EMERSON—Council President Kenneth Hoffman was honored with a plaque at the Dec. 28, 2021 sine die meeting, a token of thanks for his many years of service to Emerson.
Hoffman, a Republican, fielded words of praise from his mayor, fellow council members, and a resident active in Democratic politics.
Mayor Danielle DiPaola said, “Tonight we bid farewell to our council president who has served this borough honorably, both as a council member and a volunteer over the last two decades. Ken’s impact has been seen in many areas throughout town. His attention to detail and thoroughness will be difficult to replace.”
Hoffman said he had run for council three years ago with DiPaola and councilman Brian Gordon to achieve change, including getting meetings videotaped and on television, which increased government transparency. He said residents have said they appreciated it.
He said it was “a testament” to council members that “we are not a rubber-stamp government … We disagree respectfully, we work together, yet we still will have our difference of opinions and that proves that we are not making decisions behind the scenes but doing what we feel is best for the town.”
He lauded councilmembers for “speaking their minds as they see fit.”
He also thanked borough employees and volunteers for their contributions — singling out Borough Clerk Jane Dietsche “for all her hard work.”
He saved his last thanks for “the people of Emerson, for giving me the opportunity to serve again.”
In 2018, when he was running for his latest term — he’d already served two terms, 2005–2010 — he said his employment was as clerk at Stop & Shop.
Hoffman, citing health reasons, withdrew from his re-election bid in 2021. He is a lifelong resident of the borough, and is widely respected for his calm manner on the dais, his commitment to “The Family Town,” and his ranging curiosity.
Borough administrator Robert G. Hermansen commended Hoffman for his “thoroughness” during Hermansen’s two-plus years that he has served as administrator. “It made my job much easier… most of the things I had a question on I could refer to you.”
Members thanked Hoffman for his friendship, dedication, and collegiality. And DiPaola said Hoffman was essential to good council relations.
“It’s a credit to Ken and this council that everybody was able to work together and have the relationships that we did. We did have our disagreements on issues but as a whole we always worked together and the last 10 minutes were just so beautiful to me — hearing all of these words for Ken — that I think you know you would always be welcome back here and always welcome as a volunteer should you so choose,” she said.
Indicating borough business in progress, she advised, “I’ll be calling you probably on Thursday or Friday.”
During the meeting’s public comment period, Democrat Kate Stutzel, who tried for a council seat in 2021, congratulated Hoffman on 20 years of public service and his “unparalleled” attention to detail.
She said she wished him well and said she was grateful that he “took the time” to help the public understand ordinances being introduced and up for adoption.
She suggested “one of the reigning council members” continue Hoffman’s role of requiring ordinances be fully explained. None seemed to volunteer.
“Ken Hoffman, you’ve done the Borough of Emerson proud,” DiPaola said, as the meeting ended, as she and the council lauded Hoffman.
In 2018, Hoffman, a graduate of the College of William and Mary, and a former Historic Preservation Commission member, told Pascack Press he was running “because I believe it’s time for a new approach in Emerson.”
He dinged the previous, Democratic, administration as having made decisions “which haven’t benefitted our town or its residents.
He sounded off on management of the $4.4 million Kinderkamack Road Improvement Project. (Which, we should add, was a first-place recipient in the New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers Municipal Management category for towns of less than 20,000 residents.)
And he said “there’s nothing to show for the downtown redevelopment efforts but a lawsuit from two property owners that has cost the taxpayers over $100,000.”
Hoffman said he was “confident that we can move Emerson into the future without sacrificing the small-town character that makes this such a great place to live. We can do that by working cooperatively with downtown property owners, instead of the bullying tactic of eminent domain, which has only resulted in further stagnation and avoidable legal fees.”
And he said, “We can pursue sensible development without the four-story high rises that will only bring more vehicles to our already overburdened roads.”
Hoffman said at the time, “I’m also happy to be running with two candidates who share my optimism for a better Emerson: council candidate Brian Gordon and mayoral candidate Danielle DiPaola. If elected, we’ll work together to make the changes that our community needs, but in a responsible way that takes into account all potential costs. We won’t be purchasing property for nearly a million dollars without a plan, as the present administration has done.”
— With John Snyder