January
1, 2004
Mrs. Jaegge
administered the oath of office to Mayor-elect Vander Wende and re-elected
Councilman Campbell and newly elected Councilwoman Anita Bozzo.
Statement: This meeting is being held in conformance
with the Sunshine Law. Notice of time,
place and date has been furnished to The Record and The Ridgewood News. Notice has also been posted on the bulletin
board of the Administration Building.
The
annual reorganization meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of
Waldwick was called to order by Mayor Toolen at 12 noon in the Council Chambers
of the Administration Building.
Present on
Roll Call: Mayor Vander Wende
Councilman Barthold
Councilwoman Bozzo
Councilman Campbell
Councilman Marino
Councilman McKenna
Councilwoman O’Dwyer
Also
Present: Gary Kratz, Administrator
Paula M. Jaegge, Municipal Clerk
Absent: Councilman Barthold
The Clerk led
the Council in the pledge of allegiance and prayer.
The Clerk read
the following appointments:
a) Board of Health Members – 3 year term
Mary Sugrue
Laura Giordano
January
1, 2004
b) Library Board of Trustees - 5-year term
David Marino - Council Liaison
- 1 year
George Fredricks
Mildred Dougherty – to fill
unexpired term of Rick Vander Wende, 1 yr.
Sup’t. of Schools Appointment, 1 year – Janet Sobkowicz
c) Board of Adjustment - 4 year term
Daniel Cerone
Ken Gurian
d) Traffic Directors – 1 year term
Sherri Gusta
John Grecco
Evan Morrison
Michael Mammen
Moved by Mrs.
O’Dwyer, seconded by Mr. Campbell to confirm appointments.
Roll Call: Mrs. Bozzo; yes; Mr. Campbell, yes; Mr.
Marino, yes; Mr. McKenna, yes;
Mrs.
O’Dwyer, yes.
Mayor’s
Appointments - Not subject to confirmation of Council
Planning
Board - 4-year term
Scott
Lemmon – Class IV
Robert
Ryan – Class II – 1 year
George
Andersen – Class IV – 4 year
The Clerk read
the following resolution:
RESOLVED that
the By-Laws of the Borough of Waldwick be amended as the By-Laws of the Council
of Waldwick for the year 2004; and,
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that a copy of the By-Laws of the Council of Waldwick are on file in
the office of the Municipal Clerk and available for public inspection.
Resolution
moved by Mr. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Marino.
Roll
Call: Mrs. Bozzo, yes; Mr. Campbell,
yes; Mr. Marino, yes; Mr. McKenna, yes;
Mrs. O’Dwyer, yes.
January 1, 2004
Mayor Toolen
asked for a nomination from the Council for the position of Council
President.
Mr. McKenna,
as the outgoing Council President was honored to nominate Susan O’Dwyer for
Council President for 2004, which was seconded by Mr. Marino.
Mayor Vander
Wende thanked Mr. McKenna for his outstanding service as Council President
during the last year, and that Mrs. O’Dwyer is an outstanding nomination to be Council President in 2004.
There being no
further nominations, Mayor Vander Wende closed the nominations.
Roll
Call: Mrs. Bozzo, yes; Mr. Campbell,
yes; Mr. Marino, yes; Mr. McKenna, yes; Mrs. O’Dwyer, yes.
Mrs. O’Dwyer
thanked her fellow Council members for their faith in her and wished the Mayor
good health and few business trips.
The Clerk
noted that the first name read would be the Chairman of that committee.
a)
Financial
& Administrative Committee:
Campbell, McKenna, Bozzo
b)
Public Safety
Committee:
Marino, O’Dwyer, Campbell
c)
Recreation & Health Committee:
O’Dwyer, Bozzo, Marino
d)
Public Works
Committee:
Bozzo, Marino, Barthold
e)
Buildings
& Grounds Committee:
McKenna, Barthold, O’Dwyer
f)
Environmental Services Committee:
Barthold, Campbell, McKenna
January
1, 2004
Special
Committee:
a)
Holiday
Observance Committee:
Member of the Council: Barthold & O’Dwyer
b)
Foreclosed
Property Committee:
Member of the Council – Campbell &
Marino
c)
Edit Committee:
Members of the Council: O’Dwyer & Marino
d)
Beautification
Committee:
Members of the Council: Bozzo & McKenna
a)
Board of
Education - Frank McKenna
b)
Cable
Television – George Andersen
c)
Emergency “911” Coordinator – Dave Marino
Consent
Resolution
The Clerk read
the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the
following enumerated resolutions have been distributed to the governing body,
posted on the bulletin board and made available to the public; and,
WHEREAS, it is
desired to adopt all the resolutions by consent as though read in full
individually,
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the following resolutions be and are hereby
adopted by consent as though read in full.
a)
Designation of Depositories for Payroll Funds
b)
Designation of Depositories for All Funds
c)
Designation of
Depository - Dog Account
d)
Designation of Depository - Court Accounts
e)
Authorization to Purchase Governmental
Securities
f)
Designation of
Depositories for Investments
g)
Fixing Interest Rate on Delinquent Taxes
h)
Year End Penalty of 6% on All Outstanding
Balances
January
1, 2004
i)
Designation of
Meeting Dates, Times & Locations
j)
Designating Official
Newspaper
k)
Authorize Hiring of Temporary Help
l)
Appointment of
Appointing Authority - Gary Kratz
m)
Adopt
Employees’ Rules & Regulations
n)
Adopt Police Department Rules &
Regulations
o)
Adopt
Interlocal Agreement for a Mutual Aid Plan an d Rapid Deployment Force
p) Appointment
of Tax Searcher - Mary Ann Viviani
q) Appointment of Assessment Searcher - Paula M. Jaegge
r) Appointment of Subdivision Searcher – Dennis O’Brien of
Vollmer Associates
s) Appointment - Class III Member, Planning Board - Arthur
Barthold
t) Appointment of Prosecutor – Thomas Randall
u) Appointment of Substitute Prosecutor – Christopher Botta,
Eric Orseck
v) Designation of Municipal Agent for Initiation, Settlement
and Defense of Tax Appeals – Tim Henderson
w) Appointment of Public Agency Compliance Officer – Gary Kratz
Resolution
moved by Mr. McKenna, seconded by Mrs. Bozzo.
On the
Question: Mr. McKenna stated that Mr.
Barthold was very pleased and honored to accept the appointment to the Planning
Board.
Roll
Call: Mrs. Bozzo; yes; Mr. Campbell,
yes; Mr. Marino, yes; Mr. McKenna, yes;
Mrs. O’Dwyer, yes.
Resolution
consenting to the adoption of resolutions for the confirmation of the
appointment of:
a)
Borough Attorney
- Menelaos Toskos
b)
Borough
Engineer – Dennis O’Brien of Vollmer Associates
c)
Borough Auditor - Gary Vinci
d)
Bond Counsel -
Steven Rogut
e)
Risk Manager -
Raymond A. Celentano of Wachovia Insurance Services
f)
Public Defender – Dominick P. Preziosi, Jr.
g)
Borough
Planner - Paul Phillips of Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates, Inc.
January
1, 2004
The Clerk read
the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the Mayor has appointed
Menelaos Toskos as Borough Attorney, Dennis O’Brien of Vollmer Associates as
Engineer, Gary Vinci as Borough Auditor, and Stephen Rogut, as Bond Counsel,
and Raymond Celentano of Wachovia Insurance Services as Risk Management
Consultant and Dominick P. Preziosi, Jr. as Public Defender; and, Paul Phillips
of Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates, Inc. as Planner.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that
the appointment of Menelaos Toskos, Borough Attorney; Dennis O’Brien of Vollmer
Associates, Engineer; Gary Vinci, Borough Auditor; Stephen Rogut, Bond Counsel; and Raymond Celentano of Wachovia
Insurance Services as Risk Management Consultant and Dominic P. Preziosi, Jr.
as Public Defender, and Paul Phillips of Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates,
Inc. as Planner be and they are hereby confirmed in accordance with individual
resolutions attached hereto and made a part hereof as though read individually.
Resolution
moved by Mr. Campbell, seconded by Mrs. O’Dwyer.
On the
Question: Mayor Vander Wende stated
that we are blessed to have an outstanding staff of professionals who do a
wonderful job for us. One of the
reasons we are such a well-run community is thanks to these individuals.
Roll
Call: Mrs. Bozzo; yes; Mr. Campbell,
yes; Mr. Marino; yes; Mr. McKenna, yes,
Mrs. O’Dwyer, yes.
The Clerk read
the following resolution:
WHEREAS,
Section 40A:4-19 of Revised Statutes of the Local Budget Law provides that
where any contracts, commitments or payments are to be made prior to the
adoption of the current year budget, temporary appropriations be made for the
purpose and amounts required in the manner and time therein provided; and,
WHEREAS, the
date of this resolution is within thirty days of January 1, 2004; and,
WHEREAS, the
total appropriations in the 2003 Current Fund budget exclusive of any
appropriations made for interest and principal of debt, Capital Improvement
Fund and for Public Assistance in said budget is the sum $8,414,615.00; and,
January
1, 2004
WHEREAS, 26.2%
of the total appropriations of the 2003 budget exclusive of any improvements
made for Debt Service, Capital Improvement Fund and for Public Assistance is
the sum of $2,204,629.13 and,
WHEREAS, the
total appropriations in the Water Utility Budget exclusive of any
appropriations made for interest and principal of debt and Capital Improvement
Fund in the 2003 budget is the sum of $960,529,00; and,
WHEREAS, 26.2%
of the total appropriations of the 2003 Water Utility Budget exclusive of any
appropriation for the Debt Service and Capital Improvement Fund is the sum of
$251,658.60; and,
WHEREAS, the
2004 Temporary Budget has been distributed to the Governing Body, posted on the
bulletin board, made a part hereof, and is satisfactory to the Council,
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that said 2004 Temporary Budget be and the same is
hereby adopted.
Resolution
moved by Mr. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Marino.
On the
Question: Mr. Campbell stated that this allows for a temporary budget to be in
place in order for us to pay bills while we go through the budgetary process
for 2004.
Roll
Call: Mr. Bozzo; yes; Mr. Campbell,
yes; Mr. Marino, yes; Mr. McKenna, yes; Mrs. O’Dwyer.
Mayor Vander
Wende asked if those newly sworn in Council members would like to make any
comments.
Mr. Campbell
thanked the residents who voted for him and those who did not as well. He noted that we had a difficult challenge
over the next few years, and commended his family for their support during all
his absences both past and future. He
also thanked his late parents for the values they instilled in him and to which
he works very hard to meet.
January
1, 2004
Mrs. Bozzo
stated that when she and her husband were looking for homes, they were drawn to
Waldwick by all the wonderful comments regarding what a great place in was to
raise children and the great sports programs available for them. Over the years, she stated that she started
to appreciate all the volunteer work she witnessed by members of the community. She noted that she has chosen Waldwick, and
now Waldwick has chosen her. Mrs. Bozzo
stated that she is very honored to have been elected to Council, and thanked
everyone who had confidence in her, and will work very hard to live up to her
role. Mrs. Bozzo thanked her husband
and family for their patience during her absences as Councilwoman, and felt
privileged to give back to the town that has given so much to my family.
Mayor Vander
Wende had the following message:
“Things have
certainly changed in the last four years.
The last time we spoke on New Year’s Day, it was in the old Municipal
Building. The Mayor and Council would
sit at the dais trying to conduct the people’s business, knowing that at any
moment water would start flowing through the ceiling tiles and down the walls,
or equally likely, the coffee urn would blow out all power in the building, and
we would sit in darkness until the emergency generators kicked in. Admittedly, there was a certain charm to our
old digs, but all in all, I am happy to be here. It was good to take a few years off, as I believe in term
limitations, in order to be closer to the people. In that time, I had the opportunity to refinance, and as part of
that, pay my own tax bills. For the
first time, I could check to see if I had $2,000 to hand over to the tax department every three months, and wonder
what I got for that money over the last three months. Am I satisfied, happy to be here? It’s a wonderful experience, it was good for me, and I learned a
lot, and it prepared me to be an even better Mayor, I hope, this time
around. I still believe in term limits,
and I would certainly step down after a term or two so that government remains
close to the people.
I do want to
give a well-deserved thank you to Bob Rizzotti for his service on the Council
these last three years. Also, a special
thank you to Jim Toolen for his service to Waldwick on the Council and during
his last four years as our Mayor. Jim
has a passion for quality of life issues, and one needs only to look around
Waldwick to see his many beautification efforts. His administration built this Council chamber, a new Public
Safety Building and newly renovated Library. That’s a lot of leadership in four
years. This Council is to be congratulated
for all that was accomplished. Also, my
thanks go to my running mates, Robert Campbell and Anita Bozzo, who I look
forward to working with, also with Council.
Also Diane, Katie, who is on a class trip in Canada, and all my family
and friends, thank you for getting me here today.
January
1, 2004
There have
been a number of things running against me this year, and so far, I have beaten
them all.
Being my third
inaugural address and ninth New Year’s message you might think this is old hat. No, municipal government and the challenges
faced by our community are constantly changing or at least evolving. My four years away seem like a lifetime in
many ways, and yet, the basics never change.
The Mayor and Council are your neighbors, volunteers who are charged
during their watch with providing the best possible select municipal services
in an economically prudent manner. We
protect the people’s assets and plan knowing that our short-term actions may have
long-term effects. This administration
will take these responsibilities very seriously. We will act with energy and integrity in an open and bipartisan
manner. We will treat each other, our
excellent Borough employees, and our fellow citizens with respect and
sincerity. Disagreements on particular
issues or policies may occur, but there will be no personal animosity, only the
desire to do the right thing for all the people.
