EMERSON—Predicting “It’s not going to be smooth but it’s going to be fun,” Mayor Danielle DiPaola took the reins of government at a packed council reorganization meeting Jan. 2, becoming the first woman mayor in borough history.
She was joined at the dais by her Republican running mates, councilmen Brian Gordon and Kenneth Hoffman, and said she looked forward to working with everyone on council “in a bipartisan way.”
Noting her historic win, she said, “I hope you don’t judge me on my gender but all of us on our ideas and actions.”
DiPaola, Gordon and Hoffman (returned after two terms, 2005 through 2010) had campaigned hard on the issue of what they called overdevelopment, taking aim at the four-story Block 419 redevelopment project long taking shape and just approved.
With her rise, DiPaola, who often found herself the lone no vote on Block 419 matters, might well find herself presiding at the project’s ribbon cutting.
After the meeting, DiPaola told Pascack Press she had spoken that day with Accurate Builders and Developers owner and CEO Jack Klugmann, who assured her that he looks forward to working with the borough on residents’ concerns on the project—including items to do with the environment, traffic, and fire safety.
Joined by more than a score of relatives, and sworn in by Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo, DiPaola took her vows and promised an open and transparent administration and said “The future here in Emerson is bright.”
Also attending were state Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, Cresskill Councilman Hector Olmo, former Dumont mayor Don Wyman, and Police Chief Michael Mazzeo.
Former Council President Chris Knoller interrupted DiPaola as she was bringing forth resident Jill Manell McGuire for a vote to the unexpired term of the sixth council seat, the one she vacated to become mayor.
He moved to table the vote until the next meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m., saying he hadn’t had time to interview McGuire, Don Pierro, and Michael Timmerman, all of whom were nominated by the town Republican Committee.
Knoller, who nominated Gerald Falotico to succeed him as council president, further pointed out a bylaw complicating DiPaola’s preferred seating chart, leading the mayor to complain, “I’m getting blindsided, quite frankly; I thought we were going to have a smooth transition. I’m looking for a little cooperation from my colleagues to the right.”
That said, Knoller, who has two years to go on the council, congratulated his new colleagues and anticipated “Agreeing, disagreeing, but always doing so respectfully.”
DiPaola had her way in naming the new Land Use Board. McGuire, formerly chair of the Historic Preservation Committee, is LUB Class II member for the term ending Dec. 31. Jeff Bischoff and Don Pierro are Class IV members for the term ending Dec. 31, 2022. Mike Myers and Bill Loschiavo are Alternate II and III members, respectively, for the term ending Dec. 31, 2020.
Francis J. Leddy Jr. was sworn in for his 31st year as municipal judge.
With few exceptions, standing committee council appointments and liaisons were named, several of the emergency services officers agreed to were sworn in, and most other posts were filled.
The temporary 2019 municipal budget was adopted.
In its sine die meeting, the 2018 council presented a plaque marking its appreciation of service to Councilman Brian Downing.
Mayor Louis Lamatina and Councilwoman Karen Wolf did not attend the meeting, but they too were to receive plaques for their service.
The governing body accepted the resignation of Borough Administrator Robert S. Hoffmann, effective Jan. 25. He leaves to take on a new job as township administrator for the Township of Chatham.
A party followed at the Emerson Hotel.
