WESTWOOD—The borough ran a lively, productive, and well attended 129th reorganization meeting at the Community Center on Jan. 3, aided in its pomp by a procession of the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department Color Guard.
Republican council incumbents Robert Bicocchi and Beth Dell were sworn in anew, and to cheers: Bicocchi was first elected in 2014, and 2023 starts his fourth term. Dell, appointed to Bob Miller’s vacancy in September 2015, was elected in 2016 to finish Miller’s term. She was elected again in 2017 to her own full term.
Dell was sworn in to her third full term by borough attorney Russell Huntington; Bicocchi was sworn in by his son, Philip Bicocchi, a notary — his dad’s “permanent campaign manager.”
Council president for 2023 is Republican Chris Montana, returning to the role by unanimous vote of members — also including Republicans Cheryl Hodges and Anthony Greco, and Democrat Erin Collins.
On hand for the proceedings was state Sen. Holly Schepisi, making the rounds of valley-area reorganization meetings, who joined the borough in lauding Huntington for his stalwart and lengthy service to Westwood. (She also was special counsel with Huntington Bailey LLP.)
Huntington was sworn in for his 46th term of service , and showered with praise. He was first appointed on Jan. 2, 1978, and for 45 years and more than 1,200 council meetings, the borough proclaimed, he “has faithfully served seven mayors and 48 councilmembers, providing wisdom, insight, and a peaceful presence on the dais.” His tenure covers 1,000 ordinances and 10,000 resolutions and counting.
The proclamation reads in part, “Russell Huntington has quietly influenced the policies and legislation of the borough that have created the well-ordered, attractive community we know and love; and no one in the Borough of Westwood is as universally respected and beloved as Borough Attorney Russell R. Huntington.”
Mayor Ray Arroyo added: “One of the most formative aspects of my public service was to have the good fortune of sitting next to David Rutherford, the ZBA attorney, for seven years and after moving to council sitting next to Russ for 10. Two calm reasonable pragmatic attorneys, both gentlemen.”
He said, “Russ took me to dinner when I first went up to council and told me that no matter how certain I was on any given issue, how well researched — I could be wrong.”
He said, “And so it was important to listen to your colleagues, be open to persuasion, try to find compromise and in the end support the consensus. Defer to the collective wisdom of the people who trust you and in turn in whom you should trust. Humility, what a concept.”
Arroyo characterized just-retired WWPD deputy chief Jay Hutchinson tongue-in-cheek as “shy and quiet,” known for correcting junior officers in “soothing, hushed tones…”
And he thanked “the people behind the glass” at Borough Hall, “the people who make Westwood click.” He said, “It can be an unglamorous grind but so vitally necessary to Westwood’s orderly functioning. We appreciate you all.”
He touched on the contribution of each councilmember, underscoring the professionalism, humility, and respect that he said defined Westwood. “Under the stewardship of these six councilmembers, professional advisors, and borough staff, Westwood is in the best possible position to weather the economic downturn that the experts are predicting.”
Arroyo added in part “The landing will be softer” here because of Westwood’s caring culture and the network of churches and NGOs that have consistently picked our people up when we have fallen down.”
Dell thanked many, starting with her husband, Mark, and their children, Matthew and Nicholas.
In chipper remarks she lauded then-newly elected mayor Arroyo for his handling of the local aspects of the coronavirus. “To work with all those on this governing body who share so much of their time, talents, and their families remains a treasured part of my life.”
She thanked “my council partner, Rob Bicocchi, and the incredible team seated with us on this dais! Rob, who was directed here by the late great Westwood Mayor, Skip Kelly, approached me in 2015, and we have never looked back. Thank you once again for the invite into your special family and this front row seat of Westwood.”
Bicocchi thanked his wife, Roseann, “who’s been by my side through my elections. For the past 27 years of marriage, which includes the 10-plus years serving the borough.” He thanked Philip and other family members, and his supporters.
Bicocchi was one of several that night to thank the recently departed former mayor Skip Kelley, Schepisi’s uncle.
Bicocchi said Kelley, known affectionately as “The Mayor,” asked him to get involved in town in 1996, first as a member of the Planning Board. “There I got to see how the foundation was laid out.”
He said in part that Kelley lay the groundwork for, among other fixtures of the borough, the firehouse, Westvale Park, and Westwood’s Home for the Holidays, and that “the downtown … continues to evolve with the times and is revered throughout the state.”
Bicocchi thanked the residents and singled out “my running mate, my council wife,” Dell, “whose energy is unstoppable and what we accomplished in three terms together is one for the books.”
The meeting included designation of council committee assignements; appointment of borough professionals; appointment to various boards; mayor’s appointments; an annoucement that a schedule of budget meetings would be posted presently; and a full list of consent agenda items, all voted on and enacted with one motion. (See the agenda, online.)
Oaths of office of ambulance corps officials
President Rush Sherman, Vice President Janet Dunn, Captain Kris Rasmussen, 1st Lt. Nicole De Joie, 2nd Lt. Jeri Bowman, Treasurer Jerry Sheridan, Secretary Bonnie Costello, and trustees Jeri Bowman, Matthew Foley, Kali Spoelstra, and Dan Olivier.
Oaths of office for fire department officials
Chief James Voorhis, Deputy Chief Brian Kronewitter, Senior Capt. Brian Wiecenski, Capt. Scott Stewart, 1st Lt. Michael Griffin Jr, 2nd Lt. Ryan Weaver, 3rd Lt. Matthew Voorhi, 4th Lt. Justin Mason.
Volunteer Emergency Services Hall of Fame
Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps recognized Capt. Matt Foley; the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department recognized firefighter/VP Matt Velthaus.
Celebrate Westwood later posted, “We have had the absolute pleasure to work with both Matts over the years and are truly appreciative and impressed by their service and dedication to our community.”
Volunteer of the Year
Photographer Richard Frant is volunteer of the year for 2022. The borough noted he has photographed all of Celebrate Westwood’s projects since 2020; Westwood Recreation events such as the summer concerts and Halloween parade; Home for the Holidays; historic Westwood properties for the Westwood Historic Preservation Commission; Heritage Society events such as the installation of the historic markers at the train station; the Westwood Community Band concerts; various Westwood Regional School District projects; various library and Friends of the Library programs; the Memorial Day parade; 9/11 and Veterans Day services; Coach Roscoe Draper’s 103rd birthday celebration; and emergency services events.
Editor’s note: More stories from this meeting, and other town and school district reorganizations, are in the works.
