BY JOHN SNYDER
OF PASCACK PRESS
EMERSON, NEW JERSEY—In his Jan. 17 message to residents, Mayor Lou Lamatina said he is “overjoyed to have presided over yesterday’s Emerson council meeting, where newly minted Democratic Councilwoman Karen Wolf was selected, by a vote of 4 to 1, to replace retired Councilman John Lazar.”
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Lamatina thanked Council President Chris Knoller and councilmen Gerald Falotico, Brian Downing, and James Bayley for what he called their wise choice.
“On a day where our new governor, Phil Murphy, stressed diversity and inclusion, we are especially proud to follow the governor’s lead to bring a second woman into our borough government as a councilmember,” he said.
Councilwoman Danielle DiPaola, the board’s sole Republican, cast the only dissenting vote, explaining to Pascack Press that “My vote was more against Mayor Lamatina’s secretive closed-door selection process rather than against Ms. Wolf herself.”
She added, “Appointing a new council member should involve complete transparency for the residents. However, Mayor Lamatina failed to allow any discussion regarding Ms. Wolf’s qualifications, experience, or visions for our town when I requested. If the process is not open and transparent, I will vote no each and every time.”
Wolf is an internal auditor for the Archdiocese of Newark, membership chair of the High School Parents for Athletes booster club, and past president of the borough’s Parent Teacher Association.
She worked for the school district for more than five years before starting her work for the archdiocese.
“I am excited to begin working with this terrific team on the council and with our mayor. I’ve lived in Emerson since 1996 and love our family town,” Wolf told Pascack Press.
She said she’s “passionate about the kids of Emerson, the environment, the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign, and our seniors.”
Taking up Lamatina’s point, she said “It’s also encouraging that our council appointed me, a Democratic woman, to Mr. Lazar’s vacant seat!”
Lazar resigned from the council on Jan. 7, effective the next day, in a letter to officials.
He served on the council in 2009–11, took a break “somewhat frustrated” with the administration of the era, he said, and won reelection in 2016.
He’d served as council president, was a central force in jumpstarting the Kinderkamack Road reconstruction project, and said he was proud of his team’s efforts to beautify Emerson, solve flooding issues, and attract Starbucks and other businesses.
Wolf will finish out Lazar’s term, which expires Dec. 31, as does Brian Downing’s.
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Lazar told Pascack Press he had recommended Wolf as his replacement, citing her background in auditing, her volunteerism, and her positive attitude.
He said he and his wife, Barbara, have decided to fully enjoy retirement. They have a house upstate New York and are going to take their travel trailer on visits to friends across America.
He looks forward to returning to Council Chambers Feb. 6 to accept proclamations for his years of service, which includes long volunteer stints with the ambulance corps and zoning and planning boards. At 71, he’s still a volunteer firefighter.
He retired several years ago from owning a service station and was an official with the Bergenfield Fire Prevention Bureau.
The couple’s son, Christopher, and his wife and two children live in Emerson.
“I leave knowing that I have lived up to my campaign promises, and by working with my fellow councilmen and the mayor, I know I am leaving Emerson in a better place than it was,” he said.