The Jersey City Independent "

All photos: Steve Gold

Wednesday’s city council meeting was dominated by the appointments of a new council president and a new representative for Ward B. In about two-and-a-half hours, the council considered seven first read ordinances, three second reads and 58 resolutions.

New Faces, New Places

After former council president Mariano Vega* resigned from that position last Friday, At-Large councilman and council president pro tem Peter Brennan took the helm in his place. He and Vega* switched places on the dais; Brennan was voted unanimously to the position of council president by resolution during the meeting. Another resolution was approved which moved Ward D councilman Bill Gaughan into the position of Council President Pro Tem.

The new face voted into office on Wednesday, like the new places taken by existing council members, was a fait accompli by the start of the meeting. But the way the votes shook out on the resolution appointing David Donnelly to the vacant Ward B seat left something for the inside-baseball crowd to jaw about. Donnelly, who was recommended by Mayor Healy to replace Phil Kenny — who resigned last week after his indictment on federal corruption charges — comes from a family of local political heavyweights. His cheering section on Wednesday included his mother Mary Donnelly, who served as councilwoman for Ward B from 1997-2005.

A few members of the community urged the council not to rush to appoint a replacement for Kenny, including good-government activist and recent At-Large council candidate Andrew Hubsch and freelance photographer and Ward B resident Rich McCormack. While no one had a negative word to say about Donnelly’s qualifications, Hubsch and McCormack expressed their dissatisfaction with the notion that the Healy administration was anointing an incumbent — as it did back in March when former Ward B councilwoman Mary Spinello was replaced by Kenny. Incumbency has traditionally granted a significant advantage in Jersey City elections, and Donnelly has indicated that he will run to keep his new seat in a 2010 special election. Present at the meeting, but notably absent from the roster of speakers during the public hearing portion, was Dan Levin, who ran for mayor this year on the One Jersey City ticket with Hubsch and others. In his posts to Twitter last week and this week, Levin cited Donnelly’s “insider appointment” to the council as evidence that “Healy does not get it,” and urged the public to come to the meeting and speak out.

Ward E councilman Steven Fulop, who had previously stated that the council should take its time choosing a replacement for Kenny, acknowledged that he was concerned about the process that led to Donnelly’s appointment but nevertheless voted aye, citing the need to put a council and an administration “in freefall” back on course. Gaughan and Vega* both emphasized that Donnelly had been chosen because of his talents and experience, saying that the other four applicants for the position didn’t come close. It was Ward F councilwoman Viola Richardson who denied Donnelly his unanimous appointment. Richardson began her remarks by laying on the praise for Donnelly, but at the critical moment went rogue and abstained from the vote, saying she did not “see a need to rush today to do this.”

Addressing the council after his swearing-in at the end of the meeting, Donnelly shared his belief that “government should be a vocation” and promised to “work as hard as [he] possibly can.”

77 Hudson Puts on a Dog-and-Pony Show

During the public hearing portion of the meeting an attorney for developer K. Hovnanian made a last-ditch effort to plead the case for its application to extend the existing abatement on its 77 Hudson property. Eugene Paolino brought in an economic consultant, a local realtor and a representative of K. Hovnanian, all of whom sought to explain to the council why it should ignore the mayor’s letter asking to disapprove the application. The mayor’s recommendation came on the heels of the July corruption arrests that cast the city’s abatement approval process in the light of suspicion, and stands in stark contrast to the council’s approval in June of an abatement extension on the very similar Crystal Point development.

Despite the dog-and-pony show, which included a science-fair style display board packed with data, the resolution disapproving the application was passed unanimously by the council. Ward E councilman Steven Fulop stated that he understood Paolino’s argument that fairness would require the council to vote the same way they did on the Crystal Point abatement, and Fulop did just that when he voted no on 77 Hudson’s. Ward A councilman Michael Sottolano and Ward D councilman Bill Gaughan told Hovnanian’s New York metro area president Randy Brosseau that they could not approve the application without specific sales figures and prices that Brosseau seemed reluctant to share during his rather acrimonious exchange with the council.

