6. The Amboy Guardian *May 20, 2020Public Meeting onSpecial Resolution5/7/20 Special Council Meeting viaBy: Carolyn MaxwellPERTH AMBOY – R-157-5/20– Authorizing extending thegrace period for second quarter2020 taxes.Just before the meeting startedTax Accessor Nancy Martinsaid, “Over 6,000 accountswere paid of the 9,017 on thetax records."The public was allowed tospeak first. The only personto speak was Resident JeremyBaratta. He was concerned becausethis special meeting wasnot publicized. “If it was postedon the bulletin board in cityhall, there is no access to thebuilding. These meetings needto be posted on the city websitewith a link.”City Clerk Victoria Kupschresponded, “The meeting wasposted on the city website witha link to the zoom App.”Councilman Fernando Irizarryalso reminded the public, “Thisresolution is according to whatthe Governor requested that themunicipalities do.”Business Administrator FrederickCarr then read the entireresolution presented to the municipalitiesfrom the Governor'sOffice.Councilman Fernando Irizarrymoved the resolution. CouncilmanHelmin Caba seconded it.Everyone voted “yes”. Resolutionpasses.Public Portion:Resident Jeremy Baratta spokeagain. “The Governor gave theextension for the second quarterof paying 2020 to June 16 th .”Carr responded, “For the(property) taxes, the grace periodis 20 days. The 30-day graceperiod was for wearing masks.”The public portion was closed.Council Comments:Councilman Helmin Cabasent his condolences to all wholost a loved one to COVID-19.He then had a question aboutthe location of the COVID-19testing centers.Council President Petrick responded,“They originally weresupposed to be located on outerState Street and near the Buckeyeproperties.”B.A. Carr responded, “Thesetwo areas were supposed to bethe original sites, but they areprivate property. The marinaproperty which the test locationwas moved to, is owned bythe city, and we have insurancethere.”Caba continued, “We needto start sanitizing all the testingareas since other cities andcounties do that. Our numbersare out of control. I know wedo more testing, but we need todo a lot more sanitizing of ourtest sites. Could it be maybe wehave a money issue? We shouldlook into having hazardous payfor some of our city employeessuch as the police, EMTs, firefighters.”Petrick wanted to know, “Howmuch do you suggest?”Caba said, “They are puttingtheir lives at risk.”Petrick responded, “They dothat all the time as part of theirjobs.”Phone ConferenceLaw Director Peter King whowas listening to the meetingsaid, “This can be put as a partof the next agenda.”Petrick responded, “Thismeeting taking place now is nota regular meeting.”Councilman Irizarry also expressedhis condolences to allwho lost a loved one, “We arepraying for you. I want to thankeveryone who does any type ofservice to the city.”Councilman Joel Pabon wantedto thank the police departmentwho installed an essentialcamera at the waterfront tomake sure people were doingsocial distancing. He thankedthe Department of Public Worksfor keeping the city clean andthe garden club who is still outthere working on the city gardens."It is important to use socialmedia to spread the wordof the importance of social distancing.Keep praying and staysafe."Councilwoman Milady Tejedathanked all who prayed for herfamily (on the recent passingof her father). “It was a difficultfor me, but I know it was worsefor others, and I pray for them.I want to thank the nurses fortheir compassion for my fatherand my family. (It was NationalNurses Week). I want to thankall the city employees for a jobwell done.”Council President WilliamPetrick commented, “Peoplehave called me with concernsabout the bodegas and how tokeep our citizens safe. We needto use the health department toreach out to the bodega ownersin a better timeframe.”B.A. Carr responded, “The policehave reached out to the bodegas.Two beauty salons wereopen and not paying attentionto the laws about essential services.The waterfront is open,but not the playgrounds. Thefishing pier is open with signagestating: “Stay 6 feet apart.”Petrick spoke again, "TheHealth Department has morecontact with the stores. We (thecouncil) want to be put on thefront page of the website. Alsoon that page, put up the meetinginformation, the agenda withthe backup material and all thecontent, instead of people havingto navigate to the third page.We should defund the websiteif we can’t be identified quicker.I am not in favor of anotherpublic relations company beinghired. Everyone: stay safe.”The meeting was over at 5:28p.m. All council members werepresent.See Governor Phil MurphyExecutive Order#130 on page5.Attend PublicMeetingsHave YourVoice Heard!Middlesex County Students Recognized inPDFNJ Statewide Fourth Grade Folder ContestPress Release 5/13/20MILLBURN, NJ — More than3,400 fourth grade studentsfrom across New Jersey showedoff their artistic