As we approach the end of 2009, half way through our 2010 fiscal year budget, it seems appropriate to respond to some of the areas of concerns expressed recently by our residents. In no particular order these concerns center on the borough’s fiscal health, the recent property revaluation, borough spending, and the near term future due to the nationwide recession.
In spite of the present recession the community remains fiscally strong and the present budget does not include an increase in spending in spite of inflationary pressures. We continue to collect the majority of taxes on a timely basis. We have sold some tax liens on delinquent properties where required to maintain our revenue stream. This is not unique to Bergenfield and does not have a serious impact on the borough.
An indication of the borough’s fiscal health was reflected earlier in the year when the borough did not find it necessary to take advantage of a state plan that would have allowed us to pay only 50% of our pension obligations this year. While many communities found it necessary to adopt the plan, we did not believe it was fiscally responsible as it only postponed debt payments to future years.
The recent property tax revaluation reflected in the 3rd quarter 2009 tax bill corrected the gross inequities resulting from the 2004-05 revaluation and will save the 7000 residential property owners approximately $3,000,000 annually. Prior to the revaluation, residential property owners were paying more than their fair share of taxes.
It is no secret that the State of New Jersey is deeply in debt for many reasons including past borrowing practices and the present recession. With the January 2010 change in the state administration we expect to see cuts in state aid to the community as well as to our school system.
While there are few major options available to offset the expect loss of state revenue without reducing services, the borough has taken or will take additional steps in the near future to reduce expenditures. These include the installation of solar panels to generate electricity, improvement in the use of electrical power by changing to more efficient lighting, a change in telephone provider to use VOIP technology, preparing payroll in-house rather than using an outside contractor, a change in garbage disposal methods at our apartment houses and a renegotiated insurance program on our buildings which were over insured.
Regardless of what the future may bring I’m confident that your borough council and the borough staff are capable of resolving them while maintaining the quality of life that we have come to expect in our community.
The 3rd Annual BCCBF Super Bowl Party Fundraiser on Sunday, February 7th, at Firehouse #2 on Home Place, will be an evening of exciting football, good food and the company of people who are passionate about the game.
Attendees will view the big game on five televisions and enjoy a catered Super Bowl Buffet.
To add to the excitement, a raffle will be held during the event. Raffle prizes include a 42" Sharp Flat Screen TV donated by Sharp Electronics, and two smaller LCD HDTVs. Additional prizes will be available.
The catered dinner buffet will offer an assortment of food for all tastes, including chicken wings, hot dogs, Italian heroes, pasta, assorted salads, coffee, soda, and desserts. Beer will be available for guests over 21.
The event runs from 5:00PM until game end. Tickets are $25.00 for adults and include one raffle ticket. Additional raffles are $5.00 each, $25.00 for a book of five raffles. Admission for children under 18 is $10.00 and does not include a raffle ticket.
Tickets and raffles can be purchased by calling Jim Bishopp (201-501-8474) or Mark D’Esposito (201-385-9539). Early reservations are suggested as last year's event was a sellout.
The BCCBF 3rd Annual Super Bowl Party Fundraiser is the first event in the committee's 2010 fundraising program. Information about this function and other upcoming events is available at www.bergenfieldcommunitycenter.org , or by calling 201-385-9475.
BCCBF meetings are held at the Memorial Park Field House at 8:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. All residents and business owners are invited to attend. The committee welcomes input and volunteers to assist in programming and fundraising.
Bergenfield Lions Club members Marty Gurwerk, Tom Power, and Mel Weinberg, were first in line to purchase tickets and raffle books for the Super Bowl Party Fundraiser sponsored by the Bergenfield Community Center Building Fund Committee (BCCBF) on Sunday, February 7 at Firehouse #2 on Home Place, beginning at 5:00 pm. John Scagliotti, BCCBF president, and Bob Gallione, BCCBF Executive Director, delivered the tickets and raffle books during an early Saturday morning meeting of what these community activists call the Breakfast Club. Pictured from left to right: Gallione, Gutwerk, Power, Weinberg, and Scagliotti. (Photo courtesy of Eli DeFalco.)
The Bergenfield Health Department will conduct its annual rabies vaccination program for cats and dogs on Tuesday, January 5th, 4-6pm and Tuesday, January 19th, 6-8pm at the Department of Public Works Garage. The DPW garage is located directly behind the Bergenfield Borough Hall at 198 North Washington Avenue. All dogs must be leashed and cats should be in an approved animal carrier for their safety.
