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Official release:

 For the past several weeks I have been reviewing in subcommittee Mayor Zimmer’s proposal to extend the Suez Water contract with the City of Hoboken.  My fellow finance subcommittee colleagues, Councilmembers Cunningham and Fisher and I had raised a number of concerns to the Administration – in particular the approximate $8.35 million liability that had not been previously disclosed to the public.  In an email to the Administration on August 30^th, we expressed this concern and requested a meeting with the City’s auditor to review the accounting, disclosure and appropriations treatment for the liability.  The Administration declined our request.     Read More...

The following report comes courtesy of Jeannette Josue for the Hudson County view:

The Hoboken City Council meeting was extremely heated, beginning with Mayor Dawn Zimmer going on the offensive regarding the new proposed contract with Suez Water, with several members of the council happy to return fire in a lengthy, tense exchange. First, Councilman-at-Large Ravi Bhalla recused himself while 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco attempted to ask whether he was truly conflicted or not.

From the story:

When it came to the renegotiated contract with Suez, council members had many questions and in particular for accounting, and appropriations especially with the $8.3 million liability the City that has been accruing for four years from the increasing water rates and improvement costs… “This is actual liability, and yet no one thinks to ask what it is? And you as our auditor don’t think that its meaningful enough to be disclosed?” asked 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher…. =&0=& =&1=&

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The revelations of $8.3 million in red ink owed to Suez, the contracted water vendor to the City of Hoboken came to light last night and the questions started coming fast and furious with the disclosure.

Council members raised questions wondering what’s next even with the lack of transparency from the mayor’s administration on how the red ink accumulated over four years.

Some of the council’s questions point to a possible investigation by the NJ Department of Community Affairs. In his closing remarks, Councilman Peter Cunningham gravely wondered if such an investigation would cause Hoboken further harm. Read More...

Councilman Ravi Bhalla left the dais and parked in the rear of the council chambers listening to the discussion on the failed Suez contract proposal as the public looked on. Public interests is rising as MSV saw an increase in views yesterday to over 6,200 and the mayoral race enters full swing. Mayor Zimmer upped the red ink owed Suez from $8.3 to a cool $10 million?

Talking Ed Note: MSV followed up on the never-ending Condon Affair with the NJ Department of Community Affairs. Some Bhalla campaign supporters complained sources who claimed the matter would be further reviewed by the State mentioned in an earlier “Talking Ed Note” under the next NJ governor was incorrect.

The Public Affairs office of the DCA responded to MSV’s inquiry writing:

“While we are aware of the Appellate Division’s ruling in this matter, there is no further action to report.” Read More...

Official release
REMARKS FROM MAYOR ZIMMER TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING PROPOSED SUEZ AGREEMENT
Mayor Dawn Zimmer spoke before the City Council tonight regarding the proposed renegotiated agreement with Suez Water. Her prepared remarks are below: Council Members, I am here to urge you to put politics aside and give honest and fair consideration to the proposed renegotiated contract with Suez Water.

As you have learned since we first introduced the proposed agreement nearly 2 months ago on July 11^th, the agreement includes over $31 million in capital investment and repairs for the City of Hoboken. It also includes $10 million in debt forgiveness and future savings for bulk water costs. This represents a total of over $40 million in net economic benefit for the City and its taxpayers. Read More...

Flash analysis from your friendly neighborhood Horsey on the breaking Suez WaterGate crisis

The end of a political era occurred tonight. The Hoboken mayor who looked like a shoe-in just months ago for a third term before backing out and attempting to insert Councilman Ravi Bhalla her successor, saw her legacy take a major hit before the City Council tonight.

Mayor Zimmer’s proposed Suez water contract wasn’t dead-on-arrival; it was full-fledged roadkill.

The proposed new water contract with Suez led to some aggressive council questions directed toward the administration and its consultants wanting to know how millions of dollars in bills could be hidden for years without anyone being told on the council as it accumulated. Read More...

Official release:

Hoboken friends and neighbors – Happy New School Year and welcome back!  I hope you all were able to have some enjoyment this summer.  There are a couple of important things I want to update you on, but one in particular in advance of tonight’s City Council meeting: the proposed terms for the extension and restatement of the contract between Hoboken and Suez Water for water services and the concerns I have with the proposal. Overall my concerns with the proposal are as follows (more details below):

The profitability to Suez vs. Hoboken residents – the proposed contract still has Suez keeping the majority of our water revenues which will continue to grow.

The accounting, appropriation and/or disclosure treatment of the $8.3 million liability of the City that has been accruing for four years relating to increase in water rates and system improvement costs that has not been appropriated for.

The fact that our consultant did not speak with any other potential service providers as a potential alternative.

Read More...

Karen Nason outlines her goals as mayor in the latest installment of her video series.

Each One Teach One from Macallan.Productions on Vimeo.

Tonight it’s the Hoboken City Council meeting and the countdown to Election Day means the old Mile Square City brawling will erupt sooner than later with all the marbles on the line.

Hoboken sits in a unique vantage point. Four major mayoral campaigns are vying for the top prize and three at-large council seats added to the mix makes for a volatile mixture.

Three of the four major mayoral candidates sit on the dais: Council members Mike DeFusco, Ravi Bhalla and City Council President Jen Giattino. An appearance by Freeholder Anthony “Stick”Romano can’t be ruled out and Karen Nason has been a frequent visitor to the public microphone after she announced her mayoral bid. Read More...

Official release:

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