Council - Special Meeting

everyone on behalf of the past minutes of cookbook Council. Well I welcome you to the workshop. Section of August 11th at 6.30 the meeting is now called to order. Madam clerk roll call please.

Councilwoman Alfred president.

Councilman time here.

Council vice president of the land president. Councilman Jackson is absent at this time. Councilman Kelly president of the court. Councilman Mendez is absent at this time Councilman Omar.

President of the clerk.

Thank you Councilman the last president clerk. And Council president Mims I am here, madam clerk. We have quorum.

So madam clerk, our police items items 37. THE 43. I'LL JUST READ THE STATEMENT

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT, NJSA 10-4-6, ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THE TIME AND PLACE WAS INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS REORGANIZATION MEETING HELD ON JULY 1, 2026. SUB NOTICE WAS POSTED IN THE CITY HALL'S BULLETIN BOARD, POSTED TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE, AND TRANSMITTED TO THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPERS DESIGNATED TO RECEIVE SUCH NOTICES IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PUBLICATION DUALLY REQUESTING SUCH NOTICES.

thank you we have police items 37 to 43. um we had our uh public safety meeting are we okay with all these items on consent council members nobody here for the police oh what was that okay council president yes

and um i know councilwoman has asked um as as we were part of the we are part of the public safety committee we did have a meeting we met with public safety police and fire on the different items but i do want to take this moment to give my condolences to our public safety director spazio his mother passed away yesterday suddenly And this is why he's not here so I just wanted to just put that on record as it was a short notice. But if there's anyone that has any questions we could definitely you know defer over to our BA and you know we can then either answer whatever we can hear. But most of these items. you know are authorized in second option year contracts and renewals of contracts that we already have one for you know police off-duty services others offer first priority emergency vehicles and so all of these items were discussed again if any council member has any questions please do so right now regarding what ma'am

Police items we want to put them on consent which police item.

Let me let me let me look at the 9, 4, 4, 3, 4, 2, are we OK with consent Council members. Yes, I'm with those 37 to 43 consent.

Count we have got a question I got I got I got a question now I know that they have some a Councilman cotton.

They had a committee meeting on Friday the 24th. Right. Do you have a meeting after that again? Right. So I wasn't at that following meeting. So I'm not sure. Is anything on the fire department out here? No. Oh, they're all the police that we discussed at the meeting before that.

Right. The one that you were not able to attend was the fire one.

Okay. Yes. All right. I'm fine.

Councilman the last of through the chair, a miss to be a I know or public safety chair. I number 40. I know we did this way with way back in 2020 2016. When we purchase the new motorcycle Holly Davis and are they going to take trading any of the motorcycle that we have now. All we go to donate those motorcycle we're going to do with them.

My apologies, I did not hear the question. I know he's referring to the VA, but I didn't hear him.

He's asking are they going to take training for the new motorcycles and what are they going to do with the old ones?

Your last time, I know last time we purchased motorcycle, the Harley-Davidson took the one that was in operating at that time as a trade-in. I don't know if this case will be the same, or are we going to have 12 extra?

Councilman I don't have the answer as I sit here, but I'll certainly make sure you know in advance of next week's vote.

Council president.

Council on vice president just quickly.

Councilman Bell is just know that this is just right now solicitation of bids so we're not purchasing anything right now so we just want to move forward with the solicitation of bids.

It's correct solicitation of bid has the the already a plan to save purchase of 12. harley-davidson motorcycle so that means and that's what they should be there's a plan to purchase 12 my question is when they come back what we're going to do with a 12 that we have already in the street. It on how the Davis is going to be purchasing but that could be answer. Mister be a before the next Tuesday. I just want to make it would be good that we have 24 motorcycle we got most more guys out there, but if we only go to replace the one that we have do that we use them a lot so.

Thank you so much to be a please provide that information. City Council item 7 to 15 or or honoring individuals and 53 and 54. Yes, the first she had a question. Councilman Alford.

Yes, my question was on number 41. In the packet I didn't see and I could have just overlooked it. Did we go out to bid for these, for the chairs?

Yes.

And do we, in the packet is there paperwork, documentation that shows where the other bids came in?

no they didn't go out to get on that one okay i was asking because of the the actual price of the chairs um in the packet it was not but we can make sure that you get it but it was in the uh procurement and the solicitation of bids it was there okay so mr bia can you make sure that we get that breakdown for councilman alfred yes i i

This may be a state contract or a co-op.

But they still have the details as in the solicitation?

Yeah, we'll have that clarified.

Thank you madam president if I may to Councilwoman as as you may be aware we do have a purchasing agent was licensed and he does all the procurement when the bits go out and it's a state contract to co-op tend to go with what's more affordable. But in terms of you know you wanted to have the exact you can specifically through the VA get those facts.

THANK YOU ITEM 7 COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

FOR ITEM 41 THE QUOTE IS ATTACHED TO THE RESOLUTION. IT'S IN THERE? YES.

IN THE E-MAIL. COUNCILWOMAN ALFER IN THE E-MAIL THEY SAID IT'S THERE. IN YOUR LAPTOP. THE QUOTE IS ATTACHED TO THE RESOLUTION. Thank you. Madam clerk item 7 through 15 or or resolutions honoring individuals from the council members all of these items 7 to 15 to 53 and 54 can be on regular. Which one I would say count count. I would say that they can go on consent with the council members will want them on right up 7 through 15 and 53 of 54 on a regular a regular who won. who wants and I think they should all go on consent.

I think a councilwoman a double and if you agree to go content, I will I will read.

I don't have a issue. I don't have an issue with consent or any that you would like a regular count.

I think that yeah, what my regular cut cuts for us what item is that. Which item Council McCartney has the president one second.

Item number 9 regular number 7 is consent 8 is consent 9 is regular 9 is 10 1112 1314 15 consent.

But I think that I think number 50 and 53 and 50, 3, 50 should be regular 53 and 54.

Our regular council president and you could do 5015 on regular.

Yeah, and 12 on regular.

Council president. You have those madam clerk because I want to do that president for the for the best we have it all.

yes councilman uh yeah council president to the benefits of the audience and those in here present uh this is our resolution honoring the puerto rican a week in the city of patterson so all those resolutions will go and consent and then i will do my own red general statement uh when we go to vote on it yeah thank you councilman um items number four

is an award of contract for fuel inspection of fuel tanks for the city of Patterson this is something we do every year consent a regular. Consent so. The force consent number 5 has been vetted to the process for laboratory services for testing of alcohol and drugs consent the bids are on the by a fact last page of the resolution. It was our pay and it was scored. Yes. Consent a regular. Consent got comes to president number 5 to president.

Yes, Council of the last 2 through the chair to miss a B a number 5 can you give me how much we spend last year in on Sunday employees. I know they do it for an issue employment. You know $70,000.

Could you please provide.

Can you can you give me a report for last year spend the chairs, how many really we spent on on sending new employees for new testing drug testing or whatever. Yeah, because if if the amount of spend the chair last year was less make believe $30,000 while we contracted for 70 this year right so.

I will, Councilman, just to note, this is a not-to-exceed number, so it's based on usage. So within the agreement, we give them $70,000, and they have to cover everyone.

So look at what I'm looking, all right? I got you. What I'm looking at is that if I send one of my friends to get a drug testing because they allow them to get a drug testing before going to work, especially when they go get a job for... A private company drive in the test costs a $120 so. How many employees we send a year that covers $70,000. So I want to know how much we spent last year. And we could pair apples with orange here to see if we could save some money down the road.

Thank you, Councilman. Please provide that information. Item 6 is for the taxicabs. Councilman Jackson.

With regard to item number 5, I apologize if you guys have already went. This is pre-employment. What about current employees?

That's what it says. It's for current employees and pre-employment.

OK. All right. So can we outline, like, who exactly, which employees is this for?

It's both pre-testing and employees. It's within the resolution. This is our go-to first source for pre-employment drug testing and as-needed drug testing.

Correct. I'm trying to figure out, what does that mean? What does as-needed drug testing mean?

There are circumstances that come up that require us to send active employees for drug testing. And that's what that would entail.

Can I get an example of what a circumstance might be? I mean, I'm asking the question because, I mean, obviously, this is a pressing matter. But what is that? What is an example? Can we hypothetically?

An employee, a supervisor observes questionable behavior by an employee that may or may not be an impairment of some sort. That could be grounds to, I mean, that's a hypothetical.

So if we're doing citywide drug testing, meaning that the Board of Health and we have other agencies that do HIV testing, why are we outsourcing something like this? And why couldn't we do this locally here within the Board of Health?

That's a great question. I'd be happy to look into it for the future.

For the future? So recently there was an article in the newspaper where we had a Patterson firefighter, a non-residential Patterson firefighter, who had a two-year-old in his possession that had contact with cocaine. So, I mean, there's obviously a bigger need. Why aren't we pursuing having random drug testing of employees, especially those employees that are machine operators, firefighters? We have people that's coming from outside this community, and this is not the first time. This is a continued matter. Now, we have a gentleman that's been incarcerated because he has his own child. that was in his possession, a two-year-old that came in contact with an illegal substance. So is this going to help cure that?

This will not impact or address Off-duty conduct that occurs outside of Patterson, no.

Off-duty conduct, listen, Mr. B.A., I'm not sure. I'm answering your question. I'm not sure. This has nothing to do with what you just described. Someone who has a cocaine addiction that has a two-year-old child in their possession that they have to rush to the hospital, that they then become incarcerated, your gesture is that... It's only an off-duty situation. We don't believe that this gentleman or persons who are going through these type of encounters are utilizing these type of drugs while they're driving heavy machine apparatuses, fire trucks throughout the community.

Your question, Councilman, was what that type of scenario, how does it play with this resolution? And I'm telling you it doesn't. That doesn't mean all those extra things you added that I did not say. Your question is, whatever facts you stated and how that relates to the resolution before this council, and they're not connected. Does it mean what you're talking about is not important, but it just is not related to your question?

So obviously, I mean, it depends on how important it is and who it's important to. See, I live here. People live here. And they have to deal with people who come from outside the city who have drug addiction issues that come here. And then they get arrested. And they don't wind up being penalized because they wind up going to some type of recovery situation. We've seen this happen time and time again. Yet we still have people who are operating large-scale machinery that are putting the public's life in danger that have drug addiction issues. So if we're now going to be spending money to a third-party company to do something that we should, in fact, be able to do in-house, we have a health division that's going out allegedly, supposedly testing people for HIV. We can't do drug testing? We can't do drug screening within the city?

Should our employees test our own employees? That's a good question. Conflict of interest.

It's not a conflict of interest. It's not a conflict of interest at all. Any other agency you go to, if you go to a hospital, they don't send you out to somebody else to get a drug screening done. My mother is the head of nursing that street now you want to tell me with that will how a medical work in the House was that we all the questions here, please. Thank you so we have a second on that we have a serious matter will be talking about a man driving around the city.

Operating fire fires, the president will pull the question he has an issue with this and I got a cut and we've got a person out we've got a council doesn't say it got a personal committee to discuss any point personnel committee point of order. Thank you.

This item, Madam Clerk, we'll put it on regular so we can move forward. I want us to bring forth our youth. We've promised and committed that we will get them out early. This item will go on regular. At this time, we have a presentation to our undefeated 13-time championship Passaic County Science and Technology Girls Basketball team.

That's a great play.

What?

That was a great play. Let's bring up the kids that lives are in danger as these firemen are driving through the community on drugs, on cocaine. Good evening, Patterson.

Good evening. I want to call up. So a month and a half ago, Councilman Omar He recognized our girls basketball team from PCSST, their undefeated 13-time championship. I openly declared and made a promise to them that we would do jackets. So I want to call up the council ladies who did it, Council Vice President Davila, Councilwoman Counten and myself, who held true to the promise, Coach D, and made this happen a couple of months ago. And so... We have jackets, and as we call the name, if you'll come forward so everyone can see the jackets. The first jacket is Kay Cabrera, number one on the team. The second jacket is Davis, Davis number five on the team. And if they'll go here. And just stand. Tolado, number four. Jimenez, number three. A. Nelson, number two. S. Williams, number 13. T. Stratford, number 12. T. Stratford, number 12. L. Artis, number 11. H Rodriguez, number 10. Coach D. Coach Coley.

Mendes, 22.

Brinson, 21.

Argumado, number 15. N. Coney, number 14. And T. Johnson, number 23. Hopefully we didn't miss anybody. If we did, they'll let us know. I think we got everybody. No, so these we'll put in the bag and bring them back. We're gonna take a quick photo with everybody really quickly.

Do you like the way he set up the balance? I think he's cool with it.

One. Are you ready? White shirt first. Thank you.

Thank you so much. On the agenda, statutory agency, we've already went out to bid. These are the three items for the library, the library steps in South Patterson, for the steps and the wall in South Patterson. We just approved the bid a couple weeks ago, a month ago, and now we're here with the award of contract for the kiosk, the installation of the 24th Self-Service Kiosk. Council members... For 5051 to 52. All statutory agencies. These 5051 a solicitation of bids that the 2 is a water contract 5051 consent that the 2 regular. That count the director has already represented we just had these before us a month ago. If you call for discussion we can do that you did not do that you want to call for discussion we can do that, but we had the full discussion last month, OK so if you want a discussion yes, sure Councilman Jackson. Before Councilman Jackson, I want to say statutory agency did have a meeting. They had a meeting with the director, and I'll let Councilman Velez go first since he is the chair of statutory agency.

Thank you, Council President. Through the chair, director, I notice here a resolution authorizing solicitation bid for Dandruff Library. The other one is for South Patterson, Southside Branch, and the other one is for Okay, the kiosks on the pass a public that they could the one on 24 hours kiosks and that's the one for the 24 hours kiosks that you're talking about so certain average kiosk are they going to the main average. That's going to be at the heritage project aware the heritage project have to process and that goes also with the amount of the grand that you have for that particular project, yes, that's grant funding so in this case um i would like to see you before next tuesday uh can can you send us pictures what were you were you planning to put in there to put in the record yes and and and the other ones too uh the one for um south side branch library um can you get me a before and after picture The before okay, so yeah, because you've got to repair the repair you repair the stairs and wall. On that library right here so I would like to see. The conditions and then compare it when you finish okay, not a problem, thank you.

