Mayor Rendo’s priorities…
Rendo said the priorities for 2024 were made clear by residents during numerous campaign stops and discussions with him, Brodsky and Stern.
“First and foremost, we must complete Galaxy Gardens. As I said, it’s been over a decade since we started to look at this site for a municipal park,” said Rendo. “I expect the council to move forward on this project and bring it to fruition.”
He noted the council needs to “revisit the walking trails around the reservoir. We are laser-focused on improving that corridor and the walking trails are an integral part of our plan to improve the east side.”
Rendo said while campaigning with Brodsky and Stern, “Galaxy and the walking trails were the number one issue all of our residents brought up. We owe it to them to get these projects done this year.”
He said for the east side of town, he would like to see the Spring Fest “come back to our new and improved [Centennial] Causeway.” He said he would work with the council president to develop a priorities list for the town.
“As a start, we need to focus on infrastructure improvements, improving communications with our residents, and have a concrete plan for economic development,” said the mayor.
Rendo said challenges to be faced include what will happen to the Hilton Hotel recently sold to the Wolf family; “what about BMW selling some property on its northern side”; and attracting new businesses, retail establishments and restaurants.
“A community cannot be stagnant. It must evolve and look toward the future. We intend to do so,” said Rendo.
Rendo also said he would continue his Coffee with the Mayor Saturday morning meet-ups at Whole Foods Market Cafe. He called these one-on-one interactions with residents as very important and said he would also continue “FaceTime Live” broadcasts that feature the mayor talking with borough employees who explain their jobs and services provided.
He said the borough opened up Tice Senior Center for rental last year, providing use of the community room for public and private events, including community day and Octoberfest.
He said the town invested in its infrastructure, including the Glen Road Bridge, and other infrastructure that suffered damage during storms.
He said the borough invested in signage along Centennial Causeway to honor the memory of individuals who donated trees there.
“The biggest challenge last year was to finalize our affordable housing mandates and also to close out the litigation with 188 Broadway,” said Rendo.
“I remain proud of the job we did: limiting our affordable housing mandate from 386 units to only 23 buildable units on Broadway.”
He said the borough was awaiting a final decision on its revised affordable plan by Judge Christine Farrington. He said it is “on her desk for her signature.”
He said at 188 Broadway, there is “a brand new building on its way” with 46 housing units, including 37 rental apartments and nine townhouses. “We closed out four litigation matters with the developer,” he said, adding they were able to reach a settlement on the look of the project.
He said a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement at 188 Broadway will provide “much needed revenue” for the borough and is “a win for the residents of the east side and a win for the town as a whole.”
Rendo asserted that last year the borough saw “an increase in criminal activity, [but] working with police, we were able to address this issue and protect our residents.”
He noted, “This necessitated an investment in public safety and we did that by hiring new officers and purchasing crime detection devices like the “eye in the sky” drone.
He said the police committee worked diligently to craft a new contract with the local PBA. “We continue to support our police.”
He said the borough, notably through the efforts of councilman Ben Pollack, is continuing to negotiate with Tri-Boro Ambulance Corps, and “We look to keep our Tri-Boro Ambulance Corps afloat.”
He said he was confident that all three towns involved—including Park Ridge and Montvale—“will reach a resolution in the near future.”
He said in looking at potential revenue sources, the council considered the potential and fit of cannabis. “Our community stepped up in opposition and defeated that initiative,” said Rendo, who criticized Democratic council members for even considering cannabis dispensaries as a revenue generator.
He thanked residents for “keeping our town a family-friendly community that we all moved to.” He said they honor students for their academic achievements and athletic achievements and said “We were proud” of Pascack Hills artistic performances and their local state baseball champions.
The mayor thanked residents for their support in electing him to lead the borough for another four years. “I thank you so much and God bless you.”’