Bayonne residents will get to speak out on proposed names for new streets at the Feb. 18 City Council meeting. The proposed names – which were put on the agenda for public hearing at the Feb. 11 caucus – would seek to retain some of the memories of the former Military Ocean Terminal from when it served as a military facility.
Stanley Avenue, for instance, is named after a former commandant for the base. Goldsborough Drive is named after Goldsborough Village, the collection of dormitories once located in the Harbor Station North section of the base that houses military staff and their families.
Veterans Memorial Boulevard and Chosin Few Avenue will serve to commemorate the military units deployed and supplied through the base, as well as the U.S. Marines dispatched from the MOTBY to serve at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean Conflict in 1950. Garven Street will honor former Bayonne Mayor Pierre Garven, who served two terms early in the 20th century. Other names include Constitution Avenue, Flagship Street, and Harbor Place.
“We’re just bringing the fleet up to where it should be.” – Police Chief Robert Kubert
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Council President Vincent Lo Re temporarily put on hold two resolutions authorizing the purchase of 10 new police vehicles and the use of Urban Enterprise Zone funds to cover part of their purchase to seek more information about the dispersal of older police cars being replaced.
Police Chief Kubert, however, said the department is currently short eight vehicles, so only two of the new vehicles will replace cars already in use.
“We’re just bringing the fleet up to where it should be,” Kubert said.
Councilman Anthony Chiappone, however, urged the council to wait and see what the department’s needs will be after expected cuts in department personnel.
Earlier this year, Mayor Mark Smith announced budget cutting measures that could include laying off police officers and firefighters.
But the council is expected to move ahead with the purchases at its Feb. 18 meeting since funds for the purchase are being generated from several sources, including a recent $100,000 donation from IMTT – the fuel oil company with property in Bayonne.
After two years of working out the details, the City Council has agreed to issue additional taxicab medallions.
The need to increase the number of cabs in Bayonne became evident after Royal Caribbean began operating cruise ships out of Port Liberty at the former Military Ocean Terminal in 2004.
William Archiello, the owner of Archie’s Cab on East 23rd Street, appeared several times before the City Council, pleading for the council to increase the number of licenses. This request is expected to be honored at the Feb. 18 meeting, when the council agrees to issue five additional licenses to Archie’s Cab.
The council will then review additional requests from Yellow Cab, which is currently seeking to add three licenses to its fleet.
Councilman Anthony Chiappone, however, said the council should consider raising the fee for licenses from the current $100 in order to generate more revenue for the city.
Councilman Gary La Pelusa said the City Council should review each cab company’s request on a “case by case” basis.
The City Council is also expected to approve the reappointment of Vincent Bottino to the Parking Authority for a five-year term, Walter Olender to the Housing Authority for a five-year term, Sam Maggio to the Municipal Utility Authority for a five-year term, and Jason O’Donnell to the Planning Board for a one-year term. Council President Vincent Lo Re reappointed Councilman Anthony Chiappone and John Halecky to the Board of School Estimate for the next year.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.