Damaged sewer main on 5th Street to see quick repair
Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that contractors working on the Port Authority’s “Raise the Bridge Project” damaged a sewer main on West 5th Street, west of Kennedy Boulevard last week. A Port Authority contractor cut into an active sewer line by accident, because the sewer line was designated as “abandoned” and not in service on their contract plans.
Heavy rains on Thursday evening caused some basements to flood with sewage, due to the inability of the severed sewer main to drain water from the area.
Smith instructed the Bayonne Fire Department to respond and pump the affected basements. The Mayor also had the Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) and their contractor, United Water, respond to investigate the cause of the damage and assist in helping people recover. Mayor Smith spoke with representatives of the Port Authority, and they agreed that the affected residents would have their homes cleaned out and disinfected by an independent contractor, and the Port Authority would oversee the immediate repair of the broken sewer and remediating the impact to residents.
The Bayonne MUA and United Water arranged for bypass pumping to restore service to the affected homes. Employees of both entities remained onsite while the system was being bypassed to assure that there was no interruption in residential service. The Port Authority’s contractor is expected to make repairs early this week. Acting in response to Mayor Mark Smith, the Port Authority’s plumbing contractor will be onsite on Monday to snake out the service lines from the homes to the street, and a dumpster will be delivered for residents to use. The Port Authority has responded quickly to oversee immediate repairs and will remain onsite until the situation is remediated for all impacted residents.
Smith has obtained the Port Authority’s assurance that all affected residents will have their situation addressed expeditiously and at no cost to those residents. Anyone with questions about this situation may contact the Port Authority at (855) 265-5482.
Signatures turned in for elected-board issue on ballot
Organizers pushing for an elected school board said they have enough signatures to have a referendum put on the November ballot. Michael Alonso said the signatures will be turned into the clerk this week.
Sires presses feds for tighter jitney regulation
Rep. Albio Sires met with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator Anne S. Ferro to discuss issues related to a recent bus crash in West New York, which resulted in the death of an eight-month-old girl. The FMCSA is the federal agency responsible for regulating commercial motor vehicles, including commuter buses.
In the meeting, Congressman Sires expressed his concerns about ongoing safety violations by drivers of jitney busses throughout his district.
“The accident that took the life of a baby girl in West New York this summer is clear evidence that gaps exist in our nation’s commuter bus safety policies.” He said. “It is critical that we review the current business model, which requires buses to compete on the road for passengers, and we must supply law enforcement with the tools they need to ensure the rules of the road are being obeyed. I am pleased to have begun a dialogue with regulators at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and look forward to continuing our efforts to identify legislative solutions to improve safety for all of our nation’s commuters and pedestrians.”
This meeting was held in response to an Aug. 7 press conference in West New York, NJ where Congressman Sires vowed to call for stricter regulations for drivers and bus companies. Among other elected officials present at that press conference were: State Senator Nicholas Sacco (D-32), Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (D-32), Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez (D-32), Assemblyman Charles Mainor (D-31), West New York Mayor Felix Roque, Guttenberg Mayor Gerry Drasheff, Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari, Hudson County Freeholder Chairman Anthony Romano, and Hudson County Freeholder Junior Maldanado.
Elks dance location changed
On Sept. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m., the Bayonne Elks Lodge 454 will be holding a dance party for Special Friends, 18 and over. There will be light snacks and soft beverages served while a DJ inspires some dance moves. This is a free event and a chance to have “friends” enjoy an evening out and a few hours of me time for their caregivers. (who of course are welcome to stay). The Elks will provide chaperones. For more information call Tiffany at (201) 779-5213, Kathy at (551) 655-5286 or Ronnie at (201) 455-8581. The dance will now be held at 597 Broadway (recreation room).
Women’s Club Fall Membership Drive Underway
Bayonne’s Peninsula Women’s Club will host a reception for prospective members at the Bayonne Community Museum on Sunday, October 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. The Museum is located at West 9th Street and Broadway.
The GFWC Peninsula Women’s Club was founded in 2011 to bring women together for the promotion of civic and philanthropic activities. Examples of the club’s many projects include the annual Read for the Record Storytime, World Book Night, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, a Community Garden, Collections for Disabled Veterans, and Prom Dress and Dress for Success Collections. Members also enjoy dining out together, participation in local parades, bowling nights, ceramics nights, and TV Show Audience Participation. The club meets regularly on the third Wednesday of the month, at the Trinity Hall.
Prospective members are invited to learn more about the club by attending the Meet and Greet Reception on October 6 at the Bayonne Community Museum where club members will be on hand to discuss the club and its activities. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information about the Reception and the GFWC Peninsula Women’s Club, contact Lisa Cerbone, Membership Chairperson at (201) 339-1845 or email CerboneL@Gmail.com, and visit their page on Facebook