The first order of business at last week’s Town Council meeting was the swearing in of George Schoenrock as the new Battalion Chief of the Secaucus Volunteer Fire department.
Schoenrock replaces Charles Snyder Jr. who served as Battalion Chief until he resigned last month. Snyder was one of three volunteer firefighters who resigned in the wake of a bias suit against the town.
Without addressing the recent controversy surrounding the lawsuit, Schoenrock said, “I just want everyone to know that I’ll be supporting our Fire Chief Robert Parisi and our Deputy Chief Mike Gonnelli. I know the waters have been a little rough lately. But we’re going to keep the ship moving forward. I also want to acknowledge the support of Mayor Dennis Elwell and the council. Without them we wouldn’t have the equipment and department that we have, and I’d like to express my gratitude for that.”
Secaucus streets weather storm
Elwell announced at the meeting that Secaucus streets fared well during the heavy rain that fell on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Approximately 4 inches of rain fell over a 24-hour period, according to the National Weather Center. Such heavy rainfall would have caused major flooding in both homes and yards in the past.
“I believe we received maybe eight or nine calls regarding flooding, and two of those calls were about clogged drains,” Elwell said. “I know in the past a rainstorm of that magnitude would have generated dozens of calls from people saying that their homes had been flooded. So, given the amount of rain that we had, I think to have such a small number of calls indicates that our efforts to mitigate flood damage are working.” The flood-related calls were along Secaucus Rd. and Henry St.
Ordinance introduced, raffles approved
The governing body introduced an ordinance to remove a handicapped parking space on Koelle Blvd. and the addition of two handicapped spots on Golden Ave. and Centre Ave. There will be a public hearing on these spaces at the regularly-scheduled meeting of the Town Council on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
The Town Council also approved applications for three upcoming raffles.
A Dec. 13 off-premise 50/50 raffle planned by K&S Social and Athletic Club was approved.
Huber St. School received approval for an on-premise 50/50 raffle and an on-premise draw raffle, both scheduled to take place on Sept. 27.
The council also approved a request to close the roadway between Humboldt St. and Paterson Plank Rd. to automobiles on Saturday, Oct. 4 for the anniversary celebrations of Marra’s Drugstore and Bill’s Jewelers.
Voter registration deadline nears
Town Clerk Michael Marra reminded residents that anyone who plans to vote in the Nov. 4 presidential election must register by Tuesday, Oct. 14. This is also the deadline for address changes and name changes due to marriage or divorce.
Anyone who needs to register or make changes can do so at the town clerk’s office, located on the second floor of the municipal building, 1203 Paterson Plank Rd. For more information, call Marra at (201) 330-2016.
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