The Bayonne City Council is expected to introduce an ordinance at the Feb. 16 meeting that has the potential to eliminate or at least scale back rent control in the city.
The ordinance would allow landlords to opt out of rent control, in many cases, if they make certain upgrades to their property, said City Attorney Charles D’Amico.
Senior citizens and the disabled would be exempted from this change, he said, and landlords would be required to meet certain criteria before they are allowed to participate in the “opt out” program.
“If someone makes the improvement, they are eligible.” – Charles D’Amico
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Under this ordinance, a landlord who makes improvements to a property that meets standards set by the city – and after the property is inspected by the city – can opt out of existing rent control regulations.
This would, however, exclude residents who are senior citizens or disabled, Garcia said.
A landlord would have to notify all residents of a property within 15 days of applying for the option, and residents would have 90 days after an opt out is approved to appeal.
A senior citizen would be anyone 62 or older, and the disabled criteria for this would be anyone that is considered disabled under the federal Social Security Disability Act.
D’Amico said that ordinance is designed to encourage property owners to upgrade existing buildings, especially in parts of the city where the housing stock has been deteriorating for years.
“If someone makes the improvement, they are eligible,” he said. “If they don’t, the property will remain under rent control.”
Bayonne has a significant amount of aging buildings, many of which exist in officially designated redevelopment zones. The improvements would increase the city’s tax revenues, as well as improve the property values, D’Amico said.
According to Mayor Mark Smith, the proposed ordinance would reform rent control in Bayonne.
“The Administration is seeking to provide an alternative to rent control that would provide incentives to property owners to upgrade and maintain their properties,” Smith said. “Under the proposed ordinance, owners who can demonstrate that their property is in compliance with local, state, and international property maintenance codes would be able to see their property decontrolled.”
The proposed ordinance would still continue to provide rent control for seniors, disabled persons, and income-qualified families.
If passed, the ordinance would allow a landlord to apply for the removal, but must meet the guidelines for the upgrade and must have an architect or engineer certify that the work meets the city’s standards.
New fire truck will be largely funded by Homeland Security
The Bayonne City Council is expected to accept the 2010 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the state Division of Homeland Security for $720,000, which will be used toward the purchase of a new $900,000 fire tower ladder truck.
The Bayonne Fire Department has been awarded a FEMA – AFG (Assistance to Firefighters Grant) in the amount of $720,000 for the purchase of a $900,000 tower ladder truck. The grant match is $180,000. The department plans to replace an aging 22-year-old tower ladder that currently responds from the Fourth Street Fire Station. The new truck, referred to as a tower ladder, will be equipped with a 75-foot ladder and platform bucket, allowing aerial rescue and master fire stream operations. It will also meet NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) recommendations, and be equipped with high reflectivity markings, a regenerative exhaust system for clean emissions, and a black box data recorder that monitors driving and engine conditions. The truck will be slightly lower in profile to ensure that it fits in all Bayonne fire stations.
“The last fire that the old tower ladder truck helped extinguish was a three-alarm warehouse fire at the Bayonne Dry Dock that occurred back in December 2010,” said Fire Chief Greg Rogers. “The new replacement truck will help modernize our fleet and ensure safe and reliable operations, and will have the added advantage of handling multiple victim rescues by virtue of a 75-foot ladder that provides an egress from the bucket to the ground.”
The anticipated delivery time for a fire truck can range anywhere from 10 to 12 months, since they are not generally production line vehicles, and require a great deal of customization.
“Needless to say, the firefighters and myself anxiously await the arrival day,” Rogers said.
Agreement for NB environmental services
The resignation of a registered environmental services specialist from the city last week has prompted the city to make temporary arrangements with North Bergen for use of their specialist, Bayonne Health Officer Richard Censullo, who currently serves both Bayonne and North Bergen as a health officer.
Censullo and North Bergen will continue in an environmental service capacity until someone from Bayonne can be trained, and will assist in that training, said Business Administrator Steve Gallo.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.