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Peter Higgins In Memoriam
On Sunday, January 3, 2010, Peter B. Higgins III, the chairman of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency, former secretary and Business Administrator to the Harrison Board of Education, and former Councilman of Harrison's 4th Ward passed peacefully after battling throat cancer. Peter's obituary reminded us of how special a person Pete was. Peter's influence on Harrison goes well beyond the accomplishments set forth in his obituary. His legacy will continue to unfold for years to come. Peter was Mayor Raymond McDonough's right hand man, an adviser, and confidant. Peter was sought out by developers due to his integral role in the redevelopment of Harrison and his notable role in the decision making.
Erik Stover, the managing Director of the Red Bulls, stated in the Red Bulls blog that quite simply the reason the New York Red Bulls have a new home inHarrison was because of Peter Higgins. Stover credits Peter's vision and leadership as the guiding force through numerousdifficulties.<< MORE >>
Record Special Meeting for 2009
Mayor Raymond McDonough has scheduled a special meeting for this Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Off the Agenda at least the published Agenda is the repeal of the Parking Garage Ordinance and salary increases for Town workers. The published Agenda however is subject to change so one will only know at the meeting if anything is added onto the Agenda.
This year has seen a record number of Special Meetings. November and December's Mayor & Council regular meetings have been canceled and replaced with Special meetings. Thursday's meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and there appears that there is no Caucus portion. The meeting will start right at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of Harrison Town Hall located at 318 Harrison Avenue, Harrison NJ.
The Agenda for the meeting is available by clicking here.
Off the Agenda at least the published Agenda is the repeal of the Parking Garage Ordinance and salary increases for Town workers. The published Agenda however is subject to change so one will only know at the meeting if anything is added onto the Agenda.
This year has seen a record number of Special Meetings. November and December's Mayor & Council regular meetings have been canceled and replaced with Special meetings. Thursday's meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and there appears that there is no Caucus portion. The meeting will start right at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of Harrison Town Hall located at 318 Harrison Avenue, Harrison NJ.
The Agenda for the meeting is available by clicking here.
Lights Out:Town Hall Goes Dark
The Lights were out tonight at Harrison's Town Hall as Mayor Raymond McDonough canceled tonight's regularly scheduled December 1, 2009 Mayor & Council
meeting.
On the Agenda were several items including the proposed adoption of a revised salary ordinance reflecting pay increases for town workers. It was expected that a large group of residents were going to be in attendance.
The official word was that the Mayor was going town to Trenton to seek ... << MORE >>
On the Agenda were several items including the proposed adoption of a revised salary ordinance reflecting pay increases for town workers. It was expected that a large group of residents were going to be in attendance.
The official word was that the Mayor was going town to Trenton to seek ... << MORE >>
Crucial Decision on Tuesday
Harrison's Mayor Raymond McDonough faces the toughest decision of his political career on Tuesday, December 1, 2009. The Mayor & Council are scheduled to meet and discuss Ordinances which will retroactively increase town worker salaries.
Governor Jon Corzine and Governor Elect Chris Christie have announced that there will be additional cuts to the aid to municipalities. Governor Corzine plans to cut municipal aid to make up a 1 billion dollar state budget deficit. Governor-elect Christie's transition team in a statement released to the press stated,"These budget shortfalls make it clear that the Corzine administrationmust take urgent and immediate action to bring the budget under control". Governor Corzine apparently agrees and is moving to make the cuts before he leaves office.
I previously suggested that Mayor McDonough ask town workers to forgo pay increases. The Town of Harrison taxpayers simply cannot afford any higher taxes. With record unemployment, State aid being cut to towns and school districts, and millions in bond interest payments coming due in 2010, Mayor McDonough must use his political will power and convince town workers that they cannot get retroactive pay raises. Not this year. The economy simply cannot support town worker pay increases. Other towns plan to lay off workers to trim their budgets. The Town of Harrison is no longer immune to State budget cuts to municipalities and school districts.
A look at the town's salary ordinance reveals that in some politically appointed positions, Mayor McDonough has rewarded some with salaries higher than those that the private sector would support. If town workers get pay increases, it is unlikely that Governor-elect Christie will look favorably on Harrison. The excesses of the past simply won't be tolerated by New Jersey's new governor. A salary freeze would go a long way to show the new Governor that Harrison is serious about doing its part to solve the State's 1 Billion Dollar budget deficit.
