Based on complaints from workers at the Newkirk Street office of the Hudson County Welfare Agency, two freeholders made a surprise inspection last month, prompting corrective action.
Workers complained that the facility located in the Journal Square area of Jersey City had numerous problems that included peeling of lead paint, inadequate lighting, lack of working copiers and lack of security.
Freeholder Jose Munoz took the lead by visiting the site first, and then was accompanied by Freeholder Bill O’Dea. Both issued a report to the county administrator’s office asking that the matters be rectified.
On May 16, Benjamin Lopez, director of the Hudson County Department of Family Services, issued a directive to the landlords of the property, Stuyvesant Towne Associates, asking them to address some of the issues that include the changing of light bulbs, replacing of light ballasts (some of which cause smoke), maintenance on an electrical closet that appears to have a variety of possibly flammable rags left.
“The hallways, stairs and walls need painting, which has not been done since the beginning of this lease in excess of five years ago,” Lopez said in the directive.
Lopez also said the cleaning of welfare offices on Newkirk and Enos Place in Jersey City appear to have problems as well.
“Bathroom cleaning is reported to be deficient, as odors from bodily functions still prevail at the start of the work day, meaning such facilities have not been properly cleaned,” Lopez said. “Floors on all levels have not been swept, washed or polished according or our lease agreement. The few rugs have not been vacuumed on a regular basis, and elevator carpeting has not been replaced or cleaned in a great deal of time.”
O’Dea said that while the county was quick to respond to the complaints, he criticized the administration for not keeping on top of the situation.
“People need to have decent working conditions,” O’Dea said. “They shouldn’t have to depend on freeholders making surprise inspections.”
Munoz said the welfare offices also have security issues because workers have to pass through the waiting room area for clients. The county recently took over security operations from private contractors. Munoz recommended that the county assign a sheriff’s office to the site as well.
O’Dea has also requested that welfare operations be moved over to new facilities at County Plaza off Montgomery Street when the new facility becomes ready later this year.
O’Dea, however, praised the administrations efforts on the upgrades made to the tennis court area in Jersey City’s Lincoln Park, which includes a new clubhouse. He said that the facility is one of the great success stories. O’Dea said he was concerned that the site might not attract significant use. But he noticed that even in early May, people were lining up to use it.
“The Hudson County Improvement Authority did an excellent job in providing this county with a state of the art tennis facility,” he said.