As Hudson County reclaims the space previously occupied by the Hudson County Schools of Technology (HCST) for the Community Resource Center (CRC), the laid off employees of the former facility reminded electeds not to forget about them.
By Dan Israel/Hudson County View
HCST previously leased the space under a 13-year agreement from Hudson County until it ended on July 1st, as the CRC closed on June 30th.
The resolution further states that, since closing the CRC, HCST has advised the county that the property is no longer needed to serve its educational goals. As such, HCST agrees to surrender the lease, and the county agrees to accept possession of the premises.
“Everything’s on the table. Space is in high need around the entirety of Hudson County, whether it’s expanding some of our non-profits, the educational component, or the footprint into North Hudson. We will put that space to good use to serve that whole section of the county,” Hudson County Executive Craig Guy told HCV.
The resolution concludes that the terms of the Surrender of Lease Agreement will include the county’s right to terminate the lease and take possession of the premises on 30 days written notice.
HCST Career Development Center Association Vice President David Morel again addressed the board following the resolution’s adoption, noting that they approved a resolution honoring the late Frank Gargiulo – who was the grandfather of the CRC – reminding the board of his vision for the space when he helped establish it many years ago.
“I did not show up because I figured that, the budget would be settled, phone calls would be made, and we’d be hired probably by the county,” Morel explained as to why he didn’t attend the last commissioners’ meeting.
However, that was not the case, he said, as some members received phone calls from the county after receipt of their resumes, but they did not yet receive a time or date for an interview.
“I’m just here to show face to say, ‘We’re here.’ I got some of my co-workers here as well showing face today. We’re still seeking employment,” Morel expressed, adding that there is still a 16-year lease available for the CRC.
He added that while the CRC used to have 15 or so employees, now there are now only seven or eight remaining members that are seeking employment.
“It’s not much. We can really make this happen and make the CRC, especially for an area where I’m hearing stories about the must vulnerable being hunted down.”
Morel, echoing previous assertions that the CRC provided services that immigrant advocates had asked the county to allot to the tune of $2 million for legal services, rental assistance, and food security programs, and $1.3 million was eventually added to those services through a budget amendment.
“We were a safe haven for these people: We helped these people. Let’s try to make this happen. Let’s try and bring back and make the CRC. If we want to reestablish it under the county, we’re all for it. But we’re here for you guys if that’s what you need,” he declared.
Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) told Morel that after the July 14th caucus meeting, he had a discussion with administration officials about grant applications that the county is opting not to apply for.
After inquiring why that was the case, O’Dea said he was told that Hudson County Community College (HCC) is applying for a grant that would provide services akin to the CRC and that the names and resumes of the remaining laid off employees who have not found new work would be supplied to HCCC.
He said that he asks that not only should HCCC receive they resumes based on the experience they have, but that if the community college is awarded funds for their own version of a CRC, that they hire the seven or out former CRC workers.
“I think that there are many individuals that worked at CRC that the inclusion of their resumes may benefit the application that they file based on the work and experience they have,” O’Dea said.
“There may be a reason for them to want to connect and note that, if we receive these fundings, and they may not be all seven, but there may be at least a couple that, they would want to cite a resume of someone that’s got real experience providing some of the services that that grant is going to ask them to provide.”
At the end of the meeting, Deputy Director of Finance and Administration Eleanor Gibney told the board that the county had already interviewed many of the laid off CRC employees, and that “many declined interviews.”
Gibney added that some were on vacation and have been scheduled for interviews upon their return, meanwhile, one employee from the former CRC has begun working for the county.
“Mr. Morel, please feel free to have anyone who was not contacted, contact me, because several departments reached out to the individuals that submitted their resumes,” Gibney added.
According to the preliminary findings of the forensic audit into HCST’s finances, officials budgeted incorrectly for years due to a “systemic failure of the accounting and finance department” resulting in a multi-million dollar budget gap.
That includes a $3.64 million carryover deficit along with other fiscal mismanagement issues that prompted the audit.
The vocational school district has been trying to solve the deficit through austerity measures like closing the the CRC, however, they have faced pushback from the public and board alike- which saw some commissioners push back on HCST officials over layoffs and program cuts.
The laid off employees of the CRC have frequently approached the commissioners for help after the closure was announced in May, alleging that the decision to end the CRC was based on “incorrect audit findings.”
