Mayor's Message

Photo of Mayor Jeffrey Lahullier

Good morning and a very happy and healthy New Year to all,

Reflecting on my first four-year term as mayor, I can truly say my first year could not have been more challenging and chaotic.

I was sworn in on January 1st, 2020, and by March we were facing a worldwide Pandemic.  I can assure you that there was nothing in our policy manual about how to deal with this.  Virtual meeting formats became the norm.  A Pandemic that by months end would shutter schools and non-essential businesses.  For the safety of our borough employees, and the safety of their families, we worked staggered shifts.  Half of our employees would report for their normal shifts, while the other half would work from home.  Fast forward four years and my condolences to those who lost loved ones and my thanks to those who helped us navigate through those tough and challenging times.

I would like to congratulate Councilman Ravettine and Councilman DeRosa on their re-election victory this past November.  I can truly say that in my twenty years of service to the borough that we now have the best administrative staff and department heads ever!  We implemented some long overdue salary adjustments for our administrative staff.

My condolences to the families of employees who have recently passed, Eileen Sorbera, Hank Heber, and Mike Rizzo.  Eileen worked as our payroll administrator and is the wife of Philip, a past councilman and a member of our Zoning Board.  Hank Heber retired from our accounts payable, and Michael Rizzo retired from our PD as a Lieutenant.  

Jimmy Smith, Joe Simone, Richie Nadler retired from our DPW while Bill Hopkins and Bill Lorence retired from our Police Department.  Best of luck to you all and thank you for all your years of dedication and service to the borough.

Some of the highlights and accomplishments that took place in 2023:

  1. County ribbon cutting for the Carlton Hill Greenway which will grant our residents access to a walking path and a bikeway.
  2. A three-million-dollar grant from NJ Department of Community Affairs for three properties located on Morton Street for the development of parks and athletic fields. These funds would not have been made available without the help of Senator Paul Sarlo and we thank him.
  3. Ongoing litigation with American Dream has produced a one-million-dollar payment from them with more to follow.
  4. We addressed ongoing parking issues for our residents and will continue to do so in the first quarter of this year.
  5. A new transportation bus with wheelchair accessibility was purchased with Community Development Block Grant funds.
  6. No overnight commercial parking was also implemented.
  7. Our budget saw another decrease in our municipal tax rate while generating a healthy surplus.
  8. Barry Blauvelt was hired as our new Recreation Director and is doing a great job.
  9. Kevin Barnas was just recently hired as our (part-time) Fire Official rather than full-time, at a significant savings to the borough.
  10. Angel Rivera was hired as daytime EMT and a Property Maintenance enforcer. He will provide medical transport assistance while addressing property maintenance issues.
  11.  Our court revenues are finally on a steady incline three years after the Pandemic and I commend Maggie Stuiso and her staff.
  12. After four years I believe we are finally getting close to obtaining our “Judgment of Repose” from the courts.
  13. This judgment will return Zoning approvals back to our municipal Land Use Boards and remove oversight from Fair Share Housing
  14. appointed special monitor Robert Regan.
  15. We replaced two of our fire apparatus last year and will be replacing the other two this year. We also implemented a Performance Incentive Program last year to reward our volunteer fire fighters. Our Fire Department is the best in Bergen County!
  16. Our WERC Warriors played a game at MetLife Field and had the thrill of a lifetime!
  17. I am extremely proud of the purchase of the 200-year-old Richard Outwater House at minimal cost to our taxpayers.
  18. Civic Pride continues to do an exceptional job hosting our annual Fall Festival, Easter, Christmas, and Halloween events.
  19. The borough has contracted with Holy Name hospital for 24/7 EMT transport services for our residents. Thank you to the East Rutherford volunteer Emergency Squad for all your years of service to the borough.   

I would like to thank Danielle Lorenc and her entire staff, Police Chief Rivelli, Frank Recanati at our Building Department, DPW superintendent Paul DeRosa and our CFO Anthony Bianchi for all your efforts throughout the year.  Thank you to our Borough Attorney Gerald Salerno and Borough Engineer Glenn Beckmeyer for their invaluable guidance and direction. 

Thank you to past Council President Ravettine. Councilman Cronk, Councilman Lorusso, Councilman Alvarez, Councilman Bulger, and Councilman DeRosa. I truly believe that a mayor is only as effective and productive as those who serve alongside him.  You are all independent thinkers and problem solvers; God willing I look forward to working with you all over the next four years.    

Looking forward to the new year we will continue our litigation with American Dream to make sure we receive the revenue stream that we were promised.  We are close in getting our revised Master Plan approved. I’d like to thank all who served on that committee and appreciate your hard work.  Investigate possible tax revenues from the newly established cannabis related business.   Develop recently acquired properties into additional athletic fields and park lands.  Renovate the Outwater House to provide a home for our historical artifacts that are so precious important to the lineage of our borough.  The traffic signal promised by Bergen County’s engineering department must be installed at the corners of Hackensack Street and Union Avenue.  

Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.  

Thank you and God bless!

Mayor Jeffrey J Lahullier

January 1st, 2024