[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6632855,"mediaKeyId","2670267-fee725eb1f64e2dcd4b6310ebfc89982","parentId",2670267,"title","Council and administration discuss capital needs for City Hall and seek budget deadline extension","audioSeconds",1708,"startMs",1185000,"endMs",2893000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2670267-fee725eb1f64e2dcd4b6310ebfc89982&start=1185&end=2893","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2670267-fee725eb1f64e2dcd4b6310ebfc89982/thumbnail_1185000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6632855/Newark/Essex-County/New-Jersey/Council-and-administration-discuss-capital-needs-for-City-Hall-and-seek-budget-deadline-extension","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632855-00b3018adbacb6b5e915c5c162f1540f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776176220&Signature=XhN2V89AN7uDawgDDfO1U8m3MloIVh1TwOyG-uFTksYboIwvYAb2Y0p22lsKnwUNatmk9dyaXrFtY36z5jUSE38hI5CLF0dCPzP4s79ZYttHkmwVcZyiaxFVDXv1wdfGe6X5wGE1tIJxFqGnpNw8mJesPRqx9vJchrXjr7FezC3HRjhVrnhHmG8wcJ5HKlrjsHzRpBGD0Ln9k6Dplz4jatU0qwFSqF7MhsgjGF7-CuDETtEfMaLEt3FsL8U0FxUKAb0lgX1boWYXawV8lkA6Q872U9zvUq-xZrI9Wcrra-Qa9~aRAvFMDfFI2OAn9V2Q5rUA9YrKGfsa7zJPualhhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newark","date","2025-03-18T15:33:31.9Z","article","Council members on Wednesday used a wide‑ranging pre‑meeting discussion to press the administration for a comprehensive capital improvement plan for City Hall, police precincts and other municipal facilities.

“Where is all the capital dollars that came to the city and where has it gone?” Councilman Quintana asked, noting long‑standing problems at City Hall including elevators and a netted scaffolding condition on upper floors. Council members repeatedly urged a full assessment of building conditions, estimated costs and prioritization ahead of the municipal budget process.

Assistant/acting finance director Benjamin Guzman told the council the administration is “working diligently” on the 2025 budget and explained a resolution on the agenda to extend the introduction date. “Statutorily, we are required to introduce that budget on or before March 30,” Guzman said, and added that the state allows a one‑month extension to April 30, which the resolution seeks to request.

Officials described a two‑track approach: immediate life‑safety and health fixes (for example, exhaust systems in firehouses, elevator safety) and a longer capital plan requiring engineering assessments, cost estimates and funding decisions. Chief of staff Melvin Waldrop and other administrators said assessments are in progress and that Project Phoenix for firehouses has been a template for grouping capital needs; they said similar grouping and assessment will be used for other facilities.

Guzman outlined bond and financing items on the agenda — including plans to refund outstanding 2015 bonds (up to $31 million, with an expected savings of about $1.1 million) and bond anticipation notes related to a prior $20 million loan to the North Housing Authority — and said the budget extension resolution is meant to preserve statutory compliance while the administration finalizes details.

Council members asked that the administration provide the council with written schedules and a rolling capital improvement list showing assessments, costs, proposed funding sources and estimated timelines for start and completion. Administration officials agreed to provide updated documentation to the council and to pursue federal and state funding options for historic City Hall where appropriate.

The agenda included a resolution (7R4A) to extend introduction and adoption dates for the 2025 municipal budget; the transcript includes administrative explanation of the statutory deadline and the extension mechanism. The council discussed the request and asked for clarification about any further extensions beyond April 30; administration staff said they would seek additional guidance from the state if needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pre Meeting - Newark Municipal Council - 03/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members pressed administration for a comprehensive capital improvement program covering City Hall, police precincts and other municipal buildings. Officials said assessments are underway and sought an extension to introduce the 2025 municipal budget to allow time to compile capital needs and funding options.","taxTitle","Newark, Essex County, New Jersey","taxId",2741,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6632860,"Council questions timeline for firehouse repairs amid $750,000 capital appropriation",102,345000,447000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2670267-fee725eb1f64e2dcd4b6310ebfc89982&start=345&end=447","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2670267-fee725eb1f64e2dcd4b6310ebfc89982/thumbnail_345000.jpg","/articles/6632860/Newark/Essex-County/New-Jersey/Council-questions-timeline-for-firehouse-repairs-amid-750000-capital-appropriation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632860-80ed1fc81fbb595db260b878b5808682/orig.mp4?Expires=1776176220&Signature=Vgs92Tu7SotPjJrPAG6o0yMcuvz0c2lUldIxLCZMZlgA98yfNBv9pw8DGXVQr7cRUui5D8K~g-FvjxOTE~b0CJ5bm8kBsIvbrGgwNG0fLXb~jH~ykHLYCmGq99EBJW8Jvtn9JASO8Dt3cRoJW8CKmfcTnYosk5~trJDNkYgbPI8Ses5Y~JFMZdm0mS0pW~LW5v9YnPiGIfCmL2jYECsQr2QRzwJZrJ0Iie4qRS23ZZTy0LVX54zu4YyPwIW5IgYe5oVHaYxqh23xonn6s7-pRE8Rr14bpt233nVqqzTbavjZyXdqOx1vbb9kPxub2gFviDE0ywIrDLIgvB~gCi8Gpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members pressed city administrators on Wednesday about the scope and timing of planned structural repairs at city firehouses after a temporary emergency appropriation on the agenda included funding for three stations.

