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1 STATE OF NEW JERSEY
2 NEW JERSEY COMMERCE & ECONOMIC GROWTH COMMISSION
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5 NEW JERSEY URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONE AUTHORITY
6 PUBLIC MEETING
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8 TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS
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12 AT: MARY ROEBLING BUILDING
13 20 West State Street
14 2nd Floor Conference Room #218
15 Trenton, New Jersey 08625
16 DATE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2006
17 TIME: 10:05 A.M. TO 12:03 P.M.
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19
20 GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
21 GOLDEN CREST CORPORATE CENTER
22 2277 STATE HWY #33, SUITE 410
23 TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08690
24 (609) 989-9199 TOLL FREE (800) 368-7652
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GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 A U T H O R I T Y M E M B E R S:
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3 KATHLEEN KUBE, Chairwoman Designee
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5 JAMES MOORE, Labor & Work Force Designee
6
7 AMBAR ABELAR, Public Member
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9 DONNA PEARSON, Public Member (arrived 10:43 a.m.)
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11 ADRIENNE KREIPKE, Department of Treasury Designee
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13 LEWIS HURD, Public Member
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15 A U T H O R I T Y P R O F E S S I O N A L S:
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17 PATRICIA BRUCK, ESQ., Deputy Attorney General
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19 LINDA LENOX, UEZ Staff
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GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 A G E N D A
2 PAGE
3 1. Notice of Public Meeting 9
4 2. Roll Call 10
5 3. Approval of November 8, 2006 10
6 NEW BUSINESS:
7 4. Camden's two requests for:
8 a. $75,000 for Commercial Revitalization
9 Program - Orlando Mercado 11
10 b. $62,800 for Kaighn Avenue Corridor -
11 Streetscape Design Services
12 - Orlando Mercado 18
13 5. Elizabeth's request for $184,280 for
14 Historic Midtown Elizabeth SID Matching
15 Funds - Year 2007 - Mario Rodrigues 21
16 6. Hillside's request for $140,000 for Community
17 Policing Phase IV - Yves Aubourg
18 7. Jersey City's request for $650,072 for
19 UEZ Maintenance Phase 4 - Roberta Farber 29
20 8. Kearny's two requests for:
21 a. $300,000 for Business Development
22 Revolving Loan Fund Program - Phase III
23 - Joseph D'Arco & Matt Bouldin 35
24 b. $175,000 for Zone Fire Engine - Custom
25 Pumper - Joseph D'Arco & Matt Bouldin 40
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 A G E N D A (Continued)
2 PAGE
3 9. Lakewood's two requests for:
4 a. $639,760 for UEZ Police Officers
5 Year 12 - Trish Komsa 47
6 b. $50,500 for Blinds-To-Go (USA), Inc.
7 Lease Subsidy - 2007 - Russell Corby 55
8 10. Millville's five requests for:
9 a. $379,670 for Tourism Marketing Project
10 - Year Four - Don Ayres 57
11 b. $162,151 for Funding for Police Officer
12 - Year 16 - Don Ayres 61
13 c. $149,000 for Facade Improvement Program
14 - Phase VII - Don Ayres 64
15 d. $127,291 for Millville Main Street/MDC
16 Operating Budget - Year 2 - Don Ayres 66
17 e. $74,770 for Funding for Fire Fighter
18 - Year 15 - Don Ayres 68
19 11. Passaic's request for $94,132 for Graffiti
20 Eradication Phase VI - Soraya Stam 69
21 12. Perth Amboy's two requests for:
22 a. $500,000 for Jewish Renaissance Medical
23 Center Project - Robert McCoy 71
24 b. $500,00 for King Plaza Redevelopment
25 Project - Robert McCoy 80
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 A G E N D A (Continued)
2 PAGE
3 13. Pleasantville's request for $295,000
4 Litter Collection Services - Year 7 83
5 - James Hebron
6 14. Vineland's two requests for:
7 a. $2,349,766 for Economic Development
8 Loan to Bridor, Inc. - Frank DiGiorgio 88
9 b. $1,010,000 for Economic Development
10 Loan to Lucca Realty - Frank DiGiorgio 95
11 15. Jersey City's two Good Faith Waiver
12 requests for:
13 a. $102,007 for Small Business Development
14 Center Funding - Roberta Farber 98
15 b. $50,000 for WomenRising - Community
16 Partnerships in Hotel Employment (CPHE)
17 - Roberta Farber 100
18 16. Lakewood's Second Generation Fund request
19 for $16,661 for Business Center Roadway
20 Restriping Project - Russell Corby 103
21 17. Vineland's four Second Generation Fund
22 requests for:
23 a. $2,000,000 for Facade Improvement for
24 Property Owners - Phase I
25 - Frank DiGiorgio 105
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 A G E N D A (Continued)
2 PAGE
3 b. $1,584,000 for Economic Development
4 Loan to Gus Hionas & Nicholas Isihos
5 - Frank DiGiorgio 108
6 c. $310,050 for Economic Development Loan
7 to Allied Specialty Food, Inc.
8 - Frank DiGiorgio 110
9 d. $67,500 for Economic Development Loan
10 to Vineland Construction Company
11 - Frank DiGiorgio 112
12 CONSENT AGENDA
13 (One Motion Items 18-22) 114
14 18. Asbury Park's request for $21,987 for
15 Central Business District - Streetscape
16 - Trash Containers
17 19. Millville's request for $15,000 for
18 Cumberland County College Mobile Learning
19 Center - Year 11
20 20. West Wildwood's request for $32,289 for
21 Police Officer - Year 2
22 21. Contract Amendments:
23 Asbury Park UEZA 02-49 extension
24 UEZA 03-69 extension
25 UEZA 03-96 extension
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 A G E N D A (Continued)
2 PAGE
3 UEZA 03-115 extension
4 Bridgeton UEZA 05-02 extension
5 UEZA 05-93 extension,
6 change, other
7 Lakewood UEZA 99-104 extension
8 UEZA 07-36 increase
9 Millville UEZA 06-49 extension
10 Mount Holly UEZA 02-105 extension,
11 increase
12 UEZA 04-04 other
13 Orange UEZA 05-85 change
14 Pleasantville UEZA 06-146 change
15 UEZA 06-147 change,
16 increase
17 UEZA 07-12 increase
18 Passaic UEZA 03-82 extension
19 UEZA 06-42 change
20 Paterson UEZA 03-132 extension
21 Phillipsburg UEZA 05-65 extension
22 UEZA 06-120 change,
23 increase
24 Plainfield UEZA 03-26 extension
25 UEZA 03-63 extension
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 A G E N D A (Continued)
2 PAGE
3 UEZA 03-64 extension
4 UEZA 04-82 extension
5 UEZA 04-116 extension
6 UEZA 04-144 extension
7 UEZA 05-106 extension
8 UEZA 06-52 extension
9 Trenton UEZA 03-84 extension
10 22. In-Lieu request for $5,304.50 for
11 Cumberland Mall Associates, Vineland,
12 New Jersey, File #2064
13 OLD BUSINESS:
14 23. Other 115
15 24. Open to the Public 115
16 25. Adjournment 116
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1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Good morning.
2 Could everyone please be seated. The agenda is
3 very long. I would like to get through it.
4 Ms. Pearson will be arriving. She's
5 just a little bit late.
6 Today is Wednesday December 13,
7 2006, and I welcome you all to our meeting. I
8 will ask each of the coordinators to make a brief
9 presentation and to obviously answer any
10 questions that the Authority members may have.
11 We have a quorum so I'm going to get
12 started. I do apologize to the Authority
13 members. I can't apologize for the size of the
14 agenda, but I can tell you, I apologize that we
15 got it out to you a day or two later than normal.
16 So I'm sorry and we will strive to be better at
17 it.
18 We're going to start. I'm going to
19 ask Linda to read the Notice of Public Meeting
20 and to take roll.
21 MS. LENOX: In compliance with the
22 Open Public Meetings Act, at least 48 hours of
23 notice of this meeting was sent by way of the
24 Secretary of State to the following newspapers:
25 the Star Ledger, the Trenton Times, the
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 Trentonian, the Courier-Post, Asbury Park Press,
2 Atlantic City Press, and the Bergen Record.
3 Now we'll have roll call.
4 James Moore, Labor?
5 MR. MOORE: Present.
6 MS. LENOX: Adrienne Kreipke,
7 Treasury?
8 MS. KREIPKE: Here.
9 MS. LENOX: Public member, Ambar
10 Abelar?
11 MR. ABELAR: Here.
12 MS. LENOX: Public member, Lewis
13 Hurd?
14 MR. HURD: Here.
15 MS. LENOX: Chairwoman designee,
16 Kathleen Kube?
17 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Here.
18 MS. LENOX: We have a quorum.
19 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay, great. At
20 this time, I will ask the Authority to give me a
21 motion for the approval of the minutes of the
22 November 8th, 2006 Authority meeting.
23 May I have a motion, please?
24 MR. HURD: So moved.
25 MS. KREIPKE: Second.
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1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
2 Mr. Hurd, second by Ms. Kreipke.
3 Any questions, comments or concerns?
4 Hearing none, all in favor please
5 signify by saying "aye."
6 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
7 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed, any
8 abstentions?
9 Motion carried.
10 The next agenda item we'll move into
11 New Business. Camden has two requests which
12 we'll take separately. The first one being for
13 75,000 for Commercial Revitalization Program. We
14 have Mr. Orlando Mercodo.
15 Good morning, Orlando.
16 MR. MERCODO: Good morning,
17 everyone.
18 Camden UEZ is requesting $75,000 in
19 Zone Assistance Funds to provide services on the
20 development of a commercial revitalization
21 program on the River Road of Federal Street
22 Corridor. This revitalization program would be
23 based on the tenets of the Main Street approach
24 which is created by the National Historic Trust.
25 The organization that we're working
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1 with along this Corridor, along the River Road
2 and Federal Street Corridor, is the Latin
3 American Economic Development Association.
4 They're a 501Z3 non-profit organization based in
5 Camden that has worked in Camden that has worked
6 on economic development activities throughout
7 their 19-year history throughout the city of
8 Camden.
9 They have immersed themselves in
10 learning about the Main Street Program and
11 actually advocating on the benefits on that and
12 have worked with the Camden Redevelopment Agency
13 and the Urban Enterprise Zone Program over the
14 last year engaging business owners into our
15 program, into the process. And as far as making
16 they -- making incentives available to small
17 businesses and advocating on behalf of small
18 businesses.
19 UEZ funding will be utilized to fund
20 a program director that will oversee these
21 activities along the River Road and Federal
22 Street Corridor. Those corridors just happen to
23 have the lowest vacancy rates throughout the city
24 of Camden and they're also, if I could say,
25 probably the most ethnic of our corridors. Our
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1 Federal Street Corridor has a tremendous mix of
2 Latino merchants there and we feel this would be
3 a positive fit.
4 In addition to providing funding for
5 the program coordinator, his activities will
6 entail ongoing public awareness of the Federal
7 Street and River Road activities, providing
8 advice and guidance on financial mechanisms for
9 physical improvement. They would create a budget
10 and they would provide activities such as joy
11 activity hours such as promotional events,
12 advertising, uniform store hours, parking
13 management, and so on. Included in the packet
14 were some of the activities that LAEDA has
15 engaged in over the last few months regarding
16 this program.
17 That's all I have to add.
18 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay. May I have
19 a motion, please?
20 MR. ABELAR: So moved.
21 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
22 Mr. Abelar.
23 Second?
24 MR. HURD: Second.
25 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
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1 Mr. Hurd.
2 Any questions?
3 Mr. Abelar?
4 MR. ABELAR: What does LAEDA exactly
5 do with the money?
6 MR. MERCODO: What would they do
7 with the money is they would fund the program
8 director's salary from LAEDA.
9 MR. ABELAR: And the program
10 director is president, I guess, of LAEDA?
11 MR. MERCODO: No, he's the director
12 of their Main Street initiatives.
13 MR. ABELAR: Thank you.
14 MR. MERCODO: He's also a
15 graduate -- the Department of Community Affairs
16 has a Main Street Institute. He is a graduate of
17 that program. He's helped -- last month when I
18 was here regarding the Fairview Main Street
19 Program, he helped put that Main Street Program
20 together.
21 MR. ABELAR: Thank you.
22 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
23 questions?
24 MS. KREIPKE: Could you discuss what
25 are the deliverables on this project?
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1 MR. MERCODO: Each month -- well,
2 quarterly they're going to provide -- well,
3 deliverables, one, my carrot is I need to have
4 UEZ businesses into the program. Right now, one
5 of the reasons that we contracted or are looking
6 forward to a contract with LAEDA is that we have
7 a large amount of Latino businesses particularly
8 on the Federal Street Corridor, Mexican-based
9 businesses. Even though my business is
10 bilingual, when you tell them you're from the
11 government and you're here to help, they tend to
12 shy away from us.
