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Residents press Linden council on PILOT deals, personnel changes and a dog attack during heated public comment
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Summary
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to accuse the council of opaque pilot agreements, question the recent firing of a business administrator, and urge changes to dog-control ordinances after a neighborhood attack; the council said it will tighten ordinances where permitted by state law.
During public comment at the Linden City Council meeting on March 17, residents criticized the use of long-term tax-exemption deals (PILOTs), questioned recent personnel moves, and urged the council to change local animal-control rules after a severe dog attack.
John Khazar told the council he believed the recent firing of the business administrator violated municipal hiring rules and accused the governing body of "breaking your own laws," calling for accountability. "You guys broke your own laws," Khazar said, urging enforcement and oversight.
Luis Fonseca (self-identified) accused council members of favoritism and alleged that much of the money from pilot agreements does not benefit the school district. "A majority of the money from the pilot agreements goes to a corrupt municipality," Fonseca said. Council leadership responded that budget flows and school funding are separate issues and reminded the public that elected officials must also respect the board of education's processes.
Tai Serrano Cuazo delivered an emotional account of a February 28 incident in which her service dog was attacked; she said her husband suffered puncture wounds and she lost her dog. "These ordinances have to change. The law has to change,'" Serrano Cuazo said, urging the council to strengthen local control where state law allows. Councilman Delgado, who earlier described a draft of local ordinance changes (fencing requirements, bite fines and leash enforcement), referenced state law NJSA 4:19-22 as setting limits on municipal authority and said the council is preparing local rule changes within legal limits.
Council members acknowledged the comments, thanked residents for speaking and said they will pursue ordinance revisions where allowed by law. The meeting record shows council members noted the matter for further review; no immediate policy change was adopted during the session.
