hold it will will hope will come back to it will come right back to it.

We'll come back to 15 of the recent and the recent cost of president and doing it is because it's fine will come back to it, but let me finish my statement, please. The reason is to be transparent and to make sure that the community see that whatever they say from that podium. They see it at the project that's why I put on the record.

So with up to 23 correct. I am 23 to to issue the tax bills.

Council president my apologies we said 13 and 14 both are letters of support 13 to 15 15 is removed as the entity here 14 is removed so 13 to 15 will come back.

A 14 was removed somebody took it off. 22 regular what 22 will come back to because the less that question. 23 is consent to send the tax bills out. Anybody OK with that which one 2023 is just to send the tax bills out for the third quarter.

We need we need to have a conversation.

OK so we'll come back to that 24 is the appropriations regular. On its 28 this is the application for for the resurfacing projects under the New Jersey transportation trust fund regular consent.

As a president, yes on that on that one. I know this is an application to put an application to the just a transportation trust fund. But in the past the ministration used to submit the list. of the roads that they are planning to do with their money in the application, I know you put her you put those 3 names or whatever to justify that that that grant that funding so can I get a list before next Tuesday.

Yes, the director will be in a few so we can definitely request that Mister BA to make sure the list is attached OK so. It's a research that says research to say no it says resurfacing. All right so consider regular.

Council members.

Regular 2829 this is a change order for the dispatch center for the redevelopment of our new public safety dispatch center regular. The change order for the dispatch center. Not to exceed $10 million to change. Up to $10 million.

Not the change orders for 89,000. How much is the change in a 4.

Well this to change or does the change orders number one and number 2. It's 2.

It's on regular.

no he'll be here later he had a um celebration for his daughter so we'll put on regular and come back to it when he comes yep yes

They can hear you counsel.

What happened is that when we requested a different item. I think everybody sometimes when everything in writing so they make sure they put it in writing for us this time and this is exactly the change water. For the 2 change was that we have so I'm going to request to that each council members get a copy of this so you can read through it to see what the change what it is and it's a lot of

it's a lot of work they had to be done that still needs to be done over there so thank you council president thank you councilman mendez i think council president i know that even though we have the discussion on the committee uh it's important to let the the resident know that and inform the resident about what the change means to the residents so the director will be reporting that he explained to the viewers and to the taxpayer at home

Yes, that's so just to put it back on the record the director will be here. He had a celebration for his daughter so I told him that we will for questions he will be able to come to the mic so he will be here as a president councilman the last just to I think the the chair DPW was clear enough.

The 2 change order will not exceed the bid amount okay so we're back in 2024 we did approve the contract and the $10 million 92,000 92,000 right so that the changes that reflect and the change in the original bid. The even that this was discussed in In the DPW committee, the fire department was the one that came and gave us all the lyric. It will be helpful to have the fire department again to explain why. If you want to have more details of the small change order to move forward. But this is vital. We need this to be able to move forward and have a communication room by next year by this time so we need to to move forward. Thank you comes from.

Thank you. Rovers surface and item number 30 resolution authorizing the solicitation of bids for 2026 you easy rover service and program. Under the Department of Public Works, I know Councilman caught and your committee met want to speak to DPW item 30.

This is just this is going out for bid for the items that that are on the on the list for the rose so we have to wait until the bids come back in to see what it is.

And if you look on the resolution, OK, the roads are for route road Van Houten Street, Washington Street, Tyler Street and 3 got one street and they'll have to look on some cuts for. On the consent Council members, yes. Council president Council member. Yes, item 30 consent Council of the lab.

So so we took which one by number 30 right. Yeah, all right so number 30 and look at the list is a good thing. The right row. Rio Avenue from there to animal shelter. That's our property. That's our property up to the to the animal shelter. I would recommend the ministration is possible in this this get paid to put a control access to that that 3 and we could avoid all that dumping that they got in there because we could have paid the row up to the shelter It's going to be a highway now for dumping so we if we could close the row control assets and I have no people going back there one the rivers back there safety and at the same time you avoid the dumping that they have in that in that street going to the. So just a recommendation moving forward we could avoid the dumping in there.

What was the record that you know that what do you say to you would you say what you said I want to repeat will be I know I can and I didn't know because remember we talked about route and if they become committee meeting that actually wasn't going to be paid it was just going to be covered for now because my question was you know there's some buildings that are going to be put up near a lot of you know that was my question that actually did not pavement as of yet they just covered in it. But as well that's it.

Thank you item 31 is a resolution authorizing a 4th contract amendment the proposed new Communications Center for the division of public works Council McCartan.

Item 31.

Yes.

see this contract really is for the engineering department.

This is a part of the architectural design were right for the communication center. This was vetted and the committee right as you know in the architectural work is clearly the sign the scope of work in the timeline is there 7 pages Council members that was sent to your home packages. Hopefully you looked at him and it talks about the specs it talks about the pricing it talks about the week the time I'm saying that the president and then comes in.

Thank you it could be up because you know you have to have the engineer there to see the project.

Thank you 31 a statutory agency this is for the library, a contract to create a lot of every concept so to purchase their furniture to 3032 I'm sorry furniture and accessories and the educational service commission bid.

THIRTY-ONE REGULAR. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

THIRTY-ONE IS REGULAR. THIRTY-TWO, COUNCILMAN VELEZ.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE DIRECTOR IS HERE.

HE IS NOT. OKAY. MR. B.A.

I GOT MY BACK. MR. B.A. I understand that we're going to be with a grand upgrade the furniture the furniture. So sorry for this place. My main concern will be. I don't know how many years they have a contract for this place. It is 5, 10. What will happen. If they no longer no longer in this private developing site Are they staying with this $145,000 investment in furniture and equipment? So if we could send, well, if he's listening to me. So I just want to know if any chance the contract is due or they don't want people in there or they don't want the library in there, what are we going to do? Are they going to stay with the investment or are we going to bring it to us to put it in someplace else?

I just want to know if that's so can we ensure that the director sends the information before Tuesday's voting session that the request that's being back as an alleys.

A month ago we requested the MOU I believe my colleague on my right side here is counseling Jackson from the first were requested the MOU between the developer and the library and we haven't received it. We have not received. So it is possible as a courtesy to this Council to once again request it and to see if they could send it.

Thank you comes to us because thank you councilman and that's because president just to for the for that before the next meeting like to know how many library will covering. It's on your not to exceed a 145,700 people like to know how many libraries so we've got Broadway and so that's it if that in the library and then the heritage place also simple order if we are locating some of the some of the funding from the to the heritage play new library so like to know if he does.

THE TOTAL FOR HAMMONTON.

GREAT POINT OF REFERENCE. CAN YOU JUST MAKE SURE, WHETHER IT'S INCLUDED OR NOT, THAT THE INFORMATION IS DISSEMINATED TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS? THAT WOULD BE GREAT. OUR NEXT ITEM IS, SO OUR DIRECTOR JUST COME IN, FOR NUMBER 33. THIS IS FOR PUBLIC WORKS. AWARD OF CONTRACT TO SMITH-SONDI ASPHALT CONSTRUCTION FOR 2026 CDBG ROAD RESURFACING PROGRAM BID NOT TO EXCEED $920,961.50 FOR THE ENGINEERING WORK. SO I AM GOING TO ASK FOR A REQUEST, DIRECTOR. YOUR OTHER ITEMS ARE DONE, BUT IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU'RE HERE. I DON'T SEE THE ADDRESSES. I was on the last page OK, my apologies, yes, I'm here OK, I see it now I'm sorry to see I see it. I see it any questions for our director. We discussed it before there was a request before we get into the BA but that was your last item.

Council president Councilman directors here that the director. A lot of work that you do. When we could take a look to the engineering department that we have to see how we could address. Rivers 3 juniors. A very good say was rivers 3 junior rivers 3 junior for me is Israel all the way down to 21st Avenue that road is bad. I call it I put a name now the river River Street, junior because if you look at the way that road is going to the hospital that's where all right. What was the role.

It's on the list. Yes, well, it's all director because we all got the list multiple times can you send recent the list out for the council members is well, well, we have governor's all that is on the list of being addressed, please in the council governor street that's been addressed.

Yes that be addressed, but when we go to expect to see some some work there.

I'll send you to update that yeah, I appreciate.

Please send it to everyone so they can see it because the dates are up Dennis can is always updated please send it out. 33. Consent. Item 34. 33 is regular. Yes, 34. We can do payment of bills until the special meeting remember she changed it. Payment of bills is not so a 30. Payment bills that so a 30 she changed it. We don't do it so a 30 now so the special meeting we can do it in a non voting session for the court. So 34, our last item on the agenda is for Bazaar addressing New Jersey Peruvians to conduct a festival. To conduct a festival, all the paperwork is here. They applied back in July of 2025. Which one is it? The packet was submitted July, 2025 if you look in your packet you'll see it stands as they did everything is and there are items have been covered they have the police and EMTs and fire covered in the packet. Yes, Council vice president that law.

so uh just for the audience um this item uh the council does not approve uh parades uh the item went through um the department uh through uh ms de la mccall and that application that sample 2025 was for the parade the application was submitted you will see some signatures that are current As the police fire, they have to wait to get insurance and other payments. And so once that all was solidified completely in terms of the bazaar is when it was submitted and it went through finance and it is here now. We have been celebrating Peruvian heritage. for many years as a proud of Latina born and raised American Puerto Rican mom improving father it always gives me great pleasure to be in support of our festivities and so if any council members have any questions I believe I see the entities in the audience. But once again, this is the complete application They also did serve last year as well. And we have police here that can say we had no incidences to the effect that DPW is here. Director Billy Rodriguez can also attest to this, that even the organization, although paid thousands of dollars, stayed to make sure that Our memorial drive was clean after the parade so once again, no issues. It does the president.

Thank you councilman the last.

I just want to know. I see the contracts here. But the concert carry a check with it. Before giving a contract the person had to surrender a check a certified check all of the phone pay before.

What what with all everything goes to licensing so when any applicant no matter who the entity organization is they have to follow the process of the licensing department on the first floor. They pick up the application. I love the new process that's in place where it's like one-stop shopping now, where all of the entities are at the table, police, fire, everything that's needed. That way everyone's on the same page. They process it with our event director, Ms. Della McCall. Everyone is at the table. They give all the information, all the pricing. The applicant is aware of what the pricing are. After they submit the paperwork with all of their payments and it's cleared, then it sent to us for approval.

All of that is that's what I'm talking about you and that is nothing against the good to say show parades or whatever who were good. My question is before the police render a contract. and fire department render his contract, or DPW render his contract, in exchange, they had to give a certified check to guarantee that the service are paid. Because in the past, there was problem with other organization that after the parade or they pay before the parade is over, whatever, then the service are rendered, and there comes the kangaroo checks, they bounce like hell, and then There's a problem. My question is that before they rented those contract, there was a check certified and why we don't have a copy of those check render certified check or whatever. So if you would like us because because I want to be I want to be fair my statement. This have been a lot of issue when it comes up to parades and especially this one I don't want people thinking that we are pulling for a we don't really break we're talking about festivals. And the rules was set that any anything that comes in front of us to approve. So the fight checks had to be submitted and payment completely had to be submitted before even application come here. You say that I recall I recall what you we had 26 on 24. They say before any identity comes here to get their parade approved all matters had to be paid before the parade start. The parade start and I just want to make sure that they like to say that everything is pay you know, I don't see the copy of the said he said if I check on here.

So I don't want. Us mixing apples with oranges. There was a concern with the other entity, which I'm not going to go into detail because that's not the matter that's on the agenda. If an entity has a return check or a bounce check, as people call it, there are different processes that they put in place to ensure that the payment goes through. In this case, we now, as I just stated, we have a new process for any applicant. It's not One or the other. There's a one-stop process for any entity. So anyone out there that's looking to do these processes, you're not going all over the place, going here, there. They have one meeting with the police department in the room, the events director in the room, fire department, everyone is in there. And it's very clear what the costs are, the prices are. And all of that is made clear once the entity signs on the dotted line, does their due diligence, it goes through licensing, it clears, it comes to the clerk, and now it's here with us.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

I HAVEN'T FINISHED. LET ME JUST FINISH.

Let me finish kind of a one second and so with when it comes to these entities and I understand we have concerns and questions in regards to what they're looking to do but I always say just look at the application licensing department, they are very clear in the process, they're very solid and what they do downstairs and I made a phone call today before the meeting to make sure everything was in proper order as I do with all of these type of bazaars because i don't want to have issues when it comes here and we don't have the paperwork so i made that call today and everything is here so councilman but just quickly as finance and what we just need for everyone here to understand is that the application Council vice president. One second.

He was not finished, so let him finish.

Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Thank you. Once again, Que Viva el Peru. I'm not against no organization because that's the first thing I want to keep clear. In the past, Because there was an issue where another organization, there was a rule that they put in place that no one, no application was going to come in front of us unless they didn't give a certified check and the payment of contract was in place. Right now, right now, one simple question, did they submit Like she said that check was already in and the pay and so it was pay why we don't have copies of those checks so simple. We're not saying that that they will all know they right I just say look at the process. This is the problem, Pat and this Council. I'm not going to pick and choose fight are going to be fair across the board. across the board because they want to rush things and out of here for rush things so if I got a look at application I have in front of me. Let's say so if I make a statement a fair statement that why we have 80 officer in a parade that starts all the way down the border Clifton all the way down to downtown okay and pass that and then a festival okay. Meanwhile, other parades had to pay 150 cops. Okay? Shorter, smaller than this one. So it it you know can be pick and choose who is or in this case if you tell me that this so was all very very through finance and check was submitted and payment was done way before getting here my simple question was why we don't have copy of the certified check that they submitted only have contracts but that will mean nothing to me that will mean nothing that's a agreement to pay but when they in the back say oh we need to make sure that any organization before doing the parade pays before the parade starts pay before the festival start so right now i'm going by Thank you, Councilman.