Thank you councilman Jackson.

And it will call consent.

That wasn't those requests were made in the statutory meeting.

Before and after photos part before and after photos they weren't there was a request so there's no for before and after this before pictures right, but we haven't we have an order to contract we have any work so we can't get any of any after pictures.

Director the Relative to the to South Patterson branch. These are the mainstays going into into the the the second of well actually for so the I guess the receding of the staircase right right out coming upstairs with that was crumbling it's been crumbling for a couple years has been quite some time we've been trying to so is this is this part of the these funds are coming from where exactly.

These funds are coming from CDBG dollars.

The ones that was just the we we we claim reappointed. Yeah, very good. All right, thank you.

Thank you.

3 of them consent.

I'm correct, I don't 50 51 to 2 on consent, thank you. Thank you 50 51 to on.

Yes, if I I respect the the move to stay in the regular, but we've got the director here if he got any other questions we could do in the workshop and a cloud of anything they want.

I understand that but if any Council person request that goes on regular so we could keep it on record, no problem. We also have our community development director here on director.

Barbara mcclinton sorry one more all 3 are regular 50 51.

Yes, all 3 regular that's a mess.

I remember that one second Councilman Jackson director mcclinton if you'll come forward. We've had two meetings and community development. The attendance report was done. We discussed these items in thorough item 16 and 17, item number 16 with the subordination program that is in place that is currently being utilized. which our director will be able to answer any questions in regards to that and then on item 17. This is the technical service as someone that is a part of community development. This is something that I requested some years ago to make sure that when it comes to our CDBG or any of our applications when it comes to community development, that there is a technical assistant available for anyone that is trying to get a grant, anyone working on a grant, and that's what this is for. This is a continuation of that program, which I'm really glad that HUD has provided to the city of Patterson, which they do in other towns, and we need technical assistance because some of our not-for-profits are not fully aware of how to write grants or work on them. So I think this is a great program. Any Questions or discussions Council members discussion. Councilman Jackson.

How you doing director so just a quick note and it doesn't include this item here. The funds that was returned from CDBG that we're now utilizing for the library. What was the what were those funds originally allocated for and why the.

You have to turn your mic on the original allocated for the library. We asked the library to give us a letter to return them after we did the bids for the road resurfacing it came in lower we gave them back the money.

For just a point of clarity. The director just outlined that the war has been in disarray for years he's been requesting additional funds for this war that's been in dire need of repair.

And we've given him funds multiple times for that wall.

OK so are these the same funds that was then pulled back from them to do road resurfacing funds from last year that were pulled back we gave him funds 2 years prior. So you gave them funds 2 years prior to take them back we did or we would lose them and now we're giving them back to them again gave him what we gave him last year.

2 years ago we got the same amount of money actually got less a little bit less yes, a little bit more this time.

So what was the reason that that the work wasn't completed you would have to ask the director that.

There's no report or feedback with a report and you're the fun year that you're I'm sorry I don't want to cut you off our problems that we ask for progress reports every time we give a grant to someone every quarter you must present something he was not able to do that. So we have a certain window that we need to either move or lose so we chose to move.

Okay so but see the department doesn't follow up with with some of the with the complications are with the I mean we're this is a one city right and our residents benefit from the failures and successes of rather of each department the money gets funneled to your department and years of it there is a requirement, I'm assuming for him to follow up with the department with with reports and in etc. I mean, from your standpoint. Because the way it's being projected is there was an irresponsible activity that took place. Is that what you're implying?

We've had multiple conversations with director funding. In the past regarding this I sent over a booklet of all the correspondence that he and I had meetings we set up in the mayor's office out of the mayor's office and we still did not move. I had no choice as the store of the federal funds it is my responsibility not only report to you 9, I must report to the people in Newark as well and they said either move or lose I chose to move.

OK that's fair enough, but I mean at some point in time ultimately the loser here is is the community right and if there's an if there's a failure at some point where there's a department who may not necessarily be. And what the federal guidelines are and if there's a shortage what I'm trying to figure out maybe I'll we not as the director and what exactly was the shortage and why why did you accomplish on my staff support.

I can I can honestly tell you that we have consultants we sit down with our sub recipients to explain the process there is a very small window with CDBG you really only have 12 months to commute complete everything.

So so I'm not disputing that direct and I will say you you've always been very diligent. At a certain point when you have a large number of entities that their primary responsibility is to take care of the needs of our community, specifically our youth. We had the same issue with the YMCA. The YMCA supposedly or allegedly, according to rumors, they were irresponsible. There was multi-millions of dollars that had to get returned. From the Y standpoint, they've done everything that they were supposed to have done. Now we have an internal entity. This is the Patterson Library. Our library, and we're just saying that it's their responsibility. If they're not responsible to handle it, we just got to take the money and move on. So ultimately, the ones who paid the biggest price are kids that don't get to utilize the YMCA, because for whatever reason, we get the money. It's not utilized properly, however. And now, you know, the library that is having the same situation. And there's countless other examples I can give as well. I'm not going to harp on that. What I'm asking is at what point in time do we require a reporting process so we can outline as a municipality Where are these shortfalls? Where are the deficits? So that we can make sure that these entities get the funds that they absolutely need that ultimately trickle down to the public's best interest.

So director, one second. So in the past when this conversation was brought up right in this Council from the chain which is not here so we're not going to a full. The bay or debacle but when this was brought up that in the e-mails that was sent to cover what you're saying we're sent to all Council members so I want to ask that you resend them so all Council members so everyone can see. Yes, yes. So that, especially for our new councilwoman, so she can see what happened when it comes to funds, the time frame, how many times the emails were sent, all of the dialogue that was done in regards to this so that we did not lose the funds. That's why they chose to move forward. It was discussed in committee, came before the council for a vote. But please send that information once again. All council members received it because you had this discussion before. But please resend this so everyone can be on the same page to see this information again.

For the library. The issue wasn't just that he got the money is the issue that he didn't procure correctly because he got 3 pots of money he got for the total a branch he got for the South Patterson he got for the main library. The total a branch with the smallest one which should have been very easy to do not harping on him, but it's all in the email chain. He hired someone who was not a licensed contractor that was not vetted through our program and we could not reimburse him. So he asked in a letter, which I have a copy of that too, in the email to send that money to South Patterson branch. So we had to do that again. We had to come back and ask permission for you to do that. We did that. We had conversations with Director Fleming and he was hiring a consultant to do his plans. That took almost six months. At this point, we're emailing every week, what's going on? Can you tell us how? Can we help you? What can we do to assist you? Nothing. It turns out that he needed a lot more help, so he got John Frankel from the Historic Preservation Board to assist him, because the main library is historic. So that's fine. John Frankel decided, you know what? Since it's a small project, I'll even help with the South Patterson. Don't worry about it. Just get him back his money, which we did. We came back and asked permission to give him back the money. All he needs now is to solicit his bids and hire somebody and then we will take with our our construction official on staff because we don't use cities in front construction officials we use our own and we will make sure the project is done, but it is not my office's job to to hold your hand yes we do need to guide you but we have so many projects to do we cannot sit and hold someone's hand i'm sorry we just can't we ask for reports every quarter whether you're failing then we meet try to figure out how can we help you or assist you maybe we need to get you more guidance from someplace else not just from us Corey did not convey that to us it took 3 years for me to document how I have been asking him and begging him please spend this money. I don't want to take it from you, but I have no choice either I'm going to lose it was the council is going to be all over the or I'm going to give it to somebody that actually can use it right away which happened to be the fire department. They seem to be the only agency that able to spend right away and that's what we decided to give the money to once we did the road resurfacing it turns out it didn't come out as high as we expected so we gave Corey back his money. We're still 2 months later and we still have not even awarded a bid.

Councilman Alford.

I just wanted to reiterate a point that was made in a previous meeting, and this is a perfect example. I'm not on either side of who was right or who was wrong. It's really about now the effects of it, and this is why KPIs are important. Key performance indicators. Early in the game, it stops the bleeding before we get to this point, and we're bled out. So, you know, just to reiterate why those KPIs are really important for the department directors so that, you know, as Councilman Jackson stated, so we can try to be as successful as possible because when things don't work out, it doesn't necessarily not work out for us. It doesn't work out for community.

So we ask each project administrator to produce a QPR every quarter. whether it's just blank you just have to submit it to tell us what you're doing so we can move forward in whatever direction we need to go in we've never gotten one we've had meetings we're still moving it's just it's just on and on and on but you'll get the emails so director can you please one second councilman jackson uh

Can you please, we're not discussing that item now, but can you please send that information out? I know the director is like waving, but we're not discussing that and we're not going to allow a back and forth with directors in the face of the public. That information should be sent out to everyone and then we'll move forward after that. But whatever information that needs to be discussed to our BA, you can do that. outside of the Council chambers, but we're discussing community development, not that particular item that items not even in front of us we just finished that we're on a different item right now, thank you director House president. Councilman Jackson.

So director you have a construction code official in your department. Did so when the fish.

He's a construction construction inspector for my department.

construction inspect and I'm sure he's abreast to requirements for the contractors to be license certified and whatever the case might be right so does that construction official aid in the projects that are being funded like for example if CDBG is funding a project that inside inside or outside if it's within the city. For example with the library to fire department or outside with NJ CDC or an outside entity if we know that this project is has been funded. Potentially it's been funded to to be procured and after the services are rendered the payment will be me because I recall that work and in the total at total library was being done it was so so the construction official never went prior to

We weren't even told it was started we happen to drive by and see that this the sidewalk was done. I know you don't want to keep talking about it, but that's that's what I remember.

Understood are so that the thing is this is is obviously a requirement for deeper conversation because this is not the first time this has happened money is being returned back to CDBG we've been since since joey was the mayor we've been having issues with money that has not been you know allocated properly or return back to the city not utilized for what the intentions are for there must be a a a glitch someplace along the lines that we need to repair so that these these these issues don't continue to happen it starts with the entity i agree i agree it starts with the entity thank you these items will be on regular madam clerk

The health and human services the board nation. Both are regular. The entire Jen is regular.

Making sure that such and it's right.

Councilwoman has a question on 17.

I just wanted to understand better. When it says provide technical assistance not to exceed $100,000, is that technical assistance including program management, program support, reporting and compliance and things of that nature? Is that what that is?

So what used to happen in the past, some of our not-for-profits were not able to apply or have their paperwork in place. So in other municipalities like Jersey City and others, they have a technical assistant. They allowed us to do it as well. So that's what this is. Thank you. You're welcome. Health and Human Services. I have them. I got Mr. Freeman. I was waiting for you. I got you, Mr. Freeman. Director, items 34 through 36.

Good evening, honorable members of the council. Item number 34 is a resolution authorizing a water contract to St. Joe's for our HIV prep program. which is state-funded. Number 35 is a resolution to amend our service providers' monies for the Ryan White program. As you know, we begin the year with an award and then based on their services, then we amend that resolution to pay them based on the services they provided. All of the vendors that were used are attached to the resolution with the amounts and the changes.

Thank you. These are similar to what we do every single year. I haven't had any issues. This is for HIV prepping, HIV emergency relief programming, and the New Jersey State Council. I'm so grateful.

This is the second year we got this grant.

I'm so grateful for this grant for our youth. Are there any questions on these three items?

I don't have a question on any of my car and I need to ask you a question on director. As you know, everybody received that lead lead lead letter. And it's inside the letter is stated that you are not required to. If your house is not a rental property that you're not required to have the test done or whatever it is my question is that for those I think it's a $200 fee for those people is there any way that the city of Patterson can give paperwork to these residents that you are not required to get this lead inspection because you have a house that's a one-family house where you have a house that is wait a minute owner occupied Yeah, but my thing is that I know how to state of New Jersey is 2 years down the road. They will come back to us a well who told you that you didn't need to get disrespected and you have nothing in your hands like so I'm saying to you as director or to that to your department is to anything you can give to the residents who are on occupy like the state of New Jersey don't know their own occupy. They're just going by an address. They don't know who lives there. They don't have no idea who lives there. So what can we do to help these residents? Because I know what the state of New Jersey is going to do. Two years later, they're going to come back and say, why you didn't do this, and hit them with a fine. So what can we do, Director?

Director? They can contact the Division of Health or my office, and we will send them an email. They can provide us the narrative, I live in my home, it's a one-family home, owner-occupied, and I will have our chief REHS or our health officer reply to that email so they will have it in writing that we will say, your property is exempt. The letter specifies that, but if they want something in writing, we will send an email.

Yes. Council President. Thank you. Councilman.

I hear what you're saying, but two years later, three years later, I know how the state of New Jersey is. They will come back and say, you did not do this. That's all. I know they will. And then we're going to say, well, I was told by the Department of Health that if I'm unoccupied, I don't have to. And then they'll say something like, can you show it to me in writing?

But they'll be able to prove if they live there. They'll have a PSE&G bill. They'll have their mortgage statement.

I'm talking about families. Director, two families, three families' houses, where families are living in an entire house. That's what I mean, not one family.

So that's a question we can have offline, because even if it's a relative that lives in the house, if they pay you or contribute for an apartment, they're a tenant. So the state is going to want us to inspect that for the safety of the individuals living there and the safety of the individuals who visit there. Because you may not have a child living with you, but you may have a grandchild or a niece or nephew that visits. If they get lead poisoned in that unit, then it's going to be a different conversation.

Thank you Councilman Jackson got one more. I'm sorry that's OK we have we have landlords here that had just had their property tested because they went into a section 8 or or they had to register their property. Why do they have to do it again if they last year. I had to let people come out, they inspect the house. Why am I doing it again?

So real quickly, the re-rental inspection that we do as per our ordinance is different from this inspection, which is required by state law, which is a dust wipe inspection.

They had a dust wipe.

The re-rental cert is done with a machine.

No, they had a dust wipe.

I believe they I would have to look at that case because we do not do dust wipe inspection for re rental of this is the first time we do we are doing it and is because the state is mandate of forcing us to do it.

Okay, so I'm just saying you say if they have not done a dust wipe and they have to do it again this has to pay this law.

