BOROUGH OF HASBROUCK HEIGHTS

M I N U T E S -- REORGANIZATION MEETING

January 1, 2001

The Reorganization Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights was held on January 1, 2001 at 12:00 noon at the Masonic Hall, 200 Division Avenue, corner of the Boulevard, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.

The Oath of office was administered to Councilman Herbert D. Heeren and Councilman John Wassberg by Senator Louis F. Kosco, District 38.

Mayor Torre declared the 2000 Reorganization Meeting in session and stated that the meeting complied with the Sunshine Law, due notice having been made to all members of the Council on December 21, 2000, and to The Observer, The Record and the Herald News on December 21, 2000.


ROLL CALL:
Present: Councilman Andrew Link III, Councilman Herbert D. Heeren, Councilman Justin A. DiPisa, Councilman Garrett R. Pepe, Councilwoman Marlene Verrastro, Councilman John Wassberg

Absent: None

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Torre led in the Salute to the Flag and Pledge of Allegiance.

Following the Salute to the Flag and Pledge of Allegiance, the Invocation was offered by Reverend George Yoder of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church who was the newly appointed pastor.

Mayor Torre and Commissioner of Fire, Councilman DiPisa, administered the Oath of Office to the 2001 Fire Department Officers: Fire Chief Arthur Knobloch, 1st Assistant Fire Chief Robert Thomasey, 2nd Assistant Fire Chief Joseph Taylor, and all other officers for the year 2001 (copy of names attached).

Mayor Torre assigned the 2001 Council Committees as follows:

Commissioner of Finance - Andrew Link III
Deputy Commissioner of Finance - Herbert D. Heeren

Commissioner of Police - Marlene Verrastro
Deputy Commissioner of Police - Justin A. DiPisa

Commissioner of Fire - John Wassberg
Deputy Commissioner of Fire - Garrett R. Pepe

Commissioner of Health - Andrew Link III
Deputy Commissioner of Health - Justin A. DiPisa

Commissioner of Strs. & Transp. - Garrett R. Pepe
Dep. Comm. of Strs. & Transp. - Marlene Verrastro

Commissioner of Land Use - Marlene Verrastro
Deputy Commissioner of Land Use - Herbert D. Heeren

Commissioner of Sanitation - Andrew Link III
Deputy Commissioner of Sanitation - Garrett R. Pepe

Commissioner of Parks - Justin A. DiPisa
Deputy Commissioner of Parks - Andrew Link III

Commissioner of Recreation - Justin A. DiPisa
Deputy Commissioner of Recreation - Marlene Verrastro

Commissioner of Public Facilities - Garrett R. Pepe
Deputy Comm. of Public Facilities - Justin A. DiPisa

Commissioner of Welfare - Herbert D. Heeren
Deputy Commissioner of Welfare - John Wassberg

Senior Citizens’ Ombudsman - Herbert D. Heeren
Juvenile Outreach Ombudsman - Justin A. DiPisa
Library Liaison - Herbert D. Heeren
Drug Alliance Chairperson - Garrett R. Pepe
Municipal League Liaison - John Wassberg
Intergovernmental Services Liaison - Garrett R. Pepe

On motion by Councilman Pepe, seconded by Councilman Wassberg, and unanimously carried, to confirm the 2001 Council Committees.

 

Consent Agenda:
1. Petty Cash Funds

2. Authorize CFO to Invest Idle Funds

3. Authorize CFO to Prepare Payrolls

4. Designate Official Depositories for Borough Funds

5. Authorize CFO to Pay Medical Insurance Premiums

6. Authorize Signatures for Borough Checks

7. Designate Official Newspaper

8. Set Meeting Dates for 2001 Council Meetings

9. Temporary Budget

10. Continuing Tax Settlement Committee

11. 2001 Debt Service Budget

12. Designating Number of Hours Per Week as Minimum Requirement for Full Time Status

13. Authorizing Rate of Interest to be Charged for Non-Payment of Taxes

14. Authorizing Adoption of By-Laws for 2001

On a motion by Councilman Pepe, seconded by Councilwoman Wassberg, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Resolutions on the Consent Agenda were adopted (Resolutions attached).

