Letters to the Editor

Resident Writes Support for Council Incumbents

As Election Day nears, letters to the editor come in.

As you have been moving around our beautiful little borough either taking a stroll, on a bicycle or in your car, you probably have noticed quite a few lawn signs that read “Working for a better Chatham, Re-elect Len Resto and John Holman”; you might have asked yourself, who are these guys, and how are they working for a better Chatham? Both of these candidates have their own individual strong suits, and together they add strength of the Council. John Holman has been a champion of finding ways to contain costs while maintaining services that provide a high quality of life. Working together with neighboring elected officials, he has helped to makes more shared services a reality. John has found significant savings by facilitating Chatham …

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Boro Wins Silver Sustainable Jersey Certification

Chatham Borough became one of 10 towns certified as silver level sustainable town, thanks to the efforts of Cindy Steffens.

Chatham Borough Mayor Bruce Harris announced Monday that Sustainable Jersey has awarded the borough with Silver Certification for 2012. Harris was quick to credit Cindy Steffens with the credit the "significant achievement" of winning silver level certification. Steffens, who chairs the Green Initiatives Committee, was a "taskmaster," Harris said, who outlined all the projects and the work needed to win silver certification and made sure they all got done in time for the May 31 deadline. Only 10 towns were awarded silver level certification through Sustainable Jersey this year, Harris said. Councilman Len Resto said, "It was really a core group of six volunteers who made this happen," with Steffens taking the lead. "Other towns that got …

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Len Resto, Republican Candidate for Chatham Borough Council

Resto is currently serving his first term as a borough councilman.

Name : Mr. Leonard Resto, Jr. Also known as : Len Date of birth : 27 January 1954 Place of residence : 35 Center Street, Chatham, NJ 07928 Attended college : Yes College : New Jersey City University Degree : Bachelor of Arts- History & Secondary Education Year of graduation : June 1975 Job titles held: Director, Property & Casualty Insurance Employers: Federation of Jewish Philanthropies Service Corporation Party affiliation : Republican Running for a: Local office Running for position: Chatham Borough Council Chamber/district: Incumbent: Yes First elected: 06 November 2009 Previous elective offices : None before I ran for election in November, 2009 Unsuccessful bids for elective offices : None Address P.O. Box 112 Chatham, NJ 07928 Name…

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Chatham Election Guide

The candidates, incumbents and issues that will be affecting the Chathams and Morris County.

As we look ahead to November’s elections, Chatham Patch is devoted to bring you the information you need before you head to the polls. Here is our start: information on the races, the candidates and the issues we will cover as the general elections draw near. Bookmark this page for updates.

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Boro Council Creates Qualified Purchasing Agent

CFO Michael Mariniello appointed to the position.

The Chatham Borough Council passed an ordinance Monday creating a new position of qualified purchasing agent by a vote of 5-0. Councilman Gerald Helfrich was absent. By creating the position, the borough can avail itself of a higher bid threshold amount. The ordinance was passed without discussion by the council or comment from the public. A corresponding resolution appointing the borough's Chief Financial Officer, Michael Mariniello, to the role was also passed unanimously. Councilman Len Resto introduced the ordinance at the May 29 council meeting.  He said Mariniello "has experience doing this in other towns. His training and certifications will be able to get our threshold of bids increased from where it is now." Mariniello is …

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Boro Resident Dedicates Free Time to Young Job Seekers

In the midst of an economic downturn, Joe Finazzo helped start a networking group for 20-somethings.

In a conference room in the Library of the Chathams, a group of young professionals gather to get some job hunting tips from experts. Joe Finazzo and Judy Leane of Chatham Borough started the GenY Networking Group for young adults entering the work force during one of the hardest economic times in living memory. They came up with the idea in 2010 while discussing young people they knew who were unable to find work. "We started talking about networking meetings we were going to, and how there were no young people," Finazzo said. "We did feel there was  a niche for this demographic." The group caters to members of "Generation Y," that is, to people between the ages of 18 and 33. Chatham Borough Council Member Len Resto has gotten involved …

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Borough to Vote on Construction Recycling Law

Construction and demolition projects worth over $50,000 could be required to recycle 50 percent of their materials.

The Chatham Borough Council will vote on an ordinance Monday requiring mandatory recycling of materials from construction and demolition sites. If the ordinance passes, anyone conducting a construction and demolition project will be required to recycle at least 50 percent of the materials generated. This includes remodels, additions or alterations worth over $50,000 and excludes single-family and duplex residences. Councilman Len Resto said examples of recyclable material from construction sites would include "asphault, ... concrete, wood, any fixtures, metals, et cetera. ... "We're starting at 50 percent to see how that works," Resto said. "Most of the larger contractors are doing this already, so this shouldn't be a difficult thing for …

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Irene Costs to Borough Estimated at $117,497

Amount could go higher, depending on the final expense of the Days Creek sinkhole repair.

Chatham Borough Council members had numerous commendations for the employees and volunteers who worked throughout Hurricane Irene at Monday night's meeting. Administrator Robert Falzarano said estimates for overtime salaries, fuel, equipment, tree removal and road repair currently add up to $117,497. Approximately $35,000 of that amount is for the repair to the sinkhole over Days Creek off of Van Doren Avenue, which exposed a 14-inch water supply pipe and threatened the borough's water supply. This number, Falzarano said, is still "tentative" and could increase. "Our engineer, Vince DeNave, still has to firm up the cost for the repair to the culvert at [the bridge] and the water main shoring up," Falzarano said. "There was an extensive …

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More Than $6M in Bonds Approved for Sale

The borough's CFO and bond attorney hope to sell the bonds at a low interest rate.

The Chatham Borough bond attorney and CFO made a presentation before the governing body Monday night to outline the details of three resolutions approving the sale of more than $6 million in bonds. Steve Rogut, the borough's bond attorney, said interest rates at this time are very low, and that it makes sense to consolidate these bonds and sell them at a lower interest rate than they have currently. The total amount of the bonds will be $6,735,000. A resolution authorized $5,819,000 in general improvement bonds to go up for sale, and a second resolution authorized $916,000 in water utility bonds to be sold. The two resolutions "authorize each series of bonds that are outstanding," Rogut said. "They set forth what ordinances we're borrowing…

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Chathamites to Honor Late Lee Nordholm

A memorial service for the longtime resident, artist and volunteer will begin at 3 p.m in Summit.

A memorial service is being held Friday, May 20 at Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit for longtime Chatham resident Lee Nordholm, who passed away on April 14 after a short illness. Known for her tireless volunteering in many aspects of Chatham, Nordholm’s passion was the theatre. “The first thing she did when she moved to Chatham [in 1966] was to see if there was a theatre,” said Christina Nordholm, Lee’s daughter, who said Nordholm moved to Chatham from Ohio in 1966. Nordholm got involved with the Chatham Community Players right away, helping direct and produce children’s theatre productions.She was given the Dawler award for her longtime service to the Players. As a tribute to her, the Chatham Community Players will rename their annual …

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