The Secaucus Town Council meets in person at Town Hall, with the meetings recorded and posted online afterwards.
Secaucus has made some changes to its residential parking zones.
Mayor Michael Gonnelli and the Town Council adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 127A of the municipal code entitled “Residential Parking.”
The ordinance was first introduced back in October.
According to the ordinance, Gonnelli and the council recognize that safe parking for all residents, visitors and motorists is “of utmost concern.”
The town has a residential parking program that was developed to alleviate unfavorable parking conditions and address conditions created on residential streets.
The ordinance states that the mayor and council have determined based on resident needs and review by the Secaucus Traffic Division that updates were needed to add locations and correctly reflect the zoned areas.
The ordinance removes Arch Avenue, Fisher Avenue, Franklin Street, Myrtle Avenue and Poplar Street from Zone I. It adds them and Gary Terrace, the entire length of the streets, to Zone II.
Other changes under the ordinance include the removal of sections related to the “time limits nonresidents [are] authorized to park in residential parking zones.”
Sections removed touched on that parking is prohibited for nonresidents of the parking zone, sections regarding temporary visitor placards and penalty minimums.
The town council also introduced another ordinance that would add Farm Road, the entire length and the public lot, and the entire length of Riedel Court into Zone II. The town is divided into four zones in total.
The next council meeting is on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building at 1203 Paterson Plank Road.
Meanwhile, the town is also considering other parking-related changes to Hops Lane.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
Cannabis consumers over the age of 21 can rejoice and soon make purchases at the Secaucus dispensary. Photo courtesy of Harmony Dispensary.
Harmony Dispensary, a medical cannabis dispensary in Secaucus, has received approval from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) to begin selling recreational adult-use cannabis. The nonprofit medical cannabis dispensary had been working toward this end for many months, much to the anticipation of eager future customers across Hudson County.
The commission voted 4-1 on Friday, Dec. 2, to approve Harmony’s expansion of operations to include recreational cannabis sales under its vertically integrated medical permits. The facility near where Castle Road meets Meadowlands Parkway, which was among the first few medical dispensaries in the state after it opened in 2018, can now begin selling recreational cannabis to adults over the age of 21 in the next few weeks.
At the NJCRC meeting on Dec. 2, which was streamed online, Executive Director Jeff Brown said that Harmony was among four facility-modification applications that the state had approved. Additionally, Harmony was also approved for medical home delivery.
Later in the meeting, Brown explained his recommendation for approval for the alternative treatment center’s (ATC) adult-use expansion application. Brown added that the NJCRC’s considerations for the application was focused on patients, the number of patients enrolled statewide, patient enrollment at the specific ATC, inventory statewide and at the ATC, sales statewide and at the ATC, the current medical cannabis canopy, the canopy needed to serve enrolled patients, and the ATC’s production capacity.
“When an alternative treatment center entity permitted to operate in our medical market wants to expand to adult use sales, they have to meet a number of statutory and regulatory provisions,” Brown said. “These include municipal approval, proof of sufficient supply to continue to meet patient need after expansion, plans to ensure patient access, and plans to address social equity and safety.”
According to Brown, the Harmony Foundation, which operates Harmony Dispensary, had submitted their plans to expand into adult-use sales. According to Brown, they include adding point-of-sale systems for patients only, have undergone a facility modification to their dispensary, have committed to all the patient access standards and provisions that the commission has recommended and included with other ATC expansions. Because of that, he said Harmony Foundation’s application was recommended for approval, which includes both cultivation and dispensing at the facility in Secaucus and cultivation and manufacturing at its Lafayette facility.
Harmony Dispensary received a Class 1 cultivation license for its facilities in Secaucus and Lafayette, at 144 Route 94, a Class 2 manufacturing license for the Lafayette facility, and a Class 5 retailer license for the Secaucus facility. While the Secaucus facility is both a dispensary and cultivation location, the Lafayette facility is only for cultivation and manufacturing.
There was also a condition of approval included in the recommendation. Brown said that if the dispensary could not adequately serve patients at its medical-only point-of-sale systems, then it would have to add more or convert some of the adult-use point-of-sale systems.
“Our recommendation of this approval is that the issuance of the Class 1 cultivator license is conditioned on the first harvest from their Lafayette facility,” Brown said. “This is to ensure that the cultivation in Secaucus continues to meet the needs of patients while their new cultivation capacity is fully operational … They are opening new patient-only point-of-sale systems. If those are insufficient, a condition is that they will have to move their adult-use point-of-sale systems back to serving patients as well if the patient-only point-of-sale systems are not sufficient to meet the needs of patients.
The move follows Harmony Dispensary’s expansion application not being approved by the state board in October after filing its application in July. It was expected to be on the NJCRC’s October agenda, but it was not, which in response, CEO of Harmony Foundation Shaya Brodchanel called the move “inexplicable” and a “delay.” Meanwhile, spokeswoman for the NJCRC Toni-Anne Blake said that Harmony’s certification was still under review. While it wasn’t clear then what the hold-up was, it seems it may have been related to the aforementioned conditions of approval relating to cultivation and point-of-sale systems.
