Good evening.

On behalf of the governing body of the city of Pisake, we welcome you to the November 6th, 2025 City Council meeting.

In accordance with chapter 231 public laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by resolution of the municipal council adopted on June 17th, 2025.

Setting forth the schedule of meetings for the year 2025-2026.

Send notice was published and posted on the city hall bulletin board by the office of the city clerk.

Please be further advised.

The Zoom stream provided is for viewing only and is offered to the public as a convenience.

On October 23rd, 2025, public notice and Zoom instructions for this meeting were published in the Herald News and posted on the City of Passake website at WWW.

City of Pisake.com council agendas.

Instructions are also available on the last page of this agenda.

Please be guided accordingly.

Roll call, please.

Councilman Love.

Present.

Councilman Mayor.

Yes, present.

Councilwoman Colom Montañez.

And Council President Cher.

President Share we all please rise.

Heavenly Father, we want to thank you, Lord, for allowing us to meet this evening.

We ask you to please guide us in the decisions that will take place this evening in your beloved name.

We pray.

Amen.

And she's a republic for what she stands.

I believe we uh councilman love will be joining us.

Um yes, he switched to a different device.

Okay, and Councilman Monk will not be joining us tonight, I believe.

Correct.

Very good.

We're on our agenda.

Um, if you don't have an agenda, you would like to immediately outside the door, the council door.

Um mayor's update.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I know that at our um previous meeting we shared, but our city joined together and expressing our condolences to the Creech family as uh principal Carl Creech have passed away, long time Passake High School administrator and mentor to many, whose leadership and compassion shaped the generations of students.

I know that we all express collectively to the family as well as Mr.

Mix, who passed away, a very well-known teacher in Passake High School.

I wanted to share uh council president and members of the city council along with our public that we held a number of events as we do every year during this season.

We held our city fall festival and adopt the pet program, our pumpkin family night at the senior center and our seniors triggered treat at city hall.

Our seniors dressed up and went department and department and demanded we give them candy.

We all lent it and uh gave them all the candy that we have.

But it's it's a fun event every single year.

Uh kudos to Francine Wise to our senior program and all our children always enjoy it.

We put uh the seniors online and their grandchildren always comment on it.

So it's extremely exciting in our city.

I also want to share that uh this year's city hall office costume contest, where we had a number of judges along the judges were councilwoman Maritza Cologne Montana, who assisted and uh as well as uh additional volunteers, but I'm obligated.

Um I don't see this with any uh excitement or enthusiasm that the winners are the city clerk's office council president as they combined with other offices and put on quite the show.

So uh just got that out of the record.

Council president may owe the pizza party.

I just want to say it because we're gonna send the bill to you anyway.

Every year, every year I usually uh pay for the uh pizza party, but I believe they were outside influences on the judges.

I'm not naming anyone, but I think council president may have had no influence.

All right, um, besides that uh additional uh note, we had an election here in the city of Passake.

And uh we want to congratulate our council president who was re-elected overwhelmingly by not just the city of Passake, but the 36th legislative district as assemblyman, and we're extremely excited.

We also want to extend and congratulations to his running mate at Sembleman Calabries, as well as uh the city of Passaic's Christina Schratz was elected to county commissioner along with her running mate, Mike Romaglia.

And uh, we also want to extend uh congratulations to Governor Elect Mikey Cheryl and Lieutenant Governor Dr.

Dale Caldwell, and uh also acknowledge the work of everyone who ran because elections uh are very hard.

And in the city, we want to acknowledge it was a historic night with overwhelming turnout in every area of our city.

And continuing with the report, Council President, as you know, with the government shutdown, there were uh lack of uh resources available for families, not just salaries that aren't fully being paid, and there were programs and benefits that have been uh cut, or some that people aren't sure if they will continue, including the SNAP benefits and people's EBT cards.

We partnered with the county at Passake along with Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church and the UPO.

I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge Reverend uh Reverend Pamela Sally, as well as Dr.

Janelle Hall and the County Commissioners.

We were able to give out uh food together with our Passate Police Department volunteers from City Hall.

Over uh 2,000 individuals were fed just uh this week on Wednesday, and we will have another uh food distribution, which will occur on Friday.

Friday at Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church on Autumn and Central.

Um that will take place between one o'clock and three p.m.

Residents that uh may watch this.

You are required to bring your ID and your snap card, and you can come and receive the food.

You can receive the food either uh driving in your vehicle or walking up.

And that leads to our food distribution, Council President, members of the city council, and to the public, we will have our turkey distribution here at City Hall as we have done every single year.

We will share that information via flyers, post it up, send the information to the schools.

But I need to remind everyone, it's on a first come, first served basis.

We do not take a list, whoever shows up.

We give it to you freely.

I mean you're a resident of the city of Passake.

So if the public can help us get the word out, we want to make sure that every family can receive.

We are also partnering with a number of food pantries around the city of Passake to have a consistent food distribution and giveaway to families in need, especially during these most difficult times.

Council President, members of the city council, members of the public.

Effecting November 3rd, our free bus shuttle has added additional early morning hours.

We adjusted the hours to include 7:30 a.m.

to 11:30 a.m.

Then there's a break between 11:30 to 1.30, and then it continues from 1.30 to 5:30.

