North Bergen has taken steps to condemn a former TD Bank on Bergen Turnpike, and they say they may move their municipal court and Parking Authority there.
They also hope to borrow $2.2 million to buy the building.
At the North Bergen Commissioners meeting on Dec. 22, an ordinance was introduced to begin the condemnation processes for the former TD Bank, located at 4223-4229 Bergen Tpke.
The public hearing and final vote on the ordinance will be held at the Jan. 27 meeting at 8 p.m.
North Bergen officials hope to use the property, a few blocks from Town Hall, as a future home for the municipal court and Parking Authority. Right now, the court has to shares a home with the Police Department next to Town Hall on Kennedy Blvd, while the Parking Authority, located at 7224 Bergenline Ave., is in need for more space.
“It’s close to Town Hall and it has a nice piece of land.” – Nicholas Sacco
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In a separate ordinance that will also be heard on Jan. 27, the township is looking to authorize a $2.2 million bond that will finance purchasing the property.
“It’s close to Town Hall and it is a nice piece of land,” said Mayor Nicholas Sacco last month. “It may be the right time to expand there.”
North Bergen Administrator Chris Pianese said that the condemnation process, once approved, could take upwards of six months, while renovating the building to suit the township’s needs could take a year or longer. Still, he said that freeing space for parking and office space was much needed.
“We’ve been looking for a piece of property for upwards of two years and nothing has come across our desk that made as much sense close to this,” said Pianese.
Some handicap spots invalidated
Meanwhile, at their more recent commissioners meeting on Jan. 13, North Bergen approved two new handicap parking ordinances.
Town Administrator Christopher Pianese, who worked on the ordinance, said that there were two major complaints about the process of receiving a handicap parking space renewal. One was that there were a lot of spots marked for such parking that are no longer valid. The second was that for people who have a valid handicap, receiving a space from the town was a cumbersome process.
Some of the process was already clarified two years ago, but the town felt that they needed more clarifications.
The first ordinance passed at the Jan. 13 North Bergen commissioners meeting listed spaces that are presently approved. It also lists 36 parking spaces that were found to be inactive. Those that were approved will have to renew by Dec. 31, 2011.
Pianese said that after the renewal date, around 10 to 15 spots will be free for the general public.
In the second ordinance passed at the meeting, the handicap parking regulations were amended further to specify the necessary requirements for getting a spot, including having a Division of Motor Vehicles handicap windshield placard or wheelchair symbol liscense.
Previously residents had to apply for a handicap space at North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue, while now North Bergen employee Jordi Diaz has been appointed as the secretary of the Board of Handicap Parking. Diaz will be available in Town Hall to accept applications, as well as check to make sure spots are still valid.
Sacco said that through hiring Diaz, there will be more consistency as to who deserves a spot.
“[Pianese] has been working on this for a long time,” said Sacco. “We had to find out who was still valid, whose handicap space was valid and whose wasn’t, so now they are being cleaned up.”
NB health officer to fill in for Jersey City
Due to recent employee furloughs in Jersey City to save money in that town, North Bergen has agreed to enter into a contract where North Bergen Health Officer Richard Censullo will fill in on days when help is needed.
Censullo, who is also the health officer for Union City and Bayonne, will be “on call” on furlough days to respond to emergencies in Jersey City where the presence of a health officer is necessary, according to the interlocal agreement that passed through resolution at the Jan. 13 North Bergen Commissioners Meeting.
For each furlough day, North Bergen will be paid $572.10 and the total contract will not exceed $6,293.10
Censullo was also re-appointed to a five year term beginning on Feb. 1 at the North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.