City Council Approves $2.55M in Emergency Appropriations to Pay for Sandy Damage

The City Council approved $2.5 million in emergency appropriations on Wednesday, to help pay for Sandy damage around town.

The measure, however, didn't pass without discussion.

"I'm ont prepared to pass another $2.6 million," said Councilman Tim Occhipinti.

At an earlier meeting, the city council approved roughly $4.2 million in emergency appropriations. In total, the damage done by Sandy in Hoboken which also includes damage done to personal homes and businesses.

The emergency funds were supposed to pay for two  new hop buses — both would cost between $90,000 and $100,000 — which Occhipinti said was too much money.

"We lost two hop buses in the storm, as well as the parks and recreation van. We come to you now for the hop buses," said Business Administator Quentin Wiest.

"This thing must be a super bus," he said. Occhipinti continued that, while the Jersey coastline suffered heavy structural damage, "we had some real terrible devastation ourselves, but not the structural damage of a town washed away."

"Speak for yourself," Councilwoman Jennifer Giattino shot back.

While it's unclear when and how much money FEMA will pay out to the city of Hoboken, it could be a process of multiple years.

Ultimately, the emergency funds passed, after the resolution was amended to take out $100,000. The city will be able to buy one new Hop bus with that money, rather than two.