As Gov. Phil Murphy continues to lift restrictions, he has announced that spray parks and playgrounds can reopen.

The township of North Bergen will reopen municipal parks to the public on July 2. This includes all playgrounds, sports courts, and exercise equipment located in the parks.

Spray parks will open at 25 percent capacity. Attendants will be on hand to ensure that capacity is not exceeded.

Policeman’s Park on 38th Street has undergone a complete overhaul and will reopen in July with new features. The township will open a new park on Paterson Plank Road within the next few weeks.

Parks will be open from dawn to sundown. Residents are urged to maintain social distancing for their own health and the health of others.

James Braddock Park has been open for some time.

Other reopenings coming in July

Museums, aquariums, and certain indoor entertainment venues, including bowling alleys, batting cages, shooting ranges, and the arcades along the boardwalks will open at 25 percent capacity on July 2.

Indoor entertainment venues such as movie theaters, performing arts centers, concert venues, and nightclubs will remain closed.

Gyms and fitness centers will remain closed, although individual training sessions are allowed by appointment.

Murphy cancelled the reopening of indoor dining indefinitely after COVID-19 spiked in other states, driven, in part, by the return of indoor dining.

The governor’s order also prohibits the consumption of food or beverages and smoking in the indoor premises of any retail, recreational, or entertainment business, including casinos, where masks are required. There is an exception for health and safety, such as as individuals briefly removing their masks to drink water.

“Unfortunately, the spike in cases in numerous other states, compounded by instances of noncompliance in New Jersey, require us to hit pause on the restart of indoor dining indefinitely,” Murphy said.

“I recognize that there are many establishments whose owners, managers, and customers have been responsible, but we cannot move forward unless there is complete compliance,” said. “Throughout every step of our restart, we have been clear that we would not hesitate to hit pause to safeguard public health, and this is one of those times.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

Despite New Jersey entering Phase 2 of reopening amid COVID-19, the state is still in no condition to hold in-person elections. To cope with the issue, months ago Gov. Phil Murphy moved the June primary election to July 7 in preparation.

The election is also poised to be held primarily through vote by mail. To ensure the safety of ballots, North Bergen is going the extra mile.

The township has installed a secure drop box outside town hall for the convenience of residents who would like to submit their primary election ballots. The drop box is on the side of the building, next to the Municipal Chambers entrance.

Every registered New Jersey voter, Democrat or Republican, should receive a ballot in the mail for the July 7 primary. All ballots come with prepaid postage. Ballots can be mailed by the deadline or deposited in the drop box at town hall.

The deadline to deposit ballots in the drop box is 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7. The drop box is monitored 24 hours a day by video surveillance to maintain strict security.

For questions or more information, call the Hudson County Board of Elections at 201-369-3435.

Sacco says vote Column B

Mayor Nicholas Sacco said most residents should have already received their Vote by Mail ballots for the Primary Election. Due to COVID-19, all registered Democrats and Republicans have been sent ballots, and most voting will be done by mail.

“I’m asking for your support for the Column B Democratic Team, especially our Freeholder Anthony Vainieri,” Sacco said. “From revitalizing our beloved Braddock Park, to providing county funding for many important projects to helping us keep property taxes stable, Anthony is doing a tremendous job and he deserves our support for a new term.”

Sacco has endorsed the Column B Team, including Joe Biden for President, Cory Booker for Senate, Albio Sires for Congress and Anthony Vainieri for Freeholder.

“All ballots must be received by the County Clerk by July 7 to be counted, so send yours back now,” Sacco said. “In order to cast your vote, fill out your choices on the ballot and make sure to fill the ovals in completely. Put your completed ballot in the small envelope.”

According to Sacco, residents must print their names and addresses and sign on the designated area on the envelope and follow all other instructions.

Then, residents must put the smaller envelope inside the larger paid envelope, seal it and mail it back, Sacco said. No postage is necessary.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

As North Bergen resumes daily life amid Phase 2 of New Jersey’s COVID-19 reopening plan, the Township is making life easier by adding new parking spaces.

On June 10, 74 new parking spots opened on Bergenline Avenue. Mayor Nicholas Sacco and Freeholder Anthony Vainieri were on hand to oversee the reconfiguration of parking.

No new spots were added, however, only rearranged. Parallel parking spaces on the east side of Bergenline Avenue adjacent to Braddock Park were replaced by head-in angled parking.

The resulting configuration added the 74 additional spots for the convenience of local businesses and residents, according to the township.

Some spots removed for loading zones

As a result of the reconfiguration, some residential parking spots were actually removed. The number of parking spaces on the west side of Bergenline Avenue was reduced slightly in order to add multi-business loading zones to benefit local merchants, according to Mayor Sacco.

The addition of 74 spaces brings the total to 171 parking spots along Bergenline between 79th Street and Kennedy Boulevard.

“I was joined by Commissioners Hugo Cabrera and Julio Marenco, Police Chief Peter Fasilis, Township Administrator Chris Pianese, Parking Authority Executive Director Robert Baselice, and various other township and police officials as the street parking was reconfigured,” Mayor Sacco said.

