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Plans to do away with the city’s car tow pound will have to wait a few more weeks after Business Administrator Jack Kelly said the city would be revising an ordinance to privatize car pound services at Monday’s caucus meeting.

The problem, according to Kelly, is that the city’s needs for a car pound left few towers “able to meet the current requirements.”

“We didn’t want 18 separate tow compounds,” he added. Kelly did suggest one possible solution would be to split up the towing-duties based on the size of a vehicle, easing some of the city’s requirements of the pounds.

Still, one way or another the administration intends to continue with its plan to replace the city’s car pound operation with private companies. According to City Spokeswoman Jennifer Morril, the Jersey City’s car pound deficit was over $325,000.

“This is especially disturbing considering that no other nearby municipality or county runs a car pound,” she said. “Not only will the closing of the car pound save City operating expenses, but it will also save approximately $1.4 million in construction costs at the new Department of Public Works (DPW) compound at East Linden Avenue.”

By closing the city’s car pound early, the city can also sell the land sooner than if they had had to wait for the proposed pound at East Linden Avenue to be completed.

“The land sale would provide needed revenue for CY2012, and result in the land being returned to City tax role for revenue in future years,” she said.

The city also took into consideration the City Council’s concerns about restricting car pounds to within the city limit. As presently drafted, Morrill explained the ordinance “might have resulted in the newly-private car pound being located outside the city limits.”

Photo of current tow pound entrance via Google Maps