March 4, 2020 * The Amboy Guardian .1 * WWW.AMBOYGUARDIAN.COM * Next Issue March 18, 2020 • VOL. 9 NO. 23 • 732-896-4446 • P.O. BOX 127 • PERTH AMBOY • NJ • 08862 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2020 • Community Needs Discussed Beach Hours and Firehouse Contract Negotiations Stalled 2/26/20 Council Meeting Consolidation Discussed 2/19/20 Council Meeting By: Carolyn Maxwell By: Joseph L. Kuchie the fisherman using the beaches PERTH AMBOY – At the be- SOUTH AMBOY - The recent after hours. Councilwoman Zu- ginning of the 2/26/20 Council proposal to add open and close sette Dato confirmed that that Meeting, Jonathan Jerez of Am- hours to South Amboy’s beach- rumor was not true. boy Checker Taxi was given a es, as well as the potential con- “I agree that is the purpose hearing to discuss increasing solidation of fire departments in for the beach or one of the main the number of taxi licenses. Jer- South Amboy, were both heav- purposes, that was always the ily discussed at last week’s city vision when the community was ez represented Amboy Checker council meeting. built, but if anyone read or heard Taxi and requested more licens- Despite the large crowd in at- that this was at the bequest of es for his company. tendance, Council President the Lighthouse Bay Association, Jerez stated, “One person left Mickey Gross began the meet- understand that is totally not and took 7 licenses with them. ing by saying that the council true,” Councilwoman Zusette We need to provide more ser- would be tabling the resolution Dato said. “In talking to people vices to the community. From regarding beach hours, explain- in that vicinity I can tell you that 1995 to the present, the city’s ing that the council needed more they say the fisherman are not a population has grown a lot. time to make a decision. How- problem, so I agree with Coun- Owners of other taxi companies ever, multiple councilmembers cilman Reilly in that respect.” Police Officers walk out of the City Council Chambers after the including Councilman Tom Business Administrator Glenn will come here to say you will contract was voted down. *Photo by Carolyn Maxwell not need more taxis because it Reilly addressed the situation Skarzynski went on the record will take away from them. They in their opening comments be- saying that the Lighthouse Bay $12,000 for one person.” when they have to travel out fore the public had a chance to Association did not file an -of have their own clientele.” Council President Petrick of town on other duties. They After Jerez spoke, the meeting speak. ficial complaint, and rather he responded, “I believe it was should file charges.” “We should allow people to had received one-off complaints was open to anyone who want- through the Mayor.” Resident Stanley Sierakowski have access to that beach after from residents individually. ed to discuss Ordinance No. 1 – Balut continued, “You settled came up. He urged the council 10, 11 o’clock at night,” Coun- Councilman Reilly also asked Fixing and establishing a sched- the other contract through a me- to table and investigate to see cilman Reilly said. “There’s the Mayor and Business Admin- ule of salaries and salary ranges diator. It went through proper who benefits with this pay- in not driftwood down there that’s istrator about the recent rumors and increments for officers and channels, but it hasn't been crease and title change. See if going to cause any fire, people that some of the fire departments employees of the city of Perth moved yet. This was an unfair they are going to be on a po- from South Amboy are using would be consolidating in South Amboy to reflect the addition oflabor practice and your own pa- litical slate. Investigations can that beach to fish.” Amboy. Skarzynski and Mayor titles RE: FOP. perwork will kill you. You have go up higher. Ask the person “It’s been fished on for asHenry long explained that there have Resident Ken Balut came up no respect for those on the street involved in this ordinance to as I can remember,” he contin- been discussions to move cer- ued. “I did my homework on and asked, “Who negotiated saving people and stepping in tain fire departments into one this and spoke to the proper peo- building, which involved mov- this? Since the PBA Contract during domestic violence. Offi- *Continued on Page 7 was knocked down, and this is ple, there’s no more issues down ing Progressive in with Snorkel. cers should put in for overtime there then there is for the rest of “For at least 18 months but the town. I’m going to have it on closer to two years, there’s been the record right now that I am ongoing discussions with the Active Discussions