skill as part ofthe Partnership for a Drug-FreeNew Jersey’s Design a FourthGrade Folder contest this year,but only 28 earned recognitionat the program award ceremonyheld virtually on Tuesday, May12th. To view the presentationplease visit: http://www.drugfreenj.org/2020online/Four of this year’s finalistsare from Middlesex County.Madison Santiago of JamesMcDivitt Elementary School inOld Bridge, Mia Joo of PerthAmboy Catholic School inPerth Amboy, and Lisa Tooleyand Kaylin Milius of Alan B.Shepard Elementary School inOld Bridge were selected as finalistsin the competition. All28 fourth grade student finalistswill receive medals for theircreative peer-to-peer substanceuse prevention artwork followingthe theme “Fun Things toDo Instead of Drugs.”“These young students shouldbe commended not only fortheir hard work and artisticability, but also for their strongdrug-free and healthy-lifestylemessages they have deliveredto their peers.” said AngeloValente, Executive Director ofthe Partnership for a Drug-FreeNew Jersey. “We are so gladthat we were able to host thisvirtual ceremony to recognizetheir achievements.”“The Fourth Grade Foldercontest is an effective way toengage students and educatethem to make healthy lifestylechoices for their future,” saidKaylin MiliusMadison SantiagoValente. “Early prevention effortsare vital to instilling theimportance of substance abuseprevention and leading a drugfreehealthy lifestyle.”Best known for its statewidesubstance use prevention advertisingcampaign, the Partnershipfor a Drug-Free NewJersey is a private not-for-profitcoalition of professionals fromthe communications, corporateand government communitieswhose collective mission is toreduce demand for illicit drugsLisa TooleyMia Jooin New Jersey through mediacommunication. To date, morethan $100 million in broadcasttime and print space has beendonated to the Partnership’sNew Jersey campaign, makingit the largest public service advertisingcampaign in New Jersey’shistory. Since its inceptionthe Partnership has garnered174 advertising and public relationsawards from national,regional and statewide mediaorganizations.Raising $100,000 to Purchase Food forPerth Amboy’s Families in NeedDonations Needed Today, Cupboardsare Empty in Too Many HouseholdsPress Release 5/12/20PERTH AMBOY – Many familiesin Perth Amboy are facingshortages of food and basicnecessities. Each day, thecity’s residents are gathering onever-longer lines as they seeksupplies at local food pantries,houses of worship and feedingprograms. The daily demand isfar greater than the supply ofdonated food.A private and public alliancehas emerged in Perth Amboy,and its mission to rapidly raise$100,000 to purchase and contributefood and essential itemsto households. CPA COVID-19-HELP for Perth Amboy wasformed immediately after theCity of Perth Amboy and theCelebrate Our Stars & Stripescommittee canceled the annualfireworks event that marksAmerica’s Independence Day.Perth Amboy Mayor WildaDiaz and Barry Rosengarten,chairman of Celebrate our Stars& Stripes, are asking companiesthat helped sponsor thefireworks display to donatethose sponsorship funds to thenot-for-profit CPA COVID-19-HELP for Perth Amboy organization,which is acceptingcontributions from all donors.In introducing the CPA COV-ID-19-HELP for Perth Amboy,Mayor Diaz said, “We are raisingfunds to aid families whoare running out of food and arewithout resources to feed theirhouseholds. Food scarcity is areality for too many in our community.Our mission is to continueto support our neighborsduring this healthcare and economiccrisis, which has placedthe biggest burden on our city’smost vulnerable families.”Families that need food deliveriesmay contact Mayor Diaz’soffice at 732-826-7121 or bysending an email to mayorsoffice@perthamboynj.org.Caring companies, individuals,and organizations are askedto make their contributions today.Donors may contributeonline by going to CPA COV-ID-19-HELP for Perth Amboywebsite.Contributions may alsobe mailed to CPA COVID-19-HELP, 211 Front Street, P.O.Box 999, Perth Amboy, N.J.08862. Please make checks payableto CPA COVID-19 HELP.Mr. Rosengarten said, “Peopleare in dire straits, and they needour help, now! We are countingon your generous contributions.Your rapid response will make adifference for families that aregoing hungry, getting by on justone or two meals a day.”All donated funds will be usedto purchase food. CPA COVID-19-HELP for Perth Amboy isalso receiving donations fromfood companies, supermarketsand local markets. The city’sDepartment of Social Servicesis storing cartons and cases offood, and the staff is deliveringthe supplies to needy households.Director of Human ServicesKenny Ortiz and the department’steam are organizingthe logistics and deliveries.
CELEBRATING MEMORIAL DAYMay 20, 2020 * The Amboy Guardian .7
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