1 1 HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NEWARK 2 NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 3 THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 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 EDDIE OSBORNE, Commissioner (Absent) 18 MARTINIQUE COSTA, Commissioner 19 FAUSTO BAEZ, Commissioner (Absent) 20 BRIAN LOGAN, Commissioner 21 ALIF MUHAMMAD, Commissioner 22 23 24 ANTHONY HOFMANN, C.C.R. 25 LICENSE NO. XIO1854 2 1 PROFESSIONAL STAFF: 2 3 VICTOR CIRILO, Executive Director (Absent) 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: Myrna Brown 6 6 By: Kim Barnes 10 7 By: Stephanie Townes 14 8 By: Colleen Fields 17 9 By: Viola Thomas 21 10 11 Items for Approval 25 12 13 RESOLUTIONS PAGE 14 H-1 through H-10 40 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 4 1 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I'm going to 2 call tonight's meeting to order. 3 Will you be sitting in for Director 4 Cirilo tonight? 5 MR. MENA: Yes, I will. 6 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Could you 7 please take a roll call so we can start the meeting. 8 MR. MENA: As required by N.J.S.A. 9 10:4-6 known as the Open Public Meetings Act, notice 10 of this meeting was provided in the following 11 manner. On December 3, 2021 notice of this meeting 12 specifying the date, time and location was 13 transmitted to the Star Ledger, El Nuevo Coqui and 14 to the Clerk of the City of Newark. 15 Madam Chairwoman, I'm ready to start a 16 roll call. 17 Commissioner Osborne. 18 Commissioner Baez. 19 Commissioner Muhammad. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Here. 21 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 22 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Here. 23 MR. MENA: Vice Chairperson Logan. 24 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Here. 25 MR. MENA: Chairperson Gonzalez. 5 1 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Present. 2 MR. MENA: Madam Chairwoman, we have a 3 quorum. 4 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: After the roll 5 call we are going to start calling up the public 6 speakers. Is the first speaker available, Ms. Myrna 7 Brown. 8 MR. MENA: Ms. Brown. 9 In accordance with the Public Meetings 10 Act N.J.S.A. 10:4-1, the Housing Authority of the 11 City of Newark opens every public meeting for 12 comments of the public. Each person choosing to 13 speak at the meeting will be limited to five minutes 14 to speak on any subject on or off the agenda. All 15 speakers must state their name and address for the 16 record. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 10:4-12 of the 17 New Jersey Statutes, nothing in the Act shall be 18 construed to limit discretion of a public body to 19 permit, prohibit or regulate the Act of 20 participation at any meeting. Please be advised 21 that the Housing Authority of the City of Newark 22 will not entertain any comments from persons who 23 communicate obscene material, make statements which 24 are considered bias, intimidating or which a person 25 intends to intimidate any individual group or 6 1 individual because of race, color, religion, gender, 2 handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity or makes 3 comments intending to harass or speak in any 4 offensive language. The person who makes these 5 statements will relinquish their allotted five 6 minutes for public discussion. Any person who 7 persists on speaking out of turn or interrupts the 8 peace and order of the meeting will be escorted off 9 the premises. 10 First speaker, Myrna Brown. 11 MS. BROWN: Good afternoon, everyone. 12 MR. MENA: Good afternoon. 13 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Good afternoon, 14 Ms. Brown. 15 MS. BROWN: My first question is was 16 there any amendment or modified added to the plan 17 for 2021? First question. If so, if you modify or 18 amend anything to that plan, I would like to know 19 why the RAB Board wasn't advised or informed 20 whatever you put in the plan or took out the plan. 21 The RAB Board is supposed to be informed according 22 to the 964 RAB law. 23 My other question is I want to go back 24 to my question from when I was clarifying about 25 money. What I meant by the money of this agency, I 7 1 am talking about the money that this agency gets 2 that provides for your staff to operate and do 3 things for the tenants. What I meant is that you 4 keep hiring people, giving people raises and they 5 don't know what they are doing or they need more 6 training. They train more than anybody trains 7 anybody. Next time I turn around there is training 8 for managers, training for the manages for the last 9 years. That money I never heard nothing that was 10 done for tenants. You have these contractors come 11 in. I don't hear y'all hiring a tenant of none of 12 these contracts, not even hire a tenant on staff in 13 any kind of way. They have skills just like these 14 people have hired supposed to have skills to do the 15 work to help the people. You should be able to hire 16 the tenants if you could spend their money and party 17 with it. They use the Housing Authority money to do 18 those things and purchase things for your site. 19 That is what I am talking about because I was 20 talking about the money that HUD gives for this 21 agency. While putting it in your pocket means 22 giving raises to people, hiring people, friends, 23 family, whoever, but it's never put out there for 24 residents that you are hiring any position and they 25 could be qualified for those positions. I think if 8 1 we are going to come together and work together 2 tenants should be too. 3 Self-sufficiency improvement. If you 4 want a tenant to be self-sufficient, you should help 5 too. That would be less money you would have to pay 6 their portion of rent because they are working. So 7 we should be helping them too. And jobs, it ain't 8 got to be the top, but somebody should take the top 9 director spot that you have people in. I think it 10 is unfair to the people the way they are being 11 treated on that matter, but I will come back at a 12 later date because I did some HUD guidelines that we 13 can address. 14 MR. MENA: Thank you, Ms. Brown. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Commissioner 16 Muhammad. 17 MR. MENA: Yes. 18 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Ms. Brown, 19 thank you for inviting me to your meeting. The 20 reason I have -- I have two questions. I asked was 21 there a site for you guys, you know, for Section 8 22 association. I also asked a question that y'all 23 have a permanent place to meet and I asked the 24 question that can we somehow pass the housing fliers 25 out to tell people of Section 8 what you guys are 9 1 doing. So I don't know, I hope you got those 2 answers for them about y'all needing money like the 3 TAs get money. 4 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner, 5 excuse me. Commissioner Alif, were you asking the 6 speaker questions because her time wasn't up and we 7 don't answer questions during these sessions. 