The NJCRC approved Harmony’s expansion from medical only to recreational cannabis sales at its December meeting.
Town is ready for recreational sales at Harmony Dispensary
Meanwhile, the town of Secaucus has already given all necessary approvals to Harmony. The town has been preparing for it in recent months, further ironing out things relating to its cannabis ordinances like license applications as more entities seek to apply to open.
Secaucus originally banned recreational cannabis sales temporarily in 2021 via an ordinance prior to the state deadline to enact local parameters or automatically have it all permitted. At that time, Town Administrator Gary Jeffas said the ban was a placeholder until the town figured out where and how it wanted to allow recreational sales.
In May of this year, the Town Council lifted the ban after it ironed out all the details. That new ordinance outlined the rules and regulations for the local industry in town.
With that, Secaucus limited the area where dispensaries and the like can open in a light industrial area. That area consists of five warehouse lots on Castle Road, of which one of the lots is where Harmony Dispensary is already operating with an official address of 600 Meadowlands Parkway.
After the state approval, Harmony has a new pop-up on its website that reads: “Congratulations Adult Use Patrons of NJ. We look forward to serving you soon, but at this time Harmony Dispensary is MEDICAL ONLY. Stay tuned!“
According to Harmony Dispensary’s website, the company still only serving medical-use patients with valid NJMMP ID cards and plans to enter the adult-use recreational market in the “very near future,” and encourages eager customers to sign up for its newsletter “to stay up to date” about the announcement while it continues to serve medical patients.
“Harmony looks forward to continuing to serve the patients of NJ and the new Adult Use Cannabis community,” according to the company website.
Following the NJCRC approval, Shaya Brodchandel, the Harmony Foundation CEO, put out a press release celebrating the action that makes the medical dispensary the first in the state to expand to recreational sales. Brodchandel said that they “have been preparing for this for a long time.”
“This is a historic day for Harmony, and, we believe, for the growing cannabis industry in New Jersey,” Brodchandel said in a statement. “As the first New Jersey-based ATC to expand into the adult-use market we are going to show that cannabis businesses born in this state have the ability to join those multi-state operators and thrive, reinvesting our successes into our local communities.”
According to Brodchandel, Harmony is ready to sell recreational cannabis to adults while maintaining its supply to medical patients. Part of this plan to enter the recreational market in addition to the medical market translates to the planned medical dispensaries by Harmony in Hoboken and Jersey City.
“We are ready to begin welcoming a new population of clients, while simultaneously giving our longtime patients the same great service they deserve and have become accustomed to,” Brodchandel said. “We have a proven track record of serving the medical cannabis community for many years, and we will not turn our back on those that use our products for health purposes.”
The move marks a shift in the recreational adult-use industry, given that it is currently dominated by eight large multi-state operators that own the 21 dispensaries presently licensed to sell. Most of those entities have maxed out the limit of three dispensaries each, but three have not, meaning that total can be brought up to 24. However, Harmony will likely be the first smaller and New Jersey-based entity to operate a dispensary in the state once sales begin, right here in Hudson County. Brodchandel hopes Harmony will be an example to local entities seeking to enter the market, which is expected to continue to experience massive growth each year.
Brodchandel concluded: “Harmony has a commitment to the state and people of New Jersey. As Harmony continues to grow, and achieve even greater business success, our core mission will match the intentions of Governor [Phil] Murphy for the industry and be a force for lifting up others that have previously not been afforded opportunities for entrepreneurial success.”
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
Cristina Fontanelli (www.cristinafontanelli.com), award-winning singer/actor and PBS/-TV host for Andrea Bocelli, along with musicians, a youth dance troupe and choir, will perform Italy’s best-loved songs, Arias, Neapolitan and Christmas classics in Cristina Fontanelli’s 19th Annual “Christmas in Italy®.”
This is a charitable concert takes place at the Bruno Walter Auditorium for the Performing Arts at the Lincoln Center, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza (Street entrance: 65th Street at Amsterdam Avenue), New York City,10013, on Saturday, December 17th, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Ms. Fontanelli says, “I began this annual Holiday tradition to preserve Italy’s great classic and popular songs, and the values they represent, for younger generations. We are continuing, along with the tree in Rockefeller Center and the Rockettes, a beloved NYC Holiday tradition.
Program includes Italian songs: Torna a Surriento, Mamma and Ave Maria, plus Christmas classics such as White Christmas; operatic selections from La Boheme and La Traviata; and guitar and mandolin solos such as the Godfather Theme. Here is Ms. Fontanelli’s CBS-TV interview and performance of the famous Neapolitan song “O Sole Mio.”
Musicians include: Matthew Hayden, accompanist; Joyce Balint, mandolin (NY Philharmonic); Bill Schimmel, accordion (Grammy nomination) and David Galvez, guitar. Matthew Cerillo, young guest tenor; the Xaverian High School Choir (Brooklyn) and the youth of the Dream Studio of the Performing Arts (Staten Island) will dance to “Dominick, the Italian Christmas Donkey.”
