While the costs for the expansion of the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny had been rising since 2000, they now appear to be following the revised schedule for costs and time frame that was reported last summer.
In fact, the increased cost of the $45 million project may even fall below the three percent rise that County Engineer Bob Jasek originally projected.
The project, plagued by delays since its inception, was hit hard last year by an additional four-month delay due to problems with one of the primary subcontractors.
The six-floor addition to the jail, which would be the most significant improvement to the facility since its construction in 1987, is being constructed along the western side of the original building and is required to avoid potential federal fines for overcrowding. The facility was constructed to house 1,400 inmates, but has had an average daily population of 2,000, at times even reaching as high as 2,500.
Later
Originally proposed for completion in 2004, this schedule was revised in late 2003 to be completed by February 2005, with county officials overseeing the project so as to make certain it kept to the new schedule.
“It was originally supposed to be done this February,” said Freeholder Bill O’Dea. “But last year there was a four-month delay because of a problem with a primary subcontractor.”
Although the project was delayed last year, work seems to have advanced at a consistent pace since. In approving some minor change orders last seek, Freeholder Bill O’Dea congratulated County Administrator Abe Antun for keeping a close eye on the project.
Antun, in response to O’Dea’s compliment over controlling the cost, said there would be some revisions concerning the installation of the extension’s new roof.
The new six-floor addition will provide kitchen facilities on the lowest floor, a mezzanine on the second floor, and four floors of dormitory-style housing complete with showers, toilets, a classroom, tables, and an outside exercise area for each unit. These dormitories will house prisoners who need less security. The traditional cell structure in the current building will be for the more at-risk population.
Other issues
Bayonne Freeholder Barry Dugan asked the board to pass a resolution supporting an increase in the minimum wage. He said since the courts struck down the county’s efforts at providing a living wage for workers, the state legislature needs to take up the cause.
“I don’t think $5.15 per hour is enough, [but] it is a move in the right direction,” Dugan said.
In another matter, Antun told the board that the county public safety officials are meeting to discuss the purchase of a rapid response vehicle for the County Office of Emergency Management. The cost of the vehicle would be paid out a $2 million federal Homeland Security allocation.
Committee appointments
At the Jan. 27 meeting of the Board of Freeholders, board chairman Sal Vega named freeholders to various committees. The following were the appointments:
· Hudson County Board of School Estimate, Vega and Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons
· Education Committee, Freeholder Tilo Rivas
· Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Board, O’Dea
· Contract Review, Liggio, chair, and O’Dea
· County Government Oversight and Policy Review, Chairman Jeff Dublin; member Liggio and O’Dea
· Economic Development and Housing: Radames Velazaqez, chairman; members Rivas and Vega
· Environment, Health and Human Service, Liggio, chair; members Fitzgibbons and O’Dea
· Ethics Committee, Albert Cifelli, chair; members Dugan and Rivas
· Family Services and Welfare to Work, Dublin, chair; members Fitzgibbons and Vega
· Finance, Budget and Administration, Vega, chair; members Dugan and Fitzgibbons
· Hudson County Planning Board, Thomas Liggio, with Dublin as alternate
· Insurance Commission, Vega as representative
· New Jersey Association of Counties, Fitzgibbons, alternate Dublin
· Liaison to the Hudson County Improvement Authority, Cifelli, with Dublin as alternate
· Personnel, Dugan, chair; members Ciffelli and Liggio
· Public Resources, O’Dea, chair; members Cifelli and Liggio
· Public Safety and Dept. of Corrections, and Emergency Management, Velazquez, chair; members Dugan and Dublin
· Task Force on the Homeless, Rivas, chair; members Dublin, Fitzgibbons, Velazquez
· Purchasing Committee, Liggio, chair; members Dublin and Dugan
· Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Fitzgibbons, chair; members Rivas and Velazquez
· Transportation, Dublin, chair; members Cifelli and Rivas
· Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs, Dugan, chair; members Cifelli and Rivas
· Workforce Investment Board, Rivas; alternate Fitzgibbons · Women and Minority Affairs, Rivas, chair; members Dublin and Velazquez
Shinnick and Pestana reappointed to HCIA
John Shinnick of Secaucus and Frank Pestana of North Bergen’s appointments to additional terms on the Hudson County Improvement Authority were confirmed by a freeholder resolution, with terms running to Feb. 2010.
The HCIA is an autonomous public agency that oversees solid waste management, recycling, affordable housing and transportation management in Hudson County.
The freeholders also confirmed the reappointments of Elizabeth Spinelli, of Jersey City and Adrienne Sires of West New York as trustees of Hudson County Community College, with terms ending October 2008.