Council members to pay back benefits received from city
Bayonne’s three council members who received health benefits they were not entitled to say they have already or will pay back the money for those benefits.
The issue was revisited last week when resident Jamie Minotto spoke during the public portion of the Nov. 10 City Council meeting. He asked the council members what they were doing in regard to the issue.
Council President Sharon Nadrowski, Second Ward Councilman Sal Gullace, and Third Ward Councilman Gary La Pelusa all took the benefits thinking they were entitled to them because they were working more than 35 hours a week. But their posts are still considered part-time.
The health benefits provided to them since last year were in violation of state law and cost taxpayers about $47,000, nj.com reported last month. The website said that the total cost of the benefits, taking into account the council members’ contributions were: $22,289.50 for La Pelusa, $22,289.50 for Gullace, and $3,108.50 for Nadrowski. Nadrowski’s figure was lower because she was previously covered by the health plan of her husband, a Bayonne police officer, and the $3,108.50 was the difference after switching her coverage.
“I’ve paid it back to the city in full,” Nadrowski said.
“I’m signing my paychecks back to the city,” Gullace said.
La Pelusa said he was discussing his situation with the director of pension and benefits. However, he also said he would pay the money back.
Marist High School holding annual Hall of Fame induction
Marist High School will welcome nine members during its 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. at Marist High School, the 11th class since the school began the process in 2005.
Marist has held the ceremony each year since then to honor Marist alumni, brothers, and friends.
The 2015 inductees are James K. Iorio, Class of 1969, Mr. & Mrs. Mark Lenzo, Coach John “Jackie” Moore, Charlie Morecraft ’64, William “Bill” Olsen ’73, Owen Ryan ’80, Brother Leo Shea, and Crystal Vargas ’01.
Ryan will receive the Professional Achievement Award for his contributions in the field of business. The Lenzos, Brother Shea, and Iorio will receive the Spirit of Marist Award, given to individuals who exemplify a “selfless and passionate devotion to Marist High School.” The Distinguished Service Award will be given to Morecraft for his charitable contributions and for being one of the world’s top motivational speakers. Olsen, Vargas, and Moore will receive the Athletic Achievement Award for their athletic accomplishments while at Marist and after graduation.
For more information about the event, visit marist.org/maristhof. Those interested in buying tickets can contact the school at (201) 437-4545 or visit http://mariststore.org/36-maristhof.
Free visit with Santa for autistic children and youth
Children from Bayonne and Jersey City will have a chance to meet Santa Claus, many for the first time, on Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Santa’s Elf Factory at the Jersey City Museum, 350 Montgomery St.
“Thanks to several local organizations in Hudson County, we will be hosting an autism-friendly day for children with autism to not only meet Santa but participate in several fun holiday activities,” said Kerry Magro, event coordinator and “Santa.”
The event is free, but children must be preregistered at http://bit.ly/AutismFriendlySantaVisits
Magro, 27, who has autism, is an advocate, author, and lecturer on the topic. He notes that New Jersey has the highest prevalence of autism of any state in the country, with one in 45 children diagnosed with it.
As part of the event, children will be sponsored to partake in the day’s activities where a portion of the proceeds will go to the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference, which raises money to give adults with autism scholarship aid to attend post-secondary programs.
More than 70 families with children (14 years or younger) with autism are expected to attend.
“Autism today touches all of us,” Magro said. “Over 70 million people worldwide have autism.”
For more information, Magro can be reached at kerrymagro@gmail.com.
Menendez: ‘We Are One with France’
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after a series of terrorist attacks on Friday, Nov. 13 in France:
“My thoughts and prayers are with the French people, the victims and their families as they deal with these truly despicable and barbaric acts of terrorism in Paris.
“As the President has said, we view this not only as an attack on Paris, but as an assault on humanity and the universal values we share. As the situation continues to develop, one fact remains: The world must condemn these acts, as I do now.
“We can only hope, as Americans experienced after 9/11, that through such unspeakable tragedy, an entire nation and world can come together as one.”