M I N U T E S -- REORGANIZATION MEETING January 1, 2002
The Reorganization Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights was held on January 1, 2002 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 Garrett R. Pepe by Assemblywoman and Former Mayor Rose M. Heck. The Oath of Office was administered to Councilwoman Marlene Verrastro by Mayor William J. Torre Mayor Torre declared the 2002 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 17, 2001, and to The Observer, The Record and the Herald News on December 17, 2001. 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 Lewis Papera, Pastor of Corpus Christi R.C. Church. Mayor Torre and Commissioner of Fire, Councilman John Wassberg, and Deputy Commissioner of Fire Garrett Pepe administered the Oath of Office to the 2002 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 2002 (copy of names attached). At this time, Mayor Torre announced that he would like to appoint Marcia Imken as Library Trustee Emeritus. He continued that Mrs. Imken had retired from the Board and moved out of town, and that this appointment was conferred by the mayor and council with their gratitude and best wishes. A motion by Councilman Pepe, seconded by Councilman Heeren, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Appointment was approved.
2002 BOROUGH COUNCIL COMMITTEES: Mayor Torre assigned the 2002 Council Committees as follows: Commissioner of
Finance Andrew Link III Commissioner of
Police Marlene Verrastro Commissioner of Fire
Garrett R. Pepe Commissioner of
Health Herbert D. Heeren Commissioner of
Strs. & Transp. Herbert D. Heeren Commissioner of Land
Use Marlene Verrastro Commissioner of
Sanitation Andrew Link III Commissioner of
Parks John Wassberg Commissioner of
Recreation Justin A. Di Pisa Commissioner of
Public Facilities Garrett R. Pepe Commissioner of
Social Services Herbert D. Heeren 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 Justin A. DiPisa On motion by Councilman Pepe, seconded by Councilman DiPisa, and unanimously carried, to confirm the 2002 Council Committees.
Consent Agenda: 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 2002 Council Meetings 9. Temporary Budget 10. Continuing Tax Settlement Committee 11. 2002 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 2002 On a motion by Councilman DiPisa, seconded by Councilman Pepe, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Resolutions on the Consent Agenda were adopted (Resolutions attached).
COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Mayor Torre asked if there was a motion to nominate a council member as Council President for the year 2002. Councilman Pepe made a motion to nominate Councilman DiPisa. The nomination was seconded by Councilman Wassberg and unanimously approved.
COUNCIL MEMBER TO PLANNING BOARD: 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.
PRESENTATION: Mayor Torre asked for any member of the Masonic Lodge who was present to please come forward for a special presentation. Lodge members Gilbert Hunt, Judge Harry Chandless, Robert Searle, Councilman Andrew Link III and Councilman Herbert D. Heeren came forward. Mayor Torre called on Council President DiPisa to assist. Presentation of a Clock and Plaque was made with gratitude for the Lodge’s community spirit in allowing the many borough meetings to take place at the Lodge.
APPOINTMENTS FOR
2002:
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 Borough Auditor Paul Garbarini 1 Year Superintendent
D.P.W./ Robert Heck Tenure Construction Code
Off./ Terry Naletko Tenure Property Maintenance
Glenn Paxton 1 Year Property Maintenance Officer Patrick Vella 1 Year Plumbing Inspector Richard Vanatta 1 Year Electric Sub-Code Official Robert K. Rogers 1 Year Fire Code Official Arthur Jackson 1 Year Court Administrator Susan Paul 1 Year Public Defender Thomas Mason 1 Year Prosecutor Borough Historian Louise Davenport 1 Year Board of Health Local Assistance
Board General Assessment Board Richard Jarocki 3 Years Planning Board Free Public Library Rent Leveling Board Recreation Commission Jay Lustberg 5 Years Committee of
Community Celebrations
Design District
Advisory Committee Emergency Management Chief Radio Communications Officer Dr. Roger Szanto 1 Year Special Law
Enforcement Police Matrons Borough Examining
Drs. School Marshals Substitutes: Fire Official U.F.S.A Arthur Jackson 1 Year Assistant Fire Official Kevin Todd 1 Year Fire Inspectors Fire Mechanics Public Info. Off. Arthur Knobloch 1 Year Dept. Safety Off. Harry Maisch 1 Year On a motion by Councilman Wassberg, seconded by Councilmen DiPisa, and unanimously carried, the foregoing Appointments were confirmed and approved.
