State Approves City's Lay Off Plan

The city just announced that the State Civil Service Commission approved the lay off plan proposed by the administration. Business Administrator Arch Liston presented the plan to the state, shortly after Mayor Dawn Zimmer introduced the plan on July 21.

"The City of Hoboken today received a letter from Kenneth Connolly, Director of the Division of State and Local Operations at the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, stating that the layoff plan submitted by the City has been approved," wrote spokesman Juan Melli in a press release.

The plan proposes to lay off 36 city employees, 18 in the police and 18 in other departments. According to Zimmer this would save the city $2.5 million. According to D.B. Ross, the lawyer for the police unions, it would result in an annual tax break of $75 for taxpayers. 

Melli said the notices for the 18 police officers as well as 18 other city workers will go out at the end of this week, or early next week.  

The state approved the plan as proposed, said Melli.