 

APPOINTMENTS FOR 2001:

Mayor Torre made the following appointments and requested confirmation by the Council:

 

POSITION APPOINTEE TERM

Borough Attorney: Ralph W. Chandless, Jr. 1 Year

Borough Engineer: Kenneth G.B. Job 1 Year

Administrator/Treasurer/ Michael J. Kronyak 1 Year
Purchasing Agent/ Administrative Officer of Land Use

Borough Auditor : Paul Garbarini 1 Year

Superintendent DPW/ :Robert Heck 1 Year
Cert. Public Works Mgr.

Construction Code Off./ Terry Naletko Tenure
Building Subcode

Property Maintenance Glenn Paxton 1 Year
Officer/Zoning Enforcement Officer

Property Maintenance Officer Patrick Vella 1 Year

Plumbing Inspector Richard Vanatta 1 Year

Electric Sub-Code Official Robert K. Rogers 1 Year

Court Administrator Susan Paul 1 Year

Public Defender Thomas Mason 1 Year

Prosecutor Thomas Flinn 1 Year
Joseph Jones 1 Year

Borough Historian Louise Davenport 1 Year

Board of Health Deputy Registrar Gail Cardaci 2 Years

Board of Health
Lisa Traina 4 Years
Louis Castellitto 3 Years
Michele Meli 3 Years
JoAnn Wendolowski-Alt 1 1 Year

Local Assistance Board
Herbert D. Heeren 1 Year
Ralph Mastroberte 2 Years

General Assessment Board
Joanne Monteleone 3 Years

Board of Adjustment
Glenn Paxton 4 Years
Thomas Verrastro 2 Years

Planning Board
Terry Naletko 1 Year
Dan Nucera 4 Years

Planning Board Edward Sees-Alt. 2 2 Years

Free Public Library Thomas Meli 5 Years

Rent Leveling Board
Joseph Torre 1 Year
Joseph Ciano 1 Year
Ronald Monteleone 1 Year
Roy Perham III 1 Year
Josephine Foresta 1 Year
Charles Stenger 1 Year

Recreation Commission Robert Bright 5 Years

Committee of Community Celebrations
Audrey Ascione 1 Year
Dorothy Bernice 1 Year
Anthony Bernice 1 Year
Victoria Borsett 1 Year
Michael Ciano 1 Year
Debra Ciano 1 Year
Joanne Ciano 1 Year
Mark Ciano 1 Year
Madeline de Velasco 1 Year
Erin Gallagher 1 Year
Patricia Link 1 Year
Penny Mazzeo 1 Year
Richard Torre 1 Year
Elizabeth Torre 1 Year
John Pirilli 1 Year
Nancy Pirilli 1 Year
Mary Russo 1 Year
Norma Wilke 1 Year
Brian Willard 1 Year
Rosemary Willard 1 Year
Doug Lanzo 1 Year
Coleen Lanzo 1 Year
Doris Bruno 1 Year
Debra Torre 1 Year
Vincent Gareffa 1 Year
Mary Alice Gareffa 1 Year
Ann O’Donnell 1 Year
Marie Kistner 1 Year
Vincent Romano 1 Year
Connie Romano 1 Year
Betty Messery 1 Year
Craig Messery 1 Year
Joseph Giancaspro 1 Year
Valerie Giancaspro 1 Year
Barbara Moore 1 Year
Helene Searle 1 Year
Connie Mason 1 Year
Shelley Claude 1 Year
Susan Verrastro 1 Year
Joyce Powell 1 Year
Donna Villacampa 1 Year
Helen O’Shea 1 Year
Christine O’Shea Canetti 1 Year

