1 1 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NEWARK 2 NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 3 THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022 4 x--------------------------------x 5 IN THE MATTER OF: * 6 THE REGULAR MEETING * TRANSCRIPT 7 OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY * OF 8 OF THE CITY OF NEWARK * PROCEEDINGS 9 Commencing at 5:00 p.m. * 10 x--------------------------------x 11 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NEWARK 12 500 BROAD STREET 13 NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 14 B E F O R E: 15 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NEWARK 16 NORMA GONZALEZ, President 17 FAUSTO BAEZ, Commissioner 18 BRIAN LOGAN, Commissioner 19 ALIF MUHAMMAD, Commissioner 20 IMAM DAUD HAQQ, Commissioner 21 PATRICK COUNCIL, Commissioner 22 23 24 ANTHONY HOFMANN, C.C.R. 25 LICENSE NO. XIO1854 2 1 PROFESSIONAL STAFF: 2 3 VICTOR CIRILO, Executive Director 4 KATIA OLIVEIRA, Executive Assistant 5 ELIO MENA, Counsel 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 3 1 I N D E X 2 PAGE 3 Opening Statement 4 4 Public Participation 5 By: Kim Barnes 5 6 By: Myrna Brown 9 7 By: Colleen Fields 15 8 By: Nevada Hall 19 9 By: Jacqueline Peoples 20 10 By: Dellon Garraway 23 11 12 13 RESOLUTIONS PAGE 14 H-1 through H-7 34 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 4 1 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Good evening, 2 everyone. Today is Thursday, July 28 at 5:00 p.m. 3 I am calling the Housing Authority City of Newark 4 Board meeting of Commissioners to order. 5 Director Cirilo, could you please read 6 the Open Public Meetings Act. 7 MR. CIRILO: Yes, thank you, Madam 8 Chair. 9 As required by N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 known 10 as the Open Public Meetings Act, notice of this 11 meeting was provided in the following manner. On 12 Tuesday, December 3, 2021 notice of this meeting 13 specifying the date, time and location was 14 transmitted to the Star Ledger, El Nuevo Coqui and 15 to the Clerk of the City of Newark. 16 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you. 17 Could we have a roll call, please. 18 MR. CIRILO: Yes, Madam Chair, roll 19 call. 20 Commissioner Council. Commissioner 21 Council. 22 Commissioner Haqq. 23 COMMISSIONER HAQQ: Present. 24 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Here. 5 1 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 2 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Here. 3 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Logan. 4 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Here. 5 MR. CIRILO: Chairperson Gonzalez. 6 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Present. 7 MR. CIRILO: Madam Chair, we have a 8 quorum. 9 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Could we please 10 go to the public participation. We have public 11 speakers. The first speaker is Kim Barnes. Is Kim 12 Barnes present? 13 MS. BARNES: Yes, I'm present. 14 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: You may start, 15 Ms. Barnes. 16 MS. BARNES: Good afternoon, 17 Commissioners. First and foremost, I'd like to give 18 a shout out to John Sweena who is continuously 19 providing food for Riverside Villa. 20 Secondly, I would like to say to those 21 who are on the Commissioner Board, those who are new 22 and that we don't know who they are as of the 23 present moment, I think y'all need to take a look in 24 the mirror for the simple fact for humanity because 25 that is what in our heart humanity for our residents 6 1 for Riverside Villa and to actually know that we had 2 an extreme emergency here that the Executive 3 Director, the manager, none of the Commissioners 4 showed up here at the time of that emergency. I 5 don't care if it was 2:00 a.m. in the morning, y'all 6 should have been here for our residents to make sure 7 that they had the accurate situation to be placed 8 where they needed to be placed. That's number one. 9 Number two is that my other issue is 10 that -- 11 MR. CIRILO: Ms. Barnes, we can't hear 12 you. Madam Chair, she may come back on. 13 MS. BARNES: Y'all in violation in the 14 stuff that y'all do and as residents y'all sweep the 15 stuff under the rug. That is what we are looking 16 at, y'all sweeping things under the rug and not 17 telling what we need to as residents. Y'all 18 treating us like we are just garbage. You are 19 treating us like we are garbage and we don't need to 20 know, but as residents we need public knowledge and 21 we need to know what is going on in Newark Housing 22 Authority. 23 Thank you. 24 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, Ms. 25 Barnes. We will provide you with a response to your 7 1 questions. 2 I would just like to add that 3 personally for myself and maybe my colleagues here 4 as Commissioners if there is an emergency at 2:00, 5 3:00 a.m. in the morning I don't have the capacity 6 as a public safety official. I'm normally aware of 7 what is going on. I leave that to our police 8 department, safety officials, people that are first 9 responders. I feel that I personally would be in 10 the way of any type of emergency. I do provide the 11 E.D. and everybody here at Newark Housing Authority 12 the support that's needed during an emergency, but I 13 honestly don't feel that I presently need to be at 14 an emergency in which I don't have public safety 15 training. That's why I respect what they do. So 16 thank you. 17 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Commissioner 18 Muhammad. 19 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes, sir. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Okay, Ms. 21 Barnes, are you talking about the fire that you 22 called me on? Is she talking about the fire? 23 MS. BARNES: Yes. 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I remember you 25 woke me up, but I figured that the pastor and them 8 1 had that, the fire that they had down there. 2 MR. ROUSE: Yes, everything was taken 3 care of. 4 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, 5 Commissioner, but that's what I am saying. That is 6 why we employ staff that is able to do that. So 7 thank you so much. 8 I would like to call our next speaker, 9 Myrna Brown, and please speakers we respect and 10 value your time here, but please talk about issues 11 that we as Commissioners and housing officials can 12 resolve. Thank you. 13 MR. CIRILO: Madam Chair, if I may 14 before Ms. Brown is extended the floor, I do want to 15 make mention that due to the issue with the 16 information technology systems, we are not able to 17 get the minutes from the last Board meeting in time 18 to properly create a response, a written response to 19 our speakers from the last Board meeting. However, 20 for this new session we are going to send double the 21 responses once we get the minutes which we received 22 at this point. 