8 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: She had 9 finished. I can't see on Zoom. She's finished. I 10 went to that meeting. I got things to say about the 11 meeting because of the situation. They represent 12 just as many people as public housing so I want them 13 to answer the questions for me. 14 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: We can meet 15 with Section 8 director Duane after this meeting or 16 we can schedule a meeting, but Ms. Brown, thank you 17 so much for your time and thank you, Commissioner 18 Alif. 19 Second speaker, are we ready, Mr. 20 Mena. 21 MS. BROWN: Commissioner Gonzalez, I 22 still had a minute or something. 23 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Sorry, my 24 apologies. Just like the Commissioner said, you 25 stopped so you have your fifty-nine seconds. 10 1 MS. BROWN: There was a minute or 2 something, but it will take less than that what I am 3 about to say. The 964 it says that if you have two 4 RABs at any housing authority, we have the right to 5 the same RAB. We are supposed to be treated the 6 same way the other RAB is treated and I will bring 7 that document and proof back next month so you can 8 see. It is in the 964, 903.13 and you can also go 9 to Exhibit 11-1 Resident Advisory Board from the 10 public that tells you how you have to do the public 11 housing RAB Board from HUD. 12 Thank you. 13 MR. MENA: Ms. Brown. Next speaker, 14 Kim Barnes. 15 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, 16 Ms. Brown. Next speaker, Kim Barnes, please. 17 MS. BARNES: Kim Barnes, 47 Riverside 18 Court. I need to go back a little ways because I 19 put in for my questions for Section 3 workers and 20 according to HUD guidelines there is not Section 3 21 workers. So human resources need to go back and 22 look at the CFR 24.135-32 and 138 -- I mean 135. 23 They need to look at 135. Then they need to look at 24 135-38 and get back to the Section 8. It says 25 special circumstances when you are filling out a 11 1 Section 8 like over housed, under housed, elderly, 2 family, health, medical, safety, emergency and 3 townhouses. My thing was that a resident had put in 4 for Section 8. She had a medical, they told her 5 that it was only open to seniors, not true. She's 6 not a senior. 7 Now, to you, Commissioner Muhammad, 8 you said the standard bedroom size on Page 275 of 9 the annual plan adult can share a bedroom with a 10 minor and can be of any sex, I mean the same sex. 11 Now, the other thing that I am coming 12 for because I am totally upset and angry someone 13 broke into my car this weekend. We were giving an 14 event for the Father's Day weekend. So all of us 15 were out there and I had to rethink that. I have to 16 give a shout out to Captain Broner who assisted with 17 everything. My thing is that now they need to step 18 up the game because I asked the security be 19 increased because the summer is coming, kids are out 20 of school now and they are doing what they want to 21 do. They are still partying. My thing is at night 22 they come in after they leave. Hours need to be 23 changed because, guess what, our residents in the 24 back don't feel safe and we have more that live in 25 the back and we people back there and they use the 12 1 lawn. The thing I got was when they roll the 2 cameras back that you could not see the person's 3 face, but guess what, y'all got the same cameras 4 that the prison system got and you have pictures 5 there. I don't want to hear that you can't tell who 6 went into my car because, guess what, if I was 7 really rowdy and ghetto and do what I wanted to do, 8 those kids would have been laid out because that's 9 causing problems. 10 And then they are allowing where the 11 people that coming to visit, whoever they visiting 12 on the complex, they need to sign in and as a person 13 that they visit need to be held accountable for 14 their guests. Because my residents don't feel safe. 15 We don't feel safe at all and it's just anybody just 16 could come in and then y'all keep saying y'all don't 17 have money, money, y'all broke, y'all broke, but you 18 keep giving raises to these unions. Y'all sending 19 millions and millions of dollars for projects and 20 that is another thing as residents we should have an 21 input. We used to have an input when y'all had your 22 work session. Y'all took that away from us. Then 23 you tell us when we are getting ready to look at the 24 annual plan we only have forty-five days when you 25 only get one book at the manager's office. Manager 13 1 don't let you sit in her office and read that whole 2 entire book when you have to be back in by September 3 because y'all getting ready to do the annual plan 4 next month. Y'all need -- it says in there it needs 5 to be amended and addressed and take out. It has 6 not been amended. All they did was gone in there 7 and take words around. We are not stupid so y'all 8 need to stop treating us like we are stupid because 9 we are not. You wonder why these people are moving 10 out because they don't feel safe. It is nothing 11 being done, but you are spending our money and y'all 12 fail to realize that y'all work for us. If it 13 wasn't for us, you wouldn't have a job. No, they 14 don't think that. They think we are stupid and we 15 are not. Like I said, Baez needs to get back to me 16 because I don't like not being addressed back 17 because he can give me a courtesy call and Section 18 8. 19 Thank you. 20 MR. MENA: Yes, Commissioner. 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Duane, didn't 22 we pass a resolution where it was a one shot or one 23 adult in a studio? What is the rule on that because 24 I was trying to tell her that. Could you tell her 25 that later. Tell Ms. Barnes later because remember 14 1 we changed the resolution because it was an adult 2 that we had a resolution. Could you explain that to 3 Ms. Barnes. We changed it. We made a resolution. 4 I don't know if Elio remember. 5 MR. MENA: If you can follow up with 6 Ms. Barnes after the meeting and also let 7 Ms. Oliveira know that she can put the response in 8 writing as well. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Sure. 10 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, 11 everyone. Thank you, Ms. Barnes. Definitely follow 12 up with the Section 8 Director as Commissioner Alif 13 recommended. 14 Next speaker, please, Mr. Mena. 15 MR. MENA: Stephanie Townes. 16 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Is Ms. Townes 17 available? 18 MR. MENA: Yes, she is. 19 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Hi, Ms. Townes. 20 MS. TOWNES: Hi, how you doing? Good 21 evening, everyone. I am just here to get an update. 22 It's been a lengthy situation with myself and Newark 23 Housing Authority about being accommodated. I am 24 not here to say what y'all did and did not do. 25 Y'all aware of what happened, however, I would like 15 1 an update on when will I be accommodated. Now, we 2 started off good. I have dismissals from 3 Ms. Gudin's office. I need an update on the removal 4 of all of these court challenges of my name. I have 5 twenty plus court in my name that all have been 6 dismissed. I can't move, I cannot accommodate, 7 these are hindering my process of obtaining a 8 housing for me and my son. I keep stressing the 9 fact that I have a disabled child. I don't 10 understand why I have not been accommodated. What 11 is going on with Newark Housing Authority. How can 12 we move forward because it's been going on for too 13 long. Back and forth to court, left and right and I 14 just keep going back from court to court. How can 15 we move forward. That is all I want to know. 16 Someone give me an update to that. 17 MR. MENA: For the record, Ms. Townes 18 has a pending litigation against the Housing 19 Authority. She has a right to speak, but I advise 20 that we don't respond. 