It is my sincerest hope that this brief note finds you and your family enjoying a very pleasant Summer. I take this opportunity to provide you with an important update regarding some of our recent accomplishments.
Since the Grand Opening of our Headquarters located at 1215 Kennedy Boulevard, we have had numerous residents stop by seeking assistance with all different types of issues. Many have expressed an interest in our organization and support what we stand for. Yet others look to us to report specific problems in their neighborhood in hopes that we might be able to help where the current administration has turned a deaf ear.
During the heat wave that struck this area in July, many seniors were left to fend for themselves as they suffered from the effects of the extreme weather and a lack of air conditioning caused by construction and poor planning by the North Bergen Housing Authority. The end result was that many seniors suffered heat related problems because their air conditioners had been blocked by grates installed on the facade of their building, which caused them to stop working. They were simply told by officials to buy and install new air conditioners on their own. When these seniors could not get results from either the North Bergen Housing Authority or the current administration, they opted to call the North Bergen Concerned Citizens Group to resolve their problem. Thankfully, we were able to get many seniors the positive results they were looking for after making the general public aware of what was happening to seniors in North Bergen.
We are also not pleased with the lack of transparency that presently exists in Town Hall. As you know, we have objected to the administration’s policy of conducting their Commission meetings at 11:00 AM rather than at 7:00 PM when the great majority of citizens would be able to attend. Given the fact that there are different sites across our Township where the Commission meetings can be held rather than just at Town Hall, we believe the administration should provide residents more opportunities to attend. We also believe it is unfortunate that the administration cares more about wealthy out-of-town developers who benefit from 30 year tax abatements at the direct expense of North Bergen taxpayers and rentpayers.
Please note that we are planning to hold another general meeting soon after Labor Day to address the administration’s ongoing lack of concern for the needs of local residents. We will notify you of the date and time for said meeting soon.
I greatly look forward to seeing you at our next meeting. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me regarding any problem you may have on my cell phone. Thank you so much for your continued support. As always, we are here to help.
Sincerely,
Larry Wainstein Cell: 201-600-6909
PS: We hope you can join us at the next North Bergen Board of Commissioners meeting on September 12, 2012 at 5 PM - Town Hall - 4233 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen.
Lack of cautionary signs in a construction area jeopardizes North Bergen residents
NORTH BERGEN-- A judge has ruled that the township cannot recover legal fees from two men who unsuccessfully sued the municipality earlier this year over a public records request.
Hudson County Superior Court Judge Maureen Mantineo dismissed on Friday the township's lawsuit against Luis Gutierrez and Mario Blanch, ruling the lawsuit they filed in March over what they characterized as excessive fees to obtain copies of several hundred public documents was not frivolous.
Since the lawsuit wasn't frivolous, the township is not entitled to the money it spent on lawyers to answer the claim, Mantineo ruled.
"We disagree with the decision," township spokesman Phil Swibinski said. "Taxpayers shouldn't be responsible to pay for these politically motivated requests."
Gutierrez and Blanch, both members of the North Bergen Concerned Citizens Group, filed a lawsuit against the township in March after they filed 51 Open Public Records Act requests for 175 documents.
Township officials notified them in April that the cost of coming up with the documents, a number of which would have had to be reviewed by attorneys, would be at least $42,000.
"We have to pay for man hours and legal fees to go through all of those documents," Swibinski said. "We have to pay attorneys to go through some of them, because an attorney legally has to be the one to go through it. These requests were done to create chaos in the township."
Mantineo dismissed the lawsuit filed by Blanch and Gutierrez in June. In that lawsuit, the men argued that the fee was aimed at keeping them from obtaining public documents
Neighbors of North Bergen recycling plant want it shut down
NORTH BERGEN — Eagle Recycling has been the neighbor from hell, according to North Bergen residents and township officials.
“You constantly have to deal with clouds of dirt, especially on a hot, dry summer day,” said Mike Moran, 22, one unhappy neighbor who lives near the facility located on Dell Avenue near Tonnelle Avenue and 47th Street.
Another resident says the company, which has been cited for illegal dumping and fire and safety code violations, should be shut down.
“God knows what they’re dumping down there . . . we’re paying taxes so the township should do something to shut them down,” said the resident.
Janice Zorovich, a local environmentalist, wants Eagle Recycling shut down because she is convinced that asbestos particles are being released from the plant. The state Department of Environmental Protection denied the assertion.
Township spokesman Phil Swibinski said North Bergen has done everything it can to put the company out of business.
“North Bergen has been vigilant in imposing fines and closures on Eagle Recycling and has fined them over $50,000 in the last year alone for fire violations,” he said.
****Swibinski Fails to advise of the tens of thousands of dollars Sacco has received in campaign contribution from this illegal dumper******
In November, North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue responded to the fourth fire at the facility in 17 months, he said.
“North Bergen spent over $20,000 in legal fees to determine how it can shut Eagle down permanently, but ultimately that responsibility lies with the Hudson Regional Health Commission and the state Department of Environmental Protection,” Swibinski said.
And yesterday, township commissioners approved an ordinance that bans trucks over 5 tons gross weight from several side streets between Tonnelle and Dell avenues. Eagle is located at 4711 Dell Ave. between 47th and 48th streets.
In business at its North Bergen location for roughly 10 years, Eagle Recycling processes recyclables and disposes of construction and demolition debris.
In April last year, Eagle Recycling pleaded guilty in federal court to dumping 8,100 tons of pulverized construction and demolition debris including asbestos in New York and then attempting to destroy documents to conceal it.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Lieze Associates, the parent company of Eagle Recycling, in December 2010 for workplace safety and health hazards at the North Bergen facility.
Officials for Lieze Associates could not be reached for comment and Eagle Recycling declined to comment both in person and via telephone.
“The DEP and the county have been routinely monitoring that site and we have not observed any issues with improper handling of asbestos,” said DEP spokesman Larry Hajna.
In the meantime, township officials say they are trying to make the company live up to its responsibilities.
As part of an out-of-court settlement in November, Eagle Recycling agreed to pay the township $222,781 owed for “hosting fees” for the period July 2010 to July 2011, officials said.
Tempers Flare at North Bergen Commissioners Meeting 6/27/2012
Residents of North Bergen ,and local communtiy activist and businessman, Larry Wainstein spoke up at the town meeting regarding their concerns about the asbestos contamination at Eagle Recycling and the frivilous watse of taxpayer dollars. Once again, Mayor Sacco shows his lack of respect for the public, when being questioned by concerned citizens. In addition, local media even caught the Mayor leaving another town meeting early to dodge questions about his corruption practices.
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