23 MS. OLIVEIRA: We will receive it. 24 MR. CIRILO: We will be receiving the 25 minutes very shortly from the last Board meeting. 9 1 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, 2 Director. 3 Myrna Brown. 4 MS. BROWN: Good afternoon, everyone. 5 Just to piggyback on that, when I come here I talk 6 about situations and what needs to be done, it is my 7 time. Now, I do have issues because this agency as 8 long as I have been able to be a representative for 9 tenants is responsible to help the residents to make 10 a safe and decent sanitary place for the people to 11 live. That is your mission statement. 12 Now, I am going to piggyback on what 13 Kim said and I think what she said is true, not that 14 the public safety did their part, but this agency 15 should have been there to assist that tenant at that 16 particular time some kind of way and they have been 17 doing that. When they had a situation on one of 18 their sites, they had the Commissioners, they had 19 the Director there to make sure your other staff 20 hear from you what needs to be done to help address 21 those tenants or that tenant. She called me too. I 22 was -- if that man had to sleep on the street, I was 23 upset with her. Call me, I could use the money and 24 put the man in the hotel. I don't think that 25 situation should have been like that as a resident. 10 1 I don't know all the details, but it's a fire. He 2 needed somewhere to stay where you are supposed to 3 make sure they have somewhere to stay at least at 4 that particular time until you get the situation 5 together and do what needs to be done. It happened 6 to him, it is going to happen to several other ones 7 in this agency and there is going to probably be 8 more. Let's make a plan to help these residents in 9 situations that you are supposed to help them with 10 that we can accommodate them to the best of your 11 knowledge. At least you can say I tried. That is 12 the best we can do. 13 The other thing now I came to y'all 14 and in June -- February about NJ230 and I knew once 15 you start hearing it now that you are partnership 16 with somebody. Nobody want to say nothing. We got 17 to take this stuff that they have been doing under 18 the cover just tell us. There ain't so much I could 19 do. I wanted to know what you are doing from it. 20 You moved me from there and other people and now you 21 sat with somebody and made a deal and now nobody 22 knows until it hits the news that you are going to 23 do home ownership with whoever bought the land. You 24 said you were selling it back in June. In June you 25 were selling it. Along with Ludlow Recreation 11 1 Training Center. So who bought it? Is these the 2 people that bought the training center along that is 3 going to be building the houses at NJ230 and I asked 4 were the tenants able to be replaced if they wanted 5 to back at that site. Nobody said nothing and you 6 do have tenants from that area in Section 8 that 7 chose Section 8 instead of staying on your property 8 and I think they should have first preference before 9 wherever you get these Section 8 people from to look 10 and see who was relocated from that area and I can 11 tell you if you need my assistance if y'all don't 12 seem to know. Let them make the choice if they want 13 it or not and then you work yourself. But I think 14 it's wrong the way we are being treated. 15 The next thing I hope y'all not 16 talking about changing Section 8 department. Leave 17 Mr. Knight crew alone. We are going to work on 18 issues. Leave him alone. Please don't be moving 19 him because y'all got stuff under the rug ain't 20 coming out yet, but it is too full. So I am saying 21 it now just to give you an idea. I have been 22 working with that man and the residents for over 23 three to four years. He has been very helpful since 24 Ms. June left. We have our own Board, they help 25 out, they got issues, everybody does, but he works 12 1 with the people to make it. Let's help them get the 2 issues straight before you bring somebody else in 3 because we don't know what they are going to bring 4 in. We don't know how they are going to treat us. 5 Now, you got us back up here again fussing how you 6 hired somebody and we need to see a presentation. 7 The RAB Board would like to know who 8 you are putting in there and we would like to have a 9 presentation of what this person is offering and 10 have some input because it is going to be in the 11 administrative plan as it's supposed to be. So we 12 are helping with the administration plan and that is 13 what I like to see. There is a RAB Board for 14 Section 8. 15 Congratulations to the new 16 Commissioners, but we need to know who they are 17 because we are going to present them and I hope 18 everybody got their book because as long as God give 19 me breath, I'm going to always come up and follow 20 the law what everybody is supposed to be following 21 in this agency and if not I have other ways of doing 22 it. Let's just keep it that way without going 23 another way. We are going to be respectful. 24 Thank you. 25 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you so so 13 1 much, Ms. Brown. We will provide you with a written 2 response just like the Director said at the previous 3 meeting and this current meeting. 4 The next speaker, Ms. Colleen Fields. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Commissioner 6 Muhammad, I have to say something and I think 7 Commissioner Baez has to say something too. 8 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: If you guys 9 address me, I will be more than happy to let you 10 speak. 11 Commissioner Baez, acknowledged. 12 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: According to what 13 Ms. Myrna Brown said about the residents, I strongly 14 believe that I would be saying that the resident 15 should have communication. They need to know what 16 is going on. It comes from everywhere. It comes 17 from housing service and housing authority. I 18 strongly believe the residents first and they need 19 to know what is going on. 20 Thank you. 