Heat. Heat. This meeting is being held in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act of the State of New Jersey. Notice of time in place of this meeting was published in the annual meeting calendar and was posted on the bulletin board by the city clerk on se well
September 2nd 2025. I guess there was more recent than that. The uh 2026 meeting calendar 202526 meeting calendar was published in legal advertisements in the Jersey Journal and the Star Ledger in December 2024.
Additional notice of this meeting was faxed to the Bergen Record, the Trenton Times, and the Star Ledger on September 2nd, 2025. That would make sense. All right. So, um, Commissioner Fay, would you like to do the roll call?
>> Oh, we do it. It doesn't Oh, okay. See, we got to put that in here. I followed I followed this by the letter. All right. Wait, let's wait a minute. >> Sorry. Sorry. >> Jessee's on his way. >> I'm here. >> Actually, we can stand. Jessica, just jump in.
>> Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, we got to write that in here
now. >> Pledge. Okay, roll. What's that? >> I thought you do that. >> Okay. >> Commissioner Fe will now do the roll call.
>> Commissioner McGee, >> he >> Commissioner Driscoll >> present. >> Commissioner Holliva >> present. Alternates Lean >> present.
>> Alternate uh Furus >> present. >> Staff secretary Joe Ryan's absent. Council Dave uh Oeski >> present. >> We do have a quorum.
>> Did we miss? >> Yeah, we gentleman tonight. >> Yeah, he's new. He's his first meeting. >> All right. All right. Why don't we get his name down so we can add it to the minutes? Do you want to here? Just spell it on here and then I'll give that to
Lee. >> Okay. >> Commissioner Lack. like to welcome Commissioner. first meeting. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Um we now move on to adoption of minutes of previous meetings. I think
everyone received them. If we take a few minutes, we can look them over. Mr. Chairman, I make a motion we accept these minutes. >> I'll second it. >> All in favor? >> I I discussion
postponed to January. Jerry not here. I don't think we should do this. All in favor of tableabling the elections until the next meeting when um hopefully Jerry is present. All in fa do I have a second for that? >> Second. >> I'll second it.
>> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> Okay. Thank you. I think that's the best thing to do. All right. All right. Okay. Uh correspondence. >> We have no new correspondence um outside
what was given to us. Am I correct? At the uh that was mailed to us by Joe Ry. Um, and I think everything that was sent to us, the South Co development, um, KKC18
and, uh, I don't have to keep holding that. I don't know why I'm doing that. And, um, the 3436 East 31st has all been um, no commented by, so we don't have to worry about that. And we have nothing
new since um Secretary Ryan is not here. So um we can move on. All right. Request for comments from zoning board or adjustment and or planning board. Do you know what that's about? That was
something Joe put on here. Sometimes we do get uh sometimes we do get uh comments from the planning board when we discuss them, but they're none today. >> Okay. All right. Do we have any updates on historic properties?
>> Uh no, Frank. Um the properties that I'm working on the last several weeks, I was also sick, so I couldn't um focus on any of the properties I'm working on. >> Okay.
All right, we're just putting some things down so we can because Joe's not here to do minutes. So, all right, a continuation of the reorganization meeting from December 1st, election of officers. Like we said, we tabled that. Um,
is there any I mean, it'll be up really up. Anything else? I mean, >> there was one I had emailed uh Joe as well about um and I think I copied the commissioners about potential um landmark spots for
America's 250th. It was a couple months ago. I did it before the January meeting and then we just didn't have that or the February meeting. So, we could talk about that or we could table that. >> We could talk about that definitely. >> Right. I mean, since it was your idea, why not talk more about it?
>> Sorry. My concept was um that we put up plaques around Bon that the teachers could potentially use as like a field trip like a trail through Bayon historic, you know, the how America played a role, I'm
sorry, how Bayon played a role in America's history for the 250th. So it could be like America's 250th trail or a um semi-quincentennial trail, something like that in Bon was the concept. And I'd propose some sites. Um, we can go
through the list now or we could talk about it as a concept. Um, and see if we like that or not. >> Well, we have time. We could talk about it now. I mean, we don't have a lot of work stuff to do, so why not? >> Do you guys like the concept?
