The Council Meeting In A Nutshell: Amato's Way, More Budget Talk

Yesterday's City Council meeting started unlike most, with two proclamations by Mayor Dawn Zimmer (who does not attend council meetings). In honor of former Councilman Andrew Amato, who passed away last week at age 78, First and Adams Streets will now be called "Amato's Way." 

Zimmer presented a sign to the family, and Amato's teary-eyed daughter Mary Amato Schelmety addressed the audience, saying how proud her father would have been of this moment. 

"It's very emotional," she said. "My dad did a lot for Hoboken."

Amato served as the Fourth Ward City Councilman from 1991 to 1995. He was the City's Public Works Director from 1977 to 1981 and also served as the Confidential Aide to Mayor Steve Cappiello from 1981 to 1983. 

Housing Commissioner Jake Stuiver also read a proclamation to honor a 24-year-old Housing Authority resident who passed away last week. 

Hoboken's Boy Scouts also received a proclamation for creating a strong foundation for leadership and said the pledge of allegiance.  

Zoning Board

Phil Cohen was accepted as the newest member of the Hoboken zoning board. He was already an alternate. The council could not agree on appointing a new alternate. 

Police Audit

City Council unanimously approved a resolution to demand the release of the police audit. Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo said that Mayor Zimmer should have shown the audit to the council a long time ago. 

"Mayor Zimmer has a copy, let's demand it," Russo said. 

Zimmer currently has a draft of the audit, which was done by the New Jersey Division of Local Government Services, but is legally not allowed to show that to anybody. Once the audit gets completed, she said she will share it with the council on a confidential basis before sharing it with the public. 

Councilman-at-Large David Mello supported Zimmer. 

"We've had too long of a history of Hoboken mayors breaking the law," he said. 

Taxi Stand

The Council voted in favor of moving the taxi stand—currently right in front of the PATH station—to the other side of the street. The stand will be moved because a new pumping station will be built on Observer Highway, where the city's 65 cabs are currently staged.

Some cab drivers—taking time away from their night shift—stuck around until they got a chance to speak on the topic to express their discontent with the stand's relocation to the corner of River Street. 

Michael Flett, owner of a license and employer of two drivers, said he wished he would have had more input in the final decision. Although he asked the Council to postpone the vote, they went ahead and approved the move, 8-0 (one Councilmember was out of the room). 

Parking Contract

City Council could not decide on approving a long-term lease contract for 20 parking spaces in Municipal Garage "B." The contract—at a rate of $350 a month—would be with the federal government, which wants to park vehicles there. 

Council members were in agreement that 10 years is too long for a contract, "especially with the federal government," said Councilwoman Theresa Castellano. The issue was not voted on and will be discussed in a subcommittee meeting. 

Let's Talk About The Budget

Nearing the end of the night, Fourth Ward Councilman Michael Lenz discussed the budget and his plans for the coming budget meeting. A budget for Fiscal Year 2010 has not yet been passed. 

Lenz said he would introduce an amendment to any proposed budget to push funds for back pay to next year's budget. City officials have been negotiating with police officers over a new contract, and any agreement is seen as likely to include a provision for back pay. But the council has argued with fiscal monitor Tripodi over whether money should be set aside for the back pay in this year's budget.

"My recommendation is that we remove those retroactive raises and increases until such time that we have negotiated with the various bargaining unions," Lenz said. 

Lenz said another council member had been working on an amendment to the budget to introduce furloughs.