Lithium-ion Batteries Are a Hot Topic for City Board

Public safety dangers connected with the sale and upkeep of lithium-ion batteries used to power e-bikes are fueling proposals by Jersey City to regulate this enterprise.

On Wednesday, City Council members will likely take initial actions to draft new laws handling this harmful business which city officials have actually faulted for adding to at least one local's death in 2015.

City lawmakers will likewise be asked to contract for upgrades to the city's new animal shelter's operation, public park facilities and proposed settlements.

On the public security problem, Councilmembers Denise Ridley (Ward A) and Mira Prinz-Arey (Ward B) required swift action to assist prevent disasters like the multi-alarm fire at 269 Stegman St. last July that took the life of a 54-year-old resident.

Another homeowner, a 41-year-old woman, made it through by leaping from a second-floor window, according to city officials.

Authorities stated the fire appeared in a confined front patio where an e-bike was kept.

Deputy Fire Chief Shawn O'Connor and other city fire authorities laid out the hazards associated with the sale of "second-use lithium-ion batteries," indicating the New York Fire Department's efforts to manage their spread.

Last year, the FDNY represented more than 300 fires within the city limitations leading to a minimum of 12 fatalities whose origins, the department said, might be traced to the improper storage and/or charging of lithium-ion batteries.

These power systems are generally kept in tight industrial spaces which-- particularly in the lack of lawn sprinkler and/or fire-rated walls-- can add to fires spreading out quickly, fire authorities noted.

Taking a cue from the FDNY, Jersey City's Bravest is proposing these steps:

• Prohibiting the sale of 2nd use lithium-ion batteries.



• Requiring owners/renters of lithium batteries and owners of powered mobility organizations within Jersey City" to sign up with the city Police Department or city Fire Division which will "develop an information base" listing services that sell or rent lithium-ion batteries for powered movement devices "and any business which supplies charging services for powered-mobility gadgets ... or shops lithium batteries in quantities considered hazardous by the Fire Division."



• Lithium-ion battery companies need to every year sign up with the Fire Division by supplying the owner's name and/or agent, mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address, name and 24-hour contact phone number of a business agent and certificate of insurance.



• Lithium-ion batteries shall be charged in a "appropriate indoor room or location or outside area that has sufficient natural or mechanical ventilation ... to prevent the build-up of any flammable or other gases (which) has an adequate electrical supply and an enough number of electrical receptacles, authorized by the (city) building official ... Extension cords and power strips shall not be utilized. A minimum of 3 feet shall be preserved beteeen each gadget throughout charging operations."



• Battery charging spaces can not be utilized "for the storage or flammable materials, waste or dangerous materials," need to be safeguarded by a fire barrier "with a minimum one-hour fire-resistance ranking" and by "a fire sprinkler system and more or more smoke alarm or smoke detector" that should be connected to the building's detector system.



• Such areas must be properly "temperature-conrolled" and equipped with a "portable 20-pound ABC fire extinguisher."



• Battery loads or detachable batteries must be separated by at least two feet in between each pack or other detachable battery.



• Damaged or overheated lithium-ion batteries or powered mobility devices shall be gotten rid of at the direction of the Fire Division and at the owner's cost.



• Businesses that offer lithium-ion batteries and powered movement gadgets need to pay the city a $200 inspection cost and $50 for any needed reinspection.

On the other hand, the city's Animal Shelter, which moved from personal to public operation this year, is looking for legislators' aid on a 5-fold front to strengthen and diversify its connection with its existing "occupants" and potential foster owners.

W. Mark Byrnes, the city's chief animal control officer, desires the council to license these agreements:

• Hire Dr. Adriana Hordynsky as a "traveling vet" to "begin site 2 to 6 times each month" to offer surgical services and standard veterinary care where needed at $150,000 a year.

• Retain Dr. Michael Santiago of East Orange Animal Hospital as the supervising vet of the shelter to provide surgical services and veterinary care "at a max( imum) of 4 hours/week" at the shelter at $60,000 a year.

• Employ Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) of Hoboken to supply veterinary care "on an as-needed basis to be utilized for emergency services on nights/weekends after city hours" at $60,000 a year.

• Hire Greenfields Animal Hospital, of New York, to supply emergency situation veterinary services "during open city hours, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m." at $40,000 a year.

• Sign a memorandum of understanding with Bergen Community College permitting unsettled students registered in the college's Veterinary Technology Program to work "along with animal care personnel" and "take part in surgical activities," including performing blood draws on a pet dog or cat for laboratory treatments, IV catheter positioning, anal gland expression, nail trimming and grooming treatments, tracheal intubation, (animal) tracking under basic anesthesia, sample collection, oral scaling and polishing and administer medication ..."

Byrnes stated the city shelter now has kennels accommodating 36 pet dogs, plus cages for "offer or take that many felines."

" We're not currently at capacity," Byrnes stated, so there's room for a handful of animals now being accepted from Hoboken and Guttenberg.

And, he stated, "we constantly keep some kennels available to handle animals displaced by evictions."

Byrnes stated he's intending to get extra city funds to prep an on-site shelter trailer to provide additional kennel space.

The shelter, he said, is still dealing with reconfiguring space, getting and shaping internal policies staff in location to manage unanticipated events as they take place, one recent example being a canine's attack on a personnel supervisor.

" This is a case of developing the airplane as you fly it," Byrnes stated. "It will be taking shape in time."

Lawmakers are being asked to award a $126,975 contract to Ascape Landscape & & Construction Corp,, of Blauvelt, N.Y., for the maintenance of irrigation systems and to pay Challenger Fence Inc., of Paterson, $259,622 for chain link fencing at different locations managed by the city's Park Maintenance Division.

City Recreation Director Lucinda McLaughlin told the council that a few of the existing watering systems-- some above-ground and some below-- were set up a minimum of five years earlier which "lots of" are listed below the surface area.

That's why, she said, this year in specific, "we want to ensure that professionals working with the city "are familiar with the existence of drinking fountains for both animals and human beings" in city parks.

As for fencing, At-Large member Daniel Rivera stated the Recreation Department need to be concentrated on fitting the kind of devices to the city's needs, as, for example, using "small-sized fencing" for baseball/softball "backstops.".

Rivera also expressed safety issues about the setup of netting in playing fields. Sometimes, he stated, the netting under the turf gets stuck and areas "pops up" through the grass surface area, thus creating a potential hazard interfering with the young athletes.

Lawmakers will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday for a closed session briefing on 3 proposed out-of-court settlements that could represent an overall payment of $930,000.

Daniel Wiley is seeking $500,000 to walk away from a civil suit submitted in 2020 alleging he was a victim of harassment, discrimination and retaliation throughout his employment with the city.

Jose Del Carmen De Los Gonzalez and Maritza Santos are taking legal action against the city and its agent Taylor C. Allen for $350,000 in connection with an accident November 9, 2019.

And Alexander Rodriguez desires $80,000 in connection with a bike mishap on April 22, 2018, when he was age 18 and supposedly struck a raised indication stump near Ocean and Bayview opportunities that knocked him off the bike and broke his left forearm.

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