Among the many
exciting challenges we face, some that were noted earlier, we face the spiral
increases in costs that we have minimal control over; insurance, gas, electric,
sewage, maintenance, snowfall and other natural emergencies. A town has the increasing costs of bills to
pay, just like you and I. As a suburban
bedroom community, we have a limited commercial base to help pay the bills., so
everything is immediately felt in our property tax bill Even though the municipal expenses that this
body controls is only thirty percent of your property taxes, it is still a
serious bit of change that must be kept under control.
How do we do
that? We check every line item in the
budget to make sure it’s money well spent.
This town has always run lean, and we’ll need to keep it that way. We must carefully invest in the maintenance
of Borough property to protect against neglect, and to assure for a long and
useful life for the people’s assets. We
must be proactive in further exploring interlocal agreements with neighboring
communities. Sharing resources and
services are a must in this day and age.
Of course, any agreements must have a clear economic advantage for the
people of Waldwick.
We must work
with our revaluation service to assure that a thorough and equitable process
brings about a result that our community can be confident in, and that everyone
is paying their fair share of the Borough’s tax liability. We must work with our business community to
revitalize our downtown potential and to possibly expand our tax base there.
January
1, 2004
To that end,
next week I will ask the Council to apply for a New Jersey Smartgrowth Grant,
the proceeds of which will pay in full for a feasibility study. The feasibility study will ask is it
economically and socially advantageous for Waldwick to establish a
Redevelopment District in the area around the Waldwick Railroad Station? Will it be advantageous for our community as
a whole to support a partnership with a private developer to rebuild the
district from scratch with market value dwellings, shops, and offices, a multi
use area planned and designed in such a way as to revitalize the neighborhood,
make this community proud and to expand our tax base? I don’t know the answer to that question, and we’ll never know
unless we have the nerve and resolve to ask the question. There are no big successes without big
dreams, so let’s ask the question and see where it takes us.
Regarding the
Open Space question on last November’s ballot, I must admit that I voted
against it, both on the county and local levels. It is not that I’m against open space and recreational
opportunities, quite the contrary. What
I am against is mandatory new taxes. We
are taxed enough. The question,
however, was passed by a significant majority.
I will, of course, work with the Council to assure that this specially
designated tax is spent wisely, for the betterment of our community, and is
allocated in the full spirit of its intended use. I will also make sure that these new taxes work within their
means, and don’t just prime the pump for a larger costly spending spree. I have no doubt that a great deal of good
could potentially come from the open space question if we are prudent, and I
look forward to working with it.
While I may be
against big government and new taxes, there is an awful lot to be “for” in
Waldwick. Our skillful municipal
employees and professionals for one thing and our volunteers for another. We have so many neighbors who give of their
time and talent to serve on Borough boards and commissions, coaching our youth,
putting their leisure aside to be on the Ambulance Corps or Fire Department,
working in scouting, being in the Lions Club, HCA, Newcomers or Friends of the
Library, the list goes on and on. We
are so lucky that the people of Waldwick have such a generous spirit of giving. This spirit makes Waldwick a community, a
neighborhood, a home like no other.
Make no
mistake, Waldwick is a very desirable place to live. Our services, schools and civic organizations are
outstanding. Are we sometimes very
critical of those same organizations?
Sure, because we care and we are always looking to improve this
wonderful place for ourselves and our children. Aren’t we fortunate to be in this place, at this time, when there
are so many exciting things ahead for our beloved Waldwick?
January
1, 2004
It is a
distinct honor to now be the second longest serving Mayor in the history of
Waldwick. To work, debate, laugh and
succeed with this very dedicated and talented Council. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve
my neighbors once more. May God bless
our efforts and a very Happy New Year to everybody.”
Greetings of
the Public and Invitation for Discussion
Kevin Smith,
Vice President of the Board of Education, on behalf of all members of the
Board, welcomed back Mayor Vander Wende and Councilman Campbell and Councilwoman
Bozzo, and looked forward to a great working relationship, as we had with the
previous Mayor. He also thanked the
Mayor for appointing Frank McKenna as liaison to the Board of Education and
noted that he was a great asset to the Board of Education.
Moved by Mrs.
O’Dwyer, seconded by Mr. Campbell that the meeting be adjourned at 12:55 p.m.
Roll
Call: Mrs. Bozzo, yes; Mr. Campbell,
yes; Mr. Marino, yes; Mr. McKenna, yes; Mrs. O’Dwyer, yes.
_______________________
Paula
M. Jaegge, RMC/CMC
Municipal
Clerk
/mc