Full Notification

Redevelopment Plan:
On Monday night October 20th, the governing body passed the ordinance adopting Leonia’s Redevelopment Plan. 
 
We are now as a borough in a position to take the next, right steps in our redevelopment journey.  HERE is a video clip from the last Mayor and Council meeting.  Attached HERE is a link of my signing the adoption of our redevelopment plan into law as passed by the Council. 
 
This milestone is the culmination of the hard work of many people in our borough family.  My thanks to our volunteer friends and neighbors who stepped forward to work on the various boards, commissions and committees that formulated our plan.  My thanks to the members of the governing body who freely gave their time and the public who either shared their views in writing or attended one of the three town halls we sponsored to collect feedback.  And my thanks to our professional staff including Marisa Mesropian, Borough Administrator, Kendra Lelie, professional planner and Jeff Surenian, housing attorney.
 
Redevelopment and revitalization are our #1 strategic priorities.  With the eventual introduction of light rail on the western most side of Leonia (yes, I do believe this will eventually still happen), we have a generational opportunity to define a future which diversifies our economic base with more mixed use development –commercial, retail and residential– to better balance the tax burden currently overwhelmingly borne by homeowners in Leonia.  And we have the opportunity to do this on our own terms while respecting and enhancing what has always made Leonia special.  HERE are a few links to important background information that showcases the plan and the elements which have gone into it.  The areas at Grand and Fort Lee Road, Fort Lee Road below Grand Avenue and all along the Willow Tree Road corridor are our initial focus. 
 
At this point, I anticipate that the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Redevelopment and Revitalization—particularly the Development Relations Subcommittee—will, with the redevelopment plan in hand, proactively approach qualified developers we would like to work with and who will have a clearer understanding of Leonia’s vision.  Stay tuned for more updates and information both in my future monthly status updates and on the Leonia Borough website at www.leonianj.gov.
 
Aerial Truck Update: 
The Leonia Volunteer Fire Department has determined that our aerial truck has about 4 years  of useful life left.  This was a most welcome development.  It means we can continue to get substantial additional value out of our earlier investment in an expensive piece of emergency equipment.  I’m confident the meticulous care our volunteers give to our fire department vehicles has greatly contributed to this desirable outcome. 
 
With this determination, we need not pursue further discussions with Englewood to potentially strike a shared service arrangement for aerial truck coverage.  I let Englewood officials know that we’ve put these talks on hold and will revisit them if necessary as we consider the best way to meet Leonia’s future aerial coverage needs.  In the meantime, we will also examine our finances with an eye towards saving some money now in case we decide to purchase this or other expensive capital equipment in the future.  Rather than pay for something all at once, perhaps we can put away what we need in increments for the future.  We will see what is possible. 
 
For those interested in learning more about some of the analysis which was undertaken while we assumed a more immediate aerial truck solution was necessary, please check HERE for additional information. 
 
We are Getting a T-Rex!! 
Last month, I shared that I had reached out to the Executive Director of the Overpeck Dinosaur Park, which is now closing, after several residents mentioned seeing some of the dinosaurs for sale online. I called Executive Director Guy Gsell to see if there was any chance one of these prehistoric creatures could find a new home in Leonia.
 
We had a great conversation about how much Leonia families have enjoyed visiting the Dinosaur Park over the years, and Guy expressed how much he appreciated the cooperation and support he’s received from our borough as a neighbor. He made no promises at first, but I remained hopeful—and after a few follow-up calls, I’m happy to share that everything has fallen nicely into place.
 
As it turns out, about 99% of the dinosaur collection was sold in one fell swoop to an institutional buyer. But Guy made special arrangements for one dinosaur to be donated to Leonia—and not just any dinosaur, but a T-Rex, perhaps the most recognizable and popular one of them all.
 
Before hanging up with Guy, I was reminded of a backyard project years ago when I bought tons of sandstone without ever thinking about how I’d get it home. I mention this because, while our DPW is excellent, moving a T-Rex isn’t exactly something they typically handle!  Fortunately, Guy graciously agreed to include delivery, since we’re “just down the road.”
 
The T-Rex will arrive in mid-November and will be installed on Station Parkway, opposite to the bottom of Maple Street. While we won’t have to worry about feeding the beast, we will need to install a small protective fence to prevent people—especially children—from touching or climbing on it, which could easily cause damage. Maintenance will be minimal and handled quarterly by the same expert who cared for the dinosaurs at the soon to close park.  The entire governing body is excited about this acquisition. 

A heartfelt thank-you to Guy Gsell and everyone at the Overpeck Dinosaur Park for their generosity and for helping Leonia preserve a bit of this local favorite’s legacy. I think this will be a fun and nostalgic addition to town that both children and adults will enjoy for years to come.  And while I know the T-Rex will be friendly, maybe it will scare away some of our George Washington Bridge traffic!