“This house is in desperate need of repair,” Councilman Kelly said of the Palm Street firehouse in the West Ward, describing firefighters who “meet in the meeting room because that's the only place that they don't get sick from the fumes” and reporting that some firefighters had nosebleeds and headaches. Kelly asked why that firehouse was not included in the list of three stations funded through the emergency appropriation for police and fire capital improvements.

Melvin Waldrop, chief of staff in the office of the business administrator, told the council the administration has been working from a list of stations under a program called Project Phoenix and said, “we'll go back and look at that if this is not on there and should be on there we'll make sure this get included.”

Deputy Police Director Leo Carrillo and other administration officials described steps already underway. Carrillo said he has “been in meetings with both the fire chief and the public safety director to get updates” and that he would “work on getting a written update with the status of those firehouses, to council.” Later in the meeting officials reported that a new air‑quality/exhaust system had been installed at the Sanford Avenue firehouse and would be tested for 60 days as a temporary fix while the city pursues permanent funding.

Administration staff identified three specific engine companies planned for the structural appropriation: engines 19, 18 and 5, and said the $750,000 line item addresses structural fixes identified by engineers and by POCA findings. Officials said life‑safety and health fixes (for example, contaminants and exhaust systems) were being prioritized and could proceed on a faster timetable than larger structural work, which requires engineering assessments and procurement.

Council members asked for written schedules showing when work will begin and end and for clearer documentation of what the emergency appropriation will cover. Several council members urged that the administration provide detailed written updates to the full council after the administration's biweekly coordination meetings with the fire department and public works.

The transcript shows the council pressing for both faster action on immediate breathing‑air problems and a broader capital‑improvement assessment of city facilities, including police precincts and City Hall. City officials said assessments are underway and that some repairs will start this spring and continue through the summer, while larger structural remedies could take longer because of required engineering review and contracting.

The item appeared as part of a package of temporary emergency appropriations (7R1a–h) on the council agenda; the administration described the firehouses portion as focused on structural issues and identified the three stations and the approximate timeline discussed above.

The council asked the administration to provide the requested written schedule and to bring missing stations to the administration's attention so they can be evaluated for inclusion in the emergency work.","Council members pressed administration officials on why the Palm/Sanford Avenue firehouse in the West Ward was not on a list of three firehouses receiving structural repairs through a temporary emergency appropriation; officials said Project Phoenix work and exhaust‑system replacement are underway and that written schedules will be provided.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6632862,"Council appoints Duann Norwood to ACLU seat on Civilian Complaint Review Board",131,77000,208000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2670267-fee725eb1f64e2dcd4b6310ebfc89982&start=77&end=208","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2670267-fee725eb1f64e2dcd4b6310ebfc89982/thumbnail_77000.jpg","/articles/6632862/Newark/Essex-County/New-Jersey/Council-appoints-Duann-Norwood-to-ACLU-seat-on-Civilian-Complaint-Review-Board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632862-6b5a505a77d02c00900dec16f9c7627b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776176220&Signature=kIZ1L3n1FNK7vJupIGUzUn0SxPn8WD5AYFG1FSjJKXb6KAdzETDpjjx-jVxBRQenXuPZqd8FejRHqB-UoYT8w2fACJKGpgYSfAUeecc~bh33eiDhvOU7F8mhpORhm6QuZAq-IIlx4mNEVqg~YSbHI9tVkMXQcDLj1UewK-KxJolqAlIvXLPp8KPszsCXrL2BV~vJ2rhoiiet8GgPyGKY~OZuXE~KzuIRFi7gzykTplNAfRPijUbL6kCZ~kUXBPh3nP5Fg~X-1GDFEDwgHfLL~y5uhLUSznX5rknf333nr~sQkGlCAQ0kMYizIBLhIrFUzirX6RfXbUc9Yur8gtdJdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Duann Norwood, policy counsel at the ACLU of New Jersey and a resident of Newark, was introduced Wednesday morning for appointment to the city’s Civilian Complaint Review Board.

Norwood addressed the council before the appointment, saying, “I am grateful to be appointed to the ACLU NJ's seat on the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and I look forward to the opportunity to surveying, the residents of Newark.” The appointment was offered for sponsorship by Councilwoman Scott Rountree and seconded by Councilman Kelly.

The item appeared on page 47 of the meeting agenda. Council members and staff in attendance congratulated Norwood and expressed expectations that he would bring civil‑rights experience to board work.

The exchange included brief questioning about Norwood’s background. When Councilman Owen asked whether Norwood was an attorney, Norwood replied that he was: “I am a lawyer by training,” and described his education, including Harvard University and Cardozo School of Law and work in constitutional and civil‑rights law.

No opponent remarks or formal objections to the nomination were recorded during the pre‑meeting discussion. The council advanced the appointment at the pre‑meeting; council members said they looked forward to Norwood joining the board.

The council did not, during the recorded portion of the pre‑meeting, attach additional conditions to the appointment or record a roll‑call vote in the transcript excerpt provided. Follow‑up materials in the official minutes or the clerk’s office will show the formal vote and any final paperwork.","Duann Norwood, policy counsel at the ACLU of New Jersey and a Newark resident, was introduced and sponsored for appointment to the Civilian Complaint Review Board; council members voiced support and the nomination was advanced at the March 18 pre‑meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council and administration discuss capital needs for City Hall and seek budget deadline extension

Council questions timeline for firehouse repairs amid $750,000 capital appropriation

Council appoints Duann Norwood to ACLU seat on Civilian Complaint Review Board