So, right before Council, Vice President, this is not a parade. Let me read it, because we all have the same thing, and I want to make sure, and I'm going to put my glasses on. Right, because you're saying parade, and it's two different things. We are looking at an item that says resolution and the past and cold chapter, one 29 bazaars addressing a license for New Jersey, but movies to conduct a festival that not a parade so we're you're talking about parades where we're voting on a festival so I don't want to keep your holding entity hostages for the wrong information. Council vice president and then

So let me you know when we talk about being fair okay. We have had quite some incidences with other entities suing the city suing the Council for quote unquote wrong doing whatever the city has been found not guilty. Not once, but twice. This is not the entity. This is not the situation. This application, as Council President stated, and as the resolution has been drafted, is specific to a bazaar. The parade is separate. The city of Paterson approves that, not the council. This council's only responsibility is once everything goes to licensing. He's speaking about payment. payment before exactly he is correct to a certain extent but not payment before approval why would they pay the police fire and pay every entity in dpw and this council voted down so this entity once it's approved by this council then has to have certified checks before the day of the festival police has to be paid that is the way it is done is being that I've been here 12 years nothing has changed the only difference now is Councilwoman cotton and I I believe it was two years ago sat down with the different entities is that we have to change the way we do business when it comes to to bazaars. It is outrageous that you have to have the entity run from one place to another to another to another. Now they all sit at a table with the application. Fire, police, DPW, Della McCall, everyone is sitting at the table looking at every document it gets signed off and then it's submitted to finance and in finance, then it comes to workshop every council member has the right to ask any question because that is your right. But let's keep it to this. Let us stop taking and choosing all the the certified check isn't here. We're not being fair. We're talking about a parade. You know, this is not what this is. This is specific bizarre to THE FESTIVAL AND IF THIS COUNCIL DEEMS IT THAT THIS ENTITY SHOULD HAVE ONCE AGAIN UH THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FESTIVAL I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL MY COLLEAGUE AND THE COUNCILMAN MENDEZ COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Thank you. I'm shocked by the line of questioning. We have same application, same type of application in our same agenda. Without asking any question, we put it on consent. Item number 18 is a bizarre license. Same thing. I saw another one. I think on Eastside Park, on the special meeting, without asking any question, and we start asking this entity specifically. It doesn't talk about being fair across the board. Also, the number of police in these festivals is determined by the police department. Personally, I did festivals. I met with these people. You don't pay now. You get approved. Then each entity issue a permit before you pick up your final permits from DPW, from police department, all the other departments. That's when you pay. THAT'S WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR PAYMENT. WHEN YOU PICK UP YOUR PERMIT, THIS IS NOT A PERMIT. THIS IS JUST WE'RE GIVING PERMISSION FOR THE DPW AND THE LICENSING DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE THE PERMIT. SO BEFORE THE ENTITY PICK UP THE PERMIT, THEY HAVE TO PAY. IT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY WE ARE ALSO WASTING TIME ON THIS.

Councilman Mendez and Councilman Jackson.

Thank you. Thank you. I mean, it's very important to let the community know that we never determine the amount of police officers that need to be used on any entity. It's very important that the City of Paterson and the rest understand that this council doesn't have the power to determine whether they need 5, 10, or 100. That's not, the police department is responsible and they're in charge of that. We have nothing to do with that. The question that I have for this item, is this a new entity or new members of this entity or it was the same entity that holds this festival last year?

You're saying the people that are on the application?

On the application, the organization. It's the same or it's a new entity? okay so if the application is in your packet it is exactly the same from last year i went over i went over and i see the same name as last year is that correct yes so the only thing that i need to know is that if there's any pending bill from last year That's the only thing that I need to know I need confirmation of that I need to make sure that everything was paid off and and I doubt I'll be satisfied without for the next meeting so I need to I need to have that in writing before the next before the board is section is to say so they got some president.

Thank you that's a great question CFO can you make sure you have that that is one of the questions that happens at that table with all those people, but please send that in writing to all the council members. He asked was their bill paid for last year. Councilman Jackson.

So if the process is followed and the bill is paid prior to the services being rendered, then why would a bill be lingering from last year? There's so many asinine, backwards things that take place here. So first of all, I don't see any issue with the line of questioning. He asked a fair question. And he was berated and beat over the head for asking the question. a councilman, a colleague stepped out, but I do recall that the bazaar and festival that they do at Total Oval or Westside Park, they were made to pay before they was approved. I don't know what you're talking about, that this is a process. No, that woman was definitely forced to pay prior. I'm going to reach out to her to confirm because the selective enforcement around here is alive and well. Further, Council President, you neglected to say anything to Councilwoman Davila, who stood here for just about three minutes talking over somebody else speaking. I mean, the selective process is very concerning. And I want to make sure that I emphasize this, because a lot of us sit here, we don't even understand our authority, our roles. The fact that the council has no power, no authority, anybody that says that shouldn't even be sitting here. If we disapprove this application, where is the power not lying in that? If we not have scrutiny to make sure that the administration is rendering services fair and equitably, where some entities are required to get 150 police officers and some are only required to get 80. Now I don't have anything, I don't even know about this and I could care less about the approvals on this. But the fact that a council person would say, we don't have any input on how many police officers are being selected, you just can't randomly choose a number. It has to be based upon some type of data, whether it's crowd sizing and things of that nature. which the council definitely has the ability to scrutinize we definitely have the ability say no is not being done fairly. As I recall councilman McCoy in his event that he puts on annually he was forced to get a whole lot more officers then other entities is doing the same thing. So the fact that this is not a this is a fair and equitable process and then people getting so upset when you ask a simple question what is what we have said about yes, the question is a legitimate question. that's simply saying, where's the check? I definitely recall sitting here and some entities being required to pay in advance. In fact, I don't know which one it was, but I do remember might have been African heritage because they were trying to get hold of miss Fisher and she was the name they they had a date that was set prior to in and all of a sudden the date was snatched from from them because they said it wasn't paid in advance so to to to outline that this is a fair and equitable process is nonsense I mean every entity is entitled obviously to come in and and participate but the question is fair and valid now On another note, Council President, I definitely am going to need to speak to the director while he's still here. I know he's trying to get out of here for item number 29. I don't understand how we have a $10 million initial contract And the work that I've seen has been done just on time. A matter of fact, just a little bit too late. We've got to rehash this whole thing because Councilman McCoy's project event was treated much differently. But anyway, how do we have a $10 million project that has change orders that that's i mean are they excessive not necessarily 600 000 at from 10 million dollars is not a great deal but how do we have change orders without 90 of the work being done or validating where and why these change orders are being necessary All I see is amounts. And we're being requested to pay another $7,500, another $230,000.

Can we bring them back to that item? Because that's item 29. And we're currently...

I know you guys put that on consent, but no.

No, it's on regular. It's not on consent. It's on regular.

We've got to have a full discussion on that.

Item 34, regular or consent, council members? Item 34 for the bazaar. Regular. Regular item 34, madam clerk. It's regular. Items 22. B a or CFO item number 22 resolution to approve a corrective action plan in response to it was regular. But I'm council of the last had some questions so council of the last item 22 you had some questions. Which one is that again item 2222.

Yeah, I think I had a question.

It's on regular, but you have questions yes.

I want to ask because party to go rebuttal before this but through the chair. On 2223 at the question to write. One of them is that The corrective action plan and and and I needed an explanation and that you could send in writing why we are taking action on a correction plan from 2023 when we in 2026. That's one. And why is the delay of it. To take us back instead of moving forward right. And the second the second question I have was for this next which I was for 23 will go to that next to 22 1st CFO can you answer the question where on 22.

so for councilman for item 22 um i believe this came in front of the council maybe in september last year um the corrective action plan wasn't sufficient enough for the council um so i reworked it and it's i'm putting in front of the council again also so you reword uh yeah based on the recommendations all the answers correct but rewarding

the the action plan. Yeah, I buy in that show plan if it's working. If it's corrected. You know we need to go over the action plan on 23 to basically I think if I go read it. It will probably go back to 24 and 25 and we still in the same circle of correcting things in the city and elections being taken.

Not be corrected for 25 so 25 has been corrected.

Any violation through the state we need this. No, no, no, I don't.

So this item is already on regular you have questions on 23 council of the last yes, the tax. This item is was resolution to authorize the issuance of estimated tax bills for the 3rd quarter of calendar year.

So this item is just to send tax bills out to the right tax bill based on what tax rate we've got to send this tax bill 2%. 2% we've never seen a kind of increment in the tax. It's going to be 2% of the. Let me rephrase this question it this third quarter is going to be reflecting the rebound.

Yes, wow.

So those individual that received a reval that was paying probably $10,000 in in taxing them and went up to 20 they go to see they build their now. Yes, wow. Well, you know, we got an expert in realtor here that knows what I'm talking about, but... Well, who's the expert? Everybody was in campaign season. Everybody was saying that a reval was killing everybody. Everybody was going to live or move from Patterson because the reval... is killing the taxpayers on my my question was it the taxpayer Patterson is going to see the increment of their taxes based on the rebound not based on the 2% on the rebound. Yes, OK. Wow.

Councilman Mendez.

Council President. Go ahead. Mr. Ciafo.

Councilman Oden. Thank you.

Thank you, Council President. Mr. Ciafo, so we are talking about the recent reassessment that the value came. So, I'm talking about last year, we had 5 point some percentage changes, right? That was the rate? 5.6. 5.6%? 5.6, correct. And what's the current one that we are sending right now?

2%. It's 2.3%, I believe, because of the revalve, the tax rate changes.

Is it 2.3%? I believe it's 2.3, 2.33. Before the meeting ends, can you confirm the percentage, the exact number? Yeah. Because we have to confirm before we approve it. I know this is one of my last meetings, could be one more meeting left. But still, my commitment to the people is the same. We still need to continue fighting for homeowners. We cannot give up. So especially for this kind of item, so we need to know the exact number, how people are getting affected by. So if you can confirm the number, what's going to be the percentage?

So it won't be an exact rate, Councilman, because this is an estimate. County, open space, and school, they're not exact yet.

Right.

That's just an estimate. FOR MUNICIPAL, IT'S 2% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR. SO THAT'S FROM 174 MILLION TO 177 MILLION. BUT THE OTHERS ARE ESTIMATES, SO THAT RATE IS GOING TO CHANGE.

WHAT'S THE ESTIMATE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT?

I BELIEVE THEY WENT UP 4%.

BEFORE YOU SAY I BELIEVE, CAN WE HAVE CONFIRMATION, CONFIRMED NUMBER BEFORE THE MEETING?

I DON'T HAVE THEIR FINAL NUMBERS THOUGH. THESE BILLS ARE BASED ON LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS FOR THE COUNTY, SCHOOL AND OPEN SPACE.

COUNTY WAS PRETTY CONSISTENT ON THEIR TAXES LAST FIVE YEARS. I BELIEVE THEY DID NOT RAISE THEIR TAXES, IF I'M NOT WRONG. BUT CAN WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION BEFORE THE REGULAR MEETING NEXT WEEK? SURE.

Please thank you so let me just put it on let me just put this on yes, Councilman is a customer that was put this on the record, I'm I'm asking our cop cop high Council colleagues please read your documents on the first page is clearly outlined the percentage of each entity County school it is clearly outlined with the dollar amount please look at the item here. Mister CFO you if you like to send it out again, but I want our Council colleagues to just look at the documents like it's right there is very clear in black and white. Councilman Mendez and then Councilman Jackson.

Thank you, Council President. You know, due to this revival, we have a record number of appeals. Personally, in my office, I help close to 400 homeowners appeal their taxes due to the revival. There's going to be a huge impact on our homeowners. My concern is this when it comes to the budget. We all remember that we switched from calendar year to fiscal year. to be able to get a a budget adopter at an early age at the early stage of the year and now wait until the last inning and we're going through the same situation we're in june now and i have not seen us going through the budget hearing through what are we doing now mr ceo for that my concern is that every year we wait until the last inning and at the end there's no other choice we have no other place to reduce the budget and our homeowners our taxpayers they want they are the ones that get they're getting the hit every year because we were able to the last inning to adopt the budget so how we're going to switch that and i understand that we're waiting for the transitioning uh dollar amount from the state but now we don't have to wait read until that to see to get a document that reflect the budget that we're looking forward to approve to provide service in our community. I truly believe that we've done so. How are we going to do to avoid that? And start with a budget hearing. At the last budget that we approved, we didn't have the opportunity to sit down with any director. I want to talk to the director of public work. I want to hear from him. What are we planning to do? What is the plan to improve the service to our community with the dollar amount that we're going to allocate from public work and all the different department connect economic development because if we want to hold those are direct accountable in the administration we need to have a conversation and that never happened in the last but you some I'm hoping to have that conversation with the budget hearing on this that this time around so what can we do a war planning to do to have this budget in front of us.

