Council organizes for the new year

By Daniel Jackovino, Staff Writer
Bloomfield’s first foreign-born and also its first Latino council members were sworn-in Monday during the fully Democratic council’s reorganization meeting. They were joined by a popular councilman who was elected to a second term without the support of his party and forced to run, off the slate, as an independent.
Lebanon-born Elias Chalet and Carlos Bernard took their oaths of office followed by incumbent Nicholas Joanow during the noon-hour ceremony. One-hundred and seventy people were in attendance for the meeting held in the council chambers.
Mayor Raymond McCarthy hailed the occasion as historic with the additions of the newcomers. A council term is three years.
“If anyone wants to know what diversity is all about, they need to look no further than this dais to see what democracy and diversity is,” McCarthy read from a text.
The mayor also offered congratulations to Joanow with whom he frequently butted heads.
“Your hard work was evident as the people responded to your tireless efforts and gave you their full support,” the mayor read. “I look forward to working with you.”
Chalet will represent the township’s centrally located 1st Ward, succeeding Janice Litterio who chose not to run for a fourth consecutive term. He was sworn-in by Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, D-Essex, who noted Chalet’s ascendancy as recognition by the community at large for the contributions Chalet has already made to Bloomfield.
Chalet is a local Realtor and property owner with numerous businesses in town. In return, Chalet thanked the assemblyman for being one of his greatest friends and supporters.
“Today is important because it will give me the opportunity to improve the livelihood of my town,” Chalet said, reading from a text.
He chose as an example of township cooperation the revitalization of Foley Field, which was a Board of Education initiative. He added future projects will include the downtown redevelopment and improvements along his ward’s section of Broad Street.
Chalet also struck a humorous note when he said he wanted to apologize to his sizable family for not being able to invite them all. It is common knowledge the Chalets comprise one of the biggest family groups in Bloomfield with some 300-strong members. Concluding, he thanked his wife Verna and his son, Justin.
“Without them, this would not have been possible,” he stated.
Joanow, who will represent the township’s northern-most 2nd Ward, was sworn-in by Democrat state Senator Ronald Rice. He held his seven-month-old granddaughter, Nicolina, as he took the oath. Rice told the councilman never to waver from his principles.
“You were elected off the party line,” Rice reminded Joanow. “So as long as you remain true to your constituency, I will support you.”
Joanow then thanked his constituency.
“You gave me the highest vote tally of anyone on the ballot,” he pointed out.
He added that honesty, ethical behavior and government transparency are important to residents and he would earn their trust on a daily basis. Also, as an elected official, he stated he would continue to save the township money by not subscribing to its health plan, a savings he estimated at $18,000 over his first term. He concluded by thanking his wife, Marlene, for being his greatest source of strength over 40 years of marriage and during 10 years of community commitment.
Bernard will serve Bloomfield’s southern-most 3rd Ward with its sizable Latino population and, regarding crime, its most troubled. It also has perhaps the township’s most transient population, as school district records show its student population is the town’s most transient. Bernard defeated one-term Robert Ruane in the primary. Ruane had not received his party’s endorsement, running as an independent. Bernard was sworn-in by Essex County Clerk Chris Durkin.
“I do this because I love people,” Bernard said.
He then remarked that for three years, the 3rd Ward wasn’t represented. This drew a hiss or two from the audience, perhaps since Ruane had been at the forefront of tenant grievances over the last year. Of Bloomfield’s 47,000 residents, 18,000 are tenants.
“I don’t write things down,” Bernard continued. “I speak from the heart. This job must be done from the heart. I’m here to work for you, not for you to work for me.”
He went on to thank the local Democrat Committee for its support.
In his address, McCarthy pointed out some of the accomplishments of the last year. They included the promotion of a new police chief in January which occurred after a bitter, nearly two-year battle over his predecessor’s tenure which has yet been fully litigated; the razing of a portion of downtown for a redevelopment project stalled for 10 years which is again being challenged in court, and the demolition of an industrial site between Belleville Avenue and the Third River for a residential development which has been criticized for being without adequate egress and in a flood zone.
But the address delivered some unquestioned truths, too.
The mayor noted that major crime was down 7 percent over the last year and nine firefighters and two police officers, all Bloomfield residents, were hired in 2010. He also thanked Health and Human Services Director Karen Lore and her staff for responding to the needs of 7,000 residents. He expressed gratitude to Municipal Clerk Louise Palagano for her staff’s work while being inundated with an election year’s OPRA requests.
The work of Paul Lasek’s Engineering Department was also mentioned for its in-house work as well as the efforts of Glenn Domenick, the director of community development, for moving several projects forward.
The mayor also noted the township’s observation of its bicentennial this year. He said the celebration’s events, unfolding over 10 months beginning in March, will show people how Bloomfield started and survived.
“I thank you all for your time today in beginning our third century together,” McCarthy said to conclude the reorganization. The new council then proceeded to a brief business agenda before adjourning.