CITY OF HACKENSACK
MINUTES
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012
A special Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting of the City Council of the City of Hackensack was held at City Hall, 65 Central Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey, on Tuesday, March 6, 2012.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Meneses and he asked the City Clerk to call the roll.
Present: Mayor Jorge E. Meneses, Deputy Mayor Michael R. Melfi, Councilman Marlin Townes, Councilwoman Karen K. Sasso, Councilman John P. Labrosse, City Manager Stephen Lo Iacono and City Attorney Joseph C. Zisa.
Mrs. Heck stated: “In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, Laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by sending a notice to The Record and the Star-Ledger and by posting a copy on the Bulletin Board in City Hall."
Mr. Lo Iacono announced that Dennis Calo, Esq. was present to discuss pending police litigation and a motion was made by Councilman Labrosse and seconded by Councilman Townes to go into closed session.
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the City of Hackensack deem it necessary to discuss certain actions under Section 7b7 & 7b8 of the Open Public Meetings Act which pertains to matters falling within attorney-client privilege and personnel matters concerning the employment of a current or prospective public employee(s).
WHEREAS, the discussion more specifically involves: litigation*, personnel issues which may or may not include various disciplinary matters, possible contracts and expenditure of public funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of the City of Hackensack deem it necessary to exclude the public from this discussion. The outcome of the discussion will be disclosed within 90 days or at such time as the interests of the City do not require confidentiality.
The meeting returned to open session at 7:30 p.m.
Steve Wielkotz and Tammy Zucca were present to discuss the 2012 budget.
Deputy Mayor Melfi and Councilman Labrosse were part of the budget process again this year and they have been working on same since October of 2011.
Mr. Lo Iacono explained all aspects of the budget and gave a detailed explanation of how the money is being spent.
The budget is being introduced early this year as the State has issued a Local Finance Board notice announcing that the budget needs to be introduced no later than March 9, 2012. The hearing is scheduled for April 3, 2012 at which time the public will have a chance to comment on the introduced budget. Amendments or adjustments may be made before that time.
Mr. Lo Iacono praised Tammy Zucca for an outstanding job and said that the City is very fortunate to have a great work crew. He also said that there are well over fifty positions that have not been filled, but there is no reduction in services. He said that Englewood was going to give up some services in order to get a 0% increase. Mr. Lo Iacono also said that the City will need to make some cap purchases that have been postponed and that money has been provided for some bonding.
A motion to open the meeting to the public was made by Deputy Mayor Melfi and seconded by Councilwoman Sasso.
Kathy Canestrino, 37 Brook Street, said that a nice job had been done on the handouts and that it was a nice way to show that the Council is focused on this budget. She also said that she would like to see the Mayor and Council come up with some sort of action plan to attack some other items. Mrs. Canestrino asked why workers compensation had doubled this year and Mr. Lo Iacono answered her question.
As no one else wished to be heard, a motion was made by Councilwoman Sasso and seconded by Councilman Townes to close the public portion of the meeting.
A motion was made by Councilwoman Sasso and seconded by Councilman Townes to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
Roll Call: Ayes – Labrosse, Townes, Sasso, Melfi, Meneses
APPROVED by the Mayor and Council on ______
ATTEST: ______
CITY CLERK
*Litigation may involve the discussion of the following cases: Dakka, Sabbagh, Sarapuchiello, Mellone and/or federal civil litigation, Hector, EVAL, Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, tobacco violations, elevator contract and Boykin.
**Personnel may also include various disciplinary matters.