MAYOR'S ANNUAL MESSAGE: Mayor Torre began
his annual message by alerting those present that it would be long and factual and to
condense it would be difficult. He welcomed everyone and congratulated Councilman Pepe and
Councilwoman Verrastro. He also congratulated the members of the council. 2001 was a sad
year and he was proud of the town residents responding to 911 with their support and
generosity, the clergy, the Town Vigil and was proud to be mayor. He hoped for normality
to return. Two years ago the municipal building had burned down and it seemed small in
comparison to 911. He thanked Assemblywoman Heck for her help combined with Senator Kosco
and Assemblyman Talarico. He thanked the Masonic Lodge for their generosity. He thanked
Michael Kronyak, Ralph Chandless, Rose Marie Sees, Bernice Baker, Lori French, Police
Chief Michael Colaneri, Chief Arthur Knobloch and his assistants.
MISCELLANEOUS FROM THE COUNCIL: Councilman Link wished everyone a happy new year, commenting that the council represents all the people, asking God to watch all young men and women upholding the principles of this great nation against those who would suppress freedom and that the precepts of this country by the founding fathers remain intact. Councilman Heeren congratulated the mayor for a very informative speech, noting that there wasn’t anybody in the town more desirous of having a new municipal building than those sitting up here, and that work is moving along to this effect. He also commended Lee Kulakowski, the holiday food distribution and the lack of space to store food items and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church for its help, thanking the people for their donations. He thanked his wife and council members and the people for allowing him to serve. At this point Mayor Torre asked all the families of the council to stand up and be thanked for their patience and support. Councilman DiPisa thanked those in attendance, especially his wife Rosemarie and family. He continued that it has been an absolute pleasure to be a part of the council this year. As a member of the building committee, he felt it has been very productive and insightful. As deputy commissioner of the police department, he thanked Councilwoman Verrastro, Chief Colaneri and the whole department, and the focus of public safety. He thanked Rob Brady for his smooth transition into the Recreation Department, the DPW employees for their care of the parks and streets, his "three Ro’s", (Rose Marie Sees, Rosemarie DiPisa and Rose Heck). He commended the honesty, integrity and trustworthiness of the Mayor and Council and employees. Councilman Pepe thanked all the departments he had the pleasure to serve, all borough employees, Michael Kronyak, Ralph Chandless, Ro Sees, Bob Heck, Police, Fire and DPW, and Rose Heck for all the state aid brought into this community. He continued from what the mayor had said at a recent meeting that a balance must be struck on any decision right for this community, that this balance must include the normal everyday work, borough business and family. He also thanked the families. He calculated that the volunteers of the fire and ambulance answered at least three calls for every day of the year. He was pleased to serve as Council President, he thanked the voters for his and Verrastro’s re-election, and Pat Vella for his inroads into this community, that it is cleaner and better. Councilwoman Verrastro welcomed everyone who attended. She commended the council and as police commissioner she thanked the chief and the department for all their help, those who volunteer many hours with the bike marathon and other programs. As land use commissioner she also thanked Pat Vella, the members of the building department and the planning board. She also thanked the voters. As a councilperson she said they work 24 hours a day. She thanked her husband, Tom and family for being there. Councilman Wassberg thanked his wife for her support this past year. He congratulated Councilwoman Verrastro and Councilman Pepe for their re-election. He thanked Assemblywoman Heck.
MISCELLANEOUS FROM THE PUBLIC: Mayor Torre opened the meeting to the public for anyone wishing to speak. Joseph Jones, 202 Cambridge St., Clifton, thanked the mayor and council for the great experience working as prosecutor and thanked the other prosecutor, Thomas Flinn. Rose Heck, 501 Collins Avenue, commended the mayor and council for all their good work this year, and to remember the history of the town is a firm foundation and each of us in our own way takes up a position, only for a short time, and then we move on, but the example we set for the public is very important. Public service is a wonderful way to serve our fellow man and woman. She thanked the people of Hasbrouck Heights for their interest and that open meetings were important for communication, the seniors, library committee, police and ambulance squad for their recent help. 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 George W. Yoder of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. In conclusion, the Mayor thanked Gerry Hackel and Bill Hale. 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, 2002. Rose Marie Sees |