The letter that was sent out when we're being required mandated by the state and it must be dust.

Okay, all right. Thank you director.

Thank you councilman Jackson.

And it has to do with lead director. It has to do with light. Yes. So why are we doubling down on the residents if they're already being mandated by the state why why don't we consolidate effort. And that's the first question we now where that they're having a mandated inspection by the state. Right and then we're going to turn right back around and hit him again for another fee for on a re rental to do the same thing that they just had to have a an approval from the state. That's something that the council can discuss and if you would like to amend the ordinance we would follow whatever the council decides well, I mean the administration should be recommending that we should be taking care of our Residents that they're not being hit over the head. We're not just you know robbing them. But anyway Why is it can you explain to me why? There's mandated that they come in and pay today, but the inspection that I've been getting calls that they're getting an inspection slip that says 2028 or 2029.

We're correcting that. That's a glitch in the system, the SDL system that we're using. So we have staff that are going in daily and changing those appointments and moving them up to a closer date. A closer date like within the next month or something? Within the next month, two months, three months, it depends. Right now we have over 1,500 applications in the queue that need to be processed. The compliance was within 30 days. That was the letter the state provided us to send out. So individuals have been complying, so they completed their application, made payment, so they're compliant in that portion. Now it is our job to get the inspection date.

So we need to get a copy of that list because we only have 1,500 out of 25,000. I'm sorry?

Right now, there are about 1,500 applications that were submitted online. That doesn't count the people that actually waited online and came to the Division of Health.

So there's potentially a little more with 1500 out of 20 plus 1000.

Yeah, 5,000 letters only went out to about 16,000 property owners, not all of those properties are mandated because as the councilman brought up some of them are owner occupied not to the you know that I understand that but if you if you talk about the laws percentages and averages you sent out 16,000 is only a 1500 in the queue.

If what is the least online currently online OK so for a point so I miss to be able to get a report of the report on on those that have submitted you can be by address that has to be by by name but one of the item director. And I saw you have the so-called official here as well. 1.17 5th Street. Mister be a Mister. Corporation Council. This is for you, Director. I'm sorry, Director. Okay. So, I mean, I have a question for you. I don't know. You can sit down and get it from your seat or whatever. But this is, I mean, you've been very, very helpful, and I do appreciate it. You've put up a number of different families for us and paying for hotels and things of that nature. We have landlords that are delinquently violating the code. 117 Fair Street was shut down by the fire department. It was a woman that was electrocuted. The entire house vacated. These families have been forced to either stay there or pay for their own hotels. And on the one in North 4th Street that the fire department came to that was shut down for quite some time, that young lady spent three months, three months sleeping in her car, sleeping in a house that was mandated to be vacated by the fire department, PSCG shut the building down. What are we doing to protect these residents? I didn't put any open requests, I do apologize. But as a councilman, Mr. BA, I shouldn't have to put in the open requests. I'm entitled to all material that has regard to the city. Any city business, I'm entitled to it. I should not have to put in an open request, especially when you have derelict landlords that's violating the public's best interests. We have people who are being evicted just so landlords can raise the rents. So I'm very curious on what we're doing here. It's a public health condition. People are being put out in the street and the health department saying that's not my, you know, obligation to pay for that. The landlord is supposed to pay for that. Then the building department says that's not my obligation. The landlord is supposed to pay for that. So who should I call when the landlord is derelict and they're not paying for these residents that's being evicted because of some action that the landlord had not taken? I mean, listen, when residents now have to turn to the Attorney General to address the concerns that they have from being targeted by slumlords and being put out their entire families, I mean, this woman, a single mom with four children, four children, three and a half months, when the landlord tells her, listen, I'm going to give you one week to find an apartment, and I might give you your security deposit back. What are we doing as a municipality from a public health standpoint, from a building department standpoint? I've given a number of different locations where people do illegal construction, they're slapped on the wrist, and we have residents that's just being abused. What are we doing to protect them?

So can we follow up with that information provided through the VA? So we can follow up with that, send that information out. Thank you so much.

I mean, Council President, with all due respect, I've been speaking to the director about this over the last several months. I mean, the VA, as a municipality, we're responsible for making sure our residents aren't being mistreated. So we're going to follow up. I mean, I've been talking to the director for quite some time. While we have everybody in the room right now, Corporation counsel is supposed to be protecting the people legally. The building sub code department is supposed to be protecting their safety. The health department is supposed to be protecting their health. What are we doing here?

We don't have any concern when it comes to the residents being abused, I guess council, but thank you council member last then cancer president up it is a there's something that triggered me a little bit and I will like the the parliamentarian that runs the office of the city clerk. I will clerk regarding the over request that we mandatory to also file. We all per request all is we go out some of the last. That's the president. Yeah, yeah, she could answer it because because that that's good.

He didn't direct it to the clerk he was talking to the BA so if you want to have to answer he was saying to the BA so well that not a clerk that should be folded to the parliamentarian and not a lot of you on the whole for a request. Thank you councilman, a clerk.

No Council members are not required to summit over us.

Thank you so much and I will be the W director please for DPW we have items. And then we also have 56. Madam chair Council McCartan. Director.

Yes.

44.

It's a water contracts miss on the for the U. E. 0 resurfacing Ward 1. The bids are on the back of the reso.

For the 1st Ward. 1st Ward. Could you provide the streets? I know it's attached to the sheet, but can you openly? I know we've been advocating for these streets in the 1st Ward. Can you openly state the streets that are getting done in the 1st Ward?

Yeah, give me a minute.

Thanks director, yes or no. Wow I know is an extensive list, but I wanted to be duly noted we've been working hard for the first Ward, the list of the first war to hear the list.

Because that is the whole is here, but it's not the. We just church Street then how in. Washington have Tyler Street, yes, yes, 3, yes, I went Street, yes, Oliver Street, yes, they'll ask.

Thank you so much. So first war first war to the public has been watching and I know some of you are sitting here it's on the agenda for the world resurfacing to award the contract that means the next move is getting done. 44 any questions. As president councilman Jackson.

I've seen a group of people celebrate for some so I mean this is I like a basic requirement to pay rose and we clap in a celebrate.

What's up what's going on with governor Street director is on the agenda is on the agenda is on the agenda to be voted on tonight, yes, what's going on with Clinton Street.

Clean street for resurfacing. It's on. It's on the list I'll send you tomorrow with this is on is on the state list.

This is this was the first word you just read offer. I'm sorry this was the first word you just read offer. This is the first word you easy program we see. Thank you council members that yes.

Director, I see on the list some of the second world street. You know, when are they coming up? I'll have to get back to you. I'm not sure when we're going to start that. Okay. Because we haven't, I don't think before this year we haven't never done it with UED funding the roads resurfacing. so it is like a bonus to us it's grand funding i'll clap louder than ever for this uh to get this money free you know where grant funding money and get our street um paid thank you i know that's right

I don't 45 yes Council member last so I also want to I want to you know the residents out there that are looking also to look into a most remote and sweet be she also is in the list we're going to move forward with that I clap for the first war because they desperately need it and we are loving all of us to the first word. Thank you, Council president, you're welcome.

I don't 45 that right there is 44 regular consent.

REGULAR.

REGULAR.

LET IT BE REGULAR, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BOAST TO THE FIRST WALL RESIDENTS ON WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR THEM. YES, CORRECT. REGULAR, PLEASE.

WE ARE TEAM FOR THE FIRST. MADAM CLERK, JUST AS A PROVISION, YOU CAN PUT EVERY ITEM ON REGULAR. 45. EVERY ITEM I'M REQUESTING TO BE ON REGULAR.

NO, IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT. JUST LIKE YOU SAID, WE'RE DISCUSSING.

ANY COUNCILPERSON THAT REQUESTS ANY ITEM, EVERY ITEM WILL BE ON REGULAR.

45, YOU'RE NOT IN CHARGE. 45, DIRECTOR.

MADAM CLERK, I'M OFFICIALLY REQUESTING, THROUGH THE CHAIR, EVERY ITEM IS ON REGULAR.

Direct the 4545 resolution authorizing that the second and final option year of the contract for solid waste. Starting January 1st through December 31st of next year to that right and said that's the last country that the last of the no contracts right okay.

We know this is us. Solid ways can you talk a little bit about

of the bulk process and why we can include bulk in this particular item was is not the last option years so we we have to continue to contract the way it is as we have to go out the bid at this time we are at a time spot a bit we should start that maybe sometime the later part of last year. But we already started for the new contract going through scenarios going back to the old way Doing two contracts one for both one for regular garbage or staying with the way we're doing it right now. We're in discussions with our own Consultant right now That's where we're at with the garbage.

When does this contract end December 31st? 2027 so if it's not approved and we and we voted down what happens I

We have to get emergency extension of the company that now and the Council have to you know give us of which I want to or the worst scenario, there will be no garbage pick up at all you see.

Thank you this item will be on regular matters president councilman Jackson.

So director. Obviously you in you know we've been going to use back and forth what is the estimated cost to the city if in fact we did have to add both his contract.

Going by the old numbers that we first did this about 200,000 a month to $20,000 a month 5 that would be 5 years ago now. So you talk in 20% a year with talking maybe 400,000.

So right relative for 5 million dollars this and so your department has been doing the work for both pick up since has been excluded from this contract, correct how much money has been put back into your department for the actual effort in collecting bulk. They get paid. How many more employees have you hired?

Our truck is staffed right now. Our bulk truck is staffed right now. Okay.

Since bulk pickup was placed on your shoulders to handle, how many more employees have you added to your department? For bulk itself?

period in order to in order to take care of the boat. Councilman is hard to say because it's a revolving door we get people that come in people that go out it's it's hard to say that we never have a consistent number and you know it's a some people get the experience they go to places with CEOs some people come in don't like to pay they go it's a revolving door.

Okay, let me rephrase the question. If your department was operating with 100 employees, and obviously, you're going to have a return no matter what, whether you're doing bulk or not. It's just the nature of having employees. Every business has a revolving scenario where employees leave, whether it's through retirement, whether they find a better job. That's not common or uncommon for the workplace. But if you have 100 employees, now you're tasked to take on an additional responsibility that if you didn't do it we have to pay outside vendor additional money did you add a percentage of employees to your overall requirement to to accommodate the bulk pick up no we didn't not actually in the budget no so you so you maintain your entire your same level of staffing your same budget your same uh in fact um most of the work was done and overtime most of this work is done on overtime yes An overtime. And based on our last meeting, based on our last meeting, we saved, what was it, $4.7 million?

Overall, through the whole contract. And doing a boat.

When we had the consultant here, and the consultant laid it out for us, and we saved over $4 million. That's over the life of the contract. During the bulk? Yes. Have you been able to add on to your department to facilitate the bulk pickup in a better fashion?

Well, the plan is in the budget that's here tonight, but the openness that we have, if it gets approved, then we will have the manpower if the state sees it fit to hire the people that's in the budget to hire.

Council president so so just on clear. Hire people so you're adding on to the department specifically just to take care of both both pick up.

No and not to be pw to have the Department of Public Works issues. Bulk is only a 2-day-a-week function right now. Citywide is only 2 days a week? Saturday and Sunday.

But don't you think that that's part of the reason why there's such an outcry for bulk where the residents are complaining that it's bulk all over the place?

I believe that could be it, but for us in the Department of Public Works, the biggest problem is not scheduling.

The point I'm making is we're now moving to vote on this current item for the upcoming contract. That does not include both. That obviously has saved the city a great deal of money millions of dollars that have not been police back into your department. How many more are we projecting that to add to it so we don't have to go out for a boat. Estimate in the future how many more we how much more we adding to the department so you can facilitate the book better to keep it the way it is now. You've already you said it's already in it. I'm saying to keep it said you've already it's already in the budget that you've already the administration has already outlined to make a make your department more robust specifically just so we can take care to both pick up because if we spend a fort we save $4 million even if we added 1.5 million to your department to add on to the department. I asked you first how much is it's been added on and going through some of the budget. Hearing request I don't see much that was added on to your department so as we're going over what was that we're talking about for garbage specifically both is a way is an area where you can see in addition to your department had has there been discussion on you add into the department so we could take it about pick up. No not not specifically not just the vote now.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN VELEZ, COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT DAVALA.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

THIS ITEM WILL BE ON REGULAR.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. TO THE CHAIR, DIRECTOR, I BELIEVE THE BOG IS RUN BY THE RECYCLING DIVISION? NO. NO? OKAY. in the since we started doing taking bulk in-house have we purchased more trucks yes have we uh i know we have increased the manpower even that they do over time to work that bulk correct We've increased some of our not just the for both like I said the overall Department of which is can't can't can you agree with me in saying that the dumping that we see in the city passes not product of The people that does the ball to pick up a House by House and this product that people come from outside the city and dumping out of city and they don't do what is supposed to do.

I would love to agree to council but I I don't have the specifics on that I don't know the court.

Well, I have some specific you know we have caught a lot of people from out of city coming here and dumping in the blind spot and places that we don't have a lot of trolls or whatever they don't.

I we we have proved that in court we have proved that when residents and his plate numbers that they not even from the city of Paterson that people comes to the city and dump and everywhere they want to they want to and let me say this and loud and clear if you go to Clifton. There's a road that hits Hazel Street in the back that goes to Colorado go see how many bulk dumping they have in that row. This is getting crazy now only in Patterson everywhere is all everywhere everywhere. There's a there's a big cultural conduct. Yeah, okay, people doing whatever they want. All right, yeah and let me say this loud and clear DPW okay into they bring the new garbage cans or whatever they were going to put out there they went out and covered this garbage cans will pass it back to people don't put garbage on it, you know what they do it put in the garbage in top of the garbage can. Because it's a culture conduct is a culture conduct and and and you know and we see out there Council director, I know you do you try to do your best to catch up with all this and I think that we should move forward council president council vice president.

Thank you so much. So director, yes, I heard something you said you said that part of the problem is that people are not going in and signing up for the book. I've gotten various constituents who have said that they've gone into the app and they have to wait until September 20th.

Yeah, because we cut it off at 300 pickups a weekend.

So then I would probably not say that the problem is people are not signing up. Because if I've had various people call me to say that they have to wait six, seven weeks.