>> I do. Okay. So, um, I'll pull up the email. Um, so I don't have it elsewhere. Sorry. Um, maybe I did. Okay,
bear with me. All right, here we go. So, I had potentially um identified uh the Elco launch um factory site. So, uh, that would be in the boat works present day. Um, the military ocean
terminal, um, and the the dry dock specifically because they've serviced so many large significant vessels there. Um, we could write something about that. Um, the uh, Constable Hook was actually some
of the earliest settlement land um, in this part of the US. So I had included Constable Hook just as a you know early settlers note. Um Mercer Park um named for General Hugh
Mercer. So we could expand on that. Um potentially the Standard Oil uh the former Standard Oil refinery site just because that's industrial age and you know thinking more like that. It's not wartime history but it is economic
development history. Um, as well as I guess historic South Bayon Bergen Point. Um, the public library. Um, just for the the notable architecture, the style of it,
like it's a Carnegie library. I think that makes a lot of sense. Um, the Fort Delansancy site, the World War I Memorial, um, meaning the one on Fifth Street by Yeah.
And then uh the World War II memorial um by First Street just I mean and the really the concept is yes these are already monuments. They're already there but it presents sort of an interesting trail to get visitorship or kind of an understanding
of what happened there. Just a the concept would be sort of off of Jesse's idea to work with the schools and plan something for the 250. It would give the teachers something to lean into planning field trips especially later into May and June. Um I don't know if that would
be some sort of option but like an I don't know if they wanted to do onoff bus or like just walking around Bayon. I don't know what's most practical but I thought it could be interesting to get some visitorship at some of these places. >> Can I also propose like a site that we can add? Can we add BHS? That's I mean
WPA money that's like you know that's government funded like architecture is notable. It is >> um >> yeah I would like that would be also easy for bound high school >> to like go outside and look at Midtown as well right because what we're thinking is like if we're going to do
something like that um it would be probably most feasible for the schools to go to the site that's closest in proximity to that school. So like for example Midtown going to Bon High School or like Bailey going anywhere in Bergen Point or Mary Jay or Henry Harris Bergen Point and then like Woodro um Lincoln
Mercer Park um Standard Oil stuff like that especially like Lincoln on the east side. >> Um and I had also um talked with Jerry, this is kind of anecdotal but I had spoken with Jerry um the last two times about the book that he had made. I haven't heard back from him yet, but
because we were interested in like, you know, I had proposed to the social studies office going to the library with like, you know, those books or essays that he had written and then like looking at the paintings or doing a field trip like that, we're open to that. I just I I guess we would wait for
Jerry um next time. Hopefully, he's here. Um but if anybody hears from him, uh let let him know that, you know, hey, you know, we we'd like to do that if possible. um because I don't know if the book is in um circulation but yeah sorry that's very anecdotal.
>> No no I I like that too but yeah basically and I was thinking it could be so if we did this you know trail it wouldn't have to be a huge we don't need to do a lot for it. I think it'd be nice if the Bayon historical um uh preservation commission printed up maybe
maps of where these sites are on Bayon and that way yes the students will visit those that are near or easy and then they'll have you know this take-home of like well we could see what else is on the map and like a key of what what was there what the descriptions are I
thought that would be pretty interesting >> well historical society be very happy will work with you on this. Uh, two other sites that you might want to add to the your list. There is the Constable Hook Cemetery and the Vietnam Memorial down on First Street.
>> Is the Constible Hook Cemetery accessible though? >> Constable Hook Cemetery to the best of my knowledge is accessible on Memorial Day. You have to get permission from uh the owners. >> Okay. >> Then then you can go in
I I would also say like I don't know how expansive we're looking to make the list overall or if we're looking to make it rather um like brief or accessible. Um but if we're interested in adding like I guess um like sites that are culturally or religiously important to certain
populations of Bayon like I'm thinking St. Hen St. Henry's um is like a huge landmark, right? Like of course we have so many other religious institutions in Bayon that are beautiful, have great architecture, but I think St. Henry's is the most um accessible, the like kind of
clearest one. It's right across from city hall. Um and then I I I'm not too sure about this. Perhaps, you know, the commissioners would know better than I. Um but I do believe there is something significant about like city hall itself. Uh the the building. Does anybody know
what like this is just what I've heard through the grapevine um just things I'm remembering from my own educational career. Um but I I I do think that there was something significant about the actual building of city hall and I could be mistaken. This city hall we're in presently was
commissioned, not commissioned, but uh I guess you could use that word. 1971 I believe. The original city hall was on the corner of 29th Street and Avenue E. >> That's what I might I might be remembering that then. The 29th Street
and Avenue E, original city hall. Um I'm not sure what's there now. Does anybody know what's there right now? >> Yeah, it's a lawn. It's a lawn in a parking lot. The hospital. >> The The hospital. >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay. >> Hospitals lawn and parking lot.