Dogs and cats may be vaccinated as early as three months of age and MUST be revaccinated within one year after the animal's initial immunization. After that, the animal is required to be revaccinated every three years.
For your convenience, dog and cat licenses will be renewed at the rabies program as well. Licenses will NOT be issued if the rabies vaccination is due to expire in 2010. It will not harm the animal to vaccinate early.
If you miss the program Bergenfield contracts with the Bergen County Animal Shelter in Teterboro (201-229-4600) to give free rabies shots to dogs and cats.
With the arrival of fall and winter, the days are progressively getting shorter. As the daylight fades, street lights become an increasingly important source of light. Residents are requested to notify the police department at 201-387-4000 to report non-functioning street lights. The police department will then contact PSE&G to make the necessary repairs.
It is important to remember that PSE&G repairs street lights during the daylight hours, when the street lights are off. To assist PSE&G in identifying the defective street light in a quick and efficient manner, it is requested that when reporting a street light outage you provide the police department with the following information:
1) Exact PSE&G pole number. This is typically located on a metal band affixed to the pole, or stenciled onto the pole.
2) If there is no visible pole number, the closest street address (house number) and/or the closest intersection.
Please help us make the borough as safe as possible by reporting streetlight outages to the police department.
The Bergenfield Police Department Traffic Bureau would like to advise motorists that on or about October 15, 2009 the New Bridge Road Bridge, which is located between Windsor Road and Woodbine Street, will be closed for approximately four months to vehicular traffic. A foot bridge will be erected to allow for pedestrian traffic. Lieutenant Madalone will be working closely with the construction company to open the roadway to vehicular traffic as quickly as possible.
According to Captain Thomas Yurkin, this County project must be completed as the culvert is failing and needs immediate attention. Detour signs will be erected in order for motorists to navigate through the area. The detour route will increase traffic on S. Washington Avenue, Woodbine Street, Windsor Road, W. Clinton Avenue, and S. Prospect Avenue, Yurkin added. Motorists have the choice of utilizing W. Clinton Avenue or the State Street Bridge in Teaneck in order to avoid the project location. Motorists should allow additional time when traveling in these areas of town. Local businesses on New Bridge Road will remain open as this project will not require roads to be closed affecting any businesses. Motorists will still be able to drive to a business on New Bridge Road, they just have to detour around the closed bridge.
Once completed, not only will the new bridge be a benefit, but the addition of an eastbound lane from Windsor Road to the entrance of Pathmark allowing motorists to travel directly into the Pathmark lot. The project also calls for new traffic signals at the intersection of New Bridge Road and Windsor Road, providing a safer intersection for pedestrians, Yurkin explained.
As more information is received regarding this road closure, the Borough website will be updated.
Motorists requiring any additional information should contact the Bergenfield Police Department Traffic Bureau at 201-387-4000 ext. 4008.
Welcome to the official web site of the Borough of Bergenfield, New Jersey. This site contains extensive information on the Borough of Bergenfield, NJ, in an easy-to-navigate format. If you are new to this site, or to the Internet in general, please review the tips below. If you still have trouble navigating the site, please feel free to contact the site administrator by
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Borough of Bergenfield
198 N. Washington Ave Bergenfield, NJ 07621 201-387-4055
As we approach the end of 2009, half way through our 2010 fiscal year budget, it seems appropriate to respond to some of the areas of concerns expressed recently by our residents. In no particular order these concerns center on the borough’s fiscal health, the recent property revaluation, borough spending, and the near term future due to the nationwide recession.
NORTHEAST [Quadrant 1]
The Borough of Bergenfield is auctioning off its surplus property online through GovDeals. Please 
With the arrival of fall and winter, the days are progressively getting shorter. As the daylight fades, street lights become an increasingly important source of light. Residents are requested to notify the police department at 201-387-4000 to report non-functioning street lights. The police department will then contact PSE&G to make the necessary repairs.
Welcome to the official web site of the Borough of Bergenfield, New Jersey. This site contains extensive information on the Borough of Bergenfield, NJ, in an easy-to-navigate format. If you are new to this site, or to the Internet in general, please review the tips below. If you still have trouble navigating the site, please feel free to contact the site administrator by
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