Sidewalk Compliance:
I’m pleased to report that 99.5+% of Leonia property owners are complying with their responsibilities to repair broken sidewalks. That’s a tremendous rate of cooperation and another indication of our strong community spirit, commitment and cooperation.  After all, we are all neighbors and we act accordingly.  I thank Leonians for stepping up and repairing your sidewalks to make them safer and more passable for all. 

• HERE is a link to our borough’s Sidewalk Repair Guide, which outlines simple, low-cost fixes you can often handle without hiring a contractor.  There is also a list of licensed and bonded contractors included for your convenience.  Many neighbors have coordinated their work and used the same contractor to receive a volume discount for adjacent or nearby work.

As I’ve said before, the Borough is happy to grant extensions when needed — you just have to request one. Our goal is not to make money from violations; it’s to ensure safety and walkability across Leonia.

If the borough receives no response and the repairs aren’t made by the deadline, a second notice will be issued — this one typically comes with a fine.  Sometimes, there is still a very reasonable explanation and that’s ok. The Borough will work with any cooperative homeowner to resolve the matter equitably.

For those who still don’t act despite receiving more notifications/fines, the final step is direct borough intervention. This means the Borough will hire a contractor directly, complete the work to borough standards, and then place the cost — along with accumulated fines — as a lien on the homeowner’s taxes.   To ensure this isn’t happening behind the scenes, the Mayor and Council will approve all such work by resolution at a public meeting. 

One property near ACS, with a long-neglected and hazardous stretch of sidewalk that forces elementary schoolchildren and parents with strollers into the street, is among that small number in active noncompliance. We can’t allow the rules to apply to some and not others. Safety must come first.

But let’s end on a positive note: the 99.5+% of Leonians who have repaired or are cooperating to repair their sidewalks deserve real credit. Your commitment makes our community safer, stronger, and more neighborly — and for that, I thank you.
 
New Mural at Willow Tree Road and Station Parkway:
At the last Mayor and Council meeting an area artist came before the Council having received the permission of the building owner at 117 Fort Lee Road (Northeast corner of Fort Lee Road and Willow Tree Road) to get the governing body’s blessing for a mural on the wall facing Kulite across Willow Tree Road. 
 
As a governing body, we were happy to endorse the project.  Please see HERE for a link to the presentation materials submitted by MariaTeresa Ortiz-Naretto at the meeting.  You will see design rendering on Slide 8.  Work has already started and involved no taxpayer dollars.  This was all privately funded.
 
Highwood Hills ANJEC Grant:
Our friends and neighbors on the Leonia Environmental Commission are doing tremendous work, and I want to offer special thanks to Chair Karen Marx and Councilman Christoph Hesterbrink, who successfully applied for and received a grant from ANJEC (the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions) and VEOLIA for Highwood Hills.  For those of you who may not know Highwood Hills, it is the thickly wooded area in the southeast corner of Leonia.  It is a dedicated open space nature preserve with several walking trails.
 
In the late 1970’s Highwood Hills was being considered for development as apartments.  Fortunately, the majority of the Mayor and Council at the time disabused that notion and kept it  as a natural wilderness with Green Acres protections.  If our development of the northeast section of town is any indication of what can happen when 100% residential development is undertaken (at least as it relates to increases in educational and municipal service costs), then we can thank our lucky stars we dodged that bullet with the notable support of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.  
 
We will be using this ANJEC grant to improve signage and add another path.  We invite you to enjoy these woods.  Dogs on leash are welcome.  The entrance is at the intersection of Paulin Blvd. and Highwood Avenue. 
 
We will be holding volunteer work days to spread wood chips on the paths and would appreciate any help we can get.  Please check out the Environmental Commission’s webpages on the Leonia Borough website at https://www.leonianj.gov/borough-government/boards-committees/environmental-commission.  There you will find a lot of information including how you can reduce waste and increase recycling.  We will be adding a Highwood Hills specific page soon.
 
If you want to volunteer for the next Highwood Hills project events, please click HERE.
 
Age Friendly survey and Employer certification:
Leonia has made a genuine commitment to helping seniors age in place comfortably.  We offer a wide range of outstanding senior services that are now available through the Recreation Commission programs at the Senior Center run by Maggie Browne. 
 
We also formed an Age Friendly Committee under the very capable leadership of Ellen Healy and Mary Gendron.  HERE is a link with additional information from an earlier update.
We are inviting residents who are 55 or older to complete the 2025 Age-Friendly Leonia Community Survey. Please share your thinking on what is needed to make Leonia an even better place to live and thrive.
The survey is offered in English, Korean and Spanish. It is voluntary, anonymous and takes 15 minutes to complete. There are 3 options for doing so (please complete it only once):
1.         Open your smartphone camera app and hover it over the QR code below. Click on the yellow oval when it appears. It will take you to the online survey on your phone.
2.         Click on the survey link on your laptop, tablet or phone and it will take you to the online survey: https://montclair.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_byDQTvHsh9sdmvQ
3.         Complete a paper survey at the Senior Center, Rec Center, or Library and place it in the collection box there.