First Reads

All seven first-read ordinances were introduced by unanimous vote without comment. The first names the intersection of Grand Street and Marin Boulevard after crossing guard Susan Stavar, who “was a constant presence” at that corner. The second permits Johanna Garcia, the owner of 239 Baldwin Avenue, to build a house that includes steps that jut three-and-a-half feet out onto the sidewalk; Garcia must pay the city an annual fee of $1 for this privilege. The third authorizes the city to acquire from the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency a completed parking lot near the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center on Martin Luther King Drive. The fourth appropriates $4.6 million to the Parking Authority for a capital purchase of the property at 392 Central Avenue; almost all of this money will be paid for by bond issuances. The fifth and sixth vacate portions of 17th and 18th Streets near the intersection of Hoboken and Monmouth Avenues, which are currently inaccessible to the public, allowing the construction of the Van Leer Place development to move forward. And the seventh vacates the city’s water main easement on that property.

Odds and Ends

* All three second read ordinances passed unanimously with minimal comment from the council members and the public. There was a light moment as Charles Turner asked the council a few questions regarding the safety bollards to be installed at the corner of Columbus Drive and Marin Boulevard. Apparently satisfied with City Clerk Robert Byrne’s description of the bollards, Turner thanked Ward E councilman Steven Fulop for sending him a birthday card. You can read about the other ordinances here.

* A few residents of the Marion section came forward to voice complaints about Al Tawheed Islamic Center, a mosque located at the corner of West Side and Logan Avenues. Jean Rotondo, Peter Orrico and Carol Maita stated that their complaints about parking violations, litter and noise during peak worship times on Friday afternoons have gone unaddressed by the leadership of the mosque. Ahmed Dawoud, a representative of the congregation, later told the council that the mosque is doing its best to work with the community. Council president Peter Brennan and At-Large councilman Mariano Vega* both indicated that they would ask police to step up patrols in the area during worship times to enforce parking rules.

* Another issue that surfaced during the public hearing portion of the meeting was the ongoing complaints of the community about the Reliable Wood Products processing plant located at 1 Caven Point Avenue. Residents of the Lafayette section have been complaining about foul smells and oily airborne residue coming from the plant since at least March of 2007, when they sent a petition to Mayor Healy and the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), according to the Jersey Journal. After Lafayette resident and community activist Felicia Collis brought the issue to the attention of the full council, Ward F councilwoman Viola Richardson commiserated with her, complaining bitterly that the response of the DEP and the Hudson Regional Health Commission to the long-standing issue has been incoherent and inadequate. “I don’t know what else to do,” she said, and asked for ideas from the rest of the council. Vega* suggested that the city file a complaint with the DEP on behalf of the affected residents.

* Nearly $8.8 million in emergency appropriations were approved for the fiscal year 2010 budget to increase 15 line items and create three others.

* Angelica Sanchez was appointed as Fulop’s new council aide, replacing Pam Andes, who was appointed earlier this year.

* The council adopted a resolution eulogizing pastor of the COGIC Temple, who died September 15, as well as race and gender equity activist N. Beatrice Worthy, who died last year.

* The council passed a series of resolutions honoring Hispanic Heritage Month and “urging all residents to take part in the 6th Annual Citywide Domino Tournament” — which already took place September 26 — and honoring El Sabroso Restaurant on Central Avenue and Puerto Rican musicians “Pops” and Luis Moving.

* The council passed a resolution honoring the Hindu festival of Navratri, which was celebrated on Newark Avenue three weeks ago.

* October 24 of this year will be recognized as Make a Difference Day, when residents are encouraged to “help neighbors across the country through community volunteerism.” The week of October 19 to 23 will be recognized as Financial Literacy Week.

* The Planning Board was authorized to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether the Route 440-Culver Fisk Street Extension Study Area qualifies for designation as an area in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation.

