Daniel Becht, a lobbyist hired to help get state legislation passed that would provide Secaucus and other smaller communities with a hotel tax, told the Town Council at its May 8 caucus that he had managed to get a Republican co-sponsor.
He would not name the legislator, but said that because of the upcoming November assembly elections, the town had a window of opportunity for the state legislature to pass a 2 percent hotel tax early next year.
Although town officials asked Becht initially to pursue a 6 percent tax, he said feelers put out among Republican legislators showed weak support for such a move.
“But several said they may be willing to support the original 2 percent put forth by Assemblyman (Anthony) Impreveduto (D-32nd Dist.) several years ago,” Becht said.
Under this legislation, a 2 percent tax would be imposed on hotels with 100 rooms or more, the money from which would go to police, fire and other emergency services.
Becht said one Republican may be willing to support the proposal during the lame duck session of the assembly after the November election. This is a time period from November to January, before the newly elected assembly members take office.
The problem in the past is that the bill received support from the Democrats in the state Assembly, but Republicans controlling the committee would not release the legislation for a vote.
Becht said he had gone to conferences and other public functions where he has met with numerous state legislators pleading the town’s case before them. With new hotels pushing the number of hotel rooms over the 2,000 mark, Secaucus has more hotel rooms than most communities in the state. But because current law limits the imposition of hotel taxes to larger cities, Secaucus has been pushing for a change of law. Currently, Cherry Hill, Atlantic City and Newark have hotel taxes. Jersey City has a law on its books but has not yet implemented it.
Becht said Republicans have been reluctant to support the proposal because they came to office in the early 1990s under an anti-tax platform and had vowed not to impose any new taxes.
“This may be the best shot the town gets,” said Town Administrator Anthony Iacono.
Other council business
The Town Council took action in several areas during its May 8 meeting. It moved to:
•: pass an unbinding resolution that would allow it to seek bids for health insurance. The town was hit with a 18 percent increase in health insurance and is seeking to find another provider that will supply the same coverage for a lower cost.
•: Agreed to lease a new vehicle for one of the fire chiefs, claiming that one of the three vehicles used now is being repaired frequently. The town will lease the vehicle for 36 months with an option to purchase it for $1 after that period.
•: Authorized the hiring of some seasonal workers for the town’s swimming pool. The council also hired a vendor for the pool’s concession stand.
•: Agreed to lease some of the equipment needed for the Department of Public Works and re-bid for equipment for which it received no bids.
Committee reports
Deputy Mayor John Reilly said the town would be looking closely at signs put up for garage sales. He said residents are responsible for removing the signs once the sale is over and cautioned residents against stapling such signs to telephone poles.
Councilman Robert Kickey said someone in the North End of town actually hung one of their signs on a stop sign. Councilman John Bueckner said if the Department of Public Works has to remove these signs, the council may have to charge residents.
Art Glaeser, a resident speaking at the public comment period of the meeting, said some towns require a permit and a deposit for garage sales – keeping the deposit if the signs are not removed in a timely fashion.
In another matter, resident George Brommer asked if about possibly using closed circuit television system to help with law enforcement in town, similar to systems recently installed in East Newark and Kearny.
Mayor Dennis Elwell said such systems are expensive, but the town will be looking at possible grants. Police Chief Dennis Corcoran said the cameras may be used to monitor back ups in traffic in the south end of town, but did not see a use for them in the center of town.
“Those are used to help stop street crimes,” Corcoran said. “We don’t have a problem the way East Newark does.”