City water bill to increase by more than 13 percent
Bayonne residents will be walloped with a water bill increase more than three times what they expected when they open their mail in January, according to a city official.
Bayonne Municipal Utility Authority Executive Director Tim Boyle said that what was expected to be a four-percent increase in water bills on Jan. 1 will actually be a 13.25 percent hike. The annual four-percent increase was part of the Bayonne Water Joint Venture contract worked out between the BMUA and Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co. during the administration of Mayor Mark Smith in 2012.
Also part of the contract was an anticipated $2 million increase in revenue for 2015 and another $1 million for 2016, according to Boyle. The city will not reach those increased revenue predictions for those two years, and the city is still contractually bound by them; thus the increase, Boyle said.
“For some reason they expected the revenue for 2015 to be $26.3 million, and $27.3 million for 2016,” he said. “There was no reason to anticipate a million-dollar increase from one year to another.”
Recent revenue figures were $23.3 million for 2013 and $24.4 million for 2014, according to Boyle.
Stephen Gallo, BMUA executive director under Smith, said he couldn’t comment on why the city did not meet its revenue projections and about why there would be an increase higher than four percent.
Boyle said the one-year 13.25 percent water rate increase will solve the discrepancy of the anticipated $3 million in increased revenues over the next two years and get the city’s annual water bill hike back down to four percent for next year.
Holiday deadlines for the Bayonne Community News
The advertising deadline for the Dec. 23 issue of the Bayonne Community News is Friday, Dec. 18 at noon. The editorial deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 16. The Bayonne and Hoboken offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24 and 25.
The editorial deadline for the Dec. 30 issue will be 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
The advertising deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 23, at 9 a.m. Display ad reservations may be sent via email to tishk@hudsonreporter.com or ronk@hudsonreporter.com during the days when the offices are closed.
Voicemail messages related to display advertising only can be left at (201) 798-7800, ext. 603. The Bayonne and Hoboken offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
Santa visit, ‘Frozen’ movie at Bayonne Community museum
The Bayonne Theater Company and Bayonne Community Bank will present a free screening of “Frozen” and a visit from Santa on Friday, Dec. 18 at the Bayonne Community Museum, 229 Broadway, at the corner of 9th Street.
“Join us preshow for a free visit with Santa,” said theater company spokesman Adam Semanchick.
Santa will arrive at 5 p.m. and the movie will be shown at 6 p.m.
“Also, goodies and face painting will be available for purchase,” Semanchick said.
For more information, call (201) 780-8378.
Solo art exhibit being held at Jewish Community Center
“Flowers Upfront, the Paintings of Bill Curran,” will be on exhibit from now through Jan. 7 at the Jewish Community Center of Bayonne, Lobby Gallery, 1050 Kennedy Blvd.
The exhibit is free and open to the public.
Viewing hours are: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, call (201) 436-6900 or visit www.jccbayonne.org.
Pictures with Santa event to benefit local foster children
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will hold a Pictures with Santa event to raise money for CASA and foster children living in Hudson County.
The event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 12 at Battello, 502 Washington Blvd., in Jersey City, from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Food and drink will be available throughout the day.
Last year, more than 1,100 children came through the foster care system in Hudson County. CASA provides advocacy for more than 200 children each year.
County Freeholders announce $16,000 pedestrian safety grant
The Hudson County Board of Freeholders approved the county of Hudson to reallocate a $16,000 grant from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, Pedestrian Safety Grant Program.
The purpose of the grant is to provide and improve pedestrian safety education and enforcement throughout Hudson County.
“Hudson County Freeholder Chairman E. Junior Maldonado and the Board of Chosen Freeholders are committed in their resolve in providing the necessary educational resources needed to inform county residents of the importance of keeping pedestrians safe,” said county spokesman Edgar Martinez.
Tuesday nature walk being offered at Meadowlands-area park
The Third Tuesday of the Month Nature Walk at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst will take place on Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon.
The free, two-hour guided nature walk, led by the Bergen County Audubon Society, starts just outside DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.
“The tour will walk along the base of the remediated Kingsland Landfill, looking for wintering waterfowl, raptors, and other birds of interest,” said spokesman Brian Aberback.
For more information, call (201) 230-4983 or email greatauk4@gmail.com.
Menendez: restore Perkins loans, increase college affordability
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez on Dec. 4 joined students and administrators at Rutgers University- Newark to call on Congress to reinstate the Perkins student loan program which expired Sept. 30 and has proven effective in increasing college affordability and accessibility for hundreds of thousands of students across the country.
“Perkins Loans prioritize low-income students that would otherwise struggle to keep up with the growing cost of a college education,” Menendez said. “By allowing the program to expire, we are limiting their options and are failing to uphold the promise that if you work hard and get good grades, then you will be given the tools to succeed.”
More than 10,000 students enrolled at New Jersey colleges last year received more than $17 million in Perkins loans.
“While students that already receive Perkins loans are grandfathered into the program, provided they do not change their field of study, the program’s expiration has now blocked an estimated 150,000 new students nationwide from accessing crucial financial aid,” Menendez said.