Dr. Richard J. Wolff of Weehawken, who was appointed to the Tri-City Sewerage Authority in 1988 and became its chairman that same year, was elected chairman for the 21st consecutive year at the last meeting of the Authority, which was renamed the North Hudson Sewerage Authority in 1996.
During his tenure as chairman, Wolff presided over the first privatization of a wastewater treatment agency in the state of New Jersey. It also became the first regionalization of wastewater treatment services in the state when West New York merged into Tri-City, which already had been serving Hoboken, Union City, and Weehawken.
The new North Hudson Sewerage Authority brought the operation into compliance with environmental regulations, thereby facilitating the lifting of a sewerage hookup ban that existed when Wolff first took the reins. Wolff also presided over the voluminous building expansion in the four communities the Authority serves.
Dr. Wolff, who has over 20 years experience in investor relations/corporate communications, recently became the executive chairman of North America for Gavin Anderson & Company. In his new position, he will be responsible for building the firm’s North America business in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Also elected at the Authority meeting were Commissioner Harold Schroeder of West New York, vice chairman; Commissioner Katia Stack of Union City, treasurer; Commissioner Patleo Spaccavento of Hoboken, assistant treasurer; Commissioner Joseph Rivera of West New York, secretary; and Commissioner Michael Schaffer of Hoboken, assistant secretary.
Committees formed
Immediately upon taking office, Dr. Wolff named the standing committees for the year 2009.
They are:
The Finance/Personnel Committee, chaired by Wolff, with commissioners Katia Stack, Harold Schroeder, and Frank Raia, and staff: Authority Accountant Linda Kish, and Authority Executive Director Fred Pocci;
The Facilities Review Board, chaired by Commissioner Harold Schroeder, with member commissioners Joseph Rivera of West New York, Libero Marotta of Union City, and Frank Raia of Hoboken, and staff: Authority Counsel Frank Leanza and Fred Pocci;
The Education Committee, chaired by Katia Stack, with member Commissioners Frank Raia, Libero Marotta, and Michael Schaffer; and
The Litigation Committee, chaired by Joseph Rivera, with member commissioners Michael Schaffer, Patleo Spaccavento, Libero Marotta, and staff Frank Leanza and Fred Pocci.
The other commissioner serving on the Authority is David Lopez of Hoboken.