A retirement in the upper ranks of Hudson County Executive Robert Janiszewski’s staff has resulted in a reshuffling of personnel. The staff changes will go into effect as of Feb. 14. William Northgrave, who has severed at chief of staff for two years, will succeed retiring Frank DeLeonardis as county counsel. Filling Northgrave’s spot as chief of staff will be attorney David Drumeler. Janiszewski said he was optimistic about the roles each of these men will have with his administration in the coming years, noting that DeLeonardis, who is retiring to a job in the private sector, will stay on for the transition. DeLeonardis has served as counsel for seven years, and said he was grateful for the opportunity he had to serve Hudson County. “These years have been filled with interesting experiences and wonderful people, especially the attorneys and staff with whom I have had the pleasure to work on a daily basis,” he said. Northgrave, who replaces DeLeonardis, graduated from St. Peter’s College and holds a law degree from Seton Hall University’s School of Law. He is a member of the New York and New Jersey bar associations. “After two years as the County Executive’s chief of staff, I am excited about switching roles into one where I can further utilize my legal background,” Northgrave said. Drumeler, who replaces Northgrave as chief of staff, is also an attorney, and has been described as “an active participant in Hudson County government circles for many years.” Drumeler holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from Millersville University and a law degree from Seton Hall University’s School of Law. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar Associations, as well as a member of the University Club of Hudson County. “I am honored to be chosen for this position and for the opportunity to work with Bob Janiszewski and his administration to build on their past achievements,” Drumeler said. In other news, Hudson County will receive $8,276,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Fiscal Year 2000, according to a release issued by the County Executive’s office. The majority of the money will be used by Hudson County’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which has already financed the construction of more than 2,000 units of affordable housing. “One of my top priorities since coming to office 12 years ago is to ensure our working families can afford a place to call home,” Janiszewski said. “As Hudson County continues to attract commercial and residential development, it is important to keep affordable housing units on the market so our residents can remain in the neighborhoods where they’ve lived all their lives.” In other news, Hudson County is in the process of upgrading traffic signals on Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City in order to alleviate traffic congestion. These traffic signals will be state-of-the-art, computer controlled signals which – unlike the ones they will replace – can vary their red and green cycles by the time of day and day of the week. Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., the signals will operate on the standard cycle currently in place. But overnight, during the week and on weekends, when both pedestrian and vehicular traffic is expected to be lighter, the lights will remain green on Kennedy Boulevard until a car pulls up to the light on a side street or a pedestrian pushes a button to cross. Since the system is still not complete and will likely require some fine-tuning, it may take a little time to work as advertised. County officials are urging the public to use caution until they are comfortable with the new system – which is expected to be complete later this year. Signals near Stegman Parkway, Stegman Street, Van Houten Avenue, Dwight Street, Fulton, Woodlawn and Stevens avenues are expected to be activated this week.