Leaning against the window sill in the Town Hall office of Mayor Dennis Elwell is a map of Secaucus’ future. It is an aerial photograph of the town and its surrounding areas with lines drawn on it along the river and through the wetlands indicating pathways that exist, and pathways that Elwell hopes to make exist through land acquisition and negotiation. Of particular importance is the red line drawn along the Hackensack River, from the high school to below Harmon Cove.
This thin red line may be Elwell’s legacy to the future, one of those plans he has formulated that will allow his administration to be remembered by future generations. It could be a nature walk that would connect to other such paths in other parts of the county, and a pathway he hopes will preserve public access to the river long after his own name has been assigned to history books.
As a mayor just finishing his first term, Elwell sees this as the major long term accomplishment started nearly as soon as he entered office.
Although Elwell has credited his predecessor, Anthony Just, with creating the climate for preserving open space in Secaucus, Elwell sees himself as a man who can make things happen, taking the practical approach to the project that brings other resources from the county, state and federal government into Secaucus.
"People have criticized me for being too close to county government," Elwell said. "But those people don’t understand that you have to work with other levels of government to get things done. This riverwalk won’t happen unless we get help."
The walkway is enigmatic of Elwell’s approach to government, a philosophy of cooperation that seeks out funding for the town’s needs, even if it means going to other public bodies such as the Hudson County Freeholders or the U.S. Congress. While the river walk is hardly complete, large sections are in place with plans for additional sections. In continuing the town’s commitment to preserving open space, Elwell said the town has purchased several key properties around Mill Creek, allowing it to advance places such as the walkway.
"Congressman Steve Rothman saw this map," Elwell said, holding up the projection. "He loved it. He promised he would get us money to help finish it."
A lot of success in only two years
In his first two years in office, Elwell can take credit for solving some of the town’s most long-standing problems, often using this same method of financing.
"I don’t think I can take credit for anything myself," he said. "It was the mayor, the council, the professionals and the staff that made everything happen. For the last two years I’ve worked with a great bunch of people, and the successes in my first two years have been a combination of minor adjustments and a good economy, as well as a willingness to take on some of the tough issues."
In maintaining taxes at the same level for three years, Elwell said the town cut in some areas and increased in others, but always sought to keep things steady.
Although Elwell – as a councilman on the town’s flood control committee – managed to achieve significant success in helping to reduce flooding in areas like Farm Road in the north end, and various areas near Golden Avenue, it was in his first term as mayor that he managed to bring all the pieces together for major flood control. Under his watch, the town funded and implemented its first flood control plan. During his administration, Elwell’s staff has negotiated with Hartz Mountain Industries, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, the state and federal governments to help bring money into the town to help cure the flood conditions caused by backups on Sack Creek. In the near future residents can expect a flood of federal funds to pour into town as part of flood relief.
Under Elwell’s watch, the contamination that has plagued the former Keystone Metal Finishing site and some of its neighbors near Humboldt Street is in the process of being cleaned up. Money to investigate innovative ways to do the cleanup came from state grants, as might money for the actual cleanup itself.
Although a problem this year in getting the state to authorize programs for residential areas, the curb and sidewalk program has been largely a success over the last two years, as town and state money is allocated to different streets.
The reconstruction of Meadowlands Parkway – long a problem for anyone living or working in that area near the Hackensack River – was resolved over the last two years, using a combination of funds from New Jersey Transit and the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission.
Castle Road, a physical and legal nightmare for property owners there, has also been resolved, with the town and the NJMC taking the lead. While property owners will be assessed for the reconstruction, the town will take on responsibility to maintain it. Part of the cost may also be borne by NJ Transit, since it will be working on a section of it.
Elwell said the partnership with the NJMC has been a fruitful one, and partly because of the town’s ability to get a Secaucus resident seated on it as a commissioner.
"As the largest contributor to the NJMC tax sharing pool and the town which has the most land controlled by the NJMC, it is only fitting we have representation there," Elwell said.
One of the more significant accomplishments of this administration was the settling of the 10-year-old lawsuit resulting from the reconstruction of the town’s sewerage plant in the late 1980s. For a decade, taxpayers footed a legal bill that often exceeded $30,000 a month.
But Elwell said his administration – while finding creative ways to fund various projects such as billboards for furnishing the library and to fund the construction of a new recreation center – the real focus has always been on the needs of the community.
"It is important for this government to know what the needs and wishes of this community [are], and to do our best to meet them," he said.
Critical views
Councilman John Bueckner has been called the loyal opposition on the Town Council, yet was once the coordinator for Elwell’s council campaigns.
"We have accomplished a lot as a full council," he said. "I’m not sure we can give credit to the mayor. Most of what was done was done as a council."
Bueckner said he is disappointed with what he calls Elwell’s failure of inclusion.
"During the last campaign, the mayor said he would like me to have worked with the council more, and I’ve tried," Bueckner said. "In fact, on 99 percent of the issues I’ve agreed with the other council members."
But Bueckner said information has not been forthcoming from the mayor’s office on many of the issues, and that often issues are sprung on the council with only slight discussion.
"When Dennis was still with the independents, he fought to have a caucus meeting every Wednesday," Bueckner said. "Those four meetings a month allowed the whole council to hash out issues, and get a feel for how other council members felt. Now we get an hour and a half before each meeting. I think to have a council of inclusion we need to go back to what we had in the past."
Frank MacCormack, who ran against Elwell in the 1999 election for mayor, claimed many of the mayor’s successes are public relations efforts.
"While the mayor puts on a lot of public events like concerts in the park, he has given the town over to developers," MacCormack said. "When I ran against him, I said we need to reexamine our zoning from top to bottom, and to make sure everything complies to the zoning in an area."
Elwell said that nearly 90 percent of the town’s zoning is under the control of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and that he has argued for changing the way the commission zones residential areas.
MacCormack also claimed Elwell’s administration has become too closely tied to the county, noting that two democratic councilmen have acquired county jobs since Elwell was elected.
"I think Dennis needs to pull back a little from the county to make sure that we aren’t selling ourselves for the small favors the county gives to Secaucus," MacCormack said.