August 21, 2019 * The Amboy Guardian .1 * WWW.AMBOYGUARDIAN.COM * Next Issue COMPLIMENTARY UP TO 10 COPIES/$1 EACH ADDITIONAL September 4, 2019 THE Amboy*Biweekly Newspaper* Guardian • VOL. 9 NO. 11 • 732-896-4446 • P.O. BOX 127 • PERTH AMBOY • NJ • 08862 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2019 • Questions Regarding Safety Issues at South Amboy Approves New Seaman Street School, Increase In Sewer User Charges Arguments Continue Over Kushner Properties, Amended Ordinance Increases and Awarding Bid Contracts Charge By 30% By 2021 8/12/19 Caucus & Council Meetings 8/5/19 Business & Council Meeting By: Carolyn Maxwell whole street (Rector) should be may have to push her car from By: Joseph L. Kuchie PERTH AMBOY – There was a done. out of holes.” SOUTH AMBOY - The South discussion involving Ordinance Irizarry spoke again, “I would Resident Alan Silber came up Amboy city council voted on No. 3 – Entitled “VEHICLES & have said a long time ago to take to speak about the DCA (Depart- and approve Ordinance No. 16- TRAFFIC” regarding: the performance bond money ment of Community Affairs). 2019 on Wednesday, which will • Parking Prohibited- South Side (from Kushner) if I knew it was “The Mayor should sue the DCA increase sewer use charges for of Seaman Avenue 7 a.m. to 5 legal.” because of their decision regard- residential units from $33.34 p.m. Monday to Friday. Resident and businessman ing the Mayor’s budget.” (Ac- per 1,000 cubic feet in 2019 to • Seaman Avenue – Easterly Di- David Caba came up to speak, cording to the Faulkner Act, it $44.24 by 2021. rection – one way between Au- “Kushner took a lot of pride only takes 3 members to change The ordinance also states that gustine Place and Ogden Place. when he talked about closing the Mayor’s budget. They had multifamily (over two dwell- Business Administrator Fred- on properties that he developed the votes, but the DCA did not ing units) and hotels will pay erick Carr explained that the in other towns. I’ve done clos- honor the Council’s request.) $74.96 per 1,000 cubic feet of School Administration request- ings at the Landings which are Silber then mentioned Ms. Per- water usage, and commercial ed this and there will be 4 po- at a loss. Do you think I would ry’s comments made about the buildings will pay $82.84 per take a millionaire client to Rec- portion of Rector Street that is lice officers assigned to the site. 1,000 cubic feet. “They will be there until the tor Street? They might buy a in awful shape. “I would also The current sewer rates haven’t lot of the units there for about add that Rector Street between Acting Municipal Clerk traffic lights are installed. The been raised in 11 years. Accord- $130,000 each and resell them Fayette and Smith is coming Laura Kemble-Kalantsis traffic (volume) will be high and ing to Ordinance No. 30-2008, there’s hardly any parking.” for maybe around $200,000. apart. Ms. Perry made a good the residential charges were During the public portion, They were originally $400,000 point about snow removal. If the $27.89 for the first 1,000- with cu some kind of sensible gun former Council President Ken to $600,000. Compare the val- City takes care of that portion bic feet and $34.08 per unit for laws,” Henry said. “There has Balut was agitated when he said, ues of the Jersey City real estate (belonging to Kushner), then the every 1,000 cubic feet of water to be something done, we can’t “You’re going to put 4 police of- market which is high compared City should also take care of the thereafter. just be blaming video games, to Perth Amboy which is lower.” paving. Maybe the Mayor pre- ficers on Seaman Street.” The vote passed 4-1, with other countries have video Carr explained, “The Board A resident from Market Street fers suing the Council instead of Councilman Tom Reilly the games with their kids, they have of Education will be paying for named Jeanette Perry came up Kushner because he (Kushner) only vote of no. Reilly ex- other things going on, but they their salaries.” to speak. She asked if the Land- may have more expensive law- plained in his public comments don’t have the mass killings that Balut replied back, “It’s still ings area was exempted when it yers.” Silber continued to talk that he didn’t believe this new we seem to have ever so often taxpayer’s dollars. It’s ridicu- came to road repaving. “We get about a staff member who worksordinance was fair to residents. in the United States.” snow removal. If we had that for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. lous how we are losing