We came to this decision after looking at the data and realizing that there was a high demand for earlier morning transportation, especially for our students on the way to school.

It's gonna assist with the weather getting much colder.

This will be an additional benefit.

We saw that there was a real drop in the use of the shuttle midday around lunchtime.

So when we're deciding to have that be a break, we remind everyone.

The shuttle remains inside of the city of Passake.

That's extremely important because sometimes when you have children or teenagers riding on a bus, there is a concern that if they miss their stop, they may end up in another city or somewhere far.

But if there are certain young people or adults, they may have special needs.

Maybe on the spectrum, there's a fear that if they go on the bus, they may end up in the state.

This unique service that we have worked together to provide for the city is beneficial in that the bus never leaves the city.

So you will always know that anyone on there, whether it's a senior citizen that you may have concern or uh an adult who may be dealing with other challenges, they will always be in the city.

I want to reassure the community of these things.

I also wanted to share that we have um the infrastructure projects updates with our veterans memorial park and our fields are now complete, but it is going into the winter, so people will enjoy it for the spring in baseball.

But they are complete.

Uh Howard Avenue Tennis Courts drainage improvement with the funds we receive from FEMA, have uh begun and are being completed.

I also wanted to remind everyone that on November 11th.

November 11th is our Veterans Day reflace ceremony at 9 a.m.

at Arnold Meeting Park.

Our Veterans Day Reclaim Ceremony at 9 a.m.

Again, Friday the 7th at Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church 163 Autumn Street will be another food giveaway.

Also on 1112, we will have a mobile food pantry at Dundee Island Park.

We'll host a mobile food pantry at Dundee Island Park downtown in Passate to provide fresh groceries and essential items to residents and families in need.

I wanted to share that we're now continuing again with our trainings.

Council President members of the city uh council are licensing for adults.

We're gonna begin uh on December 9th through the 10th with free Sora certification courses for security guards.

It's now a requirement in the state of New Jersey to have your Sora license.

We're gonna make sure that everyone is aware of it.

We've had great success, not just with the training, Council President, but with job placement.

We've had high rates of job placement for individuals through these programs that we fund, whether through CDBG or grants, we've been able to expand this program and include cosmetology to include phlebotomy and lab techs.

So we're extremely excited about those opportunities for our residents.

Also, we want to let the community know that the work on Bragg Park with the Bragg Cafe honoring the Bragg family with the name on the cafe and tenant welcome sign has already begun.

We closed off the area.

It will continue to have the seating in the area that it has always had, but now with a particular structure there that will be a great benefit.

And uh, we have received countless uh messages from Union Baptist Church members, from the seniors thanking us um from the family directly as we've kept them updated as to the approach, but again, the name itself and the original name, having our share anecdotally been born and raised right in that area um uh my whole life.

It used to be just just pavers and a pay phone.

It was never a park, it was pavers and just a pay phone.

Eight years ago, uh we added music ballads and we put tables and chairs and trees.

We held uh holiday events with hundreds of kids and the school.

We opened it up for community members who came here to the city and asked, can I please throw an event?

And we partner with them and provided them opportunities, and we brought that area alike because again, I'll reiterate before it wasn't a park, it was just these pavers and one payphone right on it in the bus stamp.

The bus stop will remain right there.

So to keep the bus stop, uh, it will have the tables, the chairs.

Unfortunately, no pay form.

But it will have cell phone charges.

So we'll keep we'll keep that aspect of the communication for people.

But again, we're very excited about this project, and many residents have sent us thank yous for uh moving forward on this project and adding just like we did to the hundred steps in the ward, and this will be a beautiful amenity.

That will be the stand of uh my report.

Thank you, Council President, members of the city council and the public.

Thank you very much as always.

Uh for the background of the information and and uh knowledge itself.

I did want to ask I've been told that we had a record number of voters.

Yes.

Yes, we had a record number of voters.

So in 2021, we had about 7,000 votes that came out for the gubernatorial election.

In this election, we had over 11,000 voters come out and participate in the election, total votes uh with early voting, with mail-in voting, and with getting the message out to everyone that it's important that our city votes.

We're excited about that.

I want to commend the work of the city clerk.

Obviously, uh, I also want to highlight that this year once again, our city clerk weatherly free has went on the road to the schools to encourage young people that they could work and earn up to $300 a day to save money for college for prom.

And we had young people working.

It is a unique program that we launched here in Passake for Passaic County, and now we're seeing it uh replicated in other areas.

We're extremely excited as we also reached out to our uh re-elected assembly men regarding the college credits that young people can receive for working in those elections.

But yes, we had a record number in relation to our city and our register voters, and we're excited that people came out to vote.

I know that uh the city clerk's officer came to uh actually at a very difficult time because they were so busy uh planning uh for the uh for winning the costume.

And a lot of work, but I uh we are so pleased that our city clerk, that's our city clerk, uh yes, the council city we do want to we want to once again reaffirm clarity in terms of who does what and why they do it and um questions or comments from the mayor.

I may please ma'am.

No, no, no, no.

Thank you, council president.

Um just want to congratulate the mayor again hard work.

Um the idea of bringing the young kids to the poll.

That's awesome.

Constantly I hear it at the in the county of how great and nice you see their instituted and in other places.

Thank you for that idea meeting with the city clerk.

And it was this time around when I went to the sites.