Design District Advisory Committee
Mayor William J. Torre 1 Year
Mayor’s Alternate: Lawrence Franchina 1 Year
Marlene Verrastro 1 Year
Harold Jacobus 1 Year
Arnold Steinhauff 1 Year
Doug Lanzo 1 Year
Valerie Nucera 1 Year
Nancy Marino 1 Year
Ralph Mastroberte 1 Year

Ethics Board
Dolores Halligan 5 Years
Andrew Chermark 5 Years
Joseph Bruno 5 Years
Lillie C. Eckert 5 Years
Patricia McNeilly 5 Years

Chief Radio Communications Officer Dr. Roger Szanto 1 Year

Special Law Enforcement
Joseph Attilio 1 Year
William Pols 1 Year
Thomas Rubino 1 Year

Police Matron Karen Carney 1 Year

Borough Examining Drs.
Louis Napolitano, MD 1 Year
Thomas Bellavia, MD 1 Year
Mark Delcalzo, DC 1 Year


School Marshals
Lillian Buffone 1 Year
Lillian Dwyer 1 Year
Esther Long 1 Year
John Mazotas 1 Year
Karen Carney 1 Year
Helen Treptow 1 Year
Frank Pagan 1 Year
Joan Wiley 1 Year
Rita Nedellec 1 Year
Patrick Power 1 Year
Doris Holden 1 Year
Jean Reyngoudt 1 Year
Josephine Bruno 1 Year
Arthur Horne 1 Year
Joseph DePrete 1 Year

Substitutes:
Joseph Attilio 1 Year
Gerard Hackel 1 Year
Rita Ratkowski 1 Year
Kathryn Warren 1 Year

Fire Official U.F.S.A. .
Arthur Jackson 1 Year

Fire Inspectors
Frank Pistilli 1 Year
Albert Saulnier 1 Year
Kenneth Kubler 1 Year
Angelo Roccamo 1 Year
Edmund Carter 1 Year
Kevin Todd 1 Year
Bruce Werner Jr. 1 Year
Richard Giarratana 1 Year

Fire Mechanics
Eng. Co. No.1 Kevin Todd 1 Year
Eng. Co. No.2 Michael Ratkowski 1 Year
Hook & Ladder Richard Giarratana 1 Year
Emergency Trk. Christopher Hayes 1 Year

Ambulances -
EMS 1 Alfred Cirelli 1 Year
EMS2 Darren Schmitt 1 Year

Public Info. Off. Arthur Knobloch 1 Year

Dept. Safety Off. Harry Maisch 1 Year

On a motion by Councilman Pepe, seconded by Councilmen DiPisa, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Appointments were confirmed and approved.

Mayor Torre invited Joseph Jones and Thomas Flinn to come forward and be sworn in as prosecutors.

Mayor Torre asked if there was a nomination of a council member to the Planning Board. Councilman Pepe nominated Councilwoman Verrastro as representative to the Planning Board. The nomination was seconded by Councilman DiPisa. Councilwoman Verrastro was unanimously appointed to the Planning Board as a Class III Member for the term of one year.

Mayor Torre asked if there was a motion to nominate a council member as Council President. Councilman Link made a motion to nominate Councilman Pepe. The nomination was seconded by Councilman DiPisa and unanimously approved.

 

MAYOR’S ANNUAL MESSAGE:

Mayor Torre began his annual address by welcoming and thanking all of those in attendance. He welcomed back Councilman Heeren and Councilman Wassberg and congratulated them on their reelection. He felt this speech equalized both vision and detail. The Police Department through the hard work of Police Chief Colaneri and Lieutenant Castiglione, a grant was received for $375,000 for Cops in Schools and the addition of three new policemen. Through the efforts of Assemblywoman Rose Heck a grant was received for $255,000 for communications upgrades, improvements to the police firing range and parks. Mail delivery was challenged by having the postmaster come to a council meeting which resulted in the mail carriers coming back to the post office in Hasbrouck Heights. As a result of the plane crash in December 1999, Hasbrouck Heights was one of the founding communities of the municipal coalition to ban together against the expansion of Teterboro Airport.

