Acquafredda, Cappola Take Council Seats in River Edge

For the first time in several years, the River Edge Council will now have a three-three split as Councilmen-elect Vito Acquafredda (D) and Anthony 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).

"I want to thank my family for making this possible," Cappola said. "I'm proud to work with this Mayor and Council. I've lived in many towns in New Jersey and am proud to be here on this dais. I look forward to being a servant to you as I see my role to serve you and be held accountable by the community."

Cappola was appointed to council in june 2012 to replace Johnny Porco who resigned over the summer. The former educator and Teacher of the Year within the Archdiocese of Newark, is a published author and inventor, served as as the former president & property manager of a condominium complex and currently runs his own entertainment company.

District 38 Assemblyman Timothy Eustace, the former Mayor and Councilman in Maywood presented Cappola and Acquafredda with citations from the state assembly.

"I served for 14 years on the Maywood Council," Eustace said. "This is a great job you are undertaking. It takes a lot of work, but it is a worthwhile task."

Acquafredda, who served on the Regional Board of Education since 2002, is a licensed architect in New York (1983) and New Jersey (1994) and former member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment (1994-2010) and Planning Board (2012).

"I want to thank all the residents of River Edge that supported me and those that chose not to, for whom I will work even harder," Acquafredda said. "It took a while to come to the realization that my run north of Midland Avenue had come to an end, an almost natural end, and I'm ready to accept this new challenge and move forward to put to service my experience that I've accumulated in my professional and volunteer life for the betterment of everyone in River Edge."

Democrat Thomas Papaleo was named Council President for the year.

"Thomas is a great asset to the council," Councilman Edward Mignone said. "He is very open in communicating, he says what he means, debates with people and will tell you why he believes in something or doesn't. He will be a good force to keepting this council working together given the partisan split."

Council Liaisons:

Ed Mignone - Police, Environmental Protection, Green Team

Thomas Papaleo - Fire/Fire Prevention, Social Services, Municipal Drug Alliance

Kathleen Murphy - DPW, Shade Tree, Library, Senior Citizens (Co-liaison), 

Alphonse Bartelloni - Recreation, Traffic & Safety, 

Anthony Cappola - Construction Code, Property Maintenance, Senior Citizens, Historic Preservation

Vito Acquafredda - Beautification, Ad Hoc/Zoning, River Edge Schools, River Dell Schools

Mayor Sandy Moscaritolo - River Edge Ambulance Service

Council Committees

Finance: *Mignone, Murphy, Bartelloni (Alternates Acquafredda, Cappola)

Insurance: *Moscaritolo, Bartelloni, Papaleo

Personnel: *Moscaritolo, Papaleo, Bartelloni

Contract: Moscaritolo, Cappola, Murphy, Thomas Sarlo (Borough Attorney)

Sewer: Alan Negreann (Borough Administrator), Robert Costa (Borough Engineer), John Lynch (DPW Superintendent), Mignone, Moscaritolo

River Edge Alliance Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse: Moscaritolo, Papaleo

New Milford/River Edge Shared Services: Moscaritolo, Murphy, Mignone

Oradell/River Edge Shared Services: Moscaritolo, Murphy, Bartelloni

Technology: *Bartelloni, Murphy

*denotes chair of committee

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