Bridge Work Nears Completion, Mansion Sale Delayed Again Top January News

Drivers Beware: Pedestrian Stanchions Delivered to River Edge

As part of its 2013 goals to make River Edge more pedestrian friendly at its three business centers, the borough recently installed nine roadway stanchions along Kinderkamack Road.

The crosswalk pedestrian stanctions are located where Kinderkamack Road meets with: Midland Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Continental Avenue, Madison Avenue, Voorhis Avenue, Howland Avenue, Reservoir Avenue, Main Street and Grand Avenue.

Additional stanchions have been placed along Midland Avenue near the intersections of Bogert Road and Myrtle Avenue.

Following months of delay due to weather and a nesting heron, the $1 million expansion and renovation Elm Street Bridge project is now expected to be completed by March 2013.

Work on the 1892 pony-truss style bridge was initially expected to begin in April 2012 but was pushed back two months to allow the heron's clutch to hatch. The County-owned bridge, which splits Elm Street between Oradell and New Milford, is expected to be widened by two-feet and increasing the weigh limit from three-tons to 40-tons so it meets federal standards.

For the fifth year in a row, River Edge was force to say farewell to yet another incumbent that lost a reelection bid. Former Council President Paul Cordts stepped down from the council after a single term.

Elected in 2009, the Republican local businessman and alum of Roosevelt School and River Dell Regional was twice named Council President, first in 2011 and then again in 2012.

With the restoration of the River Edge Open Space Trust Fund for the next five years, the borough will now need to trim over $465,500 in funding requests for 2013. The majority of funding requests, totalling $410,468 were on behalf of the Recreation Commission. The borough is estimated to have approximately $143,756 available funding come Feb. 10.

Voters defeated the Open Space Trust Fund ballot question in 2011 after much of the funding had been used to cover the salary and wages of three DPW workers who oversee the maintenace of the parks. Resident had a change of heart and restored the funding this past November after the total  were split between several groups

With three open seats on the Regional Board of Education, current sitting members unanimously appointed a trio of candidates to fill the vacancies on Monday night.

Anthony Barbary of River Edge will fill the seat left by Vito Acquafredda who was voted onto the River Edge Council during the November election. Alan Feigenson and Lori Locastro, both of Oradell were chosen to fill the the voids left when Michael Chakansky and Dorothea Durand resigned prior to the holidays.

For the first time in several years, the River Edge Council will now have a three-three split as Councilmen-elect Vito Acquafredda (D) andAnthony Cappola (R) officially took their places on the dais during Monday's 2013 Reorganization meeting.

Acquafredda and Cappola each  during the November election and oust incumenbent Republican Council President Paul Cordts(2,299 votes).

The new year was initially expected to bring a resolution to the fate of the Blauvelt Mansion's mortgage sale, but fate it seems is as fickle as ever. The two mortgages were scheduled to be sold on Jan. 4 but have now been pushed back two monthsin the fourth postponement.

According to the Bergen County Sheriff's Office Foreclosure Sale Listings, the $3.7 million and $735,000 mortgages have been delayed until March 22 by lien holders First Choice Bank and Valley National Bank.

For the second consecutive year, an uncontested race has led to the all Republican status quo to remain in place in Oradell. Councilmembers James Koth and Donna Alonso were officially sworn in on Sunday afternoon after facing zero competition at the polls.

In a one-time only move, River Edge will foot the approximately $7,000 bill to reset 38 sidewalk slabs and replace 26 that were damaged by borough shade trees that came down during Hurricane Sandy. 

The borough will take advantage of a reduced contractor's fee by entering into a shared service agreement with New Milford. According to River Edge Borough Administrator, by working together with New Milford, the borough will be charged $85 per reset slab and $142.50 for each new slab.

By a 200-point margin, first time candidate Patrick Gallagher of Oradell won a seat on the River Dell Regional Board of Education in November. Along with uncontested River Edge incumbents Joe Manzelli and Claudia O'Neill, Gallagher officially joined the Board of Ed on Monday night.

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