Twelve new multi-space parking meters are being installed for the new spaces.

The twelve new meters will accept coins, cash, or credit cards. Parallel parking single-space cash-only meters will remain on the west side of Bergenline.

Parking hours have been adjusted to three-hour parking at the meters from 9 a.m. to midnight, Monday to Saturday.

Residents with a current permit may park for free at the meters from 10 p.m. to midnight. A parking permit is required for parking from midnight to 9 a.m.

Meter enforcement reinstated

Across the rest of the North Bergen, parking enforcement for meters and street sweeping has been reinstated.

Meter enforcement is in full effect throughout the township and tickets will be issued for violations. Encouraging turnover of parking spots in business districts will help shoppers and visitors to find parking and help local merchants build their business.

North Bergen’s street sweepers enhance the cleanliness and health of our community by removing all debris from our streets, including discarded masks and gloves which pose a potential health threat.

Street sweeping ticketing is currently being enforced along Kennedy Boulevard, Bergenline Avenue, Broadway, Park Avenue, Boulevard East, and Grand Avenue from fifth street to thirteenth street.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, North Bergen has been a virus hot spot. To cope, the Housing Authority has tested all senior residents, provided masks to all residents, gave out candy to senior residents to raise their spirits, and now has purchased temperature scanners to combat COVID-19.

As a result of their past measures, only four senior residents tested positive for COVID-19 out of 600 that were tested for the virus. Now the township hopes to continue to their progress.

The North Bergen Housing Authority (NBHA) has purchased five temperature scanners to be placed at the entrance of all high-rise buildings operated by NBHA.

Temperature scanners in place

All visitors will be scanned prior to entering the building, according to the township. and will be denied entry if their temperature is at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, as per state government standards.

Prior to the purchase of these scanners, NBHA security had been using a temperature gun to measure visitor temperatures.

The new scanners, which were purchased with money provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development through the CARES Act, are contactless and conform to social distancing guidelines.

“Executive Director Sanzari and NBHA staff have done an outstanding job keeping our seniors safe throughout this crisis,” said Mayor Nicholas Sacco. “Acquiring these scanners is yet another proactive measure that they are taking so that we can minimize the risk of visitors entering our buildings.”

These devices are being deployed as part of the NBHA infectious disease policy, which the Township said has been “extraordinarily successful in preventing the spread of COVID-19.”

After the State of Emergency ends, recommendations from the North Bergen Health Department and legal counsel will determine whether or not the temperature scanners will continue to be used.

For updates on this and other stories, follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.

As New Jersey gradually eases restrictions put on businesses during the COIVD-19 pandemic, the Township of North Bergen has put procedures in place to make it easier for restaurants to operate under the new guidelines.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order permitting outdoor dining with certain health and safety restrictions beginning Monday, June 15.

“Restaurants and bars throughout New Jersey have been immensely cooperative with necessary public health measures that were placed upon them while battling the COVID-19 pandemic,” Murphy said.

“Allowing outdoor dining and the expansion of alcohol-serving areas will allow restaurants and bars to begin welcoming customers back while continuing to comply with necessary social distancing guidance.”

According to the executive order, establishments will be required to follow a number of COVID-19 health and safety protocols issued by the Department of Health, including a limit of eight customers per table, and requirements of at least six feet of distance between parties.

Streamlined process

Per the reopening guidelines, restaurants will be limited to outdoor seating only for the immediate future. To cope with this, North Bergen has simplified and streamlined the application and approval process for outdoor seating at eating establishments.

The application is available online at: http://www.northbergen.org/_Content/pdf/forms/RESTAURANT-TEMPORARY-OUTDOOR-SEATING.pdf

The township is also waiving all application fees for outdoor seating during this emergency.

Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the township administration are working hard to support local businesses and to help them succeed during the ongoing pandemic.

The Township has encouraged residents to patronize local restaurants and other businesses, while observing appropriate health and social distancing protocols.

Other conditions of Murphy’s executive order

For as long as indoor dining is not permitted, food or beverage establishments are required to prohibit smoking in any outdoor areas designated for the consumption of food and or beverages under the executive order.

Municipalities are permitted to use their existing authority to allow food or beverage establishments to expand their footprint to outdoor areas, both within their properties and among municipally-governed areas, including but not limited to sidewalks, streets, or parks.

A special ruling by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) will temporarily permit establishments with liquor licenses to expand their licensed premises into outdoor areas that are either contiguous or non-contiguous to their permanently licensed premises.

Establishments interested may apply through the POSSE ABC Online Licensing system, and if approved will be issued a temporary permit effective on June 15 that will run until November 14.

This is part of Phase 2 of the reopening of the state, which also allows for a number of other businesses to resume operations under the new normal.

According to Gov. Murphy, salons and barbershops will be allowed to reopen on June 22. Gyms and fitness clubs will be permitted to reopen soon, though though a date has not yet been set.

Social distancing and masks and cloth face coverings will remain a necessary part of life as reopening continues.

Meanwhile, businesses must continue to operate at a reduced capacity.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at disrael@hudsonreporter.com.