Aside from a controversial promotion of Assistant Superintendent Charles Snyder (see cover story), the Town Council discussed several other important issues including the upcoming Walmart grocery store and the municipal budget.
Mayor: Walmart grocery not so bad after all
The mayor reported on his recent visit to the new Walmart grocery store that opened two weeks ago in North Bergen. Secaucus is expecting its own Walmart grocery store in the spring. When it opens, it will be the town’s only major grocery store.
“It’s awesome! I was really surprised, and impressed,” Mayor Michael Gonnelli told the Reporter. “I think when we get ours here, people will be really happy with it.”
“It’s awesome!” – Michael Gonnelli on the Walmart grocery store in North Bergen
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The mayor said the North Bergen location should also help ease the large crowds that currently use the Walmart in Secaucus. The crowd issue is one reason local residents have been wary about shopping at the upcoming Walmart grocery in Secaucus.
Gonnelli added that he will still try to attract another smaller grocery store chain to the town.
Low-cost heath care
Gonnelli announced that the North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) recently administered 91 shots for the H1N1 – or swine flu – virus to Secaucus residents. Health workers from NHCAC even made two house calls and administered shots to homebound residents who couldn’t make it to the Senior Health Center.
NHCAC was also scheduled to do some health screenings at the Secaucus Senior Center on Friday, Jan. 29 at 11 a.m.
In an effort to save money, the Town Council has reduced its $70,000 a year contract with Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center and will instead let NHCAC conduct low-cost or free tests for diabetes, high blood pressure, prostate cancer, and breast cancer for residents.
NHCAC is a $40 million a year nonprofit agency that has nine health centers located throughout Hudson County. Since it was founded in 1965, the agency has served more than 51,625 patients at its community health centers and mobile health unit. Although none of its community health centers is located in Secaucus, Gonnelli has talked to the agency about increasing its presence in town.
Budget planning underway
Town Councilman Rob Costantino, chair of the governing body’s Finance Subcommittee, reported that the committee recently held its first meeting.
“The purpose of this first meeting was to see where we stand. And to start the process, we looked at a number of ways to cut expenditures, which won’t be an easy task,” Costantino said at the council meeting. “We inherited a lot of debt. There are budget shortfalls and very little reserve. Planning and forecasting will be key. And a long-term plan must be implemented to get us back on sound financial footing.”
The current fiscal year budget ends on Dec. 31.
Gonnelli has long argued that the Town Council should begin annual budget preparation earlier in the year.
Costantino said the committee – which also includes Chief Financial Officer Margaret Barkala, Town Administrator David Drumeler, and Councilmen John Bueckner and William McKeever – will meet every other week to go through the town’s finances. The mayor plans to sit in on these meetings.
Municipal internship program announced
Drumeler announced that the town will be working with Secaucus High School this year to identify students with an interest in criminal justice and law. One student with an interest in criminal justice will do an internship later this year with members of the Secaucus Police Department. Another student who is considering a future career in law will be assigned to work in the Municipal Court.
Money raised for Haiti relief
Town Councilman James Clancy of the 2nd Ward, who serves as the liaison to the Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department, reported on last Saturday’s “boot drive.”
Last weekend the Fire Department held a four-hour fundraised to benefit earthquake survivors in Haiti, raising $11,000 during the three-hour event.
About 40 firefighters stood at Meadowlands Parkway and Route 3 East and outside Home Depot and Walmart collecting cash in their department-issued boots.
An estimated 200,000 Haitians died as a result of a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit 10 miles outside the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The United Nations has already confirmed the deaths of 112,250, according to the associated Press. But 600,000 survivors of the earthquake remain homeless and are in desperate need of medical help, food, drinking water, and other basic necessities.
Gonnelli, who is also a volunteer firefighter and participated in the fundraiser, said department plans to give the money to two relief organizations, although they have yet to be identified.
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.