Harrison Redevelopment Agency Reconvenes After Series of Cancellations

After a string of four cancellations, the Harrison Redevelopment Agency (HRA) is scheduled to meet on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Third Floor Mayor’s Conference Room at the Harrison Town Hall, located at 318 Harrison Avenue, Harrison NJ.

This upcoming session aims to address several issues that have accumulated over the past months. Notably, the agenda includes the approval of minutes from the last meeting held on February 12, 2024, and a resolution to approve a significant legal services agreement with the law firm of McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC.

Recap of the February 12 2024 Meeting

The last session in February was chaired by James Fife, who is also the Mayor of Harrison, and saw the approval of various resolutions crucial for the town’s financial management and redevelopment projects. Key resolutions included approving the town's bill list and updating professional services contracts.

During this meeting, a resolution centered around the amendment of a major subdivision plan for Advance Blocks A and B, which involved designating an east-west street between the blocks as private. This change is needed because the Developer did not start the project on time and regulations from the NJDEP changed.  The Harrison Redevelopment Agency is ceding a private street and 50% of the income from parking meter revenue from the street to the Developer.  Why the Developer still needs 50% of the revenue and does not provide that revenue to the Town as a good-faith gesture is only explained by the closeness or lack of closeness in the relationship.

Legal Services Agreement with McManimon, Scotland & Baumann

A major item on the upcoming agenda is the resolution authorizing a professional service agreement with McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC. This law firm is set to provide specialized bankruptcy counsel services to the Harrison Redevelopment Agency concerning ongoing bankruptcy proceedings involving one of the developers.

This engagement with McManimon, Scotland & Baumann involves the representation of the town in the United States Bankruptcy Court. The firm’s proposal outlines a comprehensive service plan, charging $295 per hour with a cap of $50,000 on services, reflecting the need for expert legal representation in bankruptcy matters. The resolution states that the contract with McManimon, Scotland & Baumann will be available for public inspection, ensuring community oversight.

As the Harrison Redevelopment Agency reconvenes, stakeholders are eager to see how these decisions will shape the town’s future development. The Harrison Redevelopment Agency will be undergoing some legal challenges, with significant implications for developers in the community.

Residents and interested parties are encouraged to attend the public meeting to stay informed and involved in the town’s redevelopment efforts. The Chairman of the Harrison Redevelopment Agency and the Commissioners of the Harison Redevelopment Agency have failed to state whether they support the establishment of a toxic dioxin-laden sludge in Harrison at the PSE&G property on South Frank E. Rodgers Blvd which is now in a residential community across the street from the Steelworks, Vermella Harrison, Cobalt and The Wyldes modern apartment buildings.

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