13 But over the last year they have
14 assisted us in adding I believe 16 to 17
15 additional UEZ businesses through their Main
16 Street Programs and their initiatives, that's one
17 thing, deliverables, the number of enrollments.
18 Two, they provided a quarterly
19 report to us on the type of technical assistance
20 that they would provide to these business owners
21 whether it's assisting them in financial matters,
22 accounting matters, promotional matters, that
23 would be included as part of their deliverables.
24 MS. KREIPKE: It seems that the
25 activities that this organization already does
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1 are already occurring before the UEZ funding is
2 providing for these activities to occur and
3 that's what I'm a little confused by, unclear.
4 MR. MERCODO: Not a duplication of
5 services. They had worked in another part of the
6 city of Camden. Both Federal Street and River
7 Road were identified by the Redevelopment Agency
8 which oversees our UEZ program. And also the EDA
9 and Economic Recovery Board, that's areas to
10 devote financial resources to, they have not
11 worked exclusively on River Road or Federal
12 Street before. They've worked on some other
13 areas of Fairview, Main Street, and also the
14 Broadway Corridor.
15 MS. KREIPKE: So they've already
16 been working for the Camden Redevelopment Agency?
17 MR. MERCODO: Well, no, on their own
18 behalf. No, they did not have a contract with
19 us.
20 MS. KREIPKE: And this would be a
21 contract that you'd enter into for a year?
22 MR. MERCODO: Yes.
23 MS. KREIPKE: And you look to
24 measure success by the number of UEZ businesses
25 that join the program?
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1 MR. MERCODO: UEZ businesses
2 activity along the Corridor, they were -- this
3 past -- for the Cinco de Mayo, they shutdown
4 Federal Street, not LAEDA, but the Federal Street
5 Corridor, but it was kind of haphazard. I think
6 they were providing some coordination working
7 with the business associations that are there and
8 advocate on their behalf.
9 One of the perceptions that some of
10 our small businesses have in Camden is that the
11 Redevelopment Agency and the UEZ is just
12 interested in hitting a home run and bringing
13 this large business that could bring in 500 or a
14 thousand jobs and we don't care about smaller
15 businesses. And we've tried to reach out to
16 them, but sometimes it's very difficult. I think
17 that they provide a linkage between the
18 community, they're immersed in that community. I
19 think this is something that would benefit both
20 of us.
21 MS. KREIPKE: Thank you.
22 MR. MERCODO: Thank you.
23 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
24 questions?
25 Hearing none, all in favor please
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1 signify by saying "aye."
2 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
3 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed, any
4 abstentions?
5 Motion carried.
6 Next agenda item is $62,800 for
7 Kaighn Avenue Corridor - Streetscape Design
8 Services.
9 MR. MERCODO: Madam Chair, you
10 pronounced that correctly, yes. "Con," when I
11 was younger I used to call it "Con." But "Cane"
12 Avenue, the Camden UEZ's requesting $62,800 in
13 Zone Assistance Funds to fund streetscape design
14 services for the Kaighn Avenue Corridor.
15 This project was brought to our
16 attention by a group called the "Kaighn Avenue
17 Collaborative Enterprise." They met with
18 officials from the Camden Redevelopment Agency,
19 the Urban Enterprise Zone and Camden County to
20 discuss improvements to the Corridor. They are a
21 group of local business owners and stakeholders
22 along the Corridor that advocate for improvements
23 for the Corridor. It's approximately one mile
24 long and the entire Kaighn Avenue Corridor is
25 located within the UEZ.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 The focus of the streetscape design
2 is to develop a visual unity to the Corridor.
3 Also in addition to that, they will conduct the
4 survey on both sides of the existing street and
5 sidewalk on the project area to determine the
6 conditions of paving, lighting, street trees,
7 waste receptacles and drainage. Also they would
8 conduct stakeholder meetings, sharet (pho)
9 session with community and business groups. They
10 would love to develope a conceptual site plan.
11 And they scheduled for the phrase implementation.
12 The Camden Redevelopment Agency put
13 this out to bid. There's question -- for
14 preliminary streetscape design services, four
15 bids were received. And we -- one of the
16 engineering firms was selected Pisoni &
17 Associates. And that's included -- their
18 information is included in the packet. They have
19 not done any work and will not do any work until
20 this project -- if and when this project's
21 approved.
22 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you,
23 Orlando.
24 May we have a motion, please?
25 MR. HURD: So moved.
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1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
2 Mr. Hurd.
3 Second?
4 MR. ABELAR: Second.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
6 Mr. Abelar.
7 Any questions?
8 MR. MOORE: What type of
9 improvements? You mention improvements.
10 MR. MERCODO: There -- currently,
11 Mr. Moore, there -- Kaighn Avenue has some
12 flooding issues. And two of the streets that run
13 concurrent to it, Haddon Avenue, had streetscape
14 designs, ornamental lighting. Kaighn Avenue
15 serves as the connector through the middle of the
16 city to the waterfront. There's some drainage
17 issues, flooding issues. There hasn't been --
18 the sidewalks are in ill -- disrepair. This
19 provides an opportunity for the county, for the
20 Redevelopment Agency and the UEZ to sit down and
21 take a look at that Corridor.
22 This Corridor also has been
23 identified by the Economic Recovery Board and New
24 Jersey EDA along with the CRA to devote some type
25 of dollars and funds to it as this served as one
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1 of the major corridors throughout the city.
2 MR. MOORE: Okay.
3 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any comments,
4 questions, concerns?
5 Hearing none, all in favor please
6 signify by saying "aye."
7 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
8 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
9 abstentions?
10 Motion carried.
11 MR. MERCODO: Thank you very much.
12 Have a good holiday.
13 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Eliz -- Mario,
14 okay.
15 Elizabeth's request for $184,280 for
16 Historic Midtown Elizabeth SID Matching Funds -
17 Year 2007.
18 Mario Rodrigues is here with us
19 today and --
20 MR. RODRIGUES: Janet De Avila.
21 Janet De Avila. She's the director of the
22 Special Improvement district.
23 MS. DE AVILA: D-e space A-v-i-l-a.
24 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: If I could ask
25 everyone to speak up loud enough so that
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 everybody in the back of the room can hear the
2 request.
3 MR. RODRIGUES: Sure.
4 Good morning. This proposal that
5 the Elizabeth UEZ is putting forth is for
6 $184,280, and this is specifically for the
7 Historic Midtown SID to provide matching funds
8 for their annual budget that coincides with their
9 annual budget from January to December of 2007.
10 Specifically, these funds are going to be used
11 for administration to promote the administration
12 and operational expenses, promotional expenses,
13 marketing costs, and holiday decorations.
14 The SID, the Historic SID is the
15 premier SID shopping center in our downtown
16 district. They have a vacancy rate of less than
17 2 percent. They've gotten new tenants such as
18 Washington Mutual Bank, Chase, Manhattan Bank,
19 Synergy Bank. So we're doing a lot of good
20 things within the Historic Midtown SID. And
21 we're continually putting forth efforts to bring
22 in new business. And for that we ask your
23 approval this budget for 184,280.
24 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you, Mario.
25 May I have a motion, please?
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1 MR. ABELAR: So moved.
2 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
3 Mr. Abelar.
4 Second?
5 MR. HURD: Second.
6 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: By Mr. Hurd.
7 Any comments, questions or concerns?
8 MR. ABELAR: Did you last year ask
9 for the same?
10 MR. RODRIGUES: No. Last year we
11 asked for a little more, this year's less. Last
12 year we asked for $218,000, this year's $184,000.
13 MR. ABELAR: Thank you.
14 MR. MOORE: And these funds are
15 earmarked for the operation and administration of
16 the --
17 MR. RODRIGUES: -- of the Historic
18 Midtown SID because they themselves have funds.
19 And what we do is we match their funds once they
20 match one to one. So it's to go to match their
21 administration cost, operational expenses and
22 promotional items.
23 MR. MOORE: Okay.
24 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: James, it's for
25 the administration of the Historic Midtown SID,
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 and the UEZ can match it one to one.
2 MR. RODRIGUES: One to one, that's
3 an eligible cost.
4 MR. MOORE: Okay.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
6 questions?
7 Hearing none, all in favor please
8 signify by saying "aye."
9 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
10 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
11 abstentions?
12 The motion carries.
13 Thank you, Mario.
14 MR. RODRIGUES: Thank you.
15 MS. DE AVILA: Thank you.
16 MR. RODRIGUES: Happy holidays.
17 MS. DE AVILA: Happy holidays.
18 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: The next is
19 Hillside's request for 140,000 for Community
20 Policing in Phase IV.
21 And Mr. Yves Aubourg is here with?
22 DEPUTY CHIEF FRIZE: Deputy Chief
23 John Frize.
24 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you.
25 Yeah, for the benefit of the
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 Authority and the audience, with the police
2 projects we're asking that police personnel come
3 with the coordinator just in case there are
4 questions or concerns.
5 So thank you for coming and giving
6 us part of your day.
7 Yves?
8 MR. AUBOURG: Yes, good morning.
9 The Hillside UEZ is requesting $140,000 to pay
10 for four officers, part of their salaries and the
11 town will be matching the rest. And this
12 project's on its fourth year. It's a six-year
13 project for the town. Hillside's surrounded by
14 Newark and Irvington, and we really need the
15 police officers to reinforce the business
16 section. And I work pretty closely with John
17 Frize to supervise the guys. And then if you
18 have any questions regarding the police
19 department, he's there to answer it.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: May I have motion,
21 please?
22 MR. HURD: So moved.
23 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
24 Mr. Hurd.
25 Second?
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 MR. ABELAR: Second.
2 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
3 Mr. Abelar.
4 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any comments,
5 questions?
6 MS. KREIPKE: I --
7 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Mr. -- oh,
8 Adrienne, I'm sorry.
9 MS. KREIPKE: I do have a question.
10 You're asking for two additional
11 police --
12 MR. AUBOURG: No.
13 MS. KREIPKE: -- since last year?
14 MR. AUBOURG: We're replacing. We
15 had four last year. Because of the salary we
16 moved the top two guns out of the program and we
17 recruited two new officers that just came out of
18 the Academy making less money because we don't
19 have enough money to do the cap.
20 MS. KREIPKE: So it's the same
21 four -- it's still four positions as last year.
22 MR. AUBOURG: Four positions, yes.
23 MS. KREIPKE: I did not understand
24 that. Thank you for that.
25 I was just going to ask that I
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 notice in the sort of statistical data that there
2 are four -- an increase in four police and they
3 were all in the municipality over last year --
4 MR. AUBOURG: Yeah.
5 MS. KREIPKE: -- and I wondered if
6 that was indicative of increase in crime in the
7 municipality. Like the municipal police went up
8 from 70 to 74.
9 DEPUTY CHIEF FRIZE: Just the fact
10 that we do need four officers in the UEZ.
11 Geographically, these officers are in different
12 parts of the town. Being surrounded by
13 Irvington, Newark, there are high-crime issues on
14 our borders, and these officers need to be
15 dedicated specifically to those areas for -- just
16 high visibility. There's traffic issues and
17 interacting with the merchants where they can get
18 specialized services from the Department based on
19 need.
20 MS. KREIPKE: Thank you.
21 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: You're done?
22 MS. KREIPKE: Yes.
23 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay. Mr. Abelar?
24 MR. ABELAR: In October of 2005 you
25 came to us with a request for $30,000 for public
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1 safety and community services --
2 MR. AUBOURG: That's a different
3 project. That project's for a ticket officer
4 that goes out and re-enforce the cleaning and the
5 parking enforcement. That's completely different
6 from the community police officers.
7 MR. ABELAR: What does that officer
8 do?
9 MR. AUBOURG: She goes out in the
10 morning, early in the morning reinforce that we
11 clean the UEZ Zone. Sometime, you know, the
12 residents leaves their cars on one side of the
13 street and we are not allowed to clean them. She
14 goes out and makes sure the area are clean. And
15 she reports to the police department if there's
16 another issue that need enforcement.
17 DEPUTY CHIEF FRIZE: She's doing
18 enforcement on alternate side parking to ensure
19 that the streets are clear of vehicles so that
20 the DPW can get in and actually clear the
21 streets.
22 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: I believe, if I
23 recall from the project, she issues summonses; am
24 I correct?
25 DEPUTY CHIEF FRIZE: Yes, she's a
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 special officer.
2 MR. ABELAR: Okay.
3 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
4 questions?
5 Hearing none, all in favor please
6 signify by saying "aye."
7 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
8 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
9 abstentions?
10 Motion carries.
11 MR. AUBOURG: Thank you. Happy
12 holidays to all of you.
13 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you.