Thank you so you want me to respond when it's on. So I'll start the response and then to our VA. So in times past, we would have conversations, which we still will have, where all the department heads will come before us. Our Madam Chair of Finance will lead that conversation in relation to their needs, their best wish list from their particular departments. But what has happened in the past, we would do an introduced budget and start at a high rate And then we get the transitional aid letter, and then we go from 5.6 and drop to 3.2, knowing that we really don't want to tax the burden, do a high burden on the taxpayers of over 2%. So I think it's more prudent because they CONFIRM AND THEY APPROVE THEIR BUDGET IN JUNE THAT WE START THIS PROCESS IN JULY. AND BEGINNING OF AUGUST, I THINK IT'S MORE PRUDENT AND HAVE THE DIRECTORS COME, DEPARTMENT HEADS TO THE BA, THE CFO, TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND THEY PRESENT WHAT THEY WANT. THAT WAY WE HAVE A TRUE TRANSITIONAL AID AWARD LETTER VERSUS TRYING TO ASSUME OR TRY TO GUESS WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE. is more prudent for us and where it gives us more leverage to understand and know what the real numbers are person guessing numbers and having the community, especially the small taxpayer base that we have have been very upset about it. So to try to do One second, because Councilman Jackson was first. But just trying to do some things more efficiently as it relates to us working in tangent with our state representatives, BACFO, as well as our council colleagues. So those hearings will happen. Councilman Mendez, it's not that they won't, they will. But I think it's more prudent for us to have meetings with true numbers versus guessing numbers and having a community and an uproar because they think we're going to do a 10% tax increase. Councilman Jackson?

if you look at this we already approved from john we have temporary appropriation from january to march 84 million from april to may 93 million 93.3 and now from june to july we have we're adding 55 million so in total we have 232 million 552 dollar already from the budget that we already expanded so we cannot wait until the last in and to say okay this is the real number we're not going to have real number because we spend all the money so we're not going to have time to make up in any place because the money it's already gone So I truly believe that that conversation needs to happen early in the year, in the fiscal year, because that was the reason why we say, no, we're not going to use calendar year. We're going to use fiscal year now, so let's have the conversation early. That way we could put the right plan to protect our taxpayers. So that's my take on this.

Thank you. Mr. Villanueva?

Thank you, Council President. Just a few comments. The temporary emergency appropriation, just for the public, any municipality in the state of New Jersey that operates on a calendar budget has at least one temporary appropriation like here. At least one, if not several. Okay? Those that are not in the TA program are fortunate that they can adopt a budget by March or April. I wish we were in a fiscal year. because the situation we're in is very complicated. And I'll explain. The governor put out her budget, did her budget address in March and indicated that transitional aid communities, the funding was going up 96 million and that Jersey City was not part of that. It's a very encouraging sign for us because we had a big ask and there's only so many towns in that group. So that's good evidence, good anecdotal evidence that we're going to get a very nice number. I meet with the DCA every single week, and I keep stressing the question that the longer we do not have our TA number, the more difficult it becomes for us. Because if and when that number comes in and it's lower than we hoped for, we're now half of the budget has passed us, and we need to find $2 to save $1. So I repeat this ad nauseum. When the governor gave her budget address, just as a comparison, the next day, the state aid for school districts comes out. And they take that number, and they plug it into their budget, and they have a fiscal year. So their budget starts July 1 of this summer into next June. So our Board of Ed got their numbers, and they could do their thing. Meanwhile, we're on a more aggressive schedule because we're in calendar year, yet we're waiting for this number. Now, in previous years, when the city was getting 29 million in TA and the request was 31 or 32, You could introduce because that difference of two or three in the grand scheme of 300 plus million is workable. As we all know, I'm not going to rehash, our ask is much bigger this year. How much? Our ask is $78 million. And to explain to the public, 24 million of that, out of that 40 plus million that we're asking for, 24 million is health insurance. To the credit of the council, the council tried to leave the state-held benefits program last year, but the DCA had an issue with it, and it didn't happen last year. We're working with our insurance broker to try to attempt that next year. We have a one-in-ten-year 25th payroll? Or 27th? 27th. 27 payroll every 10 years based on how the payroll schedule works out we have to come up with another. A round of payroll that's 6 million dollars insurance garbage etc we're at 35 million just from those numbers so I think that's important context so. Could the council introduce a budget? In theory, yes. But what TA number are we picking? If you pick the 78 number and you introduce a budget and then a month later we get news that it's 68, you have to come back and do this whole thing over again and find 10 million in cuts or changes, that's very problematic for a lot of reasons. If you go the other way and are very conservative and assume we're only going to get 55, then to balance your budget, you're going to kind of have to come in high with taxes and do other things. And then a month later, you could get, hey, Patterson, you're getting 70. And then we have to come back here and do it again. So we are in a complicated situation. I said this when we did the TAN. The TAN is another, if we were in a fiscal year, we wouldn't need a TAN because we have all this money that comes in, but it comes in in the summer. we have over 30 million in energy receipts that every municipality gets some portion nta that comes in in the third quarter of our budget year so um i i just to finish my statements i will say we've internally had over 10 hours of budget meetings with our respective departments the the budget law requires us to have budget hearings So we will do that. And again I continue to insist to the DCA that the longer we do not have our number the greater the rate the greater harm there is to our residents and employees.

Thank you very good whatever. As president thank you councilman Jackson. So, first of all, Mr. B.A., let me correct you. The council doesn't introduce a budget. It is the administration's responsibility to introduce a responsible budget, which you guys have failed to do. Would you continue to point the finger and place the blame and the onus on the council? Yes, I will agree. There's many council members here that are equally as guilty. In fact, they need to wear the belt. Because while Councilman Mendez is talking about all this nonsense about turning over into a fiscal year over the calendar year, he supported that. In fact, the process of eliminating budget hearings happened while he was the council president. and how was he voting then in the affirmative everything he supported he was a yeah he was an automatic yes vote as the mayor put it he carried his pom-poms which you know was stolen from me but anyway 78 million dollars i have been on this council for more than a decade i've never never insulted the public of such If you take the $78 million and subtract the $24 that he claimed, oh, by the way, it's health insurance, which, by the way, they voted in affirmative because Marge Chiron told us this was going to be a train wreck. They all supported that nonsense to go from self-insured to the state insured program plan, and we're getting our asses kicked on it now. But if you subtract the 24 from the 78, you're still asking for $54 million, which is more than double of which we ever, ever, ever requested. Now, The money we borrowed, let's not talk about the $80 million in CARES Act dollars that we still have not had a report on. Let's not talk about the $30, $40 million of PRC money that here we are approving a $10 million outfitting of the business incubator. Man, let alone the $15,000 check for one employee to come in here and do the guy's job because he's incompetent. He can't get his job done. And this is showing right now to the public how we're going to... There's no way, no way. So... The governor said, we're going to increase the state TA to 90 million. So we're optimistic. Of four other municipalities, we're expecting to get 78 of $90 million? How much of a joke is that? It's an insult to come here and talk and pontificate to tell the public that, oh, we're very optimistic. Are you kidding me? Now, this whole thing, this plan, where is the presentation, Mr. B.A., on the outline requirements? It's from 23. We've had a failing grade every single year over the last five years since you guys have been in place. Okay, so he reworded this. Where is the presentation based upon the changes that were made, the impact that they've made on the community, and how we are now moving into a space not to receive a failing grade? Hold that answer, because I got more. where's the presentation or the assessment mr cfo based on the new uh assessed values of the impact of taxpayers we would normally do it do a presentation based on if your household if your house is valued at this much here's the projected tax rate this is what the taxes will be because quite frankly without an increase at all i haven't i haven't met one one homeowner yet not one that have said because the assessment that they've seen a reduction in their taxes or they're projected to see a reduction in their taxes so without even raising the two percent Just by way of the assessment alone, we're going to have an increase in revenue that the taxpayers are going to be burdened to pay. Where's the projection on that? Why are you shaking your head? If taxpayers' assessment have gone up triple, if they've more than doubled and tripled in their assessments, how do you estimate a taxpayer not paying more money? Every single taxpayer I have that's calling me is like, wait a minute, I'm not going to be able to afford my house. So how are you going to shake your head saying no, that we're going to be bringing in the same amount of money that we were last year with new ratables A new assessed values if a house was assessed at a $100,000 and is now being assessed at $500,000 I don't care what you put the tax rate that there's going to be an increase in taxes. That's right to that particular homeowner and what we failed to do was been incredibly irresponsible because this would a Council has dropped the ball we haven't even forced them to do a presentation on impact. What's going to be the impact to the local residents, the homeowner that owns a two-family house? I mean, listen, I thought Kathleen was a travesty for the city. But at least, at the very least, she will put together impact presentations when we change the sewer rate. If a homeowner that had this size house, if they had four units, if they were using this much there was an impact study and it was presented to the council based upon that so we can make a a not that this council makes very well mannered educated decisions anyway we just simply vote yes we can't even make a decision on on whether or not we should approve your temporary appropriation or not Because you guys aren't bringing forth, coming with the information. You haven't given a report, a full report on all the spending. And here we are just being asked to vote yes on situations that you're failing to do presentations on. then you you have the audacity to come here and say oh yeah no we've prepared it and then when the next one comes out we're going to be we get another failing grade as well what you did the year before in the year before every single year there's been a failing grade by the state so now you're saying you're suggesting that we should believe that this year we're going to be in good standing we're going to be at a All of the expectations are met and our taxpayers shouldn't be expected to be burdened so heavily that they're going to lose their home. Is that what you're suggesting that I just believe? That the governor, we're just going to get a golden egg delivered to us at $78 million and we should be golden. We should be good. Is that what we're suggesting?

Councilman, you went in 8 different directions, so I don't know which one you want me to address, but...

Address the ones that you think is favorable to you.

Councilman, I could do this for an hour. I could address every single one, one by one, if you'd like to do that.

Sure, go ahead.

corrective action plan now i was not here in 2023 but one audit yeah one comment on an audit triggers the corrective action plan whether you're patterson upper saddle river edison or newark okay now clearly there are a lot of comments That's not news to anybody in the audience or on the council that there are things that had to get better in 23, some of which that have been resolved by now, and some haven't. But that is the legal process. An audit comes back, there's comments. It's not the state that audits it, it's the council that appoints the auditor, and that auditor submits that report, and based on his comments, which that presentation had to have happened before the council, because that's a legal requirement, the the finance department has to do a corrective action plan so it's it's it's there before you it's listed on the agenda for discussion purposes so we're here and and that discussion uh is happening um again the the transitional aid is that those are the numbers We're a city that has a structural deficit. And we've hit a very difficult year with increases that no one person or one body can control. So in my speaking about that number, that's all the data we have. and and um and i i'd rather be optimistic about it than report to the council that the total ta number for all the towns is going up only 20 million because that would be very very a very dark moment for us waiting and waiting and for our employees so um where i can speak with some optimism on this subject i will because people's lives are impacted both our employees and our taxpayers so to the extent that i can give some insight to it i will but that's as far as i'm willing to go

That's part of the reason why the cold requires that those who are making these kinds of decisions become our bona fide residents because you're right people's lives are at risk but yours isn't you live here you have it you have a dog in this fight you have it is no detriment to you one way or another is there do you have a number with the other municipalities that were on that aren't see what would have had their had their requests done up 6 times the amount of what the what we would be been getting in the past.

I don't have access to their T a request is the public and his public information. Well, I I I didn't take the work to Oprah other towns to request that's of no value to me is to be so so I mean maybe it is me maybe it's me if it's announced.

that the governor has just said, oh, you know what? We got great news. We're going to make accessible $90 million. And I know that my request was more than a third of that. Would I not look and at least inquire, like, wait a minute. Maybe I get lucky. Maybe the other ones only need $5 million. Maybe they're responsible in their spending. So I wouldn't look to see what the other ones are. Because if $90 million is being announced, I would agree. That's great news. But not if other communities need $20 million each, and it's three or four of them. Because that's $60 million. Even if they get a reduction to $10, it's still $30 million. Guess what? $78 and $90. is no 30 left in that. So I'm trying to figure out like how are we are we just like wish and hoping which is grabbing for straws you didn't even check to see what the other municipalities requests were.

Councilman you you started by questioning my optimism for the governor announcing 96 million going up. I'm questioning if you're being responsible question my optimism for it and now you're saying why haven't I done the due diligence that find out what everyone asked for

Because you're getting paid to do it.

You're getting paid to do it. To research what other towns are asking for from the state of New Jersey.

To make sure that the residents in the city of Patterson aren't hammered when it comes to the budget process and the overspending. Which, by the way, you're the signing authority on. Thank you. You're failing the community quite clearly. $78 million request and you can't tell us. You said $24 million of that is health insurance. So it's not like we paid zero in health insurance before. So the increase in that is what? Let's say it's 75%. is $20 million that may be up well how much was how much we were going to be a miss to be a one I'm talking about in health insurance once I said it was $24 million alone in health insurance increase the $24 million increase increase increase.

yes increase Mister BA I just want to I want to bring us president first of all I'm not done I why you why you interjecting when I have the councilman Jack speaking over because you were speaking and he was answer he was interrupting so I was trying to bring order to that you were speaking and I was trying to get you to finish to bring it but your discussion is not on the agenda we're not talking about the budget

You're all I'm not the one who brought it up but that's so I'm this is relevant that this item this item in the failure of this council's responsibility your colleague next to you brought up the budget in which he talked about how we irresponsibly or we need to change over now you got to be a telling us this this is this advantage or is it will be more advantageous to us to switch back. to a fiscal year when we were on the fiscal year before when this guy who's sitting in CFO position is the one who put us in this calendar year to begin with. So when are we going to acknowledge failures? When is the council going to exercise its authority that he claimed we don't have and fire somebody over here? This is going on Patterson is we got here because it while we got what we have contract amounts is coming for 10 million dollars with no scrutiny we didn't do any presentation. He said the law. He said the law requires budget hearings of which we acknowledge that we didn't even do a budget hearing we will so so so we just disregard the law when it comes to things like that right.

Because we're out now back being quite okay, Council just put it on record once again, we will be doing budget hearings so did not do the budget hearing which has us in this we should not right now we see that hearing we should not have done that yet Council member last Council of the last so.

The original question was to see a fall if the taxpayer will receive an increase in the taxes base on the readout, you know has stated he said he stated yes, so The 2% that he's talking about that we praise that we need to raise taxes more than 2%. So if your property was assessed before the reval, $250,000, municipal taxes worth $5,000, let's make believe your taxes, your property went to $450,000. That's what happened from 250 to $450,000. So your new tax will be for your property at $5,000. Sorry, from 250 to 450 will be $9,000 only in municipal taxes. That 2% that they're talking about. If it's assessed that we a lot of residents receive a property a rebound from 350 to $750,000 new assessment okay only in municipal taxes that 2% that beautiful 2% that CFO say that we keep it and the and and the council say we keep in 2% is only going to be municipal taxes only $15,000 a municipal council. Now just don't know what to say that's a point point of order when a simple portion of what a lot there's a point of order on the wrong you correct it right so a lot. The 2%. You're talking about the 2%.