The survey will be active until November 30, 2025. For questions, email Age-Friendly Leonia at [email protected] or call/text 917-340-1006.
As we continue to develop our Age-Friendly Leona initiative, we are also discussing the Certified Age Friendly Employer (CAFE) program which recognizes organizations committed to creating inclusive workplaces for employees aged 50 and older. More on that in a future update.

New ordinance to protect health and safety of our DPW workers:
Picking up garbage, trash, and recycling is tough work — and it gets even tougher when a single bin is packed to the brim and weighs more than 50 pounds. Oversized containers often lead to exactly that, making each lift a potential injury risk for our Department of Public Works team.

To help protect the health and safety of the workers who keep our town clean, we are limiting the size and weight of waste receptacles. The goal is simple: reduce the strain on our DPW personnel so they can continue doing their essential work safely and efficiently.

The good news is most residents won’t have to change a thing. The standard 32-gallon bin — already the most commonly used in town — keeps a single lift at or below the 50-pound limit. HERE is a photo of what a 32-gallon bin looks like for easy reference.
This change does not reduce the total amount of waste you can put curbside. If needed, simply divide larger loads into multiple 32-gallon bins rather than one oversized container that no longer complies with the updated ordinance.  Our hardworking DPW team will greatly appreciate your cooperation — and your lower-back-friendly bins!

Please note: This requirement does not apply to multifamily residential complexes or businesses that use waste containers already approved by our DPW. 

I attended the ACS Home and School fundraiser at Wood Park this past Saturday and there were lots of questions about this new ordinance mostly focussed on whether the larger bins could still be used for recycling.  They can.  Feel free to use any larger bins for recyclables.  Why?  Because the weight of recyclables in a larger bin typically will not exceed 50 lbs.  Hopefully, this will make it a bit easier for folks who have recently purchased larger bins to feel better about the new requirements. 

Celebrating Community-A Day and Night of Culture, Generosity, and Civic Pride:
Our fine library hosted a fundraiser at the new Municipal Center Building on Sunday evening September 19th and earlier in the afternoon MACORE sponsored a wonderful event. 

The library successfully raised about $15,000 in funds that will go toward their operations.  The evening featured the Leonia Chamber Musicians who played wonderfully and some silent auctions with gift cards and other goodies donated by Leonians to help in the effort.  My thanks  to the Fundraising Committee composed of Suzie Park, Susie Kim, Shabnam Tapia and Susan Boyd.  Everyone had a great time.

During this particularly challenging budget time, it is fantastic when we can supplement scarce tax dollars with privately raised funds.  This allows us to continue to operate much needed programs and relieves some of the stress on our taxpayers.  I specifically want to call out and commend Kulite for their generous donation of $7,500.  Kulite is our number one taxpayer in town and an exemplar of corporate social responsibility.  And thank you Ricardo Castiblanco, owner of Sin Contact Wines, and the rest of the donors who all stepped up and freely gave their time and money to this worthwhile cause. 

Earlier in the day, MACORE (the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Racial Equity led by Chair Owen Sheridan) sponsored an event also at the Municipal Center showcasing Leonian’s diverse talents and celebrating inclusion.  There was poetry reading, musicians, and singers.  I was incredibly impressed with  all who participated and urge you to take advantage of the opportunity to attend events like this in the future – they are great at showcasing what continues to make Leonia special and, occasionally, to raise money for good causes. 

Emergency Food Drive – Support Our Neighbors:
Due to the recent federal furlough, SNAP benefits were halted on November 1, affecting over 800,000 New Jersey residents — including 270 right here in Leonia. Nearly half affected are children, and many households include seniors, veterans, and residents with disabilities.

To help support our community, Leonia is partnering with the Leonia Scouts for an Emergency Food Drive as part of their annual “Scouting for Food” campaign.

The Scouts will be dropping off bags at your doorstep for pickup on Saturday, November 15, 9am to noon.  If you do not receive a bag, you may still contribute by dropping off on the 15th at the American Legion or at St. John’s Food Pantry.  Please consider donating.

Most-needed items: Soup · Beans · Canned vegetables · Cereal · Peanut butter & jelly, Pasta & sauce · Diapers · Toilet paper · Laundry detergent · Toiletries
(No clothing, please.)

Drop-off donations at St. John’s Food Pantry may be made in the rear parking lot at the blue door.  Weekdays: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.  Pick-up for those in need: Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.  This is an ongoing effort to serve our community. 
Thank you for helping us care for our neighbors in need.

