Ho-Ho-Kus June 1, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 11 Council approves ordinance to fund various projects by Jennifer Crusco The Ho-Ho-Kus Council has approved Ordinance 991, which includes a total of $500,000 in funding for various capital projects. The vote took place at last week’s public meeting, and immediately followed questions proffered by resident Leo Strauss. Addressing the council, Strauss said the down payments on the individual items included in the ordinance represent less than five percent of the purchase price, while the balances are being bonded. “Please accumulate more (for the down payments) and borrow less,” he urged the council. Strauss pointed out that the recommended down payment for a home is approximately 20 percent of the total purchase price. The resident also requested information regarding the renovations to the police desk/lobby. Police Chief John Wanamaker, who was in the audience, fielded the question. “The lobby area is almost twice the size of our desk area,” Chief Wanamaker said. He added that there are now many computers that are placed very close to each other, and he said the setup is very inefficient. “I asked for space in the lobby,” he continued, saying some of the lobby area will be converted to work space, so the computers will not be stacked. “I didn’t ask for a specific amount of money,” Wanamaker told the resident. He explained that the work space will eventually push into the lobby area, which is larger than needed. (continued from page 4) in the computer hardware, software, and service business. He now runs his own small business in semi-retirement. Upper Saddle River Incumbent Upper Saddle River Council President Joanne Minichetti, a Republican, is running for the mayor’s seat, while incumbent Republican Councilman Roger DeBerardine filed for re-election, and GOP newcomer Steven DeMartino announced his candidacy for Minichetti’s seat. All three will run unopposed in their party’s primary. Marshall Grupp announced his Independent run for the mayor’s seat last week. Please see related story on page 7. Grupp will challenge Minichetti in the November general election. Minichetti was named to the council in 2007, replacing Robert Proto. She is a planning board member and served as liaison to the zoning board and to the Historic Preservation Commission. She writes the borough bulletin, and contributes to the municipal website. She is also a Green Team member and representative to the library board. Minichetti has served as president of the board of health, and was a member of the Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission. She served as co-chair of the USR Primaries uncontested Vision 2020 Committee, which helped develop a 15-year plan for the borough based on a survey of residents. She is one of three co-founders of the Upper Saddle River Educational Foundation, and has served as presided of the PTO. She has been a Girl Scout leader for 20 years. DeBerardine was originally appointed to the council to fill an unexpired term and was later elected in 2008. He is an attorney with a Brooklyn-based private practice, DeBerardine & DeBerardine, which he operates with his daughter Elaine. He is also an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. The candidate has served as a member of the planning board, liaison to the zoning board, and liaison to the board of education. He has also been involved in the police contract negotiations. DiMartino is a graduate of Queens College of the City University of New York. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and information systems, and is a Certified Public Accountant. He is currently a partner and chief financial officer at Kacela Capital, LLC. DiMartino is the treasurer of the USR Baseball Association, and a baseball and basketball coach. He has also served as treasurer and executive board member of the Upper Saddle River Educational Foundation. Strauss also questioned the council about the funding included in the bond ordinance which is earmarked for a walking path at North Field. The ordinance includes $65,000 for that project, $30,750 of which is a grant from the Bergen County’s Open Space, Recreation, Farmland, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Administrator Don Cirulli advised Strauss that this item has been included in the current bond ordinance to keep the borough from losing the associated grant. Cirulli said the borough is “99 percent sure” the project will not be undertaken this year. “It should be removed, not left there so you could do it next year,” Strauss said. He said people could walk elsewhere. The newly-approved bond ordinance includes a $33,000 appropriation for a pickup truck and plow for the department of public works. The cost of this purchase will be funded by a $1,600 down payment and $31,400 in bonds. A sum of $100,000 has been included for the 2011 road resurfacing program. This year, the borough will resurface West Saddle River Road. The down payment for this project will be $4,800, with the balance of the cost funded by bonds. A $150,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation will be devoted to the traffic control signal at Sheridan and Warren avenues. The cost of that signal is estimated at $160,000. A su m of $47,0 0 0 has been ea r ma rked for the (continued on page 15)