Residents pressed the Bayonne Municipal Council on Oct. 15 to take stronger action after a fire at a scrap-metal yard at 92 East Second Street that sent smoke into nearby homes and prompted calls for the facility’s removal.

The complaint came during the public-comment portion of the council meeting. "Someone's gonna get killed," said Gene Perry, identifying himself as a Bayonne resident, recounting neighbors who could not breathe and saying emergency crews had trouble accessing the yard because its gate was locked. "Is there any more news that could be shared on possibly closing this location down or making them follow the laws?" he asked.

Why it matters: Neighbors said smoke from the fire affected indoor and outdoor air at nearby residences, and speakers criticized perceived gaps in emergency notification and zoning enforcement. Council members and staff described enforcement steps already taken and said addressing some aspects of the problem will require changes at the state level.

What officials said: Sharon Nedrowski, another nearby resident, said she was surprised the city did not issue an Office of Emergency Management (OEM) alert during the event and asked that residents be notified to shelter and close windows in such incidents. "People should have been notified to close their windows and made aware of that," she said.

Council officials responded that multiple enforcement actions had been taken in the days after the fire. The council president told the meeting that additional violations were issued "as a result of Saturday evening," and said the administration would pursue every action that is "actionable" under existing law, including fines and inspections.

The council president also proposed drafting a joint letter from the city to state legislators to seek changes in state law to cap the size of scrap and salvage piles, saying the problem "lies at the state level" and that changing those statutes could reduce risk locally.

Council staff and members acknowledged limits on the city’s authority. A participant asking about zoning and master-plan changes was told that the master plan is typically revisited on a 10-year cycle and that many existing facilities are "grandfathered" under current rules. A city director said zoning and redevelopment work is ongoing but that some remedies require state action.

What residents asked for: Speakers urged the council to (1) enforce existing violations promptly, (2) improve emergency notifications to residents during fires or smoke events, (3) pursue remedies including fines, compliance orders or litigation when operators violate codes, and (4) press state lawmakers to modify statutes that allow large scrap piles.

Next steps: The council president said he would prepare a draft letter to state representatives asking for statutory changes that cap pile sizes and improve regulatory tools; he also invited local residents and officials to participate in drafting and outreach. The council and staff indicated that further enforcement steps already had been taken and that they would continue to pursue any violations found.

Ending: Residents and council members left the meeting with a commitment from the city to pursue additional enforcement and to seek assistance from state lawmakers on zoning changes; no new ordinance or formal council vote on the scrap-yard property was recorded at the Oct. 15 meeting.