The typo said that they wouldn't be able to sell liquor between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m, but it was soon corrected.
"The only thing that was changed was to require that containers having alcoholic beverages be off the table and cleared by 2 a.m., and that last call be at 1:30 a.m.," said Christine Vanik, attorney for the Union City Board of Commissioners. "The whole point is to have every thing closed up by 2 a.m. as far as alcoholic beverages are concerned."
Vanik said that a recent court decision led a judge to suggest that the city amend the ordinance.
Hotels and private clubs (like the Elks Club and the Cuban Lions Club) can stay open past these hours, but they cannot sell alcoholic beverages. According to Sgt. Richard Rhodes, there are four such club licensees in Union City.
The ordinance will be up for final adoption at next week's meeting on Sept. 18 at the Jose Marti Middle School at 7 p.m. The commissioners' meetings are moved around the city throughout the year in the attempt to give more residents a chance to participate.
During the public response portion of the meeting, members of the audience thanked the board for the clarification of the hours of the liquor sale ordinance.
Outdoor dining on a trial basis
Also at the meeting, the commissioners passed an ordinance to allow outdoor dining in part of town on a temporary basis to see how it works.
The ordinance applies to "any person, firm, corporation or organization with frontage on Park Avenue from 49th Street to South Marginal Highway and on Broadway from 49th to 45th streets ... from May 1st to Oct. 31st each year."
It could be extended to other commercial areas of Union City if successful.
Parking spots and bus stops
The council also voted on an ordinance to prohibit parking on the north end 22nd Street by Kennedy Boulevard, where the new Early Childhood Center just opened.
There was also an ordinance approved to place "bus/commuter vehicle stops" on the west side of Park Avenue from the northwest corner 43rd Street in a northwest direction and extending 100 feet.
An ordinance was introduced to place a "bus/commuter vehicle stop" along 32nd Street westbound on the northern side of Summit Avenue, beginning at the prolongation of the westerly curb line of Summit Avenue and extending 100 feet westerly.
Affordable housing
Another ordinance granted a tax abatement for an affordable housing building at 116-118 49th St. It will contain 52 units. According to the board, the developer will contribute $21,000 a year to the affordable housing municipal fund, which equals about 5 percent of his revenue.
Introduced but not yet passed
There were also several ordinances introduced at the meeting that will be up for a final vote next week. One of them changes the amounts of a bond ordinance for Union City that was adopted Dec. 19, 2006 for park construction.
The amended appropriation and bond authorization for the new construction of Doric Water Park is $6,060,000, and $180,000 goes to the reconstruction of the 39th Street Skate Park.
Resolutions approved
There were also a total of 33 items on the consent agenda, which is an agenda that the commissioners can vote on all at once. Among them:
· Union City resident Mirta Cairo was appointed to the Union City Library Board.
· The city requested $600,000 in state Green Acres funds for the expansion of Doric Temple Park.
· The city amended Neact Software's contract for development of a town website. According to the amendment, Neact submitted a proposal to develop a website for Union City at a cost of $17,900. The company will now host the website for $185 per month, and perform additional work and services for $399 per month. Union City currently has a website, and Neact Software has been awarded the contract to revamp and maintain it.
· A contract for about $2.2 million for construction of the new public amphitheatre on the corner of 39th Street and Park Avenue was approved.
· A contract for $138,271 for renovations to the Bruce Walter Recreation Center was approved.
· A resolution officially authorized and designated the island located at 30th Street across from the main post office as "Liberty Plaza," which was inaugurated last Tuesday as the city's new 9/11 memorial site.
· A resolution named Bergenline Avenue between 18th and 19th streets as "FF. Vincent Neglia Way" in honor of local firefighter Vincent Neglia, who died in the line of duty in 2006.
Other business
There were also resolutions approving raffle licenses for several churches and schools, a resolution rejecting the low bidder for the Doric Temple Park project, a resolution temporarily waiving the application fee for outdoor dining permits, and a resolution authorizing $450 payment to a contractor for emergency electrical repairs at 1307 Bergenline Ave., which were needed due to fire damage.
There was also a resolution authorizing the private sale of municipal equipment no longer in use including a 1998 Ford E350 Ambulance, police radio speakers, and light bar domes, among other things.
Since the 2007 municipal budget is still delayed, the board passed a resolution authorizing an additional $6,138,191 in emergency temporary appropriations to cover various expenses.
During the public portion of the meeting, residents stated personal inconveniences around their neighborhoods including neighbors not picking up after their pets. Jessica Rosero can be reached at jrosero@hudsonreporter.com
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