COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AND PUBLIC WORKS - - - - Room 696, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, October 1, 2003 10:25 a.m. - - - - BILL 030426 - An Ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property... BILL 030485 - An Ordinance naming the playground currently designated as the Rhawnhurst Memorial Playground... as the George C. Pelbano Playground. BILL 030486 - An Ordinance naming the park currently designated as Northwood Park... as the Joseph Colligan Park. BILL 030556 - An Ordinance naming and designating the Passyunk Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia... as the Thomas F. Donatucci Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia BILL 030563 - An Ordinance amending Title 13 of the Philadelphia Code... PRESENT: COUNCILMAN JAMES KENNEY, Chair COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILMAN FRANK DICICCO COUNCILWOMAN JOAN KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN RICHARD MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN BRIAN O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO - - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 I N D E X BILL 030556 DOMINIC SABATINI ............................. THOMAS KELLY ................................. 4 MONSIGNOR THOMAS FLANAGAN .................... JODY DELLABARBA .............................. DAUNTE MATTIONI .............................. JOHN FURY .................................... RONALD DONATUCCI ............................. JOE VENDETTI ................................. ROCKO MONTANA ................................ 14 BILL 030485 LISA MARIE DEALY ............................. 27 BILL 030426 KEN SIPOS, Public Property ................... 34 TOM KNOWLES, Northern Liberties .............. 35 DAVID GLEASON, Northern Liberties ............ 37 BILL 030486 3 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. The City Council Committee on Public Property and Public Works is now in session. We have a quorum present to hear a number of bills; the first which is Bill No. 030556, an ordinance naming and designating the Passyunk Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, located at 20th and Shunk Street as the Thomas F. Donatucci Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to make a formal request for a continuance on Bill No. 030563, the last one dealing with water and sewer laterals. The Managing Director and Water Commissioner have asked me for a short continuance on this. And the Law Department is also working on another way of accomplishing it. I'm meeting with them in about 10 minutes.
Thank you very much. Let the record note the Councilman's request. I'll ask Mr. Kelly and Mr. Sabatini to please take the witness stand.
Whoever would like 4 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 to go first, please identify yourself for the record.
Dominic Sabatini. I'm here to testify in support of this bill regarding Mr. Donatucci. I knew that the senior Mr. Donatucci many, many years ago when I was first starting my career. He was a really wonderful person. He was active community leader, devoting a lot of his time to community improvements, to community projects and really at a time when the City really needed that kind of leadership, providing it. And that same quality is kind of passed on to his sons and daughters who continue to be active in public service and helping the community. I think it would be a great honor for his memory and his family to name this branch after him.
My name is Thomas Kelly. I'm a long-time resident of South Philadelphia. I knew Mr. Donatucci very well. He was a very active community leader. He worked very hard for the neighborhood. He was also active in politics. He was a committee member of former Councilman Guerin 5 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 who served on the first Council here. He was a wonderful guy, very supportive of St. Monica's Church and all the endeavors of the neighborhood. And I think it would be a great honor to his memory to rename this branch.
Thank you very much. Any questions for these witnesses? (No response.)
Thank you for your attendance. The Chair now recognizes Monsignor Flanagan and Jody Dellabarba, please. Good morning, Monsignor. Please identify yourself.
I'm Monsignor Thomas Flanagan, and I come in support of this bill. I grew up in South Philadelphia in the same neighborhood as Mr. Donatucci. And growing up in Philadelphia, the City of Philadelphia still is a city of neighborhoods and certainly he was what neighborhood was about. He worked in the neighborhood tirelessly to assist anyone that needed help. And this is what I remember most vividly in growing up, the respect that he had by the people of 6 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 the neighborhood because of all that he did for others. So I think it would be a very appropriate designation of that library branch in his honor.
My name is Jody Dellabarba. I'm the president of GER, Girard Estate Residents, and I would like to read a prepared statement.
