The Municipal Budget: The municipal budget will be introduced at the Regular Mayor and Council Meeting on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. It will be considered for adoption on Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. The Governing Body’s goal is to provide our residents with exemplary services while remaining within the state mandated 2% cap. Our municipal taxes remain low for Bergen County while we remain one of the very few towns to provide backdoor garbage and recycling service. Over the last five-year period, the average annual municipal budget increase has been 1.45 percent.
Each tax payment made to the Borough includes payment to the USR schools K – 8, Northern Highlands, the County of Bergen and the USR Library. The Borough has control over only 15% of your taxes. 70% goes to the schools, K-8 and Northern Highlands, 13% to the County and 2% to the Library.
Upper Saddle River is rated by Moody’s as Triple A – the highest rating possible. Tax collection is a major driving force behind this rating. The Borough had another record year of collections in 2019 with an expanded tax base. As a result of the Triple A rating, the interest rate has been very favorable in the financing of capital improvements. This is significant in light of the fact that the State of New Jersey has been downgraded 11 times during the same period. Financial stability will remain a major focus as we move forward.
DOT Grant Awarded for the Paving of Old Stone Church Road: The Governing Body is pleased to announce the Borough was awarded a NJ Department of Transportation (DOT) grant in the amount of $207,000.00 for the resurfacing of Old Stone Church Road. The work is expected to be done as a part of our annual resurfacing program over the summer months when traffic is lighter.
The Borough of Montvale began resurfacing their portion of Weiss Road in early April. The Borough of Upper Saddle River contracted to have the approximately 50 feet of roadway located in USR resurfaced as a part of their project. The remainder of Weiss Road located in USR was resurfaced in 2011 with a DOT grant.
Memorial Day: Our annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony will take place on Monday, May 27th. Parade participants should line up on Ripplewood Drive at 10:30 a.m. The parade will conclude in front of Borough Hall where there will be a tribute honoring our armed forces. Our keynote speaker will be Josh Greenberg, an ROTC Cadet who also serves in the Michigan National Guard. All USR veterans and those currently serving in the military are encouraged to march. Participating veterans who would like a ride along the parade route will be accommodated. After the ceremony everyone is invited to the USR Firehouse for hotdogs and cold drinks.
Each year at the Memorial Day ceremony, floral tributes honoring those who serve or have served our country, are presented by organization representatives. Please call Borough Clerk Rose Vido at 201-934-3963 or at boroclerkUSR@aol.com. Let us know if your organization will be making a presentation at this event or if you are a veteran or currently serving and would like to either march in the parade or be driven.
Upper Saddle River Turns 125 This Year: Congratulations to the winners of the USR 125th Anniversary Logo Contest!
Grand Prize Winner, Northern Highlands H.S.: Paola Cedeno
Reynolds School Winner: Reese Ford
Bogert School Winner: Canon Chui
Cavallini Middle School Winner: Aimee Lin
Northern Highlands H.S. Runner Up: Emily Bookstaver
All of the winners were acknowledged at the April 4, 2019 council meeting. Our finalist received an Apple Watch and the runners up received Amazon gift cards. The winning logo will be used on all promotional materials as the borough celebrates its 125th year. Thank you to all the participants.
2nd Quarter Taxes Due May 1st: The Tax Office wishes to remind residents that the second quarter 2019 taxes are due on or before May 1st. Upper Saddle River offers a ten-day grace period. If real estate taxes are not paid by May 11th, State law requires that interest is then due from May 1st to the date they are paid. Residents can pay taxes on line at www.usrtoday.org and can also access property tax information. Otherwise, the Borough accepts checks or money orders. For more information, please contact the Finance Office at 201-934-3965 or email cfo@usrtoday.org.
USR Clean Up Day – On Saturday, May 4, 2019, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the Upper Saddle River Recreation Commission will once again sponsor Town Wide Clean Up Day. Individuals, families, and organizations are encouraged to join in helping to keep Upper Saddle River beautiful. Check in at Lions Park anytime between 8am and 12pm. You will be assigned (or you can choose) an area in town to clean up. Areas include: Lions Park, Hess Park, and school grounds. Spend as much time as you are able. Gloves and trash bags will be provided, and coffee, juice, and doughnuts will help you get started. Help make this year’s Clean Up Day the best ever! Scouts, sports teams, and other youth groups are welcome. Please note that children must be supervised by an adult. Please contact Jon Silverman @ 201-236-0442 or e-mail jdsilverman@optonline.net with any questions.
