Dear Editor:
As a 34-year career employee with the County of Hudson and a lifelong resident of Jersey City, may this letter serve as a note of thank you and gratitude to our County Executive Bernard M. Hartnett, Jr. Bernie Hartnett took up the reins of county government one year ago in our most sad and troubled times. He had no transition team to assist him and no one to guide him in the task as the chief executive/operating officer of Hudson County. Bernie never held an elected paid position and worked diligently throughout his life as an attorney attaining high reputations within the national Labor Relations Board, local trade unions and New Jersey Bell/Western Electric. Throughout his life Bernie has stood tall with integrity and honesty in all of his ventures.
In one short year, Bernie has certainly left Hudson County government in better condition, being able to untangle the problems left in the county hospitals, saving the County over $20 million in regards to the contracts involved, has moved through a budget that resulted in no tax increase and no loss of services to the residents, has been able to renegotiate the county’s labor contracts taking into consideration the needs of all involved and has always considered the needs of the young, the senior residents and the working poor of the County. In March, 2002, Bernie signed into law an amendment to the County’s living wage ordinance which required that private firms doing work for the County must pay their employees at least 150 percent of the prevailing federal minimum wage, health benefits and vacation leave.
During a recent conversation I had with Bernie Hartnett, he expressed his feelings in these words, “The county executive is supposed to help people.” Bernie, you certainly made personal sacrifices for all in the County. God Bless you and your family with many years of health and happiness, again sincere thanks to you.
Robert B. Knapp