There were so many young kids working and very diligent and working so well, even with the professionals that have been there for years.

So that's great.

It's great to see that and um and continue to think outside the box.

Um, I do have one more question with the shuttles.

Where can um, for instance, where do they start um 7 30?

Is it right there by the bus stop?

Right here at City Hall.

So they leave here at City Hall and they end here at City Hall.

There are a number of stops throughout the city in front of businesses, but including Passake City Hall, uh, Shoprig, uh where by Armory Park, uh Market Street and coming up Monroe Street.

So because we're 3.2 square miles, it's actually extremely beneficial.

You're gonna be able to end up in every ward, it will pass by throughout the entire city.

And again, these new hours from 7:30 until about 11:30 with a break, and then it goes on from 1.30 to 5:30.

So something yes, no, we have the app that lets you know.

Uh so if you go to our website, there's also a QR code.

I believe uh Renee may share that.

Uh it's on the web page, right?

Also on the stop signs, there's a QR code.

And if you just use your phone, you can get the exact schedule and times that they go around and the location, the live location of the bus.

Right now, we have a number of shuttles that are going around, and uh they go around throughout the day.

And now we're we're looking at uh potentially uh how to best describe it, sort of opposite direction buses, so it makes it a lot more clear uptown, downtown going in different uh directions.

But something that I wanted to add about the young people for the voting, you reminded me of the young people, um council president, members of city council, they must be registered to vote to work.

They must be uh 18 years old and registered to vote to work.

So all polling and all election job uh or jobs or opportunities are only open to those who are registered voters.

Thank you.

But it's it's a good thing because it also gives them that civic class per se because it incentivizes them the 300, but also to get registered to vote and very early on, as soon as they turn 18, they can start working and really seeing what the polls look like.

And the training that occurs here, um members of the city council makes them eligible for two years, and they can work anywhere in Passake County.

They can work in Wayne, they can work in Paterson, they can end up working in any of the municipalities in Passake County.

Thank you.

Any other questions for the mayor?

Just a remark, Council President.

And and in addition, in addition to what my beautiful colleague has just spoken about in terms of the youth.

Um, and I and I said this to you before, mayor, and I'll say it again publicly.

Um that that was one of the greatest uh initiatives you put forward, right?

Uh and and I say that for so many reasons.

Um, that record number of voters throughout our country is a result of people getting involved and being aware.

So not just um the fact that they're getting a check, not just the fact that they're learning the process, they're they're becoming conscious and aware of what's going on around the world.

And for that, you should be commended.

Uh, city council should be commended for for backing the mayor, 110% on this initiative.

And I just hope it starts to expand.

Um, I would love to see that we break records every election.

And uh that's my final comment.

Very good, sir.

Thank you so very much.

Anyone else?

Very good.

Mayor again, thank you so very much uh for your uh continued leadership and uh uh we are on our agenda Roman number of five, minutes of May 6, 2025.

Are there any uh changes or amendments to the minutes as presented by the clerk?

Steven alight at this time is your motion to accept the minutes.

Motion and second roll call, please to accept the minutes.

Councilman Love.

Yes, Councilwoman Millow, yes, Councilman Mayor, yes, Councilman Colombo Daniel and Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

The council opens every public meeting for comments of the public.

However, in accordance with NJSA 10 colon 4-12, nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the discretion of a public body to permit, prohibit, or regulate the act of participation at any meeting.

Therefore, please be advised that the council will not entertain any comments for persons who communicate obscene material, make statements which are considered the bias intimidation, in which a person intends to intimidate any individual or group because of race, color, religion, gender, handicapped, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, or makes comments intending to harass or speak any offensive language.

The person who makes these statements will relinquish their allotted five minutes for public discussion.

Is there anyone who would like to adjust the council?

Good evening.

Congratulations on the election.

Um for your name, ma'am, for the record.

My name is Alice Bell.

I live in 165 Van Buren Street.

And I'm here on because I need to know on Lexitan Ave, the gas station.

Is there code for them to do repair and spray painting and the rear of the gas station?

Those fumes and and the parking after they repair the cars, they're on the street.

We can't find parking because they're sitting there.

So I know before someone wanted to put a taxi stand there, and it was turned down.

So I want to know how could he repair and strip cars and paint cars in the rear of that gas station.

Mr.

Fernandez, can you help us?

Uh I don't know if you know the situation, per se.

So that's um that's on Lexington and what?

Van Bieran.

Lexington and my yes, I know exactly where that is.

Um, so that was a pre-existing gas station with repair shop that has been there for many, many years.

Does the repair shop include spray painting, things like that?

That is not what it allows.

So if there is, we will send our fire prevention bureau because there's specific uh requirements to be able to spray paint, and that use is not one of the permitted uses.

So if they're doing body work and uh using it as a body shop instead of a mechanic shop, I'm talking about code to address it.

I'm talking in the rear of the gas station.

What they do on Van Buren, they put three or four cars, and there's a gate there, and in order for the tow truck, the back the broken cars in, they remove the car so the tow truck could bring in the book broken cars, jumping the curve and everything.

So that means three or four cars are sitting there just waiting for them to go in and out.

I have it on film.

They're on the street.

Yes, and I have it on film if anybody wants to take a look.

Okay, perhaps uh Mr.

