Bayonne Council President and mayoral challenger Sharon Ashe Nadrowski clashed with her colleagues at a marathon meeting that went for nearly five hours Wednesday night, pushing for more transparency over late add-on agenda items.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“As members of the city council, it is our job to work for people and to serve them. To invite residents to a public meeting and then not hear their points of view is just plain wrong,” she said in a statement.
“Not only was the public denied the right to speak, they were denied the right to even know what was on the full agenda of the administration.”
Nadrowski fought to prevent a dozen add-on measures from entering the fold after 11 p.m., but was unsuccessful in getting an extra public comment section added and adjourning the meeting before the new agenda items were considered.
All of the add-ons, which included measures such as the first readings of the Marist High Schoo and former Caschem chemical plant Redevelopment Plans, as well as designating the former Texaco property as an area of redevelopment.
Each add-on item was approved 3-0(1), with 2nd Ward Councilman Sal Gullace absent. Nadrowski said she abstained since she was unable to review any of the resolutions of documents prior to the vote.
“This is why people lose trust in government. The public is not even aware that we are
considering these additions and we, as council members, have not even had the opportunity to review them. This is not a transparent or effective government,” she added.
Law Director Jay Coffey mentioned that having fewer add-on items would make his job easier, while 3rd Ward Councilman Gary La Pelusa said he would not be voting for add-on items the council couldn’t review in detail starting next month.