Household Hazardous Waste: There will be a Household Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at Bergen County Campgaw Mountain Reservation, 200 Campgaw Road, Mahwah and Sunday June 23, 2019 at Bergen Community College, 400 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ. The collection hours are 9am-3pm rain or shine. Free of charge for Bergen county residents, ID required. Visit www.bcua.org for additional information.
Voter Registration: Tuesday, May 14, 2019 is the last day to register to vote in the June 4, 2019 Primary Election. Registration forms are currently available at the Borough Hall weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On May 14, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., registration forms are available at the Upper Saddle River Police Department which must be completed and left with the Dispatcher. Call Borough Clerk Rose Vido (201) 934-3963 if you have any questions. Note the following polling places:
District 1 & 2 – Cavallini School gymnasium
District 3 – Borough Hall
District 4 & 5 – Upper Saddle River Public Library (Powers Room)
USR Fishing Derby: The Upper Saddle Recreation Commission will again host the Annual Fishing Derby on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Liberty Park. The event will get underway at 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. All Upper Saddle River residents, ages 5 and over are invited to bring your poles and bait and enjoy a great time. Bucky Rehain will be hand to offer assistance to children during the derby. Bucky will walk around the pond and provide answers to many questions about various fish and wildlife issues. If you should have any questions, please contact Bucky Rehain at 201-825-3767 or Recreation Director, Ed Gartner at 201-327-3634 or USRRecreation@aol.com.
Adult Walk-In Health Clinic: Thursday, May 23, 2019 from 12:00 p.m.- 1:00 p.m. at Borough Hall. Services include a Health History Evaluation, Blood Pressure Measurement, Height and Weight, Individualized Counseling and Education, Referral and Follow-up and a Confidential Consultation with a Public Health Nurse. This is free of charge to adult USR residents on the 4th Thursday of each month through the Borough’s contract with the County of Bergen Health Department. For more information, please call 201-327-2196.
From the USR Police Department: Since the beginning of the year, the Upper Saddle River Police Department has been contacted approximately 10 times by citizens reporting violations associated with dogs. These violations include such things as dogs-at-large, excessive barking, dogs in the park, lost dogs, and humans /dogs bitten by other dogs. Not only are these types of incidents a violation of our local ordinances, but they also can bring about possible civil penalties and involvement of Animal Control authorities. To assist residents in learning about the Ordinances that pertain to dogs, I would urge you to visit the Borough of Upper Saddle River website and search Borough Code under the Quick links section. Chapter 46 is specifically related to Dogs.
Common violations seen by our Agency include:
46-8d – Any person owning or having in his or her custody a dog which shall run at large beyond the property of such person shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a penalty. Such action is declared to be a nuisance and dangerous to public health and safety.
46-8e – Leashing of dogs. Any dog not secured by a leash or not confined to its own property shall be considered running at large. No person owning or having the control, custody or possession of a dog shall permit such dog to run at large or to go or be upon the public streets, sidewalks or other public places within the Borough, unless the dog is on a leash with an overall length, including a handgrip, not exceeding six feet and is in the custody of some person or persons capable of controlling such dog.
46-8f – Disturbing the peace. No person shall own, keep, harbor or maintain any dog which shall disturb the neighborhood by excessive barking, howling or whining.
Please also remember to license your dog each year. Licensing is required under our Ordinance. Having a dog license will also assist the Police Department in identifying the owner, if your dog was to run away.
Police Department Accreditation: The Upper Saddle River Police Department is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of its’ program to achieve accreditation by verifying that it meets recognized professional best practices.
Administered by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with best practice standards in five basic areas: the administrative function, the personnel function, the operations function, the investigative function, and the arrestee/detainee function.
Agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments by calling (201)934-3979 on Monday April 29, 2019 between the hours of 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team. Email comments can be sent to the police department at police@usrpd.net.