This concert was conceived by Cristina Fontanelli and is produced by the 501 c-3 The Cristina Fontanelli Foundation, Inc. The mission statement includes creating family-friendly musical productions giving young people performance opportunities and growing the awareness of the scientifically proven societal benefits of classical music and the arts. Tax-deductible donations can be made thru: www.thecristinafontanellifoundation.org
Tickets: $79 (VIP), $68 (General), $62.50 (Seniors) and $35 (Children under 12) are available thru Purplepass Tickets: (800) 316-8559 or on-line: www.purplepass.com/ItalianChristmasMatinee and www.purplepass.com/ItalianChristmasEvening. Call the office of The Cristina Fontanelli Foundation Inc. (212) 967-1926 for more information/group tickets.
Accolades: Cristina Fontanelli has been called a “Vocal Genius” in the NY and international press. The New York Times said: “The best work came from Cristina Fontanelli.” The New York Daily News said: “Fine, fine work from soprano, Cristina Fontanelli.” The Epoch Times: “Cristina Fontanelli, Preserving Values Through Opera.” The New York Sun: “Vocal Genius”
About Cristina Fontanelli: Brooklyn-born Cristina Fontanelli has performed throughout the United States and internationally singing title roles with the Palm Beach Opera, The Boston Pops and the St. Louis Symphony and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts from the Order Sons of Italy in America (previous recipient Luciano Pavarotti). She has appeared on PBS-TV and was honored by the Italian Government as an artist of Pugliese descent. She has performed for the Clinton White House and for the George W. Bush Presidential Inauguration. She appears annually at 54 Below and for Opera & Broadway of the Hamptons. She has won Best Actress in two International Film Festivals and sings in 9 languages.
West New York Commissioner of Public Affairs Cosmo Cirillo. Screenshot of Cirillo's announcement video posted to social media.
West New York Commissioner of Public Affairs Cosmo Cirillo has declared his candidacy for mayor in 2023. This sets up a showdown with outgoing Rep. Albio Sires, a Democrat currently representing the 8th Congressional District of New Jersey and former three-time mayor of the town, who has also announced his candidacy for mayor.
Sires decided to retire, and was replaced by Congressman-elect Robert Menendez, Jr. after the November midterm elections. Sires decided to retire and said he would run for mayor of West New York instead of running for re-election for Congress because Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez is going to run for the state Assembly for a seat after the new map takes affect post-redistricting.
Now Cirillo has thrown a wrench in Sires’ plan. He announced his candidacy in a video message on social media on Thursday, December 1, touting his accomplishments from expanding recreational opportunities, to maintaining rent control among other things.
“For the past eight years, I’ve had the honor of serving as your Commissioner of Public Affairs,” Cirillo said. “As someone who has grown up here, went to school here, and spent my entire life in town, I am extremely proud of the work I have been able to accomplish, such as expanding and improving recreational activities for our residents, starting a brand new tutoring program at the library, maintaining strong rent control regulations, having my office assist a countless amount of residents with rental assistance during the pandemic and feeding thousands of families every summer through our Recreation Food Program.”
According to Cirillo, in addition to those activities in town, he has also been key in the ongoing plans to renovate parks and construct parking garages. He said that he plans to continue the work that the “New Beginnings” slate ran on and won in 2019 leading to the election of Rodriguez, indirectly calling out Sires.
“I am also happy to have assisted in the implementation of upgraded parks and fields, a plan for three brand new and much needed parking decks throughout town, the first of which is scheduled for completion within the next months, and other improvements around West New York,” Cirillo said.
“When our current team of Commissioners ran four years ago we ran on a slogan of ‘New Beginnings’ for our town, yet here we are at a critical crossroads where we can choose to move backwards or stand together and move West New York in a positive and promising direction forward.”
Cirillo ran with Rodriguez, who is also Sires’ godson, as well as Commissioners Victor Barrera, Yoleisy Yanez, and Margarita Guzman in 2019. In a sweep of the election, they defeated incumbent Mayor Dr. Felix Roque and his slate of commissioners.
Sires has confirmed that the two didn’t see eye to eye and that he stands by his track record in town, according to the Hudson County View. Apparently, Barerra and Yanez are expected to run with Sires and Guzman is expected to run with Cirillo.
“I believe actions speak louder than words,” Cirillo said. ” West New York needs and deserves a mayor that is willing to put in the hard work, effort and time, that will be available and accessible to listen to and address the concerns of our community and understand the issues our residents face on a daily basis and also work day and night to be a true servant for our community. It is for these reasons, after careful consideration and listening to the words of encouragement of my family and supporters, that I am officially declaring my candidacy to be the next Mayor of the Town of West New York.”
Prior to being a commissioner, Cirillo was a president of the West New York Board of Education and a staffer for former Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez. Now he is tossing his hat in the ring to be mayor, in what may be a three-way race if Roque decides to run for his old post, which he has hinted at.
