PASCACK VALLEY—If you watched any of the World Cup men’s soccer showdown in Qatar you surely saw what Park Ridge Mayor Keith Misciagna qualified as his top local news story of 2022.
Amid land use, downtown redevelopment, new businesses, water quality, climate change assessments, and affordable housing as our mayors’ top local 2022 news stories, Misciagna cited hometown soccer hero Matt Turner’s selection as the U.S. soccer team’s goalkeeper in the World Cup in Qatar as his standout story.
Misciagna and the mayors of Emerson, Hillsdale, Montvale, River Vale, Old Tappan, Oradell, Township of Washington, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake — or their representatives — are expected at the Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce (GPVCOC) Breakfast with the Mayors on Jan. 18, 2023 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at The Iron Horse restaurant, 20 Washington Ave, Westwood.
You’re invited too: It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet style breakfast — everything from eggs Benedict to blintzes, fresh fruit to bacon, pancakes, home fries, and more. During the informal breakfast, each mayor (or their representative) gives remarks that also briefly set out their plans for the coming year in their town.
This year, due to a Covid-19 spike, the event was held remotely, via Zoom. However, GPVCOC president Robin Malley said the 2023 breakfast is likely be in-person only. She said residents can submit questions for the mayors to her at gpvcoc@gmail.com.
Tickets to the event are $25 to $30 and may be purchased online or by contacting Robin Malley at (201) 666-0777 or GPVCOC@gmail.com. If space allows, tickets can be also purchased at the door.
Sneak peek
In recent conversations with four area mayors, we got early word on what the mayors might bring up. The mayors also are likely to speak on challenges and opportunities ahead at their town’s annual reorganization meetings, which are open to the public:
Park Ridge
“The biggest newsworthy item for Park Ridge in 2022 was seeing our hometown sports hero Matt Turner make it to Qatar in the World Cup tournament and make it to the ‘Sweet 16.’ The Turner family still resides in Park Ridge and they were able to travel to Qatar to watch their son compete,” Misciagna told Pascack Press.
He added, “In an interview, Matt reminisced about watching the World Cup as a young boy in Park Ridge and then going to our Memorial Field with his friends to play soccer. Being from a small community like Park Ridge we see all our neighbors as extended family so Matt’s success and story was celebrated by us all and now we are all looking forward to the 2026 World Cup at our home field here in New Jersey and other places in North America.”
(Turner attended St. Joseph Regional High School and started playing soccer at 14. Although the United States bowed out of the World Cup in its first knockout match against the Netherlands, Turner’s performance was praised throughout the tournament.)
Misciagna said the anticipated spring 2023 opening of the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir Nature Trail, in the works for a decade, will be “a wonderful addition to Park Ridge and our neighbors to the south.” (See story, page 3.)
He said new businesses are coming to downtown in 2023, along with a new restaurant at The James, the 240-unit mixed-use complex on Kinderkamack Road.
Misciagna said resident safety will be enhanced by adding one new officer to the police department, and the appointment of three new special law enforcement officers (SLEO IIIs) to local schools.
Moreover, Misciagna said a possible $16.5 million federal budget appropriation for upgrading Park Ridge’s water system filtration to eliminate “forever chemicals” (or PFOAs) might be coming soon courtesy of Fifth District Congressman Josh Gottheimer.
Montvale
Montvale Mayor Michael Ghassali said his top local news story was “any story that had to do with affordable housing.”
He said other important Montvale issues in 2023 would be “traffic and congestion.”
In October, Montvale joined a statewide lawsuit filed by 16 towns to compel Gov. Phil Murphy to reconstitute the state Council on Affordable Housing. The council was declared “moribund” by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2015, following 16 years of inaction on setting affordable obligations.
The court ordered state Superior Courts to mediate and determine local affordable obligations due to COAH’s failure.
Ghassali said other topics residents should hear about in 2023 are about “amenities and recreation.” In 2022, Montvale purchased a 28.4-acre tract at 127 Summit Ave. for recreation and initiated efforts to plan and design a community center and pool.
Hillsdale
Hillsdale Mayor John Ruocco suggested six dominant news stories for 2022, with the signing of a redevelopment agreement with CP Hillsdale LLC at the top.
Other related issues included development of 255 market-rate and affordable units, a free Patterson Street community center, and increased tax revenue flow to the borough.
He said other top stories were ongoing:
- Reconstruction of Centennial Field;
- Construction of a second community center;
- An $82.5 million school district referendum to replace the middle school;
- Increased flooding along Pascack Brook;
- Disruption and road repairs caused by PSEG and Veolia upgrading gas and water service; and
- The anticipated opening of the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir Nature Trail.
Ruocco said continuing stories in 2023 were a need for legislation to allow greater local control over 5G cell tower placement; a possible need to rescind twice-weekly trash pickups due to hauler increases; increased council transparency; and the council’s need to restore the mayor’s role on standing committees.
Early in 2022, the Borough Council voted to change its bylaws and remove Ruocco from his “ex-officio” role on committees and make the mayor speak first during closing remarks at council meetings.
(Edit for our web story: On Dec. 16, the borough administrator announced his resignation.)
Westwood
Westwood Mayor Ray Arroyo said the top news story locally was land use which “includes the successful rebound of businesses making it through the pandemic.” He said land use includes new businesses, consideration for flood zones, roads, parking, public transportation, safety and public park improvements.
“Land use weaves together all the physical layers of how we experience living in Westwood,” said Arroyo.
He predicted newsworthy topics in 2023 will be “sustaining revenues through an inflation-driven, economic downturn and looming recession.” He said this includes the “resourcefulness of business owners to adapt and adjust their business models.”
Arroyo said other newsworthy local issues in 2023 should be examining the Master Plan’s assumptions and 2019/2020 Reexamination Report “in light of enduring pandemic disruptions.”
He said a new vehicular traffic and pedestrian circulation element will be introduced and consulting planner (Burgis Associates) will conduct a climate change resiliency assessment.
“This is a new state requirement for towns that are reviewing their master plans. The ongoing flooding issues Westwood residents and businesses routinely experience present concerns that coalesce with the timing of this resiliency assessment,” Arroyo said.
The Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization of business organizations and professionals “working together to enhance our community. Together, we can foster an environment that leads to increased growth in our businesses and neighborhoods. As concerned individuals working together at the GPVCOC, we can foster a vital and responsive chamber of commerce, which results in a better return for business, professional and industrial development.”
Its vice president, Skip Kelley of Friedberg Associates, and a former mayor of Westwood, recently passed, at 77. See Page 1 and Obituaries.
For more information, visit PascackChamber.org.