Telephone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards. A copy of the standards is available for inspection at the Upper Saddle River Police Department, 368 West Saddle River Road Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. Please contact Lieutenant David Lally at 201-327-2700 for more information.
Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Upper Saddle River Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them by email to Harry J Delgado, Ed.S Accreditation Program Director, hdelgado@njsacop.org, or write to the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053.
The Woman’s Club of Upper Saddle River: Filling Birthday Bags for Emmanuel Cancer Center is an ongoing project. We donate unisex party bags which include a cake mix, a can of frosting, unisex birthday plates, cups and napkins for 6-12 people, candles, and balloons. For those who wish to donate to either cause, please contact Nona at nona.maher@gmail.com.
Our Club has grown to close to 70 members, and provides companionship, educational and fun events, as well as a way to give back to the community. Come join us! For membership information, contact Nancy at nancylst@optonline.net.
Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church:
Best Stuff Sale: Saturday, May 4, 2019, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Annual Best Stuff Sale will include small appliances, small furniture items, toys, games, jewelry, home goods, electronics, collectables and more all at fantastic bargains.
Free Senior Event – Gardening Seminar: Thursday, May 9, 2019, 11:00 a.m.
All seniors (65+) are welcome, free lunch served.
Saddle River Valley Lions Announce Annual Car Raffle: The Saddle River Valley Lion’s Club is presently selling raffle tickets for a 2019 Ford Mustang. (Black EcoBoost Coupe – Retail value $28,710)
Tickets are $10.00 each and the drawing will be held on June 1, 2019 at Lions Park at 10:00 p.m.
(You need not be present to win)
Proceeds will benefit Sight & Health-Related Charities and Community OrganizationsFor more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.srvlions.org, call 201-954-7601 or email murphmove@gmail.com.
Saddle River Valley Lions Club Annual Carnival:
May 28 – June 1, 2019 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Food, rides, games, fun for the whole family!
Hopper-Goetschius House Museum Events
Annual Northwest Bergen Coalition History Day
Saturday, May 4, 2019 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Learn about how the Lenape Indians helped the early European settlers. Try grinding corn in a stone mortar, taste suppaen in the out kitchen, and view our collection of artifacts. Children can make a “dream catcher” in the wood shed and listen to Native American stories in the schoolroom. The blacksmith will be at his forge and the house and barn will be open for tours and craft demonstrations.
Members & children are free; Non-members $5. Or you can buy a History Day ticket for $10 to tour 11 NW Bergen museums.
Art Show
Sunday, May 19, 2019 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Come enjoy a day viewing the works of local artists. If you would like to participate, please email mlesznik2@gmail.com. The show is open to local artists who would like to exhibit paintings, photography, sculpture, pottery, silver work and woodcarving. Come join us for a delightful afternoon in May.
JCO Lemonade Stand/Food Truck Event: Please join the JCO of Northern Bergen County for their 4th Annual Lemonade Stand and Food Truck Fest on Thursday, May 9, 2019 from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Lions Park. All proceeds will benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for pediatric cancer research, and other local charities. Enjoy tasty treats from Carmelo’s Brick Oven Pizza, the Empanada Lady and More. There will be a DJ and kids’ activities and admission is free!
USRPTO Plant Sale: Hanging Baskets, Combo Potted Plants and full flats of flowers; order by May 1, 2019. Flower pick-up is Friday, May 10, 2019 from the grassy field of Bogert School, 391 West Saddle River Road. Any questions, please email despi.619@gmail.com
Brush Pick-up Instructions: Municipal brush pick-up will run every other week through October 31, 2019. Brush must be tied and in manageable bundles so that a single man can lift it over his shoulders into the truck. Bundles should be no longer than five feet in length. Email any questions to dpwf@usrtoday.org
Sincerely,
Joanne L. Minichetti, Mayor – jminichetti@usrtoday.org
Roger DeBerardine, Council President – rdeberardine@usrtoday.org
Steven DiMartino- sdimartino@usrtoday.org
Jon Ditkoff – jditkoff@usrtoday.org
Vincent Durante – vdurante@usrtoday.org
Joanne Florio – jflorio@usrtoday.org
Douglas Rotella – drotella@usrtoday.org