Regardless, Cirillo said he will announce more information about his candidacy and team in the coming weeks. Before 2022 has ended, the 2023 race for the mayor’s office in West New York has already begun.
“Over the coming weeks, I look forward to introducing my dynamic team that share these same values and who I believe represent the very best of West New York,” Cirillo said. “In closing, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all of you that have supported me in the past and continue to support me. For those of you I have not had the privilege of meeting, I look forward to meeting you on the campaign trail and working tirelessly to earn your vote and working even harder to keep your trust once elected. It is my hope that you will join my team and I on this exciting journey. By working together we can and will move West New York forward.”
The Hudson Reporter has reached out to Sires and Roque and so far neither has replied.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
Senator Sandra Cunningham speaks at a Juneteenth celebration at Maureen Collin Senior Center in Jersey City in June of 2022. Photo via Facebook.
State Senator for the 31st Legislative District Sandra Cunningham is expected to resign, according to reports. Cunningham is a five-time state Senator who was first elected in 2007, and is the widow of former Jersey City Mayor and state Senator Glenn Cunningham who died in office in 2004.
The 72-year-old Senate President Pro-Tempore is facing a severe cognitive decline iand is unlikely to return to Trenton, according to a report citing anonymous sources by the New Jersey Globe published on Tuesday, December 29.
Cunningham was hospitalized at Jersey City Medical Center on October 4, with what was described as a non-life threatening health emergency. She has been at the hospital for the past 56 days.
Prior to that, Cunningham had been laying low in the wake of being charged with Driving While Intoxicated after hitting two parked vehicles in March. Due to a lack of evidence, the charges were later dropped, although she previously pleaded guilty to DWI in 2005.
Cunningham had not been present in the Senate since the legislature’s passage of the state budget in June. Cunningham had attempted to participate remotely when the Senate confirmed Attorney General Matthew Platkin in September, but to no avail.
Since her hospitalization, a Superior Court judge placed Jersey City attorney Matthew Burns in charge of Cunningham’s personal affairs as she can no longer handle them on her own. Burns was appointed after a close friend of Cunningham’s, former Governor James McGreevey, asked for someone else to take control of her finances and other private matters.
The legal proceedings are still ongoing, and court records are sealed. It is not clear if she will be able to sign a resignation letter or if Burns can resign on her behalf.
Meanwhile, the state Senate does have the ability to expel a member or potential declare a vacancy of the seat if the incumbent is no longer fit to serve. Regardless, it remains unclear if and when Cunningham will resign.
Replacement talk already?
While Cunningham has yet to do anything, discussion is already ongoing about her replacement as she is not expected to run for re-election either in 2023. Rumored candidates to take her spot if she resigns include John Minella, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s Chief of Staff and recent campaign manager for Bayonne Mayor James Davis in the recent May municipal election.
If elected by committee members, Minella would apparently act as a caretaker for Cunningham’s seat, which term ends on January 11, 2024. He would not run for a full-year term in 2023.
Other names being mentioned as possible replacements are Assemblywoman for the 31st Legislative District Angela McKnight, as well as Hudson County Commissioners from Jersey City Bill O’Dea and Jerry Walker. While a replacement candidate has not yet been determined, that decision will largely be in the hands of Jersey City politicos.
The Jersey City and Bayonne Democratic committees will first vote on candidates for her replacement in a special election convention. The two municipalities that make up the 31st Legislative District, under the current map prior to the new map drawn up after redistricting, are Wards A and F and parts of Wards B, C, and D, and all of Bayonne.
The Hudson County View recently reported that includes 326 voting members, if all seats are filled, with 224 votes from Jersey City and 102 from Bayonne. Ultimately, it seems the decision would likely belong to Fulop and get backing from the Hudson County Democratic Organization.
Following the news of Cunningham’s declining health, activists are calling for her replacement to be a Black woman. The United Black Agenda said in a statement on Thursday, December 1, that “her resignation from the Senate will leave a huge void in leadership that represents the interests of Black people and other communities of color in New Jersey.”
“She is also one of the most powerful, longest serving Black legislators in the State,” the United Black Agenda said in a statement. “We must be intentional about who we are replacing a Black legislator with, given how hard-fought Black representation has been in this country and this state. Whoever is picked to replace Senator Cunningham—whether temporary or permanent—must be a Black woman.”
The district is currently fairly diverse, and is set to grow more diverse when the new map post-redistricting kicks in in 2024. Under that map approved by the Legislative Apportionment Commission, which will grow to include Kearny, the district will be 34 percent Black, 33 percent Hispanic, 32 percent white, and 12 percent Asian.
“This is one of the most diverse legislative districts in one of the most diverse states in the nation, and the district’s delegation in Trenton must reflect that, particularly given that the state legislature already fails to represent the rich diversity of the state. It is time to put action behind our words when it comes to ensuring Black representation.”
Cunningham’s office did not respond to The Hudson Reporter‘s requests for comment.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
City Councilman At-Large Loyad Booker Jr. was one of the six speakers at the first TEDxBayonne in 2022. Photos by Daniel Israel.
