September 2, 2008 (Harrison, NJ)  After a two month hiatus, the Harrison Mayor and Council return to a full agenda for their September 2, 2008 meeting. 

Of particular interest is the proposed acceptance of a Development Agreement between the Town of Harrison and the Red Bulls.  The Red Bulls began construction of a 25,000 seat stadium on the former Guyon Steel property at the intersection of South Frank E. Rodgers Blvd and Cape May Street.  Shouldn't the Red Bulls have had approval of the Development Agreement before they started construction?  The development agreement is suppose to set forth who will be responsible for infrastructure improvements necessary for the project.  Since the redevelopment agreement was mentioned but not posted on the town's website there are no details to report at this time.  Hopefully the town clerk will post the redevelopment agreement on the town's website before tonight's meeting.

Another interesting item on the Agenda is the settlement of litigation between the owners of the Hampton Inn and the Town for overbilling of water and sewer charges.  It appears that the hotel has been overbilled to the tune of $122,510.  Quite a piece of change that needs to be made up by Harrison's taxpayers.  What other water meters in town are not working correctly?  Luckily in another resolution the town is moving funds from several capital improvement accounts dating back to 1990 totaling $197,217.96.  It makes you wonder who is auditing the books that would allow money not used for its original purpose to just sit for over 18 years in an account.  Let's hope it was an interest bearing account. 

Another item of interest is the granting of a 50 year right of way to Fiber Technology Networks (FiberTech) a New York Company for the purposes of running fiber optic cable through out the Town of Harrison.  The Right of Way agreement (unlike the Red Bulls Agreement) was attached to the meeting agenda posted on the Town's website.   

Several companies including CJUF II Harrison Holdings LLC, US Title Solutions, J&J Real Estate Development LLC are receiving refunds of overpayment of real estate taxes.  The most substantial being US Title Solutions who overpaid $31,105.80 to the town for the 2008 3rd Quarter.  The auditors at US Title Solutions are a little quicker at finding accounting errors than the town auditors.

A last item of note, is the increase in the cost of resurfacing of Cross and William Streets.  The town replaced entire sidewalks along Cross and William Streets last month.  Many residents were surprised by the town replacement of perfectly good sidewalks by A & J Contractors Group, Inc.  Some of the residents have even questioned the quality of the work.  A & J Contractors Group, Inc. is seeking an additional $58,630.76 on top of the $219, 864.00 it received already.  In a town that is supposedly financially strapped why would you spend money destroying perfectly good sidewalks to replace them with sidewalks of questionable quality.  Why would you even consider paying the contractor more money?  Some of the questions hopefully the taxpayers will get answers to at the Mayor and Council meeting.

To view of Agenda for the September 2, 2008 Harrison Mayor and Council meeting click here.