Hoboken Business Administrator Arch Liston leaving
Hoboken is in need of a new business administrator.
Arch Liston will be relocating back to South Jersey for family reasons, according to a press release from the mayor’s office. He advised Mayor Dawn Zimmer of his decision on Wednesday.
Liston will stay on for the next few months during the search and transition period, according to the release. Liston currently earns $150,000 per year.
“Director Liston has played an enormous role in reforming Hoboken government and improving the lives of our community,” Zimmer said in the release. “He guided us through major contract negotiations, helped root out corruption, streamlined city government, and has been key to reducing taxes for two years in a row. I am so thankful for his service to Hoboken.”
Liston has been involved in more than business decisions, including earlier this year promoting a public information policy for the city that said that all city employees had to clear any comments to the press through him first. The policy was said to be modeled after one in Camden.
Recently, Liston zinged one of the mayor’s chief opponents publicly during a council meeting. When Councilwoman Beth Mason was making comments about items in the city budget, Liston said he could have asked him her questions any time before the meeting. They engaged in a heated back and forth and Liston asked how much it had cost to write her lines. Mason responded, “All due respect, I write my own stuff, Mr. Liston.”
Hoboken launches new Reverse911-type system
The city of Hoboken has implemented the Swift911 system for notifying residents and businesses by phone, text, and e-mail of important information and in cases of emergency including snow emergencies, evacuation notices, or flooding, according to a city release.
The system currently includes approximately 10,000 listed residential and business phone numbers in the city of Hoboken. Residents and businesses who wish to receive notifications should provide contact information such as unlisted, unpublished or mobile phone numbers, address and e-mail address through the online form at www.hobokennj.org/emergency or by calling the mayor’s office at 201-420-2018. The system also employs a Do Not Call component for those who do not wish to receive alerts.
In addition to an email address and text messaging address, residents may add up to four telephone numbers which will be called sequentially until a number is reached.
Hoboken resident Eli Manning leads Giants to playoffs
The New York Giants, led by quarterback Eli Manning (a resident of Hoboken’s luxury Tea Building), are heading to the NFL playoffs.
After defeating the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 1, 31-14, the Giants will take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Jan. 8 at home in the Meadowlands at 1 p.m. The game will be aired on Fox.
Toll increases in effect throughout New Jersey
As part of a two-tiered plan that was signed into law in 2008, tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway rose on 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 1.
Tolls increase 53 percent on the Turnpike and 50 percent on the Parkway, according to the state website.
The increase is meant to support capital improvements over 10 years, including Turnpike widening.
Hudson County seeks child advocacy volunteers
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocate group (CASA) seeks volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. Hudson County has nearly 700 children in foster care; most have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.
CASA uses trained community volunteers to provide assistance to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes. CASA and its volunteers speak for children in court, serve as fact-finders for judges, and safeguard the interests of children in the foster care system.
An informational session will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 10 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Room 400 of the Hudson County Administration Building at 595 Newark Ave., Jersey City, for those interested in learning more about the program and the role of its volunteers.
For further information, please call (201) 795-9855, e-mail mgarcia@hudsoncountycasa.org or visit www.hudsoncountycasa.org.
Hudson County animal welfare organizations launch ‘A Cat in Every Home’ campaign
Hudson County animal welfare organizations Companion Animal Trust (CAT) and Hudson County Animal League (HCAL) are partnering in 2012 to find homes for homeless community cats through the launch of “A Cat in Every Home” campaign.
The organizations will host weekly Sunday public adoption events starting Jan. 8 at 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Parish Hall of Grace Church, located at 39 Erie St. Jersey City.
CAT and HCAL are no-kill foster care organizations dedicated to saving and placing homeless animals. All cats and kittens are vaccinated and spayed or neutered. Adoption fees apply.
For further information call (201) 884-9649 or email cat@companionanimaltrust.com.