BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TENAFLY, N.J.—Gov. Phil Murphy visited Tenafly Jan. 2 to officially swear in a former councilman who was welcomed back by voters and state Assemblyman Gordon Johnson arrived to swear-in a newly elected councilman during the Borough Council’s annual reorganization meeting.
Murphy swore in Mark Zinna and Johnson swore in Venugopal Menon, who replace outgoing Councilman Anthony Barzelatto and Councilwoman Shama Haider. Both outgoing council members received proclamations honoring their service.
Former two-term councilman Zinna, 57, heard words of praise before Murphy administered the oath of office.
Murphy said although Zinna previously ran for governor, he was “the first” to reach out to him asking Murphy to swear him in upon his reelection. He said he respected the fact that Zinna asked him to find time in his schedule to administer the oath of office to him.
‘Find common ground’
Murphy said it was important to find common ground and not hold grudges. “You never know when you’ll meet again,” he noted as advice to young adults, adding he “was honored to be here tonight, but particularly because we can find common ground.”
Murphy also congratulated Menon on his election and apologized for not being about to stay longer.
He said he was coming from a ceremony honoring the election of Palisades Park’s first Korean-American mayor.
“There’s no county that does it like Bergen,” said Murphy.
Several tables of light refreshments were provided by the borough for reorganization attendees before the governor arrived.
‘It’s an honor’
Following Zinna’s ceremony, newly elected Councilman Venugopal Menon, 52, was sworn in by Johnson.
“Thank you for allowing me to do this. It’s an honor,” said Johnson, as photographers and family jostled for pictures of Menon and his family.
“I want to be the first to congratulate Venu and Mark. Welcome to the team,” said Tenafly Mayor Peter Rustin.
Rustin provided a 2018 local recap noting “there are many words to describe 2018 but boring is not one of them.”
He cited completion of “an over 20-year battle” to satisfy local affordable housing obligations through 2025 as “a job well done.”
After the meeting, Zinna said he hoped to reduce overly long council meetings, better plan and improve road program activities, advance efforts for Northern Valley Greenway walking, biking and running paths, address downtown traffic congestion and lack of parking, repair the dam at Pfister’s Pond, and build a dog park.
Menon said his “priorities are the priorities of the town” including helping seniors, improving the downtown and roads, and stabilizing the Department of Public Works and its local responsiveness to issues.
Following oaths of office, the council voted to approve multiple resolutions appointing a variety of professionals to borough staff positions. These included attorney William R. McClure, Borough Administrator/Borough Clerk Lissette Aportela, Chief Municipal Finance Officer Susan Corrado, plus numerous boards, mayor’s appointments, and approved a limited consent agenda.
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL OLOHAN