Hudson County View spoke with Hoboken’s Kurt Gardiner about why he wants to be appointed to the North Hudson Sewerage Authority early this afternoon outside of the city’s Shop Rite.
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Many expected prominent developer Frank Raia, a member of the NHSA board for over two decades, to get re-appointed to his seat at Wednesday’s city council meeting, but Gardiner has made things a little trickier by submitting a NHSA application last week.
Gardiner, a former freeholder candidate, said he wants to sit on the board to help address Hoboken’s flooding problem, as well as to ensure more transparency on the board.
He also believes that Raia potentially has conflicts with the NHSA due to business dealings he has with Frank Leanza, legal counsel for the board.
Gardiner concluded by stating this has nothing to do with plotting a future run for office or any other type of ulterior motives.
The city council will vote on Wednesday to appoint a NHSA board member from February 1, 2016 through February 1, 2021.
Further complicating the matter is that Brian Assadourian, whose term doesn’t expire for two years, has also submitted an application for Raia’s seat.
The North Hudson Sewerage Authority, located at 1600 Adams St. in Hoboken, is a wastewater agency that maintains the sewer collection system for Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken and West New York. Raia declined to comment while Assadourian did not immediately return a call seeking comment.