HOBOKEN — The Hoboken City Council meets tonight (Wednesday). New business may include an ordinance making it easier for residents to install solar panels on their roofs, and changing the regulation of sidewalk cafes.
But three sources (who declined to be named) inside the campaign of Tuesday’s 4th Ward election victor Tim Occhipinti insist once Occhipinti is officially a member of the council the new majority wants to vote to make Councilwoman Beth Mason, a regular critic of Mayor Dawn Zimmer, the new president of the governing body, replacing Zimmer ally Carol Marsh.
The election results include about 500 vote-by-mail ballots and may take several days to certify, according to City Clerk James Farina. Twenty vote-by-mail ballots were rejected yesterday by the Hudson County Board of Elections for various reasons, including signature irregularities, according to Occhipinti attorney Michael Goldberg. One woman, who voted by mail previously, passed away before Election Day. Her vote will not count.
But some Occhipinti supporters are demanding he be sworn in immediately.
“I am demanding, 100 percent, that he sit tomorrow,” said Councilman Michael Russo on election night. “The people want their elected representative in that seat.”
Councilwoman Theresa Castellano said she “can’t wait for Tim to sit on the council” with them.
Calls to Mason for comment on the reports she may become council president have not been returned thus far.
The City Council meeting will take place tonight at 7 p.m. at 94 Washington St., in the City Council chambers. If you can’t make the meeting, watch the sparks fly right here:
or at the city website here.