Union City’s Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to approve the town’s application to the state for a grant to help fund Summit Avenue street improvements.
“We know we have a problem with attracting shoppers to Summit Avenue,” said Mayor Brian Stack, “so we are trying very hard to help those merchants that have invested their life savings, in many cases, to make Summit Avenue a place where they want to do business.”
He added that this year, improvements will be made to Summit Avenue from Seventh Street to 13th Street, including new sidewalks, lighting, and landscaping.
In addition, Union City has received a $1.3 million grant from the federal government through the Community Development Block Grant Program, which will go to various other street projects.
“This entire amount of money we get from the federal government goes right back into the community, which I think is very, very important,” said Stack.
The largest allocation was $672,851 for street improvement and beautification. Other funds awarded were $24,900 to the North Hudson Community Action Corporation, $15,000 to the Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation, and $15,000 to Grace Theater.
“Hopefully,” said Stack, “the federal administration, the Obama Administration, will see the importance of these types of programs, especially for the urban areas, and they will continue to not only support this program but actually increase it.”
Liquor license suspended
The commissioners also voted to suspend the liquor license of the Full Moon Saloon, 1915 New York Ave., for 60 days. The resolution states that the “licensee [allegedly] allowed, permitted, or suffered the unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance and narcotic activity” on the premises on two occasions in 2008.
It further specifies that on August 20, 2008, local police received a tip that someone was allegedly selling drugs out of the establishment. Police set up surveillance at the Full Moon Saloon. They say they witnessed an alleged buy made by two individuals, who were arrested and found to allegedly be in possession of cocaine.
The alleged dealer was also arrested and police found six glassine bags of alleged cocaine and a coin box and key holder containing alleged cocaine on the premises. While indoors, police also reported witnessing a saloon customer allegedly drop a bag to the floor that was later found to contain marijuana.
The commissioners passed a resolution making June 2009 Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month.
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At the disciplinary hearing in November, the licensee testified to not being on the premises at the time of the arrests and not being aware of any wrongdoing.
June is Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month
In accordance with a request made in a March 23 letter to the mayor from the Garden State Chapter of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting timely diagnosis and treatment for children and adults with the neuromuscular disease, the commissioners passed a resolution making June 2009 Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month.
The resolution notes that the disease affects a person’s control of voluntary muscles, and its symptoms sometimes include difficulty moving, breathing, swallowing, speaking, and seeing. Last year, more than 100 municipalities passed similar proclamations, according to the letter.
Amanda Staab can be reached at astaab@hudsonreporter.com.