Midland Park August 15, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Mark Berninger Sr., a seasoned zoning officer and building contractor, was appointed last week to head Midland Park’s newly reconfigured code enforcement office. His duties officially began Aug. 1, when the previous contract with the Borough of Allendale expired. The code official services had been provided through an interlocal agreement with Allendale since 2002; zoning and property maintenance duties were added in 2007. “We needed more than the 20 hours Allendale had available for us,” explained Borough Clerk/Administrator Addie Hanna of the decision to terminate the contract with Allendale. Berninger will serve as construction official, building sub-code official, building inspector, zoning officer and property maintenance officer. He will also perform certificate of occupancy inspections and attend zoning board of adjustment meetings. Though he has been statecertified for all of these positions for more than 20 years, Berninger said he only worked as a zoning and property maintenance officer because the building-related posts would have conflicted with his building contracting business. State law prohibits the construction official from working in the building trades in any of the adjoining towns. The new code enforcement official said one of his immediate priorities will be going after property maintenance code violators, particularly in the business and commercial districts. “I will be starting my property maintenance campaign Berninger named new code enforcement officer in one month. People have time to start taking care of their issues now rather than be subject to violation notices,” he warned. Berninger served as Midland Park’s zoning and property maintenance officer for 19 years before resigning five years ago. He has also been the zoning and property maintenance officer for the Borough of Glen Rock since 2005, a part time position he will retain. Berninger has now retired from Berninger Builders, the construction company he had owned since 1976. His son and partner in that business, Mark Jr., was recently appointed as a patrolman in the Midland Park Police Department. “The timing was perfect. My son was looking to become a policeman, so his getting that job made my decision much easier when this position became available,” he said. “I won’t miss the long hours. This is close to home, and I love Midland Park. It worked well for everybody involved,” he added. The new position is working out well financially for the borough as well, Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan said. Midland Park was paying Allendale $80,000 plus benefits and a car for the building department services. Berninger will receive $70,000 for 30 hours, with no benefits. Berninger is currently serving his third year as chief of the Midland Park Volunteer Fire Department. He has been a fireman for more than 20 years, and is heading the effort to reconstruct the firemen’s memorial complex next to the Witte Drive firehouse. Mark Berninger, Sr.