14 Next item is Jersey City's request
15 for $650,072 for UEZ Maintenance Phase IV.
16 Roberta?
17 MS. FARBER: Good morning everyone.
18 This is a continuation of a program
19 that we've been running for these past three
20 years. It's a maintenance program. It's above
21 and beyond what the City does in municipal
22 services to keep the Streets Fund clean.
23 We use the services of the DOE Fund
24 which is part of Ready, Willing and Able. It's a
25 comprehensive program where they utilize persons
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
30
1 that have been on drugs. They do random drug
2 testing. There's a whole social service
3 component. And this year we have an increase of
4 eight persons to keep the streets clean. It's
5 been a hugely successful program for Jersey City.
6 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Roberta, before I
7 ask for a motion, you and I have talked --
8 MS. FARBER: Right.
9 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: -- you do not have
10 the resolution --
11 MS. FARBER: Correct.
12 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: -- for this
13 project. So I'm going to make two
14 recommendations that the approval be contingent
15 upon a fully executed resolution. And two, that
16 you change the "to and from" dates on this
17 proposal.
18 MS. FARBER: No problem.
19 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay. And that
20 will be reflected in the letter.
21 But now I will ask -- based on my
22 comments I'll ask for a motion if I could have
23 it?
24 D.A.G. BRUCK: A motion to consider
25 the proposal.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
31
1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Yeah, a motion to
2 consider the proposal and then you can ask
3 questions.
4 MS. KREIPKE: So moved.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Adrienne?
6 First a motion by Adrienne.
7 Second?
8 MR. ABELAR: I second.
9 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
10 Mr. Abelar.
11 Now any questions?
12 MR. ABELAR: This is a municipal
13 eligible service?
14 MS. FARBER: Yes, it is because the
15 service is above and beyond what the municipality
16 performs right now.
17 MR. ABELAR: What is the percentage?
18 I don't see the -- so far this year the
19 percentage of contribution from the --
20 MS. FARBER: There doesn't have to
21 be contributions from the City on this because
22 the monies are not going directly to the
23 municipality, it's being outsourced to another
24 company. And it is just a contract with the
25 company and there is no match on that, except --
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 D.A.G. BRUCK: If I may just make a
2 comment because I think Mr. Abelar asked if this
3 was a municipal service.
4 MS. FARBER: I'm sorry, it's a
5 project.
6 D.A.G. BRUCK: It is not a municipal
7 service, it is a project.
8 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: We identify
9 "eligible municipal services" as police, fire
10 personnel and equipment. It is not an eligible
11 municipal service.
12 D.A.G. BRUCK: But in the source of
13 your confusion is perhaps that in some cases
14 where there's equipment being purchased in
15 connection with a maintenance project that
16 there's a policy circular which requires that
17 before that equipment line item that there be a
18 20 percent match, just to add to your confusion.
19 MR. ABELAR: Okay, thanks.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: And I didn't mean
21 to confuse you either. I'll explain it further.
22 Adrienne?
23 MS. KREIPKE: I have a few
24 questions.
25 The contractor on this, the DOE?
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 MS. FARBER: The DOE Fund.
2 MS. KREIPKE: The DOE Fund. The
3 salaries that are listed here, are those just the
4 UEZ component of their salaries --
5 MS. FARBER: Correct.
6 MS. KREIPKE: -- or is that their
7 full -- do they have contracts besides this
8 contracts?
9 MS. FARBER: They have contracts
10 besides this contract. If you notice in the one
11 column it shows the percentages.
12 MS. KREIPKE: Yeah, I didn't see
13 that for project manager, that's what --
14 MS. FARBER: The project manager
15 works full-time. He works for the EDC.
16 MS. KREIPKE: Okay. So the DOE Fund
17 is much larger than these seven individuals?
18 MS. FARBER: Absolutely, uh-huh.
19 MS. KREIPKE: It struck me that
20 there seems to be a lot of overhead for the
21 number of workers there are.
22 MS. FARBER: That's because of the
23 services they provide for the workers that are
24 there. What they have found to make this program
25 successful to keep persons off the street is get
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 them employed.
2 They work with the Second Chance
3 Program which are anybody that's been on drugs
4 that's been incarcerated that they need to have
5 that overall supervision at the top to make sure
6 that there is the supervision on the streets
7 that's needed; that the supervision is involved.
8 They provide housing, they also
9 provide a stipend for the residents when they are
10 done with the program; that they will be able to
11 go out and get their own apartments. They
12 provide the down payment. They do random drug
13 testing all the time. They provide GED training.
14 They provide ongoing assistance with job
15 placement once the program is complete.
16 So besides just cleaning the street,
17 it's really a program that works in getting
18 people back into society and into a job.
19 MS. KREIPKE: And do you have any
20 statistics on how many people they graduated
21 through the program?
22 MS. FARBER: I will have -- as a
23 matter of fact, that will be hopefully in my
24 e-mail this morning. I will forward that on to
25 the Authority as soon as I get that as well.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
2 questions? Okay.
3 Mr. Abelar, I didn't mean to confuse
4 you. I just didn't want to make a motion and
5 then have to amend it. I wanted to refer to our
6 discussion so that you were aware of what had
7 taken place, okay. And since I can't amend these
8 motions the right way, so we'll have to do it
9 that way.
10 Any other questions?
11 Hearing none, all in favor please
12 signify by saying, "aye."
13 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
14 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
15 abstentions?
16 Motion carried.
17 MS. FARBER: Good Faith waivers now
18 or you want me to wait?
19 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: No, just wait.
20 Okay? Thank you.
21 Next we are going to take Kearny's
22 proposals. We'll take them separately. I will
23 ask Mr. D'Arco to please come up front.
24 The first project is for 300,000 for
25 Business Development Revolving Loan Fund
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
36
1 Program - Phase III.
2 Matt Bouldin the Acting UEZ
3 Coordinator is there as well and their police
4 personnel. Okay.
5 MR. D'ARCO: Good morning, Joseph
6 D'Arco, D, apostrophe, A-r-c-o, Acting UEZ
7 Coordinator.
8 MR. BOULDIN: Matt Bouldin, UEZ
9 Finance.
10 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Go ahead,
11 Mr. D'Arco.
12 MR. D'ARCO: Well, I'm going to take
13 the easy way out this morning. For Matt who
14 handles the financing and the loan program, I'll
15 have him present the project.
16 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay, he's going
17 to -- Matt is going to do the Revolving?
18 MR. D'ARCO: Yes.
19 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay.
20 MR. BOULDIN: As the third phase of
21 our Revolving Loan Project which we use to help
22 bring in relocating businesses. In the past,
23 we've brought in a business from Brooklyn that's
24 been fairly successful, National Packaging Corp.
25 You know, it was a low-interest loan program that
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
37
1 is very helpful in recruiting in helping out
2 businesses that bring jobs to Kearny.
3 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: May I have a
4 motion, please?
5 MR. ABELAR: So moved.
6 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
7 Mr. Abelar.
8 Second?
9 MR. HURD: Second.
10 MR. MOORE: Second.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
12 Mr. Moore.
13 Any questions?
14 MR. MOORE: How many businesses have
15 you brought into Kearny and how many jobs were
16 attached to those firms?
17 MR. BOULDIN: How many total jobs?
18 MR. MOORE: Let's see, what do we
19 have -- I have seventeen jobs full-time and six
20 part-time created over the life of the loan
21 projects.
22 MR. MOORE: Okay. Is that all from
23 one firm or multiple firms?
24 MR. BOULDIN: No. That's over
25 the -- what do we have, seventeen loans, which
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
38
1 some of them are -- if a company is -- they can
2 reapply, so we've had re-cast loans. I think
3 three businesses have re-cast their loans.
4 MR. HURD: Question.
5 MR. ABELAR: I have a question, too.
6 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay, Mr. Abelar?
7 MR. ABELAR: I see that 20 percent
8 of this amount is for micro loans is that around
9 the -- a percentage?
10 MR. BOULDIN: Yeah. We not only
11 want to bring in, you know, larger businesses,
12 but offer incentives for some of the smaller
13 businesses in town.
14 MR. ABELAR: Yeah, I would say that
15 it should be increased to be more -- to be
16 truthful to the Urban Enterprise Zone Act to
17 increase the micro loans and diminish the big
18 loans to big players.
19 MR. D'ARCO: And to help answer that
20 question, yes, we've had major players -- to use
21 that phrase -- move into the Kearny UEZ Zone
22 which included the water company Poland Springs,
23 I believe it was. Wal-Mart has moved into South
24 Kearny, which is UEZ Zone. Some of the major
25 corporations are looking at our UEZ Zone.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
39
1 But our concentration is on the
2 small companies that would have difficulty
3 relocating. Those are the ones that we funded in
4 micro loans and have been very successful, and we
5 have not had failures that I'm aware of that have
6 been reported.
7 MR. ABELAR: Yeah, I've seen that,
8 yeah.
9 MR. D'ARCO: Yeah.
10 MR. ABELAR: I saw the list and it
11 seemed to me that there are no big corporations.
12 But it's good to have the micro loan for the Mom
13 and Pop according to the Act.
14 MR. D'ARCO: Yeah. There are
15 merging small companies. A majority are moving
16 from New York locations or other New Jersey
17 locations to our UEZ Kearny Zone. And those
18 small companies have done very well. They're
19 doing very well and growing.
20 MR. ABELAR: Very well. Thank you.
21 MR. HURD: Quick question?
22 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Yeah, Mr. Hurd.
23 MR. HURD: When you recast a loan,
24 was that due to the business needing additional
25 funding or was it because they ran into trouble
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
40
1 and you didn't want them to lose the loan, go
2 into default?
3 MR. D'ARCO: The re-casting of the
4 loans has been primarily due to their growth.
5 They've gotten larger. They've needed more
6 equipment, more sizing or increased space.
7 I sit on the UEZ Board also there at
8 the meetings and review those loans with the
9 Commission, and it's usually growth and getting
10 bigger.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
12 questions?
13 Hearing none, all in favor please
14 signify by saying "aye."
15 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
16 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
17 abstentions?
18 Motion carried.
19 Next item is Kearny's request for
20 175,000 for Zone Fire Engine - Custom Pumper.
21 Mr. D'Arco and -- the gentleman,
22 please identify yourself.
23 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: Joseph Lapsanski.
24 Kearny Fire Chief.
25 MR. D'ARCO: I've obviously brought
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
41
1 the fire chief. I believe in bringing the key
2 people which is what you would like --
3 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: We appreciate
4 that.
5 MR. D'ARCO: -- to hear it directly
6 from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
7 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Sure.
8 MR. D'ARCO: The Chief is the expert
9 on fire and he'll proceed.
10 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: Specifications
11 have been drawn up for a fire engine which would
12 be 1500 gallon pumper. It carries 750 gallons of
13 water. It would be stationed at 109 Kearny
14 Avenue which is UEZ Zone. The engine at that
15 station there will replace the engine in South
16 Kearny which is a UEZ Zone, that is a 1980 Mack.
17 I have pictures here that I would
18 like to show, if I can, if it's permissible.
19 And you'll notice -- if you look
20 behind the tires, you'll notice that we have
21 chains holding up the fuel tank, I mean, that's
22 how bad the conditions are.
23 So that's the plan to move the
24 engine out of Station 2, which is in the UEZ
25 Zone. It's a 1997 E1, 1250 gallon pumper, to
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 move it into a UEZ Zone, and bring the newer one
2 to 109 Kearny Avenue because there are a lot more
3 activities up in Kearny, the upper end compared
4 to the lower end.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you.
6 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: And the engine
7 would respond to South Kearny, also. So it's
8 going to take care of the zones uptown and
9 downtown.
10 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay.
11 MR. D'ARCO: And probably to
12 anticipate the question that's going to be asked
13 relative to the Zones, I'm not sure the
14 Commission here is aware that the equipment when
15 it does come in has GIS tracking system which is
16 through a satellite program. All of the
17 municipal vehicles being brought into the fleet
18 for the past four years have GIS tracking, that
19 includes police cars, Public Works, all of our
20 brand new equipment. And it provides a report
21 for mileage, fuel consumptions.
22 We track the fleet and exactly where
23 it is. So I'd be able to report to the UEZ Board
24 reports and digital printouts on how many hours
25 are on this vehicle, the location that it goes
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
43
1 to, where it stops, when the engine's running.
2 You would have that kind of detail which we have
3 on the entire city fleet. And that's brought up
4 by computers.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: And that's useful,
6 too, should there be future audits or anything.
7 MR. D'ARCO: Yes.
8 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: May I have a
9 motion, please?
10 MR. HURD: So moved.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Mr. Hurd.
12 Second?
13 MR. ABELAR: Second.
14 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: By Mr. Abelar.