I strongly urge Mayor McDonough to table the salary ordinance. Call a meeting of the Union bargaining units and discuss a negotiated freeze of salary increases until the town and the state's economy can support those increases. If Mayor McDonough does nothing and passes the salary ordinance, the new year will bring forced layoffs of town workers. Those less politically connected will undoubtedly be the first to go.
Asking workers to forgo pay increases isn't a popular statement with town workers or in the private sector. The reality however is that many town residents have been out of work and/or underemployed for over a year. Town workers should be thankful for what they have already. In the past year in a half, my office has been dealing with the economic storm that has hit our country, state and town. Residents are not attending town meetings because they suddenly found this website or Joe Wood's website, www.HarrisonMeetings.com, or because of what Councilmembers Steve and Marie McCormick have stated publically about the town's finances. Harrison Residents are attending town meetings because they are unemployed, their tenants are unemployed and they cannot make their mortgage payments and Harrison's property taxes, school taxes, and water/sewer bills keep going up. The town cannot afford town worker pay increases. Irreparable harm will be done to town residents if Mayor McDonough and the council continue to ignore the worse economic meltdown since the Great Depression.
Attend Tuesday's Mayor & Council meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Join me at the Caucus at 6:30 p.m. on the Third Floor or if you can't make 6:30 p.m., at 7:00 p.m. or as soon as you can make it, on the Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor. Let's see if Mayor McDonough ignores the red light in front of him and goes through the intersection. If McDonough's decision only effected him I wouldn't care but his decision to take the red light effects every resident in Harrison including town workers he says he's helping.
Governor Jon Corzine and Governor Elect Chris Christie have announced that there will be additional cuts to the aid to municipalities. Governor Corzine plans to cut municipal aid to make up a 1 billion dollar state budget deficit. Governor-elect Christie's transition team in a statement released to the press stated,"These budget shortfalls make it clear that the Corzine administrationmust take urgent and immediate action to bring the budget under control". Governor Corzine apparently agrees and is moving to make the cuts before he leaves office.
I previously suggested that Mayor McDonough ask town workers to forgo pay increases. The Town of Harrison taxpayers simply cannot afford any higher taxes. With record unemployment, State aid being cut to towns and school districts, and millions in bond interest payments coming due in 2010, Mayor McDonough must use his political will power and convince town workers that they cannot get retroactive pay raises. Not this year. The economy simply cannot support town worker pay increases. Other towns plan to lay off workers to trim their budgets. The Town of Harrison is no longer immune to State budget cuts to municipalities and school districts.
A look at the town's salary ordinance reveals that in some politically appointed positions, Mayor McDonough has rewarded some with salaries higher than those that the private sector would support. If town workers get pay increases, it is unlikely that Governor-elect Christie will look favorably on Harrison. The excesses of the past simply won't be tolerated by New Jersey's new governor. A salary freeze would go a long way to show the new Governor that Harrison is serious about doing its part to solve the State's 1 Billion Dollar budget deficit.
I strongly urge Mayor McDonough to table the salary ordinance. Call a meeting of the Union bargaining units and discuss a negotiated freeze of salary increases until the town and the state's economy can support those increases. If Mayor McDonough does nothing and passes the salary ordinance, the new year will bring forced layoffs of town workers. Those less politically connected will undoubtedly be the first to go.
Asking workers to forgo pay increases isn't a popular statement with town workers or in the private sector. The reality however is that many town residents have been out of work and/or underemployed for over a year. Town workers should be thankful for what they have already. In the past year in a half, my office has been dealing with the economic storm that has hit our country, state and town. Residents are not attending town meetings because they suddenly found this website or Joe Wood's website, www.HarrisonMeetings.com, or because of what Councilmembers Steve and Marie McCormick have stated publically about the town's finances. Harrison Residents are attending town meetings because they are unemployed, their tenants are unemployed and they cannot make their mortgage payments and Harrison's property taxes, school taxes, and water/sewer bills keep going up. The town cannot afford town worker pay increases. Irreparable harm will be done to town residents if Mayor McDonough and the council continue to ignore the worse economic meltdown since the Great Depression.