"At the turn of the 20th Century, the largest wave of immigration this country ever saw forever changed the face of Philadelphia. At the same time, the first planned rental housing community was about to be constructed on the farm land owned by the Estate of Stephen Girard. The Board of City Trusts then turned to many of these immigrants, most of them Italians, to use their skill to make these homes the jewels of South Philadelphia. They were belt to perfection by hands of gold over a period of 15 years. A library and a school were also built for the community. These immigrants could only have dreamed of owning one of the very homes they belt so well. But in 7 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 1950, the City Trust decided to sell them. It was then that the very people who built them, mostly Italian Americans and their families, were the very people who purchased them. It was then in 1951 that Thomas Donatucci, Sr., son of immigrants, moved his young family to the Girard Estates where most of them still reside today. He soon became a legend by helping everyone who needed his help. After his untimely death 33 years ago, his family continued to carry on the tradition of service to the community. The center of our community is the Passyunk library, where if not for the generosity of State Representative Robert Donatucci would surely fall by the wayside. Girard Estate now enjoys historic designation, with the help of the Donatucci family and families like them who chose to stay in the area. This is why I recommend that this City Council vote to change the name of this library to the Thomas Donatucci, Sr. Library to commemorate not only this son of Italian immigrants, but all of us in this community, children and grandchildren of those tireless immigrants from so long ago who helped make this City the great City it is today." I would also like to add that I have 8 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 numerous letters from community leaders in our area and residents in favor.
They will be added to the record formally. Thank you very much. Thank you for your testimony. Mr. Fury. Is Mr. Mattioni here?
Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record.
Daunte Mattioni. Members of the City Council, members of the Donatucci family, ladies and gentlemen, today I'm especially honored to speak on behalf of an extraordinary human being. A good father, a good husband, a good neighbor, a good and decent politician, but most important, a good friend to almost everybody that he knew. Tom was not a person seeking personal gain in his lifetime, and I knew him well. He was selfless when it came to helping others. And it is because of this more than anything else that Tom's light shines and will ever shine immortal. Not born to riches, Tom knew what it was to work hard. He attended local schools in South Philadelphia, went to a local college, earned a BS degree, became a Realtor later in his life. He 9 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 began his work life as a stock boy and became a manager through dedicated hard work and creativity with the Acme y stores. In 1944, Tom opened the first self-service supermarket in South Philadelphia. In 1960, Bob Casey selected him as an Auditor General for the State. And later on in 1967 because of his creativity and his work effort, he was elected to be Deputy Auditor for the Liquor Control Board of Pennsylvania. During all this time that Tom worked to support his family, he was also a committee person in the 26th Ward. In 1967, he became ward leader. And in 1969, he was elected to the Policy Committee of the Democratic Party. In 1970, a party was given in honor of Tom at Palumbo's and nearly 750 loving people attended. Tom was always helping someone in need, someone in a jam. No problem was too big, no 21 problem was too small. The thing that made Tom so different that I remember is that he enjoyed helping others. He helped everyone with a smile. Notable among his many, many contributions were that he dedicated his life to 10 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 Philadelphia. He was a Philadelphian, a south Philadelphian second, and he worked to improve the lives of all Philadelphians. But he made major contributions to creating and opening an office at 2008 Passyunk Avenue to service other people. He also helped to create the Recreation Center at 16th and Jackson and helped to create the Barry Playground and helped to create the Edgar Allan Summer Program. Tom was a special, warm human being. In 1958, an editorial was written about him in the city-wide newspaper La Libra Parola. The comment was, "There must be a reward for Tommy Donatucci." Forty-five years later, in part, that question will be answered by naming the library after this person we honor today. This is a very fitting tribute for Tom who was always there to help other people. And when you look at a family, you've got to see the family and it shows you the greatness of the parents. Yolanda can't be here, but she was a committee person and is a committee person even to this day. And look at the Donatucci family. They've created a legend in business, in politics, 11 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 in the humanities, and in general just being good people in that neighborhood. In closing, I would like to say that here we have today an opportunity to help share pridefully the remembrance and the immortality of this personal by naming a library after him. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your testimony. Mr. Fury, please identify yourself for the record.
Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Members of City Council. My name is John Fury, the President of Broad Street West Civic Association. I'm also here to support this ordinance to rename the Passyunk Library to the Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr. Library. I have known and worked with the Donatucci family for probably 35 years now. I think it's only fitting that this man be bestowed this honor. Mr. Donatucci was a pillar of the community, as a business, a community leader, and political leader until his untimely death in 1970. Fortunately for us, these same qualities 12 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 have carried over to his children. The neighborhood and the library enjoys prosperity and success because of the funding directed there by our State Representative who has been up there for a few terms and make sure that the library receives all the necessary funding to maintain it and enhance it. Also, we have another elected official from the family, the Register of Wills who's also the political leader as the Ward Leader for the area, also sits on the City Board of Trusts, which is part of the Girard Estates. So the family has for years supported this library and the neighborhood. And those of us in the neighborhood see that it's only fitting to name the library after a prominent family such as this. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your testimony. If there are no questions, thank you for coming. Would anyone from the Donatucci family like to have anything to say? The Chair recognizes Councilmember DiCicco. 13 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Although I'm not a member of this Committee, I felt it was my obligation to come up here this morning to support this bill. Although I didn't know Mr. Donatucci all that well, they did own a grocery store about a block from where I was born and raised. And actually, I still live there on Federal Street. But I've been very familiar with Ronnie and his brothers. We all grew up together and had a wonderful relationship. Not many people can say that after having spent almost 50 years together that we still get along very well. And I know the Donatucci family has always had the interest of our community at heart. And I think this is befitting to name the library after Ronnie and Tommy and Bobby and Grace's father. Again, I'm not a member of this Committee, but I wanted to be up here this morning to lend my support.
Ronald Donatucci. I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank the many people that testified today and the support 14 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 that the community has shown. As part of the record, there are signatures from the immediate neighbors. I'd like to point out the first president of GER, which is an official civic group which now Jody is now the president, Dr. Tom Gamba. His father was a classmate of my father when they went to Temple. The overwhelming support, Councilman Kenney, just makes my family very happy, and my mother for many days and nights of frustration being married to a politician. So I thank everybody for the kindness today. And I know he's looking down. Thank you.
You're welcome. Is there a Mr. Vendetti in the room? Please come forward. And I think a Mr. Montana. Please identify yourself for the record. JOE VENDETTI: Joe Vendetti. I want to thank the Honorable Councilmen and women. The naming of the Passyunk Library at 20th and Shunk Street, Pennsylvania, after Stephen Girard, 1750 to 1831. The South Philadelphia Review of the 19th of June 2003, , had an article about the history books and a write-up about the Passyunk Library being 90 years old. The library supervisor, Mr. 15 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 David Mariscoti (ph), I spoke to him Friday, the 20th of June. Monday, the 23rd of June I met with Mr. Mariscoti at the library, was given a tour that included the conference room wall mural of Ben Franklin, Adrian Carnegie and Stephen Girard. There will be a mural ceremony. Girard College officials were notified along with the Philadelphia Masonic Temple, as Franklin and Girard were both masons. Copies of the South Philadelphia Review had proposed naming of the Passyunk Library after Stephen Girard, a copy for circulation around the country, France, and Brussels. Letters were made up and hand delivered to Wills and Deeds Department, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attention Ronald R. Donatucci and to Robert S. Donatucci, Pennsylvania State Legislator, the second floor, the building next to Dunkin Donuts, the northwest corner of 18th and Shunk Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, seeking their support for naming the Passyunk Library after Stephen Girard. No response from either one. Thursday, the 25th of September 2003, , City Council article list of ordinance, there's a list here, Passyunk Library named after 16 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 Thomas F. Donatucci. Notice appeared in the paper, The Public Record. The hearing is schedule for today and I'm here. Thank you, I want to thank you again. And if I might add that the Honorable Dominic Cemelia, Girardian Class of '59, is a resident of Girard Estate and he's the present President of Girard College. Many South Philadelphians are Girardians. The will of Stephen Girard to this day provides $30,000 a year for lighting on Delaware Avenue that he named, plus heating assistance for the needy of Philadelphia in Girardville, Pennsylvania. The library entrance wall plaque, the land in which this building is erected was set aside by the City of Philadelphia Trustees under the will of Stephen Girard for the Passyunk Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, and they mention the year, and the building was given to Andria Carnegie.
