Mayor Foresees More Success, Accomplishments to Come in 2013
Mayor Richard LaBarbiera addresses changes, challenges and goals for the new year.
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Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera reflected on the accomplishments of 2012 and pledges that more will be realized in this new year.
In his state of the borough address Sunday, LaBarbiera said 2012 overall was mostly a good year. Despite challenges the bipartisan council managed to deliver a zero percent tax increase without any loss in services or lay-offs, the borough survived the hardships of Sandy and also won the war in a fight to protect the borough's quality of life in its Blue Laws.
LaBarbiera relayed that this time last year the former all-Republican majority was broken up when Democrat council persons Elena Bellinger and Joseph Lagana were sworn in. Now one year later the majority has changed over to the Democrat side with the addition of council persons Donna Warburton and Patsy Verile who were sworn in Sunday.
While control changes hands the challenges remain the same, said LaBarbiera and he therefore advised, "The people of Paramus have spoken and you now have control, the second you stop listening to the people they will ask for it back."
"So let’s roll up our sleeves, check our labels at the door and get to work for the people doing what is in the best interest of Paramus residents," pledged LaBarbiera.
Looking ahead, LaBarbiera cited the promotion process with the Police Department as priority, something which was thought to have been resolved by years end but "some 11th hour comments" now need to be addressed.
Additional unfinished business includes the completion of improvements to Farview Ave and Midland Ave intersection, working out the kinks in the new traffic signal on Midland Avenue and finalizing a fair contract with PEA and teamsters, said the mayor.
Improvements are coming to Borough Hall which includes new chairs in the council chambers, said LaBarbiera. Beginning Feb. 1 the borough will begin a shared service agreement with Maywood where the neighboring borough will use the chambers for its municipal court. LaBarberia says he hopes this is one of many other examples of shared services the borough can take part in this year.
The mayor's announcement that he plans to ask the council to rename the borough's Life Safety Building after James J. Tedesco, former mayor, longtime firefighter and public servant, was met with a standing ovation.
LaBarbiera also pledged to put more support behind the borough's history and its veterans planning to add members two members to the Historic Committee and one to the Veterans Affairs Committee.
He hopes "with newfound interest we do not lose any more of our treasures in town and our Veteran’s get the much deserved help that they need."
Kelly McKensy
8:32 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
It was disgraceful the County Executive said those terrible things about the Paramus Mayor. It is terrible.
Fly on the wall
7:25 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Every taxpayer in this town is completely blind. U have done nothing but allow these ppl to lie to you with a smile. If u really think there hasn't been a loss of services. U haven't seen the roads during or after a snow storm. A few years ago u would see trucks out and u would see roads being cleared. I didn't see a plow truck on my street during the last storm till 3 hours after it stopped snowing. I drove past the Dpw yard and I counted 10 cars. A town of this size and u only have 10 guys trying to plow it. I'm ashamed I pay taxes to these idiots. Where my taxes going. The administrators raise. The employees I talk to all have the same story. No raise no raise no raise. But I hear the administrator got a raise. And I see all these vehicles u buy. But none of those
Vehicles do the job as good as the way it used to be done. Obvious the phase if it ain't broke don't fix it has ever been told to you ppl. Every attempt I see u make to do better has done nothing but make things worse. Mayby u should use my tax money to pay the employees that do the work. Not the ones that decide who should get raises