21 MS. TOWNES: The litigation you are 22 speaking on is a personal injury that my child 23 suffered some mold and not only one apartment in 24 Newark Housing Authority, but another apartment in 25 Newark Housing Authority. So you are speaking on a 16 1 personal injury that my child suffered an injury. I 2 am speaking on the litigation that you all through 3 Gudin had me in court on false allegations, 4 nonpayment on rent on an apartment that I have not 5 been living in that the mold level is elevated. So 6 you cannot even compare the personal injury that my 7 son has with what I am dealing with. I can't 8 take -- that personal injury is not in landlord 9 tenant court. That personal injury is not hindering 10 me from moving so I would like an update on the 11 Newark Housing Authority issue of me not being 12 accommodated. Not what happened with my son because 13 you can't speak to that. That doesn't have -- those 14 are two different things. You can't speak on that 15 so I just would like an update on when I am going to 16 be accommodated. 17 Mr. Mena, you are the general counsel. 18 I'm not, you know, here to waste anyone's time. I 19 would just really like a reasonable response on when 20 I will be accommodated. Can y'all give me an 21 answer? 22 MR. MENA: Ms. Townes, you will have 23 an opportunity to litigate it in court like I said 24 before. 25 MS. TOWNES: So the court that you are 17 1 speaking on is a personal injury. That is separate 2 from me being evicted, illegally evicted. My home 3 has been robbed by the Newark Housing Authority 4 employees who illegally changed my locks and removed 5 some belongings out of my house. So that doesn't 6 have anything to do with my son's personal injury 7 case that you all keep speaking on. Those are 8 separate and, you know, that you are aware of that. 9 This is a bad situation. 10 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Ms. Townes, 11 thank you very much. We will take everything under 12 the advisement of our lawyer. If she's done, thank 13 you. 14 Mr. Mena, could we have the next 15 speaker, please. 16 MR. MENA: Colleen Fields, please. 17 MS. FIELDS: In the name of my Jesus 18 my name is Colleen Fields. 19 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Hi, Ms. Fields, 20 how are you tonight? 21 MS. FIELDS: I reside at 27 Foster 22 behind a gated community called Nation and I am 23 tired. I have been attacked by the police 24 department here and they treat me like a slave. 25 You, whatever your name is up there, but I call the 18 1 ultimate undertaker. I thought you were Jewish, but 2 you are not. You have been taking me to court ever 3 since 2013 until Victor told you to stop taking me. 4 I don't know why Victor -- I think I know why, but I 5 have been here when I first had an encounter with 6 Victor Cirilo. It was for those people in the East 7 Ward were being lied to. Some of them were eighty 8 years old. They said they were going to bring them 9 back and do that. It says because I wore a button 10 that said I was Ras Baraka's mother and I am very 11 disappointed and as far as y'all tell me all of 12 these lies you tell those people you moved them out 13 of Little Bricks that you were going to bring them 14 back. Now, it is some kind of theater. You are 15 lying to us. Tell us what you are going to do. You 16 know you are not going to do nothing, but lie to us 17 and it is a shame and you have harassed me and you 18 have harassed me and most people would be out of 19 their minds, but I am a strong black woman and I 20 stand on shoulders of my African ancestors and y'all 21 don't have a clue who you are messing with because I 22 ain't scared. I am not scared, but you sit up there 23 you dirty, you know, I don't mean to be 24 disrespectful, but you lie for two years. You said 25 you couldn't work on nobody's apartment because of 19 1 COVID. 2 You only have one security guard from 3 4:00 to 12:00. People down the street don't have 4 any at all. So when you said Mr. Broner told me 5 they didn't have any money, where in the heck is the 6 money. You don't have money for security. Even the 7 people that is doing security they don't feel safe. 8 They arguing with you crazy people. You don't care 9 because you are living large. You don't need 10 security. You don't need that. You don't have 11 holes in your house. You lied about the plumbing 12 until I told him I said they sent a plumber out 13 here, the toilet didn't flush for two weeks then 14 they replaced the toilet and that guy out there that 15 is calling woman the V word, I heard he's a felon 16 and he threatened a young lady. My neighbor said he 17 would help her up. He was drunk and drinking on the 18 job. They are doing everything you can imagine and 19 he called me a B word, but I did call him an SOB 20 because he shut the door in my face and I was simply 21 trying to tell him the man that got evicted I didn't 22 know who he was. He was living in the apartment for 23 a month and a half and nobody checked it out and 24 then somebody was in there again. So management 25 ain't what it is chalked up to be and when those 20 1 secrets were told about getting them to pay the 2 rent, Rita didn't try to help anybody. They tried 3 to help me because I paid my rent because I know I 4 am a sacrificial lamb, but I am going to fight for 5 my people and I am never going to be ashamed of it. 6 I didn't know what Ras Baraka meant 7 when he was Council when he said self hatred. I 8 said what is that. He said when you black and you 9 hate yourself. Well, I want the City of Newark to 10 know that I love being black and I come from good 11 stock. I was treated that you don't mistreat 12 nobody, you don't look down on nobody and my great 13 grandfather was a college professor in Lincoln 14 University in an all black school. All four of my 15 grandchildren are part of it until I got in the 16 sixth grade then I had a black teacher, but after 17 that all the black teachers left and I barely went 18 to school and I think we were better off when we had 19 our own black educators because y'all ain't doing us 20 right. The Puerto Ricans, y'all ain't doing us 21 right, but I want to tell you Mr. Julio or whatever 22 your name is you come from black people. 23 MR. MENA: Thank you, Ms. Fields. 24 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, Ms. 25 Fields. Coming from a Puerto Rican Chair, thank you 21 1 so much. 2 Next speaker, Mr. Mena, please. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I have a 4 question. 5 MR. MENA: Commissioner Muhammad, go 6 ahead. 7 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Sorry. 8 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I don't 9 understand what we have here from Ms. Fields. 10 MS. FIELDS: They told me I was told 11 that I would be giving the apartment at Lincoln 12 Towers. I have something right here. He got it and 13 then I was there the next day and I couldn't get the 14 apartment. That is what that is. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Okay, no 16 problem. 17 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, Ms. 18 Fields. We will send you information in writing. 