Union City Mayor Brian Stack has only been in office for three weeks, but already the residents and commissioners have seen a big change in the city. Since Stack first announced his plans for a recall movement of former Mayor Rudy Garcia, he has promised to listen and follow up on the complaints of all the residents, improve public safety and the quality of life, and work on the financial crisis in the city.
“There is a sincerity in what he does,” said Union City Commissioner Michael Leggiero last week. “He really believes in helping people.”
“We have a lot of problems ahead of us,” said Union City Commissioner Ralph Fraguela. “But I think he has the right attitude.”
Open door policy
Stack, whose Brian P. Stack Civic organization has spent years working with the people of Union City, is not a stranger to the needs of the residents.
There is now an open-door policy within City Hall. “[It] shows people they can come see the mayor whenever they want to see the mayor,” said Stack.
“He sets two days aside every week for the people,” said his wife Kathy Stack, who also volunteers in the mayor’s City Hall office.
Stack works around his schedule with the county as a Hudson County Freeholder and his duties as mayor to make sure that he always has two days available for the residents.
“He has never been one to shy away from seeing the general public,” said his wife. “And he has kept it up.” “This is not Brian Stack’s City Hall,” said Stack. “It is the people’s City Hall.”
The mayor hears complaints ranging from housing problems to having police not respond to a call.
“It also keeps me in touch with what goes on in the city,” said Stack. “It is important not to lose touch with what is important to the people on the streets.”
Commissioner Ray Lopez, who was loyal to Garcia until he resigned, is now working with the new mayor to keep the residents a top priority.
“My number one priority is the residents of the community,” said Lopez. “So I am working with [Stack] to do that.”
This open-door policy is not just reserved for the residents of Union City. The commissioners and department heads within City Hall also have unlimited access to the mayor.
“The key factor here is dialogue,” said Leggiero. “Communication has improved 1,000 percent.”
“He keeps me informed on a daily basis,” said Fraguela. “He is willing to listen and to compromise.”
The mayor has provided all department heads with his beeper number, cell phone number and house number as means of getting in touch with him.
“The commissioners have access to me seven days a week,” said Stack. “If they are having a problem in their department, I want to know about it.”
“Accessibility is unlimited,” said Leggiero. “I don’t have to make an appointment to see him. I can call him 24 hours a day seven days a week, and he can call me too.”
“This is what I was hoping city government was all about,” said Leggiero. “Five people working together and helping each other.”
The mayor has also instituted weekly meetings with all the department heads.
“I meet with the directors every Friday morning for however long it takes,” said Stack.
At these meetings, Stack has asked the directors to cut spending wherever possible, improve communications between departments and agencies and ensure that every resident that comes to City Hall with a problem receives follow-up with a resolution or explanation.
“There is no justification for duplication of services, or failure to provide services to the public because there is a lack of communication between departments in the city,” said Stack.
Public safety
However, with a hiring and promotion freeze still in place until the city’s finances are stable, Stack has also kept his role as Director of Public Safety.
“It will come down to police, development and finances,” said Stack about what he is going to focus on over the next year and a half.
Changes within the police department are already visible on the streets.
“I have already worked with the police chief to set new policy in the police department,” said Stack.
The new policy puts more officers on the street and in uniform. Starting Dec. 1 all police officers will be in full uniform. That policy will run on a one-month trial basis and will end on Jan. 1. The mayor has also taken about 30 officers out of desk jobs and put them on the streets as well.
Stack is also working toward improving the quality of life in the city. The police department is working with new police cars without overhead lights to patrol for quality of life issues, such as disorderly persons and groups hanging out on corners.
“The main thing is quality of life,” said Stack.
On Saturday mornings, the mayor and the commissioners can be seen cleaning the dirtiest streets in the city. “This shows that we know what is going on,” said Stack. “It also shows people that community service is the way to go.”
Developing the city
The mayor also sees development as a way to stabilizing the city’s finances. Stack is meeting with various developers to look into new projects that will bring in ratables for the city.
“I want to develop the city so we have ratables for the future,” said Stack. “So that Union City never falls into this [financial] mess again.”
Stack has already had a meeting with the developers of the Yardley property on Palisade Avenue and Sixth Street.
“This is why I am not just going to the state and looking for a handout,” said Stack, who met with state representatives last week.
According to Stack, a state financial review team may enter the city as early as December to help go over the budget and city contracts.
Public involvement
Stack also wants to see the residents and taxpayers more involved in city politics.
“It has been a good exchange of ideas with residents, commissioners and staff,” said Stack who said that people come into his office with suggestions every day.
He is looking into filling the few spots left vacant on various boards.
“I want to put [the taxpayers and residents] on boards and give them input into what decisions are being made in planning and development,” said Stack.