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Commissioner 22 Muhammad. 23 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner 24 Muhammad. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I like the 14 1 idea and, Ms. Brown, you did ask for the last couple 2 years I remember you do asking about it and I didn't 3 know you lived there. I miss a lot of things you 4 said, but I like the idea that the Section 8 people 5 that move from there will get first option. That is 6 a good idea, you know, like, for instance, even the 7 person, you know, first option because it is a great 8 idea. The ownership is a great idea and they are 9 going to use Section 8 so it is a great idea, but 10 they did it through a federal procurement. They 11 just didn't pick somebody, they had to go through 12 proposals and everything, but it is a good idea 13 because it is better than somebody just renting. 14 It's ownership, it's ownership, but I like your idea 15 that if we could put it in there that the people 16 that actually lived there that had Section 8 that 17 they will have first option. I like that idea. 18 MS. BROWN: You can't amend it. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Why not, it is 20 not done yet. It is not voted on yet, Ms. Brown. 21 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner 22 Alif, I totally agree with that and I have always 23 been under the impression that first choice was 24 given to Section 8 residents. If not, definitely 25 that will be part of the amendment if not and I 15 1 would like for Director Cirilo to send out more 2 information on the home ownership. This is the new 3 trend for Section 8, but thank you so much. 4 Next speaker, Colleen Fields. 5 MS. FIELDS: Good afternoon, 6 As-Salam-u-Alaikum. Director Cirilo, I've been 7 trying to figure out what I was going to speak on 8 ever since Monday. There is so much issues so many 9 ugly things. Just about an hour before I came here 10 I wanted to know something. I wanted to know how 11 many black managers there were in the City of Newark 12 and I wanted to know how many Puerto Rican, Latinos 13 or whoever is here. I made a call, I don't know how 14 many blacks, but I heard that there was only five to 15 six. If that is not racism, I don't know what it 16 is. We just got to be honest and, like I said, a 17 lot of things that go on I think you send the black 18 and brown people and you know where to be found 19 because all that stuff is going on with them and 20 people was on life support and they shut -- they had 21 pneumonia and we still we don't get any water. They 22 didn't even want to really give those people water 23 and I think it is a shame. It is an abomination to 24 God. What this government is doing we know it is a 25 racist, bigoted government. We know that, but I 16 1 don't know how we can have black managers that treat 2 people like dogs. I don't get that. I just don't 3 get that. I know at the City Council I guess they 4 are giving away the black and brown and Puerto 5 Ricans to fight against each other, but I am not 6 trying to get that. It is a need for the people, 7 the people are suffering. Everybody down there 8 don't do no drugs, but there are a lot of them and 9 it is a shame what the security has become. Ever 10 since I have been down there we had three managers. 11 The first manager was Mr. Young, never had a problem 12 with Mr. Young. Everybody liked Mr. Young. I never 13 thought Mr. Young was a good manager. Then we had 14 Mr. Jackson. I didn't think he was good because he 15 allowed the security talk to us like dogs. Then 16 Rita came and that's been a fight ever since but, 17 you know, I'm a fighter, but I want to get out of 18 there. I've paid my dues. I talked to the gang 19 bangers. I stopped murders, I stopped a lot of 20 fighting, a lot of stuff. I did that on my own, but 21 once I found out that they don't want to do nothing 22 but sell drugs, they don't want no jobs, they 23 playing these games. Well, I don't want to be their 24 mother no more because you are destroying your own 25 community and I don't like that. Right is right and 17 1 wrong is wrong. We need more security down there. 2 We do. They done took over. They took over, but 3 they have always runed it. The drug people -- I 4 know I am calling my son and stuff, but even my own 5 daughter and my mother if I am wrong, I will tell 6 you I am wrong. That is not why I will say it, but 7 they always ran it. 8 When I got those benches before you 9 came, Rita tore the benches and things down, don't 10 want the people to sit outside. I had a problem 11 with them, but you let the drug dealers sit out 12 there every day twenty-four hours a day, but you say 13 you didn't want us to sit out there. I got those 14 beautiful benches and they were crooked too and I 15 hope I don't catch you in there because you know I 16 will fight you back. I'll fight you with life and 17 this tongue I got, you know I will. You are a 18 snake. I am trying to figure you out. I don't 19 know, but what y'all going to do for Sister Colleen. 20 Sister Colleen don't sell no drugs. I don't use 21 drugs. I used to read prayers, don't cuss or none 22 of that, devote Christian, but there is something 23 about Seth Boyden elderly. I have lived in 24 everywhere, but I have never lived in a place like 25 that. The people have the nerve to tell me, the 18 1 drug dealers, Sister Colleen don't move from here, 2 this is the best site. I was like this is the best 3 site? 4 So I was trying to get to James C. 5 White maybe it's too radical for them. Then I was 6 trying to go to Lincoln Park and I was supposed to 7 help that girl everything was shut down. The lady 8 shut me down, but I want to get out of there. I 9 have been there since 2010. I had to pull butcher 10 knives. I pulled a hammer four times. I fought two 11 of the girls because the crack heads because I know 12 the dope dealers told her to fight me and I whooped 13 her and I done told them y'all don't think old 14 people -- no disrespect, yes, we will because I am 15 from old school and you are not going to disrespect 16 me. 17 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, Ms. 18 Fields. 19 Before I call up the next speaker, I 20 would like to take another roll call because 21 Commissioner Patrick Council has just joined us for 22 the meeting. 23 MR. CIRILO: Yes, thank you, Madam 24 Chair. We just have to make sure the record shows 25 that Commissioner Council has joined the meeting. 