* The city accepted two grants worth over $4 million for job training and other services to “youth and adults who face serious barriers to employment.” The same resolutions designated the Jersey City Employment and Training Program as the administrator of the grants.

* A grant in the amount of nearly $500,000 was accepted from the state Department of Health and Human Services to respond to outbreaks of the swine flu virus.

* A $45,000 grant was accepted from the county Health and Human Services Peer Grouping fund to provide meals to homebound senior citizens.

* The city entered into an agreement with the state Department of the Public Advocate to implement the standards required to become a Model Lead-Safe City.

* The Department of Health and Human Services was authorized to spend $58,000 as part of the cost sharing program with the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey for emergency services for displaced persons. $10,000 of that will come from the 2010 temporary budget, with the balance to be paid when the budget for the current fiscal year is finally approved.

* A license permitting RAV Group to use the city-owned lot at 446-448 Ocean Avenue for the purposes of repairing 450 Ocean Avenue was extended for two months. A similar 90-day extension was granted to Jersey City Community Housing for the purposes of preparing to develop 90 Virginia Avenue.

* A bid of $15,000 was accepted from Classic Builders for an easement at 146 Belmont Avenue.

* Discharge-of-mortgage certificates were authorized for properties at 121 Arlington Avenue and 17 Romaine Avenue.

* A bid from Attica Construction for the Police Precinct Security Enhancements contract was rejected because the company was not registered with the state Department of Labor at the time of its bid.

What are we buying?

The council approved the following purchases on Wednesday:

* About $1.25 million to Nu-Way Concessionaires for meals for the Senior Congregate Sites Nutrition Program. $40,000 of that will come from the 2010 temporary budget.

* Over $1 million to Whitsons Food Service for Meals on Wheels services. $150,000 of that will come from the 2010 temporary budget.

* An additional $368,000 to Urbahn Architects for the design and construction administration of the Public Safety Communications Center, bringing the total contract to nearly $1.4 million.

* Nearly $260,000 to General Dynamics for the Police Department’s dispatch and records management system. $70,000 of that will come from the 2010 temporary budget.

* Nearly $250,000 to the Academy Express bus company for chartered bus services for Division of Senior Citizens Affairs. $15,000 of that will come from the 2010 temporary budget.

* Over $178,000 to Civil Solutions for digital tax map maintenance.

* An additional $152,456.50 to Gold Type Business Machines for audio-visual equipment at the new Public Safety Communications Center, bringing the total contract to $1,243,617.50.

* $148,000 to CCMS Corporation for construction management services related to the Lafayette Pool Complex.

* $126,000 to renew a contract with Aetna for life insurance for city management employees. $36,600 of that will come from the 2010 temporary budget.

* Up to $100,000 to PFM Asset Management for consulting on the determination of arbitrage liability on certain municipal bond issuances.

* $92,500 to Holt, Morgan, Russell Architecture for a historic structures report.

* $75,000 to the estate of Maria Skupien to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit against the city.

* $43,000 to Dresdner Robin for the design and preliminary construction plans on the Bishop Street Extension project.

* Up to $40,000 to Dr. Lawrence Buchholtz for veterinary examinations for animals confiscated, trapped or impounded by the Department of Animal Control. Dr. Buchholtz’s contract for veterinary services at the city’s Animal Clinic and Hospital was increased by $4,000, bringing his total contract there to $24,000.

* $36,000 to Dell Marketing for citywide email training.

* A reimbursement of $35,000 to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency for their purchase of engineering services in connection with the Jersey Avenue Extension project.

* Almost $34,000 to Robert Santilli Consulting for software for the Police Department. All of these funds will come from the 2010 temporary budget.

* A bit over $30,000 to Schtiller & Plevy for archaeologic documentation of artifacts found in and around the Van Wagenen Apple Tree House project site.

* $25,000 to Mullin & Lonergan Associates to prepare a five-year plan for grant applications to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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