15 Any questions or comments?
16 Question, Adrienne?
17 MS. KREIPKE: The engine that the
18 new -- the new fire truck will replace the one
19 that is not in great condition as you pointed out
20 in the picture. And that truck will move to
21 another station house?
22 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: Right.
23 MS. KREIPKE: Replacing an even
24 older engine there or an additional engine?
25 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: The newer -- if we
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
44
1 do get the funding, the newer engine will replace
2 a 1997 engine which will go into South Kearny
3 which is a UEZ Zone to replace that 1980 engine.
4 MS. KREIPKE: That's the one that
5 will ultimately be retired?
6 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: Right. It's
7 25 -- 26 years old going on 27.
8 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: And that wasn't
9 purchased with UEZ --
10 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: No, that was
11 recommended.
12 MS. KREIPKE: Out of curiosity, was
13 the 1997 engine purchased with UEZ dollars?
14 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: No.
15 MR. D'ARCO: No. The UEZ office
16 never took advantage of the full program, very
17 honestly. And in evaluating the needs of the
18 City and the needs of the UEZ Zone, that was the
19 first striking item.
20 He Chief had -- the City has
21 purchased a new truck that was just delivered in
22 a non-UEZ firehouse.
23 We have four firehouses?
24 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: Yes.
25 MR. D'ARCO: We have four and two
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 are in full UEZ Zones. So the City's replacing
2 equipment in the non-UEZ houses and I've
3 requested permission to apply for the replacement
4 in the UEZ Zone. And you'll note that the funds
5 requested is not the full cost of a vehicle. The
6 full cost of a vehicle is --
7 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: It's less than
8 50 percent. That's -- the cost of a vehicle is
9 going to be around $307,000. Naturally, it has
10 to go out to public bids. We might get it for
11 $30,000 cheaper. Depends how fast we can move
12 the project because the new Federal EPA
13 Regulations are coming in. Once they kick in,
14 that's going to kick the engine up $30,000 just
15 for the engine block itself to meet the new
16 standards. So hopefully we can move this
17 project. The specs are ready. All we have to do
18 is get the funds in and we're ready to move so in
19 January the specs would go out for bid.
20 MR. D'ARCO: And, yes, the City has
21 committed its match.
22 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: The City had
23 helped my department because I was fortunate I
24 was able to get $247,500 from the federal
25 government under the Fire Act. And the City
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
46
1 matched 113,000 to that to purchase the last
2 engine that we just got three weeks ago.
3 MS. KREIPKE: I was going to ask
4 about that. So the other engine that you just
5 procured is a similar cost to this one?
6 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: Yes, and we paid
7 360 for that. But that has what's called "phone
8 capability" in it. But we have to take the cost
9 of the new EPA regulation probably $30,000,
10 that's why it's going to go up to 370. But
11 hopefully we get it in there and it would be
12 cheaper than that. So I'm hoping maybe 330,
13 somewhere around there.
14 MS. KREIPKE: Thank you.
15 I have no questions.
16 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
17 questions?
18 MR. ABELAR: Just a marginal
19 question.
20 Is the force volunteered?
21 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: No. It's fully --
22 a career department. A hundred members -- no,
23 we're down to 98 members.
24 MR. ABELAR: Thank you.
25 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
47
1 questions?
2 Hearing none, all in favor please
3 signify by saying "aye."
4 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
6 abstentions?
7 Motion carries.
8 Congratulations.
9 MR. D'ARCO: Thank you.
10 CHIEF LAPSANSKI: Thank you so much.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: We will now take
12 Lakewood's two requests. And the first one for
13 639,760 for UEZ Police Officers, Year 12.
14 And Trisha Komsa is going to make a
15 presentation and Mr. Corby.
16 MR. CORBY: Thank you, Madam Chair.
17 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you.
18 MR. CORBY: Good morning everyone.
19 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Good morning.
20 MS. KOMSA: Lakewood UEZ is here
21 seeking 80 percent funding on a municipal
22 services project. This is Year 12 for our UEZ
23 Police Officers. It's six officers, five are
24 daily patrolmen and one Quality of Life police
25 officer. All of which will be for primary patrol
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 in the downtown business district and our
2 industrial park, all of which is in the Zone, of
3 course.
4 (Authority member Donna Pearson
5 arrives. Time is 10:43 a.m.)
6 MS. KOMSA: Officers are going to be
7 assigned foot, bike and motorized patrol. And
8 they are now working ten-hour shifts. I think I
9 have them here as eight hours. We've had some
10 change in our leaderships, which we'll be
11 forwarding those changes to you.
12 Let's see, our Lakewood UEZ last
13 year added a Quality of Life officer and we found
14 that worked well and we're seeking to fund that
15 officer again. And that officer is basically
16 going to be doing a varied schedule depending on
17 the Quality of Life programs being implemented.
18 And the Quality of Life officer is the law
19 enforcement component of a joint task force in
20 town which includes zoning, code enforcement,
21 public works, engineering, of course, the police
22 department.
23 This request also seeks funding for
24 two Ford Expeditions for patrol within the zone
25 and equipment necessary such as GPS, radio
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
49
1 equipment and the Mobile Vision recording system.
2 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you, Trish.
3 May I have a motion, please?
4 MR. HURD: So moved.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
6 Mr. Hurd.
7 Second?
8 MR. ABELAR: Second.
9 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
10 Mr. Abelar.
11 Any questions, comments or concerns
12 from the Authority?
13 Adrienne?
14 MS. KREIPKE: Yes, I have a
15 question.
16 There's a statement in your
17 application that says there are no outside
18 sources of funds available for funding officers
19 salaries.
20 What does that statement pertain to?
21 MS. KOMSA: Federal and other state
22 monies.
23 MS. KREIPKE: So is your inclusion
24 of that statement saying that you have no other
25 way to fund these individuals except through UEZ
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
50
1 funds?
2 MS. KOMSA: No, no. This would be a
3 supplemental to what the Township already has as
4 far as police officers. We're just looking to
5 add to the force.
6 MS. KREIPKE: But they already are?
7 I mean, this would be a continuation of funding
8 of the officers who are already there?
9 MS. KOMSA: Uh-huh. That's allowing
10 the Township to also bring in new officers by
11 offsetting their budget.
12 MS. KREIPKE: I wasn't sure. But
13 when I read that statement and the previous
14 statement saying that it's a very highly sought
15 after shift, I got the impression that you didn't
16 need as many officers as you have in the zone.
17 MS. KOMSA: If -- our zone is a
18 large zone. It varies populationwise,
19 businesswise between our industrial park and our
20 downtown. At this point, from what I understand,
21 they're actually undermanned for what -- for the
22 amount of calls that they have. So the police
23 department does see this as a plus to be able to
24 bring in these officers and to bulk up the
25 detail.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
51
1 MS. KREIPKE: What officers are
2 being brought in? I thought this was a
3 continuation of the --
4 MS. KOMSA: It is a continuation.
5 But he would have started 12 years ago, so we're
6 just basically keeping it moving. By allowing us
7 to fund these officers, it frees up their budget
8 money to keep adding to their ranks.
9 D.A.G. BRUCK: I think what she's
10 saying is by funding the officers in the Zone, it
11 allows the municipality to hire additional
12 officers outside of the Zone --
13 MS. KOMSA: Correct.
14 D.A.G. BRUCK: -- and fit that
15 within the municipal budget.
16 But the answer to your first
17 question, I'm not sure because you said, Are
18 there any other monies available. So I guess the
19 answer is there would be, but that you're going
20 to use that money to hire additional officers.
21 MS. KOMSA: Well, as far as --
22 correct. And any additional funding which we are
23 normally asked in our project review is are there
24 other grant monies out there. That's really what
25 that statement is pertaining to, are there other
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 grant monies. And at this time, no, we're not
2 eligible for --
3 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: There's no
4 Homeland Security or any --
5 MS. KOMSA: Correct.
6 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: -- federal
7 funding?
8 MS. KOMSA: As per our public safety
9 director at the time.
10 MS. KREIPKE: To what would you
11 ascribe the fact that the UEZ office of
12 designation is very highly sought after with
13 senior officers?
14 MS. KOMSA: The senior officers like
15 to patrol. It's generally a foot patrol
16 downtown. A lot of the older officers are more
17 community policing oriented, so they'll go in,
18 they'll talk to the merchants, they do the
19 business checks. With the newer officers,
20 they're on the road, have a tendency to be more
21 proactive. They want to stop cars and all that.
22 So we're finding that older officers do enjoy
23 that walking the beat, so to speak.
24 The way the PBA contract is set up
25 it has to be included in the shift pick. We
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
53
1 can't -- we can't say, Okay, you're a lower payer
2 officer, we're going to pay you. It's by shift
3 pick.
4 MS. KREIPKE: Thank you. No more
5 questions.
6 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
7 questions?
8 MR. ABELAR: One question.
9 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Mr. Abelar?
10 MR. ABELAR: There are four trucks
11 you're buying?
12 MS. KOMSA: Two trucks, two SUVs.
13 MR. ABELAR: Now next year you
14 expect to repeat this purchase or what?
15 MS. KOMSA: For vehicles, no, no.
16 We haven't come to the UEZ for vehicles in
17 probably six, eight years.
18 MR. ABELAR: Thank you.
19 MS. KOMSA: '98.
20 MR. CORBY: These are replacing --
21 if I might, we're replacing two that we purchased
22 through the UEZ in '98.
23 MR. ABELAR: Thank you.
24 MR. MOORE: You have identified the
25 Cranbury 25 firm involved in (indiscernible).
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 Over the 12 years have you seen them go up or
2 down?
3 MS. KOMSA: We've seen fluctuation
4 as our population's changed, the demographics,
5 businesses coming and going, we've seen it
6 fluctuate.
7 MR. MOORE: In which direction?
8 MS. KOMSA: Up and down. We had
9 years where we were way low, years that it popped
10 back up.
11 MR. MOORE: So what would be the
12 major impact of --
13 MR. CORBY: We first began this
14 program 10 years ago, 11 years ago? Twelve years
15 ago. In the first three years we saw dramatic,
16 dramatic decrease in various crimes, almost
17 one-third over the first three-year period.
18 Since that time it is stabilized. But certainly
19 the presence of these officers, if you will, have
20 maintained a more stable surrounding and
21 circumstance.
22 But initially within the first three
23 years, and I think our statistics have repeatedly
24 shown, that there was a dramatic decrease in
25 various crime incidents.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Mr. Hurd?
2 MR. HURD: I apologize. What is
3 your position?
4 MS. KOMSA: Urban Initiatives
5 Coordinator.
6 MR. ABELAR: One more comment.
7 I see that last year from Year 11,
8 you came down on the amount requested and I
9 congratulate you, and we hope that Year 13 comes
10 further down.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: We like you to be
12 happy, Mr. Abelar.
13 Counsel has also suggested that I
14 move that Ms. Pearson is here.
15 Before we take a vote, any other
16 questions?
17 Hearing none, all in favor please
18 signify by saying, "aye."
19 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed?
21 MS. PEARSON: Abstention.
22 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: One abstention by
23 Ms. Pearson.
24 Anything else? No?
25 All in favor. There you go.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 The next item is $50,500 for
2 Blind-To-Go (USA), Inc. Lease Subsidy, 2007.
3 Mr. Corby?
4 MR. CORBY: Thank you, Madam
5 Director.
6 This also is a continuation program.
7 Nineteen ninety-nine we entered into an agreement
8 with Blinds-To-Go to come to Lakewood. That was
9 very heavily endorsed and encouraged by various
10 state agencies, the EDA and the Department of
11 Labor. As part of that entire package, the
12 Lakewood Industrial Commission -- just to give
13 you some background, Lakewood Industrial
14 Commission, which was the owner of the land,
15 leased the 12 acres where the facility was going
16 to be built.
17 Subsequent to that, the Industrial
18 Commission essentially assigned the lease to the
19 Urban Enterprise Zone, the Lakewood Development
20 Corporation. And we, in fact, come before the
21 Board each year to get the money. It is given to
22 Blinds-To-Go to pay the lease on the property.
23 So the arrangement and the agreement was that
24 this would be UEZ money. We give it to the
25 company as subsidy. That money then comes
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 directly back to the Lakewood Development
2 Corporation in the form of second generation
3 funds.
4 That's basically the history of it.
5 And this is -- it was a 20-year lease I might
6 say. I believe we're in Year 8 or 9.
7 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay. May I have
8 a motion, please?
9 MS. PEARSON: So moved.
10 MR. HURD: So moved.
11 MR. ABELAR: Second.
12 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
13 Ms. Pearson; second by Mr. Abelar.
14 Any questions, comments or concerns?
15 Hearing none, all in favor please
16 signify by saying "aye."
17 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
18 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
19 abstentions?
20 Motion carries.
21 Congratulations.
22 MR. CORBY: Thank you very much.
23 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you.
