HOBOKEN – The Hoboken City Council was expected to meet on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. to address the potential hiring of a politically-connected insurance broker for the city, as well as a measure that could make parking closer to the corners legal.
The parking ordinance, which is up for a public hearing and final vote on Wednesday, would add approximately 850 legal parking spots in Hoboken, according to the sponsor of the ordinance, Councilman Peter Cunningham.
State legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Ruben J. Ramos Jr. (D – 33rd Dist.) of Hoboken allows municipalities to amend a state law that restricts parking a certain distance from crosswalks. The extended parking would be allowed only between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Councilman Tim Occhipinti is also expected to discuss the issue of graffiti with city directors at the meeting, as he emailed them earlier in the month to ask for an action plan about graffiti at the southwestern entrance of town.
The council will also vote on a new insurance broker for the city of Hoboken. The proposed broker is Fairview Insurance. The company has ties to the Democratic party throughout the state. An executive of the firm made donations totaling $7,800 to former Mayor Peter Cammarano’s slate (which ran against Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s team) in 2009, according to documents from the Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Last year, the city paid $360,000 for insurance broker services, according to a letter from Zimmer to the council. The current proposal that the mayor is recommending would cost the city $312,000 annually, and includes “Wellness Coaching” for city employees.
For a copy of the agenda, click here. – Ray Smith
Watch the meeting live here.