So as I understand your testimony, your position is that you want the library named after Stephen Girard?
I would like to see the Library named after Girard. I think it's more fitting there than anywhere else in the City. 17 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556
Certainly, we appreciate your testimony and we will seriously consider it. The problem is that you've been to everybody but the District Councilperson who has the responsibility of making these requests. I mean, I sympathize with you, but it's kind of late at this point to do a bill once we're considering this one. And although you've been to the State Representative and the Register of Wills and other people, the District Councilperson is always the person who makes these requests.
I agree with you. Is there a possibility of a compromise where they might consider naming the library at Broad and Morris for Mr. Donatucci?
That's not before this Committee right now. Frankly, Stephen Girard certainly was a historic figure in the City and did some very good things, and there's some not-so-good things too that went on back in the time when people were doing not-so-good things to others by selling them. The issue, though, is that we have Girard Avenue, Girard College, Girard Estate, Girard Park. It seems that Mr. Girard has a pretty good presence 18 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 in Philadelphia life with a number of things being named for him. From my perspective, it would seem that it's also important to recognize people who start with humble beginnings and through hard work and education, like the library stands for, made something of himself and his community and has left a legacy that is perhaps not equal in amount of money to Stephen Girard, but certainly equal in the amount of pride and importance to that neighborhood. So I do think it's an appropriate request to name it after Donatucci, considering all the things that are named after Mr. Girard. And that's probably the direction we're going to be going in. But I do appreciate your testimony. I'm willing to listen to what this gentleman has to say also.
My name is Rocko Montana, born and raised in South Philadelphia. I'm a product of Girard College. I graduated in 1937. Everything I've done, I owe to Girard College, and nobody in my position can ever repay them for what he did. Some background -- I may repeat what my friend Joe said. Some people do not know that during the War of 1812 when the government went 19 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 soliciting for money, they came to him and he said, "Go out and raise what you can and come back and see me." They did. They were $8 million short. Stevie gave them a check for $8 million. If it wasn't for him, we might all be English today. Another thing is thousands, thousands of students have attended Girard College completely free, room, board, clothes, eating, everything. At first it was for orphans, now they've changed it dysfunctional families. There are five other libraries in South Philadelphia. Why can't they pick one of them? From what I understand, the Estate of Stephen Girard still owns that ground, and they get one dollar a year from the City of Philadelphia for that. As matter of fact, in his will, the results of his will, the City still benefits from money donated to them from his estate for the upkeep of old Delaware Avenue and the whole City of Philadelphia. Mr. Kenney had mentioned the humble beginning of Donatucci, which is no doubt true. I don't doubt that. But nobody could have been more humble than Stephen Girard. At age 14, he joined 20 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 the French Navy as a cabin boy and was promoted to the youngest captain in the French Navy. From there, he went on to buying his own ships for transportation of materials and that's where he amassed his fortune. During the war, he was taking a load of materials up to New York and the British blockaded and he came to Philadelphia and he sold his materials he had. He bought a home on Water Street which has been demolished for 95. And to me, with my feelings, if this name is taken away from Stephen Girard on that Library, it's going to be a slap in the face to that man who has done so much for this country and is continuing to do for it today at Girard College with the students that he is educating and paying everything for. Now, Mr. Donatucci probably deserves everything these people said. And I don't disagree with them. Normally I'm not a person who will compromise. I'm strong-headed. But I would be willing to see the name Girard Donatucci Library be considered because a lot of people do not know what that man owned in South Philadelphia. He owned from 17th Street to the river. He owned the Atlantic Refining Company. He owned the old quarter masters 21 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 depot. He owned all those homes. And this is the thanks that that man is getting. As a matter of fact, to me, they insulted the man when they removed his statue from Rayburn Plaza and put it in back of the library where nobody goes and sees it. They don't even take the tour bus around there for the man who is, in my opinion, the greatest man in the City of Philadelphia, if not in the United States when he bailed them out of the War of 1812. Thank you for your time, and I hope you consider my suggestion.