He noted the untimely death of Recreation Director Andrew Feintuch and the honor given his memory by participation in the American Heart Association Heart Walk. He congratulated Danielle Scipioni on taking over as director and continuing with a great program and with revitalization of the Anti Drug Council. The running of the municipal government has continued and the employees were thanked for their patience as well as landlords Michele and Tom Meli. The Fire Department was housed in the Kundert Motors on Terrace Avenue and recently to temporary headquarters on Hamilton Avenue. He thanked them for their patience and professionalism under such circumstances, and to Bill Kundert for his generosity. The Police Department has been in trailers on Hamilton Avenue and made the best of this situation. He recognized the Masonic Temple for their care and concern for this community in allowing all municipal meetings and court be held in their hall on Division Avenue.

In 2000, the council authorized the repaving of Wood Street, parts of Cleveland, Kipp and Collins Avenues as well as a grant received for repaving Ottawa Avenue from Route 17 to Burton Avenue, and Kipp and Hamilton from the Boulevard to Terrace. He felt it was one remarkable year. He continued that this was accomplished with the help and advice of professionals such as Borough Attorney Ralph Chandless, Administrator Michael Kronyak, Borough Clerk Ro Sees, the engineers, architects and planners; the borough continues to do an extraordinary job with making the most out of limited resources and is in sound financial condition, with the average tax increase of 1% in the past five years. A surplus of $1 million has been realized which will be used to offset this year’s budget, achieved despite yearly labor increases in excess of 3% and major capital spending including road improvements, and purchase of equipment such as a new pumper and vacuum truck. Following the tragic fire that destroyed the Municipal Building, in 2000 the council worked very hard to restore government and work to the future. He reported that the Building Committee consisting of himself, Councilmen Pepe and DiPisa, Administrator Kronyak, Attorney Chandless, architects and engineers meet weekly and the council meets monthly specifically for the new complex. The insurance claim was settled for 4.5 million with 1.5 million expenses still pending. Public meetings were held and the council chose to proceed with the Library/Senior Citizens Building joined by the Administration on the Boulevard, with Police, Fire and Court on Hamilton with construction proposed to begin this year. The Master Plan review and Boulevard revitalization will be presented to the public within the next few months. Another project proposed is to replace the Cobra lights with colonial lamp posts at the Circle.

9-1-1 service was extended to Wood-Ridge supplementing existing service to Teterboro. He proposed looking at additional programs where we can contract with other towns to save taxes.

The Zoning Board is to be eliminated and the members who have served over the years were thanked. Planning Board responsibilities would be increased with application to the board easier. He thanked Planning Board chair Henry Dobelaar and Zoning Board chair Robert Searle for their work on this. He thanked Councilwoman Verrastro and Councilman Link for an excellent job on Zoning  by streamlining the Site Plan ordinance and hiring Pat Vella as an additional Property Maintenance Officer. He commended the library, Michele Maiullo and Tom Verrastro, the many programs held this past year, and that funds would be sought through Assemblywoman Heck toward the new library. Regarding Welfare, and its director Lee Kulakowski, he commended her and the programs initiated. He commended OEM Roger Szanto and his volunteers who have continued without an office.

The Fire Department responded to over 1,600 calls and they were praised. This year a 1977 Pumper will be replaced. He thanked outgoing Chief Monahan and welcomed the incoming chiefs. This year the program Losap will be presented for referendum to ensure fire volunteers security upon retirement. The use of civilian dispatchers in the Police Department will give police officers more time on the street, new cameras to be used in patrol cars will be obtained and Councilmen Heeren and Wassberg were thanked for their commissioner duties. He proposed new communication technology for all borough offices, education on computers for employees. The field at Woodland Park should be available for play this year. Grant money is available for additional park land and the mayor felt this should be pursued. He commended the Board of Health, President Andrew Paparozzi and secretary Marilyn de Russy. He congratulated the DPW for the great clean up of snow on the streets, in addition to regular duties, they worked tirelessly to get the borough offices moved up and running, almost 200 new trees were planted, and Bob Heck, Jim Schneider and employees were thanked. For 2001 our mission must be to keep moving forward, and he concluded that the best years for this borough are yet to come.

