North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco had just taken his sixth oath of office as a North Bergen commissioner, beginning his fourth term as mayor Tuesday afternoon, and no sooner had already begun to point towards what he called “a very bright future” for the township.
Just one week after earning another term in a resounding 3-to-1 victory in the municipal election, Sacco and his entire slate of commissioners, namely Frank Gargiulo, Theresa Ferraro, Hugo Cabrera and Allen Pascual, were administered the oath of office from New Jersey State Superior Court Judge Maureen Soguizzo, in a ceremony before 400 people on the front steps of Town Hall.
After taking the oath, Sacco thanked those who were in attendance.
“It was a very trying election, a physical election,” Sacco said. “But you were behind us in our message and it was overwhelming to show us that support. That each and every one of you is here today is special to me and makes it a very special day. You’re the greatest people in the world.”
After the swearing-in ceremony outside, the contingent moved inside to the Board of Commissioners’ chambers, where a special meeting was held to re-organize the government. In the commission form of government, the commissioners are elected and then they determine who is to serve as mayor. The newly-elected officials can take office one week after Election Day.
There were no surprises in the special meeting, as the commissioners once again selected Sacco to head the township. Sacco was also reappointed to head the township’s Department of Public Affairs.
All of the commissioners were assigned to the same municipal department they headed prior to the election. Gargiulo will continue to head the Department of Public Works, Ferraro will head the Public Safety, Cabrera in charge of Business and Finance and Pascual the head of Parks and Recreation.
There was something different about this commissioners’ meeting. There was not a single outcry from the spectators.
“You can enjoy yourselves at this meeting,” Sacco said with a smile. “This one is a lot different than the ones we’ve had recently.”
Most of the recent Board of Commissioners’ meetings have been attended by vocal critics of Sacco, including Edward “Bo” Scannavino, who was on the ticket that lost to Sacco and his commissioners a week ago. But the opposition was nowhere to be found at Tuesday’s meeting. This was a gathering of celebration.
“I enjoy every one of these swearing-in ceremonies,” said Sacco, who has also enjoyed eight such ceremonies as a New Jersey state senator. “But this is really a great day. The harder you work for something, the more exuberant the feeling.”
The election was believed to be a severe test of Sacco’s popularity, because of the FBI probe into township corruption that has resulted in six federal guilty pleas and/or indictments. Sacco has never been implicated with any part of the federal investigation. He pleaded with the residents to “have faith in the government,” which they overwhelmingly believed in the polling booths May 14.
Plans for the future Soon after taking the oath, Sacco started making plans for the future.
The first item of importance is the commercial re-development of Tonnelle Avenue. While the Lowe’s Home Improvement Center has spawned a lot of business since its opening last year and the construction to build a new Target department store on the site of the old Crown and Cork Seal factory has already begun, the area in between (known as the Shiva Properties) remains an unsolved dilemma.
There have been discussions and negotiations for nearly four years, after determining the area was in dire need of re-development.
“That’s the first thing we have to concentrate on,” Sacco said. “We have to definitely develop Tonnelle Avenue. We’ve had some businesses go there, but there are more going in and we have to get that in order.”
Another item of importance will be the proposed construction of an overpass at 69th Street, going over Tonnelle Avenue and the Conrail train rails, much like the overpasses already built at Secaucus Road at the southern end and Union Turnpike/Paterson Plank Road in the central portion of the town.
“Once we get that overpass done, it will open up the entire area along West Side Avenue,” Sacco said.
From there, the plans will then include the construction of a new township pool complex (to replace the former facility off Tonnelle Avenue and 92nd Street that was condemned because toxins were located in the area’s soil) as well as a new hockey rink that has been in the discussion stages.
And then, finally, the proposed construction of a new high school, which has been initially planned to be built at West Side Avenue and 83rd Street, at the site currently located by a trucking depot.
“Right now, we have to get the funding in line to build a new high school,” Sacco said. “We have to be able to afford it. The state has to take a look at us. Right now, the state is looking at all Abbots [low-income] districts to determine if there will be any redistricting. But it’s grossly unfair that there are towns right across the way like Union City and West New York that are building new schools with full funding and we can’t. Right now, we can’t afford to build a new school, but we’re not any different than those other local towns. There’s no reason why we’re not in there.”
Sacco said that if the redistricting takes place and the state can provide funding, then the new high school could be built during this current administration.
“Whether it can get done within the next four years, I don’t know,” Sacco said. “But I’d love to see it happen. It’s still being worked on. We have some initial drawings and plans. The new high school could change everything in terms of our overcrowding.”
Other issues that need to be addressed during the current administration include the former Sier-Bath gear factory site, which still remains undeveloped, as well as other possible developments along the Hudson River waterfront.
“The Sier-Bath site has to be resolved,” Sacco said. “I plan to meet with the local residents to take another look at the area.”
Sacco knows that his job is just beginning, even after 18 years of public service.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done over the next four years,” Sacco said.
That work began as soon as possible.
“We have to continue to work hard to keep moving in a positive direction,” Cabrera said in his induction speech.
When voters give you a 3-to-1 mandate, they expect such results.