The Town Council unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday supporting Mayor Michael Gonelli’s offer to mediate between the local teachers union and the school administration to try and find a solution to the bitter rift between the two groups.
“What motivated you at this point in time to pass this resolution?” asked school board trustee Tom Troyer during the public comments section of the Jan. 24 council meeting.
“I think it is about time both sides sit down,” said Gonnelli. “I am offering, not demanding. We are here to offer our help in a more peaceful manner. People certainly move here for our school system. We have a great system, great teachers, [and] great administrators.”
“There is no one more impartial than me because I think both sides are 100 percent wrong.” – Mayor Michael Gonnelli
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“Mediation is a great idea but it should be someone from the outside…somebody who is neutral,” said school board trustee Dora Marra.
“There is no one more impartial than me because I think both sides are 100 percent wrong,” said Gonnelli. “Something is wrong here…We need to be able to sit in a room without being afraid that someone is going to come after us the next day.”
Pay to play rules change
The town’s pay-to-play rules, which set limits on campaign contributions from individuals and businesses bidding for contracts from the town, will no longer apply to vendors who make campaign contributions outside the municipality – only to those that make contributions to Secaucus politicians, political action committees, or political parties. The campaign contribution limit on an individual business owner is $300 and the limit on any group business entity is $1,000.
The intent of the local law, which follows state law, is to avoid the possibility of contractors giving large sums of money so they can be hired by a town.
The council also amended the ordinance to indicate that the pay-to-play restriction does not apply to vendors who apply in a sealed bid process, because state guidelines require that the lowest bidder get the award.
Recycling contract renewed
The council unanimously passed a resolution to renew the contract with Galaxy Recyling, Inc. of Jersey City. Galaxy competed in a bidding process with several other vendors and offered to pay $65 a ton for comingled recycling that includes plastics, aluminum, and glass. The town previously received $15 a ton.
Residents can now recycle milk cartons, orange juice cartons, and any other cartons that have a waxy film inside.
“That is a credit to our residents and the amount of time they take to separate their materials,” said Gonnelli about the increase in the rate per ton.
Town hires veterinarian to oversee shelter
Holly Hanson, a local veterinarian, has been hired to serve the animal shelter. Councilwoman Susan Pirro said Hanson will oversee the shelter and help train staff. She will also set policy and as a local resident will respond to emergencies when needed. She assisted the shelter as a volunteer previously.
The satellite adoption site open on Saturdays at 145 Front St. is looking for volunteers and for individuals to adopt cats and dogs.
Appointments, job fair, and other business
Also at the meeting:
• Councilman William McKeever was reappointed to the Teterboro Port Authority Committee for another year.
• Daniel Conroy was appointed to the Alcohol Beverages Commission to replace Eric Larsen.
• John Hugerich was appointed to the planning board to replace Marianna Harper.
• The mayor and council will host a Job Fair on April 13 and 14 for part-time jobs at the Dinosaur Park, which opens in May. Jobs pay between $9 and $12 per hour.
• Pine trees that disappeared on Centre Avenue will return after a solar project is completed at the upper municipal lot. Councilman Robert Costantino said that new landscaping will be installed in the spring.
• Councilman Gary Jeffas reported that PSE&G is installing solar panels inthe town on electric poles throughout the year.
• While the town waits to hear back about a $200,000 federal grant to fund ongoing tests for contaminants at the former site of the Keystone Metals Plant, the Birdsall Engineering group will proceed with limited vapor intrusion investigations and air sampling.
• George Sikaffy presented the mayor and council with an American flag that had flown over Iraq and he thanked them for their ongoing support. Sikaffy is an Air Force National Guard Sergeant that returned from Iraq last month and is also a Secaucus police officer.
Adriana Rambay Fernández may be reached at afernandez@hudsonreporter.com.