24 Next item we'll take separately.
25 Millville has five requests on the agenda.
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1 The first one for $379,670 for
2 Tourism Marketing Project, Year 4.
3 Don Ayres is with us today.
4 And if you would please identify
5 yourself.
6 MS. LODS: Marianne Lods; that's
7 L-o-d-s.
8 MR. AYRES: Marianne is the
9 Executive Director of the Millville Development
10 Corporation. We have three projects that are
11 really the cornerstone of our annual submissions
12 for the continued revitalization of our downtown
13 arts district and Marianne runs the nonprofit
14 Millville Development Corporation which is also
15 our Main Street Organization.
16 So the first project is for tourism
17 marketing project which is requesting $379,670.
18 And it's really an extremely important component
19 of what we're trying to do in the downtown, and
20 that's to bring more feet onto the street as the
21 mayor likes to say. And that's through a
22 combination of advertising, print, radio,
23 television, billboard, and also special events,
24 cable TV, radio. And Marianne can speak to the
25 different components. We have broken out.
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1 There are visitor brochures
2 advertising in South Jersey and Philadelphia
3 media outlets, the cable TV spots, the regional
4 radio web site advertising. As I said the
5 billboard and special events that bring in around
6 fifty to sixty thousand people a year if you
7 count the third Friday monthly events that we
8 have with open galleries.
9 So as a result of that, and I won't
10 repeat it for every MDC project, but we have over
11 70 new businesses now in a downtown, where six
12 years ago we had a 60 percent vacancy rate and we
13 now have a 5 percent at most vacancy rate.
14 Almost every down or first floor unit was
15 occupied. And we've been successful in turning
16 the image of the downtown around.
17 And we expect to rule out for our
18 adjacent riverfront, which is one block off of
19 the main drag, so to speak, a several hundred
20 million dollar redevelopment plan that will bring
21 mixed use projects in and tie the street grid of
22 the downtown into the riverfront and reclaim old
23 industrial sites and revitalize them. So
24 hopefully that takes the whole effort up to a
25 higher level.
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1 But marketing, getting the word out
2 and having people realize that we have a safe and
3 vibrant and active downtown is certainly an
4 important component of that.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Great, thank you.
6 May I have a motion, please?
7 MS. PEARSON: So moved.
8 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
9 Ms. Pearson.
10 Second?
11 MR. HURD: Second.
12 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: By Mr. Hurd.
13 Any questions, comments or concerns?
14 MR. ABELAR: This is the first year
15 you come --
16 MR. AYRES: No, this is Year 4.
17 This is the same amount as we requested last
18 year.
19 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay, Mr. Abelar?
20 MR. ABELAR: Yes.
21 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay.
22 Any other questions?
23 Hearing none, all in favor please
24 signify by saying "aye."
25 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
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1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
2 abstentions?
3 Motion carried.
4 Next agenda item is $162,151 for
5 funding for police officers, Year 16.
6 Good morning, and if you would
7 please identify yourself.
8 CHIEF HARVEY: Sure. Ronald J.
9 Harvey, Chief of Police in Millville.
10 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Don?
11 MR. AYRES: This is again a
12 continuation project which would fund walking
13 patrolmen in the downtown which has been a
14 long-time component of it. And a second year, I
15 believe, of two riding officers who would handle
16 the balance of the UEZ, which in Millville is
17 over 5,000 acres, includes two industrial parks,
18 includes the interchange area, Routes 47 and 55,
19 if you're familiar with that section of the
20 state. And where we have just last year opened a
21 250,000 square foot new shopping center, and just
22 had the opening of Target and Kohl's, and a new
23 500,000 square foot shopping center. So the
24 needs are increasing for those officers.
25 And the downtown -- I believe we
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 have a few letters of support for the downtown
2 officers. And that's an ongoing critical need to
3 make those visitors that we're bringing in with
4 the tourism dollars, the marketing dollars, make
5 them feel safe in the downtown. And as I said,
6 the need is growing because this coming year we
7 expect build a new industrial park at our airport
8 which is in the UEZ. And God willing and the
9 creek don't rise, we will have the groundbreaking
10 finally of the New Jersey Motor Sports Park at
11 our airport. So these officers will continue to
12 be very busy.
13 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Great, thank you.
14 May I have motion, please?
15 MR. HURD: Moved.
16 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
17 Mr. Hurd.
18 Second?
19 MR. ABELAR: Second.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
21 Mr. Abelar.
22 Any questions?
23 MR. ABELAR: I see you came down
24 from the previous year. I congratulate you and I
25 appreciate that.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 MR. AYES: Okay, thank you.
2 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you,
3 Mr. Abelar.
4 Any other questions?
5 MS. KREIPKE: I have just a
6 clarification.
7 In this application, in the
8 statistical information, it says the number of
9 municipal police overall is flat from last year.
10 But in the next two proposals it records it as a
11 growth of one police officer in the municipal
12 police force since last year. I was just
13 wondering which it was.
14 MR. AYRES: I think it's flat.
15 CHIEF HARVEY: Yeah, it's flat.
16 MR. AYRES: It's flat. There may be
17 a count where one went in, one went out and we
18 misstated that, but it's a flat. We're hopeful
19 this year with some new weed and seed money that
20 we can add which we want to do, but that's still
21 up in the air.
22 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you.
23 Any other questions?
24 Hearing none, all in favor please
25 signify by saying "aye."
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1 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
2 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
3 abstentions?
4 Motion carries.
5 MR. AYRES: Thank you.
6 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Next item is
7 149,000 for Facade Improvement Program, Year 7.
8 MR. AYRES: Okay. I'm going to ask
9 Marianne to come back up again.
10 You know, in the implementation of
11 the National Main Street Model Program the facade
12 improvements are another important component of
13 the four component program. And this again is an
14 ongoing component of our downtown revitalization.
15 And it consists of several levels of assistance
16 for smaller projects. A 50/50 matching component
17 for projects of next tier up. It's a 40 percent
18 grant, a 40 percent zero interest loan, and a
19 20 percent match by the business.
20 And then the final component which
21 works, and Marianne speak to, through the
22 New Jersey Main Street Program. There are an
23 opportunity for what they call make-over projects
24 which are around 25,000 or --
25 MS. LODS: At least a $25,000
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1 investment with $9,750 grant, $9,750 zero
2 interest loan, the balance by the building owner.
3 And most of those building large rehabs have been
4 in excess of fifty and sixty thousand dollars.
5 So it's been a significant private investment as
6 well.
7 MR. AYRES: We have -- Marianne has
8 brought some if you'd be interested. I know it's
9 a long agenda, but there are some significant
10 projects.
11 MS. LODS: I'd like to show you this
12 one. It's probably one of the most significant
13 ones. Store bought Regional Music has been in
14 town for awhile. If you see the old facade at
15 the top, it's a typical 1950s, put aluminum over
16 everything and make it look ugly. And it is
17 now -- it is complete. And it looks like its
18 original building. It was a theater at one time,
19 and the music store now has a totally renovated
20 facade. They spent $75,000, and the facade
21 program allowed us to give them the $18,750.
22 MR. AYRES: And that's with free
23 architectural help as provided by the New Jersey
24 Main Street Program through the Department of
25 Community Affairs.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Great.
2 May I have a motion, please?
3 MR. ABELAR: So moved.
4 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
5 Mr. Abelar.
6 Second?
7 MS. PEARSON: Second.
8 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: By Ms. Pearson.
9 Any questions, comments or concerns?
10 Hearing none, all in favor please
11 signify by saying "aye."
12 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
13 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
14 abstentions?
15 Motion carried.
16 Next item $127,291 for Millville
17 Main Street/MDC Operating Budget, Year 2.
18 MR. AYRES: Yeah. This is the
19 annual operating budget and this is a 50 percent
20 of the operating budget request. And it would
21 handle part of the administrative salaries, plus
22 basically office and utility-type costs for the
23 operation, Marianne and one assistant. And they
24 implement the entire program including the other
25 components you heard about today. And have
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1 really been the main persons responsible for
2 recruiting and bringing in all these new
3 businesses and for keeping the activities going
4 on the street.
5 The annual holiday celebration was
6 this past weekend and how many people?
7 MS. LODS: We had about 2500 people
8 and it was only about 25 degrees out on Friday
9 night, but we had a two-night event. Again, a
10 huge success for the downtown.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Great.
12 MR. AYRES: And this Friday will be
13 our third Friday of the month so we get
14 back-to-back events. And they have been -- their
15 Friday's have been bringing in 2,000 to 3,000
16 people --
17 MS. LODS: Yes.
18 MR. AYRES: -- according to what the
19 weather is. So this is the underpinning of that
20 whole effort is to support that -- the Millville
21 Development Corporations operation.
22 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Great.
23 Can I have a motion, please?
24 MS. PEARSON: So moved.
25 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 Ms. Pearson.
2 Second?
3 MS. KREIPKE: Second.
4 MR. ABELAR: Second.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
6 Ms. Kreipke.
7 Any questions, comments or concerns?
8 Hearing none, all in favor please signify by
9 saying "aye."
10 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
12 abstentions?
13 Motion carries.
14 Next item $74,770 for Funding for
15 Fire Fighter, Year 15.
16 Don?
17 MR. AYRES: Yes. This is, again, a
18 public safety component of our UEZ program. This
19 was a fire fighter, while he does respond to
20 calls, his primary function is to go out and
21 visit with UEZ businesses and work with them on
22 fire safety matters, and to be a resource
23 particularly in the downtown where we have the
24 older buildings and some substantial rehabs going
25 on, to make sure that those kinds of issues are
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 addressed, and to just keep that in the forefront
2 of everybody's thinking. And this would be the
3 80 percent of his salary for Year 15.
4 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you, Don.
5 May I have a motion?
6 MR. ABELAR: So moved.
7 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
8 Mr. Abelar.
9 Second?
10 MR. HURD: Second.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
12 Mr. Hurd.
13 Questions, comments, concerns?
14 Hearing none, all in favor please
15 signify by saying "aye."
16 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
17 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
18 abstentions?
19 Motion carried.
20 MR. AYRES: Thank you very much.
21 Thank you.
22 MS. LODS: Thank you very much.
23 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Next Passaic's
24 request -- we're on page 2.
25 Passaic's request for $94,132 for
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1 Graffiti Eradication, Phase VI. And Soraya Stam
2 is here with us this morning.
3 Good morning, Soraya.
4 MS. STAM: Good morning.
5 Passaic has requested 94,132 for the
6 continuation of the Graffiti Eradication Program.
7 The program is run by the nonprofit corporation,
8 the downtown merchant. And basically what it is,
9 is two employees, one being a truck driver who
10 have a truck with a power wash equipment on it,
11 and the other employee is the helper. They
12 remove the graffiti either by power washing the
13 surface or by painting over the surface that
14 cannot be power washed. And they work five days
15 a week from six, seven in the morning until two
16 in the afternoon.
17 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: May I have a
18 motion, please?
19 MS. PEARSON: So moved.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
21 Ms. Pearson.
22 Second?
23 MR. ABELAR: Second.
24 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: By Mr. Abelar.
25 Any questions, comment or concerns
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 for Soraya?
2 Hearing none, all in favor please
3 signify by saying "aye."
4 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
6 abstentions?
7 Motion carried.
8 Thank you, Soraya.
9 MS. STAM: Thank you.
10 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Next item we'll
11 take separately. Perth Amboy.
12 First item is 500,000 for Jewish
13 Renaissance Medical Center Project. And Robert
14 McCoy is here with us this morning.
15 MR. McCOY: Sorry for the delay.
16 Good morning.
17 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Good morning,
18 Robert.
19 We're going to take the first one
20 for Jewish Rena --
21 MR. McCOY: Jewish Renaissance.
22 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Correct.
23 MR. McCOY: For the Jewish
24 Renaissance Foundation, funding provided for this
25 project will be used for construction cost of the
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 Jewish Renaissance Medical Center which is a UEZ
2 certified business that's located in our
3 enterprise zone in the center of Perth Amboy.
4 Jewish Renaissance Foundation was
5 founded as the first federally faith-based
6 federally qualified health care center in the
7 nation. Jewish Renaissance has approved plans to
8 renovate 42,762 square feet of a building that it
9 owns in Hobart Street in Perth Amboy, of course
10 within our UEZ boundaries. The building
11 renovation will allow the Jewish Renaissance to
12 relocate, consolidate and expand its operations
13 at the new facility.
14 The Jewish Renaissance Medical
15 Center is a nonprofit, nonsectarian 501C3 health
16 care organization, provides medical and mental
17 health care services to the residents of Perth
18 Amboy. And will make those services available to
19 nearby communities without regard to raise,
20 religion or capacity to pay. And I recognize
21 that we would have to amend our application to
22 include the establishment clause.