>> Oh, okay. Gotcha. Gotcha. Okay. >> Just food for thought. >> Actually, what should be um also added to the list is the Brennan Firehouse Museum. And also, it's accessible only
certain times of the year. I think only twice a year. And it's uptown. Yeah, that's on um >> 47th. You're right. Right off It's right around corner of that really large building. >> Right. That's correct.
>> Yeah, I see it all the time. How about the uh Spanish American statue in Bon Park on Broadway? I mean, um Kennedy Boulevard. >> Is that word? I thought it was Spanish American War.
There's a statue the um the one that's on Kennedy Boulevard in >> it's a small statue. I think it's got to be SpanishAmerican War. Just looking at it, it's not definitely not World War I. >> I always thought it was World War I. I
haven't taken a close look in a while. Oh, we've >> Yes. >> I think World War I there's a statue in Park, but it's not in the park proper. It's more like C in that area.
It's there are a lot of benches. It's not it's between I guess >> there's Bidge and there's also Douglas O'Neal Memorial near 8th Street where the
Yes. Right by the dining. >> Also, we have the um statue, the um actually more of a memorial for the um um Oh my god, my mind is slipping. The um the World War II Medal of Honor winner,
>> Steven >> right >> on um Kennedy Boulevard in the park right across from the tennis courts. Yeah, >> so what would be the next step here? You mentioned the historical society. Do you
think we should do I I was thinking we could do something here. Do you not think that's our place? >> Yes, I agree with you, Jessica. It should be here in landmarks. Well, what we could do is um if you want to do a program on architectural, that
could be one program and historical um items. That would be another uh program. But we had long time ago the historical society did uh um tours of the city, bus tours of the city. Um
>> doing touching on various various um places. We could do that again. >> So try can't get the uh I'm looking at that statue. see if I can read it, but I can't seem to.
Yeah, you can't make it up. I'll see if I can read on um what it was. I'll have to pick a visit and look at it. >> It's right around the corner from my parents. I can stop by. >> Yeah, I live two blocks away or four blocks away. I go past there a lot, but I just think it really is SpanishAmerican War. It's definitely not
World War I or World War II. And we didn't really have any wars before that. We don't have a Civil War memorial in Bale that I know of. >> No. Okay. I'm looking at the part that you can't
really see the plaque, so you can't >> Yeah. But you definitely could tell by the manner of dress, the uniform that it's uh it's not World War One or World War II. >> But I I I really do think it's SpanishAmerican War, to be honest. I think I just somehow in my memory I just
think I remember reading that one time. >> 45th Street. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because we had more of a C. It was only a small war five months and it was more it was our last war that we really didn't do. We didn't have any steel helmets. Um and they had a cloth helmet
on this this the uh statue. So, but I'll double check it again. All right. Is there anything more in that or >> Yes. Uh you mentioned Mercer Park up at city line but right the boundary line for Mercer Park is the Morris Canal.
>> Oh >> that's a good point >> that ran and that was the boundary that is the boundary line between Jersey City and Bale. >> Thanks. I'm taking these notes down. So I I guess where do we go from here though? What what are the next steps? We
have the list. I've got proposed descriptions. I can add the ones that we talked about today to the list. And then what do we do? >> Well, we can do is sit down with the Historical Society and map out a a program. >> But why should the historical society
actually be involved since we're landmarks preservation commission? I think whatever should be decided should be decided here. >> I sort of don't want to give them credit for it. I guess I'm not a member, but
it's uh I can do it. I mean, it's just it I can go to them. It's it's not a problem. I I kind of care that it happens. I wish we could do something here, though. That's why I'm asking. >> That's true. I agree with you. If we get permission from these um mayor's office, we can do programs in
here. That's no problem. >> Maybe that's Do you think we should >> want to do a bus tour? Could start here. >> True. >> And uh go from there. >> True. All right. Maybe um should I sort
of after Joe goes through the m minutes, maybe get with him and see if he thinks he can advocate with the mayor's office? Oh, >> yes. >> There's also the tearrop. >> Oh, >> I do have that on the list as well.