Thank you very much for your testimony. There's no one else to testify on this bill?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm sorry I'm late. I had people in my office. But I did hear part of the testimony. I simply want to say that I, too, am a member of the Board of City Trusts, and we are ever grateful for the generosity for Stephen Girard. I sponsored this bill because I knew and worked with Mr. Donatucci for many years. And I can tell you that he was 22 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 always very, very outgoing, had great concern for his immediate community. And he did believe in public service. And that certainly is evidenced by his two sons who followed in his footsteps. Let me just say that -- and I did hear some of the testimony that was said. We all know as Members of Council that funds have been very scarce for our libraries. State Representative Robert Donatucci year after year -- and I don't know if he's here, but he can attest to the fact that he has made certain that that library got the funds that they needed to make the necessary repairs. I submitted to you, Mr. Chairman, a very thick file of people from the immediate community who are sponsoring and supporting this bill. I am asking my colleagues to give this bill favorable consideration. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Madam President. Anybody else to testify on this bill? Councilman Rizzo.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also want to go on record of, first of all, looking back and thanking Thomas F. Donatucci 23 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030556 for all the great work that he did here in Philadelphia, making this a better place. And no 4 disrespect to Stephen Girard but, unfortunately, we don't have a piece of legislation to vote on to name anything in behalf of Stephen Girard. So I plan to be supportive of this particular bill, 030556. And again, I thank the entire Donatucci family for their commitment to Philadelphia. I think this is an honor that should have occurred a long time ago. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you very much. Is there anyone else to testify on this bill? (No response.)
Seeing none, what I'd like to do, because the family is here and there are a number of people here to testify, I'd like to recess the public hearing and convene the public meeting of the Public Property and Public Works Committee. - - - - 24 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AND PUBLIC WORKS - - - - Wednesday, October 1, 2003 - - - - Public meeting conducted by the Committee on Public Property and Public works, held in Room 696, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the above date, to consider action on the following: BILLS 030426, 030485, 030486, 030556, 030563. PRESENT: COUNCILMAN JAMES KENNEY, Chair COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILMAN FRANK DICICCO COUNCILWOMAN JOAN KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN RICHARD MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN BRIAN O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO 25 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - PUBLIC MEETING
I would like to recognize Councilwoman Krajewski for a motion to amend Bill No. 030556 to include Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr., because the word "Sr." was left out of the original bill. And I'd like to entertain that motion, if you'd make it.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 030556 be amended.
To be amended accordingly. So Councilwoman Krajewski moved the amendment. Do I have a second? (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill No. 030556 will be amended accordingly to include Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr. Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski for a motion on the amended bill.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill 030556 be reported out of this 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - PUBLIC MEETING Committee, as amended, with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill No. 030556, as amended, will be reported out this Committee with a favorable recommendation. A request will be made for rule suspension to allow first reading at our next Council Session. I will now recess the public meeting and reconvene the public hearing. I'd like to thank you for your attendance. - - - - 27 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030485 - - - - PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED - - - -
We are now in the reconvened public hearing of the Public Property and Public Works Committee. The next bill for consideration is Bill No. 030485, which is an ordinance naming the playground currently designated as the Rhawnhurst Memorial Playground located at 8101 Bustleton Avenue and bounded by 2100 Solly Avenue, 8100 Eastwood Street and 2200 Stanwood Street as the George C. Pelbano Playground. Lisa, will you please come forward. LISA: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I'm a life-long resident of Rhawnhurst and an active member of the community. It's my great honor to be here today to support this resolution. I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. 