North Bergen recently honored its E.M.S. squad for their quick response when a U.S. Airways jet made an emergency landing in the Hudson River last month.
Health Director Richard Censullo, who oversees North Bergen E.M.S., said that the local squad members were first responders to the emergency, and that many of them immediately reported to headquarters once they heard what happened on the radio or television.
Chief of E.M.S. Frank Travisano said at the Feb. 11 North Bergen Commissioners meeting that their squad was responsible for taking Pilot “Sully” Sullenberger and the baby on the plane to the emergency room. He said that emergency services set up a triage operation and that everyone “knew what they had to do.”
He said that it was amazing how emergency services in North Hudson worked so efficiently together, and that all their training paid off.
Liquor law changed
Also at the meeting, an ordinance was passed prohibiting patrons from remaining inside bars after the last call at 2 a.m. According to Town Attorney Herbert Klitzner, the ordinance will aid police in enforcing the law.
Mayor Sacco amended the ordinance to add a 15-minute time period for customers to completely clear out, at the suggestion of a bar owner. The owner said letting everyone out at exactly the same time would be a bad idea.
“A liquor license is not a constitutional right. It’s a privilege granted by the state.” – Herbert Klitzner
________
Mike Quddous, owner of the Copacabana, 7100 Bergenline Ave., asked during the public hearing on the ordinance whether it was constitutional that his establishment, a “dance club,” was not able to stay open after the bar part of it was closed.
Klitzner said that there were no specific licenses for dance clubs, and that since Quddous’s establishment had a bar, the law would apply.
“It’s not a question of constitutionality,” said Klitzner. “A liquor license is not a constitutional right. It’s a privilege granted by the state.”
Quddous said that closing bars early would negatively affect the quality of life. He said that the restrictions prohibiting him from keeping his dance floor open would hurt his business. He said that he was only allowed to stay open on Fridays and Saturdays until 2 a.m. and Sundays until 12 a.m., but Sacco disagreed.
“[The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board] let you open till 12 a.m. on Sundays [on a trial basis] and you pushed an extension,” said Sacco. “They decided to close you on Sundays.”
Quddous said that he was allowed to remain open on Sundays at the last A.B.C. Board Meeting, but Sacco made a cell phone to an A.B.C. official during the meeting, whom he said told him otherwise.
23 people fined for snow removal
Twenty-three people who allegedly did not shovel ice and snow from their sideways or driveways received fines from North Bergen’s Department of Public Works. Twenty three resolutions were passed giving each person a $88.60 fine. The $88.60 came from paying four men per hour at $18.65 per hour per man, plus $14 for the cost of salt.
Pianese said that the township gives residents 12 hours to clean their sidewalks from the time they receive a complaint.
“We don’t leave hazardous conditions,” said Pianese.
Two new bus stops
Through another resolution, the township designated two new bus stops in North Bergen, because they were “requested from different groups within the township,” said Town Administrator Christopher Pianese.
The first new stop will be at the southerly curb of Bergenline Avenue by North Hudson Park. The second stop will be at the northerly curb of Palisade Avenue from that park.
$371,850 for sewer vacuum
For a total of $371,850, North Bergen will be purchasing a combination sewer vacuum and pressure jet rodder from Beyer Bros. Corp. of Fairview. Pianese said that the township bonded for the expensive item in the 2009 fiscal budget. “It’s top of the line,” said Pianese.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com