Attend Tuesday's Mayor & Council meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Join me at the Caucus at 6:30 p.m. on the Third Floor or if you can't make 6:30 p.m., at 7:00 p.m. or as soon as you can make it, on the Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor. Let's see if Mayor McDonough ignores the red light in front of him and goes through the intersection. If McDonough's decision only effected him I wouldn't care but his decision to take the red light effects every resident in Harrison including town workers he says he's helping.
Christie Change Is Coming
| N.J. Governor-elect Christie tells local officials to expect 'a continued period of pain' |
DailyHarrison: Pinho Blasts Mayor's Move
DailyHarrison.com has on its front page an article entitled "Pinho Blasts Mayor's Move" with a great picture of Mayor McDonough, United States Senator Robert Menendez and State Senator Richard Codey at the Red Bulls Stadium. It got my attention and I am sure the attention of others.
It is not my intention to "blast" Mayor McDonough. I have a great deal of respect for Mayor McDonough and all politicians (and what they have to do on a daily basis) to blast any one of them. I believe that Mayor McDonough's intentions when he set out to "Redevelop" Harrison were genuine. Remember, I was there at the beginning of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency as one of initial Commissioners. Unfortunately, the Mayor's good intentions were sidetracked. Harrison residents will pay for the poor planning. There however is still hope that things can be turned around for the better.
The achilles heal in the McDonough's Administration is that those close to him are "Yesing" him every opportunity they can looking out for their own self interests. In other words, instead of expressing their opinions they are agreeing with the Mayor so long as it does not effect them. That has made for some poorly thought out decisions. The repeal of the Parking Lot Ordinance is such a decision. The Town's outside counsel is happy with the proposed decision as his firm will be billing the town thousands of dollars per month to defend the litigation that will be filed the day after the town passes the ordinance.
Mayor McDonough has always been cordial and respectful to me. I have always done the same. We may disagree but its not personal. I have been involved in several campaigns for and against Mayor McDonough and his team and I respect what he has accomplished both politically and personally. I have even a higher regard for the person who hand picked Mayor McDonough to be the nominee to succeed him in the Mayor's seat, the late Mayor Frank E. Rodgers. Rodgers obviously is a very tough act to follow. You do not get elected every two years for over forty years unless you have touched people's lives in a genuine way. My parents have a Frank E. Rodgers sign protected with clear plastic hanging in their basement. My father has stated on occasion that he is going to hang it on the porch someday so people can vote for Frank E. Rodgers again. Rodgers would fix this mess.
It struck me the other day that McDonough was repealing the Parking Ordinance devised by Mayor Frank E. Rodgers to generate some income for Harrison from daily commuters. What would Mayor Rodgers think of all that has transpired since he stepped down as the longest sitting Mayor in the United States. Would he happy that the Guyon Industrial Complex had been torned down and a soccer stadium was built without a property lease in place that would generate enough revenue to pay the interest on the bond that insured the stadium would be built? Would he be happy that one of the few green spaces in town, the John F. Kennedy Stadium along the Passaic River, was sold to a developer to build housing and they have failed to complete the project as promised? Would he be happy that long time business and property owners were evicted and had to fight to receive proper compensation from outside developers and now the "redevelopers" are stalling, changing plans, and asking for more assistance? Would he be happy that the salary ordinance for the town of Harrison has a parking meter attendant making more than most Harrison Police Officers? Would he be happy to see Mayor McDonough and council members walking out of town meetings when simple questions are asked?
Mayor McDonough and his team must ask themselves, What would Mayor Rodgers do? Mayor Rodgers would first call Governor-elect Chris Christie to congratulate him on his election victory and offer his best wishes. He would then call Governor Corzine and express his dismay at his loss and offer any assistance he could give to Governor Corzine in the future. He would then have his secretary call me and arrange a visit to his office on the Third Floor of town hall. As soon as I sat down in the sinking guest chair, he would ask about my parents. "How are they doing? Please let them know I was asking about them." He then would ask about "my lovely wife". Mayor Rodgers knew what was important: Family. Mayor Rodger's extended family was the people of the Town of Harrison. He touched countless lives in varying degrees. Rodgers would then ask me why I was upset with him. He would then listen. Listening is a lost art.