28 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030485 Pelbano throughout my adult life, but also as a child. When I think of that, I begin to imagine all the thousands of children who at some point in their life knew Mr. P; Mr. P on the baseball diamond or on the football field, Mr. P. running the court. There is not a child who is part of the athletic program at Rhawnhurst who did not know Mr. Pelbano. It was his vision, hard work, and determination that gave us Rhawnhurst Athletic Association. Building an athletic association on the scale of Rhawnhurst was not an easy task. It took a commitment of extreme measure. Making Rhawnhurst family, dedicated husband to his lovely wife, Doris, and father to six children took a level of sacrifice few citizens make. His untimely death in May has left his family shocked and saddened. The effect his death has had on the community has been twofold. It has left us saddened, but it has also motivated us. We are more committed than ever in making service to Rhawnhurst Athletic Association and the community our priority. The boss is watching us now as we continue in his tradition striving to make him proud. Renaming the Rhawnhurst Memorial Playground 29 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030485 the George C. Pelbano Playground is a great thank you to his family -- his two daughters are here today, his daughter Terry and Sandy and Sandy's husband Mark -- for the sacrifice they made and for sharing their dad and husband with us. It will also serve as a constant motivator and a reminder of a life of dedication that did not go unnoticed. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just really quick. Anybody that ever had anything to do with either coaching against Rhawnhurst, fortunate enough to be an elected official, community activist, anybody that had anything to do with this organization knew George or Mr. Pelbano or Mr. P or whatever you referred to him. And it's one of those guys -- we blow in and out different areas, elected officials. You know, you get to Rhawnhurst once every couple weeks if you're lucky, maybe once a month and you hear something, you run up and your friends let you know. But for George not being there now, this is perfect. George was always there and will always be there in 30 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030485 my mind. I coached against him with Juniana, and he was a great coach and there's a lot of guys my age, younger, that played for him, coached with him. This is perfect. This was brought to me by some of these people in the room, and not necessarily his family, but Lisa, State Representative Butkovitz, and a few of the other people. And it was something that -- it's no-brainer in my world. So I appreciate the time everyone coming down here. This is something that's due because George Pelbano was one of them people -- in the back of the Reader Digest I remember there used to be something about your most lifelong unforgettable character. George is definitely one of the top two or three lifelong unforgettable characters that I've ever known. So thank you for your patience, Mr. Chairman and Committee, and I hope we can pass this. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Is there anyone else from the family to testify or is there any other testimony? (No response.)
Seeing none, is 31 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030485 there anyone opposed to this? (No response.)
Seeing none, we will do the same. We will try to be as respectful as we can, as we did with the Donatucci family, by recessing the public hearing of the Public Property and Public Works Committee and reconvening the public meeting. - - - - 32 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROERTY - PUBLIC MEETING - - - - PUBLIC MEETING CONTINUED - - - -
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown for a motion to approve Bill No. 030485.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, family. I move that Bill No. 030485 be moved out of Committee with a favorable recommendation, and move further that we allow for first reading at the next Session of City Council. (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill No. 030485 reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation. A request will be made for Rules suspension to allow for first reading at our next Council Session. I will now recess the public meeting and reconvene the public hearing. Thank you all for coming and thanks for 33 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROERTY - PUBLIC MEETING your patience. - - - - 34 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030426 - - - - PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED - - - -
The next bill for consideration is Bill No. 030426, an ordinance 7 authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property on behalf of the City of Philadelphia to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia without consideration a deed or deeds conveying fee simple title to five parcels of City-owned land with the buildings and improvements thereon situated at the northwest corner of Third and Fairmount Streets and known as 700, 702 and 704 North Third Street and 309 and 311 Fairmount Avenue for the purpose of entering into a redevelopment agreement with Northern Liberties Neighbors Association or its designee for such properties, all under certain terms and conditions. Please identify yourself for the record.
Chairman Kenney, Members of the Committee on Public Property and Public Works, my name is Ken Sipos. I'm a real estate specialist with the Department of Public Property. I'm representing Andres Perez, Jr., Commissioner of 35 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030426 Public Property. The bill will permit the conveyance of the five parcels for non-profit community development via Redevelopment Authority redevelopment agreement. The Department of Public Property supports the measure, and accordingly, I respectfully ask the City Council approve Bill No. 10 030426. I also ask that the rules be suspended so the ordinance may be passed upon second reading at Council. Thank you. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you very much. Any questions for the witness? (No response.)
