PARK RIDGE—A new police chief, new police officer, two returning councilmen, and a slew of promotions and appointments in the fire department, along with dozens of mayoral appointments to boards and commissions, filled the sine die and reorganization meetings held Jan. 7 at Borough Hall.
Mayor Keith Misciagna officiated at most swearing-in ceremonies, while Republican councilman John Cozzi was sworn back in for a three-year term by 39th District Sen. Holly Schepisi.
Moreoever, returning Republican councilman William Fenwick was sworn in by 39th District Assemblyman Robert Auth.
With Cozzi’s and Fenwick’s reelection, the council has a 4–2 Republican majority (Fenwick, Cozzi, Bruce Goldsmith and Council President Greg Hoffman) and a Democratic minority (Michael Mintz and Robert Metzdorf). Misciagna is a Democrat.
Councilor Greg Hoffman was unanimously elected as Council President, replacing former councilman John Ferguson, who lost his reelection bid.
At the sine die meeting, the new police chief thanked the mayor and council for their faith in him to take over for retired chief Joseph Madden, who served 18 years at the helm.
“This is like a really awesome few weeks for me,” said Rampolla following his swearing in at the council’s sine die meeting.
He said he looked forward to working with everyone, and thanked his family for their support. He thanked his wife, Rose, and noted his oldest son, Steven, was going into the Cape May Police Academy, and would become an officer in the Princeton University Police Department.
He said his daughter, Megan, was being married in four days, graduating college and in ROTC, and she will be moving to North Carolina, while his son Sean, who held the Bible during swearing-in was an entrepreneur, and his youngest son, Leland, was a local celebrity having been last year’s DARE Lego Judge. He recognized his mom, and cousins attending the ceremony. He thanked local officers for attending the swearing-in.
He reflected on his promotion to chief. “It’s not really about me, I think it’s about we. It’s about us as a community and on how to build and move this department and this town forward.” He said a lot of local streets are named for community founders and veterans who have died “fighting for our country,” he said, noting those names as important.
“I don’t see tonight about me at all, it’s really just about the baton being handed off to a new generation of people to really just make Park Ridge the best that it can be,” said the chief. He said the most important thing was “leaving a legacy for the next generation and to build upon what we’ve done today.”
Police Commissioner Robert Metzdorf said Rampolla had been training 30 years to “do this job and he’s ready, prepared and I wish him best of luck, Stay safe, chief,” added Metzdorf.
Following Rampolla’s promotion, Thomas Arcaro Jr., was sworn in as a new police officer.
Rampolla noted Arcaro was one of triplets, an avid volunteer, including Boy Scouts, and an Eagle Scout. He said he has a bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University and an associate’s from Bergen Community College.
The reorg meeting featured swearing-ins of volunteer fire department members, including Chief Richard Bosi, and Deputy Chief Peter Mauro. Police Reserve officers sworn in for 2025 included Chief Paul Witte, Capt. Christopher Brown, and Lt. George Harcher.
Other appointments included four fire inspectors; eight borough officials for one year, including zoning officer and tax search officer; borough historian Ralph Dornell; 14 school crossing guards; and 14 appointments to board of health, public works, library board, swim pool commission, zoning board of adjustment and planning board.
Two appointments were tabled, Jeff Rutowski to Board of Public Works, and Frank Pantaleo to Zoning Board of Adjustment, while Borough Attorney Brian Giblin investigated whether those individuals could serve on both boards concurrently. Several officials pointed out that the Board of Public Works, which both would serve on, is advisory.
Previously, service on both boards at the same time was legally permitted, officials said, noting that the prior borough attorney and rate counsel had approved the dual membership. The issue was raised by councilor Fenwick. Giblin said he would have an answer by the following week. Misciagna said he would hold a special Zoom meeting to appoint both if Giblin found no conflict.
Scores of volunteers received year appointments to 15 committees and boards, including PKRG-TV cable TV committee; DARE Committee; Municipal Alliance; Recreation & Cultural Committee; Diversity & Inclusion; Open Space Committee; Economic Development Committee; Hall of Fame Committee; and the Mayor’s Housing Task Force.
Council appointments to 38 standing committees and council liaisons included negotiation and public safety committees, plus liaisons to Access For All, Bergen County 9-1-1, Green Team, Mayor’s Wellness, Field Coordinator, and Technology Committee.
Misciagna recognized a number of people who died in the last year, including the former borough planner Brigette Bogart, and during the year, resident Alice Quackenbush (at 102), Lee Hopper, and others. He noted he had suffered the loss of his mom, Winnie, in 2024, and that she owned a business here for over 40 years.
He noted the borough had hired its first Spanish-speaking officer, Carlos Alicea, soon to graduate from the police academy.
Misciagna said Park Ridge is now a New Jersey “Film-Ready” community. He welcomed a half-dozen businesses to town in 2024, such as Four Leaves, Enhanced Dentistry, and the Diamond Salon.
He said the Wortendyke homestead at 12 Pascack Road, which was built prior to 1750, and was recently purchased for preservation, will be run by the local historical society.
Moreover, he said an up to $10 million federal appropriation to provide water treatment of PFOAs, also called forever chemicals, from area wells was said to be on its way in 2025.
Misciagna said, “I want to have a good year. There’s no need for us to be arguing up here on the dais when we have days in advance to discuss items, before we come up here. So while it’s good to be passionate, and to stand up for what you believe in, it’s not good to be a showman. So I’m hoping that we all put the show aside, we get the work one, at the work session where everything gets done, and we come up here and we could be civil, even if it’s a little bit of a show for the people.”