Taking care of routine business kept the Town Council busy at its Dec. 11 meeting as it cleared up pending issues and issued summary reports for the year.
Before getting down to business, Mayor Dennis Elwell honored a Secaucus resident for her efforts after the Sept. 11 World Trade Center disaster. Florence Tarantino made thousands of red, white and blue ribbons to help promote patriotism and raise funds for the Fireman’s Fund.
"The ribbons became a very popular items around town," Elwell said.
The effort raised $3,000 to help those firefighters involved in the rescue effort.
The most critical issue to face the Town Council this month concerned the construction of the new library. In November, the bonding agent responsible for the construction of the new library awarded the contract to another company after the initial contractor fell behind. The Town Council paid the bill on reconstruction of a new floor after flaws in the original construction forced the new contractor to tear it up.
Town Attorney Frank Leanza said the town was paying $35,000 to cover the cost of the floor, but this would be money the town would not have to pay on the original contract. He also noted that the cost of the library was going to exceed the original $900,000, but that the bonding company would pick up anything above the original bid.
"The town will continue to pay on the original contract, but at some point, we’ll stop paying, but work will continue," Leanza said. "The bonding company will pay everything above the original contract."
Committee reports
Councilman Christopher Marra said a public meeting of the Keystone Contamination Committee will be held in January to report on progress with the cleanup of the former toxic site and the nearby homes affected. In November, the Town Council submitted a plan to the state for possible uses of the property once contamination is complete. During a previous interview, Gerald Perricone, the town engineer, whose firm has been contracted to clean up the site, said progress has been amazing, and that the results of the cleanup would likely exceed expectations. Sample cleanup on the worst sections last year showed contaminated water cleaned up by more than 90 percent. Perricone expected similar results in the far less contaminated water underneath homes in the area.
Councilman Michael Grecco, as a member of the town Flood Committee, said moves to identify flood prone areas in Secaucus have progressed thanks to a state grant. The project, which is being undertaken by the engineering firm, Good Kind & O’Dea of Jersey City, will provide a map of areas that typically flood and other areas prone to flooding.
"This will allow us to help plan our flood control efforts in the future," Grecco said, noting that work to contain flooding at the foot of Gail Place could be done by the town’s Department of Public Works. The committee is also looking at creeks near Schmidt’s Woods for similar work.
Councilman Robert Kickey, who was asked to look into problems with telephone interference in the area of Radio Avenue, said members of the Federal Communication Commission had come to Secaucus to evaluate the problem.
"This was done at the request of Congressman Steve Rothman (D-9th Dist.)," Kickey said.
Earlier this year, residents in the 2nd Ward complained about radio interference on their telephones. A radio station has broadcast facilities on Radio Avenue, and although the station has taken steps to keep from interfering with other communication systems, the problem has drawn numerous complaints and possible steps from the FCC. Kickey said the FCC would issue a report to Rothman and suggest possible steps to alleviate the problem.
Residents remarks
Also at the meeting, Art Glaeser, of Huber Street, questioned possible costs of the town-run daycare facility. Mayor Dennis Elwell said cost of operations rose because of increases in salary, but that operations should not cost taxpayers anything in the future as the increased cost to residents would cover the program’s expenses. Last month, the town increased the price from $110 to $160 per month. Elwell, however, said this was still significantly lower than private day care, which can exceed $400 a month.
Barbara Brookshire, also of Huber Street, said ambulances responding to emergencies have been traveling the wrong way on one-way Huber Street, even though there were other means of getting to the emergency site.
Frank MacCormack of Schmidt’s Place raised concerns about new housing development on Flanagan Way, claiming that 12 townhouses proposed for a one-acre site there did not seem to fit in with the commercial nature of the area.
Former Fire Official George Heflich of Lincoln Avenue claimed fire inspections conducted on various business buildings in town are still not being done properly, despite his previous complaints. He asked the council to instruct the inspectors better.