Mayor unused time
Mayor James Davis, who worked for the Bayonne Police Department from 1986 until he was elected mayor in 2014, will receive his final retirement compensation for 1,657 unused sick and vacation hours during his tenure at the BPD, according to his chief-of-staff, Andrew Casais. His compensation of $168,980.86 will be paid out in three equal payments, with the first in the next 60 days and the last two in the next two calendar years. The mayor’s unused time compensation will be paid in addition to his $72,000 per year salary as mayor and $10,000 per month police pension.
His unused time was categorized as follows: 807.5 hours for banked vacation; 304 hours for sick leave incentive; 370.5 hours for remaining vacation; and 175 hours for terminal leave.
Previously, Fire Chief Greg Rogers received $231,798 for unused time; former Police Chief (and current Public Safety Director) Robert Kubert received $319,482; retired Police Chief Ralph Scianni received $444,450; and retired firefighter (and former state assemblyman)Jason O’Donnell received $84,519.
Four-alarm fire injures firefighters, displaces people, kills cats
A multi-family home on 78 Andrew Street was damaged by a four-alarm fire around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19, injuring two firefighters, killing seven cats, and displacing 13 people, according to Fire Chief Keith Weaver. The Bayonne Fire Department, with the help of Jersey City, North Hudson Regional, Hoboken, and Kearny, put out the fire by 3:30 a.m.
Weaver said the cause of the fire, which started on an exterior wall of the second floor, was a chimney on the side of the house that was heated to the point of ignition. 76 Andrew Street was also damaged due, in part, to the chimney’s location on the east side of the home.
Voting information
Residents can preview their November 8 ballot at the Hudson County Clerk’s office at 257 Cornelison Avenue and on its website at hudsoncountyclerk.org. There, residents can view comprehensive election details, such as candidate lists, sample ballots, important dates, and election results.
The office will hold Saturday hours from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on October 29 and November 5 to process mail-in-ballot applications and accept voter ballots. Regular hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is November 1, and the deadline for in-person applications for mail-in-ballot is November 7 until 3 p.m.
Court date scheduled for vandal
Jonathon Hussey, who was arrested for allegedly vandalizing the Muslim Community Center with graffiti depicting hate speech, is expected to appear for his pre-indictment hearing at the Hudson County Superior Court on charges of bias, intimidation, criminal trespass, and criminal mischief.
The hearing will be an early disposition conference during which Hussey and his attorney will meet with the prosecutor to discuss a plea deal.
Child and father struck on Avenue C
A father and his five-year-old son were struck by a car Sunday around 8 p.m. while crossing Avenue C near 36th Street, leaving both hospitalized, according to officials. The father suffered a fractured leg and cuts to his left arm and face. His son suffered an open-skull fracture. Both are in stable condition and expected to survive.
The motorist involved in the accident stayed on the scene with the two and cooperated with police, who issued no summons or criminal charge.
Taste of Fall Fundraiser
The West Hudson Committee of the Hudson County Community College Foundation will host its sixth annual “Taste of Hudson” fundraiser at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 27. The event will be held in the College’s Culinary Conference Center at 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City, two blocks from the Journal Square PATH Transportation Center.
Proceeds from the event will benefit deserving Hudson County Community College (HCCC) students from the western municipalities of Hudson County – Harrison, Kearny, and East Newark – as well as North Arlington.
HCCC Vice President for Development Joseph Sansone said the event will include a buffet dinner, entertainment, tricky tray auction, and prizes.
Tickets for the event are $75 per person and may be obtained by contacting Mr. Sansone at (201) 360-4006 or emailing jsansone@hccc.edu.