On Thursday, Oct. 12, former Board of Education President Linda Van-Dupree and her husband, Rashad (John) Dupree, dressed to impress at Mayor Tony Vauss’ third annual Mayor’s Ball at Nanina’s in Belleville.
IRVINGTON, NJ — Mayor Tony Vauss hosted his third annual Mayor’s Ball at Nanina’s In the Park restaurant in Belleville on Thursday, Oct. 13, and said he’s focused and ready to get back to the day-to-day business of making Irvington cleaner and safer. Since he did not host a ball in 2014, the black tie event was Vauss’ third ball during his four years in office.
After starting another job as the general supervisor of Hillside’s Department of Public Works on Tuesday, Sept. 5, Vauss resigned Wednesday, Sept. 20, in a letter to Mayor Angela Garretson.
“It is with great sadness that I tender my resignation from the position of general supervisor of Public Works for the township of Hillside,” said Vauss in the letter. “It was my intention to bring my 20-plus years of experience in government and apply it to the many concerns and needs of the Public Works Department. Unfortunately, my appointment in Hillside is not being measured by how we can work together to improve Public Works, but rather, this appointment has become a distraction from the hard work of the staff and your administration. I will continue to support you, regardless of my title, and look forward to how we can continue to collaborate, as mayors of our respective townships.”
Garretson did not respond to requests for comment about Vauss’ resignation.
Vauss was eager to discuss Irvington’s homicide figures.
“This is all thanks to the extraordinary job that (Public Safety Division) Director (Tracy) Bowers and the Public Safety Division, including former police Director Joseph Santiago, have done,” said Vauss on Tuesday, Oct. 17. “This was the second summer in a row that we’ve had zero homicides. Nobody has gotten killed during the summer. What it means is that we are doing the right things here in Irvington, keeping our community safe. Last year, we had historic numbers. This year, we’re on pace to do even better.”
Last year, township and county officials said Irvington only had four homicides, although the first wasn’t registered until May, followed by three more in October.
Irvington has had three homicides so far this year, which Vauss said is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the men and women in the Public Safety Department, particularly the Police Division.
“We can make our community what we want to make it today,” said Vauss on Monday, Sept. 11. “We don’t have to wait until tomorrow. Most people think that other communities are better than their own, but that’s not true.”
Bowers agreed.
“Yes, the summer plan was a success,” said Bowers on Tuesday, Sept. 12. “There were no homicides over the summer again this year. The officers, along with the administration’s support, worked really hard. The challenge is to finish out the rest of the year strong.”
Bowers said the goal is to build on the public safety gains the township has made during the last few years.
“Last year, we had a record low number of reported crime. Now, we are up against our own success,” said Bowers. “In November 2017 and January 2018, we are planning to add more police officers to the force to replace officers that have retired, as well as those officers who will be retiring in 2018 and 2019.”
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