Police officers hired at Gutt meeting; parking rules in snow
At the Guttenberg Town Council Meeting held on Jan. 24, Laura Sorto, who was originally named as a special police officer, was sworn in as a police officer for the town.
Jesus Garcia and Marcin Rysiec, both graduates of the Essex Community College Police Academy, were hired as special police officers.
The town also introduced an ordinance revising parking during a state of emergency. If the ordinance is passed, no vehicle will be allowed on either side of Park Avenue and Bergenline Avenue whenever “snow has fallen and the accumulation is such that is covers the street or highway.” The penalty for someone who violates this would be $50 to $500 and up to a judge’s discretion.
The council also awarded numerous annual professional service contracts. They included a $50,000 contract with licensed municipal architectural firm RSC; a $50,000 contract with the engineering firm of Remington &Vermick; $50,000 contract with Boswell Engineering; a $50,000 contract with Murray Law Firm; a $25,000 contract to Action Data Service; a $25,000 contract with Gittleman, Muhlstock & Chewcaskie; a $25,000 contract with McNereny & Associates; a $25,000 contract with the law firm of DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick, Cole & Wisler; a $25,000 contract with Florio & Kenny; a $25,000 contract with the law firm of Richard Campisano; and a $25,000 contract with Scarinci & Hollenbeck.
Sacco’s E-ZPASS bill turned into law
A bill that was sponsored by Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson) last year, which would provide protection for E-ZPass customers who fall victim to theft, was signed into law by Gov. Christopher Christie this week.
The law, (S-725) outlines that a E-ZPass transponder theft would be classified as a disorderly persons offense and carry a minimum penalty of $500 and a maximum of $10,000. It also would protect consumers from incurring any exorbitant charges, and would allow them to be compensated for $50 worth of unauthorized charges prior to reporting the device stolen.
The law also waives the fee to replace the stolen transponder if the customer reports the theft in a timely manner. Afterward E-ZPass authorities would file a police report.
The measure passed in the Senate and the Assembly with votes of 38-0 and 74-1 respectively.
“Unfortunately, stolen EZPass transponders are a common occurrence,” said Sacco, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “Consumers deserve to be protected from charges that occurred at no fault of their own, much like in the case of credit card theft.”
Workshop for veterans’ history project
U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), along with New Jersey veterans and others, will take part in a workshop to further the oral history of wartime stories on Monday.
The event, held at Rutgers University Student Center on Jan. 31 at 11 a.m., is a part of Lautenberg’s collaboration with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project, which has a goal of preserving the stories of American veterans.
‘NatureScapes’ at Flyway Gallery
“NatureScapes,” an exhibit by the Art Center Watercolors Affiliates,” will be hosted at the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s Flyway Gallery from Jan. 31 to March 31.
An opening reception is scheduled on Feb. 6 at 2 p.m.
It will feature watercolors and acrylics capturing the four seasons by a dozen artists.
For more information on the gallery and the opening, visit www.njmeadowlands.gov or call (201) 460-8300.