The Hoboken City Council will no longer consider hiring a law firm to explore the possibility of creating a North End Special Assessment District at Wednesday evening’s meeting, with the item removed from the agenda today, an official said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The governing body was going to consider a one-year agreement with McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC not to exceed $25,000 through December 7th, 2023, but those plans have changed, according to city spokeswoman Marilyn Baer.
“That resolution has been pulled for further evaluation and discussion in council subcommittee,” she said in an email following an inquiry from HCV this morning.
Nevertheless, documents attached to the removed agenda item provide some insight on what the SAD would look like.
A March 16th, 2020 letter from Joseph Baumann, Jr., the chairman of the aforementioned law firm, to Hoboken Director of Community Development Director Chris Brown outlines four “critical infrastructure improvements” for the city.
Those are the construction of a Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station on 15h Street, elevating streets impacted by a new sewer system, street improvements, and the possible relocation of moving overhead PSE&G power lines underground.
“These Infrastructure Improvements will benefit the properties located within the area identified on the attached map,” the letter says,
“You have asked our firm to assist the City by (a) analyzing the applicability of a special assessment district to pay for such Infrastructure Improvements (b) providing the Mayor and Council with an outline and recommendations related to such a district, and (c) if directed, providing the legislation and related documentation and agreements (if any) required to implement same.”
The district would span between Madison Street and Willow Avenue, bordered between 12th and 17th Streets, according to a rendering provided by the city.
The rendering also shows that the new sewer system, which will be installed by the North Hudson Sewerage Authority, will be installed in the majority of the district – with the only difference being that the border is between 13th and 16th Streets.
The Hoboken City Council convenes Wednesday at City Hall, 94 Washington St., at 7 p.m. The meeting will also stream live on the city’s Facebook page.
Why on Earth is one area of the city being asked to pay for improvements that will ultimately benefit the entire city?
And why hasn’t such precedent been applied previously? And ongoing? Did these residents and businesses in this area have to pay for Washington Street improvements? Are only the residents of Court Street paying for their street resurfacing or is the entire city?
Oh, wait. This is Phil Cohen’s 5th Ward. I get it now. Oh, and he is the sponsor of this special tax for his ward too? Maybe he didn’t realize that. It’s probably oversight as he was too busy with making coffee. But surely his home is within this boundary, correct? What’s that? It’s not?
Well count me shocked! Shocked, I say!
Cohen for Congress!