19 1 We don't have to do a roll call. 2 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you. 3 Next speaker, Mr. Dellon Garraway. 4 Mr. Garraway. Is Mr. Garraway present? 5 If not, I would like to call the next 6 speaker, Nevada Hall. 7 MS. HALL: Hello. 8 MR. CIRILO: Hello, we can hear you. 9 MS. HALL: Hi, I'm calling because I 10 was having an issue with my lease. I have been a 11 resident all my life. Now, I had an incident with 12 my manager at Claremont Townhomes in 2020. The 13 incident has police involved and I had to go through 14 an inspection. The reason why I was in 2020 it had 15 just started so right now everything is dry. With 16 the case everything is clear, but I am trying to 17 have DCA help me with the rent, the back rent and 18 the manager is not accepting the rent. So my issue 19 is like what's going to be the next step with my 20 lease if they are not going to accept it? 21 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Ms. Hall, since 22 that's a question with your address and it is 23 personal matters, I will have the manager -- can you 24 hear me? I will have the manager and the Executive 25 Director call you after this meeting tonight. 20 1 MS. HALL: Yes. 2 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you. 3 MS. HALL: Okay, thank you. 4 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Next speaker, 5 please, Jacqueline Peoples. 6 MS. PEOPLES: Can you hear me? 7 MR. CIRILO: We can hear you well. 8 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes, we can. 9 MS. PEOPLES: The reason why I called, 10 the reason why I'm on Zoom tonight is because there 11 was a letter regarding twelve years ago you 12 displayed that property that you would bring me back 13 over there after you built the housing. I don't 14 know what happened to the money, you never built 15 housing. What is over there now is a trucking 16 tractor trailer depot. I can't understand. It's 17 broke, everything in the book. There is no reason 18 for that and then on the right side and they have 19 cameras over there with police and the law with 20 illegal dumping, all of that. I have pictures, but 21 yet you will not do anything. You allow the trucks, 22 Mr. Cirilo, to make the tractor trailer depot. I 23 don't understand it. It is really deplorable. Why 24 would you move people on a lot. HUD is not building 25 housing. You are not building housing. Where are 21 1 you building housing if you're selling land, where 2 are you building. I have a right to know. The 3 letter was generic. I was displaced. In the name 4 of Jesus, I love each and every person up there and 5 I pray for the organization that they receive you, 6 Father, in the name of Jesus that they repent for 7 the money that is not there to build housing for 8 people who are in poor situations and I thank you 9 for doing your thing and turned against the wicked 10 every day and I thank you for doing it in Jesus 11 name, Amen. 12 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, 13 Ms. Hall. I will make sure -- 14 MS. PEOPLES: I'm not Ms. Hall, I'm 15 Ms. Peoples. 16 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I'm sorry, 17 Ms. Peoples. 18 MS. PEOPLES: Who is this? 19 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: This was just 20 Chairwoman Gonzalez. I thought you were done, 21 Ms. Peoples, my apologies. 22 MS. PEOPLES: You always speak. There 23 is no reason for this. He sent me a generic letter. 24 Why I have to have a generic letter. I'm not 25 stupid. My mother did not do drugs with me so 22 1 what's going on with the housing, the building of 2 apartments. There is a lot of openings. There is a 3 lot of land opening. You can send somebody over 4 there and start building because what you have 5 planned over here where I'm at is to destroy. 6 What's going on, it is not to exterminate to bring 7 the place down and it is nothing but vacancies over 8 here so what are you doing? I don't trust anything 9 anymore. And I want some answers because I think 10 it's wrong. It makes no sense. Commissioner, I 11 would like an answer, please. 12 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Ms. Peoples, we 13 are going to send you a response to all your 14 questions and if you're done I thank you for letting 15 us know what your concerns are. 16 MS. PEOPLES: Yeah, because it's been 17 twelve years, Commissioner Gonzalez, twelve years 18 and it's a tractor trailer depot over here. I wish 19 I can send you pictures. 20 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I will stop by 21 next week and so will my Commissioners if they have 22 time. Thank you so much. 23 MS. PEOPLES: Thank you. 24 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Before we go 25 into the items for approval since I still have the 23 1 audience most of the speakers I would just like to 2 say that I have asked the E.D. and our law 3 department and all my Commissioners will be getting 4 an e-mail soon. Due to COVID changes rules and 5 regulations about being indoors, this is our last 6 meeting for the summer. We will be back in 7 September and if the COVID rules and regulations 8 remain the same as today, we will be asking everyone 9 to attend the live meetings at 500 Broad Street just 10 like hopefully we will start going out to public 11 meetings in your properties as well. Thank you. 12 Director Cirilo, items for approvals, 13 please. 14 MR. CIRILO: Yes, thank you, Madam 15 Chair. I just want to mention -- I want to mention 16 to you that Mr. Garraway is in the audience in case 17 you want to go back and request that he come up and 18 express his remarks. 19 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Mr. Garraway. 20 How are you? 21 MR. GARRAWAY: Thank you. So I'm here 22 with an update. I really wanted to say thank you to 23 a few different people. I wanted to thank the 24 executive assistants because while the system was 25 down I almost lost the unit that we are currently 24 1 working to get just because the landlord couldn't 2 reach anyone. I literally just needed words to say 3 to the landlord to let him know what was going on 4 and those are the words -- 5 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Can you speak up, 6 please. 7 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Let me give him 8 a microphone. 