23 But the mission of the Jewish
24 Renaissance Medical Center is to deliver
25 preventive and primary medical services to the
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 underserved and uninsured population in
2 culturally competent environment in Middlesex
3 County, again, regardless of ethnicity or
4 religion.
5 Now the economic impact of this
6 project will be the establishment of the Jewish
7 Renaissance Medical Center as one of the major
8 employers in the city of Perth Amboy with the
9 creation over time of more than 100 jobs.
10 Presently, the Jewish Renaissance
11 Medical Clinic located at 272 Hobart Street and
12 is no longer adequate to meet the health care
13 center's patent needs. The number of users at
14 the facility continues to rise. It's expected to
15 increase at a rapid rate over the next five
16 years. Market data indicated that the
17 low-income, under insured and uninsured
18 populations have extremely limited access to both
19 medical and dental care.
20 Now the new facility will enable
21 them, the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center, to
22 provide accessible, efficient environment for
23 delivering primary medical, mental health and
24 dental care to low-income individuals.
25 Now the Jewish Renaissance Medical
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 Center submitted a request for funding to the
2 Perth Amboy Zone Development Corporation Board of
3 Directors in an amount of $1 million. Now the
4 Board accepted and approved their proposal and
5 requesting the Zone Assistance Fund funding for
6 Phase I of this project in the amount of $500,000
7 in the application. And will appear before the
8 Authority next year -- we'll come again before
9 the Authority next year with a request for an
10 additional $500,000. And, of course, that will
11 all be contingent upon the availability of funds
12 and approval by the Authority.
13 Now the population in Perth Amboy
14 has approximately 25 percent of the service area
15 or 11,000 individuals living at or below the
16 poverty level according to the 2000 Census. And
17 again, accounting for undocumented population,
18 the majority who exist below the poverty level,
19 that figure is actually closer to 45 percent.
20 So that statistic is important as
21 the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center target
22 market is low-income, uninsured and under insured
23 individuals and I request your consideration of
24 our application.
25 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 Again, before I ask for a motion,
2 the D.A.G., I'm going to let her make two points.
3 I'm going to let Trish begin with her --
4 D.A.G. BRUCK: Sure. I'd just like
5 to reiterate with Mr. McCoy's point that the
6 recipient of the Zone Assistance Funds is perhaps
7 faith-based. And to assure that there is no
8 religious overtones or activities related to this
9 project that we require the proposal contain the
10 following language regarding the establishment
11 clause.
12 I'm going to read that so we're
13 clear, that the establishment clause of the First
14 Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits the
15 government from directly funding religious
16 activity. Zone Assistance Funds allocated to
17 this project will not be used in any manner that
18 would violate the establishment clause. Foods
19 and services purchased under this project will be
20 secular and not idealogical.
21 If requested by the UEZ Authority,
22 Perth Amboy will promptly deliver to the UEZ
23 Authority a written opinion of Perth Amboy's
24 legal counsel opining to any particular use of
25 Zone Assistance Funds identified by the UEZ
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 Authority to stop violate the establishment
2 clause.
3 Further, Zone Assistance Funds
4 allocate that this project cannot be used to pay
5 any expenditures which are required to be
6 reported pursuant to the New Jersey Campaign
7 Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act.
8 Thank you.
9 MR. McCOY: Thank you.
10 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: And as we
11 discussed Bob --
12 MR. McCOY: Yes.
13 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: -- this is a
14 $14 million project.
15 On page 8 of the proposed budget,
16 you indicated that there's additional funding,
17 bank loans in the amount of 8.4 million
18 N.J.C.C. --
19 MR. McCOY: Yes.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: -- which you have
21 identified as being --
22 MR. McCOY: New Jersey Community
23 Capital, formally New Jersey Loan -- Loan Fund,
24 administered by Bob Graham.
25 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay. In the
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1 amount of 2.9 million N.J.R.A. 300,000. A HUD
2 grant in the amount of 1.5 million and equity in
3 the amount of 202,000.
4 MR. McCOY: That's correct.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Before I get the
6 motion or ask for a motion, I would just like to
7 know what the status of that funding is. I know
8 in the proposal that there are some award
9 letters --
10 MR. McCOY: Yes.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: -- and I'm going
12 to ask that if you can update this project --
13 MR. McCOY: Certainly.
14 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: -- to include the
15 award letters.
16 MR. McCOY: Thank you.
17 There are currently $9 and-a-half
18 million that's already committed in place. A
19 bank loan that's in place for $7 and-a-half
20 million. The $1.5 million, HUD grant is in
21 place. Those commitment letters are part of the
22 application in your packet. And the
23 pending -- the balance that is different -- I'm
24 sorry, there's also the $500,000 that we're
25 applying for here which is part of the
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 application. Funding from New Jersey Community
2 Capital, formally New Jersey Loan Fund, is
3 pending contingent upon UEZ approval.
4 And as I shared earlier, that letter
5 will be available in January. And the EDA
6 administered by Raymond Fisher (pho) also has
7 approved their commitment of funding and a letter
8 will be forthcoming as well. And the Jewish
9 Renaissance Medical Center is fully aware that
10 their funding through the UEZ Authority would be
11 contingent upon the submittal of those supportive
12 documentation.
13 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you.
14 May I ask for a motion, please?
15 MR. ABELAR: So moved.
16 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
17 Mr. Abelar.
18 Second?
19 MS. PEARSON: Second.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
21 Ms. Pearson.
22 Any questions, comments or concerns
23 from the Authority members?
24 MS. KREIPKE: I have a question on
25 the same chart that we're looking at, page 8.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 How does the additional 500,000
2 which you say you plan to come back and ask for
3 relief for next year, how does that factor into
4 this?
5 I see the UEZ grant at 500,000. It
6 says in 2007. So what's this -- so that's in the
7 other funds column and this 500,000 you're
8 applying for is in the state UEZ Funds Zone?
9 MR. McCOY: The total request is for
10 $1 million and the sources and uses.
11 MS. KREIPKE: So right now the
12 future application for 500,000 is currently
13 reflected in the other funds column?
14 MR. McCOY: That is correct.
15 MS. KREIPKE: Thank you.
16 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: And he understand
17 that he will need to come back and there's no
18 guarantee.
19 MR. McCOY: Absolutely.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Right?
21 MR. McCOY: Yes.
22 MR. ABELAR: Has the Center
23 qualified as a fellow qualified care center?
24 MR. McCOY: It's the first one in
25 the nation approved under George Bush as the
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1 first faith-based federal qualified health care
2 center in the nation.
3 MR. ABELAR: Thank you.
4 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
5 questions?
6 Approval will be contingent upon
7 receipt of the additional information.
8 MR. McCOY: Okay.
9 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: May I have a
10 motion?
11 Oh, we already have a motion.
12 All in favor please signify by
13 saying "aye."
14 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
15 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed?
16 Motion carries.
17 Thank you.
18 MR. McCOY: Thank you.
19 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Next item is for
20 Perth Amboy is King Plaza, 500,000 for King Plaza
21 redevelopment Project.
22 Bob?
23 MR. McCOY: Yes. The UEZ funding
24 for this project, and I have an illustration here
25 to my left, will be dedicated for the exclusive
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1 use of providing public parking for the King
2 Plaza Redevelopment Project.
3 King Plaza is a multi-purpose
4 project comprised of residential and retail with
5 private and public parking facilities on three
6 and-a-half acres in the heart of our central
7 business district as illustrated on that center
8 map there. Specifically, UEZ funds will not be
9 used for construction of any housing in this
10 project. The retail component of the project
11 will contain a supermarket of 30,000 square feet
12 and 36,000 square feet of general purpose retail
13 space.
14 Street level surface parking spaces
15 will be provided for the use of retail customers
16 and the general public with an overflow retail
17 customer parking component provided within the
18 parking garage.
19 There's a four-level parking deck
20 with 574 spaces for residents and shoppers, and
21 an additional 149 street level surface free
22 two-hour parking spaces for use by shoppers and
23 the general public.
24 When completed, the King Plaza will
25 represent 249 efficiency one- and two-bedroom
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1 units with the 66,000 square feet of commercial
2 space for the 30,000 square foot supermarket and
3 a retail strip 18 to 20 vendors. The public
4 parking spaces in this project are part of the
5 overall $70 million redevelopment project costs.
6 Now this project will create
7 200 construction-related jobs and 100 permanent
8 management and clerical jobs with the
9 construction of the new supermarket and the
10 retail stores and the construction of the
11 residential building -- buildings.
12 The developer for this project is
13 King Plaza, LLC. They were selected by the City
14 of Perth Amboy's Redevelopment Authority. And
15 the developer has pledged $1,325,000 of his
16 capital toward the commercial development of this
17 project.
18 During this phase of the project we
19 are requesting $500,000 in this, of course, with
20 the plan of returning next year for additional
21 funding. The total funding request from King
22 Plaza is for $2 million. That, too, has been a
23 approved by the Zone Development Corporation
24 Board of Directors. And in 2007 we will submit
25 separate project proposals for the additional
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1 $5 million, of course, contingent upon the
2 availability of funds and approval by this
3 Authority.
4 Thank you for your consideration.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay.
6 May I have a motion, please?
7 MR. HURD: So moved.
8 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
9 Mr. Hurd.
10 Second?
11 MR. MOORE: Second.
12 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
13 Mr. Moore.
14 Any questions, comments or concerns
15 by the Authority?
16 Hearing none, all in favor please
17 signify by saying "aye."
18 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
19 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
20 abstentions?
21 Motion carries.
22 Congratulations.
23 MR. McCOY: Thank you very much.
24 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Next item is
25 Pleasantville's request for 295,000 for Litter
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1 Collection Services, Year 7.
2 James Hebron is here filling in for
3 Mr. Roger Tees, who by the way had the birth of
4 his third child Raymond.
5 MR. HOPKINS: Charles Raymond,
6 8 pounds, 1 ounce. Referring to Roger Tees
7 birth.
8 I'm Marvin Hopkins. I'm the City
9 Administrator.
10 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay.
11 MR. HOPKINS: Okay, no problem.
12 MR. HEBRON: In that record, Madam
13 Director, we are going to ask the Authority to
14 give us permission to add a new member to the
15 staff. And the request --
16 MR. HOPKINS: -- will be in the next
17 administrative budget.
18 MR. HEBRON: Good morning. We're
19 here, the City of Pleasantville, you have our
20 proposal for the amount of $295,000 for the
21 continuation of the Litter Collection Services
22 Program in Pleasantville. The funds we are
23 requesting are funds that will finance six
24 laborers that will be succunded (pho) to the
25 Public Works Department in the City of
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1 Pleasantville.
2 The efforts of the laborers will
3 supplement normal activities of Public Works
4 Department in the City of Pleasantville. They
5 are concentrated and specifically employed to
6 work specifically in the Enterprise Zone. Their
7 concentration is in the central business district
8 as it has been for the past six years. That will
9 continue.
10 The funding is broken down into two
11 parts. Primarily, the bulk of the money, 277-odd
12 thousand is for salaries, wages and benefits.
13 But there is slightly more than $7,000 to
14 purchase equipment; that is, the personal
15 equipment, safety equipment that the laborers
16 need to comply with all the safety regulations.
17 That would include boots, gloves, hats and the
18 vests.
19 These workers do not work the
20 traditional hours that the Public Works
21 Department works. In that regard, this is how we
22 see that and can say to you that these activities
23 are indeed supplemental. These workers work odd
24 hours. They are on duty weekends and holidays,
25 as well as in the evenings after the normal
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1 Public Works workers are discharged and go home.
2 We have found through surveys a
3 couple of years ago, certainly after we started
4 this, that the contribution of this unit has been
5 rather significant in noticeable terms. By that
6 I mean the demise or the reduction in the amount
7 of litter that has been traditionally in our
8 central business district has been tremendously
9 reduced.
10 I must also say that this unit is
11 charged with cleaning an area around the bus
12 station in Pleasantville. This is one of the
13 principal transit clubs in the County of
14 Atlantic, New Jersey Transit Authority, and it's
15 part of our Transit Village Program. Without
16 these workers there, it would be difficult for
17 the Public Works Department as a whole to be able
18 to achieve the same results that we get from
19 these workers.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: I think that's
21 good Mr. Hebron. Let me just ask for a motion,
22 if I could, at this point.
23 MS. PEARSON: So moved.
24 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion, okay, by
25 Ms. Pearson.
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1 MR. HURD: Second.
2 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
3 Mr. Hurd.
4 Any questions, comments or concerns?
5 MR. ABELAR: No.
6 MS. KREIPKE: Could you just tell us
7 what is the total Public Works budget, if you
8 know, approximately?
9 MR. HEBRON: The total budget? Oh,
10 wow...
11 MR. HOPKINS: You're talking about
12 just salaries or the --
13 MR. HEBRON: -- the operations?
14 MR. HOPKINS: -- improvement
15 project?
