PASCACK VALLEY AREA, N.J.—Some wore face coverings, some did not, and some newly elected members were in council chambers while others remained secure at home.
But Pascack Valley municipal councils held combined annual end-of-year and 2021 reorganization meetings that were enthusiastic, optimistic, and unique.
Most towns in our coverage area held meetings from Jan. 4 through Jan. 6, as did municipal and regional school boards. Here are highlights from some of the mostly remote reorganization meetings.
Montvale
Mayor Ghassali says many businesses might not come back.
On Monday night (Jan. 4) in Montvale, Douglas Arendacs was sworn in to a second term by Bergen County Municipal Judge Anthony Gallina; four-term councilwoman Rose Curry was sworn in by Republican (D-39) Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi. The council serves three-year terms.
“You’re an amazing public servant and it is genuinely my honor to swear you in tonight,” said Schepisi before administering the oath of office.
Arendacs, who said he was home quarantining following a bout with Covid-19, said he hopes to be back “real soon” and congratulated Timothy Lane for his selection as council vice president, a position Arendacs had held.
“I wish I could be in attendance at tonight’s reorganization meeting, however I am recovering… The overwhelming thoughtfulness and support of this community is greatly appreciated,” Arendacs said.
He thanked all first responders for the excellent service and provided a shout-out to borough residents who have battled against the virus and said “There’s nothing we cannot accomplish.”
Curry also recognized public servants for their hard work and dedication in the face of a pandemic, including police, fire, ambulance, and public works.
“The borough of Montvale is strongest when all levels of public and private service and communities work together. It is how we get to know each other and realize our goals,” Curry said after she was sworn in.
Mayor Michael Ghassali provided a New Year preview:
“2021 is going to be a good year but I think it will be a challenging year. Many businesses may not come back, we will have few vacant office buildings and with less employees in town as potential customers to our small businesses, it will no doubt be a difficult year for them and we will need to help them where we can,” he said.
River Vale
Council President Bromberg says ‘Get the vaccine.’
In River Vale, three uncontested Republican council members, Ari Ben-Yishay, Paul Criscuolo and John Donovan, rejoined the council for four-year terms. The five-member council selected councilman Mark Bromberg as council president and Crusciolo as vice president, the positions both previously served over their last terms.
All three returning councilmen expressed optimism for a better and healthier 2021, as did most council members in brief remarks.
Criscuolo congratulated Borough Clerk Karen Campanelli for assuming additional responsibilities and a promotion “very well deserved.”
Bromberg, a dentist, remarked that he and his staff had received vaccine shots and appealed to residents to get it as well.
“I urge you to get it if it becomes available to you as an individual,” he said. He noted council bylaws had been updated to reflect the new regular meeting start time of 7:30 p.m.
Park Ridge
Republican newcomers rebuffed in council president choice.
Kicking off municipal reorganizations Tuesday night, the Borough Council installed its two new councilmen. Newly elected Republicans John M. Cozzi and William R. Fenwick remained at Borough Hall to take the oath of office, which Republican Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi administered remotely.
In its first political disagreement of 2021, the council’s new members tried to install Cozzi as council president. However, Councilwoman Kelly Epstein was selected for the role, opposed by both Cozzi and Fenwick. After Cozzi was nominated, only Fenwick and Cozzi voted for his selection. Cozzi’s and Fenwick’s terms continue through Dec. 31, 2023.
Earlier, defeated incumbent councilman Michael Mintz said over his terms the council was mostly in agreement on issues and governed by consensus. He thanked Mayor Keith Misciagna for the time and effort that he devotes to the borough and residents.
In remarks recapping 2020, Misciagna thanked a list of people, some known and some unknown. He thanked departing councilmen Mintz and Tom Farinaro, two young girls who, early in the pandemic, held signs saying all would be all right, and a list of residents, local employees, and businesses who all helped the borough cope during the unprecedented health crisis.
“In reflection on the past year we certainly had a lot of bad news and uncertainty but what I remember is how we as a borough reacted to this global pandemic and while we are not out of the woods yet, I need to acknowledge some of those employees, volunteers and regular citizens that helped us all through this dark time in history,” Misciagna said.
Misciagna did not directly mention a long-contested and divisive affordable housing settlement that is up for final fairness hearing before a Superior Court on Jan. 15
The settlement allows a developer to build a 448-unit apartment complex, including 68 affordable units, on 30 acres of former Sony property. Long opposed by Misciagna and the Borough Council, the years-long litigation against one developer and Fair Share Housing Center ended up costing Park Ridge nearly $2 million.
