Council Meet Preview
Feb 8th, 2010 | By Greg Hazley | Category: On tap, SecaucusCorrected info on new rec center rates – The Secaucus mayor and council are slated to take up several issues at Tuesday night’s public meeting, including a proposed zoning measure to require buffers between industrial buildings and roads or residences, a crackdown on rental fees for dumpsters and a new month-to-month rate for the recreation center that includes opening the facilities to non residents who work in town.
As currently configured, an ordinance set to be heard Feb. 9 would set a new embership rate for the controversial rec center of $375 (plus a $25 registration fee) for people who work, but don’t live, in Secaucus.
Individual adult memberships, $299/year or $30 a month for residents, will be $45 per month under a monthly plan. The basic family plan (two adults), $55 a month on a yearly basis for residents, will be $75 per month, and the plan that adds children would be $80, rather than the $60 per month for residents.
Residents who sign up for a year are unchanged.
Also on tap for the rec center is the appointment of a new fitness instructor at the rate of $40 per class.
In other business, the council is also poised to award Flanagan Productions of Secaucus a contract for videography in order to broadcast its public meetings on TV. That move comes after a protracted process that ended with two proposals to the town late last year.
Several professional services contracts are up for approval, following an effort by the mayor and council to cut costs in that area.
Also on the agenda are two appointments to the department of public works: Kevin O’Connor is expected to be approved as assistant superintendent and Albert Kosky is on tap to become full-time foreperson of the DPW’s motor pool. The governing body has taken criticism for last month’s promotion of Charles Snyder to DPW superintendent.
An ordinance slated for vote and mentioned last month by Mayor Mike Gonnelli as part of a goal to improve the town’s aesthetics and green space would require a 25-foot landscaped buffer zone between an industrial or “light industrial” building and a road or residence.
Another ordinance to be considered would allow the mayor and council to add unpaid dumpster rental fees as a lien to be paid against property owned in town by the renter. Basically, the fee would be added to their next tax bill.
Ordinances for public hearing/adoption include a measure to eliminate cash payments for taxes in the wake of the tax collector’s office scandal last year, and other that would create a new number two position of chief of detectives in the police department. The change would move the deputy chief of police under the new position.
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All we keep hearing is how bad the Rec Center aka “Wreck Center” is and now they are gonna raise the cost of joining. Allowing non residents who work in town to join is a good idea but I can not understand how you can raise the cost of a horrible fitness facility when a new LA Fitness is opening in town
Those rates are reasonable, especially compared to the dues for places like Quest and LAFitness and NY Sport Club.
I love the buffer zone rule, tho. We’ve needed that for years!
I pay $230 a year right now at another gym (a lot more equipment but with no swimming pool). I was thinking about joining the gym in town for convenience at the higher $30 (299) price but there is no way for me to join at the new price, one membership would cost the same as the two of us combined right now.
It’s a complete joke. $45 a month for a place that doesnt even give you a complete workout? Bally’s is like 33 a month. There are other smaller gyms just over the river in Bergen County that are MUCH less money, but with ALL THE CORRECT EQUIPMENT for people who’d really like to work out. AND, these other gyms have knowledgeable fitness instructors and trainers there, not some idiots who got their jobs because of who they know…….what a disaster….see what happens when government gets into businesses it shouldnt be in?
I hope Elwell is enjoying the kickbacks he got from allowing this white elephant to be built……
I believe the fees are unchanged for residents if you pay annually.
I can not beleive DaveP actually liked an idea by Take Back Secaucus guys!!!
Billy, I’ll give credit when its due. My only allegiance is my tax bill and a good quality of life in town. If TBS are the guys to do it, so be it. But I’m not a blind follower (and not suggesting that you are, either).
I belong to the rec center. I am terribly disappointed in the facilities the lockers are all locked. Pool is unavalable at peak hours. Equipment is sub-standard and absoutly not enough. Raise the fee and let people from out of town in, and everyone including me will go to LA Fitness $55 per month and a state of the art facility. TV’s on every machine a pool which you can us any time plus snack bar etc. If I was the town council I would think long and hard!
I was thinking about joining the rec ctr but not now. I agree with above posters I could go somewhere else for the $
I screwed up this story a bit. The higher rates are for the month-to-month members. Year-long resident rates will remain the same. Sorry about that. Story is corrected above.