16 MS. KREIPKE: I'm just trying to put
17 this $295,000 request for supplemental Public
18 Works services in the overall --
19 MR. HOPKINS: It's approximately
20 $2 million.
21 MS. KREIPKE: Without this
22 supplement?
23 MR. HOPKINS: Yes, without this.
24 That's correct. You're welcome.
25 MS. KREIPKE: Thank you.
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1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
2 questions?
3 Hearing none, all in favor please
4 signify by saying "aye."
5 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
6 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
7 abstentions?
8 Motion carries. Congratulations.
9 MR. HEBRON: Happy holidays to all
10 of you.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: The next item is
12 Vineland's two requests for $2,349,766 for
13 Economic Development Loan to Bridor, Inc. and
14 Frank DiGiorgio is here with us.
15 Good morning.
16 MR. DiGIORGIO: Morning.
17 The two projects we have on the
18 agenda this morning are both for economic
19 development loans. The first loan is for a
20 project to Bridor, Incorporated, in the amount of
21 $2.339 million. And this will be a loan for an
22 artisan bread production line. The total project
23 cost is $7.8 million. We have a 10 percent
24 contribution from our borrower, primary lender
25 out of Canada, funding $6.80 million. And the
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1 UEZ request for our forward is 2.339,766 million.
2 Bridor is a manufacturer marketer of
3 frozen gourmet artisan products, pastries, breads
4 for food service and retail markets in Canada and
5 the United States. They're located in our
6 industrial park. They have recently secured a
7 contract with Wal-Mart and working on a contract
8 with another fast-food company in the United
9 States which cannot be released right now. But
10 they currently employ 53 people in this plant.
11 And with this expansion, we assume or anticipate
12 that it will double. So we're looking for an
13 additional 50 to 100 jobs out of Bridor with this
14 next line.
15 They initially leased operations in
16 Vineland. They have purchased their facility
17 with previous assistance from the UEZ and are
18 doing well at this point. So...
19 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you, Frank.
20 May I have a motion, please?
21 MR. HURD: So moved.
22 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
23 Mr. Hurd.
24 Second?
25 MS. KREIPKE: Second.
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1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
2 Ms. Kreipke.
3 Any questions?
4 Mr. Hurd?
5 MR. HURD: With the expansion, new
6 employees coming in, is there any controlled idea
7 where those new employees would come from? Would
8 they come from the town or just anywhere because
9 they're a private entity?
10 MR. DiGIORGIO: I imagine they would
11 recruit from anywhere in the county. The city
12 obviously first, then the county. They would
13 probably work with our One Stop Center, our work
14 force folks in the county by providing them with
15 job profiles and descriptions, and they usually
16 help them with the purpose of hiring which has
17 been the case with many of our industrial
18 employers in the town.
19 MR. ABELAR: How much is the
20 interest rate?
21 MR. DiGIORGIO: The interest rate on
22 our Urban Enterprise Zone is 5 percent. This is
23 a 15-year loan for Bridor.
24 MR. ABELAR: Is the Assisted Funds,
25 are we the last resort for this enterprise?
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1 MR. DiGIORGIO: Because the company
2 is located in an Urban Enterprise Zone, they're
3 eligible for applying to the UEZ or our UEZ for
4 Zone Assistance Funds or Economic Development
5 Loans. We typically like to see some
6 participation on their part in a primary bank, so
7 we put that in our spec and guidelines and they
8 are applying for one-third of the project through
9 our funds.
10 MR. ABELAR: Indeed. I saw that
11 they have a loan from the Bank of Canada. I
12 wonder if this beneficiary apply for loans to any
13 American Bank, local banks.
14 MR. DiGIORGIO: Well, they're
15 headquartered in Montreal. So they would
16 probably go -- they have two plants in Canada so
17 there are obvious relationships that have been
18 established with those banks and they'll utilize
19 those as well. The purpose for our funding is
20 obviously reduce their interest rate and reduce
21 their cost of operating or funding the
22 acquisition of the equipment line.
23 MR. ABELAR: My concern here is that
24 the Authority is becoming a banker in this case.
25 And even though the statute explicitly provides
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1 for that, I am concerned that this is not the
2 spirit of the law to become a banker. And I know
3 the statute says that loans can be provided, but
4 I am concerned about that.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay. And that is
6 duly noted. I will note that Bridor was ready to
7 go back to Canada.
8 And if I recall, Frank, through an
9 arrangement and a loan, a previous UEZ loan, you
10 were able to keep the company here in Vineland
11 and that was a big --
12 MR. DiGIORGIO: It was a big deal,
13 yeah.
14 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Yeah, it was a big
15 deal.
16 So you are entitled to your opinion.
17 I think it's a great thing.
18 MS. PEARSON: I concur with that.
19 This is sort of the purpose of the UEZ.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: And I'm sorry that
21 you don't feel that it's within the spirit of the
22 law, but I feel that it is.
23 MS. KREIPKE: Mr. Abelar, could you
24 expand a little bit on that since we've approved
25 lots of loans here at these meetings. What makes
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1 this loan seem to you like becoming a bank as
2 opposed to other loans we've approved?
3 MR. ABELAR: Well, the percentage of
4 contributions the Authority is providing. I am
5 surprised that no local bank is involved, no
6 American bank is involved in this transaction.
7 And the mere fact of the amount of the loan and
8 the percentage rate seems to me is low. We don't
9 know anything more than it is briefly provided
10 here, what is this beneficiary about? I've been
11 in the Authority for three years or two years and
12 this is the first time I hear from this
13 particular beneficiary.
14 It would be good in the future if
15 the beneficiary is ready to leave town that we
16 here about it in loans of this amount.
17 MR. DiGIORGIO: Yeah, if I could
18 comment on that. I mean, one of -- and your
19 comment is understood. One of our major focuses
20 or our program is to preserve the existing
21 companies so they don't consider moving out of
22 Vineland. So one way to do that is to provide
23 them some advantageous financing that they
24 couldn't obtain anywhere else.
25 So I mean if a company was
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1 considering -- you know, I have National Bank of
2 Canada's term sheet and obviously it is higher
3 than 5 percent. But if we didn't have this, they
4 may like Kathy said consider different locations
5 or somewhere else where some other state or local
6 municipality could offer an incentive that would
7 move them out of our town. So...
8 MS. PEARSON: Excuse me, I'm getting
9 increasingly uncomfortable when we have
10 philosophical ideas that come across from the
11 Board. The people who are presenting their
12 projects are presenting their project based on
13 what the rules are. And I get increasingly
14 uncomfortable when they have get involved in this
15 conceptual debates. That's something that we
16 should have. They're following the law. They're
17 doing what they're supposed to do. We accept
18 what they present. Now if we have issues with
19 it, then I think that's something we need to
20 discuss, not with the people here.
21 And I would like if we can do that,
22 if we have these debates, these discussions, if
23 we could alter whatever it is we need to alter
24 because we are going by law as well, then lets do
25 that at another time. We set that time.
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1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you,
2 Mrs. Pearson.
3 Okay, I'm going to take a vote now,
4 okay --
5 MR. ABELAR: All right.
6 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: -- and you vote
7 your conscious, okay.
8 All in favor please signify by
9 saying "aye."
10 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed?
12 MR. ABELAR: Opposed.
13 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Opposed by
14 Mr. Abelar.
15 Any abstentions?
16 Motion carried.
17 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Next item for
18 Vineland is also for 1,010,000 for Economic
19 Development Loan to Lucca Realty.
20 Frank?
21 MR. DiGIORGIO: Lucca Realty.
22 Actually, Lucca Realty is a real estate holding
23 company, which Lucca Cold Storage and Freezer
24 operates across the street from Bridor. They
25 plan an addition of 50,000 square feet. Again,
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1 we are being applied to some Zone Assistance
2 Funds for this project, for their expansion. The
3 project cost is over $3.7 million. Your standard
4 10 percent contribution from our borrower and our
5 financing piece is 1 million, and they have
6 finances through a primary bank in the United
7 States, First Pioneer Farm Credit and local to
8 Vineland.
9 The company is a -- in addition to
10 freezer and cold storage space, it deals mostly
11 with importers of fruits and vegetables and some
12 types of meat and cheese. It brings in those
13 products, re-packs them and then sends them off
14 to its destination. They have completed
15 construction of the 50,000 square foot addition
16 to their space.
17 They're requesting funds are -- the
18 benefits to our zone are -- obviously, we're
19 assisting an existing company with their
20 expansion. Some minor job creation, but -- it's
21 a long-term tenant on our industrial park and we
22 want to make sure they're happy and stay and
23 continue operation.
24 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you, Frank.
25 May I have a motion, please?
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1 MR. HURD: So moved.
2 MS. PEARSON: Second.
3 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
4 Mr. Hurd; second by Ms. Pearson.
5 Any questions, comments or concerns?
6 Mr. Abelar?
7 MR. ABELAR: This would be two jobs
8 at a low 5 percent which we have two jobs. It is
9 for installation of our freezer and cold storage.
10 I think it doesn't comport to the spirit of the
11 law.
12 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: So noted.
13 Any other questions or comments,
14 concerns from the Authority?
15 Ms. Kreipke?
16 MS. KREIPKE: Could you tell me what
17 the amount of the 2001 loan was?
18 MR. DiGIORGIO: It was $3 million.
19 It's balance is 2.86 right now, 2.8 million
20 outstanding.
21 MR. MOORE: Two point eight million
22 outstanding?
23 MR. DiGIORGIO: It's been on
24 repayment.
25 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
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1 comments?
2 Hearing none, all in favor please
3 signify by saying "aye."
4 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed?
6 MR. ABELAR: I'm opposed.
7 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: One opposed by
8 Mr. Abelar.
9 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any abstentions?
10 Motion carries.
11 Congratulations, Frank.
12 Can I ask, can we just take a
13 five-minute break? Just a five-minute break,
14 real quick. Thank you.
15 (Whereupon a break was taken. Time
16 is 11:37 a.m.)
17 (Back on the record. Time is
18 11:46 a.m.)
19 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Can I ask everyone
20 to please sit down so we can start. The
21 Governor's Office is going to make a presentation
22 after the Authority meeting, so I'd like to move
23 this along, if I could.
24 The next agenda item is Jersey
25 City's two Good Faith Waiver requests. The first
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1 one for $102,007 for Small Business Development
2 Center Funding.
3 Roberta Farber.
4 MS. FARBER: Good morning.
5 The Small Business Development
6 Center has funds that are slowly disappearing and
7 this is the first year that they have requested
8 Second Generation Funds from the Jersey City
9 Urban Enterprise Zone. The funds will be used
10 for administration, for consulting services.
11 They have an office, a satellite office on Martin
12 Luther King Drive, which is in one of the more
13 distressed areas of the municipality. They also
14 have an office on the college campus.
15 They have done over $5 million in
16 new loans over the past year. They are looking
17 at job creation as part of their mission. They
18 are working with Rising Tide Capital which is a
19 brand new entrepreneurship academy in Jersey
20 City, which is also located on Martin Luther King
21 Drive. That's Second Generation Funds. Also, as
22 you all know are funds that are donated to the
23 municipality when company cannot meet their
24 25 --
25 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Not Second
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1 Generation, Good Faith Waiver.
2 MS. FARBER: Good Faith Waiver
3 Funds. I'm not doing well today, what can I tell
4 you.
5 -- are donated by this company that
6 cannot meet their requirement on hiring. And
7 these funds are to be used for job creation which
8 the Small Business Development Center does do as
9 part of their mission.
10 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: The money for this
11 was donated through Jersey City businesses.
12 May I have a motion?
13 MS. PEARSON: So moved.
14 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second?
15 MR. HURD: Second.
16 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: By Mr. Hurd.
17 Any questions, comments or concerns
18 from the Authority members?
19 Hearing none, all in favor please
20 signify by saying "aye."
21 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
22 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
23 abstentions?
24 Motion carried.
25 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Next item is
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1 50,000 for WomenRising - Community Partnerships
2 in Hotel Employment. And Roberta.
3 MS. FARBER: This program is run
4 through WomenRising. It is a joint project with
5 the Community College, as well as WomenRising,
6 the different hotels in Jersey City. We also
7 have three new hot -- well, we actually have an
8 expansion on the courtyards. Marriott in the
9 very near future. We have a Westin Hotel which
10 is in construction stage right now in the Newport
11 area. And we also will be having a Hilton built
12 which has been approved by the planning board.
13 So hospitality training for Jersey
14 City is extremely high. They have partnerships
15 with all the hotels in Jersey City as well as at
16 the airport in Newark to be able to place the
17 persons that are trained by the program. We are
18 also exploring with the Community College the
19 idea of creating a hospitality and customer
20 service institute tourism with the Community
21 College in the very near future.
22 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you,
23 Roberta.
24 May I have motion, please?
25 MS. PEARSON: So moved.
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1 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second?