19 Mr. Mena, next speaker, please. 20 MR. MENA: Viola Thomas. 21 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Ms. Thomas. 22 MS. THOMAS: Yes, I'm here. 23 MR. MENA: Go ahead, Ms. Thomas. 24 MS. THOMAS: Hello, everybody, how are 25 you? 22 1 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Good, and 2 yourself? 3 MS. THOMAS: I'm good, thank you. My 4 name is Viola Thomas. I'm from the resource center 5 down there at 5C Grafton Avenue and my issue is 6 dealing with my daughter who Ms. Barnes spoke of in 7 the beginning. She was given an application. I'm 8 sorry, she was participated in the Section 8 lottery 9 and then we received a letter from Section 8 saying 10 congratulations your application has been selected, 11 you fill out this application and you give it to 12 have it back to us by a certain time a certain day. 13 So we did all of that and I filled her application 14 out myself and when she never received any 15 information back within about I'd say a good six 16 months, I decided to call down there and I spoke 17 with a lady named JB Walton who told me, oh, well, 18 your daughter's application is inactive. I said why 19 is that. She said because it was for disabled 20 and -- what did she say -- elderly and disabled. So 21 I said, well, my daughter is disabled. She said, 22 well, honey, after a certain time we throw the 23 applications away. 24 So I called down there and I spoke to 25 Mr. Knight, Duane Knight and Duane told me that is 23 1 not true, they do not throw the applications away, 2 but he said he was going to look into it to see why 3 my daughter's application didn't come back up for us 4 to move, proceed with the proceedings of her moving 5 into her own apartment with her Section 8 voucher. 6 I still have yet to hear from someone regarding 7 that. That's my first issue. That is actually my 8 main issue. Ms. Barnes spoke of it in the 9 beginning. 10 My other issue is regarding the 11 community -- I'm sorry, the North Ward community 12 Riverside Villa. It is very dangerous down there 13 and that is where my office is at and I'm the 14 resource center down there and it is very, very 15 dangerous. The people that do most of the criminal 16 activity down there, they don't even live there, but 17 they are able to get in any time they want to and 18 stay. Even if they are just standing around 19 outside. They may or may not be relatives of the 20 residents that live down there, but they do bring 21 trouble. I've heard it's been said they don't want 22 to close down the community and make it seem like it 23 is a prison, but the only people who I think will 24 think that it is a prison is the people doing the 25 criminal activities. When it comes to the 24 1 residents, they call it safety. The criminals call 2 it prison, but I think it's got to be a better way 3 to keep the community safe. You got some good law 4 abiding citizens down there and you got some -- I'm 5 sorry, they assume they will become victims like Ms. 6 Wilky. She was a victim. A brick was thrown 7 through her window inches away from where her baby 8 slept and the person who did it as opposed to Ms. 9 Wilky -- as opposed to them saying they are going to 10 take care of whatever the issue is which I did hear 11 them say that, but Ms. Wilky is looking to move. 12 She's a good tenant. Why should she have to move. 13 Get rid of the problem, the troublemaker. That is 14 some of the things that I want to say going down 15 there at Riverside Villa. It is dangerous like she 16 says. My office happens to be down there and I just 17 wanted to bring that up because what you are hearing 18 about the criminal activity down there in the 19 Riverside Villa community is real. I work down 20 there. I'm the resource center. I am the CEO of 21 the resource center down there and, again, my 22 daughter's Section 8 application, I just want 23 somebody to look into that and find out why she 24 didn't receive her application because she does have 25 mental health disability. She has a disability. 25 1 She has the paperwork to show it and I want to know 2 why she was never called and why was her application 3 thrown away as per BJ Walton and I am done. 4 Thank you, everyone. 5 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, 6 Ms. Thomas. 7 MS. THOMAS: You're welcome. 8 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I will have 9 both Mr. Knight from Section 8 and both Captain 10 Broner follow up with you personally and we will 11 also send you something in writing, but thank you so 12 much for your efforts at the resource center. 13 MS. THOMAS: Thank you. 14 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Next speaker, 15 please, Mr. Mena. 16 MR. MENA: Kim Gilmore. No response, 17 Madam Chairwoman. 18 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: So does this 19 conclude the speakers' list? 20 MR. MENA: Yes, it does. 21 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Okay, great. 22 So could we just now go to items for approval. 23 MR. MENA: Yes, we have the April 2022 24 Board report that was deferred from last meeting. 25 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Do we have the 26 1 Board transcripts from May 26, 2020, that is what 2 you have up on the agenda. 3 MR. MENA: Yes, we do. So the monthly 4 activity reports we have both the April and May 5 2022. 6 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Before we 7 approve them, does any Commissioner have any 8 questions or comments. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Commissioner 10 Muhammad. Are we dealing with the activities or the 11 transcripts? 12 MR. MENA: Madam Chairwoman, we can 13 take the activity reports first. 14 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Why can't we 15 take the Board transcript since it's the first item 16 on the agenda. 17 MR. MENA: That's fine. We can take 18 the Board transcripts. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will make a 20 motion. 21 MR. MENA: Can we have a second? 22 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Could we have a 23 vote, please. 24 MR. MENA: We need a second for the 25 May 26, 2022 Board transcripts. 27 1 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will second. 2 MR. MENA: Thank you. 3 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Roll call, 4 please. 5 MR. MENA: Commissioner Osborne. 6 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner 7 Osborne is not present. 8 MR. MENA: Commissioner Muhammad. 9 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 10 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 11 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 12 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 13 Commissioner Logan on the May transcript. 14 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 15 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 16 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 17 MR. MENA: Item approved. 18 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you. 19 Could we go now to the approval for 20 the monthly Board activities report. 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Commissioner 22 Muhammad. 23 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I have some 25 questions for the Section 8 I need to ask them. 28 1 They were supposed to answer some questions for me. 2 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Does this 3 relate to the monthly activities report that we were 4 including for Section 8, Commissioner. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes, at the 6 work session I have questions that need to be 7 answered. 8 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: You didn't get 9 a response from them yet in writing? 10 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I didn't want 11 them in writing. I asked the question. I asked a 12 question. I don't want it in writing. I want them 13 to tell me. 14 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I wasn't at the 15 last meeting, Mr. Mena, what was the question? 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Can somebody 17 come up. 18 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Today, 19 Commissioner, would we be -- would you like to -- 20 Commissioner Alif, could we have the director come 21 up to speak to him privately or did you want the 22 information in writing? 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I want to talk 24 to him publicly. It is no big thing. I just want 25 an answer. I gave him the question and I need an 29 1 answer. 2 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: So we are in 3 the -- are we voting? 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: They are 5 waiting on you. 6 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez, would 7 you like Director Duane Knight to come up and answer 8 the questions? 9 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: You know what, 10 yes, I don't have a problem, but I need to know what 11 the question is. Is Mr. Knight there? 12 MR. MENA: Yes. 13 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: He could come 14 up. 15 MR. KNIGHT: Good afternoon. 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I'm talking 17 about the Shalom Towers and Lincoln Towers. 18 MR. KNIGHT: Shalom Towers, yes. So 19 we are actually in the process of working with those 20 sites. Lincoln Towers so we have sent referrals to 21 Lincoln Towers and are in the process of scheduling 22 inspections for those units. 23 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: It's not 24 twenty-seven. You have twenty-seven that is 25 available. 30 1 MR. KNIGHT: They are I mean in the 2 process of filling the units. I know they have 3 some. I know they had a change of super at that 4 site and having someone available, but we are in the 5 process of turning those. 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: The question I 7 asked you is they are not using vouchers which they 8 haven't for years. Can we take the vouchers back, 9 that is the first question I asked you, can we do 10 that? 11 MR. KNIGHT: The regulation does allow 12 for the Housing Authority to re-examine the unused 13 units under the contract, but that is a discussion 14 for the Board and Executive Director. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I want to know 16 if it is possible, that is all, you answered that. 17 Now, Shalom Towers, thirty-three 18 apartments, thirty-three vacant apartments. They 19 were like that for two or three years. What is the 20 story on those? 21 MR. KNIGHT: Well, I mean we sent 22 referrals to Shalom Towers, but what happened is 23 just that they end up -- we are trying to -- they 24 are over income or clients that refuse the units so 25 then we have to repost and send them. We work 31 1 closely with the site. We fill the units as quickly 2 as the site is able to bring the people for those 3 units. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: So I will try 5 to work with Elio and come up with any site that's 6 been like this for over two years that these Section 7 8 that we examine them. I am going to ask that. I 8 want to make a motion for that to be examined. 9 Now, did you find out where Section 8, 10 can they have a site list? 11 MR. KNIGHT: I'm not sure. I am still 12 researching. It is not clear in the case of a 13 tenants association because a tenants association 14 also represents the residents on site working with 15 the residents like that. So I don't know the answer 16 of the site related to the Section 8 RAB Board 17 officers. As far as the meeting space, it has been 18 identified at our meeting with the RAB Board next 19 week Tuesday and on that date they are going to come 20 up with three potential dates for the meeting to 21 come up with a schedule and get the respective 22 offices for Section 8. 23 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Okay. 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Thank you. 25 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner 32 1 Alif, could I recommend that there is a private 2 meeting held next week prior to that RAB meeting so 3 that we can continue with the agenda and make sure 4 that Duane responds to questions because this was a 5 work session that was held last Thursday so any 6 questions that should have been asked should have 7 been responded prior to this meeting. 8 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Okay, well, 9 he's working on it. 10 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I appreciate 11 it. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I don't see 13 the E.D. here. 14 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Okay. 15 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I'm going to 16 ask the director of operations of occupancy 17 questions. 18 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Okay, we are 19 going to continue with the Board and we will just 20 have this meeting with this voting meeting and we 21 will do that at the next work session. We are 22 scheduled for regular meetings so Mr. Mena if 23 possible -- 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Why do we keep 25 doing that. Why we keep pushing things back. 33 1 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: You can 2 schedule -- Commissioner, you could discuss it with 3 them tomorrow. Any questions you have, just send an 4 e-mail and we will make sure we get a response from 5 Section 8. 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Why at the 7 work session. I asked questions -- 8 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner, 9 that is exactly what I am saying. The questions 10 should have been answered prior to this meeting. 11 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: That is not my 12 problem. Housing answer questions under the table. 13 I want to be transparent. Everybody get to know 14 what is going on here. 15 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: That was done 16 during the work session. So Mr. Mena, could we 17 proceed. 18 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I asked 19 questions. You go on Facebook and stuff, I asked 20 questions. I gave them a week and the E.D. is not 21 here so the director of operations I asked him a 22 question and I need to ask him a question. This is 23 called obstruction. You are not allowing me to do 24 my job. I have to be able to ask questions. This 25 is my job as a Commissioner to find out what is 34 1 going on. You can't keep -- you're an 2 obstructionist. You going to act -- I tell you guys 3 obstruction is a Federal crime, it's a Federal 4 crime. Now, I would like to talk to the director of 5 operations. I have a question about occupancy. If 6 you're denying it -- 7 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner, 8 Commissioner, I am saying that we are in a current 9 voting. We had a work session last week. Could we 10 continue the voting and ask the questions later. 