Fernandez, you can uh get the ladies' contact information and we can uh proceed with this.

Um there are things that they might be allowed to do, um, as Mr.

Fernandez pointed out, but there are certain things that they're doing things that they cannot do uh environmentally.

The spray painting is a very big deal.

Yes, tremendous rules in terms of circulation of air, plus they're not supposed to have cars that they're working on parked on the street.

Um there's a number of different aspects.

Uh, but uh Mr.

Fernandez, if you uh be so kind as to give him your phone number, uh he'll get in touch with you.

You can call him, whatever, uh, and we can get some resolution on this.

Yes, okay.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you so much for coming tonight.

Anyone else like to adjust the council, please?

Good afternoon.

My name is and um I would just like to see some history about Bragg's Park.

Can I, you know, excuse me, sir.

Can I ask you to speak louder, please?

I just want to express something about Bragg's park.

The mayor made a statement about, you know, we just called the park recently and everything else.

You know, uh, when I was young, I was always called the park.

We always did ever since I was little.

So I just want to put that on the record, too, because we the community always recognized that as a park.

Another thing I want to say is about the elders, the ones that've been home on us for the past, I'm gonna say 40, 50, 60 years, you know, a lot of the people that hangs in in the little park, you know, the elders that have been up there for a number of years, you know, they really enjoy the ones that be out there, help them with their bags, their growth reason and a whole bunch of other things.

So I just want to bring that to y'all's attention too.

But I do have a few questions right now.

I got uh a couple of my questions is the first one is you know, for the past two years, we've been getting Christmas lights up there, and we had no electricity.

So I didn't understand what was the purpose of the Christmas lights when you know, for some strange reason, the electric the electricity got cut off.

So I would like to know why was electricity, the electricity cut off and why we didn't have no Christmas lights.

You know, we're gonna build the concession stand, you know, which we all finally agreed on, but you know we got a rat problem in the city of the state, and the rats is gradually moving up there.

So once they get up there, how's we gonna address that?

You know, and and you know, what really hurting my heart today, because I stopped in the park today and I watched how they took the little picture or the little monument of brags up there and they took it down.

So I would like to know what was the reason of that, you know, and um who's really gonna benefit from having this up there because we like I was telling saying earlier, we have so many different bodegas up there, you know.

So, how is that gonna make money or make a difference up there?

You know, we all with the change, but we just want to know some of these things.

How is that gonna affect our community?

That's all I'm I'm just gonna answer some of questions.

So, the first question, I'm I'm clear with the second one, I'm not.

But uh, if we're the first question was uh why was the electricity cut off?

Yeah, and why don't our Christmas lights up there?

And why we don't have Mr.

Nems?

Yeah, so it's a construction site.

We're gonna be doing construction.

There's no two years.

We said the past two years have been cut off.

Kind of explain that there's gonna be construction going on.

Sorry, I think he's referring to the last two years.

Yes, before we were hosting events with the school there, so we had a Christmas tree lighting and the students we've redirected that event to the center of the city to ensure that everyone can attend.

Kids from downtown and uptown, so now it's held.

We have the uh Will Smith Memorial right by the tree.

Because that is the biggest tree in the city.

Uh that became the more conducive area for the holiday celebration because of the art in the middle, we're able to close it off, have the activities with a DJ music and uh hot chocolate with the uh Santa that comes in the fire truck.

It just works a little better in the middle.

We used to also have a wonderful program there.

We used to have a one also at 11 school, but we've redirected there, so that's why the electricity was removed for the holiday.

Electricity as a whole was uh removed for a number of reasons.

The outlets that were there were specific for DPW, so they would uh be able to plug in their machines when they were gonna cut the trees, the grass.

Unfortunately, uh it became a usage for individuals to uh uh whether charge items or to uh utilize for other devices, but that's not the intended purpose of there.

So when neighbors would call and say, why are there why is their equipment running uh so late at Bragg Park?

It wasn't DPW because DPW was closed.

So until the work was done, as the planning was going along, electricity was closed off in regards to the uh sign for Bragg Park, because there's gonna be demolition, we don't want the sign to be broken or hurt, so it was removed and it's gonna be stored.

And again, not only that sign because we want to keep the history of it, but a bigger sign on the actual concession stand will be put up in honor of the Bragg family.

And uh you seem to be so extraordinarily familiar with the intricacies of of this town.

I'm constantly amazed.

Um, the concession stand, the gentleman mentioned.

Um how is that gonna generate money when we have other bow takers up here doing the same thing?

So yeah, I think that that is a legitimate question, as it will be uh a specific concession stand like the bow house, where it will be open to the public because there's a bus stop right across from it.

One may argue that the items that can be sold there will be uh specifically uh grabbing gold items.

There will be no hot food or competition for the hot food restaurants in the area, maybe a very convenient uh quick grab of a coffee or something very quick while you go on the bus, because the bus stop will remain there.

In terms of the revenue that will be generated, there are a number of options uh such as supporting the veterans and ensuring that their location can remain strong as it has been uh for many many years.

Uh so right now, those are the plans.

We are always open to suggestions from the public to be submitted to the council and the administration for any additional considerations.

Very good.

Thank you, ma'am.

Okay, and I have one more thing to say to the mayor.

Ms.

Hansen, she wanted to know when is he gonna come in front of her house and fix I couldn't hear Ms.