Hillsdale
Mayor Ruocco starts year with redevelopment plan he could not defeat.
Returning incumbent councilmen Anthony DeRosa and Zoltán Horváth were sworn in remotely at Hillsdale’s sine die and reorganization session.
“For the last three years, I have been advocating for a much needed senior and community center and will insist on putting it on a fast track for 2021. I will continue to advocate for moderation in the redevelopment of the industrial area. As chairman of the Historic Preservation Committee I will push to restore the Hillsdale Train Station with novel ideas to make it a more integral and diversified public asset,” Horváth said.
Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi swore in DeRosa; Ruocco administered Horváth’s oath. Councilwoman Abby Lundy was unanimously selected as council president and sworn in by Ruocco.
Similar to other Pascack Valley towns, a host of professional contracts were approved for local professional staff including attorney and engineer, and appointments made to local standing and advisory committees.
Lately, the mayor has opposed the controversial Patterson Street Redevelopment Plan, criticizing its option for height and density bonuses for future developers. The council overrode Ruocco’s veto to approve the plan. Horváth had also opposed the possible developer bonuses.
Ruocco said in 2020 recap, “With a decision on a redevelopment plan for the Patterson Street industrial area having been made, the governing body will need to negotiate smartly with future potential developers who show an interest in that plan. This is essential if the borough is to realize the maximum financial and aesthetic benefits, while minimizing the ill effects of overdevelopment.”
Emerson
Actions over redevelopment, ambulance building continue.
Newly elected Republican councilmen Michael Timmerman and Carl Carbo were sworn in by Mayor Danielle DiPaola at the Borough Council meeting Jan. 5. The session was held in person but restricted mostly to remote viewing by residents. When Pascack Press tuned in at 7:35 p.m, the GoToMeeting counter showed five people tuned in.
Councilman Kenneth Hoffmann was unanimously selected as council president for 2021.
During the mostly ceremonial installation, Borough Clerk Jane Dietsche officially called the first roll call of the new 2021 Borough Council.
Throughout 2020, Emerson’s downtown Block 419/Emerson Station redevelopment project has been stalled by dueling lawsuits by the developer and borough against each other filed mid-year for breach of contract. The area remains fenced off, with piles of debris visible inside.
The developer sued first, claiming the mayor and borough have imposed “frivolous roadblocks and impediments” to the project. The borough’s lawsuit filed in June claims the developer breached its contract by not providing $500,000 in construction services for a new emergency services building.
The project was approved to construct 147 apartments and 15,000 square feet of downtown retail space, along with 29 affordable units, 22 onsite and seven on borough property after acquiring its former ambulance building. At press time, it was unclear where both cases stood, though discovery before trial often takes six or more months.
Westwood
Mayor Arroyo lauds ‘radical acts of organized kindness.’
Fifth District Congressman Josh Gottheimer helped swear in incumbent Democratic Councilwoman Erin Collins to a new three-year term. Republican Mayor Raymond Arroyo also swore in returning Councilman Christopher Montana. Both terms expire Dec. 31, 2023.
Republican Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (D-39) swore in Republican Cheryl Hodges to fill a one-year unexpired term.
“Westwood is lucky to have Councilwoman Erin Collins as a leader dedicated to making this town an even more special place to live,” said Gottheimer.
He added, “Erin has achieved so much on the council as liaison to public works, where she launched a composting program, and as deputy liaison for police, where she worked to boost communication during the pandemic, and I know will continue to do great things for the community.”
Like most reorganizations, the meeting was held remotely. Similarly, dozens of appointments were made to borough offices, boards, and departments. Beth Dell was voted in unanimously as council president for 2021.
Arroyo said he would offer more on his 2021 priorities later, and gave a rousing year-end wrap-up.
“This was a very strange reorganization. It doesn’t even feel like a new year. That’s because the virus doesn’t respect the turn of the calendar. Since March, we have marked the passing of time on COVID’s terms, with its benchmarks and milestones consuming our anxious days and restless nights,” he said.
He added, “In 2020 COVID took too many of our loved ones and together we mourned their passing. Each one will be remembered and our determination to fully recover from this plague will be our testament to their memory.”
Arroyo said, “We took everything the virus threw at us and we stood shoulder to shoulder supporting each other and our common mission—our only mission—preserving and enhancing Westwood. Our people performed so many radical acts of organized kindness that the rare thing became routine.”