HILLSDALE—The Borough Council majority on June 13 dinged Mayor John Ruocco for a history of naysaying — and now giving a second, knives-out State of the Borough address.
It also approved an ordinance that prohibits homeowners from renting out property amenities — such as swimming pools and tennis courts — for short terms to generate income.
It took on zoning for right-of-ways for wireless facilities, passed most of a salary ordinance, and introduced a $4.15 million bond ordinance to tackle a dozen vital projects.
The governing body — and State Sen. Holly Schepisi for the state legislature — recognized Keith Durie, Mark Durst, and William Becker for their 50 years of service to the Hillsdale Fire Department (see “150 combined years of service,” Pascack Press, page 1, June 26, 2023).
In correspondence, the council heard from George Mainescu looking for the potential of building pickleball/tennis courts in the borough, and Jerry Yoo requesting to hold the Pascack Valley Triathlon on Aug. 13.
Discussion included fee removal–borough entities, and veteran/active duty banners.
The council also passed more than two agenda pages of resolutions touching on appointments for Class III Special Law Enforcement Officers at Pascack Valley High School, liquor licenses, contracts, and other housekeeping.
The governing body next meets Tuesday, July 11. Participation is live and on Zoom. Meetings are televised on Optimum Channel 77 and FIOS Channel 32.
No short-term rentals
Ordinance 23-10, passed June 13, prohibits the short-term rental of amenities via advertising on websites. The ordinance notes the short-term rental of amenities “frequently results in public nuisance, noise complaints, sanitation issues, and illegal parking within the residential neighborhoods of the borough, and converts residential dwelling amenities into public amenities, in violation of the borough’s zoning code, and other codes.”
The ordinance, passed 5-0, with Justin Fox absent, was in response to sites such as airbnb and Swimply that allow home and pool owners to rent out their homes and pools for short-term rentals, which have grown more popular.
Under “Rental Amenities Prohibited,” the ordinances states, “The lease or rental, for any purpose, of any amenity, feature, accessory, use, or appurtenance to, or associated with, a dwelling is prohibited. This shall include, but is not limited to, swimming pools, yard areas, tennis courts, riding areas, and interior or exterior having similar recreation features.”
Councilmember Janetta Trochimiuk re-emphasized to council members June 13 that council had previously discussed the problems with short-term rentals. “We were all in agreement at that time.”
Other Pascack and Northern valley towns have considered or passed ordinances restricting short-term property rentals.
Fines of up to $1,250 and imprisonment for up to 90 days can be imposed for each violation of the ordinance.
Mayor, council raises
The council adopted Ordinance 23-11 by a 4-1 vote, with councilman Zoltán Horváth opposed to increases in annual stipends for council members and the mayor. He said the increases make the council and mayors the highest paid in Pascack Valley.
(However, due to Mayor John Ruocco’s veto, a council vote to override is due at the July 11 meeting.)
Most council members, however, said members, did not receive raises for nearly two decades, and Trochimiuk said that the stipend raises amount to $7 annually per household. She said the raises were based on a Consumer Price Index increase of 2% annually.
Trochimiuk said the increases were based on a financial analysis, noting a “mathematical computation was done” to arrive at the increases. “We did not pull these numbers out of midair and make them up.”
(See “Council to override ‘grandstanding’ veto on M&C raises,” Pascack Press, June 26, 2023.
Under the salary ordinance, the mayor’s compensation increases up to a maximum of $13,000 yearly, a 44% increase over the current maximum; and the council members’ stipend increases 67% over the present maximum, to $10,000. Moreover, the qualified purchasing agent’s salary jumped to $15,000, from a maximum of $6,000 yearly, or nearly 250%.
Horváth, who says he’s mounting a write-in/personal choice run for mayor, voted no based on the mayor and council increases.
He has been campaigning against former councilman Republican Frank Pizzella and Democrat Michael Sheinfield, who both ran uncontested in the June 6 primaries.
Ruocco is running unopposed for a seat on the Borough Council, as is a fellow Republican, newcomer Clemente Osso.
Other salaries in 23-11 included the following maximums: $220,000, police chief; $200,000, police captain; $180,000, police lieutenant; $150,000, borough administrator; $120,000, borough clerk; $150,000, certified municipal finance officer; $140,000, public works (DPW) superintendent; $100,000, apiece, for DPW for general assignment, foreman and head mechanic; and $75,000, court administrator.
