The Hoboken City Council surprisingly overwhelmingly approved the appointment of Kurt Gardiner to the North Hudson Sewerage Authority, replacing 27-year incumbent Frank Raia – the current chair of the board.
As Hudson County View previously reported, the council was slated to vote on a five-year appointment to the North Hudson Sewerage Authority from February 1, 2016 through February 1, 2021.
Raia, a NHSA board member since it’s inception in 1988, seemed like the academic choice since his term expired at the beginning of next month.
However, Gardiner, a former freeholder candidate, threw a monkey wrench into the machine by submitting an application for the NHSA seat less than two weeks ago.
This fact was not lost on several residents who addressed the council before the vote. Many also questioned why Brian Assadourian, whose term doesn’t expire until February 1, 2018, submitted an application on Friday.
However, Assadourian was not nominated: 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher nominated Gardiner, seconded by Councilman-at-Large Ravi Bhalla, while Councilman-at-Large David Mello nominated Frank Raia, which was seconded by 5th Ward Councilman Peter Cunningham.
After Gardiner received the appointment by a vote of 8-1, with only Cunningham voting no, we caught up with both Raia and Gardiner to get their reactions.