Mayor Davis can collect police pension
Mayor James Davis can collect his police department pension while he is serving as the city’s mayor, the state Treasury Department’s Division of Pensions and Benefits has determined, a website reported.
Davis’s police captain pension, reported at $120,000 per year, was originally held up following the state board’s approval last year as lawyers reviewed the legality of the decision, according to nj.com.
It was originally uncertain whether Davis would be eligible for his pension while holding office because of a 2012 state rule that prohibits retired public employees from collecting their pensions if they do not wait 180 days before taking another post in the same municipality.
Davis’s attorney, Craig Gumpel, argued last year that the mayor should be able to collect his pension under the doctrine of “incompatibility of office.” He said that by virtue of Davis taking over as mayor it would be incompatible that he could also be a police captain in Bayonne, and that he therefore severed his police captain post when he became mayor.
Davis makes $72,000 a year as Bayonne mayor.
Virga adds book and radio show to repertoire
Vincent Virga, head of PFS Wealth Management Group at 744 Broadway and former Bayonne Chamber of Commerce President, can now add author and radio talk show financial expert to his list of skills.”
Virga recently wrote “The SMART Approach: a Five-Step Process to Life, Leadership and Investing.
“It’s the inevitable extension of being able to share our message,” he said. “It probably won’t make the New York Times Bestseller List, but if anyone is able to utilize any of the messages, I feel I’ve done my job.”
The book is available in paperback and hardcover, and can be purchased on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kindle.
Virga also will be appearing on a radio talk show as the resident financial expert, touting his SMART (simplicity, measurability, accountability, reliability, teamwork) approach to investing and retirement saving.
Virga can be caught on 970 a.m., “The Answer,” on Saturdays at 6 a.m., beginning Jan. 23. The show is also accessible on the radio station’s website; am970theanswer.com.
HIGHWAYS moves to new locale
HIGHWAYS social services has closed its location at Linnet Street and Hobart Avenue. The public is asked NOT to leave any donations at the former site. In the coming weeks they will be moving to 155 Broadway (Corner of 5th and Broadway). HIGHWAYS will resume operations of its food pantry and social services beginning January 25.
NJ teens invited to Shout Down Drugs
The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s (PDFNJ) Shout Down Drugs music competition deadline is Feb. 1 of this year.
The New Jersey Shout Down Drugs contest challenges high school students to create original music with lyrics that contain peer-to-peer drug prevention messages. The finalists, selected through an online vote and judging panel, will compete for music contracts valued at $5,000, $3,000, and $2,000. The contest is open to all New Jersey high school students.
The program’s website, ShoutDownDrugs.com, features finalists’ profiles and allows the public to cast votes for their favorite songs. These results will be factored into the finalists’ scores on concert night. The first round of online voting runs from February 12 to 26, 2016 to select an automatic finalist. All finalists will be announced on March 1, 2016.
Ticket reservations will begin March 1. All tickets are free, but must be reserved at ShoutDownDrugs.com or at (973) 467-2100, ext. 19.
Finalists will perform at the statewide Prevention Concert on May 25 at the Rutgers University Nicholas Music Center in New Brunswick.
CarePoint collaborates with Sharing Network
CarePoint Health was recently awarded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Gold Level Recognition for its efforts to increase enrollment in the New Jersey state organ donor registry and spread the life-saving message of organ and tissue donation.
HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign mobilizes the nation’s hospitals to increase the number of people who are registered organ and tissue donors. CarePoint Health worked with NJ Sharing Network and Donate Life New Jersey to create outreach and registry campaigns to educate staff, patients and the community.
“At CarePoint Health, we know that every one of us has the power to save a life,” said Dr. Nizar Kifaieh, CarePoint chief medical officer.
CarePoint Health joins the 45 hospitals in the NJ Sharing Network service area recognized by HRSA.
“CarePoint Health and all our hospital partners are vital to our life-saving mission,” said Joe Roth, NJ Sharing Network president and chief executive officer.
Sacco drone-use guidelines bill advances
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Nicholas Sacco that would set forth specific guidelines to be followed by law enforcement agencies when employing unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, for surveillance purposes cleared the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on Jan. 7. “Over the past few years federal guidelines have been put in place looking to improve aviation safety and capacity of our country’s airspace. However, there are still gaps in the regulation of drones that we should work to address,” said Sen. Sacco (D-Hudson and Bergen) Senate Transportation Committee chairman.
The bill, S2310, prohibits law enforcement agencies from using drones to conduct surveillance, gather evidence, or engage in any other law enforcement activity unless: authorized by a search warrant; the law enforcement agency has probable cause to believe that a person has committed a crime, and exigent circumstances exist making it unreasonable for the law enforcement agency to obtain a warrant; the law enforcement agency has obtained the written consent from the search subject; or the drone is being used for certain statutorily defined search and rescue missions.
S2310 cleared the committee 5-0 and was sent to the full Senate for consideration.