$4.15 million bond ordinance introduced
In addition, the council introduced two ordinances, both by 5-0 votes. A public hearing on both ordinances will be held July 11.
Ord. 23-12 appropriates $4.15 million, including $500,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, to make various public improvements and pay for a new fire vehicle.
Ord. 23-13 establishes procedures and standards regarding deployment of small wireless facilities in borough public rights-of-way.
The $4,154,500 appropriation includes $3,115,465 of bonding, $360,810 in grants, $500,000 in ARP funds, and a $178,225 down payment on the bonds.
The dozen projects listed under the bond ordinance include $103,000 for municipal building improvements; $500,000 for road, curb, sidewalk, culvert, sewer and drainage improvements (covered by ARP funds); $180,000 for Beechwood Park Trail upgrades; $512,000 for Magnolia Avenue resurfacing; $45,000 for Memorial Park upgrades; $697,000 for DPW vehicles’ replacement, including a backhoe and auger, hook trucks with packer and container attachments, equipment for a mechanic’s truck, and a plow.
Other projects include $40,000 for an asphalt hot box dump trailer; and $260,000 for improvements to public property including Memorial Field, the firehouse, Veterans Park, Beechwood Park, upgrades to the watershed trail, and and environmental testing at Centennial Field.
Other line items include $92,000 for fire department equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus, turnout gear and a chief’s vehicle; $1,600,000 for a new ladder fire truck; $40,000 for new carpet at the public library; and $85,000 for roof replacement at the public library.
Ord. 23-13 establishes procedures and standards regarding deployment of small wireless facilities in borough public rights of way. This includes wireless carriers looking to upgrade to 5G wireless networks, who may need to install small wireless facilities in borough public rights of way.
The ordinance recognizes that small wireless facilities “within the public right of way can impact property values, create traffic and pedestrian safety hazards, impact shade trees, and create visual and aesthetic blight which can negatively impact the (local) quality and character of life.”
The ordinance provides 12 sections that establish procedures and zoning requirements for wireless facilities that may be constructed in town. Attorney Marc Madaio had researched various wireless facilities’ ordinances after one vendor expressed interest in placing wireless poles or facilities in town.
Officials said only one wireless provider had provided a presentation to the council about their company, but no provider, such as Verizon or AT&T, had approached the town.
Ruocco noted that the ordinance can help the borough control how a wireless telecommunication provider operates locally. He said through the ordinance, “We get some greater control over the process.”
He said the borough cannot stop the communications providers, “but we can control them around the edges.”
Second Borough Address Dinged
Near mid-meeting, (at the 1:04 mark to about 1:14), Ruocco provided a 10-minute, second “State of the Borough” address [his “Part 2”] for council and residents. Mostly, the address criticized council members. (The text is available under the Mayor’s Spotlight section on the borough website.)
The mayor promised a second report earlier this year, after the budget process concluded.
Ruocco’s address lists nine projects that will likely be undertaken this year, which he predicts will cost more than anticipated and have major impacts on taxpayers.
Several council members took exception to Ruocco’s second address, questioning his “constant negative views” on Borough Council matters and the borough.
Moreover, they questioned how he views borough budgeting and finances.
Near the meeting’s end, Councilman John Escobar dinged Ruocco, noting “how pompous is somebody” to give two state of the borough addresses.
“We’re a postage-stamp town in this country and you have somebody who is supposed to be the face of the town. You’re supposed to be uplifting and telling all the good things that are going on, where twice a month, sometimes once a month now, you blast your council members as far as all the wrong things they’re doing,” Escobar said.
He charged for the “better part of a decade” the mayor has been part of the problem. He cited three former presidents who never gave a second State of the Union address.
After Escobar again called Ruocco pompous, Ruocco banged his gavel to call a point of order. He told Escobar that according to Robert’s Rules of Order members must keep discussion to the topic and not get personal. He requested that Escobar “cease being personal” and allowed Escobar to finish his commentary.
Escobar said residents know the “same old song and dance” going on regularly at council meetings. He said “all the level-headed residents know that we’re all doing good things up here and we’re all trying to do good things by the residents.”
“Nobody is getting anything out of this; nobody’s putting money in their pockets. We’re all volunteering up here and we’re doing good things for the town and just because one person doesn’t agree with us, doesn’t make it wrong. That’s all I’m trying to say,” said Escobar.