After an outstanding series at TEDxBayonne 2022, the search is now on for speakers for the next iteration of the conference.
The annual independently organized TED Talks conference in the city were co-founded by Bayonne residents Carissa Lintao and Maxim Sokolov. The duo had a vision in 2021 to bring the talks to Bayonne and made that a reality in April of this year. The goal of the conference is to bring together local thought leaders to share world-changing ideas, with its motto being “to uplift, challenge, and inspire.”
From vision to reality
TED, a non-profit organization which aims to promote “the idea of spreading ideas,” began in 1984 as a conference about “Technology, Entertainment and Design” before becoming an established non-profit. Since then, the conferences and their approximately 18 minutes or less TED Talks have been hosted worldwide by the organization.
TED Talks feature a lineup of short, informative, and motivational speeches given in front of live audiences that are recorded and shared online on YouTube and social media as well as other platforms. The TEDx Talks are the localized version of the wider reaching TED conference.
Since its founding, the TEDxBayonne team has expanded. In addition to Lintao as Operations Head and Sokolov as Marketing Head, the TEDxBayonne team also features Advisor Allan Escobar, Media Manager Sofia Marino, Advisor and Ex-Speaker Nicos Marcou, Advisor Rob Napoli, Communications Coach Lisa Patti, Acting Coach and Stage Specialist Bobby Allan, Stage Manager Hannah Lauren, and Photographer Cat Lee.
TEDxBayonne aims to be a catalyst for progress in the Bayonne community and beyond. The conference seeks to inspire people to change their lives and ultimately make the world a better place.
‘Future? Future!’
After 2022’s theme of “re.think,” the theme for 2023 is “Future? Future!” According to TEDxBayonne, “Future is not something to hope for. It’s something to create.
“Future has become such a loaded word. For some it carries so much promise and excitement, for others it’s an opportunity to talk about unrealistic and wishy washy agendas and ideas, but for the majority it’s simply a word that incites endless anxiety and stress. It may seem that everything around us — politics, news and social media — are all slowly defeating our optimism and presenting this bleak picture for our future lives. This spring, we want to change that,” according to TEDxBayonne.
In 2023, the local TED Talks are going explore stories and ideas that will restore optimism in “tomorrow,” help return people to the things that matter most in life, and present solutions and paradigms that will guide in building a future “worth getting excited about.” Next year’s talks aim to be more ambitious after this year’s success.
In 2022, there have been over 115,000 total views of TEDxBayonne talks on the official TEDx channel, over 300 active newsletter subscribers, over 3,000 total website traffic over the past year. In addition, the conference tickets sold out in under 36 hours, featuring six speakers including Nicos Marcou, Ilknur Eren, Nathan Lugo, Michelle Arpin Begina, Mike Stanlaw, and Loyad Booker, Jr.
The first-ever TEDxBayonne speakers and organizers pose for pictures after a successful event.
Apply to be a speaker now
In 2023, TEDxBayonne aims for one to two more speakers, better networking opportunities, wider audience reach, and improved event experience, as well as community initiatives and impact. Projections for 2023 include over 500,000 total views of TEDxBayonne talks on the official TEDx channel, over 600 active newsletter subscribers, and over 6,000 total website traffic over the year.
The non-profit and volunteer-run organization is also accepting donations to spend on equipment and set up, outsourced professional video production, and venue rental. For more information, to donate, or to watch last year’s talks, go to tedxbayonne.com.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
The local government watchdog group CivicJC has called out city officials for holding more than one job in Jersey City or for Hudson County, known as “double dipping,” taking aim at the administration of Mayor Steven Fulop.
Esther Wintner, the president of CivicJC and the author of a statement about the practice, criticized “the hated practice of leeching off the government teat [that] helped catapult Fulop to local stardom and ultimately, mayor” and criticized the mayor for failing to end the practice.
A Fulop administration spokesperson insisted the mayor believes an employee’s job with the city comes first, but pointed out that court rulings restrict the mayor from preventing city personnel from having additional sources of income provided they are disclosed as the city’s charter requires.
According to CivicJC, two members of Mayor Fulop’s administration, one council member and five council staff members collected annual salaries from both Jersey City and Hudson County.
Ward A Councilwoman Denise Riley, according to CivicJC, “receives a salary of $85,000 from Jersey City and also appears on the county payroll as a ‘Confidential Assistant’ with the county register at a salary of $62,000 for a total of $147,000.”
Wintner said CivicJC reached out to the county to provide a job description for “confidential assistant.” She said the county responded, ”New Jersey Civil Services does not have job descriptions for the titles ‘confidential assistant’ or ‘confidential aide.’”
John Metro, who serves as the city’s Business Administrator, receives a city salary of $190,000 while maintaining a second income of $8,783 as secretary to the insurance fund and $7,450 as an aide to the Board of Commissioners, according to CivicJC.