11 There was a workshop session last week to answer 12 questions and there is a policy in place and I am 13 agreeing with you. 14 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I want the 15 answer. 16 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Mr. Mena. 17 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I asked the 18 questions at the end of the week. They can answer. 19 So what I am saying to you, you are setting up the 20 protocol at the work session. The problem is you 21 don't know what happened in the work session. 22 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner, 23 what I am saying is -- 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: These are 25 clearly the things I talked about. I talked about 35 1 occupancy and sweeping everything under the rug is 2 not going to happen on my watch. It is called 3 obstruction. That is a felony. 4 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner, 5 could we have Mr. Mena -- 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: We are here to 7 ask questions. This is my job. You are trying to 8 stop me from doing my job. 9 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner, I 10 am not. 11 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: HUD has a 12 problem with occupation. The E.D. said HUD agrees 13 with the exact thing I do. I want to ask a 14 question. You talk about work session. We did a 15 work session. We did a work session. Matter of 16 fact, it was a very exciting work session. What I 17 am saying is I want my questions answered. As a 18 Commissioner I want my questions answered and I 19 would like to speak to the director of operations. 20 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner, 21 please, Mr. Mena, Elio, are you there? Why weren't 22 these questions responded to? Why -- could you -- I 23 am agreeing with Commissioner Alif. I don't know if 24 he could hear me. Why were the questions that he 25 requested not responded since last workshop meeting, 36 1 Mr. Mena? 2 MR. MENA: I will ask staff. I will 3 request answers from staff and provide them to the 4 Board. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I don't want 6 that. Didn't you hear the E.D. say the last two 7 months that HUD is saying they have the same 8 problems I have. HUD is saying, not me, not little 9 black me, HUD is saying they have a problem with 10 this agency on turning over occupancy. Now, it is a 11 simple question. I am not, you know, I am going to 12 ask the pastor a simple question. You are asking 13 like I am asking something. I told them who I am. 14 I told you who I am. I told them I'm cooperating. 15 I told them I could do the City a million dollars. 16 There is nothing to hide. 17 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner -- 18 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I'd like 19 Pastor Rouse to ask a question. 20 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner -- 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I want to know 22 I got forty -- I have a piece of paper here that 23 says your occupancy department only rent forty 24 apartments a month. In January last year, this year 25 was worse. I have papers here that say that last 37 1 year we did five hundred move-ins. This year we 2 only done two hundred. I want you to answer the 3 question. It don't have to be today. 4 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Mr. Mena, could 5 you answer that question? 6 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Give me a 7 plan. We talked about this. You are supposed to 8 give me a plan because I am saying the occupancy 9 part, they are only renting forty apartments a 10 month. That is not acceptable. That is not 11 acceptable so that is a question I want to ask. If 12 they don't want you to answer, that is the question. 13 I want a plan how we are going to come out of this. 14 Last year was five hundred. This year we are in 15 July and there is only two hundred. We have a 16 problem. It ain't just me, HUD has a problem with 17 it too. 18 Okay, I am going to move on, Elio. 19 MR. MENA: Director Rouse, can you 20 please provide the answers to Commissioner 21 Muhammad's questions as requested by the Chairperson 22 so they can be distributed to the Board by the end 23 of business tomorrow? 24 MR. ROUSE: No problem. 25 MR. MENA: Thank you. 38 1 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Thank you. 2 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Commissioner, 3 yes, Director Rouse and whoever is in charge of that 4 department so thank you. 5 So do we have to take a vote on the 6 monthly activities report or are we going to defer 7 this? 8 MR. MENA: We need a mover and a 9 second for the April and the May activity report. 10 Do I have a mover for the April 2022 activity 11 report. 12 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Move it. 13 MR. MENA: Second? 14 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will second, 15 Costa. 16 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Take the vote. 17 MR. MENA: I will ask for a roll call. 18 Commissioner Muhammad. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: No. 20 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 21 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 22 MR. MENA: Commissioner Gonzalez. 23 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Since I haven't 24 seen the information that was requested I am going 25 to abstain. 39 1 MR. MENA: The matter did not pass. 2 We did not have four affirmative votes. 3 Next item is the monthly activities 4 report for May 2022. Do you have any questions? If 5 not, is there a mover? Can I have a mover for the 6 May 2022 monthly activity report. 7 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will move. 8 MR. MENA: Do we have a second? 9 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: I will second. 10 MR. MENA: Okay, Commissioner 11 Muhammad. 12 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: No. 13 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 14 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 15 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 16 Commissioner Logan. 17 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 18 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 19 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I am abstaining 20 for the same reason. A Commissioner asked for 21 information which wasn't received so I abstain. 22 MR. MENA: Okay. Madam Chairwoman, 23 that concludes the activities reports and items for 24 approval. 25 Next matter are the resolutions. 40 1 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Could you 2 please go to the first resolution on legal. 3 MR. MENA: Yes, resolution number one 4 reads resolution authorizing the Executive Director 5 to issue certificates of completion and extinguish 6 rights of reversion set forth in the deeds of two 7 parcels formerly owned by the Newark Housing 8 Authority located at 127-167 Doremus Avenue and 9 293-317 Roanoke Avenue. 10 Any questions? 