JERSEY CITY — With almost no fanfare and no city employees present, the City Council quietly voted 6 to 1 to dissolve the Jersey City Incinerator Authority, completing a campaign promise made by Mayor Steven Fulop when he ran for office in 2013.
The move came near the end of the sparsely attended Oct. 14 City Council meeting.
Four members of the JCIA were arrested last month on charges of corruption that were related to their employment at the JCIA.
The duties of the JCIA – which included trash and recycling collection – will be taken over by the city’s Department of Public Works at some point after Jan. 1. City officials said Civil Service issues need to be resolved. This means that some employees of the JCIA must be relocated to similar jobs in the city.
The move was approved by the state Local Municipal Finance Board in August. But the city council tabled the ordinance, keeping in on the agenda for future consideration.
Councilman Richard Boggiano, who voted no on the ordinance, asked why the employees were not warned of the vote so that they could attend the meeting.
Council President Rolando Lavarro said that the public hearing had already taken place in August.
Councilwoman Candice Osborne said, “This is another campaign promise fulfilled.”
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