A new police officer was sworn in by Mayor Nicholas Sacco at the North Bergen Commissioner’s meeting on June 10.
Santos Saenz, 36, was born in El Salvador before immigrating to the United States as a child. Since then he has been a lifelong resident of 87th Street.
Saenz, who is married with three children, participated in North Bergen PAL Boxing and was coached by Sgt. Joseph Gener before becoming a coach himself.
In 1998, Saenz won a New Jersey Golden Gloves competition before entering the U.S. Marine Corps. He rose to the rank of sergeant and served in the First Marine Division. During his time in the Marines he saw combat, serving during the attack on the U.S.S. Cole and during the march on Bagdad.
Saenz was the second ranked boxer in the 156 lb. class in the Marine Corp.
“He brings age and wisdom to the department.” – William Galvin
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Before swearing Saenz in, Sacco joked that maybe Town Attorney Herbert Klitzner would like to box a few rounds, since his father was a boxer.
Police Chief William Galvin thanked the commissioners and mayor for the additional officer.
“We could certainly use him,” said Galvin. “Unfortunately, we won’t get him until the holidays, but he’ll come in handy at that time. I’m sure he’ll do a fantastic job. He brings age and wisdom to the department [because] he’s not a young person and he’s got the experience of being military, so we all welcome him.”
Saenz will attend the Jersey City Police Academy for the next six months. After graduation he will be assigned to the Patrol Division for full time active duty.
Energy efficient grant
The commissioners passed a resolution authorizing an application for an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant under the provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
According to the resolution, the funds would be used to help reach Gov. Jon Corzine’s plan of reducing energy consumption 20 percent by 2020.
According to Township Administrator Christopher Pianese, the grant would be around $500,000 and would be put towards two main initiatives in Town Hall.
He said that when the Town Hall was expanded a couple of years ago, a heating and cooling system put on the roof that only serviced certain offices in the building.
“If we get it awarded we would continue to expand the heat and air system,” said Pianese. “Baseboard heat is very expensive.”
The second item on the agenda would be to replace the windows of Town Hall with an energy efficient product.
Township guarantees MUA debt
Through a resolution, the township also agreed to guarantee $11 million in debt incurred by the Municipal Utilities Authority. The authority is making improvements and buying new equipment for the operation at the Woodcliff Plant, which processes sewage for North Bergen and Guttenberg.
Pianese said that a $5 million grant given through the Federal Stimulus Package for sewerage projects that are MUA-related requires local matching funds. The MUA will borrow an additional $5 million, plus $1 million to cover overages, and the township will assure the payment of that debt.
Replacing rec center AC
The commissioners voted to replace the North Bergen Recreation Center’s A/C units and awarded a contract to WHL Enterprises of Metuchen, for $91,400.
“That’s been an ongoing problem,” said Pianese, who explained that replacing the units was recommended by the township engineer.
Prescription plan change saves $400K
Pianese said that after the township’s brokers, Brown and Brown Metro, Inc. and the Alamo Insurance Group completed extensive research for prescription plan quotes they decided to go with Maxor Rx. The coverage will be effective for township employees on July 1.
He said that the township will continue their medical plan with Horizon Blue Cross Shield of New Jersey, but that Horizon’s prescription drug plan was scheduled to increase by 10 percent this year alone.
Maxor Rx agreed to a fixed yearly increase of 3.1 percent for the next two years, which Pianese said will save the township around $400,000.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.