I'm not that they'll schedule it will pick it up the what he's talking about is that dumping on top of the the the the the boat pick up.

That's not what I think I heard that the problem was that people were not signing up for both that's what you said yeah dumping who signs up for picking up dumping.

Yeah, we have had a look at this report me yesterday or yesterday. Staying that she put in for August 29th in her assignment was in July. So the fence is 300 pickups a weekend is a lot.

And I and I know that and I know the work that you do do we have to do more and we have to do better absolutely I'm not going to stay here and think that everything is perfect because it's not the city continues to be dirty filthy, you know the the all of the garbage the I don't even know to call them garbage cans, but the amount of money that we spent on them definitely was a bad idea.

Definitely.

But we have to live with what we've done and we have to make it better. You okay? So with that said, I just wanted to just clarify, because you made the statement when Councilman Jackson was referring to a bulk pickup. It's not perfect. No, no, no, and I know that, and I know that, and I know that, and I know that, you know, I think the first thing that, you know, when I look at myself, I look at what's good, what's bad, what's in between and what I can make better. Right. So, you know, as the head of the department, I know that you have a struggle and you stated various and you said it perfectly today. You know, it's a revolving door. You have, you know, you have people, you hire people. But what's interesting to me is that everyone applies to the position knowing their salary. and you know to then turn around and say you know oh you know but but with that said i just wanted the clarification in terms of you indicating that the problem is that people are not signing up so i just heard loud and clear now weekends only weekends 300 are capped and you know like i said i have various people indicate that they've tried to go on and you know their their first date of pickup is september 20th

Thank you I just want to say to director. Even though this is a when your contract this is the last option, yes, for for both picked up and I just want to say even in a committee meet which was president was myself and has been the lead. And counts been Omar. But pick up which I think that we knew when we did the contract that but was not in here and let me just say to you if you include a buck in this contract which we can't because this is an option you know we're in. It's going to roughly be 10 million dollars. Not counting I'm I'm thought it should 25 2.5 million in the air. So I think that was going to happen for us for next year like no maybe we can start now. I would say starting October. If we're going to go out to bid and we're going to do like we did before, we're going to have Buck in there and then we're going to have without Buck. So we're going to get back two separate contracts, two separate bids, one with Buck, one without Buck. And let me tell you out there, there's not many companies out there that wants to pick up Buck anymore. There's not many companies out there that's willing to pick up but and the only one I know that still that there is Roselli suburban. Waste but for this now we have some room some time to play with to figure out. But we do go back out to be because you have to go back out to be starting in October November. We should be done got to pay with both and without book. Thank you can't be easy to take it is not going to be easy.

Council president director when when I first came on it was to 50 and I'm glad you guys have made it 300 is there any way we can just you know zone 3 is is the you know this week is on 3.

Just put your bulk out and we just do it that way that's all going to be talked about with the consultant with the next garbage contract to vote so because I I think it would solve your issue you'd say hey they're putting it out without scheduling it so.

just for the thank you. Madam chair.

Council president. Councilman Jackson, thank you so I mean I had to laugh because if we didn't waste so much money millions of dollars millions of dollars on garbage cans that talk that set going to send somebody an e-mail. Yeah. Oh, man, you can't make this stuff up. Garbage cans that's going to send somebody an email and a text message, and nobody's answering the text messages. And the same people that not just supported it, fought against me, I'm like, yo, what are we doing? They cheerlead, cut ribbons. cracked champagne bottles against these cans, and now it's not, it was a bad idea. Are you freaking kidding me? Listen, already we're doing the public a disservice. Just the mere fact that we're talking about going out to bid for bulk pickup, The bid came in at $55 million, almost $12 to $14 million more than what we're paying now. We didn't add one dime to the director's staffing. I think we might have purchased one or two more trucks. Some of you might have remembered, the director was out on vacation, or he was out, Assistant Director Ojeda was here, and I asked him a simple question. You got any vacancies? Oh, no, no, we're fully full. Wait, there's no, no, we got plenty of vacancies, about 25, 30 people. So not only did we not add to the department, we have vacancies in that department. We did not allow the director to fill it. We're expecting him to pick up these behind the entire community. You can't do 300 a week in a community that got over 200,000 people on top of people that's dumping, on top of people doing all these other things. I made a suggestion. Let's pay the residents for doing reporting. No. What did we do? We spent $100 million on 17 cameras that we still don't know what happened to them. We had the director from C-Click Fix, or whatever that program is, who don't know anything about technology, Real Fix, that's traveling around with the mayor around the country talking about how he rid cities of homelessness, yet it's homeless overrunning the city. And this is the guy that brought the proposal forward that everybody else here supported and got upset with me because I said, I just asked a simple question. How much are we spending? And then give us the data. No data, no reports, no anything. So then we're going to say it was a bad idea. After you done cut the ribbon, had the party, cracked the champagne bottles over these kids, got emails from the garbage cans. I'm the only one that, because I don't read my emails, so I don't get an email from the garbage cans. But these garbage cans stay full, and we won't even give the director more artillery to fight the battle. No, what do we want to do? We let it suffer so bad to the point we got to say, we're going to go back out to bid for it. Don't let them hire new more staff members making sure that had some residents have an opportunity for employment and this is what this Council is doing and we don't want to acknowledge our failures. Then as we as we spent a $1,000,000,000 on service on garbage cans that that that has that that was a thank you so much.

That was a second that a car. The DPW items will all go on regular. For rock salt, vegetation, vegetative waste. Johnny on the spot to make sure there's restrooms and the parks. All those items will be on regular. Council President.

Council President.

Councilman the last and then Council vice president that so ladies and gentlemen.

I understand the passion of my colleague Mike Jackson he's preaching old news. Preaching all news we have to be a they just step in about a couple months ago. And he's working diligently with the directors to fulfill any position that we have out there, especially in DPW. So whatever he's saying, it was old news. It was in the past VA hands. We have a good communication with this VA in our committees. And we have a good communication so far with the director of DPW that he has fulfilling, he's going to fulfill moving forward with the new budget all the necessary positions, and I believe they're all like 48. Thank you so much. Council President, please. So it's fair enough that when we talk or say something, we move forward what's coming ahead of us, and that's fair to say. Thank you, Council President.

Thank you so much. Councilwoman Davila.

Director, can you please come up? And the reason I want to because you know when my colleague Councilman Jackson makes the statements like the administration is not giving you what you need right. Are you able to hire your own.

That the more interviews.

Not as a interviews when are you able to say I have 5 position and you go put go through personnel put it out and you're able to hire. I have to send a waiver of a Senate that the really to the to be a which since to the state and the state approves whether I get that okay and the reason I asked that is exactly the reason why when you're being school today we heard all and they're not allow you that I giving you what you need the city is ran and we receive transitional aid. So we cannot just hire and say, I mean, I've been fighting since I got here. We need over 150 new officers, and we can't get it. Because there is a process. We, unfortunately, our budget can't sustain it, and therefore we have to go through a process to get signatures, 380s, to then be submitted. DCA then has to sign off on it, and then the approval process. So when we say here that we're not, because it makes it seem like the administration is stopping people from being hired, that's not necessarily true. So I just wanted to ask you that, because you didn't say that, right? Because I think that if somebody says that, you can come back and say, I'm not able to hire on my own. I have to submit a request. It has to be approved. A 380 has to be formed, right? Then it goes to DCA.

Yeah, that's the process. Yes, definitely. Okay.

So thank what let me let me see before anybody else access fee. We have 12 people 12 represent 12 people from the public that are waiting to speak. Once a council person makes a comment that another council person takes a jab back another response back with another job than the council person that you took the job is going to respond the public has to speak we've heard the items we we get it everything that all of you have stated I would like us to move forward we have 13 people in the public House president one second Councilman Jackson we have 13 people here to speak in the public. We also have our payment of bills, madam clerk right at the Councilman Jackson we're going to go right into payment of bills and we're going to open up public portion so we can go into our special meeting Councilman Jackson.

Thank you comes present only because councilman devil call me by name I call her by name I say they said you know everybody who cut ribbons hit champagne bottles anyway. First of all that's an absolute lie, let me tell the public she's that's a lie. that we have a MOU, but how many times you see the mayor come up, pop up, all of a sudden he got a new employee, a new staff member. The mayor can hire whoever, we have a TO, a table of organization. That TO is what we function under. When the assistant director Ojeda came here and said that his, that department's short 30 plus people, that's because the table of organization requires for a city of our size This is how many employees are required to run this department. You could check every single department in the entire city and they're all short. They're all short. The library asking to hire people and everybody who's over that is, that's the mayor's office, that's the administration that cut these departments so they can spend money other places. So they can make poor decisions like buying $4 million garbage cans. So they can spend $1.7 million on 17 cameras. or poor decisions or poor decisions that now I guess that was a bad idea yet still we're getting ready to go back out we had to request 70 million dollars for the other missed mishap that we did to try to allow the state to take over a health. We never did an audit on how many how many occurrences we had over the year this Council is irresponsible that's to say when it talks about the spending in the city It is this council's responsibility to be steward of spending. And this council hasn't done its job. I'm the only one. I sent the BA request two weeks ago for a report on the sewer connection collection fees. Mr. Dave Gilmore, who was ousted illegally, who was fired. This council sat on his hands, allowed it to happen. The most responsible director in the community, holding people accountable. Not only was he fired, he turned around and sued us for a million dollars and cracked who? The taxpayers over their head. on irresponsible directors. What do we do? We hired that same director back and we're celebrating his return. It's like a domestic violence victim celebrating the return of their abuser. It's like the pilgrims, it's like the Native Americans celebrating The what what what happened to on Plymouth rock, thank you this this absolutely ridiculous and then you've got people talking about director so you can it's the mayor's office, the B a's the signing authority if the if the if the director puts in a request for staff member to be hired in our that's that's on the administration stop blaming it on DC a DC is not getting in the way of what we what we can hire to operate our city as under our to madam clerk payment of bills, please.

PAYMENT OF BILLS. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US THE SUMMARY OF DISBURSEMENTS. Okay, this is to a payment of bills put together to payrolls. In addition, in the payroll, we have the retros that are included in there. That's why you see the $14,155,911.99. YOU HAVE THE COMPUTER CHECKS, WHICH IS $60,556,029.29. IF YOU SEE, THERE'S TWO BOARD OF EDUCATION PAYMENTS OF $13,417,455.84. WE'VE ALSO PAID THE COUNTY TAXES OF $17,544,270.95. The general government is 15 million, $730,847.89. And that is the payment for the state health benefits. And then you have the obvious, the public safety, public works, economic development and so forth. But those are the biggest items. The total, like I said, in computerized checks is 60,556,029.29. Payroll, two payrolls, 14,155,911.99. making that a total of $74,711,941.28. My motion is for payment of bills.

Second.

Discussion? Second. Moved by Councilman Zabala, seconded by Councilman Velez. Discussion? Councilman Velez?

Thank you. Through the Chair, Mr. B.A.?

The majority of this.

I know that we don't have Mister Javier Silva tonight here. Yeah, why not? He's supposed to be here. Quiet. He's on vacation.

So they've got to have somebody in his place.

But I got the BA.

The BA is here.

Councilman Velez, the BA is here.

Thank you. Mr. BA, I know last month we approved the contract for the communication room, that union, I believe, right? That was the one that we rectified last meeting. Can you get me, before next Tuesday, when are they going to pay the retro and all that stuff to their membership? which which contract for the communication. This is an issue.

The dispatch unit is out of contracts in June of 2024 correct, I'm going I'm working with the teamsters to try to get a get something to DCA for their approval so which one we approve last month.

That was the white the white collar union so we still pending on the communication.

Yes, the dispatchers communication and the legal department are 2 contracts that are currently expired so that one was the longest expired white collar so I tackle that first and I'm working through the other ones.

Correct and as as as I say you have reached this kind of a nation's each in the table so I know you could do good for them. Thank you, council president.

House president thank you Councilman Jackson was to be a can you point out the payment that we would start as I can't help but notice the number of 74 million dollars being very close to or equivalent to what the state was just has just provided to us has that check been given to this city, not to the state that no no.

The this the Council first has to adopt the MOU which will be in you know to be on the agenda for September and then the release 75% of our allocation.

That is there is there a payment in this payment of bills that to repay the the money that was borrowed.

The the the the 10 the the the temporary the tax anticipation from earlier the right. No because we have to we have to repay an option is one is in at the end of October. or we have the ability to defer it to March of 27. So that decision will be made in the coming months. March of 27? Yeah, March of 27. It's structured that way. We can call it early in October, November. Don't quote me. I don't have it in front of me. Or the natural maturity of the borrowing is in March of 27. And then what's the anticipated interest on... on it for deferring to the following year. If we repay it back this year October, November, whatever date that is it's 2 million if we defer into March is 3 million so it's accounted for in this budget, but depending on how the cash flow goes through the year we we have we reserve the right to. Move the wait wait a minute, I'm sorry.

The sales pitch at that time was We're borrowing this money because we don't know what our TA is going to be. No, absolutely. No, that was not the pitch. We couldn't anticipate what the TA was, so we were waiting on TA. And the pitch to the council was that we needed to borrow this to carry us. Now we're talking about carrying it for an additional year.

for another million or so dollars. You asked a question. I answered factually with what the two options are. I'm not saying what is or isn't happening. You asked a question. I answered those are the two options. That's the loan structure that was procured by our financial advisor.

So I never asked you what the loan structure was. I never asked you what the loan structure was.

You asked me about the interest. That is exactly that question.

I asked you, was there payment in here? No. You said no, and then you went on to elaborate that the loan provisions had something outlined that allowed us to defer payment. When we made disagreement, the council made disagreement, it wasn't to defer payment.

All of this was very clearly said to the council and written to the council. So everything I just said is in your email, it's in the virtual meeting that's on YouTube. I'm not adding anything.

You know, Mr. B.A., I get it, right? You feel as if, whether you feel offended or not, about me asking you questions. When I'm asking you questions, it's not about me, per se. This is about the public. Correct. So you sitting here as the B.A. of the city of Patterson say, I'm not answering that. I'm not adding to that. I'm asking you a specific question. I'm not asking you to tell me that it's on YouTube, I can go look it up, or it's within every email. The general public doesn't have access to my email. I'm asking you a question.

