Posted by Just say no to your tax dollars getting spent on their flings on September 21, 2004 at 13:43:10:

Jersey City fined for failure to file reports

Thursday, September 16, 2004

By Earl Morgan
Journal staff writer

The state Department of Health has ordered Jersey City to cough up $105,000 in fines for failing to file state-required reports on hazardous substances in public buildings, officials said.

Jersey City Corporation Counsel Hope Blackburn confirmed that state health officials ordered the city to pay the money - the result of $2,000-a-day fines the city compiled beginning March 1, 2002.

Blackburn said she has contacted state officials to ask that-the Department of Health decrease or suspend the penalties, since efforts are being made to conform with the law that requires municipalities to survey and catalog all hazardous materials stored or used in public buildings.

"I've been talking to state officials about the situation to see what can be done," Blackburn said.

Daniel McMann, who works for the Jersey City Health Department, had been tasked with keeping the reports up to date. Jersey City's Health and Human Services Director Sergio Lamboy had apparently taken steps to either replace or discipline McMann after receiving complaints from state officials about the situation, but McMann is still a city employee after Assemblyman Louis Manzo, D-Jersey City, came to McMann's defense.

Manzo, who also is a candidate for Jersey City mayor, said he became involved in the issue because McMann was hired on his recommendation in 2001.

Lamboy said he attempted to take action against McMann after angry state officials notified the city that after five letters, 11 phone calls, and several meetings between November 2002 and March 2003, the city still wasn't in compliance with state regulations. In February, the city was notified that it was being fined $5,000 for failing to file the reports on five city owned-buildings. The city also faced an additional $2,000-a-day penalty, beginning March 1, for every day the reports were not submitted.

Jersey City Director of Health Joe Gestagna said he has hired several additional people to work with McMann to comply with the state's requirements.

Manzo contends that Jersey City is being unjustly penalized by the state because the fines were levied against the municipality even though officials in Trenton knew the city had no program in place to comply with the "Right To Know" mandate.

"I've talked to people over at the state Department of Health and they told me the fines will probably be dropped," Manzo said.

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: Jersey City fined for failure to file reports 

: Thursday, September 16, 2004

: By Earl Morgan
: Journal staff writer 

: The state Department of Health has ordered Jersey City to cough up $105,000 in fines for failing to file state-required reports on hazardous substances in public buildings, officials said. 

: Jersey City Corporation Counsel Hope Blackburn confirmed that state health officials ordered the city to pay the money - the result of $2,000-a-day fines the city compiled beginning March 1, 2002. 

:  
: Blackburn said she has contacted state officials to ask that-the Department of Health decrease or suspend the penalties, since efforts are being made to conform with the law that requires municipalities to survey and catalog all hazardous materials stored or used in public buildings. 

: "I've been talking to state officials about the situation to see what can be done," Blackburn said. 

: Daniel McMann, who works for the Jersey City Health Department, had been tasked with keeping the reports up to date. Jersey City's Health and Human Services Director Sergio Lamboy had apparently taken steps to either replace or discipline McMann after receiving complaints from state officials about the situation, but McMann is still a city employee after Assemblyman Louis Manzo, D-Jersey City, came to McMann's defense. 

: Manzo, who also is a candidate for Jersey City mayor, said he became involved in the issue because McMann was hired on his recommendation in 2001. 

: Lamboy said he attempted to take action against McMann after angry state officials notified the city that after five letters, 11 phone calls, and several meetings between November 2002 and March 2003, the city still wasn't in compliance with state regulations. In February, the city was notified that it was being fined $5,000 for failing to file the reports on five city owned-buildings. The city also faced an additional $2,000-a-day penalty, beginning March 1, for every day the reports were not submitted. 

: Jersey City Director of Health Joe Gestagna said he has hired several additional people to work with McMann to comply with the state's requirements. 

: Manzo contends that Jersey City is being unjustly penalized by the state because the fines were levied against the municipality even though officials in Trenton knew the city had no program in place to comply with the "Right To Know" mandate. 

: "I've talked to people over at the state Department of Health and they told me the fines will probably be dropped," Manzo said. 


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