9 MR. GARRAWAY: So I was almost in the 10 process of losing the unit that we are currently 11 working with and the system went out and I just 12 needed some words to say to the landlord because he 13 was really becoming impatient and I couldn't reach 14 anyone, but the executive assistants were able to 15 give me the verbiage which I think really helped at 16 that time. 17 I wanted to say thank you to you, 18 Chairwoman Gonzalez, because it is really hard 19 reaching anyone. I had no idea the system was out. 20 I reached out to you after waiting weeks and I was 21 able to get a response and not only did I get a 22 response, things really started moving with the unit 23 and I really also want to say thank you to Mr. 24 Knight. I understand they made operations, I 25 completely understand how devastating a system 25 1 outage can be for an entire institution like this 2 and I'm really here to say thank you to Mr. Knight 3 because although it's been such a long and arduous 4 journey, it takes time and you still come back 5 around to do everything that you can and I really 6 wanted to say thank you for that. 7 Now, the unfortunate situation 8 although we are in the process of moving literally 9 waiting for an inspection, right, Mr. Knight, the 10 current landlord decided to file for eviction and 11 also suing for the back rent, the abated rent that 12 Section 8 owes. Mr. Knight has filed with that. He 13 is going to do everything in his power to make sure 14 that does not happen and not only will he not have 15 to pay that, but make sure it is next month kind of 16 thing. I really just wanted to know if there was a 17 plan or what that would really look like and in 18 preparing for that and that's really why I was here 19 this evening. Thank you very much. 20 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you so 21 much, Mr. Garraway. Glad to hear that you are 22 moving onto a new apartment and what I am going to 23 do is ask Elio, our counsel. We do have attorneys 24 that represent us for evictions so I am going to ask 25 Mr. Elio to look into that to help you with that 26 1 process as well. 2 MR. GARRAWAY: Thank you so much. 3 MR. CIRILO: That concludes the public 4 comment section. 5 Madam Chair and Commissioners, we are 6 pulling H-28-07-02 for further -- that's the 7 resolution regarding cashless laundry concession 8 services for further review. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Which one is 10 that, I'm sorry? 11 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Number two. 12 MR. MENA: Cashless laundry service. 13 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We are pulling 14 that one? How long are the seniors going to go -- 15 Commissioner Muhammad, may I speak. 16 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 17 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: How long is 18 the seniors going to go without a laundromat? We 19 have been going with this thing for a couple months. 20 Now you are talking about not until September. I am 21 a senior citizen. When I don't have a laundromat 22 downstairs, I have to go find a place. I have to go 23 out and find a place. The whole thing is for us to 24 have convenience. 25 MR. CIRILO: What the current 27 1 arrangements right now the equipment is there from 2 the previous vendor or do we have a situation where 3 we are at the mercy of the previous vendor and we 4 don't have that option. 5 MR. ROUSE: So that is true. We are 6 at the mercy of the previous vendor at this point. 7 The vendor has come out to make some repairs, but is 8 not obligated and is not making all repairs so that 9 is where we are. 10 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: What is our 11 position, what is going on? You're talking about 12 like to September now. This is something we are 13 supposed to get. I am not jumping on you, Pastor, I 14 am saying as Commissioners this is something that 15 came up last month that we were getting ready to 16 vote on that. We did a work session on it and then 17 it was deferred. Now it is deferred again. I mean 18 the seniors -- remember, seniors got to treat them 19 the best. They are the ones that brought us here. 20 Well, not they, me. I will be seventy years old 21 next year so what I am saying is I just don't know 22 what is going on that we are wheeling and dealing 23 over these laundromats. 24 Pastor, if you got a problem, you have 25 to speak up because these people are on your butt. 28 1 I know they are on your butt because they called me. 2 I got phone calls from the laundromat and I know 3 what it is like when you have to go outside, carry 4 your stuff all the way outside and wash it. I know 5 what it is like and we can't make up our mind what 6 we are going to do here. We don't meet until 7 September so if we make a deal with somebody in 8 September probably ain't going to be here until 9 October. You are talking about four months. Can we 10 get away with the senior citizens without a 11 laundromat for four months? 12 MR. ROUSE: I will defer to the 13 Executive Director. 14 MR. CIRILO: Madam Chair. 15 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes, sir. 16 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner, there are 17 some concerns about the length of the contract 18 within the Board and that is why we want to take a 19 look at that to see what kind of wiggle room we 20 have. Ten years is a long time. We also need to 21 look into the local public contracts law on whether 22 or not -- well, couple things, whether we can extend 23 contracts that long. That's number one. 24 And number two, whether if the vendor 25 does not move with respect to the ten years do we 29 1 have to go out again and bid. So I understand the 2 concern and your point is very well put. We may 3 even have to do this through an emergency resolution 4 if we have to, but I apologize, but it is mostly 5 internal concerns about the length of that contract. 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Okay, E.D. I 7 understand. I am a businessman. I understand that 8 because we are professionals. We are supposed to 9 take care of this business three or four months ago. 10 Let me ask you a question. Please don't cut me off 11 while I am talking. Let me ask you a question. Can 12 we make an extension maybe for six months with the 13 vendor we have now or a year? Can we do something 14 like that where the vendor that we have now maybe we 15 keep them for a year or six months. Can we do 16 anything like that, E.D. or Pastor, are you going to 17 answer? 18 MR. CIRILO: Well, local public 19 contracts law would allow for that. I mean there 20 is -- they would allow for that if those are the 21 wishes of the full Board. We can move in that 22 direction, but the answer is yes, you could do that. 