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Residents and DPW employees urge Hackensack council to address equipment, staffing and pay concerns
Summary
During a lengthy public‑comment period on June 16, city workers and residents pressed the council to resolve staffing shortages, aging and unsafe equipment, low pay and fears of retaliation within the Department of Public Works; council members acknowledged the concerns and said they would confer with the city manager.
A recurrent theme at the June 16 Hackensack City Council meeting was the condition and capacity of the Department of Public Works (DPW). Multiple DPW employees and residents used the public‑comment period to describe staffing shortages, aging vehicles and equipment out of service, safety concerns, and low wages that force some workers to take second jobs.
A departmental representative who identified himself as Mr. Francis told the council that ‘‘intimidation, harassment and fear of retaliation continue to be concerns among employees’’ and urged the council to begin negotiations on a new labor contract and to prioritize vehicle allocation and frontline staffing needs. He added, “It’s hard coming to work every single day,” describing the strain on workers who perform essential services.
Another on‑duty DPW worker, who identified himself as Jir Dus, said he had to hold two jobs after the birth of his child because wages were insufficient: “I had to work two jobs just to maintain my household,” he said. Workers described multiple vehicles being out of service and stressed the need for a night mechanic and clearer paths for advancement and supervision.
Council members and the mayor responded that they heard the concerns, thanked DPW staff for their service during a recent storm, and said they would confer with the city manager to arrange a more detailed follow‑up meeting outside the three‑minute public‑comment limit. The mayor asked for patience while newly seated council members and staff become fully briefed; the council committed to having the manager schedule a meeting to discuss the issues in depth.
The meeting’s public‑comment period also included other community issues: resident Sergey Toltoy urged the council to enact a municipal prohibition on cannabis businesses before August 2026; Bridget Rucker raised concerns about the cancellation of a summer basketball league and the recreation funding model (city staff said the outside organizer canceled and that the city had limited prior subsidy arrangements); and other residents asked for crosswalks, flashing signs and traffic‑safety fixes in multiple neighborhoods.
Council members acknowledged the public comments and reiterated plans to follow up with staff on traffic and DPW issues; no immediate policy changes were adopted at the meeting.
