Mason and Giacchi Vote "No" on Special Meeting

Council members Nino Giacchi and Beth Mason voted against having an emergency meeting on Tuesday night. The meeting was called by Mayor Dawn Zimmer on Monday afternoon. 

"I don't think we've ever done this before," said Mason, who arrived at the meeting 15 minutes late and missed the discussion about why the emergency meeting was needed. "I have serious issues about having this meeting at all tonight."

Corporate Counsel Michael Kates explained that the resolution—which vaguely stated that a "course of action" would be taken—could not be more specific because of potential litigation, and matters discussed in closed session. 

The council—Michael Russo and Theresa Castellano was absent, Peter Cunningham called in—was briefed by legal and environmental professionals during the closed session. According to the resolution for the closed session, litigation between S. Hekemian Group and the City of Hoboken is "anticipated."

Although Mason and Giacchi did not support the meeting, there were four votes needed to approve it.

The four members of the public who had signed up to speak agreed to wait until after closed session to make their remarks.

Council went into closed session around 7:20 p.m. 

Stay tuned for updates on this meeting and the course of action discussed.