The group said mayoral aide and chief of staff John Minella, who receives a salary of $175,000, also receives two additional salaries, $22,914 as a member of the Board of Elections, and $6,700 as an aide to the county commissioners.
A city spokesperson said in an email to The Hudson Reporter, “The mayor still believes that working for the city should be the primary job for everyone employed there, but that isn’t always possible, and the mayor does not control that legally. The courts ruled that a city couldn’t restrict people from having different sources of income as long as it is legal and disclosed under the current Faulkner Act system of government.”
Councilman Daniel Rivera’s aide appeared on two payrolls with salaries of $80,000 from the county and $30,000 from Jersey City. CivicJC also pointed out that Rivera works for the county school system.
Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey’s aide also appeared on both the county and the city payrolls. Prinz-Arey has also listed her spouse on her financial disclosure as receiving income from Hudson County, however he did not appear on the county payroll document provided in the OPRA request, according to CivicJC.
In an interview with the Jersey City Times the councilwoman said that her aide “does some part-time work with one of the commissioners. “He is paid an annual salary of about $1,500.”
She added that her husband does temporary work for the Hudson County Board of Elections. “Technically, he is not a county employee but is paid by the county for temp work. That is why it was listed on my financial disclosure statement.”
According to CivicJC, aides to certain City Council members were also earning salaries from both the city and county. Brittani Bunney, an aide to Ward D Councilwoman Yusef Saleh, is also listed in the letter as receiving a county salary as an analyst trainee of $76,875 while receiving a city salary of $35,000.
Councilperson Amy DeGise currently employs two aides that both hold positions with the county with salaries of $117,000 and $66,000. They each receive a salary of $22,500 from Jersey City with added salaries of $139,500 and $88,500, according to CivicJC.
The Hudson Reporter reached out via email to council members cited in the letter for comment but none responded.
“Steven Fulop was elected as a reformer, a “Man With a Plan” that would break from political patronage and put an end to old time politics,” read the CivicJC statement. “CivicJC believes the public deserves to hear from Mayor Fulop as to why he would betray them on his promise by continuing an ugly tradition of Hudson County politics, and to stand by the principles he peddled.”
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Jordan Coll can be reached at [email protected].
Fines for parking violations in Bayonne have increased, such as for a violation of no parking for street sweeping. A parking ticket for that, such as the ones seen here, will increase from $23 to $50 as of January 1, 2023. Photo by Daniel Israel.
Bayonne is ushering in more changes to parking, the most notable being an increase to many fines for violations.
The City Council adopted four ordinances and introduced another two relating to parking at its November meeting. This followed the adoption of two ordinances in October, related to the clarification of the industrial zoning parking requirement and the removal of the fee schedule that could be paid if there was a parking deficiency for buildings in certain zoning districts.
The first parking ordinance adopted by the council in November authorized the creation of a loading zone for Hudson Milestones on the north side of Gertrude street from Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The loading zone would being at a point 113 west of the northwest corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Gertrude Street and extending 50 feet west from there.
Parking violation fees increased
For the second adopted ordinance, Law Director Jay Coffey said during the public hearing that the city was increasing fines for parking violations. He said certain ones had not been updated in 20 years.
“In the review with the Municipal Court, there were amendments to the fines,” Coffey said. “We’re raising most of them $1 or $2, in one case there’s $3 or $4. But for the most part, they’re minimal changes to the fees.”
Resident Gail Godesky asked if that included fines for parking in yellow lines, in front of fire hydrants, and double parking. She said that those situations occur often in the city.
Coffey confirmed there are already “substantial penalties for all of those.” City Council President Gary La Pelusa said that those things, as well as parking in a bus stop, were included in the ordinance.
Godesky said then it was a matter of enforcement. She added: “The law is there and the ordinance is there.”
Coffey said the city already had the ordinance in place, this was just increasing the fees although some are statutory and can’t be raised by the city. La Pelusa added that many haven’t been changed in a while, noting that he was told the last time the fees were changed was in 2014.
The ordinance raises the fines for traffic violations, and will go into effect January 1, 2023.
Most fees were increased by a few dollars, except for one. The largest increase was for violations of parking prohibited for street cleaning from $23 to $50. Fines for violations of handicapped parking remain the same at $250.
Parking in Bayonne, much like the rest of Hudson County, is a hot button issue. File photo.
Temporary parking prohibition changes made in ordinance
The third ordinance adopted by the council pertained to the temporary parking prohibition for snow plowing and removal, special events, emergencies and or construction related activities, as well as parking meter bags.
During the public hearing, Godesky asked if this pertained to Kennedy Boulevard since many events occur there. She described the current snow removal following storms by Hudson County on the county road as abysmal and wanted to ensure residents on the Boulevard were serviced this year.
La Pelusa said that Kennedy is still a county road regarding snow removal, but that this applied to other instances. He noted: “This ordinance is for representatives of repair, construction, contractor individuals.”
Godesky interjected that the ordinance includes snow plowing. Coffey said that this pertains more so to contractors taking up parking space during work as opposed to snow removal.
