Meadowlands Hospital workers reach tentative agreement with new owner
A tentative collective bargaining agreement has been reached between the expected buyer of Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center and a hospital workers’ union that represents more than 400 employees.
Details of the agreement were not released last week when the agreement was announced.
But in a release from the Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), the union stated that HPAE Local 5147 members would vote on the agreement on Wednesday, Sept. 22.
LibertyHealth System, which currently owns Meadowlands Hospital, announced earlier this year that it had agreed to sell the facility to MHA, LLC, a consortium of private investors. The deal has been somewhat controversial, and it has received additional scrutiny from state agencies because, if approved, the hospital would shift from the nonprofit LibertyHealth to the for-profit MHA.
Since February, HPAE has been pushing for negotiations as one of the conditions of the sale, which is currently under review by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and the Office of the Attorney General.
“Our primary goal has always been to protect our hospital, our patients, and the caregivers,” said Secaucus resident JoAnne Dudsak, a registered nurse and president of Local 5147 at Meadowlands. “We wanted to make sure that when the ownership changed, the same dedicated staff would be by our patients’ bedsides. This agreement does that.”
Workers at the hospital were expected to receive a “WARN” notice (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) last week, a legally required communication that their employment with LibertyHealth System would expire in no less than 60 days. The tentative agreement will assure that their jobs will be transitioned under the new ownership.
Approximately 200 Meadowlands Hospital employees are Secaucus residents.
County Construction Board to review Harmon Cove façade work
Last Monday, the Hudson County Construction Board heard complaints from Secaucus officials regarding recent renovations at Harmon Cove Towers (HCT), a condominium development on Meadowlands Parkway.
In 2004, the HCT condo association hired Castle Restoration and Construction and Falcon Engineering to oversee a $6 million façade restoration project that would repair balconies and re-point (realign the mortar of) bricks at the 562-unit development.
But as the restoration project neared completion early this year, several residents of the luxury housing complex began complaining of leaks in the ceilings and walls of their units. In a few extreme cases, the walls of some condos even began separating from one another. More than 133 units have been affected, according to an April 2010 letter from HCT’s attorney to Falcon Engineering.
Fearing for their health and the value of their homes, a few HCT residents reached out to town officials for help.
The town’s own engineering firm, Remington & Vernick, did what it called a “cursory inspection” of the work that was done and found numerous problems.
Vincent Prieto, the local construction code official, subsequently wrote a violation against Castle Restoration, the company that holds the construction permit for the project. He said Tuesday that he may levy fines against the company. The fines could be as much as $2,000 per week.
An engineer with Falcon has fired back, however, stating that the work contracted was not meant to be comprehensive renovation of the façade and that the condo association rejected many of the company’s recommendations in an effort to save money.
The County Construction Board, a panel of building professionals that investigates alleged construction code violations, is now reviewing alleged violations at HCT.
At Monday’s hearing, a lawyer for the engineers was successful in getting the matter adjourned until next month.
The County Construction Board will now weigh evidence in the case on Monday, Oct. 4.
Secaucus job fair
The Town of Secaucus will hold its first ever job fair on Friday, Oct. 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center. The fair will be held in the Panasonic Room.
Realty board fund-raiser benefits hospital, scholarships
The Liberty Board of Realtors will hold “Who Wants to be a Liberty Idol?” finals on Saturday Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at The Elks Club, 48 Ames Ave, Rutherford. The two largest recipients from the community service fund-raiser are Hoboken University Medical Center’s Pediatrics Ward and a scholarship at Hudson County Community College. The $45 per person includes buffet, beer, wine and soda. Contact Margaret Watson (201) 970-4593 or Carolyn Cavallaro at (201) 851-3012, mwatson@patinarealty.com or cavallaroc@aol.com to attend, or offer your sponsorship. No donation is too small to help make a difference
Panasonic to host electronics recycling collection in Secaucus
On Saturday, Oct. 2 Panasonic will host a free consumer electronics recycling collection event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Panasonic will accept a broad range of electronics, including TVs, VCRs, stereos, video monitors, computers, printers, cell phones, and other items at its corporate campus, located at 50 Meadowlands Parkway in Secaucus.
Ceberio retiring from Meadowlands Commission
New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) Executive Director Robert Ceberio, who has been at the state agency for 30 years, including eight as director, has announced his retirement. The NJMC controls regional planning and some zoning in 14 Meadowlands District towns, including Secaucus.
In a release issued last week, Ceberio said, “I moved to North Arlington 43 years ago and witnessed firsthand the destruction, the chemical plants, the truck terminals, the dumping, and the horrific smells of the Meadowlands. I now find myself looking out the window and see the new Meadowlands – an economic engine that is strong with an environment of clearer water, air, and land – all accomplished within a balance plan that is not exclusive of one over the other.”
Hudson Regional Health Commission MRC in search of volunteers
September is Emergency Preparedness Month, a great time to consider becoming a medical reserve corps volunteer, according to the Hudson Regional Health Commission Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).
Medical Reserve Corps units are made of locally based volunteers (with and without a medical background) who can assist their communities during emergencies, such as an influenza epidemic, a chemical spill, or an act of terrorism.
MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, mental health professionals, dentists, veterinarians, and epidemiologists. Other community members, such as interpreters, chaplains, office workers and legal advisors, can fill other vital support positions.
Hudson Regional Health Commission MRC volunteers share a minimal amount of time attending meetings and free trainings. They are also invited to participate in local public health exercises to practice their knowledge and skills.
Hudson County’s Emergency Management, police, fire, EMS and public health professionals are working hard to identify, train and respond to emergencies that could impact those who live and work here, but more help is needed.
For more information on the Hudson Regional Health Commission, visit the Hudson Regional Health Commission website at www.hudsonregional.org and click on “Medical Reserve Corps” on the menu bar on the left. Interested individuals can also contact Annie McNair, Hudson County MRC Coordinator, at (201) 223-1133 or mrc@hudsonregionalhealth.org.
Bayonne Town Center to host 3rd Annual Art Show
On Saturday, Sept. 25, the Bayonne Town Center will host the 3rd Annual Outdoor Art Show on 23rd Street between Broadway and Church Lane. Local artists, as well as the Hudson Artists of NJ, will display their work from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you would like to display your art work, please submit the following information to the Bayonne Town Center at 8 East 22nd St., Bayonne, NJ 07002: Name, Address, Type of Artwork, Telephone number, and if you need a table to set up your work. Also submit a refundable deposit of $10. Please register before Sept. 20. In case of rain, the art show will be held in St. Michael’s Parish Hall. For more info, please call the Bayonne Town Center at (201) 339-9409.