You made a statement that this was not told to the council that there was a March deferral into the future year. You made that statement, and it's not a factual statement. So I have an obligation to state what factually happened.

on that point that's what you did not fair but she did not you deferred me to go look to an email or look at a you to video not and you didn't answer the question is the question of what i asked until you told me i can you tell me how to go watch a youtube video you said you know that you and you're not answers i didn't know i'm stating that that the council was informed of that because your statement was they weren't and i gave you two sources to go to to confirm my statement that's what i did so again check this out i'm a member of the council i'm a part of the voting body correct so i'm a person that has to be spoken to with regard to whether or not This item should have been paid when we agreed or if it was going to be a deferment. I understand all contracts, there's a potential deferment or possibility if we did not get the funding that we were projecting to get or targeting. But since we now understand what our TA is, I'm asking you clearly. Let me rephrase the question. Is it our intention to repay that loan the moment the TA touches down?

Because it has there's no there's no need to it matures in March of 27 and there's a call option before that.

There's no need to that then cost the taxpayers an additional $1,000,000 what responsible person you go out get a loan because you don't currently have the money I would like to state that this year counts keep Mister be a lease if you will allow me to finish I don't speak over top of you. we as a municipality we don't have the money so they pitched to us we have to ball this money we have to pay interest on this money because we don't have the money the state then comes and provides us with the money that we're looking for we get a miracle bailout and then he says we're not going to pay the loan back despite the fact that the that the state has given us the money we're going to defer and then And then charge back the taxpayers an additional million dollars.

Counselor, with all due respect, your question to me just was, as soon as the TA arrives, will you pay back the loan? And the answer is no to that question. The answer is no to that question. That check may arrive September 15th. We may have a call option on this loan. Again, I don't have it in front of me. It could be October 30th. At that time, I'd love to get it off the books this year. Yes. Your direct question was, when the TA money arrives from the state, will we take that money and flip it back over to cover the loan? And my answer is no, because that is not the prudent move for our budget.

Okay, thank you very much, Mr. V8. Councilwoman Cotton.

My understanding, Mr. V8, is that when we did ask for the $70 million, it was because my understanding was because the tax bills were going out late. They were going out late and we would not have a flow of money coming in to make payments the because at that time we would not know how much the chance is for a would have been correct. I'm I think the tax bills for May. It would have been made that might have went out late. So we was extended so right it wasn't it was not based on what we got for just from the 70 may was not based out to digital a it was based on the late tax going out late bills and I always remind our council colleague people know your tax bill comes out February. May, August, November. So people actually look for those months to make their property tax bill. So it wasn't based on traditional aid.

If I could just add to that, Councilwoman, The issue is we are on a calendar budget year and the state is on a fiscal budget year, right? We start our calendar January 1. We have large expenses. We have a $30-something million pension payment in April, due April 1st. We have our county or school obligations. And you'll see this in the presentation. Between transitional aid and energy receipts, which every town gets depending on your population, about $100 million of our revenue does not arrive until late in the third quarter of our budget year. Yet we have front-loaded expenses. So, I mean, you know, it was, you know, mocked when I said it, but it is a math problem. Our expenses and revenues for the 12 months, they even out. Everything balances. But we have expenses in the beginning of the year that relies on cash that comes in in quarter three. And that's why we borrowed the money and we intend on getting it off our books this year. Thank you.

Council president right may very quick right after this a roll call out of court. So Mister BA and I'll give you a tad bit of credit because you were not here when this happened but the CFO who should have someone we have plenty of other people that in the past when Nellie when Senator Poe comes will pose it was the BA Of course, she knew every answer. She knew every answer, but there was always someone, a representative, which is required by statute. There's a representative from the finance department that's supposed to be here. You know, Ms. Long boxed Lydia in and placed her in some place where she can't come to these meetings. That's not the council's responsibility. By statute, that seat is required to be filled. You don't have the expertise or the wherewithal to answer the council's questions when it comes to its financial responsibilities. You may be the signing authority, but that seat is required to be filled. That's the first thing. Secondly, your point in the fact of whether or not you guys have bills that's coming in, that's the whole reason why the council shifted because this administration requested for us to shift from a fiscal year to a calendar year. And that was supposed to mitigate the problem. But because he is incompetent and cannot do his job, he's hiring people and paying rates of well over $700,000 a year for people to come in here and do what he cannot do. If I'm wrong, you should give the reports that I request and send them forward, right? We moved to a fiscal year or calendar year specifically so we would mitigate that problem. Now you're saying that problem still exists. So what's the issue? was the issue either somebody doesn't isn't financially responsible for or they don't know what they're doing or something but the Council has been asked to move that the the the from from a fiscal year to a calendar year to mitigate that problem that's not our issue you guys should be presenting us with the budget in a fair amount of time and if that requires the pay a loan back before it has to go into an additional million dollars is burning on the taxpayers we should be paying that prudently should not be pushing that down the line for another mean those those millions of dollars they add up in that irresponsible spending is the reason why we had to send a $78 million dollar request to the state.

Thank you roll call, madam clerk.

Councilman offered. This is roll call it's to adopt the payment of bills.

Chester accused.

I can't hear you recusing. Vice president Davila. Councilman Jackson.

To the members of the public. I know that everyone enjoys celebrations and everyone enjoys ribbon cuttings. This is the council's main job to be fiscally responsible to bring forward a budget that's going to render the services to fill departments, to make sure departments are filled. We're not, this is not getting done. And this is part of the reason why I've consistently, consistently voted no and I'm going to continue to do so because this is not responsible spending. What we're doing is allowing them to have run away with a blank check and you see what we're getting. We're not getting anything for. But over expenditures request the set. I mean this is a miracle this mayor had covid money he had a tax credits or credits all kinds of money and then we get he gets lucky and the governor gives them 70 plus million dollars and we're still going to have the same issues. So absolutely not matter. My vote is no.

Councilman Kali

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Mr. Beyer, actually, I am very disappointed at our CFO. Today is, I think, one of the most important meetings. I'm going to introduce the budget, and he is not here. I mean, I know, but he's part of this payment of bill as well. SHOULD HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THE CHAIR. HE SHOULD HAVE MADE HIS VACATION SCHEDULE ACCORDING TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AS WELL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO WITH THE PAYMENT OF BILLS, I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE. THE EMPLOYEES GOT TO GET PAID. THE VENDORS GOT TO GET PAID. MY VOTE IS YES.

COUNCILMAN OMAR.

MY VOTE IS YES FOR PAYMENT OF BILLS, MADAM CLERK.

Councilman Valens to the members of the public in front of us. We have a disbursement summary disbursement responsibility that the city have in front of us in front of you that pay our bills So that's why we do appropriation emergency appropriation to move forward the city We voted for that to keep the city moving forward. This is our responsibility and to the others you know I don't know it may send a message but that's why the mayor got reelected I don't know I guess he's doing a great job in trying to convince that we move in the city forward. People agree other not agree, but people see the track record of the city where was before was we are now so we move the city for a payment of bills for me is yes.

Thank you president Mims.

I voted just not a clerk when bills are rendered they need to be paid a vote is yes.

Thank you this item passes.

Madam clerk we have we have 13 speakers were 14 speakers. The public portion of a person is now open each speaker has 3 minutes only I'm asking for respect as we do on this side of the day is on that side as well. Madam clerk first speaker.

We have Lorraine Collins.

Okay, I'm gonna read this before I go into what I have to say. The best way to overcome anything is to expose it. Anything hidden has power over us, but once it is brought into the light, it can be dealt with and overcome. Good afternoon, everybody. From my encounter at the door with Omar tonight, it appears City Hall has switched to a new tactic of deception. In any case, I want to thank each of you. Each of you. Because since 2023, y'all have been trying to ruin and bury me. But in actuality, what you have done is given me the dirt I needed to grow. It's not often people completely demolish their own lives to allow another one to flourish. So sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every one of you for your conspiracy to try and ruin my life. My name is Lorraine Collins, a.k.a. Coach Clary. And you know what this is about.

Thank you. Next speaker, Madam Clerk.

Next speaker, we have Brother R.C. signed up. I would just ask that you please state your first and last name for the record.

A brother RC from Patterson. I wish I had more time I did ask for more time, but I get it. I don't know which one to start with some try to get to this as quick as possible. The one thing I realize I read the resolution it talks about tanks, but it never says how many tanks that they going to service at 60,000 and then I see up top about some of the people that need assistance when it comes to HIV and stuff like that, and it says $30,000. So now, is that for the people only in the city of Paterson, or are we taking outside just as a part of what's going on? My time is of the essence. So I was doing a little research, and my heart is in a perspective now where if there's adults or young people that are thinking about you know taking their lives that they really seek help because we're living in a time where you know of course the enemy is busy and people being challenged you know what and this is really unfortunate you know so um if you need help please by all means going um you know talk to someone about it uh let me try to get through this definitely got to give a shout out to the people that i'm connected with that's brother jordan service heart go far ncs man k band of brothers um you know, I take my hat off to all of the young people that was here, and I wish they was here when I was, you know, getting ready to, you know, share this information. But also take my hat off to the young people that's working in the city of Patterson at these parks where it's really hot, you know, so I really, you know, I want to pay homage to them, you know what I'm saying? And another thing too, I don't know what could be done, but I think we need to probably get our own garbage trucks and maybe have to help with some of the bulk stuff maybe down the road. I know you all know about this. You know, this whole Eastside Park bathroom thing, man, and the porta-potties, and I think about a senior, somebody's baby, maybe they, you know, got an upset stomach or something like that. I mean, it just needs to be done. I mean, talking about it is, like, irrelevant because if they even got a function going on up there, I'm like, you know what, I'm not that motivated to go. I don't know what could be done about some of these bodegas or stores, you know, charging people for bags because it seems like the prices keep going up and up and up. And I see someone in the store and they got like, let's say, two juices and might not have money for a bag and people, you know what I mean? So I don't know what could be implemented, but I'm thinking about seniors or, you know, somebody child going to the store and it's like, It seems like every time I go, it's like, hey, you started out at 10 cents, 25 cents, whatever the case may be. So I thank God for all of those, you know, who are praying and doing the best that they can. And, you know, I was going to talk a little bit about, you know, make it make sense, Mr. and Mrs. make it make sense. Last time I was here, I talked about Mr. and Mrs. community. You know what I mean? And the bottom line is that, you know, when you look at what's going on in so many lives and so many people, you know people just you know they just you know carrying a heavy load and they want to do more and they want to see more and that's the one thing that's so aggravating I wish I had more time to listen. I'm proud of all you and I believe you're trying to do the best that you could do with what you've got but it's really unfortunate so thank you so much.

Thank you next speaker, madam clerk.

Next speaker we have Lillian. They're what they're already or being.

Good evening. Could you state your name and address for the record?

Good afternoon. My name is Lilian Del Orbe. Del Orbe. OK. So would you

So she just wants to know about a resolution for item 22 and 23. SINCE SHE HAS A RESOLUTION ADDRESSING THE RENEWAL OF HER DANCE HALL LICENSE.

CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC? WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

OH, SORRY. SO SHE JUST CAME TODAY SINCE SHE WANTS TO KNOW A RESOLUTION FOR ITEM 22 AS WELL AS 23. SHE JUST WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF HER DANCE HALL LICENSE AS WELL AS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT SHOW.

WE'RE GOING TO BRING HER UP LATER.

WE'RE GOING TO BRING HER UP LATER. THANK YOU. YES.

Yes. We have the next speaker, madam clerk.

A Robertson.

A miss she's coming letter a okay, the Senate she's coming.

Okay, so the question would be with all the over development or additional development, how are we upgrading our infrastructure specific to rain drains and sewer capacity to support all of the new construction? With additional kitchens and bathrooms being built into these new dwellings, we will be using old sewer and main drains that were not being taxed. with the same capacity. So could you help me understand what the plan is for sustainability so that we don't have additional water line breaks? Secondly, someone may mention that there was over 2,000 residents in the city of Patterson this evening. I would like to know, like, is it public knowledge to ask the question how many of those residents are on subsidies? And we're talking about the lead and lead inspection and fees for lead inspection simultaneously. Some of this stuff needs to be brought up beforehand. You know, we just can't have a summer and all of a sudden there's a drop of a letter that idealistically we're talking about now we want to do that inspection. The other concern is, again, with the overdevelopment. given the land back to those who robbed us once before. The parking, the parking on corners, making constituents responsible again for what we have allowed the zoning department to happen in this city. We gotta look at it. Belmont Ave on Friday have never flooded. Belmont Ave flooded. Are our sewers being cleaned? We need to do better. Look at this here. You guys are counselors. You are responsible for your wards. What I see, I'm sure that you see. So if we're going to come down here and spend hours before we are being heard, please, then don't have us reporting. Do yourself reporting. This is emotionally draining to sit down here. We're tired. I'm tired. It's It's not fair to us. None of what's going on. There's others, you know, concerns. You know, we're giving these, the property up to people who got, who are, you know, gentrification, who are not part of Patterson, who are coming from afar. As soon as they get that bid to get that property, they're up there digging up. And it's crazy because what's happening on North 9th Street, The left over debris from you know, a property being you know, you know being fixed up for rentals to come in though that the 20 about 2437 North 9th Street so this he got the OK from the zoning board he was up there with a tractor trailer cut down trees and guess what he's not even out there. So thank you, thank you, miss Roberson would commit.

Thank you so much next week, a man of color we have Joel keys, junior.

