During my campaign for mayor, and again when I took the oath of office, I promised the people of Hoboken that I would take an earnest and business-like approach to better managing their hard-earned tax dollars, improving city services, and restoring professionalism to City Hall. I’m happy to report that in just our first week on the job, we have found concrete ways to do exactly that by making our local government more efficient.
I would like to acknowledge the hard work and ingenuity of my administration’s newest members, without whom these early successes would not have been possible. Commitment and competence of this depth cannot possibly be measured in dollars and cents. Despite early difficulties, these men and women have already provided a tremendous service to the people of Hoboken.
With the help of the accounting firm Ernst and Young, my administration has identified more than $400,000 in annual taxpayer savings on legal expenses alone. However, the search continues for even more ways to better manage tax dollars. For example, this week I ordered all cars formerly used by city department directors to be made available to other areas of Hoboken city government for official use. I have also directed our finance team to reign in other expenses, such as monthly bills for pagers and cell phones that in the past have reached upwards of $7,000.
Also during our first week, my administration set in motion a small initiative with the potential for a big impact on Hoboken’s quality of life. This week I approved the purchase of twenty-five “Yield to Pedestrians” signs which will be strategically placed at our city’s most heavily traveled intersections. I also will ask the city Council to approve new stop signs at four busy intersections in Hoboken for which we have received State approval.
These are modest first steps, but they will help build momentum for a comprehensive approach toward addressing Hoboken’s traffic mess.
Most significantly, this coming week I will send a resolution to the Hoboken City Council authorizing a Request for Qualifications, or RFQ. This step will initiate the search for a qualified planning consultant to begin work on a new master plan for the city of Hoboken. The RFQ will set such parameters as licensing and certifications, applied planning experience, and track record of performance. Following the qualification process, we will move forward with a Request for Proposals, or RFP. I am very excited to begin work on a new master plan, and I will work diligently to keep the people of Hoboken informed throughout this process.
While I am encouraged by our fast start, the road ahead unfortunately looks difficult. Our preliminary reviews have revealed a $1.4 million over-expenditure in employee health benefits last year which must be made up in this year’s budget. I have directed my administration to fully investigate the causes of this situation, as well as its potential impact on Hoboken’s taxpayers and possible courses of corrective action. I would like to assure the people of Hoboken that this issue has my full attention and I will be monitoring it closely.
We also face a number of other budget issues, such as several “one-shot” revenue sources from last year’s municipal budget that will not recur this year. Additionally, we are still in the process of assessing the true state of Hoboken’s fiscal health with the help of Ernst and Young. As this process unfolds, I will continue to keep Hoboken’s citizens informed through this column, as well as through other means.
It has been an incredible first week as Hoboken’s mayor and much has already happened in a short amount of time. However, I again ask the people of Hoboken to have patience as we continue the long process of setting Hoboken City Hall back on track toward being a progressive government that is responsive to the people. In the meantime, I welcome your feedback and I thank you for your continued support.