Hansen?

Okay, she wants to know when is you gonna come and fix a firewalk in front of her house?

Me personally, I'll definitely reach out to her.

Okay, Miss Anthony.

No problem.

Thank you.

Okay, but anyone else like to address thank you, Mayor.

Anyone else that's adjusting?

Thank you.

Joe Connescenti.

Good evening.

Council President.

Um was there any study or anything done with the intersection on Tulip and Oak Street?

I know I brought in a couple meetings ago.

The speeding, the dangers for the crossing guard in that area during school time, even after school time, that area.

My next question is on the last meeting.

I brought in like 14 photos, eight by tens on the property at 147, 149, and 155.

The reason I brought those pictures is to show you what's happening with those buildings every day.

The front of the building has the uh sofa and everything from the roof coming down, all close-up pictures I showed you, and you had that little one up on the screen that nobody could even see the picture.

You know, it's pathetic.

But there's a lot of issues there.

Now you got all garbage in the alleyway.

Maybe in the next, maybe tomorrow when they go there, they can take pictures and clean it up, like they did the last time.

But there's a lot of deterioration on those buildings.

I don't know, because right now Alex Perez don't own it no more.

So now you got a Basak LLC, which is nobody's answering the question.

Who is it?

City of Basake.

Oh, maybe I'm not supposed to say that.

But that's two.

My last question here is I seen the video, it was earlier today about a tree that came down.

I think yesterday.

When you look at the trees um stump, there is no kind of roots, there is nothing.

Only statement that I got was the uh whoever did the roads, they cut back on the roots on the street.

But when you look at the route, it was done by water damage, but nobody would tell you that.

Because all the routes are all running away because the reason I'm saying it is because the bottom roof of a tree goes straight into the ground, and that's not even on the picture.

So that's why the tree is falling over.

You have one across the street from your house that's coming down.

Nobody's recognizing it.

That's the next one that's coming down, right across from your house.

The branches is hanging over, is gonna go right on somebody's roof that owns the house.

This is my question today.

You'll forgive me, sir.

I'm not quite sure what your questions were.

My question is who's the property owner on uh 147, 149, and 55.

And the statement that's being made on the computer by the mayor is stating that the whoever did the road work cut the cut the roots out.

But you have more water problems in that area that caused the flooding and everything.

Too much water in a plant is gonna is gonna ride away.

So that's what happened to that.

So you you'll forgive me.

I am so out of my still.

Yeah.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I am not an arborist.

Um obviously I have faith and trust in our professionals that what they're doing is correct.

If there's been water damage, hopefully it can be corrected.

You know, it's a flood area.

Everybody knows that.

Well, not everybody, but international.

Not in terms, I'm sorry.

In mistake, everybody knows that that's an all flood area.

It might be a flood area, but its consequences I don't know.

The bottom line, sir, is I must tell you number one.

I'm not familiar with that there's been a study on tulip and oak.

I don't know if the police department thinks there is a reason.

It's up to them to determine if there is a reason for a study.

That's their job.

In terms of the photographs that you brought in last uh last meeting, we appreciate the photographs they uh are uh and added a resource for us and uh maintain a uh cherished spot in our file cabinets.

In terms of the video, I've I've not seen the videos.

Again, I don't know what water damage is or whose responsibility it is, and that's what it comes down to also.

It's not owned by the city.

The city can take action, perhaps, but that becomes a whole legal problem and a cost problem of who's paying for what.

So at this point, I we leave it to the administration to determine if there's a problem, what the extent of the problem is, but the solution is if it's within the administrative belly work, it probably would not even involve the council, although we invite you to go to uh code enforcement to see what is publicly available in terms of what they're doing or not doing.

Can I ask one more question?

Yeah, within your five trees.

Yeah, yeah.

Another issue we have in in the city is PSC and G is hiring a company to cut the trees back, and what they're doing is they cut in the middle, stout there that's killing all our trees, and nobody's looking at it, nobody's saying no.

It's because they say because of the wires.

But if you go out on all these streets, you go on Basake Avenue, you could go on Paulison Avenue, you can go anywhere in the city, all the trees got an open spot right across the middle, and eventually they're all coming down in the city.

You could believe it, you don't have to believe it.

Very good.

Thank you.

Council President, yes, sir.

Me just briefly um the the issue that um that no that no one's addressing um was witnessed on the video while I was addressing it, just to point it out very quickly of the tree.

The council that has uh I think the statement was made has done nothing.

Passed um an ordinance that stated that when we're doing road repairs, whether uh milling and paving or uh expanding uh road, that you cannot cut the roots of a tree.

These trees that are extremely large pre-date, um all of us in office, some of them are 60, 70 years old.

Um, and obviously, I don't clarify, but in recent years.

Why do we go on from here?

In recent years, uh the council and the administration moved forward an ordinance that does not allow workers to cut the roots.

Um the issue was addressed uh four years ago um after storm, and uh we pushed this forward because we went out and addressed the trees.

Uh again, I'll reiterate the issue, and the gentleman mentioned was my my video that I made addressing the issue that he said um was addressing, but I want to clarify just so everybody's aware who's watching online.

Not only have we been on top of it, but we took a measure in uh a few years prior.