When a point of order is called, Councilmember Les, at that point, you have to stop talking so the point of order can be addressed. I called it first. The reason why I'm calling a point of order, because once again, that is not on the agenda. The information you're giving out is incorrect. It is misinformation to the community. And I'm going to request that the B.A. sends the correct information to all council members to give a clear explanation. But that is not correct. WE ARE NOT DISCUSSING THAT COUNCILMAN OF THE LAST I GET IT THAT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REASSESSMENT.

CAN I CONTINUE FOR YOU GOOD DAY AND INTERRUPT ME.

WELL I'M SAYING COUNCILMEMBER VELEZ. COUNCIL PRESIDENT ONE SECOND COUNCILMEMBER VELEZ.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS QUARTER RATE. POINT OF ORDER. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE ENTIRE YEAR TWO PERCENT.

COUNCILMEMBER VELEZ THERE WERE TWO POINTS OF ORDER. I CALLED ONE. TWO PERCENT THE ENTIRE YEAR. COUNCILMEMBER VELEZ YOU HAVE TO ALLOW THE POINT OF ORDER TO BE ADDRESSED. OKAY GO AHEAD ADDRESS IT.

Point of order. Councilman Jackson. Council President, you're absolutely incorrect. First of all, we're not in voting session. We're not addressing an item. We're not discussing an item in discussion of which a councilman has the privilege, the right to have an open-ended discussion on any matter that he so fits. We can't truncate what a council person wants to speak about because it doesn't fit into your criteria. We're not in a voting session. We're not on an item. There is no item that is being discussed. We're having a broad discussion based on this matter that directly pertains to the budget. And these failures that the council failed to address definitely impacts the taxpayers. Now, outside of the point of order, I would like to point out, because Councilman Velez is absolutely correct, but you have to take into account that the rate must adjust. I know on a broad spectrum so everyone's the evaluation went up not yet the rate is adjusted. So even though they're asking for 2% increase this possibility at 2% increase may be lower because of the overall rate that's being is being adjusted but it still does not excuse the administration for not doing a presentation based upon first

Anyway, it went outside the scope of the point of order so so back to the level of the numbers that I'm giving you is that the the 2% rate will be the the whole entire year that's why you pain to the Senate's we believe the 2% the whole day here. The municipal rate to the set. Council Council president said that the resolution to point has the rate of the county and etc but I'm not seeing the rate I just seen the appropriation that they have what base based on what based on what rate we don't know we've got 4% for us to probably got 4. Yeah, the House of president listen you I learned something when I do a pause or finish. Well, I face total that you could drop. Okay, so Wait when I look at the at the percent yearly 2% they want to keep it in the whole entire budget 2% at the county at the school district, I open space. It's going to be more than 2% in one bill yeah in one bill so whoever is telling me I'm wrong, I'm looking at the whole picture. okay so in other words if your property is assessed four hundred fifty thousand dollars so you and a year that two percent a whole entire year your tax is going to be eighteen thousand dollars only in municipal portion right only municipal without adding the county the school taxes et cetera what i'm trying to say is that that bill is going to reflect not the 19 000 IN THAT QUARTER IS GOING TO REPORT REPRESENT AN INCREASE BECAUSE BASED ON THE INCREMENT OF THE REVAL THAT THEY DID SIMPLE LIKE THAT THEN I KNOW YOU GOT CONFUSED BETWEEN THE 1918 I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE ENTIRE YEAR THEN BUT IN THE QUARTER WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE NOT 19 BUT A LITTLE BIT MORE WHILE YOU WAS PAYING COUNCILMENT COUNCILMENT COUNCILMENT COUNCILMENT COUNCILMENT COUNCILMENT COUNCILMENT COUNCILMENT COUNCILMENT COUNCILMENT COUNCILMENT

Thank you, Council President. Thank you. I think that, Council President, and we have a very, well, I have a very sensitive discussion with a lot of people during the reval, because the letter that the resident or homeowner received, it was showing only the municipal portion, which is 2.23.

Yes.

So, and if the reval, if your reval went from 200,000 to 650,000, You're going to get the 650, and you're going to multiply that by the 2.23. But now on this legislation, on item 23, we have open space $1.3 million, county $61 million, school $80.5 million, library $4.8 million, and the municipal $177 million. So now we need to add all those open space, county, school, and library to the 2.23. Yes, you're going to be hit with a huge tax increase. Yes, and we say this during the election time, but it's not election time, but you're going to get hit. Over 14,000 properties were accessed without people going inside a property. What they did in Paterson was a drive-by, it was a drive-by, appraisal. It's just unacceptable. It was horrible. It was unacceptable. We have a very extensive discussion that we took action on. So now people are going to get hit really hard. That's the reason why we have over 200 people appealing their taxes. Now, that's the number that we're going to have, and that's a fact. Now, you know, and Mr. Villa, you're totally correct when you mentioned Most of the municipalities have one and two temporary appropriations. The problem that I have here in Paterson is that we have four and five, and we still don't have the number together. We have to be honest with ourselves. I understand that you might not have control of what happened in the past, but my recommendation is that we need to sit down, because I live in the city. My taxes went out $5,000 with the revolve. $5,000, not including open space and school and library, $5,000. And I have over 400 people appealing their taxes. And so what happened here is now, what we're going to do to stop this, if you look at it, all the municipalities, they help you with transition aid to help you balance the budget. But the responsible way of running the city is that you depend less and less on transition A, that you go and reduce the number. If the state gave you 25 this year, next year you should offer 20 or 18 because you'll be more responsible. Now, in the city of Patterson, as far as I remember, we went from 22 to 25, from 25 to 37, from 37 to 32, and last year we got 35, and now we're asking for 78 million. It doesn't make sense. Now, whoever is looking at the state level, they're going to say, what's wrong with Paterson? Because we'll start with $22 million, and every year we're asking for more. Last year, the state gave us $83 million, and we asked for two. They've been really good with us. And we asked for a $200 million. They gave it to us. They gave us $35 million. And now we're asking for $78 million. What's going to happen? If the state comes back and says, no, I'm not giving you $78 million, what's going to happen with us? That's the reason why I've been insisting on the budget hearing. As council president, you don't have the authority to put the budget hearing together. That's administration. And the last VA said we don't need budget hearing. The numbers are going to stay the same, and there's not going to be no change. But I recommend to Mr. VA— There was no budget hearing at the last year. There was no budget hearing. We didn't met. We're not directors. But listen, Mr. VA, all I'm asking is that let's put those budget hearings together. Let's have that conversation because we all, listen, I live in the city. I pay taxes in multiple property here. I have a skin in the game here like every other people that live in the city of Paterson. All I'm asking is, listen, we got to be serious about this. Because this is not politics. We're playing with people's life here. When that tax bill hit those homeowners, people are living on a fixed income, and they don't have the money to pay their taxes. What's going to happen? We're going to have more lien in those property, and you're going to have those people that they do business in Paterson purchasing those lien, and you're going to have more and more people losing their property. So that's the conversation that I'm asking the administration to have I'm not he I'm not here. I'm not here to fight. I'm just going to ask listen can we do this can we get it done.

We will thank you we will councilman on cotton, the council.

Thank you. Council president, I just want to say to have yet because he did he did have a broken down on. with open space in county and schools and municipalities and the library. And Javier, it would really help out if you would say, like, what was it last year for the county? And what would it be this year for the county? So they can see the percentage because when you look at the, if you look at the school tax, our school budget is $800 million. $800 million. city of patterson contributes 80 million we 80 million will only cover two schools for us that's east side and kennedy that's all you're covered so we actually wouldn't even have any schools because we couldn't pay for anything um and i know that um the health benefits um um increase now i know that we're not going to get no 78 million so now i think in all the departments already councilman mendez they're already Working thin as it is. I know they are. They're thin now. I mean, you can't ask them to cut more than what has to be cut. But if Javier, now let me just put it out there. And I happen to be sitting here when we had city employees. You know, when you talk about health benefits jumped 24 million. I think that the state could have came in and helped us with, you know, with increasing the, I mean, like helping us pay the medical because, I mean, I got a letter last year from the insurance, my insurance company of my homeowners went up 29 percent. And I requested to the commissioners of banking and insurance, please don't grant them a 29 percent increase. You know, because any time an insurance company or anything wants an increase, they got to go before that board. Now, they look at all the items and they'll say, you know, they still increase it. My auto insurance went up 26 percent. But the thing is, I know we're not getting seven to eight million, but we had to borrow, I think four or five years ago, we had to bond money for city employees. that insurance bills was hitting a million dollars. How do I tell your family, I'm not gonna pay your, you're gonna go to the hospital, but they're not gonna see you because the city of Patterson didn't pay their bill. How do you think your family's gonna feel when you gotta go to the hospital, you gotta go to the doctor, and oh, we can't see you because your bill wasn't paid by the city? Or how do you feel when we gotta contribute more to the pension? And they say, oh, you know, you're not getting your check. You know, everybody get a pension check, either first Wednesday, third Wednesday, fifth Wednesday. I don't know. Oh, no, you know, the city didn't contribute it. But, Javier, it would really help us to know what was it the year before when you look at, because everything went up. The county went up. The school district went up. And you're talking about $177 million. got $24 million increase for medical, where's our medical hitting? $50 million? Like that's, I don't know how we, to me, I think the state probably could have put a brake on the insurance and banking industry to say, you know, we can't allow, you can't allow increases like that for medical, even if they go back to um we was private we was um self-insured and then we went to the blue cross and blue shield uh and we went back to the day and even like they talked about we we even talked about um going from fiscal year to calendar year and everybody thought calendar year was the best way to go It was at that time, because of medical. It was the best way to go because of medical. And that's why we went that way, because of the medical costs and everything. So, Javier, please break it down clearly for those people. I know for a fact that with the revalve, a lot of people did do tax appeals, and a lot of people did get their taxes, their property value lowered a little. And even they came here upstairs on the fourth floor. They were talking to everybody. I told everybody, you can come upstairs to the fourth floor. They would sit down. When you can prove to them the house next to me did not sell for $500. You only sold for $350. So now why is my $500? And this was sold for $350. So that's why you got to like. But Javier, that would really help because now everyone going to be able to see How those others I'm talking about school. I'm talking about County. I don't believe open space every increase does it have a year.

That's Councilman so again these bills are just 3rd quarter bills right right so this for County school and open space that's just an estimate that's not the final number. It's not the final number, no. We have to have disapproval from you guys to have the bills out by July for the August 1st bill. So they're estimated. Now once we pass a budget and we get all the final numbers, the final numbers catch up to that number, which, you know, if let's say county is a million dollars higher, that will catch up.

but now let me ask you something then when do you expect to get the final numbers from each from the county for the for the budget for the school i get it by the end of this month by the end of january by the end of june uh county i want to say maybe the first or second week in july FOR EVERYBODY FOR COUNTY YEAH FOR THE COUNTY THEY HAVEN'T THEY HAVEN'T DONE THEIR SHED EITHER FOR YEAH FOR COUNTY AND OPEN SPACE I'M SORRY SO BY THE END OF SO BY THE END OF BY THE MIDDLE OF JULY WE SHOULD HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS CORRECT FROM EVERYTHING UM NOW WHAT ABOUT THE LIBRARY DO THEY EVERYTHING THAT'S A FINAL NUMBER THIS IS THE LAST YEAR'S NUMBER WAS 4.3 MILLION IT WENT UP TO 4.8 MILLION WHAT WAS IT LAST YEAR 3.3 MILLION OH 4.3 SO NOW IT'S UP TO 4.8 CORRECT OKAY And the only other difference is that one. The 177 municipalities.

And municipal last year was 174 500 and this year is going to be 177 right and again the 2%.

Right and then the county okay, so Abby have you see if if you can put those numbers together to see you know, I mean so actually people can actually see what they're really the numbers look like for you know for for all this and and what was that cause for the show us before the 24 million. Do you have any idea what we were paying.

Last year 48 million.

You know, I can't believe that make yeah. I can't, you know, I'm telling you, you know, I think that they could have helped out some kind of way because these medical, they're being approved by the state of New Jersey. They're being approved by the board down there in Trenton. Like, how do you keep approving? How do you go from 48 to 72 million? And... It's unbelievable. It just, I don't know, like, that's a lot of money. And then you got a lot of, some of our workers here can't go to certain doctors still. They can't go to certain areas. They gotta, you know, and now I can understand why I see some of them opting out and buying the less coverage. because it's costing a lot of money it really is so just get those uh for me uh javier you know thank you for it thank you thank you councilwoman councilman colleague and the councilman well thank you council president well we we are discussing we are in discussion on item number 23.

estimated tax bill from the discussion the budget from budget hearing to presentation all the other discussion came in it's been a past practice estimated tax bill we have done it previous year usually they compare it to the year before Usually 2%, 2.3%, 2.5% we send out the tax bill so we could have a cash flow. And about budget hearing, some of the council colleagues mentioned that we don't have a budget hearing anymore, which is not true. We did have it last year. Presentation. Before the introduction of the budget, usually they do the presentation. Now, before sending out the estimated tax bills, the whole process and the practice has been there. You could shake your hand, which is the fact, head, which is the fact. You could go back last year. Last year we had budget. This year we're going to have a budget hearing as well. This year, we're going to have a budget hearing as well. It's coming up. I think we just had the election. And I think probably next month, we're going to have a budget hearing. Then we're going to have an introduction of the budget. That's when we're going to have the presentation from the BS, CFO. Everything is there. I'm not saying everything is fine. I'm not saying everything is fine. Look out there. Every city, every city out there in the state of New Jersey is having issue because of the operating of the medical expenses. Every city. Every city out there. I just want to point out, we're not doing anything different than we have been doing in previous years.