Involving in full agreement that the beach Fire Chiefs about what the best should be open to fisherman movement forward is to better Ordinances Regarding PARA and the whenever they want to use it.” equip and better house the fire “It’s one of the few free re- department,” Skarzynski said. sources in this town that some- “After a lot of discussions there Library Board of Trustees body that comes off second shift was consensus that starting to 2/24/20 Caucus that wants to go down and fish, consolidate into less firehouses By: Carolyn Maxwell due to changing the orders of if the Library Board of Trust- and we’re going to put a stop to would be good on a number of PERTH AMBOY – Ordinance an active agency. “Companies ees is an advisory board or that? That’s wrong. That’s my levels . It would allow us to stance,” he added.” use our budget dollars more No. 2 regarding dissolving the already approved for projects are they autonomous? Irizarry Residents from Lighthouse wisely to provide better facili- Perth Amboy Redevelopment may have objections. You are stated that since he has been Bay were not happy that other ties for the firemen, better hous- Agency and designating the stopping projects until you re- on the council, the members of residents were implying on ing for the apparatus, and to City Council as a redevelop- view them. I think there is pos- the Library Board of Trustees Facebook that the Lighthouse ment entity for the City of Perth sible litigation.” always thought they were an Bay Association formally issued *Continued on Page 10 Amboy and enjoining those Irizarry then questioned Ordi- advisory board, not an autono- a complaint to the city about previously approved redevelop- nance No. 3 – An ordinance to mous board. “Will they or the ment projects identified in this amend an ordinance entitled Li- council make decisions regard- ordinance pending review and brary Board of Trustees Mem- ing appointments? When were further action by the city coun- bership. Irizarry questioned, the Library Board of Trustees cil. “Is this only a membership told they were autonomous, and Councilman Fernando Irizarry change?” when will they make their own wanted to know what will be Council President William decisions?” the consequences if the council Petrick said, “It is to make the Law Director King tried to takes over the responsibility of ordinance in accordance to the clarify the trustee's duties by PARA. state statute.” stating they would discuss day Law Director Peter King There was a discussion among to day operations of the library. cautioned the council that they Irizarry, King, and Petrick go- would probably face litigations ing back and forth to determine *Continued on Page 8 Perth Amboy City Council Meeting - 3/9/20 - Caucus 4:30 p.m.; 3/11/20 - Regular 7 p.m.; South Amboy City Council Business Meeting - 3/4/20 - 6 p.m. 2. The Amboy Guardian * March 4, 2020 Pallone, in Discussion With Media, Promises to ‘Look Into’ Perth Amboy Rail Station Project By Ron Miskoff offshore oil and gas explora- EDISON - Transportation re- tion and improving the national mains a key concern for Rep. infrastructure; that is, roads, Frank Pallone, especially since bridges, and other substantial he was appointed chairman of federal building projects. the House Energy and Com- In discussing his latest efforts merce Committee in 2018. to attract more public attention Pallone met with members of to his work and that of the fed- the local media — newspapers eral government in general, he and websites — on Feb. 21 at noted the lack of media cover- the Menlo Park Diner in Edi- age of federal legislation. For son to discuss recent legislative example, although his com- goals and accomplishments. mittee has jurisdiction over the Pallone represents the sixth dis- Federal Communications Com- trict of New Jersey, which in- mission, the committee has not cludes Perth Amboy and South been able to bring up issues Amboy. concerning better news cover- Congressman Pallone discussed the up- age by broadcasters. Mean- Frank Pallone grade of the Perth Amboy train while, he noted, President Don- station, which, according to a ald Trump has relaxed rules on less,” said Pallone. report in December, received broadcasting. But he said he disagrees with unanimous New Jersey Tran- “There is a need to promote the federal government’s analy- sit Board of Directors approval local media,” he told the local sis. of nearly $7 million in funding news representatives. “If the tunnel closes or col- to provide final engineering He even toyed with the idea lapses,” he said, “it would be a design services and construc- of holding hearings on how to disaster.