Roseland Borough Appoints Jean Perrotti to Fill Council Vacancy – TAPinto.net
ROSELAND, NJ — Jean Perrotti was sworn into office as Roseland’s newest council member during Monday’s borough council meeting to fill the vacancy left by former council member Richard Leonard, whose recent resignation became effective on Jan. 31.
Perrotti immediately resigned from her position as vice president of the Roseland Board of Education and will now serve the remainder of Leonard’s term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2019. Perrotti, who is no stranger to Roseland politics, ran against former Mayor Michael Pacio, Jr. in the Republican primary for the mayor’s in 2018. Pacio ultimately received the party’s nomination to run for mayor in June.
“I am humbled and honored to be selected to fill the vacant seat on the Roseland Borough Council,” said Perrotti. “I look forward to working with Mayor [James] Spango, the sitting council members and our residents to make the best decisions for everyone in Roseland.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Aristotle Popolizio, Jess Leddy and the Roseland Republican County Committee for all of their support.”
When Spango called for nominations from the council, Councilman David Jacobs nominated Perrotti and she was approved unanimously on Monday. Spango and all members of the council congratulated Perrotti and welcomed her to the council.
Councilwoman Eileen Fishman remarked that it was “a wonderful balance to now have three men and three women on the council.”
In other news, as Spango moves forth his agenda for greater community involvement, the council approved an amendment to a current ordinance establishing three new community committees within the borough.
A “Community Events Committee” will be charged with helping to “generate a sense of community by creating a hospitable atmosphere for the borough as well as organizing occasions where friendliness, welcoming and care of individuals and the Borough is promoted.”
The members of a “Community Recognition Committee” shall be “responsible for researching, selecting, interviewing and nominating to the Mayor and the Council…deserving individuals or groups in the borough to receive the Borough of Roseland Community Service Award.” The Director of Recreation will serve on these committees along with mayoral appointees.
The governing body also established a “Community Interfaith Council,” whose members will include clergy or religious leaders from religious institutions with the borough, including but not limited to Roseland Presbyterian Church, Roseland United Methodist Church, Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament, SS Nicholas, Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex and Christ Chapel of Essex.
The purpose of the interfaith council will be “to connect members of all faiths and to help remove any obstacles of misunderstanding with an ultimate goal of living together in peace, harmony and resource sharing. The members of the council will share information about the services and resources for people in and around the Borough of Roseland.”
During the mayor’s report, Spango updated the public on his initiative to begin formalized discussions with the mayors from neighboring Essex Fells, Livingston, West Caldwell, Caldwell, Verona and North Caldwell to successfully implement cost savings shared services amongst the municipalities.
Discussions began in January when the Spango hosted the first meeting between the mayors. Mayor Joseph Tempesta of West Caldwell will host the next meeting as the mayors continue to discuss initiatives moving forward. Roseland currently has shared services agreements with West Orange (animal control), East Hanover (health department) and Verona (building inspectors).
Spango also urged residents to look on the borough’s website for scholarships that are available to Roseland junior and senior class students. He added that the Department of Public Works will be addressing the severe geese problem at Bond Force Field, which is utilized by many children playing sports.
Council President Christopher Bardi apprised the community that the borough’s municipal budget for 2019-2020 is currently being drafted and will be introduced at the next televised meeting of the council on March 19. He also noted that a Request for Professional Services (RFP) has gone out to solicit bids from website vendors to make the website easier to use and more accessible.
The next borough council meeting will be a caucus meeting to be held on March 5.