Meet the Hollywood Hoboken Squares

Here's the story of a lovely Council... Welcome to the new normal. 

Thanks to Stevens Institute of Technology for providing Hoboken with use of their zoom web conference program, and for all participating council members, plus Hoboken's city clerk, corporation counsel, assistant business administrator, and support staff who will keep the wheels of government turning through this crisis.   Hoboken residents really appreciate it.  

The only thing missing from this formula is real-time public comment.  However, the public was invited to email or call in comments, statements (max. 2 min.) and questions no later than 3 PM yesterday. They were read aloud at the meeting by Council President Jen Giattino.

EMAIL: cityclerk@hobokennj.gov 

CALL:  201-420-2000 Ext. 2004

Except for real-time public comment, I personally like this format: everyone is on camera and in Hollywood Squares fashion, one 'box' lights up at a time for whomever has the mic.  You can also see clearly who's engaged in the meeting and who's half-there; one council member seemed to repeatedly smile/giggle at something off-camera.  

It's also worth noting that no one has the appetite for political hijinks.  Well, except for one councilperson...

...who came prepared with remarks asking to pull the vote on transferring  "appointing authority" to Assistant B.A. Jason Freeman, and "appropriate authority" to Chief Resilience Officer Caleb Stratton. These "authority" transfers are simply administrative functions that were held by former B.A. Stephen Marks; one permits the signing of personnel forms, the other permits the civil service right to sign off on public safety matters. There is simply no logic in delaying these authorities other than to disrupt city operations during a pandemic.

But instead of pulling the vote, the council chose to allow transfer of authorities, then revisit in one month.  In other words, no one wanted to argue with one obstructionist nitwit who seemed to believe that these two authorities would add to the city's payroll.   They don't. 

So, as each Hoboken household struggles to re-invent our daily routines amidst this surreal situation, it is comforting to see that our government is working, working, working, and in our best interest together.  Politics can wait.  The full agenda with supporting docs is posted below. 

2020-03-18 Hoboken City Council - Full Agenda by GrafixAvenger on Scribd