Anyone else to testify on this bill? Please come forward. Please identify yourself for the record.
I'm Tom Knowles. I'm Executive Director of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association.
David Gleason, member of 36 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030426 the NLNA and also the Northern liberties CDC.
First of all, I want to thank you, Councilman Kenney, for taking action and having the Committee take action on this ordinance. And I want to especially thank Councilman DiCicco for his leadership. The Northern Liberties Neighbors Association is partnering with the Northern Liberties Community Development Corporation to create a community center on this site. I'm pleased to be able to tell the Members that our organizations have a strong track record of accomplishment. We have taken previously vacant, open land and turned it into what I think is one of the largest community-owned parks in the City, known as Liberty Lands. We have previously completed successfully an affordable housing project known as Garden Looms. The community center we're proposing to build will serve the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association, the entire community, the arts and social activities needs of the community, and it will unlock the economic value of this unused parcel of land which can be used for the benefit of the 37 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030426 community. Northern Liberties we see as the City in miniature. It's one the City's most diverse neighborhoods. We see it as an urban village, and we're very pleased that you are taking this bill 6 under consideration. Thank you.
I really just wanted to echo Tom's comments. We couldn't be more excited about this project and we are really looking forward to it. The neighborhood is very much behind it and committed. We want to thank Councilman DiCicco for shepherding us along this far. And certainly, Chairman Kenney, thank you and the rest of the Members of the Committee. We hope that we can move forward. Thank you.
Thank you for coming in. It's a great neighborhood. This will enhance it even more. Thank you. Anyone else to testify on this bill? (No response.)
Seeing none, the last bill for consideration is Bill No. 030486, an ordinance naming the park currently designated as 38 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030426 Northwood, located at 999 Arrott Street and bounded by 4700 Castor Avenue, 1000 Foulkkrod Street and 1000 Arrott Street and 4700 Northwood Street as the Joseph Colligan Park. Councilman Mariano.
Thank you, Councilman Kenney. Let me just make an explanation about this one. I introduced this bill on June 12th. This was brought to me by Fortunato Perry, Jr., and Officer Kirk Dodd. It's a little hard to do because naming the park after Joseph Colligan, I'm married to Joseph Colligan's daughter Susan. So Joseph's daughter and his widow Elizabeth are in the audience. They don't want to testify. Fred Perry is out of town on business and Officer Dodd is defending the streets of Philadelphia as a Philadelphia Policeman. There's no one really against it. I knew Joe Colligan, Chief Colligan for about 10 years before he passed away in 1998. He was just another one of them unforgettable characters. That's why it was just great to have Pelbano and him today. It just turned out that way. He was the guy that played full-court basketball 39 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 030426 with the kids until the day he died. He was out there every weekend. Didn't have a daughter until later in the life, so for the first 10, years of 5 his marriage, he ran everything that went on in that 6 park. So that's why Dodd and Perry brought this to 7 us, so without anybody wanting to testify and no one 8 showing up, I think it just would be great in his 9 memory to name this Park Avenue him. 10 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 11
Thank you much. 12 Is there any other business for this 13 committee? 14 (No response.) 15
Seeing none, we will conclude the public hearing. Reconvene the public meeting. - - - - 40 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - PUBLIC MEETING - - - - PUBLIC MEETING CONTINUED - - - -
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Donna Reed Miller for a motion on Bill 7 No. 030426.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Bill No. 030426 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Session. (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill No. 030426 reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation. A request will be made for rules suspension to allow for first reading at our next Council Session. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Rizzo for a motion on Bill 030486.
I move that Bill NO. 25 030486 be reported out of Committee with a favorable 41 10/01/03 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - PUBLIC MEETING recommendation and that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Session of Council.
There are none opposed. Bill No. 030486 reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation. A request will be made for rules suspension to allow for first reading at our next Council Session. That concludes the business of Public Property and Public Works Committee. Thank you for your attendance. (Council adjourned at 11:05 a.m.) - - - - 42 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of October 1, 2003, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AND PUBLIC WORKS _________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR