HAWORTH, N.J.—Although it took two extra weeks to confirm his victory, Democratic Mayor-elect Thomas Ference was sworn in officially Jan. 6 at Haworth Borough Hall to the applause and cheers of family and friends.
The nearly three-decade Planning Board chairman initially lost the mayoral race to incumbent Republican John Smart, but after mail-in ballots were counted Ference held an 863-834 lead.
Following tabulations of provisional ballots—19 for Ference and 18 for Smart—Ference’s victory was assured 893-860.
Ference has lived in Haworth for 45 years.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, Ference, 77, told Northern Valley Press “it was a delightful day and we arranged for the sunshine” at the ceremony where his son, an attorney, administered the oath of office to the new mayor.
Ference referred to Haworth in his remarks as “Brigadoon on the Reservoir” “because this is a community that looks after itself and takes care of its residents. We’re going to make sure that continues…we will work together to sustain a community that really still functions as a community,” he added.
Ference said resolution of the borough’s affordable housing obligations will be a 2019 priority, as will completion of downtown improvements, including lighting and curbing upgrades.
He said the bipartisan council has worked together well for a long time and that it “will continue to work well and do well for the town,” he added.
‘Fresh air and openness’
Ference previously said he believes “we need to gain control of our affordable housing strategy, now in state-appointed external hands” and wrote in a candidate’s profile that he and his Democratic colleagues were “well qualified to bring fresh air and openness to a governing process that has become increasingly closed and removed from the citizens of Haworth.”
He has called on more volunteers to “re-energize our volunteer spirit and revitalize our boards and commissions. The Planning and Zoning boards have been allowed to go largely dormant as the mayor and council have assumed more control.”
He said these boards “are key components of government, for assembling expertise and providing checks and balances to the governing body, and for securing the character of the town,” he wrote
Ference is professor emeritus of management at Columbia University, and holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and organization, and a doctoral degree in Industrial Administration. He and his wife Ellie have two sons, Thomas and Michael.
New council members
Following the Democratic mayor’s swearing in, incumbent Democrat Glenn Z. Poosikian and newcomer Heather J. Wasser were sworn in. Poosikian grabbed 943 votes and Wasser 821 votes.
Also sworn in was Dina Siciliano, who was elected to fill the unexpired two-year term of former Councilman Anthony Volpe, who died in August after battling cancer. Siciliano garnered 821 votes to Republican Christine Park’s 572.
Poosikian, a 24-year resident, is an attorney for nearly three decades specializing in civil litigation, and a member of Flores Sternick Poosikian. He has coached local baseball and softball teams and served on Boy Scout Troop 73.
In 2005, he became Haworth’s Office of Emergency Management coordinator, responsible for its emergency plan update. He has served on the council since 2006.
Poosikian said fiscal responsibility, shared municipal services and transparency have been his council priorities.
Wasser, an agency producer, is a 15-year resident and earned a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University.
She has been a longtime school volunteer, serving on graduation committees and numerous fundraising and social events.
She campaigned on a commitment to “transparency, preserving our Haworth culture as we welcome new residents, and our stalwarts have their needs met and voices heard,” she wrote to Northern Valley Press.
She noted that she would “work vigorously to protect and promote Haworth’s best interests.”
