The special meeting of the Hudson County Board of Commissioners to approve a nearly $33.7 million contract to renovate HVAC systems at the historic William Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City has been cancelled again.
By Dan Israel/Hudson County View
“[Jersey City] Mayor [James] Solomon requested that Hudson County postpone the commissioners meeting so that he can continue outreach to community activists,” Hudson County spokesman Mark Cygan told HCV in a statement.
“The County stands ready to move expeditiously to make Courthouse Park a reality.”
The postponement at Solomon’s request also comes at a time when he is out of state, with Business Administrator Ruby Choi serving as acting mayor, as HCV first reported.
The engineering contract would be with Wall-based Hall Construction Company, Inc. for four years for $33,693,000 for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) renovations to the historic William J. Brennan Courthouse.
At the commissioners August 13th meeting, the board first postponed voting on the resolution for the heating and cooling plant replacement for the Brennan courthouse, located at 583 Newark Ave., for the special meeting previously set for August 20th.
Amid talks with Board Chair Anthony Romano (D-5) about other dates, Commissioner Bill O’Dea said it was time-sensitive and needed to be done before September 1st.
The board ultimately agreed to do it a week earlier, Thursday August 20th at 3 p.m., after some adjustment of the time, subsequently voting unanimously (9-0) on the matter.
At the time, independent candidate for Hudson County commissioner in District 4, Dr. Aaron Weiner, spoke against the contract for the HVAC-related renovations during public comment at the board’s August 13th meeting.
He cited delays the construction would cause, since staff from the Brennan Courthouse would have to move to the Hudson County Administration Building at 595 Newark Ave. – postponing the larger move from the Administration Building to the Frank Guarini Justice Complex at 2 Central Ave.
Later in the meeting, O’Dea noted that the issue regarding Courthouse Park delays was discussed by the commissioners at that Tuesday’s caucus meeting substantially, noting there was a meeting on Tuesday, August 18th.
He said the county and Jersey City are discussing how to utilize the building while remediating asbestos to further the move from the Administration Building to the Guarini Complex, while accommodating repairs to Brennan Courthouse and not greatly delaying Courthouse Park.
He also sought confirmation the city would hold the property title after the Administration Building is demolished so they can further guide the Courthouse Park project.
Romano concluded by noting that involved stakeholders are working diligently to progress Courthouse Park.
The board was set to meet and vote on the contract on Thursday, August 20th, but that meeting was postponed to this Tuesday, August 25th at the last minute.
That prompted Weiner, who had arrived at the commissioners chambers only to find out the meeting was cancelled, to question the motives behind the postponement.
In a phone interview, Romano affirmed to HCV the meeting was moved to today, Tuesday, August 25th at 2 p.m.
Now it has happened again, but instead of scheduling, the meeting has been postponed at the request of Solomon.
HCV separately obtained a copy of an email from Hudson County Board of Commissioners Clerk Carol Jean Doyle, also the Kearny mayor indicating that Romano cancelled the meeting and “there will be no reschedule.”