Yeah, I didn't get all the way. Yeah, that one. >> Yes, I do. I do have the teardrop. Thank you. That's a good one. I agree. >> And we do have the historical signs out by the golf course, too. The walkway of the golf course.
>> Yes. >> A couple. >> That's a good idea. I don't have that. Um, you mean the riverwalk over there, right? >> Riverwalk right along the Gulf, right behind um the more where um >> Yeah, Island.
>> Ah, there we go. So, I guess my my my big question, which I'm sure is some of yours as well, is like what what is the next step for this besides like obviously like we're we're Jessica, you said you were going to meet with Joe and like what um you know when
this signage is in um the process of being made, like do we submit like writeups for that? Are we then going to like go there for an inaugural kind of like putting the
signage on like you know um also would we want the signage to be I guess this is just a question for everybody affixed to the sides of facades that are being either landmarked or preserved or just affixed to you know staked in the
ground. Um this is my first goound with signage if you will. Um, so I I'm just uh leaning on the shoulders of giants here trying to, you know, figure out what what what to do uh with that.
>> We also have to be concerned with our budget. >> Um, we can work on signs, true, >> but we have to uh decide on how big how big it is, what we're going to put on it, etc., etc. So, it takes uh several
months to do that. because we've gone through that when we issued plaques to a number of the um resident buildings. So, we have to be aware of that.
>> All right. Just as a side note, we're not a side note. Um I did access the National War Memorial Registry and that uh statue is a SpanishAmerican War Veteran statue. So, it's um listed here. Um doesn't give any more information
like when it was um commemorated or erected. It just mentions that it was um uh the statue is called the hiker. I've heard that before. Uh there are two styles, both installed in numerous locations throughout the United States. Both statues are dedicated to the US soldiers who fought in the
SpanishAmerican War. Apparently, this is a um the National War Memorial Registry uh website. They're from over in Brooklyn, I think. But anyway, so at least we know that. And but like I said, there's no just a location.
Yeah. Nothing nothing of um that we could actually use for historical background of of this particular statue. I kind of wish they had like a date like when it was erected was, you know, placed. I don't know if we could find that. We could maybe newspaper clippings
or maybe Yeah, I'll take a guess. It was done after um 1898. war. >> What you think of that? >> Okay, we're good. All right.
Uh, do you need like um as far as like doing a background research on some of these things? Are you looking for people to maybe also help out or >> Sure. I mean, if there are things that you want to make sure are in there, totally. I sent along what I had so far. So, you have all the writeups that I did
already. Um, but I'll add the ones that we talked about today and resend it and then if there are any that we want to adjust. Yeah, please. >> Okay. >> Please. >> Yeah, please resend it. >> I'll resend it and then I'll I'll also talk to Joe and just see what we can do regarding next steps um if if anything
through u this commission. >> All right. Because I like look I love looking doing research like that. All right. Okay, we're down to number eight. Any other business? Anybody what do you want to bring up?
Like my students, I'm always saying anyone here have any questions and no one has any. >> All right, I'm just >> Frank just as an add-on. Yes. Um, >> please. >> I I do recall that at one of the
meetings, Jerry had mentioned uh to Joe Ryan about how much money there is in the budget. So hopefully maybe at the next meeting and hopefully Joel will be better, we'll have a better idea of what we could spend. >> Yeah, good idea.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, our next meeting I just I just put it to my calendar, but it's right here, too. Oh, you have it. Go ahead. >> Our next meeting is April 28th at 7 o'clock here in the chambers.
>> Yep. That's a Tuesday. Yep. All right. If there's nothing else, I look around the room. Nothing else. Okay. Then I guess we can adjourn. It's 8:30, so we did pretty well. We didn't break any records. So, can we get a motion?
>> I'll make the motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All All in favor? I >> I >> I Okay, meeting is adjourned and we'll see you in one month.