We passed an ordinance that uh limited the height of trees that can be planted in replacement of trees, because though these trees were put in over 50 years ago, and they've obviously grown this large, and so much work has been done before any of us uh positions that gave us the opportunity to be on these data.

We have proactively taken measures now.

There are roads that, though they're in the jurisdiction of the city, are not city roads, they are county routes, and we have explained the same situation.

We have our engineer addressing uh these issues, but again, I just want to clarify that not only have we addressed it years ago, but the very issue today that others have learned about was because of a video addressing what occurred.

We had extremely high winds.

We do have engineers going around assessing this, and I believe that the um BA wanted to share something to Libino that was brought up.

Um, yes, there's an NJ DOT local transportation improvement project moving forward on this, as well as Council President.

I have ordered a number of uh portable speed bumps, and that's actually one of the locations that we're gonna put it up on.

We're limited as to where we can put speed bumps.

We are not allowed to put it on state roads or county roads where we can put them on municipal roads.

Am I correct in there?

I remember something about only planting trees in the future where the roots specifically go down.

Yes, the the challenge with the roots is and you can't control the direction they're gonna go in, right?

So, what what happens is if if you create obviously some kind of structure underneath ground that would be strong enough, and in some cases, as you mentioned, it can be done.

But practically speaking, with the trees that have been planted 50 or 60 years ago, the roots have already spread to the sides.

So over the years, as they've done the repairs on the roads, they used to typically just cut the roots to the road, and you'll see what happens is on some sidewalks, you'll see how the roots are lifting the sidewalk off the ground.

You obviously can't have this occur on the street.

So typically what they would do is just cut the roots, and that created a bit of a challenge with the imbalance, and with the increase of storms, the saturation of the ground, which uh obviously compromises the strength of the roots and then strong winds.

We've seen many of them come down.

That's why we've been proactively addressing them, but we have so many trees around the city that it's not gonna happen overnight, but we are addressing them.

Very good sooner.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Good evening, Council President.

It was a uh very exciting week in Passaic.

Your name, please.

My name is Yosef Wolf.

It was a very exciting week in Passaic, and I would just like to say openly that uh I learned a lot from you this week, so thank you.

In a good way.

Thank you.

There is in front of the city over the next few weeks, there is a uh an attempt to subdivide a large lot.

This lot is 20,000 square feet, it's on a corner, and the developer wants to put on this lot three houses, and each house is gonna sell for around 1.6 million dollars.

A couple months back, this city council was looking to make affordability in Passaic, and they're stressing that the state is looking for affordability, and they want to appease or follow with the state's advisement.

So they proposed and they approved that every multifamily development in Passaic needs a 15% set aside of one five, and if you are developing land to sell, whether it's townhouses or development of houses, you need to have if it's more than five units, you need to have a 20% set aside.

And I brought this up to city council.

I want to bring it up again.

If this developer would have put townhouses on this lot, he would have made 15 houses available for the general public of Passaic, and he would not have to charge 1.6 million dollars for each house.

He could have charged five or six hundred thousand dollars, create a middle class house, and it would have been a beautiful thing for the residents and for the developer.

But because he has this 20% set aside, if he puts up more than five five or more townhouses, he has to sell the houses at a substantial loss.

And if he's gonna put 15 houses, he's gonna have to take four houses and sell them at a substantial loss.

That is killing the project.

And now, because of this 20% set aside that's supposed to make affordable housing, 15 families will not have affordable housing, and we'll have three multi-million dollar houses on those lots.

And I challenge the city council.

Show me houses being developed in Passaic.

People taking land and developing five more units that you think it's okay or reasonable to ask for 20% set aside.

There are no houses being built.

You want to encourage houses, encard housing.

Don't make an additional burden.

If there are many houses being built, I understand you want a 20% set aside.

Now that there are no houses being built, they'll for sure not be houses being built.

That is my question.

I also want to bring up something that's I find I don't want to complain, but I'm sitting in front of a city council that is missing over 40% of their members, at least present in this um stately hall.

They might be on Zoom, they might be on their cell phones, they might be at a restaurant with their family, they might be at a wedding, whatever it is.

There's millions of dollars on the line in this agenda.

It affects people's lives.

The city council spends a substantial amount of money.

Everyone that's sitting here tonight, you have to come and show up maybe 20 to 23 times a year, and the city is going to pay you upwards of $1,300 for each meeting that you attend.

Some of them even get health benefits, upwards of 40,000 a year.

They can literally replace their teeth and their faces every single day.

And I think it's disrespectful that I'm sitting in front, I'm standing in front of the city council, and the city council says that if you uh if a citizen in this city wants to attend on Zoom, they cannot attend on Zoom.

They have to submit a statement before 3 p.m.

But a city council member who we don't even know what he's doing at the moment, has the right to attend this meeting virtually.

Thank you.

Anyone else like to address the council?

Seeing no hands, is there a motion to close public hearing?

Motion and second roll call, please.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayer?

Yes.

Councilman Colombon Tanes?

Yes.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

We're to remind number seven of our agenda ordinances for second and final reading.

Hearing is required.

Number one, proposed ordinance 2502-25.

An ordinance amending the designation of restricted parking for disabled persons by New Jersey license display number.

Is there a motion please to open public hearing?

So move and second.

Raw call, please to open public hearing.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow?

Yes.

Councilman Mayer?

