Jina Morano has been asking the township of North Bergen to consider constructing a community garden in between the dead ends of 71st Street and Columbia Avenue, and township officials have said they are open to the idea.

“It would not just be a community garden,” Morano said. “It would be for educational purposes.” The idea is for this garden is to specifically allow North Bergen elementary school students to learn about and grow fruits and vegetables.

Morano first outlined her plan at the Oct. 6 meeting. At the Oct. 20 meeting, she added further details, and even presented an aerial layout of the proposed community garden. Another resident, Hailey Benson, who echoed Morano’s calls for a community garden at the previous meeting, reiterated support for the idea at this meeting.

Still interested

In response, Mayor Nicholas Sacco was again open to the idea: “There’s actually nothing happening with that park. We’ve had more headaches than anything with that park.”

Sacco said the neighborhood wanted it closed down to due to safety issues. Morano and Benson said that they surveyed the area with their idea and received positive feedback.

“We had actually talked to the neighbor right nearby it and they said they would love to see it be something for the students, actually something productive,” Benson said.

To further address safety, Morano and Benson proposed extending the fence that currently only exists around one area of the park to encompass the entire perimeter. That way the lockable gates will provide protection to the whole park.

While the idea was to limit it to elementary school students only, Sacco said the park was built with Green Acres funding and all residents must be allowed to access it. Benson said that would be fine and the fence could be used to lock up the community garden at night for safety.

“That is an area where something needs to be done,” Sacco said, adding that the proposed community garden was a “great idea” that the township will continue to look into.

Pre-project repairs needed

Before the project can begin, if the township choses to do so, Morano and Benson said that the ramp from Grand Street to the park was destroyed by Hurricane Ida.

“It’s basically a safety hazard and we think the winter will make it worse,” Benson said. “All of the snow is going to make the hole bigger as well.”

According to Benson, a retaining wall on a property adjacent to the site of the proposed garden was also damaged by Ida and needs to be repaired before the project can commence. Benson wanted to meet with a township-approved surveyor to get an estimate on the repairs to the site so that a budget can be created and grants can potentially be applied for regarding the project.

In response, Township Administrator Janet Castro said that the township is looking to repair the ramp.

“We are in the process of getting specs to fix that,” Castro said. While the park ramp wasn’t in a good condition to begin with, Castro said that will likely be remedied through FEMA funds.

In terms of the retaining wall, the township is assessing it and has request a survey of the property from the owner of the nearby home to determine if that is on township property or their property. If the property belongs to the township, it will pay to fix it. If it’s the property owner’s, it’s on them but there is assistance available, Castro said.

‘Working on it’

“Overall, we are working on it,” Castro said. “We are completely open to this idea. It’s a great idea. We have all explored and discussed it. There’s just a process.”

In terms of funding, Castro said the township does have a grant writing and other resources to utilize if it were to move forward with the project. However, she said anything probably won’t commence until after the winter.

Morano and Benson understood, but asked the township to block off the ramp while it is in its current state due to safety concerns. There was caution tape but it had broken and anyone could walk on the ramp, Benson said. Castro agreed it was a safety issue and that the ramp would be closed again.

Discussion of the project will likely arise at the next North Bergen Board of Commissioners meeting on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. at Town Hall at 4233 Kennedy Boulevard. For more information, go to the northbergen.org and click on the event on the calendar webpage.

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]. 

North Bergen residents have asked the township to consider the creation of another community garden, for educational purposes.

Jina Morano brought her son Lucas and other children to raise the idea at the Oct. 6 meeting of the North Bergen Board of Commissioners.

“A community garden is not just a place the kids go and pick up some tomatoes and vegetables,” Morano said. “It goes beyond that. There are many studies that have proved that children who attend community gardens are more likely to adapt healthy habits.”

Morano said she is very enthusiastic about “healthy living” and has her own garden in her backyard.

“Having a garden is a lot of work, so it’s a good exercise for the kids,” Morano said. “It would be doing something not only for the kids of the community, but also for the family. Studies have shown that [community gardens] make families get together.”

Morano asked the board to help make this community garden a reality and that the whole community would appreciate it.

“This will be a place not only will be to grow, but also to educate and to have fun,” Morano said.

Reusing old park space?

Mayor Nicholas Sacco said that the township did try something similar already and added there was a community garden in Braddock Park. Another resident, Hailey Benson, said that the plots in that garden are not for public use.

“This would be specifically for the elementary school,” Benson said. “This would be an educational tool specifically for a science teacher to actually bring the students to learn with hands-on experience.”

Benson said that they have located a potential spot for the garden: “We have found a property that has been abandoned for many years. It used to be a park space.”

Morano said there was ample space for the garden at the spot 71st Street and Columbia Avenue. Benson said the area was safe and already had lockable gates.

