West New York made further temporary budget appropriations for the 2008 municipal budget at last month’s Board of Commissioners Meeting. A total of $1,697,151.50 is being drawn from the town’s current operating budget to meet the expenses of the various town departments from Public Safety to Public Works.
The official 2008 municipal budget is expected to be introduced sometime this fall.
It was mostly business as usual at the Sept. 19 meeting, held at 7 p.m. in Town Hall Court Chambers. Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega and the board of commissioners adopted 27 resolutions on the consent agenda, and introduced four new ordinances for adoption by the board.
They also reintroduced and adopted an ordinance authorizing a total of $8 million in Lease Revenue Bonds from the Hudson County Improvement Authority for the town’s 2007 Guaranteed Senior Citizen Housing Building Project.
Two ordinances amended salaries for the superintendent of public works to range from $60,000 to $95,000, and the salary of the secretary to the Insurance Fund Commission, to be between $35,000 and $45,000.
The town’s monthly meeting opened with a proclamation to the organizers of the 2007 “Tie a Ribbon for the Cure Campaign” in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.
Funds for prevention programs and town improvements
The board of commissioners unanimously passed 27 items on the monthly consent agenda, which included the official appointment of new Town Administrator Nicholas Goldsack.
Another resolution passed in September was a $7,500 professional services agreement between the town of West New York and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Hudson County, Inc.
Earlier last September, the town received bids for contracts to enlist a professional organization to provide quality and needed substance abuse prevention, education and treatment services.
In addition, the board also passed a resolution to establish the West New York Alliance in compliance with Gov. Jon Corzine’s “Blueprint for a Drug Free New Jersey” to fund the preventative substance abuse services within the town. As part of the resolution, the town accepted $63,325 in funds from the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Municipal Alliance Program, which is administered by the Hudson County Department of Human Services.
The board also passed a resolution authorizing the mayor and business administrator to request $133, 250 in New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone funds for Bergenline Avenue renovation installment loan payments for fiscal year 2008.
In addition, a proposal for engineering services for the 2007 Curb Sidewalk Improvement Program was approved. The program, which is being funded by the Community Development Block Grant Program, provides specifications for the removal and replacement of sidewalks and curbs.
The board also approved the proposal for a subsurface investigation for slop remediation at Veterans Memorial Park. The project will be funded by OEM Storm Remediation Funds.
Authorizing service agreements
At the meeting, the Board of Commissioners authorized a number of service agreements, including an agreement between the town and Carr, Daley, Sullivan, and Weir, PC for auditing services for the dates of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008.
The initial compensation for their services under this contract will not exceed $80,000 for the state fiscal year 2006 audit, and shall not exceed $26,000 for the 2006 annual financial statements.
There was also a service agreement between the town and the Alamo Insurance Group, Inc. for insurance brokers of record services for the term of Oct. 1, 2007 to Sept. 30, 2008. The town also set an initial contract amount that shall not exceed $15,000 for professional engineering services provided by PMK Group Consulting and Environmental Engineers.
In addition, there were also resolutions involving payments for monthly town expenses, others repealing handicapped parking spaces, and the amendment of dates for sidewalk sales.
The board approved a resolution to submit applications for aid to improve the various roadways and other street improvements. The board also appointed town resident Michael D’ Amico as a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. To comment on this story, e-mail Jessica Rosero at jrosero@hudsonreporter.com