Yes.

Councilman Colombon Dane.

Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, at this time the council is deliberating proposed ordinance 2502-25.

Is there anyone who would like to address the council on this item and this item only?

Yes, sir.

Yes, thank you.

My name is Joseph Wolf.

I would like to ask: does the city have any process for enforcing that once a license plate is approved and a sign goes up?

I'm sorry, sir.

You are off the ordinance.

I need you on the ordinance.

Okay.

You're approving designation of restricted parking for disabled persons by New Jersey license plate numbers.

Correct, Council President?

That is correct.

Okay.

Do you have a system in place that if something happens to this placard of a disabled, whether they don't need anymore or they pass away?

Is there a way that the city's enforcing that that spot does not stay restricted to all the citizens up SIC?

All of these um spaces need to be reaffirmed every year.

Um if something has happened, God forbid someone's passed away or whatever.

Uh at the anniversary, uh, it would be taken down.

Okay.

What is the process for a citizen who has a need for disabled parking spot?

What is the process to get this?

How does this come about?

I'm asking specifically because I live in the case.

This process involves a medical uh note of medical need.

Uh state designation as its motor vehicles.

We do not designate within the city uh whether someone is handicapped or not.

You apply to motor vehicles, you submit your medical form, and then once you have a life speed, you apply at engineering, and we are not allowed to discriminate.

Um if there's an event in the street, then you're allowed to be approved.

If a if a neighbor feels that a parking spot is being abused, do they attend do they address the ordinance, please, sir?

Okay.

This ordinance to amend the designation of a circuit parking for a disabled person's vendor's license plate number.

If a citizen has an issue with this designation, this specific designation, do they speak to the council, the city, or the state?

They would certainly come to uh the city.

It would be a good one.

The issue would be with the city.

I'm sorry.

The issue would be taken up with the city.

It would seem to me that ma'am.

The state designates it, so you would complain to the city.

State designates the city to be its actor.

So it will be taken up directly only with the state, not with the city.

I'm sorry.

Now with the abuse, so the abuse, she may have not the abuse of the parking space.

Council president was correct.

If someone is not using it or parking a vehicle, these are random examples that uh did not uh line up with the license that's on the actual sign.

You can put into the city once it's verified either by a police or engineer, they can lose the actual spot.

Are you asking about the designation?

I'm asking about designation.

I'm asking if somebody is driving someone else's car without designation of parking in that spot, and the other person never drives that car.

Is that with the city or with the state?

That is not the city.

As long as the vehicle the designation is for the car, council president.

Not for the person.

It's with the state.

Thank you.

Anyone else like to address the council on this item and this item only?

See no hands moved to close public motion.

There's a motion and a second to close public hearing.

Roll call, please.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Colombon Dnez and Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

On the ordinance, is there a maker, please?

Move it.

Motion.

Second.

And second.

Roll call on the ordinance.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Colombon Dnez.

Yes.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

Uh the motion is passed.

Yes, sir.

We are up to proposed ordinance 2503-25 and ordinance amending to the code of the city of Passaic, chapter 295, vehicles and traffic.

Article 16, bus stops, section 38 locations to add bus stop on Lexington Avenue.

Is there a motion, please to open public hearing?

Motion, second, please.

Motion and second roll call.

Council Melo.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilwoman Colombon Tenez.

Yes.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

At this time, ladies and gentlemen, the council will be deliberating 2503.

Is there anyone who would like to come and address this issue and this issue only?

Motion and second to close public hearing.

Councilman Love.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

I'm sorry, yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Colombon Tanez.

Councilwoman Colombontes, please.

Yes.

Sorry.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

Uh that was to close public.

Yes, sir.

Yes.

On the ordinance, please, Mr.

Maker.

Move it.

Motion.

Second.

And second.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayer.

Yes.

Councilman Colombon Tanez.

Yes.

And Council President Shares.

Yes, thank you.

We are up to a discussion item.

Discussion on authorities and agencies as per the state of New Jersey best practice.

Madam Clerk, what are we doing here?

Uh I believe Rick was going to do the presentation.

Mr.

Fernandez, what are we doing here?

So annually, uh the state of New Jersey requires us to uh discuss the condition of our authorities and agencies as well as our best practices.

I know the mayor has uh on many an occasion has kind of touted the percentage of which we have reached.

I'd like to uh let the council know that once again the city of Passake has reached over a 92% uh best practice rate, and which means that there is no we're in no jeopardy of losing any of the state funds.

All of our other authorities and agencies, that's our redevelopment agency, our UEC, our parking authority all had their audits and their budgets done.

I could tell you that none of them have any major findings, they're all functioning adequately and with the success of the uh parking deck, there should be a greater uh income share between the municipality and parking authority.

So everything is as it should be, and once again, the city of the SAG has received over a 90% approval rating on their best practices.

Do we have any comparative data uh in terms of our sister cities or other areas?

Um, I'm sure we could compile something.

I mean, 93% is obviously an amazing amazing target, especially when you're talking about such a diversity of of agencies and functions and personnel.

Any questions from the council at this time?

Very good.

Uh, if anyone uh when we develop uh questions, I'm sure we'll want to revisit this item.

Very good, thank you.

We're up to uh communications remember numeral nine on our agenda.

Uh items three through 16 15.

