TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—After new councilwoman Daisy Velez and returning incumbents Mayor Peter Calamari and councilman Tom Sears were sworn in at the Jan. 3 reorganization meeting, the council voted, 5-0, to appoint Desserie Morgan council president and Stacey Feeney council vice president.
In so doing, the women, both Republicans first elected to council in 2019, switched council leadership roles.
Upon her swearing in, Morgan thanked her colleagues for their support and said she would seek “all of their counsel.”
Not returning: Michael DeSena, who staked his seat at the dais on a close challenge for mayor. He was the last of the Independents to serve in recent years.
Taking over the meeting from Township Clerk Sue Witkowski, Morgan added, “I just want to thank you guys. I’m sure we will definitely… I will be calling on you for a lot of things. So we’ll collaborate often and I appreciate your confidence in me.”
The council backed Calamari picks Robert Tovo as business administrator and finance director, and veteran town attorney Kenneth Poller, for 2022. Member Steven Cascio opposed both appointments.
On Nov. 15, after it was clear they’d won the election, Calamari’s campaign posted, “This was a close race not only locally but statewide, it means that there are many views, many positions and many voices to be heard on the matters that mean most to all of us.”
The campaign said “we encourage our residents to continue to raise their concerns, voice their opinions and consider volunteering to be a part of this great community’s growth in excellence.”
It thanked “our opponents Michael DeSena, Michael Werfel, and Kevin Zitko for offering your time to this community.”
Following his swearing in for a second consecutive term Jan. 3, Calamari delivered a 16-minute report to council, mentioning that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority had recently offered to install a traffic signal at the end of Exit 168. “We will research the pros and cons of placing the signal at the intersection before agreeing to it.”
Calamari said he has been trying to set up a meeting between the county and township engineers to address traffic safety concerns at the nearby Van Emburgh–Washington Avenue intersection, now served by a blinking warning light. The light blinks amber for vehicles traversing Washington while it blinks red for vehicles on Van Emburgh.
On Dec. 6, 2021 resident Steven Kalish said he went to the county to express his safety concerns over the intersection, especially with nearly 120 new housing units approved in 2021 and to soon be built nearby.
Calamari reported that the Emergency Services Building rising on Washington Avenue — under fire by nearby residents for its size and scale — “continues to move ahead,” though now pushed back to an April completion estimate.
He advised residents to consult the township’s website and Facebook pages to keep informed on local news and events.
He noted some social media presences with township logos or photos, where residents gather to discuss public affairs, are not “official sources” of information about the community.
He said the former “obsolete” Department of Public Works building had been demolished and the contaminated soil underneath remediated. He said he was collaborating with an architect on plans for a new DPW building “and will be reviewing the same with the council.” He did not provide a timeline or other details.
Calamari noted that so far no new location for commuter car parking near the Pascack Road–Washington Avenue bus stop has been located. He said once the old firehouse is razed, officials will be able to determine how many commuter spots might be available.
Calamari praised local volunteers for their public service on the fire and ambulance squads. He cited emergency management’s round-the-clock assistance provided during the heavy rains from Tropical Storm Ida, and another tropical storm soon after which deluged the township with more heavy rain.
He said the restarted summer recreation program in 2021 had been able to put Bethany Community Center’s newly refurbished pool “to good use,” as the Washington Township Swim and Recreation Club did not open in 2021. It was also closed for the 2020 season due to Covid-19 closures and restrictions.
(For more on that, see our page 1 story in this issue.)
Regarding future property acquisitions, Calamari said at the Jan. 3 reorganization meeting: “We will continue to be on the lookout for properties that the town should acquire for strategic purposes including 450 Pascack Road.”
Calamari also noted the police department had ordered new handguns that were expected to be in by spring, and he noted Tasers would be deployed soon. “Our officers continue to show bravery in situations they are called upon to deal with,” Calamari added.
It wasn’t part of his report, but Calamari also met with Borough of Westwood and Westwood Regional School District officials recently, and the district’s board was to vote Jan. 6 on whether to pay the Township of Washington $25 per hour for a Class II police officer at the high school from January until the end of the year.