BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
NORTHVALE, N.J.—The borough’s new mayor—Independent candidate and former councilman Patrick Marana—was sworn in Saturday, Jan. 5, along with two Republicans, and the new mayor said his immediate priorities will be to focus on ways to reduce budget expenditures that last year led to a 6.2 percent budget increase.
He also noted due to “out of control” spending in 2018, a higher municipal tax increase is likely in 2019.
Marana joined reelected incumbent Republican Councilman Peter Sotiropoulos and newly elected Republican Councilman Joseph E. McGuire at the swearing in, which was witnessed by friends, family and public officials.
“It’s shaping up to be a challenging year for the budget,” said Marana, telling the audience he would be acting as the council finance and taxation liaison to facilitate budget discussions.
Marana said a first draft of a “current [2019 budget] snapshot has us starting out with a 9 percent municipal tax increase” due to “things [that] got more than a little bit out of control in 2018. Spending cuts should have been made but weren’t,” he said.
Marana said $308,500 in 2018 expenditures would have to come out of 2019’s budget, equal to a 5 percent tax increase.
He stressed budget discussions are just starting out and a draft budget will likely be available soon.
‘Confine the bad news’
Marana said 2019 spending cuts must be made and spending closely monitored “to confine the bad news to this year,” he added.
Marana defeated former one-term mayor and former councilman Stanley “Ed” Piehler after a tumultuous summer and fall campaign marked by Marana’s frequent public criticism of Piehler.
Marana criticized Piehler for a 6.2 percent budget jump, allegations of unsafe playground equipment at Hogan Park, creation of a non-union “fleet manager” position, and loss of a longstanding interlocal leaf disposal contract and local revenues with Hillsdale.
Piehler was later able to sign a new interlocal agreement with Westwood, which Marana criticized as “a total loser” because it was for less reimbursement and Northvale was left footing the bill for leaf grinding, an expense previously covered by Hillsdale.
‘Gripe Night’ starts Jan. 22
“It doesn’t feel any different than being on the council,” said Marana on Jan 7, when asked about his new role as mayor. He said to hear public concerns he plans to restart a monthly “Gripe Night” session, the first scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
He said “Gripe Nights” will be held monthly to solicit public input from residents.
Due to budget challenges and lack of action on drafting a 2019 budget, he said he plans to hold regular budget meetings over the next few months.
“It’s critical this year,” he noted.
He said the regular budget meetings will help improve council communication, which he intends to also enhance by increasing phone and email contact with members.
Marana told Northern Valley Press after winning election Nov. 6 over Piehler by a 905-653 tally that 2019 priorities included stabilizing taxes and getting compost site operations back to normal, possibly increasing site revenues.
Sotiropoulos, who has served 16 years on the council and volunteers with the borough’s ambulance corps, was sworn in along with McGuire, a Republican newcomer.
McGuire served seven years on the school board, including five years as president. He said “fiscal accountability” was what voters he spoke with wanted in Northvale.
He said shared services— specifically services shared between the borough’s school board and council—need to be further explored to “maximize every [tax] dollar… Taxpayers really want that to happen,” he said.
He said Bergen County Clerk John Hogan, a resident, noted Northvale residents had the highest local turnout countywide, with almost 70 percent voting.
McGuire attributed the turnout to voters’ concerns about local spending and last year’s tax increase.