Good evening. Testing, testing. All right, I have my script. As y'all know, I always have a script prepared. But instead, the people who are supposed to present this to Dave Gilmore, They wasn't able to show up tonight, so I'm going to present it for Dave. And I'm going to say this, go extemporaneously, but this is what I've been thinking about recently, and it applies perfectly. So I was sitting here for about a half an hour, and I didn't notice replacing Malcolm X with that symbol of tyranny. And initially I said, ugh, blasphemy. But then I thought about it, I said, nah, that's appropriate. Malcolm X don't belong in here for what goes on in here. Criminal corruption. That is more fitting for what goes on in here. Now, related to that, Mahmoud Raouf, the NBA player, He refused to stand for the, he was going in the locker room. He did it for a while, nobody noticed it. Then when they noticed it, they made him come out and then he was standing in his Muslim prayer formation doing a plan of that. Then they interviewed him, and he said, that's a symbol of tyranny. And it is, because the system, this is an empire. An empire, your politics are imperialism. Okay, but the last 500 years is European imperialism. Then you automatically have European colonialism. Those are old systems, but they still are in effect today. So that brother, the NBA president, owners, they unified to protect that symbol of tyranny and those systems and went against that brother who was speaking up for justice, against the injustice, they fired him. Next, Colin Kaepernick, NFL, kneeling, protesting police brutality. The NFL owners supporting that symbol of tyranny, those systems of empire, They fired that black man. Let me point out that, both of them African-American. Then most recently, Ryan Clark on ESPN speaking against systemic oppression, systemic racism. The owners of ESPN supporting that symbol of tyranny, those systems that they make their money off of. They fired that black man, Dave Gilmour. Those brothers stood on ethics, principles, values. Dave Gilmour doing his job, not selling out, standing on ethics, values, principles. They fired him. And Dr. Leonard Jeffries come to mind because Dr. Leonard Jeffries was a tenured professor of African-American studies. They said, we got to get rid of this guy. We know if we fire him, That's going to be against the law. He's going to win a lawsuit. We don't care. We've got to get rid of him. Same thing with Dave Gilmour. They knew it was going to be a lawsuit. They didn't care. They had to get rid of him. They took the loss.

Thank you so much.

$700,000 I present to Dave Gilmour.

Next speaker, Madam Clerk. Next speaker. Next speaker is Deborah Hannibal. Ms. Deborah Hannibal. I'm on this. I'm a speaker. We know that every animal.

Good evening. Council. Council president could even the animal. Madam clerk to the administration good evening. I am Deborah Hannibal from a resident and taxpayer in the city of Patterson. And to ensure that I don't go over my time, I'm just going to lead with some bullet points. I was also disappointed, Councilman Kalik, that the CFO was not here this evening for the budget presentation. That should be his opening night. That's his big night. And that speaks volumes. that he's not willing to show up and support his work. He won't stand behind it. There was one evening that I was not here in the chambers and there was a discussion about an invoice that was presented by an independent contractor, but the language being tossed around was kind of indicating that the person was an employee. they're not the same so if this independent contractor who would be like a vendor like psng put her personal information on her invoice that is her business and that's the way that she wanted to be represented what is shameful is that the city accepted that invoice that did not uh delineate what services were being provided to the city and i believe that the person received like fifteen thousand dollars and it's to me is to do quick books or to write checks for fifteen thousand dollars over a two-week period but i digress So today is poll worker appreciation day. So we appreciate all poll workers and it's a great opportunity to learn more about the voting system. So poll workers are needed on election day. They're paid $300 per day and then it's 20 something dollars an hour for early voting. And I do want to agree with Councilwoman Davila that when you're running a department, you can't just hire whoever you want to hire, but you have to do the ask. Councilman Jackson gave one of these director several to opportunities to to ask for more employees more supplies to be able to do the bulk pick up in this city to give jobs to Patterson residents that data and forms and should influence our decisions that this is something that we can do here because we're already doing it and we can leave the money here that we don't have to go outside to give the money to somebody else there are millions of dollars for our own residents and it was rejected by everyone else stuff it made perfect sense it was easy it was he said it himself that you can only do 300 for a city of 160,000 residents. You are very welcome, and I will be back to talk about the general election.

Next speaker, Mr. G. Greer is not here. Our next speaker is Mr. Dave Gilmour.

Thank you. Dave Gilmore Patterson, former director of community improvements, administrator of a number of municipalities. I just want to cut to the chase. I did my job. I did my job and found the prolific developer a million dollars in the red, owing for connection fees. I did my job finding illegal apartments and fees not paid. I did my job. When I called the Attorney General, Office of Public OPIA, DCA, the Commissioner, Jackie Suarez, and others that came in, and arrests are imminent. People are going to jail because I did my job. But what was my reward for doing my job? I got fired for doing my job. They made up stuff about me. You understand? They made me into the bad guy because I wouldn't allow certain things to happen. Okay? That's the job. Code enforcement. Chief and code enforcement officer for the city of Patterson. That was my job. The engineering department didn't collect the fees for connection fees. I don't want to call people's name that I got sued one time already I want to do that again, but at the end of the day the bottom line is is a criminal element in this town that's not acknowledged. There are people sitting in positions of monitoring that are supposed to call for the investigations, and you're not doing it. You see what I'm saying? I don't get no backup. I got $700,000. Yeah, OK, fine. That's wonderful. But what about the whole year that I got paid for staying home? What about the $300,000 or $400,000 you got to pay for the lawyers? It's over a million dollars. You see what I'm saying? But where's the satisfaction? I was gagged, I couldn't run, I ran for council. And I tell you, I swear to God, if they had un-gagged me and let me speak, the results would have been different. They would have been damn different because there's no accountability. There's no reporting. There's no investigations. There's no single agency audits. And people need to go to jail for the shit that they did. Not only to me, but what they do to this community. People are dying because of... permits not pulled in illegal construction and everything else and I will come back on the next meeting because I have a 136 exhibits to show illegal activity.

Thank you so much. Thank you next speaker, madam clerk, I asked for extra 2 minutes.

I don't know why you didn't give it to me.

Yes, thank you next speaker, madam clerk, yes.

Next speaker speakers, Charles for.

The Charles for a figure that get closer might so you know I've been listening to a lot of things so Mike that Councilman Jackson need to do me a favor next meeting don't say nothing.

Don't say nothing. And then people have anything to say.

Okay. Because it always seems that when you bring things up the ways one here. And that at the last meeting. Councilman of the Second Ward said that Patterson is fine. Patterson is good. $78 million we had to borrow. Okay? It's my understanding that you still owe the school district some money. Could you get it there before the new school year starts? The problem is, where's the plan that shows the residents of this town when they become residents? self-sufficient. There isn't one. Okay? To my understanding that the tax abatements are probably going to run to like 2040. Okay? Here's the kicker with the tax abatement based on what I've researched and read and I'll put it together and I'll share it with you.

You get a 10-year tax abatement, you're paying on the pilot, you're paying on the land, not on the building that's on the land.

So 10 years go by, most residents think now they start paying full taxes.

No.

They pay 10% the first year, goes to 20%, 30%, 40%, so it's gonna be another 10 years before that piece of property pays full taxes.

Another 20 years.

Right, so it comes out to be a total of 20. The first 10 and then the... Well, either way, that's not the way we should be doing things. Then I also found out that back in 2013, when this economic opportunity law came out, the council at that time... ratified what this was ratified by the City Council in late 2013 allowing the administration to grant tax abatements without it going before the council. You need to reverse that and bring it back. That's part of the biggest problem. We've given the city away. We can't pay our bills, you're not fully funding what you owe the school district, so our children aren't getting what they're supposed to be getting because you can't. I sat here yesterday at a planning board meeting that didn't go through where they're planning to knock down the YWCA to put up 24, 124 units on that site. On that site, Ellison and Van Houten is already congested with traffic. And you want to add more?

What are we doing? Thank you, Mr. Ferrer.

I respectfully request that a plan be presented to the residents of this town of when Madison is going to be able to sustain themselves.

Thank you. Next speaker, Madam Clerk.

Next speaker is Jalyn G.

Good evening. Congrats follow you look good. All right. 7 new apartment buildings in the area of Carol Street Ellison Street Van Houten Street if the 4 building development YWCA property is approved schools are being closed. What is the leadership doing? Nothing is cohesive. Nothing is cohesive. Stop making us into New York. This is New Jersey, Patterson, New Jersey. We are a high rise city. We are a city people come to to settle down. As I told the potential property holder, my issue is not with him, because he was in my comments on Instagram, okay? But anyway, the issue is not with him. It's with the leadership of this town. I don't think we should add more buildings, more people and developments if no one is taking care of the city as is. Let's get us a system in place, straighten and clean up the city before we bring more people into the issues and make it worse. I don't think it's wise to build more apartments on an infrastructure that can barely sustain what we have right now. I'm sorry, guys, hold on. The lost city of Atlantis, my bad, Paterson, New Jersey, can barely support the population we have right now. The blame for the flooding is getting put on the citizens' littering. And although that is half the battle, because Patersonians treat Paterson like a trash bag, And y'all need to do better. But I can't be mad at them. They're just following the leadership. If the leadership doesn't care, why should they? The city officials need to invest in fixing our infrastructure. We cannot become a tourist city with the current issues we have with infrastructure. We have so many water main breaks. If you guys know our water pipes are old and the people are littering, why isn't there a weekly routine to go around? to clean up the city in the sewers. Why aren't there more garbage cans on the streets and weekly routine trash pickups? I was standing by a bus stop because I don't move my car because the park is so bad. When I find a park, I leave it there. So I take a quick bus trip or I walk around. I had trash in my hand. I had to put the trash in my pocket because I don't like littering in my city. And I had to throw it out when I got home. I'm sorry. If you guys know people are littering, why isn't there a plan to combat that issue? DPW, what's the procedure for cleaning up the city? What are you guys doing? I watched citizens take it into their own hands and was cleaning the sewers so the water can drain during the flooding. Where was y'all antennas the week before that? The forecast showed rain for a week straight. Every state knew there was gonna be an El Nino brewing this summer on the East Coast. Why wasn't, can I finish my thought?

Thank you to you guys. I have to be fair. We've got to be fair next speaker, madam clerk. That speaker, madam clerk.

And I think there are Elvis door him.

Good evening, Mister Elvis door. It's time I fought that argument. Patterson, New Jersey is the third largest city in New Jersey. And y'all argue like we got everything going on. No recreation center building, no major hotel. Make it make sense. The first war need to come up. So instead of arguing, let's build. And you can look at me all you want, but the thing is, what do you got to offer? Time to build. Like I came here two months ago, I told everyone, it's new black community leaders that's coming up. Y'all old heads, God bless, y'all did what y'all did, but it's our time. Coming soon, on the fourth wall, it's a new black restaurant. Muhammad Fish and Chips on 184 Governor Street, Patterson, New Jersey. That's my family restaurant. Just want y'all to know that it's coming soon. Also, in the downtown area, Councilman Louis Velaz, your war, Planet Fitness, new location on 93 Elderson Street, coming soon. Downtown Patterson, yes, it's going to be parking. Plenty of parking. Also, at the last council meeting, I told y'all, I am the number one media, and I meant that. And when I say that, I see a lot of other media, they step their game up, right? Brendan, it's all good. We promoting Patterson, okay? I did that for a reason, for y'all can step y'all game up. My YouTube channel is PattersonNJGoodNews. My YouTube channel, PattersonNJGoodNews. My Facebook page, Elvis Good News, D-U-R-H-A-M. That's my Facebook page. And to everyone that I did is not friends with me on Facebook, go ahead, send that friend request. Don't be scared because all I do, I promote the positives while everybody else promote the negative. You know what I'm saying? Y'all get paid. From social media, I don't. I do this because I love my city. But do my city love me back? I wonder. I love my city. But do my city love me back? God bless you. It's time to build. Time out for fighting. Hey, if you want to fight, be a boxer.

Thank you. Next speaker, Madam Clerk.

We have Jessica Asma.

Good evening, good evening, everyone to all of you. I want my mayor concern is the dirty that the city of Paris on being dirty. Okay, I guess we short of staff or I don't know what's going on, but even this is treat is dirty and people pile. ON TOP OF THE ALREADY FULL. AND LIKE MR. VELEZ SAID, THEY COME PROBABLY FROM OTHER TOWNS OR CITIES AND THEY DUMP IT. BUT WE ALSO, THE PEOPLE IN PATTERSON DIRTY IT. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE EVEN I LIVE ON EAST 26TH STREET. And at the corner, people come in and dirty it. So sometimes my sister, myself, and previous my mom, we have to clean it. But it's always dirty. Why? Maybe it's the culture clash that they don't know how to maintain it. I don't know. Why do they keep it dirty? And also Michael Jackson, I agree that we should have some kind of plan to be able to maintain this city. Because it's not just few years old. This Patterson, instead of being better, is getting worse. So it's up to you guys. What can we do about this cleanliness? Maybe teach the children to clean inside the schools? Maybe give something? I don't know. You tell us. What can we do to help you to bring the city in a better position?

Thank you so if in this thank you so much. Next. No you you cannot next speaker, madam clerk. Next I just want the answer from yes, we the B a next yes, I think the madam clerk.

And as of Samuels miss notice and use.

The Samuels.

Good evening. Hi, I'm Nella Samuels. Okay, so I've been in Patterson, New Jersey since 1978. My mother grew us up on the east side of Patterson. There are six words in Patterson, right? Am I correct? Don't, when you say Patterson is dirty, Be specific. The fourth ward of Patterson is dirty, okay? Downtown Patterson is dirty. Go on the east side of Patterson. It is not dirty. Go on the east side of Patterson. There is no dumping. They know what to do, where to do, and what to do, where to do. East side of Patterson, they're not taking that crap. You understand? Excuse me. so um they know what to do where to do and where to do it okay so um whoever is the council people and you take care of your ward i walk around the fourth ward i wasn't raised in the fourth ward but fortunately and unfortunately now i live in the fourth ward it is disgusting in the fourth ward okay God put me there for a reason. I stopped complaining. I stopped uploading. Take care of your ward. Okay? That's that about that. What I really came to talk about was the infestation of homeless people in Patterson. And when the people come do their movies, they come, they know how to clear out the infestation of the homeless and do their movies. Ask them if they could do a movie about Patterson. Why are they dumping the homeless people in Patterson? Walgreens? Walgreens, they drop them off in busloads to do their boosting, their sex trafficking, and whatever else they're doing, and the drug deal. Come on now. Come on. Patterson.

Thank you, Ms. Nella. Next speaker, Mr. Kim Freeman. Last speaker.

Kimmy Freeman? Yes, Kim Freeman. Oh, he's coming.