Why am I upset with Mayor McDonough? Simply put he has lost his way. Harrison is not about outside "Redevelopers". Harrison is about folks like my parents who are blue collar hardworking individuals who moved to Harrison for great police protection, a good education for their children, great garbage collection services, thorough and efficient Department of Public Works and great neighbors of various ethnic cultures. Look around and you will see that all of these services are suffering despite ever increasing property taxes. The residents cannot afford town employees to get pay raises. The residents cannot afford to have the police department understaffed. The residents cannot afford more money being handed to redevelopers in the form of concessions. Mayor McDonough must take decisive action to save Harrison. Mayor McDonough must be Harrison's leader. Tough decisions must be made in the face of the nation's worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and in the face of some questionable decisions and deals made by his administration.
If it sounds like I am blasting the Mayor, forgive me. I am simply trying to get his attention before it is too late. If more of his friends told him the truth and lent him support Harrison would be a lot better in the years to come.
It is not my intention to "blast" Mayor McDonough. I have a great deal of respect for Mayor McDonough and all politicians (and what they have to do on a daily basis) to blast any one of them. I believe that Mayor McDonough's intentions when he set out to "Redevelop" Harrison were genuine. Remember, I was there at the beginning of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency as one of initial Commissioners. Unfortunately, the Mayor's good intentions were sidetracked. Harrison residents will pay for the poor planning. There however is still hope that things can be turned around for the better.
The achilles heal in the McDonough's Administration is that those close to him are "Yesing" him every opportunity they can looking out for their own self interests. In other words, instead of expressing their opinions they are agreeing with the Mayor so long as it does not effect them. That has made for some poorly thought out decisions. The repeal of the Parking Lot Ordinance is such a decision. The Town's outside counsel is happy with the proposed decision as his firm will be billing the town thousands of dollars per month to defend the litigation that will be filed the day after the town passes the ordinance.
Mayor McDonough has always been cordial and respectful to me. I have always done the same. We may disagree but its not personal. I have been involved in several campaigns for and against Mayor McDonough and his team and I respect what he has accomplished both politically and personally. I have even a higher regard for the person who hand picked Mayor McDonough to be the nominee to succeed him in the Mayor's seat, the late Mayor Frank E. Rodgers. Rodgers obviously is a very tough act to follow. You do not get elected every two years for over forty years unless you have touched people's lives in a genuine way. My parents have a Frank E. Rodgers sign protected with clear plastic hanging in their basement. My father has stated on occasion that he is going to hang it on the porch someday so people can vote for Frank E. Rodgers again. Rodgers would fix this mess.
It struck me the other day that McDonough was repealing the Parking Ordinance devised by Mayor Frank E. Rodgers to generate some income for Harrison from daily commuters. What would Mayor Rodgers think of all that has transpired since he stepped down as the longest sitting Mayor in the United States. Would he happy that the Guyon Industrial Complex had been torned down and a soccer stadium was built without a property lease in place that would generate enough revenue to pay the interest on the bond that insured the stadium would be built? Would he be happy that one of the few green spaces in town, the John F. Kennedy Stadium along the Passaic River, was sold to a developer to build housing and they have failed to complete the project as promised? Would he be happy that long time business and property owners were evicted and had to fight to receive proper compensation from outside developers and now the "redevelopers" are stalling, changing plans, and asking for more assistance? Would he be happy that the salary ordinance for the town of Harrison has a parking meter attendant making more than most Harrison Police Officers? Would he be happy to see Mayor McDonough and council members walking out of town meetings when simple questions are asked?
Mayor McDonough and his team must ask themselves, What would Mayor Rodgers do? Mayor Rodgers would first call Governor-elect Chris Christie to congratulate him on his election victory and offer his best wishes. He would then call Governor Corzine and express his dismay at his loss and offer any assistance he could give to Governor Corzine in the future. He would then have his secretary call me and arrange a visit to his office on the Third Floor of town hall. As soon as I sat down in the sinking guest chair, he would ask about my parents. "How are they doing? Please let them know I was asking about them." He then would ask about "my lovely wife". Mayor Rodgers knew what was important: Family. Mayor Rodger's extended family was the people of the Town of Harrison. He touched countless lives in varying degrees. Rodgers would then ask me why I was upset with him. He would then listen. Listening is a lost art.