11 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I will move it. 12 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez, do we 13 have a second? 14 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: I will second. 15 MR. MENA: On the matter, Commissioner 16 Muhammad. 17 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 18 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: We are taking a 19 roll call, right? 20 MR. MENA: Yes. Commissioner Costa. 21 Commissioner Costa on resolution number one. 22 Commissioner Costa. 23 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 24 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 25 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 41 1 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 2 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 3 MR. MENA: Motion passes. 4 Resolution number two has been tabled 5 for further discussion amongst the staff and will 6 be -- 7 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: The staff and 8 Board. So next item, please. 9 MR. MENA: Next item, resolution 10 number three authorizing the amendment of resolution 11 H-21-23-09-05 and authorize the Executive Director 12 to execute an amended contract with Ehrlich, 13 Petriello, Gudin Plaza and Reed for the continued 14 provision of legal services in the area of landlord 15 tenant and foreclosure matters increasing the 16 contract amount by nine hundred fifty thousand 17 dollars for an aggregate amount not to exceed one 18 million nine hundred thousand. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move it 20 for you. 21 MR. MENA: We have a mover, 22 Commissioner Muhammad. 23 Do we have a second? 24 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will second, 25 Costa. 42 1 MR. MENA: Roll call. 2 Commissioner Muhammad. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 4 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 5 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 6 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 7 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 8 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 9 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 10 MR. MENA: Resolution passes. 11 Next item resolution number four, 12 authorizing the Executive Director to execute a 13 contract with Bank of America to conduct banking and 14 related services throughout the NHA property 15 portfolio for an initial term of three years at an 16 annual cost of one hundred twenty-seven thousand two 17 hundred with an option to renew for two additional 18 one-year terms for an aggregate contract amount not 19 to exceed six hundred thirty-six thousand dollars or 20 five years, whichever comes first. 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move 22 it. 23 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I will second 24 it. 25 MR. MENA: Commissioner Muhammad and 43 1 Chairwoman Gonzalez. 2 Commissioner Muhammad on the motion. 3 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 4 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 5 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 6 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 7 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 8 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 9 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 10 MR. MENA: Next resolution, resolution 11 number five. Authorizing the Executive Director to 12 submit a disposition application to the United 13 States Department of Housing and Urban Development 14 special application center for the partial 15 disposition of AMP 200-3009 including the 16 disposition of the Training Recreation and 17 Educational Center located at 39-83 Ludlow Street to 18 allow for the sale of the property for seven million 19 seven hundred fifty thousand dollars. 20 Do we have a mover? 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move 22 it. 23 MR. MENA: Commissioner Muhammad. And 24 do we have a second. 25 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I will second 44 1 it. 2 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 3 On the resolution, Commissioner 4 Muhammad. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 6 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 7 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 8 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 9 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 10 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 11 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 12 MR. MENA: Motion passes. 13 Next item, resolution number six, 14 authorizing the Executive Director to execute a 15 contract with Princeton Van Service for moving 16 storage and relocation services on an as-needed 17 basis at various sites for an initial term of two 18 years with an option to renew for two additional 19 one-year terms for an aggregate contract amount not 20 to exceed two hundred seventy-eight thousand or four 21 years, whichever comes first. 22 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move 23 it. 24 MR. MENA: Commissioner Muhammad on 25 the motion. Do we have a second? 45 1 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will second. 2 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 3 Commissioner Muhammad. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 5 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 6 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 7 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 8 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 9 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 10 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 11 MR. MENA: Motion passes. 12 Resolution number seven, authorizing 13 the adoption of the emergency housing voucher 14 program policy addendum. The housing choice voucher 15 program administrative plan which was previously 16 approved by resolution H-21-14-01-23 on January 14, 17 2021. 18 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move it 19 for you. 20 MR. MENA: Do I have a second? 21 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Second. 22 MR. MENA: On the motion. 23 Commissioner Muhammad. 24 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 25 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 46 1 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 2 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 3 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 4 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 5 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 6 MR. MENA: Resolution number eight, 7 resolution ratifying an agreement for professional 8 services awarded to Vanasse, Hangen, Brustin, Inc. 9 in the amount of three hundred ninety-seven thousand 10 seven hundred five dollars for the performance of 11 site investigation services in association with 12 grant funds awarded by the New Jersey Department of 13 Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Economic 14 Development Authority. 15 Can I have a mover? 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I move it. 17 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Second. 18 MR. MENA: On the motion, Commissioner 19 Muhammad. 