 

MISCELLANEOUS FROM THE COUNCIL:

Councilman Link wished everyone a healthy and happy new year and asked for patience and understanding in the construction of the two sites decided on, and commented that if there is a complaint to please come to a council meeting to discuss with the mayor and council.

Councilman Heeren thanked his family, and that this year we learned what it is to be a community without a home and extended a thank you for the generosity of the Masonic group which has provided the space for many, many meetings all year long, Kundert Motors for use of their facility by the Fire Department, the Meli family for a place to have administrative offices, and the churches in Hasbrouck Heights for meetings. He also wished everyone a healthy and happy new year.

Councilman DiPisa thanked his family first for allowing him to take the time out to serve the borough as a councilman. He continued that the challenges and struggles of this mayor and council this year deserve mentioning, and were too numerous to list, but that he felt proud and privileged to serve the borough, in particular on the Building Committee, and that the decisions made were in the best interest of Hasbrouck Heights, to have trust and confidence in the mayor and council.

Councilman Pepe thanked the departments he was commissioner of, the DPW, commending Bob Heck and Jim Schneider in particular, the Library, Michele Maiullo, and that the library will shine this year, Fire Department, the chiefs, reiterating 1,600 calls, remarkable in number. As a resident, he felt proud of this mayor and council, the number of hours they spent working on the municipal building, Attorney Chandless, Administrator Kronyak, all dedicated borough employees, and especially his wife, Janet. He also wished everyone a healthy, prosperous and happy new year.

Councilwoman Verrastro thanked everyone for coming and wished them a happy new year. She congratulated Councilmen Heeren and Wassberg for coming back on the council. She continued that she enjoyed working on the various committees, commending Lee Kulakowski, Marilyn deRussy, zoning and building departments, Administrator Kronyak, Borough Clerk Sees, and Attorney Chandless. She is looking forward to the new commissionerships this year and felt that joining the Coalition to fight Teterboro Airport was important to the health and welfare of the residents. She also thanked her husband, Tom.

Councilman Wassberg wished everyone a Happy New Year. He thanked all the employees, the DPW who had picked up garbage this morning, the Police, Zoning Board, including Bob Searle, the Building Committee. He looked forward to working with the Fire Department, thanked Kundert Motors, and lastly his wife, Gladys, for putting up with his time away from home to serve on the council.

Before opening the meeting up to the public, Mayor Torre said that he would be remiss if he didn’t thank his wife, Debbie, for allowing him to serve on the Council.

 

MISCELLANEOUS FROM THE PUBLIC:

Mayor Torre opened the meeting to the public for anyone wishing to speak.

Joseph Jones, appointed this year as prosecutor, thanked the mayor and council for this opportunity serve his town again.

Rose Heck, 501 Collins Avenue, a resident since 1962, commented on the loss of some good people this year, in particular Alba Borghi, who supported her husband when he worked for the borough, and was happy to hear of the thanks to spouses. She congratulated the mayor and council on holding the public meetings which she felt added to the decision making process and the beginning of a mutual respect for one another’s opinions. She continued that with the help of staff, a fine decision was made, and that generations to come will benefit from it, the library being a dream come true. She wished everyone a happy new year.

There being no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Torre closed the meeting to the public, and thanked his colleagues on the council.

The Benediction was offered by Reverend Joseph Pickard of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church.

There being no further business to be conducted by the Mayor and Council, the meeting was adjourned.

I, ROSE MARIE SEES, Borough Clerk of the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights, do hereby certify that the foregoing Minutes are to the best of my knowledge a true account of the Reorganization Meeting held on January 1, 2001.

Rose Marie Sees
Borough Clerk

 

[ Back to Index of Mayor & Council Minutes ]