Why am I upset with Mayor McDonough? Simply put he has lost his way. Harrison is not about outside "Redevelopers". Harrison is about folks like my parents who are blue collar hardworking individuals who moved to Harrison for great police protection, a good education for their children, great garbage collection services, thorough and efficient Department of Public Works and great neighbors of various ethnic cultures. Look around and you will see that all of these services are suffering despite ever increasing property taxes. The residents cannot afford town employees to get pay raises. The residents cannot afford to have the police department understaffed. The residents cannot afford more money being handed to redevelopers in the form of concessions. Mayor McDonough must take decisive action to save Harrison. Mayor McDonough must be Harrison's leader. Tough decisions must be made in the face of the nation's worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and in the face of some questionable decisions and deals made by his administration.
If it sounds like I am blasting the Mayor, forgive me. I am simply trying to get his attention before it is too late. If more of his friends told him the truth and lent him support Harrison would be a lot better in the years to come.
Video: November 17th Special Meeting
Joe Wood has posted video of the November 17th Special Meeting on his website.
You can follow this link to his HarrisonMeetings website. Joe has broken the meeting into three parts.
I am very impressed by Joe Wood's maturity and instinct at council meetings. It is not easy to stand up and ask questions and make statements at a Harrison Council meeting. The overreaction Council members Larry Bennett, James Doran, Francisco Nascimento and Mayor McDonough<< MORE >>
Public Parking Garages Under Attack
Mayor Raymond McDonough and six of eight council members voted this afternoon to introduce Ordinance 1223 which will repeal Town Ordinance 886 was adopted on March 2, 1993 to regulate Public Parking Garages in the Town of Harrison. The Ordinance was the only item on the agenda.<< MORE >>
Commuters:Special Meeting Tuesday
Mayor Raymond McDonough canceled the regular November 5th Mayor & Council meeting stating that the Special meeting of October 26, 2009 had dealt with all pending town business. Apparently, Mayor McDonough was mistaken or he was simply misleading the public.
Mayor McDonough has scheduled yet another Special Meeting. This meeting is set for 4 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. Yes, you read it correctly 4 p.m. The last special meeting was for 6 p.m. and a crowd of vocal residents showed up so, the Mayor has moved the meeting to 4 p.m. to insure their is no public input to "close down some parking garages". Well, it isn't exactly clear what will be on the Agenda for the Special Meeting because the Agenda on the town's website simply states AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBER 886 REGARDING PUBLIC PARKING LOTS IN THE TOWN OF HARRISON. The proposed Ordinance, however, was not provided.
<< MORE >>
Harrison To Pay for Red Bull Lighting
The Harrison Redevelopment Agency authorized tonight the payment of three invoices from PSE&G totaling over $698,000.00 for "buydown of poles, brackets and shrouds and ... cost of construction" for street poles and lights along Guyon Avenue, Cape May Street, and South Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. The Resolution was passed without discussion by the Commissioners or input from the public.
The preamble to the Resolution stated that "pursuant to the Rider to the Redevelopment Agreement between the Agency and Advance at Harrison LLC ("Advance") the Agency is responsible to reimburse Advance for the "Stadium's Pro Rata Share" of Infrastructure costs, up to a maximum of $8,000,000".
Councilman Steve McCormick attended the meeting as a member of the public and attempted once again to ask Town Attorney and Redevelopment Agency attorney Greg Castano (Sr.) about the legality of the Agency's policy of not allowing members of the public to ask questions or speak at Redevelopment Agency meetings. << MORE >>
The preamble to the Resolution stated that "pursuant to the Rider to the Redevelopment Agreement between the Agency and Advance at Harrison LLC ("Advance") the Agency is responsible to reimburse Advance for the "Stadium's Pro Rata Share" of Infrastructure costs, up to a maximum of $8,000,000".
Councilman Steve McCormick attended the meeting as a member of the public and attempted once again to ask Town Attorney and Redevelopment Agency attorney Greg Castano (Sr.) about the legality of the Agency's policy of not allowing members of the public to ask questions or speak at Redevelopment Agency meetings. << MORE >>
