The Bayonne Council again delayed the 1888 movie studios project at a special council meeting design for its passage, also signing off on 11 appointees to the municipal hospital authority.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Council President Gary La Pelusa noted the project was discussed at length during a meeting last month.
“Unfortunately, there was an inconsistency in our notice. It was better for all parties involved. I think this is better we get this done right rather than right now,” he said.
Gail Godesky, who has been opposed to the council approving the $65 million bond for the project, which is estimated to cost about $925 million overall, said she thought La Pelusa made the right call.
She also explained why she didn’t think the bond made sense.
“I can’t let it go: If I was getting a construction loan for a 10-story building … and all of a sudden I changed it … that immediately triggers a question regarding the amount of the loan. It’s totally different. They were major changes. Why do they need our $65 million?,” she questioned she added.
“This is unfair to the taxpayers of the city of Bayonne. We are a municipality, not a lending facility. Permits were already issued. They are doing construction Was all this a charade? Were they already told they got the PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes?) Vote no at the next meeting. A French financier can get the money they need.”
Votes to carry the ordinances and resolutions related to the movie studio, which included a 30-year PILOT, were carried unanimously (5-0) to their next meeting on March 15th.
“We are voting on a couple items that are time sensitive today,” La Pelusa noted about before voting on the municipal hospital authority appointees.
“Didn’t we make this board up over a year ago? And now all of a sudden we’re filling in the members? Can someone tell me the reason behind this?” Godesky asked.
“I believe in 2019 we talked about creating a board. The mayor decided, I don’t know what his reasoning is. He decided to go ahead and name them.”
They were approved unanimously (5-0) without any further discussion.
The members named, which HCV highlighted on Tuesday, are as follows:
Assemblyman William Sampson (D-31) – Class I Member, Mayor Jimmy Davis’ appointeeDr. Mohammed Zubair – Class II Member
Dr. Shahnaz Akhtar – Class II Member
Vincent Lombardo – Class III Member
Irene Pyke – Class III Member
Kenneth Poesl – Class III Member
Patricia Kraszyk – Class III Member
Meriam Bendaoud – Class III Member
Robert Doria – Class III – Member
Dr. Alfredo Rabines – Class IV (Non-voting member)
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner appointee – Class IV (Non-voting member, not named yet)