Minutes from the June 15, 2022, Meeting of the
Board of Commissioners of the East Orange Parking Authority
Chairman McKnight called the meeting to order at 6:24pm. He also read the Sunshine Act-Law, and roll call was taken. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the meeting was held via Zoom teleconference. The following Commissioners participated:
Chairman McKnight
Vice-Chair Muhammad (Absent)
Commissioner Boston
Commissioner Muhammad
Kevin McManimon, Attorney-McManimon, Scotland and Baumann (joined)
Newly appointed East Orange Parking Authority Board Member Medinah E. Muhammad and Appiffanny A. Boston were sworn in by EOPA Board attorney Kevin McManimon to perform the duties of the office of East Orange Parking Authority Commissioner.
Public Portion:
No one from the public participated.
Minutes:
Chairman McKnight made a motion to approve the February 2022 minutes and was seconded by Commissioner Boston. All Commissioners in attendance voted in favor.
Executive Session:
No executive session this meeting.
General Session:
Chairman McKnight read the Financial Report.
Commissioner Boston made a motion to approve the bills to be paid for the months of March, April, May, and June 2022 and was seconded by Commissioner Muhammad. All Commissioners in attendance voted in favor.
Chairman McKnight gave a brief overview of the Brick Church Project and the Parking Authority’s role.
Chairman McKnight discussed the plowing and snow removal agreement the Parking Authority currently has with Department of Public Works. Chairman McKnight stated that we have been working on revising the agreement. Commissioner Muhammad suggested that we work on creating a MOU with the city prior to the start of the winter season.
Chairman McKnight discussed the City’s ongoing Main Street Redevelopment Project and the negative impact it is having on the Parking Authority’s revenue because of the 43 meters that were removed in September of 2021.
Chairman McKnight discussed hiring an Executive Director and stated that based on significant revenue loss due to COVID, proration of overnight parking permits, loss of sales because we honored 2020 permits in 2021 per the City’s request, and the City’s decision not to pay for outstanding fine sharing of approx. $200,000 we are not able to hire one at this time.
Chairman McKnight discussed the meeting he and Vice-Chair Muhammad had with Mayor Green where they expressed some of the Parking Authority’s concerns, such as the outstanding fine sharing payments that the city had not paid, the urgent need for the appointment of additional commissioners so that the Board can meet, discuss, and or act on important business matters because at that time the Authority only had 2 Board members, which was not enough to hold a meeting.
Mayor Green stated that his office had been receiving numerous complaints about overnight permit holders being ticketed in error. Chairman McKnight explained that they were not being ticketed for not having a permit, they were being ticketed for not alternating.
Chairman McKnight also stated that for the past couple of years Tasha has requested that City Council create a statute that the Parking Authority Enforcement Officers and the East Orange Police Department can use when issuing a ticket for alternate side parking violations that would print that reason on the ticket, this way permit holders who believe they are being ticketed for not having a permit would know that the reason they are being ticketed is for not alternating. This could potentially put a stop to valid tickets being thrown out in court.
Chairman McKnight suggested that Commissioner Muhammad and Commissioner Boston consider whether they would like to assume the office of Board Secretary or Treasurer, which will be discussed and decided at the July meeting.
Kevin mentioned that the solicitation process for RFPs for Auditor and Counsel services was done earlier this year, however the Authority did not have enough commissioners to review the proposals. Kevin recommended that we redo the RFP process for accounting and legal services, that the Board can review at the July meeting.
Adjournment:
At 7:21 p.m. Commissioner Boston made a motion to adjourn the meeting and was seconded by Commissioner Muhammad. All commissioners in attendance voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:21 p.m