HOBOKEN – Mayor Dawn Zimmer announced on Thursday afternoon that she has vetoed the repeal of the $25 recreation fee which passed at the City Council meeting Wednesday night.
Zimmer said she believes the fee is a “good policy for the city of Hoboken” and issued a letter to the City Clerk’s office indicating that she will not sign off on the ordinance introduced by Councilman Tim Occhipinti and passed by the council majority. This is the first time Zimmer has exercised her veto power.
See related breaking news item below.
The administration is currently drafting new legislation to modify the $25 recreation fee, which would codify the exemption system for children who are unable to pay the fee, according to Zimmer.
Councilman Michael Russo commented, “She is a tax and spend mayor. She’s taxing the children just like she’s taxed all the adults.”
Zimmer also has announced that Councilwoman Carol Marsh and Councilman Ravinder Bhalla have resigned their positions as council president and vice president.
Both leaders are allies of Zimmer. However, in November, with the election of Occhipinti, the majority of the council shifted to 5-4 against Zimmer. Thus, Marsh and Bhalla no longer represent the council majority.
Recently, the new majority took steps to change the council’s organization so they can put in a new president, rumored to be Councilwoman Beth Mason.
Councilwoman Marsh said she resigned the position because the organization of the council changed, and the new rules which have been passed permit the council majority to change the organization at any time during any meeting, instead of during the annual July reorganization meeting.
Bhalla said the decision to resign was made because “the new majority made their intentions fairly clear.”
For the complete story, pick up a copy of the weekend Hoboken Reporter. – Ray Smith
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