Monthly Archives: October 2013

City Council

City Council appoints Giacobbe to 6th Ward seat

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The City Council appointed Raymond Giacobbe, Jr. to the 6th Ward City Council seat vacated by Samson Steinman after he was appointed interim mayor.

The governing body unanimously approved the appointment at a special meeting tonight by a vote of 6-0, with Councilman Robert Bresenhan and Nancy Saliga absent. The Democratic Committee met earlier to present three nominees to the City Council. In addition to Giacobbe, the two other nominees were William Rack, chairman of the Redevelopment Agency, and Sally O’Brien.

Giacobbe, 34, is co-owner of Power & Fitness Health Club on St. Georges Avenue. He takes over the 6th Ward seat that originally was won by Steinman in 2012. The remaining two years of the term up for election in November 2014, at the same time that the mayor’s seat and three at-large seats will be up in their regular rotation. He is a third-generation Rahway family in Rahway and his grandfather, Rafael “Ray” Giacobbe served on the City Council in 1960s, according to former Mayor James Kennedy.

The 6th Ward covers the Milton Lake neighborhood as well as the area around the high school on Madison Avenue. For a look at boundaries, check out this wicked awesome map.

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Arts District, Downtown

Sculptures, mural lab jumpstart public art plan

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 There’s one behind the Union County Performing Arts Center. Another pokes out of the shrubbery at Train Station Plaza and another is on loan in front of Hamilton Stage for Performing Arts.

The sculptures are considered “seeds” for a series of public art projects that Rahway Arts District is creating throughout downtown. The sculptures are by Woodbridge artist Glenn Murgacz, who also has pieces in Woodbridge, near the Avenel Train Station and the Avenue Fire House on Route 1.

There’s also the Rahway Mural Lab, a mural arts program for Rahway teens, that will be unveiled tonight at 6 p.m. at 1530 Irving St. The single-story former Public Service building was approved for a restaurant more than four years ago but later ran into a dispute with the city over sewer fees. It’s unclear what the status of the planned restaurant is today. The Arts District was granted permission to put the mural on the building facade until the owner is ready to start construction, Executive Director Rachael Faillace said.

Former Mayor James Kennedy hopes to get the public art initiative jump-started and eventually have 20 to 30 pieces in all. “With Glenn’s and J.D’s works kicking things off, we’re hoping to find more Rahway area sculptors who might be interested in contributing to the project,” he said.

Kennedy has talked about attracting more public art for years, including the idea of a sculpture walk downtown. The public art, he said, would be an ongoing process and might depend on what funding could be obtained. The Redevelopment Agency last month authorized $3,000 as partial payment for a piece inside Hamilton Stage featuring a ballerina, which is appropriate, he said since there are three ballerina troupes at the facility.

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Redevelopment Agency

Redevelopment Agency commissioner steps down

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Redevelopment Agency Commissioner Matt Dobrowloski resigned his seat on the Redevelopment Agency, effective Sept. 25.

In a brief letter dated Sept. 25 to Redevelopment Agency Chairman William Rack, Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier and Mayor Samson Steinman, Dobrowloski thanked them for the opportunity to serve and said he looked forward to staying involved.

He is chairman of The Taste of Spring and also has served on the board of the Rahway Parking Authority. In response to an inquiry about the reasons for his resignation, Dobrowloski said his work as a Realtor for individuals and developers in the area could sometimes create potential conflicts of interest, so he thought it would be best to step down at this time.

Dobrowloski was appointed in January 2010 to fill the remaining term of Carlos Garay, who stepped down after his term after his term for personal reasons. The mayor said he hopes to have replacement candidates presented to City Council at its next meeting, which is scheduled for Oct. 15.

Redevelopment Agency commissioners, who are not paid, are appointed to four-year terms, with confirmation by City Council. Dobrowloski’s resignation leaves two vacancies on the seven-member board, which currently has five commissioners: Rack, Timothy Nash, Anthony Diege (reappointed May 2013), Paul Sefranka and Michael Staryak (appointed March 2012).