Everything is in plan. We need to be patient.

I know we love to be self-sustained, but we are not. We are a traditionalized city. We have to live with it. We have to ask for the money to the state. We love to get off. Hopefully in future. I'm looking bright. I'm looking, looking, Patterson future is very bright. Within six, seven years, I think we're going to be off transit TA as well. TA as well. We're going to be off TA as well. I'm looking at six, seven years.

Yes.

Six, seven years.

To the public, you cannot speak out while we're in the middle of speaking.

I'm speaking and the residents of this great city of Paterson understand the direction of the city going in. That's why they re-elected the mayor, they re-elected our council president, they re-elected our council vice president. Thank you, thank you. That's a threat.

Thank you councilman old in and then we're going it's a public Councilman old in.

Thank you, Council president. So Patterson what one thing and it should be a I want to address that last year we had the tax rate 5.3%. With the significant increase in our new assessment. IT WAS REALLY SCARY AT THE VERY BEGINNING. BUT I USUALLY SAY COUNCIL DID A GREAT JOB WHEN WE INTRODUCED A BUDGET WITH MINIMUM REQUIREMENT 2% INCREASE. AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY THE CURRENT TAX RATE IS 2.2%. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE RESIDENT THAT THE NUMBER IS NOT FINALIZED BECAUSE OF THE TWO OTHER BUDGETS THAT WE ARE WAITING FOR. SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COUNTY. And school district is taking a big percentage of the taxes. And I want resident to be part of the Board of Ed uh budget introduction budget discussion because it's done already and that is eight percent that's exactly what i'm saying and they need to be part of it because the blame automatically even though this is my last month as i'm sitting a council at large but one thing that people think that all the budget increase tax increase come from the city council that's not the truth though This is what we need to educate ourselves that some percentage come from school district and county. So you have to be part of everyone's discussion, not only pointing finger to the council. And that's going to impact their tax rate. So I want to make sure that we have to keep on fighting for the current tax rate that we have, 2.2%. If any way, I'm not sure CFO, what the calculation would be. Is there any way the percentage, the tax rate can go to 5% like last year? I'm not sure what your calculation says. I believe that that should be clarified. or you need more time to know what the final number would be, that is going to actually say the exact taxes that people are going to pay. We have to keep in mind the current assessed value of the properties. That's significantly, significantly high, trust me. Some properties are double and i see none of the properties more than one per you know uh it you know any way that closure to the last year's ss value so i i definitely encourage the resident to be part of the decision the council makes for county commissioners or board of head commissioners and uh again thank you and county uh cfo i think that needs to be clarified that where the percentage where the tax rate is going to be uh right now it's 2.2 percent what your calculation says AFTER THAT BUDGET INTRODUCTION OF THE BOARD OF FED AND THE STATE COUNTY.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN JACKSON AND THEN TO MADAM CLERK WILL BE GOING RIGHT TO PUBLIC PORTION. COUNCILMAN JACKSON.

I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR MR. CFO, MR. B.A. THROUGH THE CHAIR. SO WE HAVE A FINALIZED TAX RATE. Now the councilman wouldn't just say that we went we have we were 5.3 and we went down to 2.3 know those last year where 5.6 he was so my last year's process. No, it's right now the taxes were sending is not 2.2% that's what he just said it again that was 2%. We don't have a tax rate we do not have a tax rate right now just misleading information you've given to the public.

I'm sorry we just hear for can you clarify the current the THE CURRENT, THE ESTIMATED TAX YOU'RE SENDING FOR THIS QUARTER, WHAT'S THE TAX RATE ON THIS?

CAN YOU... AGAIN, IT'S NOT A... IT'S AN ESTIMATE. IT'S AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT, BUT IT WON'T BE A FINAL RATE UNTIL WE PASS THE BUDGET. BUT WHAT'S THE RATE ON THIS? WHAT'S THE RATE ON IT? TO GET A CLOSE RATE, IT'S DIFFERENT. LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE WAS ABOUT SOMEWHERE AROUND 5%. BECAUSE OF THE NEW ASSESSMENT, THIS YEAR'S TAX RATE IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND 2.3%. SO THE TAX RATE IS DROPPING.

YEAH, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT FINAL. THAT'S NOT FINAL. ONCE I HAVE FINAL NUMBERS, I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXACT TAX RATE. SO THAT IS ACCURATE, THEN. HE HAS THE FLOOR, COUNCILMAN.

I'M SORRY, MAYBE, WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO...

I CAN PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR TUESDAY AND TRY TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING CLOSE.

THAT WAS THE EXACTLY POINT, COUNCILMAN. 2.23% IS ON THE TAX BILL. PLEASE SEND THAT OUT. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN, WHAT WERE YOU SAYING? COUNCILMAN OLDEN.

THAT WAS MY POINT, COUNCILMAN, THAT LAST YEAR WE HAD 5.3%. THIS YEAR, THE ESTIMATED RATE.

I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT LISTEN, WHAT I'M TRYING TO BRING CLARITY TO IS, SO THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE A 2% INCREASE, CORRECT? 2% OVERALL INCREASE.

FOR LAST YEAR, YES.

FOR LAST YEAR.

FOR LAST YEAR. WE HAVEN'T APPROVED A BUDGET YET, SO YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT YET.

For this year, but currently we were estimated at 2.3 correct. 2.2 3 2.2 3 2.3 is not that that much of a difference, but I just want to just want to clarify several things we we most definitely did not do a budget hearing last year, I don't know what comes quickly in fact the administration, the administration and now you sitting here with who they acknowledge that we didn't do it. They acknowledge we knew it. So I'm not sure exactly what would you know that the effort to mislead the public. The effort to mislead the public is is is is crazy. We have to have one responsible budget act action since Councilman Morris and Councilman McCoy left here. There's not been one responsible action to say listen, no we're going to cut this line and we've allowed the administration to do every single thing that they wanted to do. And one of the things I want to point out, when council members are talking and spewing out things, I hope that you can not do what we allow the administration to do. Like, for example, Councilman Mendez, you keep claiming you made 400 tax appeals. You should provide us with the data. I did. Provide us with the data. How many... I'm about my size is about as bad as he has the floor. Provide those addresses how many of those residents or reduction in its axis. I mean that would be great. I mean if it was me and I did 400 tax appeals, I'll be right here be putting it on the screen say hey right now. But miss Jones, a 5, a meeting may lock Street. just had a reduction in her assessment because of the work I did. He's spewing off, you know, lies, putting up fake numbers in nonfactual context, just continuously misleading the public and not taking accountability in his voting for us being in this position that we're in. The fact of the matter is this council has to wear the responsibility of where we're in. Before this mayor was elected a budget was 225 million now we have a 330 plus million dollar budget. So we increase the budget a 100 million dollars in the request to see a 70 plus million dollars. It just talks to you about you know how how inappropriate the spending is. Now think if the CFO was be responsible right in the in the B a was being as possible, you know all this money we spend not been spending out to consultants. We would have hired a consultant to say, how many claims do we have over the last five years while we're in the state plan? Because when we were self-insured, we would just be paying claims. But instead, we don't even have an idea of how many claims we paid out. How many requests for insurance benefits have there been? Because we can look at then, have we been responsible? Have we been responsible with our choice to change over to the state health plan? But we haven't. And this is, again, something that I voted absolutely not on eight years ago. And every single year after that, It is slapped us in the face and instead of being accountable for actions we saw I hope 400 people get tax appeals, but you don't show no data. Yeah, we're those houses that with those names that we're those because maybe listen, I got another 400 are going to give you a referral for this I'll send a 100 year wave you work that kind of magic. Let's do it for why did you do the entire city why did you set up office that is and do do all the residents when we know our residents have been mistreated. But we put out this false propaganda and we don't want to take accountability for our actions in this is not the administration, the council has a responsibility on budget. Not cutting ribbons not being at barbecues not being a Well, the doors right there. The doors right there. Let it hit you.

To the public. To the public, please.

Decorum, please. Council President, please. One second. Council President. The door's right there.

Decorum, please. Decorum.

Okay, so we have rice and I'll be brief okay, and if I said the Florida's president one second councilman does come to the now I do apologize because I do understand that there's some members of the public that this is we over the head and not just going to get it, but they're not paying taxes anyway, they're not the ones being burdened with the tax bill that ones around here parading advertising fall for everyone else that's taking advantage of us. And they're right here parading at the top of the council members is failing. Failing us at the only responsibility that we have to the president was put to allow a responsible budget.

And that's because the president is ever since.

Councilman and that's Councilman colleague, but let me right before right before you so for you speed. Let me say this. When I hear it stated that no one is doing their due diligence except for former council members, it is not true. When it was introduced a budget of 5.6%, it was our finance committee that found the clause in the MOU which reduced it down, and then the council worked diligently to bring the taxes to 2%. We have, for the last eight years, maintained a 2% increase, where other entities have done double digits. But this Council has has fervently worked hard to ensure that we did not tax the taxpayers 2%. There's proof in that because when you pull the documents you go back and watch the meetings you will see the due diligence that was made so I get it other Council members were here we applaud them, but their Council people here that are doing a really great job as well and you know it just Sometimes it's not stated on the record, but we vote on it. We vote yes when it's a 2%. If it's 10%, we're probably going to vote no. But if it's 2%, which is mandated because we're on transitional aid, after we've done a very, very great job in working with the administration, DCA, and local finance board and our state legislators, we're going to make sure that our residents are not heavily taxed. We hear your concerns we hear the complaints and that's what we do.

Council President.

Councilman Mendez, Councilman Khalid and then public portion please.

Thank you Council President and I was just going to say that I'll be more than happy to submit the list. My office is located at 414 Broadway. With my staff I've been helping homeowners over 400 homeowners. I help them to appeal the taxes, I fill out all the information, but Councilman Jackson, you don't know much about taxes. You don't know, it's not, that's not under my power whether the county will reduce it or not. I do my work, a professional job representing all those homeowners without charging any dollar with my staff, my team, and I know that you don't know much because the deadline was May 1st. You cannot help any other homeowner to appeal the taxes because the deadline passed. uh so and and let's move on with that and i do this for the public and this was not during the election my office is open at 4 14 broadway you need help i'll be there to help you council president i know we got public portion i'm not i'm not going to be in a way councilman colleague please thank you councilman mendez for all you do i was at the text appeal um

uh so-called court in the county today oh by myself some of the council members probably don't even know the process but they would like to run their mouth okay i was there myself okay thank you and also we try to compare eight years ago we had a 227 million dollar um budget this year is 337 million dollar budget where the cost of living adjustment that's the cost of living every city out there you see Here after you increase this the life that's the reality of it, yes, and also missus CFO did we not have a budget hearing last year.

Yes, come and we had a budget hearing for 2025. Thank you are you going to have one this year.

we're going to have a budget hearing for the budget of 2026. thank you he stated that we did not have it the administration said it we did not have a budget hearing probably should go back and look at the date usually usually usually they send an email to everyone the dates whenever the council members are available we set up the time for the budget hearing you probably didn't even open your email oh that tells a lot about caring for the for the budget and the city which is the fact. That's what I want to hear myself.

Thank you public hearing that clerk we have for public hearing we have 6 speakers to all of our speakers, there's a time clock. You have 3 minutes to speak. Once your time is up the buzzer will it will alert you and it is time to move on to the next speaker. Our first speaker on tonight, madam clerk is Mister Charles for rare.

So please state your name and address for a thank you.

So I'm sitting here was one of the reasons why came down is because first of all the school districts budget is not finalize the reason why it's not finalized because they haven't gotten the numbers from the federal government yet. And with that person that's down there, if they don't get a dime, it's coming back to you guys for that additional money. There's a lot of problems here. Patterson is not at its best. When you're sitting here borrowing $70 million and the thing that bothered me when I read about that $70 million loan that you did you have any community forums with the taxpayers to ask for their input since you put that on their backs. We talk about the increase from what it was 200 something hours 3 something that's because of all of the apartment buildings that the developers are putting online there's about 10 units that 10 apartment projects that are going to be opening up soon and the only sad part about it if they're all tax abated that means they're going to give a small amount and who will pick up the slack the residents I was curious because Council President when you were running you put out a post that there was a projection of 280 million dollars in revenue and only a 100 million. You fell short by 100 million and I guess that was the CFO who put that projection together the revenue and I'm like I could see you off 10 million, 20 million, maybe 30, 100 million, And I'd like to know what that projects I wish you would put that out so that we could see how he even came up with that projection because I'd like to I'd like to look at it because there's a lot of issues with it we talk about more development. So here's a project that I was coming down to speak on on May 28 they want to put a 24 unit apartment building at 4656 Sherman Avenue with 31 parking spaces. 24 units two parking spaces per unit that's at least 48. you need to have more than that because you need for spaces to be available for guests because if there's not enough parking they're going to take the spaces of the people that have already lived there for years and there's going to be problems that's one of the biggest problems with all your projects that are going up rob avenue 131 units are going to go up there one parking space per unit so where are the other people parking they can't park on rao they can't park on the street that um school five is on so then they go into marion street and carney street and they take the parking spaces of those residents thank you next speaker next speaker madam clerk not much the next speaker posting that you're doing uh next speaker madam clerk mr joel keys jr mr keys please state your name and address