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I would like 24 to make a motion to extend that contract for six 25 months or a year so we can get ourselves together so 30 1 the seniors got somebody taking care of the laundry 2 and fixing it because I remember you said last week 3 or week before last that they were pulling out 4 because they lost the deal so they just weren't 5 doing anything, but collecting money. So, 6 Councilman, not Councilman, I'm sorry, Commissioner 7 Gonzalez, that's the motion on the floor. 8 MR. ROUSE: However, we have one thing 9 we have to realize is that there is no contract 10 right now. So we would have to do a contract 11 because they have been working without a contract 12 and they have been doing it. They have been working 13 fixing machines, et cetera, et cetera without a 14 contract. So there is no contract. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Elio, what can 16 we do? 17 MR. MENA: I have to loot at the terms 18 of contract and also the local public contract laws 19 and see what our options are before we make a 20 decision. 21 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: That is what I 22 strongly recommend, that you look into it. I know 23 we are not going to have an answer tonight and just 24 like the Executive Director said there is an issue 25 with the term of the length of the first contract so 31 1 we will look at that. If we need to come back for 2 an emergency meeting during the month of August and 3 September, our Commissioners all will be available 4 to listen to that because of course seniors are our 5 priority, but we have to make sure that contracts 6 that we give out and sign on legal and right. So 7 thank you. 8 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Can we do 9 that? Can we agree we will come back and look at it 10 in two weeks? Can we do that, E.D., on a special 11 meeting or something like that? 12 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: If they have -- 13 if a special meeting is necessary and the E.D. and 14 the law department and Reverend Rouse are ready to 15 provide that within two weeks, I will make sure that 16 we have an emergency meeting. 17 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Excellent, 18 thank you. 19 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you. 20 Anyone else have any comments, 21 Commissioners? 22 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: You answered the 23 question. The problem is this is very important. 24 We need that, but the only problem I would love to 25 have that done is that ten years. Because we only 32 1 have five-year royalties on the money so what is 2 going to happen over the five years so I agree to 3 deferment. 4 MR. ROUSE: He explained it, but 5 absolutely we will talk about it, but a good 6 question and also I would like to say we have been 7 going out to the sites because we have been talking 8 about -- 9 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Reverend Rouse, 10 I would just like to say I mean we have Robert's 11 Rules of Regulations here that apply. If you are 12 going to speak, could I please acknowledge you? 13 MR. ROUSE: Yes, ma'am, okay. 14 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Reverend Rouse, 15 please, you are coming up. 16 MR. ROUSE: Yes, ma'am, I respect 17 that. May I please speak? 18 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 19 MR. ROUSE: We have been going out to 20 the sites which we do every summer and the capital 21 fund, one of the pluses about it there really has 22 not been a lot of hoopla about the washers and 23 dryers. I have been out there along with our staff 24 over the past couple weeks throughout the day and we 25 have had great attendance with our meetings with our 33 1 residents at our senior sites so it's a plus, but 2 they have not had a lot of questions about it or 3 things about it so honestly for whatever the former 4 company is doing, they have a good heart. They are 5 still doing a little bit here and there to make sure 6 our residents are satisfied, but we really need to 7 move forward because the newer machines what we get 8 is going to be much bigger than what we have now. 9 So thank you so much for the time. 10 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you. 11 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Madam Chair. 12 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner 13 Council. 14 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Just real 15 quickly on this matter so that we can ensure that 16 the narrative is given correctly. If there is 17 already an organization that is in place that is 18 continuing to handle it as Director Rouse indicated 19 they have been doing it out of the grace of their 20 heart, at some point we need to have conversation 21 about what that extension would look like while we 22 are trying to be prudent about what is happening 23 with the current lease and more importantly looking 24 at Title 40 and other procurement laws to see if we 25 can move in this direction which is vital. I would 34 1 suggest, again, that we would go out to the vendor 2 that we have in place, have the conversation about 3 what that extension would look like even if it is 4 until September it would give you that opportunity 5 where it doesn't rush anyone into doing anything 6 that we have to ensure that is done in a manner that 7 the organization benefits on both ends. So let's 8 please just be mindful of that as well. 9 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, 10 Commissioner Council. 11 Next resolution, please. 12 MR. CIRILO: Sure. The first 13 resolution reads that the NHA Board of Commissioners 14 authorize the Executive Director to execute a 15 contract with Scientific Water Conditioning Company 16 to provide water treatment to low-pressure boilers 17 at various NHA sites including Central Office for an 18 aggregate amount for two years or a hundred and 19 fifty thousand dollars, whichever comes first. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move 21 it. 22 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: I will second. 23 MR. CIRILO: On the motion, Madam 24 Chair. 25 Commissioner Council. 