HOBOKEN – Many items on the agenda for the Wednesday, Dec. 1 Hoboken City Council meeting are sure to spark debate.
The administration of Mayor Dawn Zimmer has re-submitted an ordinance and introduced a resolution that would establish permanent spots for the controversial Corner Cars program. At the last City Council meeting, the vote to introduce the ordinance failed 4-4, which sparked a reaction from Zimmer and her council allies. Zimmer said the city could face a lawsuit for breach of contract with Hertz, the operator of the program, if the spots are not established permanently. The council has voted for temporary spots since the inception of the program in June.
Councilman Peter Cunningham released a statement early Wednesday morning urging residents to come out and voice their support for the Corner Cars program. Read our full story on the Corner Cars program HERE. The second resolution on the agenda, put forth by Councilman Ravinder Bhalla, proposes that the council support the New Jersey Attorney General in their investigation of allegations of election fraud “during recent elections within the City of Hoboken.” Bhalla has served as legal counsel for the campaign of former Councilman Michael Lenz, who lost the Nov. 2 4th Ward election to Councilman Tim Occhipinti. On Nov. 19, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said the ballots in question his office received from the Hudson County Board of Elections will be forwarded to the Attorney General for additional review.
Also on the agenda, Councilman Occhipinti will introduce an ordinance which would repeal the current $25 recreation fee for city kids. Currently, a $25 fee is imposed for each child in Hoboken for each sport they play. The Dec. 1 introduction is the first reading of the ordinance.
For those who keep a close fiscal watch over Hoboken, nine resolutions submitted by the tax collector are also on the agenda. View the entire agenda HERE. — Ray Smith