M I N U T E S - Youth Week Council May 14, 2002
YOUTH WEEK COUNCIL At this point, Mayor Torre invited the Youth Week Mayor and Council to come forward and conduct the Youth Week Council Meeting. Rico Ventola took over as Youth Week Mayor. Youth Week Mayor Ventola stated that the meeting complied with the Sunshine Law, adequate notice of this meeting having been made to all members of the Council by personal service on January 1, 2002 and transmitted to The Observer, The Record and The Herald News on January 1, 2002. Mayor Ventola requested that Borough Clerk Roselyn Bocker conduct a Roll Call:
ROLL CALL:
Present: Councilwoman Nicole Bermudez, Councilman Anthony Lipari, Councilman Dom
D’Amico, Councilwoman Lara Pepe, Councilwoman Jessica Vergottini, Councilman Stefan
Dombrowsky SALUTE TO THE FLAG AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Ventola led in the Salute to the Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMENDATIONS AND PROPOSALS: COUNCILWOMAN BERMUDEZ: Councilwoman Bermudez commended Rob Brady for his first year as Recreation Director, saying he has done a great job with the recreation program and maintaining his position as high school track coach. She said that Mr. Brady is dedicated to the youth of our community. Councilman Bermudez proposed changing the parking regulations on the Boulevard and around the high school. Residents complained and the parking hours on the streets were changed, and he felt that these people weren’t even home during these times and should have realized that there would be parking on their street if they purchased homes near a school or busy street. He felt these restrictions made an impact on the students and staff and were uncomfortable for commuters who use the buses along the Boulevard.
COUNCILMAN LIPARI: Councilman Lipari commended the Police and Fire Departments saying that this year was an awakening to the services they really provide for the people and are truly heroes of Hasbrouck Heights. Councilman Lipari proposed a lighter curfew for the Boulevard, saying that when the children are out walking in town you can see what they are doing, and that they were not trying to hide anything. He felt the curfew should be 11 p.m. on the weekend. He said that if they were doing something wrong, they wouldn’t be on the street for everyone to see.
COUNCILMAN D’AMICO: Councilman D’Amico commended the Police Department, the Fire Department and Kundert Volvo for putting together the Bike Marathon on Memorial Day Weekend. He said unfortunately he was too old for the event, but has fond memories and will talk about for the rest of his life. Councilman D’Amico proposed that the Franklin School gym should be more accessible to students and citizens of the community and that the hours be extended so that students could have more time to utilize the gym.
COUNCILWOMAN PEPE: Councilwoman Lara Pepe commended her father, Garrett Pepe, for putting his heart and soul into the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights, by attesting to the many volunteer hours to the community. She said she felt she could be a councilwoman in the future by all the discussions at the dinner table and that maybe she would be at the meetings following in the tradition of her father. Councilwoman Pepe proposed that the Municipal Complex project be made more complete by making the Boulevard a more beautiful street. She felt it was time to spruce up the street with landscaping, new lamp posts with hanging flower baskets and paned sidewalks and that this might attract more businesses and restaurants.
COUNCILWOMAN VERGOTTINI: Councilwoman Vergottini commended the Recreation Department and the variety of sports and activities for all ages. She felt it was important for children to be involved in sports or activities to help meet new friends and stay healthy. Councilwoman Vergottini proposed paving the athletic field parking lot which needed it desperately and that the gravel and rocks were not healthy for pedestrians, bike riders and automobiles. She asked that it not wait until there was a catastrophe and that it should be a safe environment, that it was an area where families and children spend time.
COUNCILMAN DOMBROWSKY: Councilman Dombrowsky loved the feeling of safety when at home or in town and commended the Police Department for making Hasbrouck Heights a safe and comfortable place to live. Councilman Dombrowsky proposed the council attract a movie theater company into the community which would bring an uplift to the business community and also serve as entertainment for youth and adults, that more entertainment type businesses were needed to keep the youth off the streets. A motion to accept all commendations and proposals was made, seconded and unanimously approved.
MISCELLANEOUS FROM THE PUBLIC: Mayor Ventola opened the meeting up to the public and there being no one wishing to speak, the public portion of the meeting was closed. Mayor Ventola adjourned the Youth Week Council Meeting. Mayor Torre on behalf of the council commended the students and teachers for doing a great job. He then invited the third grade from Euclid School who had attended this youth week council meeting to come up to the dais, introduce themselves and make a proposal, which included making parks bigger, making playgrounds grass, not pavement, and more food. |