35 1 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Yes. 2 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Haqq. 3 COMMISSIONER HAQQ: Yes. 4 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 6 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 7 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 8 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Logan. 9 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 10 MR. CIRILO: Chairperson Gonzalez. 11 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 12 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 13 Madam Chair, the next resolution reads 14 resolution authorizing the execution of an amended 15 Redevelopment Agreement with an affiliate of the New 16 Jersey Performing Arts Center Corporation for a 17 portion of the former Seth Boyden Terrace site and 18 ratifying all prior actions taken in furtherance 19 thereof. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We are on 03, 21 right? 22 MR. CIRILO: Yes. 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Commissioner 24 Gonzalez. 25 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes, sir. 36 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: This is the 2 one I was concerned about that it was a blank check 3 and as a firemen, I don't like blank checks. So, 4 Elio, Commissioner Gonzalez gave me advice she said 5 you can vote no. What is stronger than a no? Can I 6 object, can I publicly object? I want it on the 7 record that I am not just saying no, I object. We 8 are in a climate that we are being watched here. 9 MR. MENA: Yes, you are certainly 10 entitled to make comments on the record in addition 11 to the vote. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: What I am 13 saying I am concerned about that because we are 14 being watched and I don't want to give anybody no 15 blank checks because the difference is here as you 16 know as the Federal agency we are the Commissioners, 17 the buck stop with us. We are civilly and 18 criminally responsible and we are responsible for 19 anybody in here that works for us or do something so 20 I just want to strongly -- can I say I want to 21 strongly object to it instead of just saying yes or 22 no? 23 MR. MENA: You can articulate your 24 reasons also on the record. 25 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Madam Chair, so 37 1 when we go through these resolutions, the proper 2 ruling of Robert Rules of Order is to have a motion, 3 a second and then move through it and then your 4 voice is considered in a vote nay or yay. So if 5 there is discussion then there should be a question 6 that is called for discussion after, not prior. So 7 we can please move through the agenda. 8 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you for 9 saying that for me, I was just about to. Could we 10 continue the roll call for this, please. 11 MR. CIRILO: We don't have a motion 12 yet or a second. 13 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: I make a motion 14 to accept. 15 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: I will second it. 16 MR. CIRILO: On the motion. 17 Commissioner Council. 18 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Yes. 19 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Haqq. 20 COMMISSIONER HAQQ: Yes. 21 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 22 Commissioner Muhammad. 23 Commissioner Baez. 24 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 25 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Logan. 38 1 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 2 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 3 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 4 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Madam Chair. 5 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 6 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Being that we 7 have a Commissioner that was present and did not 8 indicate a vote, we need to make sure that that vote 9 is put down as a no vote. 10 MR. MENA: Correct. 11 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, 12 Commissioner Council, I was just going to ask our 13 counsel who is here, Elio, to make sure he documents 14 that it was a no response which means no. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Commissioner 16 Muhammad. Commissioner Muhammad, I'd like to be 17 acknowledged. 18 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner 19 Muhammad. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Are you 21 acknowledging me? 22 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes, I am. 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Thank you so 24 much. Like I said, that I strongly object to that. 25 That is why I didn't want to put my voice on it and 39 1 I am telling you this agency is under federal 2 investigation and we should give nobody a blank 3 check. 4 Thank you. 5 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you. 6 Everything here is publicly recorded so thank you. 7 Could we please go on to the next 8 resolution. 9 MR. CIRILO: Madam Chair, the next 10 resolution reads resolution authorizing the 11 Executive Director to award a project to Foya 12 Development Group, L.L.C. subject to the negotiation 13 of the Development Agreement in order to develop 14 affordable home ownership units consisting of single 15 and two-family homes at the former Bergen Street 16 Villa site. 17 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Commissioner 18 Muhammad. 19 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes, 20 Commissioner. 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Can we add on 22 that Mrs. Brown's idea that the people that was 23 living there prior, can that be added on as an 24 amendment that the people that were living there 25 that had Section 8 that they would get first option. 40 1 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner, when we 2 draft the selection criteria we can certainly 3 prioritize. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I appreciate 5 that. Thank you so much, that's great. I just 6 think Ms. Brown had a wonderful idea, just a 7 wonderful idea, thank you. 8 MR. CIRILO: You're welcome. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move 10 it. 11 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Second. 12 MR. CIRILO: On the motion. 13 Commissioner Council. 14 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Yes. 15 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Haqq. 16 COMMISSIONER HAQQ: Yes. 17 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 18 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 19 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 20 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 21 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Logan. 