At its meeting on August 12, the Bayonne City Council voted for a resolution to authorize Bayonne to enter into a Regional Shared Services Agreement with Kearny, Jersey City, and Hoboken.  That agreement will allow all four municipalities to work together to address the effects of commercial helicopter operations on their residents.  The specific purpose of the agreement is to coordinate and share the costs of litigation seeking to protect Bayonne residents from adverse health, safety, welfare, and quality-of-life impacts associated with commercial helicopter operations.  The resolution cited such adverse impacts of helicopter operations as excessive aircraft noise and overflights of Bayonne’s residential neighborhoods.  Over the past several months, area residents have complained about noise and other impacts reportedly caused by helicopters that fly over Hudson County municipalities. 

Third Ward Council Member Tommy Gillen said, “The residents of the Third Ward have raised their voices, and I am standing with them.”  He continued, “Our neighborhoods are not a flight path, and this litigation makes that clear.”

Mayor Sharon Nadrowski said, “My administration is focused on protecting, preserving, and improving the quality of life for Bayonne residents.“  She continued, “Entering into this Shared Services Agreement with our partners in government increases our scale, limits our financial exposure, and solidifies our commitment to the health, safety, and welfare of all residents.”

The resolution authorized Bayonne’s financial contribution to the litigation to cover the testimony of expert witnesses. Those witnesses may be needed to testify about the negative impacts of helicopter operations on the four communities participating in the legal action.  The resolution authorized Bayonne’s contribution to the case for an amount not to exceed $10,000.