North Haledon council confirms 2024 appointments, adopts temporary budget and routine contracts

Mayor Randy George administered oaths and opened the Borough of North Haledon’s Jan. 2 reorganization meeting, after which the council quickly moved through routine business including adoption of procedural rules, confirmation of mayoral appointments and adoption of a temporary budget schedule for 2024.

Council Member Bruce O. Iacobelli moved to adopt the Rules of Procedures and By‑Laws of the previous board; the motion carried on a roll call with all members voting in the affirmative. The public comment period was opened and closed without speakers.

The governing body concurred with an extensive list of mayoral appointments across municipal operations, including Michael P. De Marco as Borough Attorney, Stephen T. Boswell as Borough Engineer, Michael F. Kauker as Borough Planner, Jim Cerullo as Borough Auditor, John Meola as Municipal Judge and David C. Stanziale as Municipal Prosecutor. The council approved committee and board memberships (Planning Board, Board of Health, Library Trustees, and others) and multiple administrative posts including Municipal Clerk Renate Elatab and Deputy Borough Clerk Dena Cedar.

The council adopted a temporary 2024 budget schedule and line items on the consent agenda. The minutes show temporary appropriation line entries and totals; the record lists ‘Final Totals’ as $17,104,182.33 and $5,635,082.68 in the budget table presented to the council. A number of specific temporary allocations were read into the record, including Police S&W ($949,034.63 temporary) and other departmental items.

The meeting included approval of a set of professional services and operational contracts described in the agenda: Michael De Marco (Borough Attorney) — annual retainer $4,500 plus hourly for non‑retainer services and an NTE (not to exceed) cost estimate of $25,000 for non‑retainer work; Boswell Engineering (Borough Engineer) — NTE $99,000 (excluding capital projects); Wielkotz & Co (auditor) — NTE $50,000; Battaglia Associates (financial services) — NTE $43,200. The council also approved service contracts for pumping station operation (DeBlock Environmental Services, NTE $6,300) and wet well maintenance / emergency sewer repairs (All American Sewer Service, proprietary exception, NTE $38,700). Partner Engineering & Science was retained for a Right‑to‑Know/OSHA compliance survey (NTE $6,600). Tri‑State Technical Computer Services and Millenium Strategies were accepted for IT/back‑up and grant research/support (fees and limits noted in the agenda). Several contracts carried the caveat that certification of funds is contingent upon adoption of the 2024 municipal budget.

The council approved shared services agreements: Passaic County senior transportation (estimated annual cost not to exceed $5,500) and a shared services animal control agreement with the City of Paterson with a monthly fee of $1,000 (annual not to exceed $15,000, plus emergency overtime). A shared IT services agreement with the Northern Region Education Services Commission (NRESC) was also approved (annual fee $18,725).

Most motions on appointments, resolutions and contract acceptances passed by unanimous roll call. One recorded exception: when the council appointed Council Member Bruce O. Iacobelli as President of the Board of Council for 2024, Iacobelli abstained while other members voted in the affirmative; the motion nevertheless carried.

The council introduced two ordinances on first reading — an amendment to Chapter 194 (Alcoholic Beverages) adjusting hours of sale and a comprehensive salary ordinance setting 2024 pay ranges for municipal officers and employees — and scheduled final passage for Jan. 17, 2024.

The meeting closed after Judge John Meola administered oaths to employees in attendance and the council moved to adjourn at about 7:37 p.m.