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Votes at a glance: Newark council advances multiple development and procurement measures, several with abstentions
Summary
At its Nov. 6 meeting, the Newark Municipal Council adopted a range of resolutions and ordinances including purchasing contracts, HUD applications, redevelopment agreements, and grant appropriations by roll call. Several items recorded abstentions; council members also advanced ordinances to first reading on paving and street changes.
The Newark Municipal Council on Nov. 6 adopted multiple purchasing, redevelopment and grant measures by recorded roll call and advanced several ordinances to first reading.
Major actions recorded on the agenda included adoption of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) appropriation for subgrantees (7 R 1 a); a set of purchasing contracts for equipment, security and professional services (7 R 0 1 b through m); an application and agreement with HUD for the one-year action plan (N); and approval by roll call of numerous private-sale and redevelopment agreements listed under 7 R 2 a through g. The council also adopted a collective bargaining agreement (labor agreement) for the Fraternal Order of Police and accepted grant funds intended to hire additional officers (7 R 9 a).
Several items recorded abstentions on the roll call. For example, the private-sale redevelopment item listed as 7 R 2 b (new construction of a 3-family home to sell at market rate) showed Councilman Gonzales abstaining on the roll call recorded in the minutes. Separately, a new-construction 100% affordable project identified as item 7 R 2 e recorded two abstentions (Gonzales and Ramos) on the roll call for that item. The record shows multiple routine votes where the clerk called roll and members answered "Yes" with occasional recorded abstentions and absences.
Council members discussed protections for existing municipal workers when vendors change (a question about armed security guard contracts prompted staff to say the incoming vendor should reach out to current employees), and engineering staff explained that certain municipal street resurfacing contracts require periodic extensions because of underground utility coordination and DOT timing requirements.
The meeting included many more individual votes (procurements for computer equipment, sanitation vehicles, flashlights and pharmaceutical supplies, and redevelopment authorizations). The council adopted ceremonial resolutions and commended local individuals and organizations.
The minutes and the official roll-call record posted by the clerk list the full results, including absences and abstentions for specific line items. For exact vote tallies and the motions' sponsors, see the municipal clerk's posted roll-call sheets.