Are there any questions, please on three through 15 seeing the lines at this time?

Is there a motion please to accept three through 15?

So move council president motion and second roll call, please on three through 15.

Councilman Love.

Yes, yes, councilwoman Mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilwoman Colombon Tenez, yes, and council president shares.

Yes, thank you.

Our separate vote on 16, please.

Motion and second on 16 only.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Colombo Denez.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

We're up to Roman number 10 on our agenda resolutions.

Item 17 is uh resolution authorizing closed executive session of the uh council.

Ma'am, do we need a close session?

No, council president.

Thank you, Mr.

Fernandez.

No, council president.

Mr.

Mayor, sir.

None at this time.

Thank you, sir.

Members of the council.

Very good.

Why don't we take 17 off on items 18 through 36?

Are there any questions, please?

On 18 through 36.

Councilman Love, please.

No, I was going to move the motion.

No questions.

We will we will accept the move.

Is there is a move?

Is there a second, please?

Motion and second to accept.

What is it?

Excuse me.

18 to 36.

18.

18 through 36.

We have a motion.

We have a second roll call, please.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor.

Yes.

Councilwoman Colombon Tanez.

Yes.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

We're up to uh remember numeral 11 ordinances for introduction first.

Reading number 37.

Ordinance proposed ordinance adding part 12.

Clergy parking permits to chapter 295 vehicles and traffic of the city of the code, city of code.

Second and final reading to be set for December 2nd, 2025.

Is there a motion, please to accept for sit down at our next meeting?

Motion.

Second.

And second roll call, please.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Colombon Tenez.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

Payment of bills.

Are there any questions on the bills?

Is presented by the clerk.

Seeing the lights, is there a motion, please to accept the bills?

Motion.

Motion.

Second.

Councilman.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Mellow.

Yes.

Councilman Mayor?

Yes.

Councilman Colombon Denez.

Yes.

And Council President Sheer.

Yes, thank you.

Uh payment of bills.

Done.

We just did the payment of bills.

Does that include the $1,300 that every council member is making for attending a meeting?

And by the way, is that all is that all that the council does is attend meetings?

Council meetings.

It seems to me that I might have done something in my capacity as a city councilman that was not done between 7 p.m.

and 9 p.m.

every two weeks.

Excuse me.

We're up to administrators report.

Mr.

Fernandez.

None at this time, Councilman.

Very good.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Council President, I would like to announce that the alliance building has been completed.

The alliance building has been completed.

I want to thank Doris Dudak, the contractors.

Obviously, this is a big deal because it provides services to those who uh suffer from addiction and a certain uh chronic illnesses.

And it is dependent, obviously, on grants, but previously uh there was a lease agreement for many many years where these services were being provided, but now in a very uh conducive area that is monitored 24 hours a day by emergency responders.

There is a specific structure that was completed that we utilize funding through uh I believe it was during the pandemic and like COVID uh CDBG um pandemic money.

Uh I forgot how they called it the COVID-19 age uh referred to as the pandemic money.

Yeah, pandemic money from HUD, but this was uh this will also serve as a place where in the future uh obviously we can concentrate services whether medical or otherwise to assist those who are most vulnerable during situations like that, and it was completed.

So again, I want to recognize Doris Dudak, who stayed on top of the project, the business administrator, and we're excited uh this new location that will now no longer require the city to lease um space, but it is uh owned by the city.

That is it.

This is funded by from grants from the state, if I'm not mistaken, CDBG funding.

Um yes, very good.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh comments from members of the council seeing none.

I'm sorry, please, ma'am.

Um, just want to take this opportunity to congratulations, assemblyman.

Um, because you work hard on the state.

We know with everything that's happening, we know you are a champion making sure that the city of Passake is always at the forefront.

You represent the city of Passake very well, and we appreciate that.

And as a councilman, we know that you are on 24-7.

That's $1,300 permission.

And um, at any given time anyone calls you, your office is always available um to help the community.

Just want to take the opportunity, and I'm sure my colleagues feel the same way for the work that you've been done for these past years, and congratulations, Kevin.

Thank you, Mr.

Yes.

Councilman Love.

Yes.

Um, I I just want to echo the sentiments of uh my very capable colleague.

Um, that you know what it's it's needed, right?

Uh what we got going on in in Washington right now is just uh disgusting for lack of a better word, and that might be the most appropriate.

And it's good to know that um I sit aside a young man who continues to put the SAIC and the state of New Jersey at the forefront of ideas and initiatives.

Um it's it's a pleasure knowing that we can pick up that phone, as our councilwoman said at any given time.

It's a pleasure knowing that citizens and the 36th uh legislative district as well as any other legislative district have a question that we can um guide them to your office and they'll get the correct um guidance.

So this um so I just want to say thank you and congratulations.

Thank you, everyone, for your very kind words um and support.

Uh, without that support and that guidance, uh, most especially from our mayor uh and all of my colleagues.

Um certainly any kind of small success that I might have had these past few years would have been even that much less.

Uh that being the case, if there's no other comments, is there a motion please to adjourn?

Motion motion motion is second to adjourn.

Roll call to adjourn, please.

Councilman Love, yes, councilwoman Mellow, yes, councilman mayor, yes, councilman Colom Montañez, yes, and council president share.

Yes, thank you.

This meeting is adjourned.