2 MR. HURD: Second.
3 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: By Mr. Hurd.
4 Any questions, comments or concerns?
5 Yes?
6 MR. ABELAR: Do men have access to
7 this program?
8 MS. FARBER: I'm sorry?
9 MR. ABELAR: Do men?
10 MS. FARBER: Yes. That was -- there
11 had been a time it was just women. But I told
12 them with the UEZ funds they did make the change,
13 and it is women and men that will be doing it.
14 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
15 questions, comments?
16 Hearing none, all in favor please
17 signify by --
18 Mr. Moore?
19 MR. MOORE: Yes, question.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Mr. Moore.
21 MR. MOORE: How did this program
22 differ from some of the other programs that are
23 provided through the Department of Labor, job
24 training programs for like hospitality training
25 which is part of our jobs in demand. So --
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1 MS. FARBER: Employment and
2 training -- actually, if you look at the budget
3 that's there, they do get phones from the
4 employment, Jersey City Employment and Training,
5 which is part of the Department of Labor Program.
6 They are a partner with this program. And a lot
7 of the students that are gotten for that program
8 come through the One Stop Shop, they come through
9 Work Force Investment Board, and they come
10 through Employment and Training. It is a full
11 collaborative effort.
12 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any other
13 comments, questions or concerns?
14 Hearing none, all in favor please
15 signify by saying "aye."
16 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
17 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
18 abstentions?
19 Thank you, Roberta.
20 Next is Lakewood's Second Generation
21 Fund request for $16,661 for Business Center
22 Roadway Restriping Project, and Mr. Corby is
23 here.
24 MR. CORBY: Thank you, again, Madam
25 Director. And if I might after my presentation
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1 be able to reserve remarks under Item No. 23 on
2 the agenda.
3 Earlier this year we came before the
4 Authority for a road re-paving project. It was
5 Project 0707, I believe. And there were a number
6 of roads that were being paved within the
7 Lakewood Industrial Park. This is an 1800 acre
8 area. Many of the businesses are displayed there
9 as UEZ businesses. The money that we're asking
10 for now is -- was not made a part of that
11 original project proposal.
12 I might take note that this was
13 under the bid threshold. This is also, the money
14 that we're asking for, the 16,000 is to do
15 striping immediately. Because many of the roads,
16 particularly the ones designated by the engineer
17 as being in need of repair, we have to do
18 something as far as safety striping and traffic
19 direction control.
20 I don't believe it's a substantial
21 amount. We do have $3.8 million in our Second
22 Generation Fund, and that's what the proposal is
23 before you.
24 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you,
25 Mr. Corby.
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1 Do we have a motion?
2 MR. ABELAR: So moved.
3 MS. PEARSON: Second?
4 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
5 Mr. Abelar; second by Ms. Pearson.
6 Any questions, comments or concerns
7 for Mr. Corby?
8 Hearing none, all in favor please
9 signify by saying "aye."
10 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
11 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
12 abstentions?
13 Motion carried.
14 MR. CORBY: Thank you.
15 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: We'll see you
16 later, all right.
17 Next is Vineland's four Second
18 Generation Fund requests. First one -- we'll
19 each take separately -- $2 million for Facade
20 Improvement for Property Owners, Phase I.
21 Mr. DiGiorgio is here again.
22 And if you would please identify
23 yourself.
24 MS. FOROSISKY: Sandy Forosisky.
25 F as in Frank, o-r-o, s as in Sam, i, s as in
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1 Sam, k-y; Director of Redevelopment of the City
2 of Vineland.
3 Okay. We're requesting $2 million
4 for a facade program for our downtown. Our
5 downtown has been a point of contention in the
6 city for many years. Like any other downtown
7 when the mall opened in the 1970s our downtown
8 has been on a continual downward spiral. There
9 was a lack of investment in the downtown. So in
10 2004 it was designated a redevelopment area. We
11 adopted a redevelopment plan.
12 In 2005, our downtown was designated
13 a Main Street in New Jersey. And in carrying out
14 the revitalization of downtown, it became
15 apparent that there was a significant lack of
16 investment downtown. And that a normal facade
17 program would not make the drastic difference
18 that we're looking for. So we embarked upon a
19 huge facade improvement program where we've
20 offered the landowners, the property owners up to
21 $200,000 depending on the number of sides of the
22 building exposed and the square footage exposed
23 for a facade improvement. And this would be a
24 forgivable loan over 15 years. A lien would be
25 placed on the property. And if they did not sell
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
107
1 their property for 15 years the loan would be
2 forgiven.
3 First five years there's no
4 forgiveness. Your six through fifteen there's
5 10 percent per year. In addition, if it's found
6 that they need to make interior improvements, you
7 know, the roof inside structural work, we would
8 be offering a 2.5 percent interest loan to cover
9 those. We believe that this significant
10 improvement will attract new businesses to the
11 downtown and help in our revitalization efforts.
12 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you, Sandy.
13 May I have a motion, please?
14 MR. HURD: So moved.
15 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
16 Mr. Hurd.
17 Second?
18 MS. PEARSON: Second.
19 Second by Ms. Pearson.
20 Any questions, comments or concerns?
21 Hearing none, all in favor --
22 MR. MOORE: Stated in here indicates
23 that the money will be awarded with regard to age
24 of the firm or age of the individual client?
25 MS. FOROSISKY: Excuse -- the age --
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
108
1 MR. MOORE: Page 1 of the Operation
2 Face Lift.
3 MS. FOROSISKY: Oh, on the
4 application requested.
5 MR. MOORE: Since start, each
6 application requested --
7 MS. FOROSISKY: Without regard to
8 age -- oh, yes.
9 MR. MOORE: Says age --
10 MS. FOROSISKY: Oh, yes. They're
11 illegal individual, not a minor, except where
12 prohibited by law.
13 MR. DiGIORGIO: They wouldn't be
14 able to transact --
15 MS. FOROSISKY: Like a minor
16 couldn't, you know, couldn't enter into a
17 trans -- that's all that meant -- as prescribed
18 by law.
19 MR. MOORE: Okay.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Okay.
21 Any other questions, concerns?
22 Hearing none, all in favor please
23 signify by saying "aye."
24 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
25 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
109
1 abstentions?
2 Motion carried.
3 The next agenda item is 1,584,000
4 for Economic Development Loan to Gus Hionas &
5 Nicholas Isihos.
6 MR. DiGIORGIO: Thank you.
7 These three requests are going to be
8 funded through our Second Generation which occur
9 from the repayment of First and Second Generation
10 loans.
11 The first request for $1.584 million
12 is for permanent loan, end loan financing for a
13 restaurant/diner project to be located on South
14 Delsea Drive. The project total cost is $5.083
15 million. We have a bank providing -- actually,
16 the name of the bank is the Bank providing
17 construction and permanent financing of $2.737
18 million, UEZ funding 1.584 and the Borough's
19 injecting 50 percent of the project.
20 The plan here is to demolish an
21 existing structure and construct a 10,000 square
22 foot upscale restaurant/diner facility, includes
23 seating for approximately 250 patrons. The
24 property is right now an eye sore on South Delsea
25 Drive adjacent to our retail centers and these
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
110
1 folks are stepping up to the plate to create a
2 nice eating establishment and an improved ratable
3 for the City of Vineland. They'll be creating
4 jobs. Obviously, they eliminated a stalled
5 project because the place has just been sitting
6 there and it's in disrepair.
7 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you, Frank.
8 May have I have a motion, please?
9 MS. PEARSON: So moved.
10 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
11 Ms. Pearson.
12 Second?
13 MR. HURD: Second.
14 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
15 Mr. Hurd.
16 Any questions, comments or concerns?
17 Hearing none, all in favor please
18 signify by saying "aye."
19 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
21 abstentions?
22 MR. ABELAR: I will abstain.
23 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: One abstention
24 from Mr. Abelar.
25 Motion carried.
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
111
1 Next agenda item is 310,050 for
2 Economic Development Loan to Allied Specialty
3 Foods, Inc.
4 Frank?
5 MR. DiGIORGIO: Yeah, Allied
6 Specialty Foods, the folks that own and operate
7 this company recently purchased -- when I say
8 recently within the last year and-a-half or so
9 have purchased this company from a previous owner
10 who located Allied Steaks from Philadelphia to
11 Vineland. And part of this company is owned by
12 an investment group out of Chicago. And they
13 stayed in Vineland because of the initial
14 financing we provided to them.
15 They are coming back now for a
16 secondary request. They are -- purchased some
17 additional equipment for an additional line as
18 well, and they're also making some office and
19 manufacturing space improvements. It's a very
20 old building. Total project cost is a million
21 thirty-three five hundred. We are funding
22 310,050 of the project.
23 Obviously, the benefits to Vineland
24 will be an increased real estate tax ratable,
25 maintaining the existing jobs and potential
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
112
1 increase of new jobs with the new equipment.
2 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you, Frank.
3 May I have a motion, please?
4 MR. HURD: So moved.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
6 Mr. Hurd.
7 Second?
8 MS. PEARSON: Second.
9 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
10 Ms. Pearson.
11 Any questions, comments or concerns?
12 Hearing none, all in favor please
13 signify by saying "aye."
14 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
15 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
16 abstentions?
17 MR. ABELAR: I will abstain.
18 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: One abstention by
19 Mr. Abelar.
20 Motion carries.
21 Last item is $67,500 for Economic
22 Development Loan to Vineland Construction
23 Company.
24 Frank?
25 MR. DiGIORGIO: This loan is for
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
113
1 $67,500 which will be utilized -- actually, has
2 been utiliz -- will be utilized. The company's
3 already completed the improvements at this point.
4 Commercial term loan for improvements to a
5 commercial facility located in our downtown area.
6 The project was a former florist who
7 had sold, and the property was kind of
8 dilapidated. And they have renovated the
9 facility and have leased it to a company called
10 Colonial Electric Supply. And our part of the
11 project 67,500, the total cost is $150,000.
12 We're assisting a property owner with
13 improvements of real estate which will increase
14 our real estate tax ratable and allow us for new
15 business located in the Urban Enterprise Zone and
16 generate some sales tax.
17 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Thank you, Frank.
18 Motion, please?
19 MR. HURD: So moved.
20 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
21 Mr. Hurd.
22 Second?
23 MS. KREIPKE: Second.
24 MS. PEARSON: Second.
25 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
114
1 Ms. Kreipke.
2 Any questions, comments or concerns?
3 Hearing none, all in favor please
4 signify by saying "aye."
5 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
6 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
7 abstentions?
8 MR. ABELAR: I abstain.
9 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: One abstention by
10 Mr. Abelar.
11 Motion carries.
12 Thank you.
13 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: The Consent Agenda
14 consists of Items 18 through 22. I would like to
15 take them into one motion, if I could.
16 MR. HURD: So moved.
17 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
18 Mr. Hurd.
19 Second.
20 MS. PEARSON: Second.
21 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Second by
22 Ms. Pearson.
23 Any questions, comments or concerns?
24 Okay. All in favor please signify
25 by saying "aye."
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
115
1 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
2 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Any opposed? Any
3 abstentions?
4 MR. MOORE: I abstain.
5 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: One abstention by
6 Mr. Moore.
7 Motion carries. Thank you.
8 And to the officers from Wildwood,
9 thank you for coming. We always like the
10 officers to be here for the project. And you
11 were on the Consent Agenda. There were no
12 questions. Thank you.
13 We're going to move to Old Business
14 under Agenda Item 23. May I ask for the
15 Commissioner's comment, if any?
16 Hearing none, the public if I could,
17 Mr. Corby? I know he wanted to say something in
18 Other Comment.
19 No other comment?
20 Hearing that, I just need a motion
21 to adjourn.
22 MR. ABELAR: So moved.
23 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Motion by
24 Mr. Abelar.
25 Second by --
GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
116
1 MS. PEARSON: Second.
2 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: -- Ms. Pearson.
3 All in favor please signify by
4 saying "aye."
5 AUTHORITY MEMBERS: Aye.
6 CHAIRWOMAN KUBE: Opposed?
7 Abstentions?
8 Happy holidays. Thank you for
9 putting up with us for this long agenda.
10
11 (HEARING CONCLUDED AT 12:03 P.M.)
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GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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1 C E R T I F I C A T E
2
3 I, LINDA P. CALAMARI, a Notary Public of the
4 State of New Jersey, do hereby certify the
5 foregoing to be a true and accurate transcript of
6 my original stenographic notes taken at the time
7 and place hereinbefore set forth.
8
9
10 -----------------------------
11 LINDA P. CALAMARI
12
13
14
15 Dated: DECEMBER 31, 2006.
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GUY J. RENZI & ASSOCIATES
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