Hudson County got a new freeholder this past November when Anthony P. Vainieri was voted into office to replace outgoing Freeholder Thomas Liggio. Vainieri will represent the 8th District, including North Bergen, Secaucus, and parts of Jersey City.
Vainieri was officially sworn in on Monday, Jan. 5 at the Justice William Brennan Courthouse in Jersey City, along with the three other new freeholders: Kenneth Kopacz, Gerard M. Balmir Jr., and Caridad Rodriguez.
But first, he rang in the new year with a unique ceremony and celebration at the Waterside Restaurant in North Bergen, where he took the oath of office shortly after midnight on Jan. 1, accompanied by his son and daughter, numerous town officials, and about 150 other friends.
The event was a combination of New Year’s party and official ceremony, with North Bergen Mayor and State Sen. Nicholas Sacco swearing Vainieri into office even as fireworks burst over Manhattan, visible through the floor-to-ceiling picture windows on the top floor overlooking the Hudson River.
Afterward, Vainieri spoke with the North Bergen Reporter about some of his plans as a freeholder.
Schools and safety
In addition to serving as Sacco’s chief of staff and a member of the North Bergen Zoning Board, Vainieri is a member of the Hudson County Schools of Technology Board of Education.
“I’m going to remain the chief of staff for the mayor,” he said. “It’s two different entities: county and township. I’m still the chair of the zoning board for the town of North Bergen. I’m giving up the school board membership.”
The Hudson County Schools of Technology campuses are located in Jersey City and North Bergen and are available to students from throughout the county. Currently plans are underway to build a new facility in Secaucus to replace the aging one in North Bergen.
“We’re losing officers because money is better elsewhere. We want to keep our officers, to keep our residents safe.” –Anthony Vainieri
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In addition, he has his eye on public safety. “I feel the sheriff’s officers are underpaid and I’d like to adjust that to a different pay scale,” he said. “Just to keep them in line with other counties and municipalities. We’re losing officers because money is better elsewhere. We want to keep our officers, to keep our residents safe.”
Among the other items on his agenda is a proposal for a police academy in Hudson County, something that has been talked about before but never moved past the discussion phase. “No one ever took the ball and ran with it,” he said. “I have the expertise from working at the municipal level.”
Park development
Braddock Park is an area of particular interest to Vainieri. As a county space, it falls under freeholder jurisdiction. “I’d like to see James P. Braddock Park utilized more for a farmer’s market, for art festivals, senior citizens, and children,” he said.
Among his suggestions are yoga for seniors, exercise programs for children, and an art gallery at the lake house. “We have somebody that proposed bids on renting it,” he said of the lake house. “It would bring revenue to the county as well. On nice days people could come outside and paint by the lake while joggers pass by.”
In addition, “There was talk about bringing back paddle boats in the lake,” he said. “Also maybe a small eatery where people can get a meal or a soda. As a kid we always had an eatery there.”
The open fields are another area of concern. Residents have complained that people stake out large sections of the picnic areas for parties, including graduation and sweet 16 events, preventing residents from using the space. “Someone from New York comes in at five in the morning,” Vainieri said. “If they had to go to a catering hall they would need to spend money. So they come in with tables and chairs and take up 3, 4 picnic areas and people there can’t even get into their own park.”
To alleviate the problem, fees or licensing are being considered for larger groups, with any income funneled back into the park.
Also on the agenda are renovations and repairs to the park, including new ball fields with LED lighting and restrooms, and a veterans’ memorial park near Bergenline Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard.
“I spoke with the county about the roads through the park, which are in disrepair and in desperate need of paving,” he said. “I think I have a commitment from the county to start paving the roads by the spring.”
Born to politics
Vainieri grew up immersed in politics. “Anthony Vainieri is a lifelong resident of North Bergen whose family was involved politically here,” said Mayor Sacco. “His father was a township commissioner in the 1970s and later on he was an assemblyman who represented the area, so Anthony came from that background.”
Sacco was principal of Horace Mann School when he first got to know Vainieri, then a student. Always interested in politics, Vainieri later joined Sacco’s team. “He was there as a very young man since I was elected in 1985,” said Sacco. “He worked with me all that time and eventually became chief of staff.”
In addition to his public service roles, Vainieri is the co-owner and manager of the Vainieri Funeral Home. His sister Valerie Vainieri-Huttle is a current member of the Assembly representing District 37 and his brother-in-law Frank Huttle is Mayor of Englewood.
After 30 years of working together, Sacco said, “I watched him develop politically. He had a terrific affinity for county politics. He enjoyed that aspect of politics more than any other. He was the logical choice for freeholder.”
Among the attendees at Vainieri’s New Year’s Eve swearing-in were North Bergen Commissioners Hugo Cabrera and Allen Pascual, Police Chief Robert Dowd, Superintendent of Schools Dr. George Solter, Board of Education President Julio Marenco, Freeholder Anthony Romano, and many more.
Vainieri’s term of office as freeholder will expire on Dec. 31, 2017.
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.