I don't got time for that. Testing one, two. Recently, one of Councilman Jackson's most active critics on social media attempted to ridicule him for a characteristic that is actually one of his greatest attributes, separating him from the other council members and almost every other politician in the United States. The incident illustrates one of the most important lessons all of us can learn about the value of understanding problems from a systemic analysis, which is the essence of sociology. The critic, whom I will refer to as anonymous Republican, attempted to ridicule Councilman Jackson for criticizing and exposing alleged acts of corruption by members of the Democratic Party. Referring to Councilman Jackson, anonymous Republicans said, quote, yes, speak truth about his own political party. Yeah, he's real smart, unquote. Upon reading that statement, my instinctive reaction was to recall a similar incident involving Malcolm X. Malcolm was debating Gordon Hall on the Stan Bernard show. Attempting to ridicule Malcolm for one of his greatest attributes, Gordon Hall said, quote, I will make a prediction, and I think we could come back a year from now, Stan, and I think you may find Malcolm preaching a completely separate doctrine and leading some other kind of movement. Previously, Malcolm, I said, give it a little time and you'll be preaching a new line, and you are, unquote. Albert Einstein said, quote, the measure of intelligence is the ability to change, unquote. Malcolm X said, quote, despite my firm convictions, I have always been a man who tries to face facts and to accept the reality of life as new experience and new knowledge unfolds it. I have always kept an open mind, which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of intelligent search for truth, unquote. Gordon Hall attempted to ridicule Malcolm for his exceptional ability to change, which Albert Einstein said was the measure of intelligence. Anonymous Republican attempted to ridicule Councilman Jackson for his exceptional ability to expose corruption. And as I mentioned earlier, the incident illustrates one of the most important lessons we can learn about the value of understanding problems from a systemic analysis. anonymous Republicans' disposition that speaking the truth about your own political party and especially exposing corruption is the template and the blueprint of this capitalist system that socializes the expectation and acceptance of corruption on the one hand and the apathy and abandonment from participation in the system on the other hand. In other words, it is the systemic cause for 60,000 registered voters deciding not to bother to vote

corruption winning again thank you next speaker madam clerk mr. Elvis Doran yes the next please state your name and address thank you mr. Elvis dorm from Patterson New Jersey just want to say this Patterson New Jersey it's the third largest city in the state of New Jersey this is not no town I come here, wow, God knows what, over 20 something years at the council meeting to hear this, grow up. Some of y'all act like y'all doing so much, but the city of Patterson, New Jersey don't even have no recreation center for the youth, especially on the first war. With the First World supposed to be the black headquarters, we don't even have black businesses. Make it make sense. The city of Patterson don't even have a major hotel. But some of y'all want to be up here arguing like y'all in fifth grade and fourth grade. That's not only the mayor. It's all our responsibility. But some of y'all don't even want to sit down at the table with me, listen to my ideas, because you think you so high mighty. Man, bring your ego down. Patterson, New Jersey, I'm your black leader. Anybody got a problem with it, you know where to find me. It's a lot of stuff going on in Paterson, New Jersey. I can't do the announcements now. But go on my Facebook page. ElvisGoodNews. D-U-R-H-A-M. Facebook. My Facebook. ElvisGoodNews. D-U-R-H-A-M. My YouTube channel. PatersonNJGoodNews. To be a leader, you have to have something to show for it. This is the third largest city in New Jersey. We don't have nothing to show for. But the thing is, we got each other. But nobody don't want to come together. Everybody think they know so much. You can't even win an election. You think you know so much. Just imagine if I was running. I would have been in them seats. But at the same time, I would ask for help. I would sit down with people that used to be in this seat. So I could be a better council. But some of y'all so, y'all head so big, y'all don't know how to ask, y'all don't even know how to ask for help. So pitiful. I pray for my city. I believe God see everything. And God about to clean up. God bless y'all.

Next speaker, Madam Clerk. Yes, next speaker is Eddie Olivares. Please state your name and address. Thank you.

Eddie Olivares, Paterson, New Jersey. A lot to unpack tonight. Before I came up, I read an article that if Ms. Tavella, Mims, and the mayor had announced of shaming their bodies, they would be embarrassed. Read that article. See what it says about you. It's an embarrassment. You're an embarrassment as well. Mr. Jackson, you complain a lot. I'm not liking it. I am going to kind of piggyback on the VA statement that let's talk about optimism. Man, you haven't been paying attention. When you came here, I don't know if you noticed, but you did not encounter one homeless person, not one addict. You encountered nothing. It's just that you're not paying attention. The city is at its best. This is an article that says, quote, Patterson is on the national stage. Ooh, get a load of that. Honored to be the first mayor in our city's history to present a new social empowerment program at the United States Conference of Mayors. Our real fix initiative has helped 834 people. You're just not paying attention, man. We don't have anything on the streets. There's no more homeless. There's nothing. There's nothing. It's just that you're not paying attention. Alex said that the owners will suffer with the tax increases. But he's not looking at it the right way either. You see, a lot of people will lose their houses with the increase. But it's going to be a field day for the investors. And Mr. Jackson, I think you're jealous because you're not going to get a dollar from the big investors here in the city of Paris. But you see Louis Villers, he's going to get all the money he needs next campaign, 2028. Omar, he's going to get all the money he needs. Alex, if he plays his cards right and he gets back in line, he will get some money too. Khaliq, oh, on top of that, he's got the school board. That will help him. And Cotton will get all the money he needs. So it's just that you need to look at it from other people's perspective. And Kali goes to say that we're not doing anything different. So this is why, imbecile, we're not getting better. Because we're not doing anything different. That's why it does not get better. Our city is broken and it's not getting better. And you don't understand that until you do something different, it will not improve. And we celebrate that. Oh, you won. Yeah, you did. But there's zero hope that you will do anything for the city.

And the people said no to you. Thank you. Next speaker, Madam Clerk. The next speaker is Mark. THANK YOU.

PLEASE STATE YOUR FULL NAME PLEASE STATE YOUR FULL NAME PLEASE STATE YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS, THANK YOU. AND ADDRESS, THANK YOU.

AND ADDRESS, THANK YOU. FOUR MORE YEARS FOR YOU.

FOUR MORE YEARS FOR YOU. FOUR MORE YEARS FOR YOU.

HELLO, GOOD EVENING, GUYS. HELLO, GOOD EVENING, GUYS.

HELLO, GOOD EVENING, GUYS. HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. WONDERFUL DAY. so today actually there's so many things to talk discuss but i don't understand from where i start so let me start with my favorite part with the city of council and the issue with me with a tobacco license i hope you guys are working on it AND OTHER THINGS, I REALIZE WHEN THE PUBLIC PORTION STARTED, A LOT OF COUNCILMEN, SOME OF THEM, THEY JUST WICKED THEIR SEATS, THEY GET OUT OF THE ROOM, I DON'T KNOW, FOR RESTROOM USE OR SOMETHING, BUT I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THE MORE PARTICIPATION OF PUBLIC WITH THE CITY POLICIES, ENGAGEMENT WITH YOU GUYS, SMART PEOPLE, Look towards the transparency you guys are talking about, especially in the election, everybody talk about accountability. This thing. TRUST ME THREE YEARS AND YOU GUYS RUNNING BEHIND I THINK THREE YEARS OF YOUR UH AUDITING ISSUE SO HERE MY SERVICES ARE HERE IF THE CITY NEED I HAVE A TEAM WHO CAN HELP YOU TO COMPLETELY DO YOUR FISCAL ACCOUNT LIKE AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING EVERYTHING WHAT YOU DESIRE NEEDED THANK YOU VERY MUCH NOT ENOUGH TO SAY TODAY

thank you and good night madam clerk there are no more speakers there's one more speaker oh i'm sorry yeah um dr h h um oh i'm so sorry doctor hi yes i'm sorry good evening i couldn't pronounce that last name if you would evening for me announce your name and address thank you good evening doctor

There was a debacle at the polls this last mayoral election with some supporters inside the required perimeter shoving flyers in cars and the faces of voters. I think consequently decent, honorable, well-intentioned candidates don't stand a chance because of this type of and other criminal behavior. This is injustice. I encourage you from time to time, council, to turn around and look at the statement from the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. This kind of voting fiasco must stop in the city of Paterson. i'd like to end on a positive note and talk about a wonderful event that has been going on for many many years i remember years ago um council president i am the one who sold you as a volunteer the the the ultra back top that you purchased the council has been very supportive many of you have been at this event this is an event by the honorable elder councilman mccoy And it's the Jamaica Day event. It's two days. We have the first day, August 1st, where we're going to have a legend, a Jamaican legend, Sister Nancy, who actually lives in the city of Paterson. This is on the Saturday. And then on Sunday, we have some awesome gospel performers, including Rhonda Isabella. I encourage you all to come out. If any of you would like a flyer or if you'd like to be a supporter or a sponsor of this event, I encourage you to do so. God bless you.

Thank you doctor, there are no more speakers is there a motion to close motion to close by Council of the last second by Council president Mims roll call to close the public portion.

Councilman cotton is absent Councilman devil.

Thank you so much. I know that we're closing the public portion. Thank you for everyone that came and spoke today. I will say this. There comes a moment where we have to show a level of professionalism as we are elected by the people. But by any means does it mean that we have to stand here and accept insults from the community, specific certain individuals that are bitter because they lost an election. The people have said no to you. And every single time I told you, you are asphyxiated with me. OK, so just let it go. Let it go. If anybody should be met as Councilman Jackson, you know why? He got over 3,000 votes, 4,000 votes more than you. So you need to stop it. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. SO WITH THAT SAID, I AM THANKFUL THAT I'VE BEEN BOUGHT BACK AGAIN. I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF PATTERSON BECAUSE THEY SAID YES TO ME. AND EVEN THOSE THAT DIDN'T SAY YES, I AM YOUR PUBLIC SERVANT AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE YOU THE SAME WAY I SERVED THOSE THAT VOTED FOR ME. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY VOTE IS YES TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION.

COUNCILMAN JACKSON.

Thank you now clerk. The level of disrespect sit down. You know people are enormously tough guys behind these microphones incredible. That was that was incredibly disrespectful.

I don't I don't mean to me.

And you being disrespectful even now continued this is this respect. Now, one thing I'll say about Mr. Olivares, I mean, he did very little campaigning. He spent no money. In fact, most of his effort went towards promoting and advertising my campaign. He's not one of these people should be angry with me because I saw more votes or whatever the case might be. But I'll tell you what's a true fact. And we'll see if there's an investigation that takes place on this. This young lady, Ms. Hilda Fermin, her obituary was March 15, 2025. This is a fact. But she voted in this election by mail. Ms. Hilda Fermin, Let's see if anybody's interested in, you know, the ballot harvesting that they're doing on situations like this. Let's see if Corporation Council or if anyone else, for that matter, would like to launch an investigation on how many other deceased people have voted in this election. People are bragging about winning the election, but yet the city is failing. We've gotten a failing grade. We got people talking about moving the city forward. Mr. Charles Ferrer, who I respect immensely, his perspective tonight was the city has never been in this poor condition in his entire life. saying that clearly so I guess the perception of other people still the virus is being very presumptuous or you know this issues with his commentary. I left City Hall yesterday for a planning board meeting. It was like 9 people sleeping in the in the window downstairs the city. So, when you talk about the conditions of the city and those bragging about being re-elected, I mean, yeah, I take my hat off to you. I mean, it was a lot, tons of me.

Hey, you won. Councilman?

I got it, Madam Clerk. I apologize. And on that note, Madam Clerk, I know you're standing in. On May 19th, And Councilman McCoy, I'm going to need your reflection on this. On May 19th, please make note, because I'll bring it forward. I didn't want to make mention of it tonight because the clerk's not here. And I understand she's the licensed parliamentarian. But May 19th, My vote was excluded and yet it was marked that I voted. So I'm trying to figure out where within the law and the code permits for the clerk to make a vote on my behalf. May 19th and I believe it was the 17th of April. I never voted but yet it's marked in an official document that's signed by the clerk how I voted and saying I voted in the affirmative. That is disenfranchising not just myself as a duly elected person, but it's disenfranchising all of those who stood forward to support me to sit in the seat. I have the privilege and the right to vote. And no one can exercise that right for me. No one. So I just want to make note of that. I'm not going to labor this longer, but I will re-emphasize the condition of the city. Mr. B.A., someone dumped a stack of of pallets on the corner of North 4th and Clinton Street. Five days ago, Gee Greer posted it. I posted it. It's still there. But yet we have people bragging about being re-elected. And these examples could be in the thousands. But Mr. B.A., if you can, I see the director back there. Bill, I don't know if you saw that. Those pallets that was dropped. stack of pallets right in the middle of the street, all the way up the hill. Anyway, Madam Clerk, please make note of that, to pass that along to the clerk, because I am going to be expecting an answer at the next public meeting on how the clerk had the audacity to think she can vote for me. That's not legal. So wherever she's found the authority to do so, I would like for her to state that authority on record. My vote is yes.

Councilman Khalid.