20 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 21 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 22 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 23 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 24 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 25 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 47 1 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 2 MR. MENA: Resolution passes. Next 3 item, resolution number nine, accepting a grant in 4 the amount of three hundred fifty-three thousand 5 five hundred fifty-two dollars and forty cents from 6 the hazardous discharge site remediation fund 7 municipal grant program and authorize the Executive 8 Director as the authorized representative to execute 9 all grant documents. 10 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move it 11 for you. 12 MR. MENA: Do we have a second? 13 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Second. 14 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 15 On the motion, Commissioner Muhammad. 16 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 17 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 18 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 19 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 20 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 21 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 22 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 23 MR. MENA: Motion passes. 24 The next item and final one on the 25 agenda is resolution number ten, authorizing and 48 1 ratifying the execution of documents relating to the 2 conversion, demolition, finance, development and 3 management of the West Side Village complex for 4 Phase II. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I will move it 6 for you. 7 MR. MENA: Do we have a second? 8 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Second. 9 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will second, 10 Costa. 11 MR. MENA: On the motion, Commissioner 12 Muhammad. 13 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 14 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 15 Commissioner Costa on the motion. Commissioner 16 Costa. 17 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 18 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 19 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 20 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 21 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. Motion 22 passes. 23 Madam Chairwoman, that concludes the 24 items on the agenda. 25 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Commissioner 49 1 Muhammad. I have something else I want to talk 2 about. Commissioner Gonzalez, may I speak? 3 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 4 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I asked the 5 E.D. about the lease on Baxter Terrace, that is an 6 issue. I don't know if anybody is here to tell me 7 what the deal is. I know the E.D. said he was going 8 to find out. What happened is it was rented to a 9 trucking company and to a movie company. The movie 10 company is not operating and the trucking company at 11 Baxter Terrace is a trailer park. Can anybody 12 answer that for me or anybody allowed to answer that 13 for me? I need two people from redevelopment. 14 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez, since 15 the Executive Director is also the acting director 16 of redevelopment, I would defer and have him respond 17 to that. 18 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: No problem. 19 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you, I 20 totally agree. 21 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Also, I think 22 it is being misused. Thank you, I'm good. 23 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you. 24 Could we have a motion to close the 25 meeting? 50 1 COMMISSIONER COSTA: I will move. 2 MR. ROUSE: Commissioner Gonzalez, 3 this is Director Rouse. I see that our resolution 4 was tabled and I would just like to -- 5 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Excuse me, 6 excuse me, Mr. Rouse. Elio, did I just put -- I 7 don't know if you guys can hear me. 8 MR. MENA: There is a motion to 9 adjourn and a second. Director Rouse, could you 10 address the Board concern. 11 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: The Board 12 hasn't requested -- wait, Elio, I haven't -- I asked 13 to adjourn the meeting, right? 14 MR. MENA: Correct, that is why I just 15 directed Director Rouse to speak to the Board. 16 MR. ROUSE: No problem. 17 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Thank you. 18 MR. MENA: So do we have a motion to 19 adjourn? I missed it. Is there a motion to 20 adjourn? 21 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I put the 22 motion and I think Costa. 23 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes, I moved. 24 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez and 25 Commissioner Costa seconded it. 51 1 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes, roll call, 2 please. 3 MR. MENA: On the motion to adjourn, 4 Commissioner Muhammad. 5 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: No, I think 6 Pastor Rouse should have the right to speak. 7 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 8 Commissioner Logan. 9 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: If Pastor Rouse 10 is available and he can answer the question, let's 11 answer it. 12 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: My apologies. 13 I didn't hear a question asked on any item. Was 14 there a question on the table, Elio? 15 MR. MENA: Commissioner, Chairwoman 16 Gonzalez, Director Rouse wanted to -- was asking if 17 he could address the Board on the resolution that 18 was tabled. 19 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Well, I didn't 20 ask any questions. I wanted to meet with the E.D. 21 and the team on that item that was tabled. I have a 22 lot of questions on that and I didn't want to do -- 23 I'm not ready for the questions right now. I sent 24 an e-mail and I would like my e-mail responded to. 25 MR. ROUSE: The reason I am asking is 52 1 we met with the tenant associations and I just want 2 to get a timeline, that is all, as to when we can 3 move forward because they were excited about that, 4 that's all. 5 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Reverend Rouse, 6 I understand we are excited about this. There are 7 some questions on this item right now and once we 8 get these questions answered, we will keep moving. 9 It was tabled and I didn't want to ask any questions 10 on it today. 11 MR. ROUSE: Okay. 12 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: I thank you. 13 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: I think we 14 will do the roll call again. 15 MR. MENA: So on the motion to adjourn 16 made by Chairwoman Gonzalez, seconded by 17 Commissioner Costa. 18 Roll call, Commissioner Muhammad. 19 COMMISSIONER MUHAMMAD: Yes. 20 MR. MENA: Commissioner Costa. 21 COMMISSIONER COSTA: Yes. 22 MR. MENA: Commissioner Logan. 23 COMMISSIONER LOGAN: Yes. 24 MR. MENA: Chairwoman Gonzalez. 25 CHAIRPERSON GONZALEZ: Yes. 53 1 MR. MENA: Meeting adjourned. 2 3 (Whereupon, the proceedings were 4 concluded at 6:05 p.m.) 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 54 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