Township Administrator Janet Castro said the walkway in the area was under construction after damage incurred by Hurricane Ida, but that the township could explore the idea of a community garden at the location. Sacco told Morano to speak with Castro after the meeting.

“We can put our ideas together and maybe work something out,” Sacco said.

‘More compost bins!’

Residents also asked the board for more compost bins following the success of the bin at the Braddock Park Community Garden.

“The compost bin has diverted over 700 pounds of waste thus far in the two months that its been there,” Benson said. “Since the program is showing great success, I would love to propose an investment in a second bin at that location for an additional $516 dollars for the pilot program which expires in January.”

Benson wants to keep up the conversation to get more compost bins at other locations in the township: “I know residents downtown have been speaking to me, saying that they would really love to see more compost bins downtown. 80th Street is pretty far for them.”

Stephanie Martinez echoed Benson, calling for more compost bins in the township considering the success of the existing one.

“We should have more compost bins available throughout North Bergen,” Martinez said. “Maybe setting another compost bin downtown?”

Martinez suggested putting one at the 10th Street Park that is currently being renovated: “Driving to 80th Street to drop off compost defeats the purpose of being sustainable.”

According to Martinez, adding the compost bins and community garden can also build community. The board did not respond to any of the proposals regarding compost bins.

The next North Bergen Board of Commissioners meeting will be held at 11 a.m. on Oct. 20 at Town Hall at 423 Kennedy Blvd. For more information, go to northbergen.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 North Bergen Board of Commissioners has honored former Township Administrator Chris Pianese with a proclamation. Mayor Nicholas Sacco read the proclamation into the record at the Oct. 6 meeting, the first in-person meeting since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020.

Pianese retired after 32 years at the beginning of July, handing the reigns over to now-Township Administrator Janet Castro, who previously served as Health Officer for North Bergen and several other North Hudson municipalities.

While Pianese served as Township Administrator starting 2002, he starting working for North Bergen in 1989 as Assistant Comptroller. He became Chief Financial Officer in 1995 before becoming Township Administrator.

“He was responsible for the complete day-to-day oversight of the township,” Sacco said. “The commission form of government does not have a full-time mayor or commissioners. So we used to run the government by crisis. When I first took office, we would come here after work and spend hours trying to fix problems, going all night. Then we decided the best way to handle this simple to get a Township Administrator who would be able to run the day to day operations in Town Hall, coordinate it, and then report back in. The government then ran more smoothly.”

Pianese was the second town administrator in the township’s history.

“He’s done such an outstanding job,” Sacco said. “When he told me he was leaving, it was one of the terrible days of my life.”

A lasting legacy

Some of Pianese’s accomplishments mentioned in the resolution include: the designation of Tonnelle Avenue as a redevelopment zone, leading to a $250 million revitalization of the area; managing the building of the $5 million municipal court complex and $6 million municipal pool complex simultaneously; and improving the township’s bond rating from Moody’s Financial Services from Baa3 to Aa2.

“From Baa3 to Aa2, that means a great deal when you’re borrowing money,” Sacco said.

Pianese was also responsible for negotiating payments-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements leading to a resurgence of residential development; spearheading efforts to construct the new $18 million township library and community center; and initiating and continuing the redevelopment of the Paterson Plank Road downtown area.

“And of course, the new park that went in at the time,” Sacco said referencing the park that opened on Paterson Plank Road in 2020.

Other accomplishments highlighted by the resolution include overseeing the creation of the North Bergen Help Desk program to improve constituent services; helping guide the township through the COVID-19 pandemic; negotiating collective bargaining agreements for all labor unions; initiating shared services agreements with local municipalities; aiding in the regionalization of five North Hudson fire departments which resulted in the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue; and converting the Emergency Management Service from volunteers to paid employees.

As Township Administrator, Pianese was responsible for five departments with over 540 total employees.

“The agencies were out there on their own operating model, and Chris made sure they all fell into line and worked together,” Sacco said.

Deep roots in North Bergen

In addition to Township Administrator, Pianese also served as a Board Commissioner for the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue, the Director of Special Projects for the North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority as well as the North Bergen Free Public Library, the North Bergen Parking Authority, and the North Bergen Board of Education.

Sacco presented Pianese with a framed copy of the proclamation and a plaque.

“I just want to take another opportunity to thank everyone,” Pianese said. “It was the opportunity the mayor gave to me 20 years ago, when he entrusted me to run the town as the manager.”

Pianese briefly reflected on his relationships with Sacco and the board: “It was just a great bond, as well as with other commissioners… It’s been a great time. It’s just been a great opportunity and I feel good about what I’ve done. As a resident, I’m proud to be here.”

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].