“In the case of special instances, like PSE&G, Fletcher Kramer… this is pertinent to them rendering services and what they have to do or not do,” Coffey said. “And then if there is a construction crew out there, and somebody violates the terms…”
Godesky jumped in again to asked if things shooting movies in the city would qualify as special events per the ordinance. Coffey said that they would.
“Does it have to do with the movie that’s being done downtown, where people couldn’t vote?” Godesky said.
“If it’s a special event, maybe it’ll be covered under here,” Coffey said. “If [it’s] impacting traffic, then yes.”
Changing the fee structure for contractors using parking spaces
Godesky then took issue with parking in the city overall. La Pelusa reiterated that this was more about fees paid by contractors for using parking spaces while rendering certain services and less about providing parking.
“People couldn’t vote because they were getting yelled at for double parking,” Godesky said. “They had a gazillion cones and residents didn’t have any place to park. The kids are off from school this week, so the parents may be off as well. So we have to think outside the box and look forward and not just for that time period. So please take that into consideration.”
“This ordinance is more about fee structure for when services have to be rendered for those garbage containers and things like that,” La Pelusa concluded.
According to the ordinance, “whenever it becomes necessary for representatives of Verizon, Public Service Electric and Gas Company, any service, repair, or construction contractor or individuals having temporary specific need to use a parking metered space… for a vehicle, dumpster or storage for longer than the allotted time prescribed by this article, then parking meter bags… may be issued upon approval of a Metered Parking Space Agreement by the Bayonne Parking Utility. The ordinance adds the use zoned residential space to the municipal code, and that no-parking signs may also be issued.” It also adds that approval may now be granted by the Bayonne Police Department.
The ordinance states the fee for the use of parking meter bags is $10 per 24-hour period. The ordinance adds that is for a single head meter, and that it costs $20 per 24-hour period for a double-headed meter.
The fee will be charged until the time of the return of the parking meter bags. The ordinance adds that the fee for a no-parking sign will be $25 per day.
Other parking changes in the ordinance and other ordinances
The ordinances changes the rates for time limited metered parking on a public street from $0.10 for each 10 minutes to $0.25 for each 15 minutes. It also adds that no vehicle can park at a meter on a public street for more than two hours.
For temporary parking permits, the ordinance changed their validity from 30 days to 21 days
The ordinance adds that permit fees are now $5 per residential parking permit. A senior discount of 2 free passes will be available to any resident 62 years or older.
According to the ordinance, it is $5 per temporary visitor parking permit. It is $200 per non-resident parking permit which is valid for one year.
For time limit metered parking lots, the ordinance changes the rate from $0.50 for each hour to $0.50 for 30 minutes. There will be a ten-hour limit.
For Permit Parking Lots, the ordinance increased the fee of $75 per month for a daily permit fee to $150, and from $35 per month for a night lot permit to $70. The Parking Utility issues monthly parking lot permits not to exceed 40% of the total number of parking spaces in the lots under its jurisdiction except in the two lots located on East 26th Street north and south sides between Broadway and Avenue E.
The fourth ordinance adopted deleted a number of restricted zones for handicapped parking spaces across the city. The first introduced ordinance would add one handicapped parking space on Avenue E. These type of ordinances are typical occurrences at the monthly council meetings.
The other introduced ordinance would include 1 Port Lincoln Road, the site of the future UPS Logistics Center in Bayonne, into the regulations for the movement and parking on all private property. The next meeting will be held on December 14 at 7 p.m. at City Hall at 630 Avenue C, with more information on bayonnenj.org.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
The two projects that would be supported by the financial agreements are nearly completed as of July 2022. Images via Google Maps.
West New York is considering awarding two financial agreements to a redeveloper to support the construction of residential units in town.
Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez and the Board of Commissioners introduced two ordinances that would each grant a five-year tax exemption at the November 22 meeting. The first ordinance would grant the exemption to 6108 Fillmore, LLC for the property at 6108 Fillmore Place.
The project involves the construction of three residential units at 6108 Fillmore Place, previously a two-story single-family home. The project is nearly completed on the three-story multi-family home with the three units and ground-floor parking.
The town would award the the exemption per the state’s Five Year Exemption and Abatement Law, as well as town ordinances including the Five Tear Tax Abatement Ordinance. These allow the town to enter into a tax agreement with an applicant for the exemption and abatement of local real estate property taxes and the payment of an amount in lieu of full property taxes.
This is as long as the property is in an area declared to be in need of rehabilitation, which the town had previously declared.
In 2020, the property generated $4,851, which represented taxes on the land. Under the five-year tax exemption, 6108 Fillmore, LLC would be required to pay the town full taxes on the land, estimated to be $4,851 per year, reaping the town $24,256 for the three residential units over the five years.
Those payments would occur in addition to the payments-in-lieu-of-taxes to the town under the agreement for the new improvements to the site consisting of the three residential units. When the project is completed, the taxes on the new improvements are estimated to be an annual $21,949 for the three residential units based on the current tax rate.
