Election ‘16: Incumbents win and look to the future

NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley voters returned all incumbent commissioners to office in the May 10 municipal elections. But there was a change in the office of mayor. With tradition dictating that the top vote-getter is the next Nutley mayor, Commissioner Joseph Scarpelli will serve in that post during the coming year. Scarpelli garnered 3,615 votes, followed by commissioners Alphonse Petracco, 3,265; Thomas Evans, 3,201; Mauro Tucci, 3,170; and Steven Rogers, 3,080. All commissioners will continue as directors of their previous departments. All positions are for four years. Below, each winner provided his comments on the election and the future.

Scarpelli
“We always have to be concerned with the tax dollar,” said Mayor Scarpelli, who is also the director of public works. “We’re discussing with Bloomfield for a joint project in water, for a shared service.”

Scarpelli will be entering his third term. During the last eight years, he said public works has reduced its work force by eight, replacing them with seasonal and part-time help. The department now employs 37 full-timer workers.

Speaking about recycling, he said the industry has changed.
“It actually pays to recycle commingled material,” Scarpelli said. “As long as I’m here, we won’t go single-stream. Residents get use to it. And at least we’re getting something back.”

He is very optimistic about his new responsibilities as mayor.
“I will do a great job as mayor,” he said. “We have an ongoing situation with Hofmann La Roche. I have experience with public works, the board of education, as a freeholder, on the board of trustees for Essex County College, and 31 years as a health care provider.”

Scarpelli is a chiropractor.
He hopes the La Roche property will become the site of a new medical school.
“It’s in the works,” he said.

The proposed medical school, he said, would take up 13 of the 128-acre tract site.
“I’m hoping that would provide tenants for buildings and redevelopment of the campus,” he said about the proposed school. “It’s something to be negotiated with Clifton. We have a good team of commissioners in place.”

Petracco
Petracco, the outgoing Nutley mayor, will continue as director of public safety and will be entering his third term. However, he said he would prefer leaving any discussion about the future for a later interview and wished to express his gratitude to the voters for returning him to office.

“I’m going to continue on the board of commissioners and I want to thank Nutley residents,” he said. “I will continue to represent the silent majority who struggle to keep families in town. I was honored to serve as mayor and Joe will have my support.”

Evans
Evans, beginning his fourth term, will continue as director of revenue and finance. The La Roche property was primary to him.

“I’ll continue to work with the state so that we receive the necessary aid as we transition the La Roche closure,” he said. “We’ll ensure the best outcome for Nutley and maximize what would be most most relevant to the beneficiaries and taxpayers.”
Evans said the beneficiaries of any proposed La Roche development are future generations of Nutley residents.

According to Evans, the township will receive $5.5 million this year. This funding is to assist the township with the loss of La Roche revenue and rising taxes.
“You just don’t make decisions in a vacuum, he said, “but for the next generation. I serve for the benefit of the public. I never forget that life changes.”

Evans thinks an important part of his work during his next term will be the La Roche tract.

“It’s not something that will happen in a week,” he said. It will be several years.”
Losing La Roche, he said, has made it necessary for Nutley elected official to have a long-term vision.
“Taxes are high enough without losing a major taxpayer,” he said. “The $5.5 million was not 100 percent but it was adequate. Tax support is important.”

Tucci
Tucci will continue as director of parks and public property. He is entering his fifth term and he was very proud of Nutley’s 110 acres of parks and the services they provide to residents.

He said he is looking into a dial-a-ride for senior citizens.
“The Red Cross pulled out of Nutley,” he said. “They provided it. Seniors came to me and they wanted it.”

Tucci said he would see if Nutley had an appropriate vehicle for the seniors.
“I’m sure we can free something,” he said. “I’m sure we have a van or a small bus in the parks department.”

According to Tucci, Nutley parks are filled with variety for children.
“You name it, we have it,” he said. There’s Camp Nutley, the Children’s Garden, Weird Science.”

The list went on.
But there was work and improvements to public properties to be done, too. Tucci said code enforcement facilities have to be brought up-to-date. He mentioned its air-conditioning as being antiquated. Also, portions of the exterior of the parks department building will be getting a coat of stucco. His department has 31 full-time employees.
“For the summer, we’ll be picking up 50 youngsters,” he said of additional help.

The rubberized track, at DeMuro Park, will be replaced, Tucci said. But overall, the park system remains outstanding with a greenway connecting each one.
On the recent campaign trail, Tucci said residents told him they were very satisfied with the parks.

“People were concerned with taxes,” he said. “Taxes are a function of the real estate market.”

Tucci served on the committee to repurpose the La Roche tract. He said the tract, once redeveloped, may be connected to the Nutley park system.

“It’s across from Nichols Park,” he said of the La Roche property. “There’s talk about taking down fencing and having a greenway and segue into the park. “I’m not a newcomer. This is my 17th year. We’re going to get one shot at this redevelopment.”
Regarding the commercial areas of town, Tucci said Nutley needs a better mix of businesses in the downtown area. And there are parking needs in the north and south ends of Nutley. The township purchased some property in the northern end with parking needs in mind rather than having a developer purchase the land.

Rogers
Rogers, the director of public affairs, will be entering his second and final term, he said.
“Since I believe in term limits, this will be my last term in the town of Nutley,” he said.
He said the drug problem in Nutley has to be addressed.

“I’m going to try to petition the state Department of Criminal Justice and develop a program to treat drug addiction as a mental illness,” he said.

Rogers said he would like to have the people who sell and manufacture drugs prosecuted under the Terrorist Act.

“It would strengthen our hand when dealing with them,” he said. “We can’t do that on a municipal level. “I’ve met with parents and people in the Justice Department. It’s a complicated matter.”

Rogers said he has never seen “an honest effort” to combat the drug problem.
“It’s costing Nutley millions of dollars over the years,” he said. “On the grassroots level, we have to address this. We can’t do it locally but I intend to bring this to a higher level.”
According to Rogers, the town has done a good job getting the word out to children that drugs are not a good thing. He said his effort to fight drugs will not cost Nutley residents one penny but it will cost time and effort.

Rogers also said it was time to consider finding housing for special-needs people. The housing, he said, would be integrated.

“When kids with special needs grow up,” he said, “they will need a place to live.”