Mayor Felix Roque was sworn into office for a second term last week, after his fellow West New York commissioners took their oaths and reorganized. In West New York’s form of government, voters elect five part-time commissioners, who then pick a mayor from among themselves.
The five members of the West New York Board of Commissioners voted on May 19, at their reorganization meeting, for Roque to be the mayor. The commissioners then had a ceremonial swearing-in the next day, May 20. State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco swore in Roque at that ceremony.
As a courtesy to Roque’s dying mother, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto also performed a third swearing in at a local hospital where she is being cared for.
“My mother wanted to live to see me sworn in as mayor,” Roque said. “This way she will see her wish come true.”
Roque said he was surprised and relieved that his slate of candidates won in the May 12 municipal election.
“My agenda is to keep the town moving forward.” – Mayor Felix Roque
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Wiley had run with Roque in 2011, but became a vocal opponent a short time later. He led one of several tickets against Roque.
“There was so much fighting and bickering at every meeting that it became hard to deal with,” Roque said. “I don’t think he had an agenda. I think he just wanted to fight. But I would welcome him to join me even today.”
Roque did credit Wiley with some of the successful things his administration accomplished over the last four years.
“He was a commissioner and sometimes voted to get things done,” Roque said.
Reconfiguring assignments
Under West New York’s form of government, each commissioner gets assigned to oversee a different part of government. Roque will serve as mayor and commissioner overseeing the Police Department.
Cosmo Cirillo will serve as commissioner of public affairs. Gabriel Rodriguez will serve as commission of the Department of Public Works. Susan Colacurcio will serve as commissioner of finance. Margarita Guzman will replace Wiley as commissioner of parks.
Agenda for second term
Roque said he has an agenda for his second term in office, including one legacy project.
“I want to build housing for veterans in West New York,” he said. “Over the next four years, I hope to have 50 to 75 units for veterans.”
The outcry to provide more parking did not fall on deaf ears, Roque said. He hopes to have parking facilities throughout the city for residents and others.
“I want to revamp the police department and put more boots on the ground,” he said. “I also want to do as good a job with our DPW as Sacco does with his.”
But he said money is an issue. The challenge will be to keep government functioning and still keep taxes under control. He said he hopes to reduce some costs through attrition.
“If a person leaves, we’re going to try and not replace that person,” he said. “This will be a headache since people are always asking for jobs.”
He also said he will be looking at currently existing jobs to make sure they are productive, in a campaign he called “progressive discipline.”
“If someone is getting paid a lot of money and not doing the job, we don’t need that person,” Roque said. “My agenda is to keep the town moving forward.”
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.