Emergency extra SNAP benefits expire February 28, 2023.
Due to a recent change in federal law, the extra temporary benefits SNAP recipients have received, known as SNAP Emergency Allotments, is coming to an end.
This means the regular SNAP benefit will resume starting March 1, 2023. The minimum monthly SNAP benefit in New Jersey is now $50.
The City of Linden, Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 6th,2023 at 7pm. The meeting will be conducted in person. Official action will be taken and portions of the meeting may be held in executive session.
Approval of December 21, 2022 minutes.
Personnel – Election of Chairman & Vice-Chairman
Old Business – None
New Business – Cases
Docket# ZBA-05-2022 Applicant: Full Circle Supply Represented by: Gregory M. Juba Property: 601 Commerce Road Zone: LI
Docket# ZBA-06-2022 Applicant: 830 North Wood Ave, LLC Represented by: Stephen H. Merman Property: 830 North Wood Avenue Zone: OPT
Docket# ZBA-07-2022 Applicant: 427 Morris Ave., LLC Represented by: Stephen H. Merman Property: 1300 Allen Street Zone: R-2b
The Zoning Board Agenda and all other relevant documents, including this notice are posted on the City of Linden website here
Mayor Derek Armstead, the City of Linden, and the Linden Police Departmentinvite you to attend the Linden Police Department Community Meeting. Meet Mayor Armstead, Chief Hart, and many of the Police Officers who work in your neighborhood.
What: Linden Police Department Community Meeting. Learn about various Police Department Programs and discuss crime and traffic concerns in your neighborhood.
What: Eight week fitness program that will develop and reinforce healthy lifestyles and behaviors. The Complete Fitness classes will allow participants to engage in a variety of physical fitness activities that will help to establish lifelong fitness goals.
When: The Complete Fitness program begins on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. The program will be held weekly on Wednesdays for eight weeks from 7pm until 8pm.
How: Program fee is $50, plus a $6 annual insurance fee. First time registrants must set up and account and pay an annual $6 registration fee. Register online here, or register in person at the John T. Gregorio Center (330 Helen Street) from 9am until 4pm, or at the Linden Multi Purpose Center (1025 John Street) from 9am until 7pm. All locations accept checks, money orders, Visa, Mastercard, and online payment accepted. For more information, call (908) 474-8639.
There is something critical I need to bring to everyone’s attention.
All residents must be made aware of an egregious New Jersey Health Benefits Plan cost increase set into motion by the Governor’s office in New Jersey. If the current plan is allowed to come into effect, then while state employees will only experience a 3% increase in their contribution, municipalities will sustain a catastrophic 22.8% increase in their contributions. This translates into an additional $3,292,054annually for Linden, which is unacceptable.
On December 21, 2022 at 3pm I called into Ask the Governor, which is a monthly live show on channel News 12 New Jersey, and I challenged the Governor to explain why it is acceptable to burden local taxpayers with the significant increase in the municipal contributions toward the New Jersey Health Benefits Plan. The Governor’s explanations are factually inaccurate, and unfortunately I was cut off from the live call and unable to respond to his rebuttal. This link will show you what happened on the call.
The 22.8% increase will almost certainly cause municipalities throughout the State of New Jersey to increase their property taxes to meet this new financial burden, and may also cause an unprecedented number of layoffs and hiring freezes statewide. To be clear, this increase affects all homeowners AND RENTERS in the State of New Jersey, not only in Linden. When property taxes go up, this means that rent also increases, because the property owners must find additional revenue to meet the new financial demands resulting from the property tax increase.
My finance team and I are working around the clock in an effort to solve this calamity without the State’s assistance, and I can really use your help! When you have time, please contact the Governor’s office by clicking here, select “Taxation” from the Topic dropdown, select “Property Tax” from the “Select a sub-topic” dropdown and then paste the following italicized text into the message field on their contact form page. The italicized text below is from my own letter that I sent to the Governor’s office in November, 2022.
I am writing to you as a resident of the great City of Linden. The announcement by the State Health Benefits Commission that municipalities will receive an approximately 25% increase in the cost of health benefit premiums is incomprehensible. Such a one year drastic raise in health benefit premium costs will be devastating to Linden residents. Not only will the City’s costs increase, but also the trickle down increase from the County will be a double hit to me and my fellow residents. The residents of the City of Linden simply cannot afford the determination of the Commission.
The health premium increase of nearly 23% with a 2% margin means an additional $3,300,000.00 tax increase to our residents. Linden is a hardworking, blue collar municipality. With an average home assessed value of $132,683.00, this multimillion dollar burden will cost Linden residents 12.5 tax points, with an additional increase coming from the County. With police and fire emergency calls increasing almost 10% in 2022 over 2021, we cannot make service cuts.
This health benefit increase is not sustainable for the City. On behalf of me and my fellow residents, I must call for your Office to take action to have the Commission renegotiate rate plan premiums which are affordable and sustainable. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter!
Thank you in advance for your help. With any questions, please call my office at (908) 474-8493.
The City of Linden was awarded $350,000 in New Jersey’s Natural Climate Solutions Grants (NCS) program. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced this and other grants on Wednesday to underscore the important role natural resources have in sequestering carbon to meet the Garden State’s greenhouse gas goals.
The City of Linden will plant 540 trees across eight Blue Acres-acquired lots and three City-owned, partially Green Acres-funded parks and lots in the Tremley Point region, including Sgt. A. Wales Memorial Park and Louis Avenue Park. The City will pair this work with a public outreach effort that includes educational signage at each site and a public tree planting event with the community.
“The City of Linden is proud to be a recipient of DEP’s NCS grant program,” said Linden’s Mayor Derek Armstead. “These funds will enable us to plant over 500 trees and install educational signage across several barren Blue Acres-acquired properties and City-owned parks in our Tremley Point region. This project will help reduce the urban heat island effect, help sequester carbon, create wildlife habitat and enhance green space in our Environmental Justice Community.”
Once completed all applications must be returned via email or mailed to City of Linden City Clerks’ Office, 301 North Wood Avenue, Linden, NJ 07036. Applications that are mailed must be postmarked by the application deadline or they will be returned to the applicant. Please be advised that all employment applications must be completed at the time of submission. Please include copies of resumes, proof of qualifications or any additional documents you wish to submit with your application.
Submission Deadline is February 3rd, 2023 at 4:30pm.
One full time Clerk1 position available in the Construction Code Department.
