It’s official: JC furloughs start on Sept. 3
A new round of furloughs for Jersey City government employees will start on Sept. 3, meaning city workers in different departments will have to take an unpaid day off each month, in order to save money in the city budget.
Employees received an official notice letter on July 16 from the city’s business administrator, John “Jack” Kelly.
A letter and accompanying memo about the furloughs, obtained by the Jersey City Reporter, outlines that the 12 furlough days will start in September and end in June 2011. It also advises that employees can appeal the furlough if they felt the city did not act in “good faith” in implementing them.
Mayor Jerramiah Healy commented on the furloughs last week, saying, “We’re continuing to make hard decisions in light of the economic situation facing our city, state, and nation.”
This policy is a continuation from last year’s controversial furlough action by the city to save money to deal with a $40 million-plus budget deficit, made worse by cuts in state aid. Employees criticized the furloughs, since they were followed by layoffs of temporary and seasonal workers in February.
Furlough dates are, for Recreation: Sept. 3, Oct.12 and 25, Nov. 15, Dec. 23, Jan. 14, Feb. 14, Mar. 18, Apr. 1 and 25, May 27, and June 20. Law and Municipal Courts: Sept. 3, Oct. 8 and 29, Nov. 12, Dec. 23, Jan. 14, Feb. 18, Mar. 18, Apr. 1 and 29, May 27, and June 17.
Remaining city departments: Sept. 3, Oct. 8 and 25, Nov. 12, Dec. 23, Jan. 14, Feb. 14, Mar. 18, Apr. 1 and 25, May 27, and June 20.
Feds to hold public hearings on proposed gas line expansion
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will seek requests for comments from the public on the proposed expansion of a natural gas line through Bayonne and Jersey City.
Spectra Energy based in Houston, Texas, is seeking to extend a natural gas pipe line from Staten Island through Bayonne and Jersey City to service customers in Manhattan.
As part of the need to prepare an environmental impact statement for the project, FERC will hold public sessions in Bayonne, Jersey City and elsewhere to gather information.
The first session will be held on Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 669 Avenue C in Bayonne. On Aug. 4, a hearing will be held at the James J. Ferris High School Auditorium, 35 Colgate St. in Jersey City starting at 7 p.m.
As originally proposed, the pipe line would come into Bayonne across the Kill Van Kull through the Texaco/Chevron site near West First Street and Avenue A, travel under West First Street to the industrial areas on the city’s eastside near Lexington Avenue, then to Second Street and Fifth Street, eventually ending up at Route 440, at which point it goes north into Jersey City.
Dump site cleaned up; may contain 500 residences someday
The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency announced last week that work was completed for the massive environmental cleanup of the New Jersey Turnpike Dump Site, an approximately 10-acre site located at Monmouth Street in downtown Jersey City.
Considered one of the state’s most notorious brownfield properties, the land may someday house over 500 residential units and up to 100,000 sq ft of retail space, according to a city plan. Also under consideration are a 120,000 sq ft municipal office building and a 1,200-car public garage.
The clean up was made possible in large part by $5.8 million in grants awarded to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency by the Department of Environmental Protection.
The agency is planning a closing ceremony in the fall to commemorate the cleanup.
Leg bone found in county park believed to be human
A bone found Thursday morning by construction workers in Lincoln Park in Jersey City is believed to be a human femur bone, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio.
DeFazio said the bone, found by workers doing construction on a new golf course, is only eight inches long with very little decay, and no flesh on the bone.
DeFazio said the Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Squad was notified by the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, who answered the initial call after the bone was discovered.
DeFazio said the state’s Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Newark is still doing testing on the bone. The Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Squad will not get a “definitive opinion” on the bone’s origin any time soon, he said. – RK
Local theater group holds cabaret performance
The Attic Ensemble Theater in New Jersey City presents a Summer Cabaret evening featuring the Celtic musical styling of Sonas. The performance is this Thursday, July 29 at 8:30 p.m.
Sonas performs popular Irish songs, traditional instrumental Irish and Scottish music, as well as folk, contemporary, and original music with a touch of Celtic flair. Sonas is Margie Waldrum on piano/backing vocals, Erin Flanagan Lind on lead vocals, guitar, and autoharp, and Rosi Hertlein on fiddle/backing vocals.
The performance will be held at the Attic Ensemble Theater located in the historic Barrow Mansion, 83 Wayne St., Jersey City. General Admission tickets are $15. Tickets can be charged online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/119858.
Beverages will be available for purchase. For further information or directions call (201) 413-9200 or visit the website at www.atticensemble.org; e-mail: info@atticensemble.org.
‘Newport Beach Party’ expected to draw 1,500
More than 1,500 people are expected to come out for a night of music, food, and summer fun at the eighth annual Newport Beach Party, sponsored by University of Phoenix, Jersey City Campus. “Beach-goers” will enjoy a summer celebration of giveaways, classic seasonal cocktails and hot-off-the-grill favorites from the Restaurants at Newport. Cubby with KTU 103.5 will be playing hits.
The party runs from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27, with a rain date the next night. It’ll take place at Newport Town Square, 100 Town Square Place.
To learn more about Newport, Jersey City, visit www.newportnj.com.
Jersey City least patriotic city according to poll
Jersey City not patriotic? Really?
That is the case if one believes a recent Men’s Health magazine poll.
The poll, gauging patriotic U.S. cities, ranked Jersey City dead last amongst 100 cities. Coming in first was Portland, Ore.
The magazine said that the poll was carried out using the following methods: calculating the percentage of registered voters who turned out for state and federal elections from 2004 to 2008; money spent on military veterans per capita; percentage of residents who participate in civic activities and sales of fireworks and U.S. flags.