At the North Bergen Commissioners meeting June 25, the township completed a grant application for an additional $760,000 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation. If the town gets the money, they’ll use it for the second phase of the JFK Boulevard East Streetscape Project, adding sidewalks, curbs, tree wells, benches, street lights and landscaping.
Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Town Administrator Robert Pittfield said that a $400,000 grant they recently received from the New Jersey Department of Transportation isn’t enough to fund the $1.2 million project.
“We’re trying to get the job done,” said Pittfield.
It will take six months or longer before the township knows whether they’ll get the grant. “I’m hopeful and I’m holding my breath,” said Mayor and State Sen. Nicholas Sacco.
Sacco said that if the township does not receive the grant, the city will look into contributing some money from its budget.
Parking meter ticket raise
The commissioners also introduced an ordinance to raise meter parking tickets from $23 to $25 that will be voted on at the next meeting on July 7 at 11 a.m.
Pittfield explained that they were raising the parking ordinance from $15 to 19.50, which will raise the cost of a ticket to $25 because of municipal court fees.
The township is trying to raise their prices in comparison to surrounding towns.
Guttenberg charges $29, and Union City’s parking tickets cost $25, Pittfield said.
Three appointed to $750 annual board seats
Cynthia DePice, who is a Democratic committee member and teacher, was appointed to a full seat on the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Condominium/Co-operative Board for a three year term.
All members get paid $750 per year for serving on the board.
Pittfield said that the board settles disputes that may arise in the numerous condos in North Bergen.
DePice was originally an alternate member on the board, but was appointed to the position after the death of Edward Hochberg, the prior seat holder. The Commissioners choose Harish Niak to fill the three-year alternate position.
“You try to balance the board out to get all types of people,” said Sacco.
Theresa Bing was also appointed to an alternate position on the board with the resignation of past member Emerida Saavedra. She works in Town Hall as an accounts payable clerk.
Town approves $228,270 in annual contracts
The town voted on $228,270 for contracts for engineers, auditors, and consulting firms. Samuel Klein and Company, Newark, will be paid $88,270 for a one year period which began this past Tuesday, July 1. This firm was hired to perform municipal auditing and will not be paid more than $20,000 for other services.
In addition, Hugh McGuire of Jersey City was hired to represent North Bergen before the Hudson County Board of Taxation and Tax Court for a year, also beginning July 1. The contract has a cap of $100,000.
A consulting firm was also hired to help the township with the Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program, which aids cities in services like economic development and the acquisition of land. Housing and Community Development Services, Inc., of South Orange will be paid $25,000.
The city has used them before because they not only file for grants, but follow through on paperwork throughout the year in order to receive them.
“We’ve retained them upwards of 10 years in a row,” said Town Administrator Chris Pianese. “I think even at the same price [and] now they are familiar with the program, which is all the more reason to use them.”
Pittfield said that North Bergen was in need of traffic engineering services as well. Dolan & Dean Consulting Engineers, LLP were hired for services that will not exceed $15,000.
Pittfield said that streets, along with Route 1&9, will be looked at.
“It’s not just on our streets, but all over,” said Pittfield. “North Bergen demands these types of studies.”
Town settles suit for $7,380
The town also voted to settle a pending suit in the Superior Court of New Jersey brought by Edwin Rich et. al. v. the Township of North Bergen.
The matter relates to a bond issued on Oct. 16, 1969 entitled “Sewerage Bonds,” which accrued money over time.
Pittfield said that the balance was unclaimed, so the matter was sent to the state. He said that unclaimed balances are no longer in the hands of North Bergen, but must be sought after on the state level.
The township chose to give the balance of $7,380 to Rich to avoid legal fees, but they will now seek reimbursement from the state.