Yes, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Mendez.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Just once again, I want to take my time to say thank you, thank you to all the residents of the great city of Paterson, because in the last election, we had very, very limited resources. People that could check my live report, I didn't have those big developers and heavy hitters funding my campaign. We had very limited resources. I was the second highest vocator with a difference of only 3%. Actions speak louder than words. Look at my number at the polling site, how many people went out to vote for me. I never stopped working for this community, and I'm gonna continue working for this community. I love this city, and I say this over and over again. I came in this city with nothing on my hand. I've been in business for 20 years. God really gave me more than I deserve. I have three kids. two, one professional, one almost ready to go to finish college and being a doctor, and my youngest, his graduation is this June and he's going to the Marine of this country. So I love this city and I'm going to continue fighting for this city. During the election time, we helped over 400 people appealing their taxes of $0 without charging a dollar with my team, my staff. And if Councilman Jackson questioning me, he should ask his supporter. His supporter came to my office, and I helped him to appeal the taxes. I didn't turn nobody back. People from the first ward, second, third, everybody was welcome because it's not politics. And my office is still open for people that need help. I always say actions speak louder than words. It's easy to come here and use this time to attack people. I'm all about results, and I'm all about working hard. Those that know me, they know that when they call me, I'm there. And people know my cell phone number, 973-930-1436. And this is only the beginning. Election is over. I'm back on track, ready to work, and ready to keep fighting. full of energy so we're going through a very difficult time financially in this city and then when i mentioned uh when i was talking about the the temporary appropriation um this uh mr va he agreed with me that maybe many municipalities they they go through one temporary appropriation but every year we're going to five and six temporary appropriation and we wait until the last inning to approve the budget So we continue making the same mistake. Now with the transition aid, every municipality receive transition aid from the state. Those that receive it, the state give them X amount of money, but it's their responsibility to increase the revenue. Now we're asking the state every year for more and more money, from 22 to 25, from 35 to 30. to 30 to 35 now $78 million was going to happen with this municipality. Now what I'm talking about I will all close to my clerk what I'm talking about budget hearing having conversation. Listen, I'm not I'm not making that recommendation to to go back and forth with administration to fight is because I pay a lot of taxes in this city of multiple property. I feel the pain like everybody else. And it's not acceptable we got to do better and we're going to have to take those tough decision to get the city back on track to say be a but the conversation is star now we cannot do that sent them with every year waiting until the last inning when they will have no more choice to hit the homeowners thank you would increase the soul we got to do better. Paterson once again, thank you and we're back on track partisan we have to work. My body has been a clerk.

Councilman Omar is absent. Councilman Uddin.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Good evening, Patterson. Thank you. Those are here. So before I vote for public portion, I'd like to thank every single resident, those who believed in me and allowed me to serve you for four years, last four years. This is one of my last meetings, I would say. By the end of this month, I have to step down. But my time might be ended, but my service, my commitment and dedication to Paterson is not. I'm here to serve you. I'll stay engaged and keep on fighting for Paterson. With that being said, I again said, every time you come here, council meeting, I truly like the fact that when people come here, whether they comment in our favor or not, and I particularly talking about myself, that I appreciate that because it shaped and it made, you know, gave me the idea that how I should make the decision and what is right and wrong for the people of the City of Paterson. And I love to see that people are more engaged to our decisions and I congratulate my reelected council colleagues. and the newly elect paul alford and i i i pray for all of you that you know uh that you served the city for another four years with a dedication keeping the people in mind and with that being said my vote is yes to call the public portion councilman velez thank you madam clerk let me show you the power of patterson

So we have four candidates for mayor, one winner. 16 candidates are large, three winners. The power is if all the remaining candidates unite, and they love Paterson and all those plans that they put forward in the platform, they bring it together and work with this administration, we're gonna be a great city. But if we're gonna be campaigning all four years into the next one, we're not gonna get nothing done. We're not gonna get nothing done. So everybody wanna know the power of partisan politics is to put everything behind what happened in the election season and stand together, fight what is right, question what is right, but bring out the end solution, what is right for the resident of Patterson. That's power on Patterson. Last but not least, I want to congratulate the National Hispanic Club and Eastside High School. They brought to Patterson 36 medals in the competition of the National Spanish Examination. Eastside High School bring home 36 medals between goal silver and bronze and today I honor him I honor them today this morning. I hear the chambers and they gave me this token of appreciation because of a past 12 years before being councilman I'm being always supporting them and being there for them. And if any other school need my support, remember I got 12 schools in the Fifth Ward, five charter schools. I have more residents that are tenants and a more high-rise building. I'm the heart of Patterson. I'm here to serve whoever wins and whoever didn't win. We need to move the city forward, leaving our egos and agenda on the side. Thank you, Madam Clerk. My vote is yes.

Councilman cotton, thank you madam clerk.

I just want to say that I mean I was sorry I had to go out for a minute, but there's a lot of different events that's going to be going on this weekend. One of them is going to be we aren't that's like stop the violence that tried to curb the violence that that's here in the city and I always say that We need to remember being volunteer and all the time for the schools and volunteer and helping out and we always say that kids, but I think that we need to doubt families. The kids come from families. And there's so many things as we have so many a lot of good things that that we can actually get done to and sometimes we don't recognize Some of the things but but I just want to say this weekend is a lot of this but I want to mention Teddy Martinez with wear orange. His program is going to be a side part. Also you've got passing healing was going to be going around throughout the city. to um for different uh events so if you can join in at any of those events it would be helpful um i want to just put out there you know i always want to be positive because we need to stay positive we can't like be negative we got to be like ON THE UPLIFT AND WHEN PEOPLE SEE YOU KIND OF UPLIFT, IT HELPS THEM TO GET UPLIFT. BUT THERE'S A YOUNG LADY, AND I JUST WANT TO MENTION IT, MY DAUGHTER'S A SOFTBALL COACH FOR KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL, HEAD COACH, FIRST FEMALE, FIRST BLACK, HEAD COACH SOFTBALL, KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL. SHE HAS A PITCHER, SHE DOESN'T HAVE A WINNING SEASON, BUT SHE HAS A PITCHER THAT'S NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTY WITH STRIKEOUTS. And we never hear about all some of the good stuff that's going on with our children and different activities that they're involved in. And I always say, let's do our best. I always promote going to games. I always promote, when you go to a game, bring a cooler. Bring a cooler, put some Gatorade in it. Bring a cooler, put some chips in it. Bring a cooler. put something in it because our children needs that that you don't have to be i always say your child i did not birth you but you're still my children you're still my child i'm still look out for you i'm gonna still help you as much as i can councilman velez and i was together at east high school for many years together with our kids but there's so many good things going on and let's just look for the good stuff i always on my facebook page put all the different events that's that's happening um throughout the city all different programs that doing all organizations that are doing things um that's going to help our children I always say that my husband was part of Project 2000 back in the 80s where they followed children from kindergarten through eighth grade. And I look at those kids now and they're lawyers and they're doctors. So, if we're going to make an impact, we got to make sure that we get in there and help guide kids or help families to figure out which way, how they need to go. Thank you. But that being said, Madam Clerk, you know, THANK YOU, COUNCIL. YOU GOT TO STAY ON THE UPLIFT BECAUSE THIS WORLD IS SOMETHING ELSE NOW THAT'S HAPPENING TO THIS. BUT WE GOT TO STAY ON THE UPLIFT. WE GOT GOOD IDEAS. LET'S BRING YOUR GOOD IDEAS. LET'S BRING YOUR IDEA. I ALWAYS SAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE NUMBER ONE. AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN THERE SOMEWHERE, THE MIDDLE, THE BOTTOM, THE TOP, you in it. Thank you and you help people you know for the reason. But that being said, Madam clerk level is just the close Council president means.

So to the public that is doing and watch and thank you for coming to a constituent service, Mister Harvey here who was always here. WHEN HE SHOWS UP TO ENSURE WHATEVER CONCERNS THAT ANYONE COMES TO THE MIC THAT HAS FROM THE COMMUNITY, HE ADDRESSES IT. AND WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE NO DIRECT CONCERNS, BUT THERE WAS A STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE IN THE COMMENTS TONIGHT THAT I HAVE TO ADDRESS. IT WAS STATED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET WAS NOT ADOPTED. IT WAS ADOPTED. THE 2026-27 BUDGET WAS ADOPTED ON MAY 5TH. AT $851.9 MILLION WITH AN 8% TAX INCREASE. YOU CAN GOOGLE IT. IT'S ONLINE. YOU CAN REACH OUT TO YOUR SCHOOL BOARD COMMISSIONERS. BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET FOR 2026-27 WAS ADOPTED. IT WAS STATED TONIGHT THAT IT WAS NOT. IT WAS ADOPTED BY OUR SCHOOL BOARD COMMISSIONERS. MADAM CLERK, WITH THAT BEING STATED, MY VOTE IS YES TO CLOSE PUBLIC PORTION.

THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC PORTION IS NOW CLOSED.

Madam clerk it is time to go into our special a special. All the items on the agenda are done so madam clerk at this time we're moving we need a motion to go into a special meeting second we have a motion by Council member last second by Councilman Mendes and Councilman Omar roll call to go into a special meeting. Councilman cotton.

Councilman Councilwoman devil is absent Councilman Jackson is absent at this time Councilman Killeen, yes. Councilman Mendez, yes, Councilman Omar, yes. Councilman Newton, yes, and Councilman the lens, yes, Council president. Yes, not important. Thank you the meeting is now open.

Madam clerk, can you please read the 48 hour notice.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT, NJSA 10-4-6, ETSCQ ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PATTERSON MUNICIPAL COUNCIL HAS BEEN PROVIDED. WRITTEN NOTICE OF THIS SPECIAL MEETING WAS PROVIDED ON MAY 20, 2026, AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING. SAID NOTICE WAS POSTED IN THE LOBBY OF CITY HALL, TRANSMITTED TO THE NORTH JERSEY HERALD NEWS AND THE RECORD AND FILED WITH THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.

thank you madam clerk at this time we're going to do payment of bills thank you um

Council President summary of this part meant for today total payments of bill is 14 million 400 2676 dollar and 67 cents out of it about 6.7 million dollar repayment to Board of Education. We had a payroll of 5.8 million. Over little over 5.8 million dollar. Also there was a payment of solid waste garbage disposal as well. I RECOMMEND WE MOVE THE PAYMENT OF BILL.

SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER LES. COUNCILMEMBER OMAR, ROLL CALL ON PAYMENT OF BILLS, MADAM CLERK.

ROLL CALL, COUNCILWOMAN CODDEN. YES. COUNCILWOMAN DEVIL IS ABSENT. COUNCILMEMBER JACKSON IS ABSENT. NO. COUNCILMEMBER JACKSON SAID NO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KALIK.

YES.

Councilman Mendez, yes, but a clerk can count on Omar, yes, that clerk Councilman Newton, yes. That's one of the last yes, but a clerk Council president, yes, madam clerk, thank you payment of bills is hereby adopted item number 2, madam clerk. I am number 2. Resolution under Patterson cold chapter one 29 bazaars address and a license for making a difference for the friends of Bill McCoy foundation Inc to conduct a festival finance resolution number 26 colon to 5, 7, so move.

Moved by Council president men's and Council of the last second my Councilman all more. Yes, roll call item it's a man.

Councilwoman cotton. Councilwoman devil who's absent Councilman Jackson.

This is a Councilman Killeen bill yet. Councilman this is a winner McCoy.

Councilman this.

Councilman Mendes yes, you're next.

Councilman the last please what it has been amended Councilman Omar my vote is yes, but can't move in. Yes, the council and men's Council president man's council has voted. I'm sorry you just voted right now. Well Councilman the lens.

I just want to say that this is the first time I see a councilman saying no to to next to the applicant and what is that.

Thank you. I don't know but to pass this.

I want to I'm sorry.

Come from Jackson change votes. Yes, thank you. OK did I come I was just so much. Item number 2 is adopted. Thank you item number 3, madam clerk. I don't know if there is a resolution and the Patterson code. Chapter one 29 bazaars addressing a license for Patterson Juneteenth Foundation to conduct a festival finance resolution number 26. Second.

So move move by Council president Mims and cotton second by men does the less food in and Omar roll call item number 2, madam clerk. I have 3 and 3.

Item 3 councilman cotton. Councilwoman Dabla is absent and Councilman Jackson. Thank you have some click. Yes, Councilman Mendes yes, Councilman Omar, yes, Councilman in. Yes, Catholic village.

YES.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT MIMS. YES, MADAM CLERK. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 3 IS ADOPTED. ITEM NUMBER 4, MADAM CLERK. ITEM NUMBER 4, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE AWARD OF CONTRACT TO MARINI BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC., FOR RESURFACING AND IMPROVEMENTS OF CHURCH STREET, CLINTON STREET, AND WEST SIDE PARK SIDEWALKS, BID NUMBER 2618, WHEN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $604,000 45 dollars and 30 cents for the engineering division of the Department of Public Works public works resolution number 26 called into 5, 9, so more.

Councilman colleagues second by Council for less than that discussion. Right before the discussion Clinton Street is from North 2nd to North 7th Street discussion Council member less.

I agree on that but in the cost in the workshop a director here yet the record. The record did they did they fix the. Because remember I mentioned about yeah about the Kennedy high school, yes, I think it puts you back to get good thank you appreciate.

Thank you roll call, madam clerk item for a call tonight number for Councilman cotton. You can't woman devil is absent Councilman Jackson. If you're here is not him as a Jackson absent a councilman to leak yes. Councilman Mendez yes. Councilman Omar yes, not for Councilman in yes, Councilman the last.

YES, MADAM CLERK. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT MIMS. YES, MADAM CLERK. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 4 IS ADOPTED. ITEM NUMBER 5, MADAM CLERK. ITEM NUMBER 5 IS THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER 1 FOR THE WEST SIDE PARK RENOVATIONS PROJECT BID NUMBER 2405 FOR THE ENGINEERING DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. PUBLIC WORKS RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-260. SO MOVED.

MOVED BY COUNCILMAN KALEEG, SECOND BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT MIMS AND VELEZ. ROLL CALL ON ITEM NUMBER 5, MADAM CLERK.

Councilwoman cotton Councilwoman devil and Jackson are absent Councilman colleague, yes, Councilman Mendes. Councilman Mendes. What adjustment thank you Councilman Omar. Yes, Councilman Newton, yes, Councilman bless. Yes, thank you Council president man's yes, not quite a number 5 is here by adopted.

Madam clerk, thank you let's take public portion. We have one speaker for public portion, madam clerk. Yes, I say that really want to tell Councilman court, the 3 minute rule he did very much for clear of how it goes.