22 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 23 MR. CIRILO: Chairperson Gonzalez. 24 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 25 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 41 1 Madam Chair, the next agenda item 2 reads resolution authorizing the Executive Director 3 to execute a contract with Nan McKay and Associates, 4 Incorporated for the administration of the Housing 5 Choice Voucher Program for an aggregate amount not 6 to exceed fourteen million one hundred thirty-six 7 thousand four hundred ninety-three dollars for four 8 years, whichever comes first. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Commissioner 10 Muhammad. 11 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner 12 Muhammad acknowledged. 13 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We talked to 14 this privately about this, Elio. You were saying in 15 the procurement that we have forty-two people that 16 work downstairs. Twenty-seven are Newarkers and you 17 were saying that part of the procurement process was 18 you're trying to keep the workers that we had. 19 Could you explain that to us? 20 MR. MENA: As part of the solicitation 21 all interested parties were required to make their 22 best effort to retain the current staff subject to 23 them having the discretion to screen for competency 24 and then those that they deem were competent they 25 would be extended a right of first refusal. 42 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Okay, I wanted 2 that on the record. 3 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: I make a motion. 4 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: You would like 5 to make a motion. 6 Director. 7 MR. CIRILO: We don't have a second. 8 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: We have a 9 motion. Do we have a second? 10 MR. CIRILO: We don't. If we don't 11 have a second, then there is no vote. 12 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Chair, I'm sorry, 13 can we go to a special meeting on this to discuss 14 this a little more further. 15 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: No, not right 16 now. Does anyone have any questions? There was a 17 motion to call for a second. No one has seconded it 18 so we will go onto the next resolution. 19 MR. CIRILO: Madam Chair, the next 20 resolution reads a resolution amending Resolution 21 H-22-23-06-08 and ratifying an amended agreement for 22 professional services awarded to Vanasse Hangen 23 Brustlin, Incorporated in the amount of four hundred 24 seven thousand eight hundred sixty-four dollars and 25 eighty-five cents for the performance of site 43 1 investigation services in association with grant 2 funds awarded by the New Jersey Department of 3 Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Economic 4 Development Authority. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move it 6 for you. 7 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: I will second that 8 one. 9 MR. CIRILO: On the motion. 10 Commissioner Council. 11 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Yes. 12 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Haqq. 13 COMMISSIONER HAQQ: Yes. 14 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 16 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 17 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 18 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Logan. 19 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 20 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 21 COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ: Yes. 22 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 23 Madam Chair, the next resolution reads 24 resolution amending resolution H-22-23-06-09 25 authorizing acceptance of Hazardous Discharge Site 44 1 Remediation Fund grant in an amount of up to three 2 hundred sixty-three thousand seven hundred twelve 3 dollars and twenty-five cents for site investigation 4 at the Seth Boyden Terrace site. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move it 6 for you. 7 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Second. 8 MR. CIRILO: On the motion. 9 Commissioner Council. 10 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Yes. 11 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Haqq. 12 COMMISSIONER HAQQ: Yes. 13 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 14 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 15 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 16 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 17 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Logan. 18 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 19 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 20 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 21 MR. CIRILO: Motion passes. 22 Madam Chair, that concludes the agenda 23 for the day. 24 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I would like to 25 take a roll call to adjourn this meeting, please. 45 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move it 2 for you. 3 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Second. 4 MR. CIRILO: On the motion. 5 Commissioner Council. 6 COMMISSIONER COUNCIL: Yes. 7 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Haqq. 8 COMMISSIONER HAQQ: Yes. 9 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Muhammad. 10 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 11 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Baez. 12 COMMISSIONER BAEZ: Yes. 13 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Logan. 14 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 15 MR. CIRILO: Commissioner Gonzalez. 16 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 17 MR. CIRILO: The meeting is adjourned. 18 19 (Whereupon, the proceedings were 20 concluded at 6:00 p.m.) 21 22 23 24 25 46 1 C E R T I F I C A T E 2 3 I, ANTHONY HOFMANN, a Certified Court 4 Reporter, and Notary Public within and for the State 5 of New Jersey, certify that the foregoing is a true 6 and accurate transcript of the stenographic notes of 7 said witness(es)who were first duly sworn by me, on 8 the date and place hereinbefore set forth. 9 10 11 12 ___________________________ ANTHONY HOFMANN, C.C.R. 13 LICENSE NO. XIO1854 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25