Council prez showdown this week?
This week, the City Council could get a new president – or not. The high drama showdown that began two weeks ago when the council majority introduced a proposal by Nidia Lopez to change city law to allow the council to elect a new president every two years, rather than the usual four, could come to a head this Wednesday. If the council majority approves the measure at its Jan. 25 meeting it’s likely that At-large City Councilwoman Viola Richardson will be the new president of the governing body. If that happens, current City Council President Peter Brennan has vowed to file a lawsuit to reverse the change.
If the effort to switch presidents fails, it will be interesting to see which previously supportive council members switch their votes, and why.
New state law kills stormwater fee proposal
A new state law recently signed by Gov. Christopher Christie has blocked a proposal by the Jersey City Environmental Commission to restructure storm water fees.
Last November, the city’s Environmental Commission had recommended that the city revise its stormwater fee structure to help offset the costs of a federally-mandated upgrade to the sewage system that could cost an estimated $52 million.
Under a consent decree signed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Jersey City, the city’s Municipal Utilities Authority must upgrade and repair the local sewer system, which the EPA alleged violated the Clean Water Act. The consent decree specifically requires the city to, among other things, maximize sewage flow to treatment plants and stop the flooding of public and private property.
To mitigate the expense of these repairs and upgrades, the city’s Environmental Commission had suggested that the city set user fees for non-metered properties – such as malls, shopping centers, rail lines, and garages – which currently pay no stormwater fees, but which are the primary generators of stormwater runoff.
The commission asked the City Council to set stormwater fees for these structures that are based on the amount of impervious land the structure, center, or facility has. Currently, only metered properties (i.e., private homes and small businesses) in Jersey City pay stormwater fees, even though they generate little stormwater runoff.
The commission was recently informed, however, that the new state law bans local municipalities from setting such fees on their own.
Volunteers needed for Point-in-Time homeless census
Project Homeless Connect is seeking volunteers to help with this year’s annual census of Hudson County’s homeless population, taking place on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The organization is looking for volunteers to assist the effort on Wednesday, and to help with set-up tasks on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
On Tuesday, volunteers will be need to carry, set-up, and arrange tables, chairs, and donations at 654 Bergen Ave. (between Fairview Ave. and Jewett Ave.). Other volunteers will be needed to help make sandwiches and assemble bagged meals and set up stations for various services that will be offered to the homeless the next day.
On Wednesday, volunteers will be needed from 8:45 a.m. until 1:30 pm to administer surveys at 654 Bergen Ave. The surveys are part of the homeless census. Volunteers will be asked to assist homeless individual in filling out the anonymous surveys.
In addition to the daytime survey teams of social workers and volunteers will take to the streets Wednesday evening to count homeless people living outside the shelter system. Volunteers are still needed to join these street teams, which will be on the streets from 7:30 until 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 25. Those volunteering for the evening street team work are asked to report to Jersey City Episcopal CDC Social Services Office at 118 Summit Ave., at Gardner St.
Following the Jan. 25 Point-in-Time census, additional volunteers will be needed to input census results into a computer system from Jan. 26 through 31. Flexible hours are available.
The cumulative information collected as part of the annual homeless census helps service agencies obtain grants that fund direct service programs for homeless people throughout Hudson County.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering can contact Joanne at (201) 209-9301.
Business community members invited to Emergency Operations Plan meeting
The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce and the Hudson County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) are inviting members of the business community to discuss ways to strengthen preparedness, response, and recovery. A meeting will be held Friday, Jan. 27 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Culinary Conference Center at Hudson County Community College at 161 Newkirk St. in Jersey City.
The focus of the event is to gather leaders from both the public and private sectors to develop solutions and share concerns as the OEM updates the region’s Emergency Operations Plan. The session will begin with Charles McKenna, Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness. It will also feature an overview of the Regional emergency Operations Plan by Jack Burns, Coordinator of the Hudson County OEM. There will also be an open discussion with attendees to air ideas for strengthening preparedness.
Admission is free. To RSVP, send your contact information and additional guest names to jgomez@hcnj.us.