Good evening. Tomorrow morning, there's gonna be a tax assessment hearing at the county. The last meeting that I went to, because I brought the attention to that to Louis, Mims, and others, we in the Third Ward, well, I'm gonna say Third Ward, all over, what you did several years ago, hiring these people to assess the houses and everything, did a very poor job. Those people never came into my house until about two months ago. And then they said, oh, your house is worth $550,000. I said, what house you talking about? When we bought that house in 1994, our taxes was $8,500, which was a lot. Because we got, you know, now it's $15,000. I want to thank Dr. Seco for teaching me math, and I want to thank Brother Farrar, too. He grew up with me. He knew how smart I was in high school. Look, people, I'm not a politician, but some of the things I say here, you need to listen to, all right? When we talk about money and budgets, this stuff has been going on for years. I've been here 30 years. The abatements and everything. Little people came over. Garrett Mountain came in and complained. What are you complaining about? You had an abatement. We have a house, man. And look, tomorrow morning, I don't know what to do. Because you guys want to charge people exorbitant kind of money for these property taxes. A lot of us, I'm a senior citizen now, I'm on a fixed income. Like many of those people who will be there tomorrow morning who don't know tonight they have to pray whether they have enough money to pay for these property taxes that you guys, I don't know what kind of math you guys are doing. You know what I'm saying? I went to college for engineering. So I'm just saying. All right, and this flood thing right here, y'all need to do something. Barnes told you years and years ago, the drainage system in Paterson can't handle it. You got 200,000 people, all right? And you have to account for that with your civil engineering. And it starts with the river. Look, you're running people out of Paterson who are going to lose their houses, and all this development and everything, I don't know about 200,000, I don't think we have that many, and if we do, we need about 15,000 rental units. Who's gonna build them? How are we gonna get that done? And more importantly, How you get people to pay for all these rents that I told you 20 years ago that have.

Thank you, Mister Freeman, there are no more speakers for public portion can get a motion seeing none move to close a motion by Council vice president that was second by Councilman. The last roll call to close the public portion.

Councilman off Councilman offered yes. Councilman cotton.

Thank you, madam clerk, I just want to say that I do write down everything hit a public portion. I know some of you personally and I will be in touch with you. With that being said, madam clerk, my vote is yes.

Council vice president of the month, yes. Councilman Jackson.

Thank you, madam clerk. So let's first, let's be clear. Jalen, you're absolutely correct. The concession should be given to the public, but the, the, the theme here is the council doesn't want to hear from the public. Council president talked about, well, if you need extra time, send a request. Multiple people said they sent requests and get denied. So what's the point of sending a request? Right? They talking about y'all arguing. Now, go back and watch the meetings when I'm not here. Kumbaya, they smoking peace pipes. It's all, they finish in 30 minutes. 30 minutes, minutes to finish, means to finish, and nothing's really handled. And the homelessness, while the mayor had to get an award and they traveled to wherever for the Bloomberg Award, a how to rid the community of homelessness. Where? Where is he the mayor of? You got Fairlawn on the news because we can't even handle the noise, right? So a quick one right here, right? Brother Charles Farrar. I appreciate the kind words but wouldn't that there is no plan to be self-sufficient because they have no plan on it that there's no plan that that that to do the right thing here. Here's an example of that in the sub code official can't can outline this quick education for everybody talking about the flooding. There's a law state law that requires anybody that does new building you have to keep the rainwater on your property. I'm watching all these properties go up with no tanks going in the ground. Jefferson Street on a 25 by 30. They built two families there. Where's the containment tanks? There is no containment tanks. The building department's overrun, so people are just doing the building, and they're not being penalized. You got multiple houses that I reported that went up, and there has been no work order with a mandate to take those places down. People know it's Paterson. You do what you want to. Right build it they not that they're not going to do anything about it so what we pay a fine they don't make you take it down there was one house in the history that I know about that was scheduled that was asked to take that that was asked to take down.

One house. Your vote, Councilman Jackson.

But yet, we're letting the YWCA, and everybody's sitting here in approval of that. Your vote, Councilman Jackson. The YWCA be overrun with more housing by the people who funded these people's campaigns.

Your vote, Councilman Jackson.

This you could go ahead and step over me for that I do do what you're going to do do is not the only you know, I'm in protest of that the right to come to the public you met and I never had this process have now we're going to have to go over to your concern I believe the answer and some of your concerns to be answer. Thank you and it's it's it's only a fragrant. That's what it is.

Councilman Omar. Councilman Velez.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. I just want to say to to the public, you know, the flood issues.

The quorum in the chambers, please.

Thank you. Taking your concerning, taking, listen to your concern, listen to your concern here today. If you watch the news, the flood issues that happened this past day, nothing different will happen in Hawthorne, Fairlawn, Elmo Park, Clifton, Passaic, Wayne, surrounding Patterson. flood watch right so nothing different so this is uh this happened everywhere we go i tried tried to use my but i got a great news uh mr uh elvis durham I want to welcome those new business. But 93 Ellison Street is the first ward. So I want to congratulate the first ward councilman for his new business coming in at Jim. 93 Ellison Street belongs to the first ward, not the fifth. the fifth war runs behind the classical so that's part of the first war that new business to those that uh i spoke to the lady um over here in the in the audience uh i will i gave her my phone number just in case you need me i could address your issues there i'm here to serve no matter where they call me so to the public thank you for being here and let's continue doing business in the city of paterson my word is yes to close public portion

President Mims. So to Mr. BA, I don't see constituent services here. There were a few requests and concerns that were mentioned by the public. Please have Mr. Fernandez respond to the residents that were here on tonight with the request that you asked for. My vote is yes Madam Clerk. Thank you public portion is now closed will go into our first reading ordinances will start at item number 3 item number 3 is the president we have a special meeting. After we've done with the 3 o'clock.

I'm going to continue with workshop.

Yes, okay. Item number 3 is a resolution authorizing the tax collector to purge the taxes and interest on block 4802, lot 22 and 23, pursuant to NJSA, owned by a charter school. The information is attached. They are exempt. They're a school. The paperwork, it was done through the tax assessor's office.

Council President, just a minute, please.

Councilman Velez.

Just a minute.

The letter was attached and sent to all council members, showing from the tax assessor's office when the application was filed, when they were approved. Council President Velez.

Council President, just ask a question. Who's the owner of the property? Who's the owner of the property? Morris Charter School. Morris Charter School. Do they own by title D and everything in that building?

Yes, yes. Okay, all right.

All right, thank you.

Just president councilman Jackson.

Where is the has it been a financial report done on this entity, yes.

No, yes, I mean it should be attached. All the backup information is with there's no financial report here. About what there's no front we mean about what about the charter school in their operations, yes.

The chart of students that has no bearing on with what you mean it has no back just because the opera because an entity is tax exempt doesn't mean that they're entitled they're entitled to be. The exempted property taxes.

I didn't state that. What I'm stating is we're not entitled to their financial records to consider whether or not they qualify to be tax exempt. Well, why aren't we? They are a functioning school district recognized by the state of New Jersey and schools... are not subject to local property tax. So this resolution corrects, they paid all their 2025 taxes, for whatever reason they weren't taken off the rolls. We stopped it in early 26 and this resolves 25. So they're entitled to an exemption as of January 1 of 25, but they paid the whole year's taxes.

So let me correct you, Mr. BA. Language is extremely important. They're not entitled to anything. They're not entitled. We are granting them an abatement. We're granting them tax exemption. Just because they're a tax exempt organization does not entitle them to an exemption. If they're a profitable entity that's making an excess of money, they should not be automatically granted a tax exemption. You have how many churches around the community? In fact, the property that was stolen from Grace Chapel, they were placed back on the tax rolls. There's plenty of churches that they're tax exempt. They're not entitled to a tax exemption. So again, how are we not being fiscally responsible if an entity is coming before the city, we're already tax strapped, we're already cash strapped. We're already burdened and we're placing more and more burden on the community. We're more and more, we're being targeted, in my opinion, it's criminally targeted by all these schools that's coming in here. They're rendering a poor service and they're automatically getting a tax exemption.

So Mister BA and to Councilman Jackson.

Council President every time I got a question for somebody else here you go answering the question because if I want to ask you the question I would ask you the question. He's sitting here he says he's in place for the finance director but he should be able to answer the question of why he's assigning authority. Why isn't the city you're not this is not a question for you to answer. Why isn't the city holding these entities accountable?

Councilman Jackson if you would allow me.

I don't want to answer for you.

I want to answer from the BA. Just because someone has tax exemption does not automatically imply that they receive it. They have to come to the tax assessor's office. He said they're entitled. He said they're entitled. You try to protect him from putting his own foot in his mouth. No, I'm not.

Let him answer the question.

They have to go to the tax assessor's office

A tax assessor does not grant the tax abatement.

Can I finish, please? It's not an abatement. They go to the tax assessor's office. They do an application. They have to show proof that they are tax exempt. They provide the correct paperwork.

Ladies and gentlemen, what we're doing now is deflecting. The entity that's responsible for granting. This is a granting. We're granting someone a tax exemption. The entity that's accountable and responsible for doing it is this council. Obviously, it has to come before this council for approval. And it's coming to the council without all the pertinent information. There's no financial documents that's here for the entity that's requesting the exemption.

It's attached. Mr. B.A., please. It's not attached.

Show me where it's attached. Show me where the financials are attached. Show me. Here's a document. You're saying it's attached. Show me where it's attached. So you tell, enlighten the public. Where's the financial documentation?

You're a councilman. Do your research and read your documents.

You're telling the public that it's there.

Tell us how much they're making. Mr. B.A.? Mr. B.A.?

The vote before you is not to declare them tax exempt. Exactly. They are.

They are.

They are.

Listen, we're granting a purging. That means we're dissolving taxes. The vote before us is, in fact, a purge of a tax to discard of monies that they're accountable on paying. yes it is it is that that's exactly what this council is granted i don't think anybody so i'm asking you i'm asking you why aren't we being responsible for any entity that's coming before the before this council in request of a tax exemption where's their financials are they financially solvent should we be granting them should we not be pulling them off off a tax exemption list How do we grant somebody, anybody, if you're friends with the mayor or the BA or whomever, we're going to give you an exemption, but other people are being denied?

I don't know who's being denied.

What are you talking about? Grace Chapel, the property in the bottom of Hilton Ave, was stolen from them. It was stolen from them. Yes, Grace Chapel is a non-taxable, it's a tax exempt entity, organization, and yet here it is, a school, we don't even know what they're rendering to us. How many schools are we gonna allow to come in here and take more parcels off the tax rolls?

How many schools are we gonna allow, I mean, what function does the council play to block someone from buying property and using it as a school?

There we cannot first of all first of all the Council is not here to block anyone from buying property, but yes, we have the ability to to to to to approve or whether or not that space is going to be utilized the schools those those items come before us all the time and as well as allowing for entity to become tax exempt. The administration, you, sir, must sign off on the request for an entity for an exemption. It comes before you. It comes before taxation that falls under your purview. What are you talking about? No. You're the signing authority. So we're just allowing. So it could be 1,000 entities that's coming before the city of Patterson trying to put a school here. We're just going to allow all of them to be tax exempt. No. What do you mean no? Here's another one, here's another school. We're closing Patterson Public Schools down because we don't have enough revenue to fund these schools locally and we're gonna continue to allow exemptions from other entities. This is what state statute provides for.

All right.

Thank you so much. This item is moving forward. We are not the school board and we, as a first rating, we're not the school board and we have not closed schools. So I'll put that on the record. The next item is for special two officers. This item has been vetted in public safety, also vetted with our police union, with the allocation. There's been much conversation about special to officers. We've heard many people talk about having more police on duty. All council members have received your memorandum of understanding from DCA as well. but this was properly vetted for special two officers all the details requiring them to go through the academy recruitment process all of the above where they will be utilized is all clearly outlined um in uh council president and the ordinance councilman velez thank you also i want to add this um

That this being the work since way back in 2016 is getting to complete now and it's a blessing for our city that we move forward for Class 2. We started, I don't know if you recall, Class 1, it didn't work, right? So now we're moving forward.

When we created Class 1, everybody was saying, why are we spending money in Class 1 when we could do a lot with Class 2? Now they give us a green light.

Thank you, Mr. B.A., to look into this. working with the public safety committee and and the remaining councilman that in the sidebar requested this to be a realistic in the city of paterson and i know this will alleviate uh our police officers and they will work conjunction on it and uh and the union agrees so that's a good thing so uh moving forward hopefully we strengthen our police department you know class two two so listen to the advertisement out there

and um get ready so just to add to um to that that this item has to go through two readings if it is approved um at the end of september or even if it's approved first reading next week but if it's approved at the end of september this is not going to happen in october or november there is a clear process that has to take place with recruitment hiring all of the above so it's not going to be overnight it is just like someone that wants to become a police officer, they're going to be very clear clear. I'm instructions as detailed and this doesn't take away from the overtime from the police department, those are some of the concerns I'm a requirements and we in the union is definitely on board they are watching and they are on board with this item councilman Jackson.

Thank you comes president and that's what she knows come.

I presented this back in 2016 was my item I presented it and yet and I believe it when you've got proved in for second reading was whatever didn't make it through but anyway, this in. My ideas are not just for me. You could take all my campaign ideas and utilize them. And yes, the city will get better. This is one of the bases that I ran my entire campaign on, to be able to hire locally Class 2 officers. Many municipalities run their entire departments off Class 2 departments. Class 2 officers are part-time officers. And guess what? They could be bona fide residents of the city. And I want to make sure that we go back to re-emphasize, because even Class 2 officers, we need to have mandatory drug testing, mandatory random drug testing throughout the city. You've got employees that are having drug issues. This is already the fourth time the fire department has had an issue where there's been drugs, heroin and cocaine involved. And you have a 2 year-old kid that was subjected to to to to cocaine by a city of Paterson employee and we're not making sure that we're doing random drug testing in the city. But I guess I guarantee you the stipulations that the the administration place on class 2 offices that's bona fide residents will be totally different so yeah, I mean of course I will be a council. Of course, I'm being approval of something that's definitely going to work. This is going to work. It's about time the Council has come around to bring forward these this measure.

Councilman cotton.

