November Candidates and Duplex Ordinance Nixed Top Weekly News

For the third straight year, Oradell's incumbent Republican council members will face an uncontested race as the Democratic party did not put forth any candidates for the June primary. In River Edge, only one Democrat filed to challenge two sitting councilmen.

River Edge Democrat Chairwoman Ellen Busteed is the lone candidate to face incumbent Councilmen Alphonse Bartelloni and Edward Mignone this fall. Sitting Oradell Republicans Garrie Murphy and Eric Shuler will both return to their respective seats on the Council this fall following an uncontested race

Park Avenue residents in River Edge are breathing easier now that the borough governing body has once again abandoned a proposed duplex ordinance.

The Mayor and Council had scheduled a public hearing on the conditional use zoning change for Monday night, but opted to forego the public hearing and kill the ordinance in the process. A public hearing was required prior to a vote and by not holding the hearing, the borough was effectively voting against moving forward.

Considered in "dire need" of replacement due to the current EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) single-ply rubber membrane failing, the  River Edge Library roof replacement project will now have a tentative autumn start date.

The estimated $250,000 project had to be pushed back to September as the actual funding would not be available to the borough until mid-June. Construction plans are expected to be completed this spring and bid out over the late spring/early summer months.

Having opened just before the Super Bowl, River Edge Pizza Kitchen on Kinderkamack Road recently celebrated its official ribbon cutting ceremony last week.

The historic "jewel of Oradell" may have sold for $100 at auction, but the Blauvelt Mansion still has a story to be told. Fred Wesley Wentworth was the architect of the Kimball C. Atwood mansion, now known as the Blauvelt Mansion. But little has been known about him – until now. 

Later this month, River Edge officials will approve the 2013 municipal budget with the lowest residentail tax increase for the past few years. The Mayor and Council held a public hearing on the budget Monday night but yielded zero questions from the packed Council Chambers at the time.

Nearly 40 applications were filed this week to launch new charter schools, including two in Bergen County, according to a report onNJSpotlight.com. 

The two Bergen schools are seeking permission to open in Bergenfield and Hackensack, the report said.  The proposed Edessa Charter School would draw students from New Milford, Dumont, Paramus, Bergenfield, River Edge and Oradell, according to the state education department. It would focus on 60 K-2 students, but was projected to grow to 120 K-5 students.   

Follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter or subscribe to our free daily newsletter.