Councilman McCoy kind of that you name and address please thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Let me say a very special thanks to each of you for your support tonight in our 10th session of the Jamaica Day and Gospel Fest in Eastside Park. It's a beautiful event, free of charge to the public. We're still entertaining vendors of all sorts. to provide food on the day. It's a two-day event. We have a legendary reggae artist that's a resident of the city of Paterson, Sister Nancy. She sings the song Bam Bam. All of the Jay-Z and other folks have sampled her records. She was from the beginning, didn't really make a lot of money over her stuff, but she's doing that now. Was named gold in United Kingdom. and it's all over. She will be here with Lady G and another special artist that will be announced shortly. You're gonna be very excited. So we ask you to mark your calendars for the first and the second and to be there. Rhoda Isabella is a beautiful young lady coming from the island of Jamaica. She'll be flying in specially for our event on Sunday and will be giving us a marvelous presentation along with some of our regulars Mr. McFarland and others that will be performing. So we look forward to everybody coming out. We ask everybody to come in peace, in love. It's a family event. I already heard some folks planning for mischief, but the Paterson Police Department will be present. uh to take care any um disruptions that they may be and we don't expect any we've been doing this thing peacefully for these many years and we expect that this one will be the biggest and the best and the most peaceful and enjoyable so we invite everybody family and and friends to come on out have a wonderful day and a great evening so we want to thank you again council members and welcome back to those of us that were re-elected uh councilman uddin we appreciate your service and your commitment we ask you to continue to be engaged as we work to improve our city so thank you very much everybody and we look forward to seeing you congratulations to the winners my wife is reminding me and we look forward as always to see you on the first and the second god bless you and be well

Thank you there are no more speakers can I look most of the close to close most of close by Councilman Mendes second by Councilman Khalid roll call to come close the public portion and a special meeting.

Roll call, madam clerk, yes, Councilwoman cotton. Councilwoman down the Councilman Jackson. Thank you. Councilman cleek yes, Councilman Mendes yes, Council no more. Yes, that's when it didn't. Yes, that's when the last.

I haven't, okay. So before I close, I just, I received a text of some people telling me why I take off my shade and put it back. As everybody knows, I went through eye surgery. It's still the light. It's so sensitive to my eyes. So that's why I'm going back and forth. So I apologize. I know I don't want to be cool. God bless Paris. My voice is yes.

Council president men's thank you can cause always you know that we're always there if I'm not on vacation, I will definitely be there if not I will definitely have representation. Madam clerk, my vote is just to close the public portion. Thank you that public portion is here by closed. Thank you, madam clerk, can you please read into the record resolution item 6 to 10 to enter into executive session, yes, there's a can have a motion to enter into executive session so move that second. MOVED BY COUNCILMAN MENDEZ. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN KALEEK. CAN YOU READ THEM INTO THE RECORD FIRST, MADAM? YES.

ITEM NUMBER 6 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING LITIGATION IN THE MATTER OF DAVID GILMOUR VERSUS CITY OF PATTERSON LAW, RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-261. ITEM NUMBER 7 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING LITIGATION IN THE MATTER OF THE SIA LEAGUE VERSUS CITY OF PATTERSON. LAW RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-262. FORMAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EXECUTIVE... I'M SORRY. FORMAL ACTION WILL NOT BE TAKEN DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING LITIGATION IN THE MATTER OF ESTATE OF ODELL VERSUS CITY OF PATTERSON. LAW RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-264. And resolution authorizing an executive session to discuss pending litigation in a matter of Vincent to a step versus city of Patterson law resolution number 26 golden to 6, 5, thank you we have a motion by Councilman Mendes a second by Council my colleague roll call on item 6 to 10 to enter into executive session. Councilwoman cotton. Councilwoman devil is out of Councilman Jackson, thank you. Councilman colleague, yes Councilwoman Council. Mendes yes Councilman Omar, yeah Councilman good and yes Councilman the less is absent right now Council president, yes, thank you executive session is. Now open we can yes all members of the public media and staff who are not required for this discussion to exit the chambers at this time. The live stream and public Rick recording will now be pause and the special meeting will reconvene following the executive session, thank you.

I will look at that matter clerk we will now continue with the we need a motion to re open up the workshop so move to move by Councilman colleagues second by Councilman Mendez and Omar madam clerk roll call.

If anybody said I was it was moved by Councilman colleague in seconded by Councilman Omar.

I'm in second by Mendez and I don't know if I'm worth it at the time, I'm sorry roll call, madam clerk.

I have to hear from her because of the roll call to roll call Councilman cotton. Councilwoman devil is out Councilman Jackson.

What is this.

We're re entering the public session. For the special meeting. Councilman Mendez, yes, but Councilman Omar, yes, but Councilman who didn't is out Councilman the last of the Council president meant. Yes, okay.

The meeting is now re open we can call the public back in thank you madam clerk, we're now can come to the remaining items on the agenda item number 11, I'm part of it that are they still out there.

Okay. I don't know 11, yes, okay, I don't remember 11th resolution authorizing settlement of pending litigation claim in a matter of David Gilmour versus city of Patterson law resolution of a 26 to 6, 6.

So move by Council member last second by Councilman Omar roll call item 11 out of court.

Councilman cotton. That's one that was out and Councilman Jackson.

Thank you madam clerk so to the public. This is an example of how political retaliation cost of money and a great deal of money to lose shop a $1,000,000 but. But now put my voice, yes.

Councilman could leak yes. Councilman Mendes.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. You know, one of my, the most difficult vote that I have to put on the floor is when we voting on settlement, things that we never created, things that could be avoided if we stop what has been going on in the city of Paterson for years about this political retaliation and so on and so forth. It's really sad that this, the first settlement is $700,000. So in total, we're going to do a 7 of 1.1 million dollars, but let me set the record straight just because we bought in on this because we get the recommendation of the lawyer, the legal team that recommend us to set up to the sediment after a fight. We have nothing to do with this and it's really sad. My body has been clear.

Thank you.

Councilman o'mon a vote is yes, ma'am clerk.

Thank you. Councilman. It is a councilman the less. Councilman the less.

The only thing I got to say is that we've got all rocks in the. You have a glass house. So If this is fair, it's fair. If it's not fair, it's not unfair. But I think, one thing I gotta say that we gotta put this behind with this settlement and we have to move forward. This is a lesson for everyone, for this side, the council, a lesson for the administration, and a lesson to everyone that comes to the podium. And everybody out there who set an example, no matter who started who ended the taxpayers well not the taxpayer in this case insurance on it. The situation. Thank you for your service, Mister Gilmore. I want to just.

Council president and yes, thank you. Item number 11 passes. Item number 12, Madam Clerk. Number 12 is a resolution authorizing settlement of pending litigation claim in the matter of Desiree Leak v. City of Patterson, law resolution number 26, colon 267.

Moved by Council president men's second second by Councilman Khalid roll call items from out for. That's when the cotton.

That's when the devil is absent Councilman Jackson. Councilman Khalid yes, Councilman Mendes yes, Councilman Omar that's a good news out Councilman the last yes. Council president man, yes, thank you. I don't know the 12th adopted. I'm on the 13 man for resolution authorize the settlement of pending litigation claim in a matter of Stephen cramping versus the Patterson law resolution of a 26 colon 2, 6, 8.

More by Council of the last second by Council president man's role call item 13, I don't care.

Councilwoman cotton has from a devil is out Councilman Jackson.

No.

Councilman Killeen, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,

move move by Council of the last second by second councilman Covey roll call item for a team and a court.

Councilwoman cotton. Councilman that was out Councilman Jackson. 1414. Odell versus city of Patterson. A state of Odell.

The state is state. to the public um just to be clear you know i believe in fairness i believe in integrity and the fact that this gentleman um life was lost and uh yeah i understand there's an obligation from for some to to work favorably for the city to make sure that we can save the municipality as much money as possible. But when it comes to life, we have to value that a little bit more. And this is not the first time that I've made mention of these types of circumstances. I think that we could have done better by this family and by the estate of someone who lost his life. My vote is no, Madam Clerk.

I'm sorry, your vote was? It was no. Thank you. Councilman Killeen, yes. Councilman Mendes, yes, but a clue. Councilman Omar. Okay, Councilman in doubt. Councilman the list.

In this case. First of all want to say send my condolence to the family. And also to the victims that went through this accident is not easy go to an accident. Like this type of accident, no matter what the compensation will be is not going to bring the individual back so I would is yes.

Council president my vote is just a call. He said yes, yes, thank you. I don't know 14 this year by that item number 15, I don't 15 Councilwoman of resolution authorize yes.

I have a question before you call the next item. Jackson is there now a practice of not calling the vote she caught that she's been calling them and then she called the result. She didn't call the vote count like we've always is 8 in favor one against 4 days to be nice.

I'm just asking for just kind of following the procedure of the new Clark so that's right.

like me to that's that's why that's why i'm outlining it because i noticed that that's the the the practice has been taking place so i'm curious before i do my research and whether or not with what's required just i'm asking well you're saying you're just following so you weren't directed no very good understood thank you

I don't 15 resolution authorize a settlement of pending litigation claim in a matter of Vincent to a step versus city of Patterson law resolution number 26 colon 2, 7, 0.

Move by Councilman below us second by men's roll call item 15 clerk.

Councilwoman cotton. Councilwoman Davids out. Councilman Jackson. Yes. Councilman Kalik. Yes. Councilman Mendez. Yes. Councilman Omar and Uden are absent. Councilman Velez.

Yes.

Thank you. Council president, yes, madam clerk.

Thank you the votes are 6 in favor have 3 absent had another 15 to that he might have heard we have a motion to close a special meeting of June 2nd second by Councilman the last second my Councilman colleague and then there's a roll call to close a special meeting of June 4th.

Councilwoman cotton. Councilman that was out Councilman Jackson. Councilman colleague, yes. Councilman does yes, but the court has no more new to the outcast them and the less yes, but the council president man's yes, thank you both are 6 in favor 3 absent.

The meeting is here by a good and right that and most of those workshops, a special meeting that should be more is here by adjourn have a roll call to close the special meeting of June 4 2026.

What we're going to watch up. What's up what goes and what's not to close the workshop.

Second move to close the workshop by Councilmen that second by Councilman the last roll call to close the workshop of June 4 2026. Councilwoman cotton.

I just want to say, I just want to give a special shout out to Lieutenant Sharon Easton Lassiter on her retirement of 43 years in the Patterson Police Department. I wish her well in whatever new life she's going to have in being in retirement. Congratulations on your retirement, Lieutenant Sharon. easton lassiter and don't forget um this weekend we have many events going on we're orange for the violence to stop the violence in the city make sure you go to eastside park for project reconnect with teddy martinez and also Patterson Healing Collective will be going around. I myself will be doing my annual luncheon for National Council Negro Women. I will be traveling down to Edison. This is for me to raise money for our national headquarters, which is on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the Capitol to make sure that National Council Negro Women make sure we keep that out. with that being said everyone thank you all for watching tonight um i wish you all well god bless you all to my colleagues have a good evening to my administration over here have a good evening to my clerk and my secretary have a wonderful evening you all out there have a good night god bless you all madam clerk my vote is yes thank you councilwoman councilwoman david is absent councilman jackson

Councilman cleek. Councilman Mendes.

Thank you Paterson for the great support of school years almost over Paterson I'm going to start my campaign stop speeding in the city of Paterson we're going to have a lot of children out there going to the summer camp a lot of senior taking our kids to the park, please Paterson slow down. Let's stop speeding in the city of Paterson going to have a lot of kids our family and join different parks and different places of our community and we have people speeding on residential zone that you're supposed to drive 25 miles per hour and we have people going 50 and 60 miles per hour but when you go to all the town like wharton uh any clifton you slow down please just slow down with patterson please let's protect our children let's protect our senior let's let's make the job of our police department easy patterson let's protect our community uh so once again patterson thank you uh to all those residents to my third world resident i'm gonna start my uh town hall meeting uh my summer town hall meetings i will let you know about the location at the time uh and my office is open at 4 14 broadway uh if you have any questions you can stop by my secretary is there every day from two to five uh to address any concern that one of my constituents have okay or any paterson wrestling you don't have to be in the third war to stop by my office god bless you patterson um and let's do the right thing for our city um mr va i'm definitely looking forward and and council president to to start having those uh the dialogue about the budget hearing and going through the process of how we're going to get the number right for our residents i'm extremely concerned about the increase in tax that our homeowner are going to get that's going to pull out a lot of people in our community a risk is going to put those residents that live in a fixed income in a very difficult position without me saying i'm going to collect my body just good night patterson

thank you councilman councilman omar and and udin are out councilman velez so i want to use this time i think councilman mendez is uh watching my facebook a lot but today i posted a a video um following a incident that i just saw and noticed and resident patterson you know since 2018 only 2018, FROM 2018 TO NOW, WE HAVE SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THESE DIRT BIKES, R8 TV'S AND ALL THOSE ILLEGAL BIKES ON THE STREETS. You know, we have done our side. We have enacted the ordinance for address the illegal bikes. We also address the dispenses of the selling the gasoline to those vehicles that are not registered or whatever. But I'm sending this message to the New Jersey Attorney General. You know, please take off the handcuffs from our police department. Every time we want to address the ATVs and the dirt bikes or whatever, the first thing they say, we cannot chase them. But I understand that. But at the same time, that order comes from the New Jersey Attorney General. So take the handcuff from our cops, let them do the job, we got laws in the books, and they will do it accordingly with the law because they are trained to do it the right way. If I would say back, they wasn't. So I like the courtesy that my colleagues had. I wish they could see what's going on around. okay but because i'm the last one to speak everybody get up and leave no i'm the last one now except the council president um but and councilwoman kata we sit here and we wait to everybody speak but it's time to they speak they leave it's a disrespectful put order in this chambers time to put order i'm just kidding ladies and gentlemen stay safe stay blessed hug your family tomorrow is not promised my what is yes.

Thank you.

Council president, yes, so goodnight Patterson be safe stay strong my vote is yes, madam clerk, thank you.

I'm sorry, yes, I didn't count on. um yes the workshop is hereby closed yes he's about june good night patterson the regular tuesday tuesday right june 9th 7 o'clock p.m thank you and good night patterson