Thank you. Council president. I know that we did have class one officers. It did not work. It did not work. You know, hopefully that we can get our community to be more involved and get our children to want to become police officers. We as a community has to do that. We have to get them more involved, wanting to be our Patterson Finers or wanting to be our Patterson Bravers. We as a community must do that. And when you look at this here, I think that there's no medical benefits so it's going to be like how do we how do we recruit these young people. You don't have benefits. No no, I don't know how long it's going to take for them to become officers we really don't know that but I mean everything is that we have to try to do our best to do that for them for that so we need Class suits and they can do some of the footwork, especially with the downtown area like everybody was always talking about officer Joe white how they miss him downtown with no double parking parking on the crosswalk. So those would be things that our class to officers would be doing and we have to understand that. Make sure we get our community involved. We got to make sure. I got to tell my son or my daughter, please apply. Go apply to be a class two officer. So I think this is an excellent start. I hope it is better than the class ones that we had because those was working and they never got a raise. They had no medical. They had no insurance. They had no pension. How do you recruit people when you don't have those stuff in place, too? So it's not easy. It's very hard to even recruit. So hopefully that we can get this done. I'm looking forward to see how we can. I hope that we can get this forward. But community, let's push our young people to want to be class twos officers.

Thank you a final 2 items I know we have the owner by items, a 2223 is a renewal of a dance hall license for when Eric's for 67 Union Avenue entertainment show license if the owners will come forward. There are a couple council members that had some concerns or questions in regards to the license if the owner will come forward. Could you just state your name again and Councilman, a vice president has some concerns.

I didn't come with a young man. The young that will be. They all be.

I can try and say that's not a problem.

Okay, our clerk, Nuestra Secretaria General, ella va a traducir. Ella te puede traducir.

Hello.

Items 2223 resolution addressing renewal of dancehall license for water. What the next lickers LLC for 67 you enough in the 1st Ward. 23 is resolution addressing the renewal of the entertainment show license for the same what the next lickers LLC for 67 1st Ward. Are you the owner of this establishment are you the manager. I am a personal. I'm the Council vice president I received numerous complaints about your business. She wants to know what type of complaints he has been getting so the address so the neighboring people right the people not receiving this okay, you know, I'm staying late. The after hours. And again, these are just complaints. So I'm just letting you know, as somebody that is a councilwoman at large, so Councilman Jackson represents the first ward where this establishment is. I don't know, Councilman, if you've received any complaints about 467 Union Ave?

Council Council Council where is the their their PD week the reports about under age, they're not there, no, no, no, no, how are we just going by hearsay people saying so Councilman right now let us not do that because you get complaints and you address situation over so but but but we mean getting complaints about late night business of things that nature is one thing To make an accusation about a business serving underage people or things of that nature when there's no PD report, I mean, I don't think that's appropriate. I don't think we can make that kind of accusation on just any residents to randomly say they got young people in there.

Councilman Jackson, with all due respect, you make a lot of statements that are not acceptable. Like when? When do I ever make an accusation? Serena, we're not going to make this about you or me.

No, no, no. We're going to make that. You just accused the business of serving underage drinkers.

You did. You placed that on record.

You're saying you're getting complaints about underage drinkers. Who you yelling at?

Who you yelling at? I'm asking you. No, no, no, no, no. You asked me a question. You asked me a question. I'm asking you, where's the basis of your complaint?

How you going to make a complaint? To wait, so you understand what the process is. Point of order, point of order. What she's doing is putting us at jeopardy. You now have a business that has the opportunity to file a lawsuit against the city, where you've got a sitting council person, sitting as council president, making the accusation that they're serving learners. Absolutely not.

So let me explain.

You're going to stand up and protect the city or what? Councilman Jackson. Who are you thinking? Am I supposed to be afraid? Am I supposed to be afraid of you?

You need to stop the disrespecting this council. You need to stop the disrespecting this council. You're the one disrespecting. You're disrespecting the people here. So what does that mean? You made a false statement.

You made a false accusation without no police backup.

I am going to say this to you right now. I'm not trying to disrespect me. I'm supposed to be afraid of that. Get out of here with that shit. That's terribly unprofessional. Council President. Council Members. Council Members.

What she did was totally unprofessional.

No, what you did is out of order. You're speaking out of order, Councilman Jackson.

You are speaking out of order, Councilman Jackson. You got the attorney not saying nothing. And you think you're going to stand up here and talk over and slam the damn gavel at me? Get the hell out of here. Know your damn job.

Know your place.

Know your place. You don't just get to come here and make an accusation about somebody and put the city at jeopardy. Where's your proof of that?

You're talking about putting the city at liberty? Where's your proof of that? Really, Congressman Jackson, look at yourself in the mirror.

Where's your proof that they're serving minors? Where's your proof? Is there police records of that?

It's for a renewal of your old licenses.

that i mean you know what i think you're going to be able to have a lot from people but i think this is going to have a lot of president bill so it was sad that i think that that you can't that's what i mean yes i mean i think you do not have to go outside and i think that i think that i think you're going to have a lot from people put them on orders that i have the most that you didn't get that what i mean i think you do not have the floor Thank you very much. You don't honor any other point of order. She over here making a false accusation, accusing the business of serving minors, putting us at jeopardy without any police backup. Oppose the question. Oppose the question, please. And they're going to slam the gavel like I'm supposed to be afraid. Get your ass out of here with that.

Beat it. So, Council President, please, may I?

Anybody in here to challenge me like that, like I'm supposed to be afraid. I don't need security. I don't need security. I don't care who you ask. I don't need damn security.

You can slam whatever you want to slam.

We need to have a quorum in the chain is this is embarrassing. I am not as you Councilman Jackson one second, I'm not sure what you saw some of the last. I was not in the chambers, but let me apologize to you as business owners. I was not in the room, I'm not sure what happened but we should not handle business. In front of our constituents, especially us more business owners and that what in this manner. I'm not sure what happened. I'm not sure what was stated but your business owners and we are the legislative body you're coming before us for renewals. I'm not sure the details attached to these 2 items Councilman is there a president is there a call detail report. It doesn't identify any of that that the things that were mentioned House of president if I may want that and there's a point of order by Council member line that but we've got to set some decor was the point of order. Councilman the last you call the point of order. Ask for that for for reason you call for the former.

First of all I asked for full formally then nobody to touch us are caught in whatever I want to see so we'll get to you know I met what was going on so there's no point a lot of it is not so so I asked for one second council of the last we will get to you.

OK so you're coming to us your item was before us previously that we are now here one thing that we want is for a small business owners to operate. According to the call detail report that is attached, there's a couple, there's some minor things on here. We always want our businesses to operate. I'm not sure what else is happening. We have our councilmen of that ward. We're council people at large, which can definitely come in and have some conversations outside of, but you're here to renew your license. And that's why you're here. All this extra, I'm not sure what happened. But madam clerk, I'm moving both of these items on consent. You waited long enough for your license and you deserve to get your business back open. Regular. Madam clerk these items we could put in my regular it's time to move forward the agenda is president not one second Councilman Jackson and it's not so the business owners. Thank you so much for coming next week we will vote on your items so that you can reopen your business. Thank you so much for discussion to what was that the floor was second one second.

Councilman Jackson, you could ask for the floor, but Council President has to give you the floor to speak. I'm entitled to the floor. Councilman Jackson.

You're entitled to the floor. You cannot deny me the floor. I can deny. I can. No, she cannot. No, she cannot. No, she cannot. You're fine.

You don't have to leave. Yes. Good night. Good night. You can go. Good night. No more discussion. So, wait a minute. Wait a minute. What you mean there's no more discussion?

The council president who sat next year accused them of serving underage drinkers. She made an accusation. So, why are you not allowing me to answer? Why would you allow me to talk? I do have the floor. I'm going to take the floor. Because I'm not going to allow you to do that. She sat right there and accused them of serving underage drinkers. Then you're going to come here and say the council person of the ward, that's my ward. That business is in my ward. She never had a discussion with me. She's going to come here on record and state that they are serving underage drinkers. And we're not going to answer to that.

Councilman Jackson, like I stated, I was not in the room. I didn't hear her say anything. That's what I said when I first came back. So I came in the room. The whole point of me asking for the floor.

The whole point of me asking for the floor. So you denied me the floor.

You don't have the ability to mute the council person. At this point, Councilman Jackson, it is very embarrassing. I don't know what happened between you, her, the business. I don't know. But it's embarrassing that you guys are No, what's embarrassing is what's being conducted here. That's what's embarrassing. What's embarrassing is what's being conducted.

And you got a fair business that's coming here while she's chastising them, talking about their servo. I got a lot of complaints that you guys are serving

my that's why we're moving or we're moving forward is I already apologize that we're moving forward. Madam clerk, we're moving into the items are done will finish the bus will do the other UCC called around here the same items to move forward for next week for both will finish the other items that a clerk you know now. 1819 a regular. All finance for finance items will be consent except for the 2.2223 and 33 we need the director of the downtown said here next week. 33 is regular. 55 is consent and 56 is consent. UCC is moving for can I get a We're going into our special meeting at this point.

55 is consent?

Yes.

Where's the UCC? What number is UCC?

That's number one.

Number one.

Oh, my God.

UCC fees.

What happened with it?

Next week, we'll be able to vote it up and down.

Excuse me.

What we have now?

Well, I do I don't remember one of the special meeting that would never item number one of the special meeting because you went to that's what we're going to talk what happened with 18 and 19.

We have seen a 19 of right have an open a special meeting hold on now we're on item number one correct the UCC fees that it's a 19 a regular Councilman that should be no.

So we are going to work for before those that if we're on the workshop, that's why she's talking about a motion to close the workshop. We have a motion by Councilman colleagues second.

All right for clarity, hold on UCC fees are moving forward.

Oh, yeah, moving forward. Okay.

We have a motion by Councilman colleagues to close the workshop numbers that it's was a mentioned is that on consent, which was.

I've mentioned earlier, I'm sorry I'm it's an event just want a minute to confirm everything.

Okay, yeah that earlier is there a second to close the workshop second second second by Council of the lesson Councilman. All of it. Councilman Omar got me so tangled up a wrapped up Lord to give me residents to the bathroom to come back with you the roll call to close the workshop of August 11 to close the workshop Councilwoman offered.

My goodness, yes. Councilwoman cotton. We are closing the workshop. It's president I was absent on Councilman colleague and. Thank you Councilman Omar.

I was just a clerk. Councilman the last God have mercy, yes, president Mims.

Once again as we come to the close of the works of I want to apologize to the public. I am not sure what happened when I stepped out to go to the ladies room, but we should not operate in that type of fashion or form at any at any time very very embarrassing locally to the community and to everybody that's watching so I want to apologize to all that are watching in the residents of Patterson my vote is yes.

Thank you. The workshop is now closed.

Good evening, everyone. On behalf of the Patterson Municipal Council, I welcome you to the special meeting of August 11th at 8 o'clock p.m. The meeting is now called to order. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. If Councilwoman Alford can lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, divisible with liberty and justice for all.

While we're standing, let's have a moment of silence for our troops, for this council, and for this city.

Let's remember the victim of Colombia.

A moment of silence for the victims of Colombia. Thank you, madam clerk roll call.

Councilwoman offered. Councilman cotton. Vice president of the land. Its president. Councilman Jackson is absent at this time Councilman colleague president. Councilman Omar. Councilman the lens. Present and council president mims Yeah, I noted her her presence yes, I YES, MADAM CLERK. OKAY, I WILL READ THE STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE. YES. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT AND JSA 10-46, AT SEC ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THE TIME AND PLACE WAS INCLUDED IN THE SPECIAL MEETING POSTED ON AUGUST 5TH AND ADVERTISED ON AUGUST 7TH. said notice was posted in City Hall bulletin boards posted to the city's website and transmitted to the official newspapers designated to receive such notices in addition to any other publication duly requesting such notice.

Item number. Madam clerk, let's do items 2, 3, and 4 and then we'll end on the introduction item to madam clerk.

Item number 2 is a resolution under Patterson code chapter one 29 titled bazaars addressing a license for East side neighborhood Association 2.0 to conduct a picnic. This is from finance and his resolution 26 colon 3.26 so more.

More by Council president man second by Councilman colleague roll call item number 2.

Councilman offered. Councilwoman cotton. Vice president Davila. Councilman colleague, yes. Councilman Omar, yes.

Councilman a council president men's and just to put on the record all that all the information for the application was attached my vote is yes.

This item passes. Item number 3, Madam Clerk. Item 3 is a resolution authorizing the solicitation of bids for the reconstruction and resurfacing of Railroad Avenue and a portion of Governor Street. This is bid number 26.28 for the Division of Engineering from the Department of Public Works. This is Resolution 26.327.

So moved. Moved by Council President Mims. And that a lot second by Councilman Omar roll call item number 3, madam clerk.

Councilwoman offered yes. Councilwoman cotton. Vice president that the land. Councilman colleague.

He's about about time I drive by both of those them street. My word, yes.

Councilman Omar.

Long overdue Council president. I'm happy to say that what you've asked for is finally getting done my vote is yes.

Council president Mims.

So the grief you're watching we're voting on the lower part of governor's tree, I know you've been put me to task and it's finally done we're here to vote on it, yes.

This item is adopted. Item 4 is a resolution honoring Irma Gorham executive director on her retirement for 25 years of service to the Patterson housing authority sponsored by Council president doctor Mims Council vice president Davila and Councilwoman cotton.

So Mo. Mo by Mims. That like hot and second. Omar roll call.

Councilman offered.

My vote is yes, but I do want to express that I would have loved to have just seen the entire council sponsor the work of Irma Gorm that she did at the Pattison Housing Authority. And that it not be just the women of the council, because I feel that the work that was done at the Pattison Housing Authority served the entire community. So I would have liked to have seen the entire council take part in it, but my vote is yes.

Thank you. Councilwoman Cotton.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. I just want to say about Ms. Irma Gorham, which I have known for over 30 years, working with the House of Authority. As a matter of fact, she actually, my husband was her second-hand person with operations and management overseeing over 200 employees. So, you know, she's retired 25 years. I wish her well. Congratulations on her retirement. But that being said, Madam Clerk, my vote is yes.