officers.” South Amboy is not the only “I think it’s about time some- There was a continuing discus- service, then the road should be “That person stepped down to town in New Jersey raising their body that is responsible take sion regarding Rector Street and repaved as well. It’s a nuisance work on her (AOC) reelection sewer user charges. Residents in up the challenge of trying to the Kushner Properties. to look at the open field.” Perry campaign. Our Public Relations Highland Park and Verona will do something, just to make our Resident and Businessman also mentioned that the part of officer and Chief of Staff should both have at least a 10 percent country safer,” he added. David Caba asked about the Rector Street that she had to increase in their charges this Wednesday’s meeting was the status of Rector Street Road Re- travel is so bad that she feels she *Continued on Page 2 year. last council meeting for Acting pairs. Back in July, Business Admin- Municipal Clerk Laura Kem- City Engineer Jefferey Rauch istrator Glenn Skarzynski men- ble. The city council conducted came up to respond, “We are Accident in Front of City Hall tioned that the city was “get- their final interview with the having preconstruction meet- ting hit with pretty substantial new Municipal Clerk during a ings with Z- Brothers Construc- repair bills” and that the sewers closed session at the 6:00 p.m. tion Company. We are looking needed to be upgraded. The city business meeting, and passed to repair Rector Street between chose to go with an incremental a resolution making the hiring Washington to Smith Street with increase over two years rather official at the regular 7:00 p.m. the exception of Commerce than immediately go to the in- council meeting. Street.” crease of $44.24 per year “Laura you’ve been with us a Council President William Pet- The council meeting began long time, you’ll always be part rick then spoke up, “We should with a moment of silence for the of the South Amboy family and put on their (Kushner’s) tax bill victims of the mass shootings I think I can speak on behalf of the part of Rector Street that is in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, the whole council, we all love their property that we fixed. If Ohio. Mayor Fred Henry urged you and think you did a great you have the grinder, then you the U.S. Government to step up job,” Council President Mickey should be able to do the whole and find a solution to end gun Gross said. street. If we can charge a senior violence in our country. All council members were in citizen to fix their sewer lines, “I’ve mentioned it once before attendance for both the business then we can back charge Kush- a couple years ago I believe, and meeting and regular council ner.” again pleading to Congress, the meeting. The next city council Councilman Fernando Irizarry United States, and the President meeting will be held on Sep- spoke up and said, “The City of the United States with these tember 18 at 7:00 p.m. should go after Kushner’s per- PERTH AMBOY - Accident in front of City Hall 8/7/19 mass killings to finally come up formance bond.” *Photo Submitted Petrick then reiterated that the South Amboy City Council Business Meeting 9/4/19 - 6 p.m.; Perth Amboy City Council Caucus 9/9/19 - 4:30 p.m.; Regular 9/9/19 - 7 p.m. 2. The Amboy Guardian * August 21, 2019 Questions Regarding Safety Issues at New Seaman Street School, Arguments Continue Over Kushner Properties, and Awarding Bid Contracts 8/12/19 Caucus & Council Meetings Resident Stanley Sierakowski plete design is a disaster.” *Continued from Page 1 asked, “Who is the defendant Stanley Sierakowski came and who is the plaintiff?” up to speak about R-332-8/19 step down at election time (if Council President William – Setting forth an interpretive they will be working on cam- Petrick responded, “We are the statement for inclusion on the paigns).” defendants and the Mayor is the November 5, 2019 General Resident Susan Batista came plaintiff.” Election Ballot regarding the up to speak regarding an update Law Director Peter King spoke holding of a runoff election. on the lawsuit she has against up and said, “Lawyers for the He asked, “What is the dead- some of the administrators and Council can be taken from the line to pass the resolution?” employees (past and present) list of approved lawyers from Law Director Peter King re- in the City. “People who are in- the City.” sponded, “The resolution would volved in lawsuits (defendants) There was a question about be to send it to the County Clerk have different interests.