For the first full year following substantial completion, there would be no payments made on the new improvements. The second full year following completion, an amount equal to 20 percent of the taxes otherwise due on the new improvements will be paid to the town, estimated to be $4,389 of the $21,949. In the third full year, an amount equal to 40 percent of taxes otherwise due on the new improvements will be paid to the town, estimated to be $8,779.
In the fourth full year, an amount equal to 60 percent of taxes otherwise due on the new improvements will be paid to the town, estimated to be $13,169. And in the fifth full year following completion, an amount equal to 80 percent of taxes otherwise due on the new improvements will be paid to the town, estimated to be $17,599.
The project improvements will generate an estimated $43,939 in payments-in-lieu-of-taxes to the town over the five year period. This is in addition to the annual $4,851 in full taxes on the land paid to the town, which totals $24,256 over the five years. Overall, the town stands to make $68,195 in that five-year period.
Following the expiration of the tax exemption, the project is estimated to generate a tax payment of approximately $26,801 This includes the taxes on the land and is based on the current tax rate.
6108 Fillmore Place (left) and 6110 Fillmore Place (right) as of July 2018.
6110 Fillmore Place
The town is also considering an ordinance with the same redeveloper for another project at 6110 Fillmore Place. This project also consists of three residential units in a nearly completed three-story multi-family home with ground-floor parking built on the site of a former parking lot, and the numbers for this agreement are identical to the first.
In 2020, the property generated $4,851 which represented taxes on the land. Under the five-year tax exemption, 6108 Fillmore, LLC would be required to pay the town full taxes on the land, estimated to be $4,851 per year, reaping the town $24,256 for the three residential units over the five years.
Those payments would occur in addition to the payments-in-lieu-of-taxes to the town under the agreement for the new improvements to the site consisting of the three residential units. When the project is completed, the taxes on the new improvements are estimated to be an annual $21,949 for the three residential units based on the current tax rate.
For the first full year following substantial completion, there would be no payments made on the new improvements. The second full year following completion, an amount equal to 20 percent of the taxes otherwise due on the new improvements will be paid to the town, estimated to be $4,389 of the $21,949. In the third full year, an amount equal to 40 percent of taxes otherwise due on the new improvements will be paid to the town, estimated to be $8,779.
In the fourth full year, an amount equal to 60 percent of taxes otherwise due on the new improvements will be paid to the town, estimated to be $13,169 And in the fifth full year following completion, an amount equal to 80 percent of taxes otherwise due on the new improvements will be paid to the town, estimated to be $17,599.
The project improvements will generate an estimated $43,939 in payments-in-lieu-of-taxes to the town over the five year period. This is in addition to the annual $4,851 in full taxes on the land paid to the town, which totals $24,256 over the five years. Overall, the town stands to make $68,195 in that five-year period.
Following the expiration of the tax exemption, the project is estimated to generate a tax payment of approximately $26,801 This includes the taxes on the land and is based on the current tax rate.
In total, the town would benefit from the agreements to the tune of $136,390. Each project consists of three-story multi-family homes with a ground-floor garage and three units each, down from the redeveloper’s proposed 10 unit, four-story building originally shot down by the Zoning Board of Adjustment in May of 2020.
Both ordinances authorizing the five-year tax exemption will be up for a public hearing and vote at the next Board of Commissioners meeting on December 14, at 6:30 p.m. held remotely and or in person. For more information, go to westnewyorknj.org.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
Another Bayonne police officer has unexpectedly passed away, according to Mayor James Davis. On November 21, Davis noted that Sergeant Robert Skalski died.
“Sadly, I must announce the passing of Bayonne Police Sergeant Robert Skalski,” Davis said in a statement. “Robert died, unexpectedly in his home this morning.”
Skalski served Bayonne for over 24 years, and was well known throughout the city, according to Davis.
“On behalf of our entire community, I want to express our deepest condolences to wife Carole, daughters Rebecca and Victoria, and his brother Raymond, who is a retired Sergeant from the Bayonne Police Department,” Davis said. “Rest in Peace Robert.”
Police Chief Robert Geisler echoed Davis in offering his condolences to the family.
“It is with profound sadness that I announce the death of Bayonne Police Sergeant Robert Skalski. Sergeant Skalski died unexpectedly on 11-21-2022,” Geisler said in a statement. “Sergeant Skalski diligently served our community for approximately 24 years. He will be sorely missed. On behalf of myself and the entire department, we send our deepest condolences to the entire Skalski Family.”
In addition, the Hoboken PBA Local No. 2 also offered their thoughts and prayers.
“It’s with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Sergeant Robert Skalski of the Bayonne Police Department,” the organization wrote on social media. “This is the second sudden loss for the Bayonne Police Department in a week. We ask that you keep Sergeant Skalski’s family and his Police family in your thoughts and prayers.”
This is the second death in the past two weeks, following the passing of Captain Paul Jamolawicz on November 11. The first in the line of duty death for the Bayonne Police Department in 52 years, he was laid to rest in Bayonne on November 17 with a massive showing of local law enforcement officers.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
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