Council Majority Starts Implementing New Laws

The Hoboken City Council didn't waste any time on Friday afternoon, after the of incumbents and new councilwoman Jennifer Giattino. Besides —which happened fairly quickly—the council spend 4,5 hours discussing other city business on Friday afternoon.

Among the topics discussed, were some ordinances that were passed on first reading. Ordinances are not discussed by the public on first reading. Some of the new laws introduced are:

• The suggestion of moving the municipal council elections to November. The reason behind the move is to increase voter turn out, because the November election often coincides with the election of a governor, senator or president. Because Hoboken's municipal council and mayoral elections are non partisan, they take place in May. This is not the first time the subject has come up. . Third Ward Councilman said that he wanted to have more information about the matter. "We may have a May and a November in the same year," he said.
• In a 5-4 vote, the council approved an ordinance on first reading to remove the residency requirement, which requires city workers to live in town. "I am vehemently against this," Russo said, and voted "no way."
• Two new ordinances regarding so-called "anti-wheeling" legislation—which limits the amount of money that can be donated through political committees—passed 6-3, with Russo being the only minority council member to vote for them on first reading. The ordinances were introduced by Fifth Ward Councilman Peter Cunningham, who said, "I’d respectfully request we pass both of them."
• Also back on the agenda on Friday afternoon, were the much-discussed parking spaces that are desginated to corner cars. The council s but never established the parking spots by ordinance, which is the legal way to establish a permanent parking spot. 
• An ordinance to change the table of organization in the police department passed 5-4, with the council minority members all voting "no."

More stories on the meeting will follow.