Lights, Camera…Leonia!
Leonia has now received its official certification as a Film Ready community by the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission. This designation puts our borough on the radar for significantly more television and movie productions than we’ve hosted in the past.  HERE is our town’s certificate. 

The Mayor’s Advisory Committee on TV and Movie Productions, led by Chair Graham Alston, is already hard at work building marketing materials and populating a NJ website to showcase Leonia’s picturesque streets, charming neighborhoods, and unique venues to industry location scouts. HERE is a link listing the advisory committee members, all of whom are doing a great job keeping this initiative on track.

In the future, we expect to invite Leonia homeowners who believe their property could be a compelling film location to submit information for potential opportunities. You never know—you might soon find your property starring in its own close-up (and, of course, only with your permission and in exchange for a handsome fee).

Last year alone, $787 million was spent in New Jersey by film and TV productions. The recent Bruce Springsteen movie invested more than $1.3 million per day during over a month of production right here in our state. And it’s not just homeowners who benefit—local restaurants, shops, and service providers often see major boosts when a production set rolls into town for even a few days.

By earning this certification, our goal is to provide exciting economic opportunities to residents and businesses alike, while showcasing Leonia’s character and strengthening community pride.

Stay tuned for more information. And if someday you find yourself taking a creative detour around a film crew in town, you’ll know exactly why they chose to roll cameras in Leonia—there’s no place quite like it. ?✨

Be Aware: A new kind of scam is afoot…
None of us are immune from scammers.  The key is to remain incredibly vigilant, especially as scammers are becoming more sophisticated with their approach.  We are not nearly as likely these days to fall for the old Nigerian Prince routine so the scammers are upping their game to make their requests appear more realistic.

I want to bring your attention to a scammer who fraudulently represents himself as the Borough of Leonia.  Please know the Borough of Leonia does not take wire transfers with the exception of ACH payments which can be made from the tax portal.  If you receive an email requesting a wire transfer you should immediately be suspicious.  Should you receive this kind of communication, please drop by Borough Hall with a copy or or send a photo to [email protected].  We will immediately share this with the Police Department for a fraud investigation.

Unfortunately, a recent scammer absconded with thousands of dollars by pretending to represent our Planning Board in a recent transaction.  A criminal investigation is ongoing but the likelihood of recovering a wire transfer is very, very remote. 
Bottom line: Be careful.  When in doubt, double check.

Fast EV Chargers are coming:
Leonia has awarded a contract to Bergen Energy to install, maintain and manage some EV charging stations at the Beechwood and Elm Place lots.  Down the road, we will consider adding some stations in the library lot.

In exchange, Leonia will receive a guaranteed fee of $400 per space per month for each parking space we allocate.  We will start relatively small with 2 spaces in the Beechwood Lot  and two additional spaces in the Elm Street Lot.

These EV charging stations will have fast charging capability, meaning you can completely charge your electric vehicle in 30 minutes or less.  At Beechwood’s lot, we will replace the old Level 2 chargers which took up to 12 hours to charge a vehicle with these new chargers instead.

Why bother doing this?  Leonia benefits in several ways.  We offer drivers an opportunity to recharge their vehicles downtown and to do it quickly, perhaps while they are shopping or running errands.  If folks are passing through town (and we certainly have a fair number of those with GWB weekend traffic), they can charge their vehicles effortlessly and spend a few dollars at a local store or restaurant while they are waiting which helps our merchant community.  Plus we need Leonia to keep pace with change. Electric vehicles are here to stay so building some additional infrastructure around them is sensible. 

Survey Capability:
Surveys are a valuable tool to help your local government better understand public opinion and community sentiment. This is simply a test of a survey platform I expect to use more often as part of my status updates going forward.

To give it a try, please visit this link HERE. Once there, simply indicate “yes” or “no” to share whether you believe surveys can help me better assess how residents feel about specific issues. After selecting your response, just hit submit.

Let’s see how this works — and go from there.

Eversolar Community Solar Program:
Leonia is committed to helping residents enjoy the highest quality of life and to help save residents money while supporting green initiatives. 
 
The New Jersey Community Solar Energy Program, a statewide government initiative, offered us a unique opportunity to take advantage of a new program that allowed North Jersey residents who wanted to lower their electricity bills by investing in solar power the chance to do so.  With utility rates spiking this past summer, the governing body got behind this program and let our residents know about the opportunity.  HERE is a link to my previous status update with the details.  HERE is a link to a letter I sent all Leonians with an FAQ sheet. 
 
Nearly 200 Leonia households signed up quickly and will receive an approximate 45% discount in their electricity costs billed to them by PSE&G.  If you registered, you will begin to see the discounts applied to your PSE&G bill beginning in January, 2026.  The Borough also received a stipend for every Leonia household that signed up which helps us with our budget challenges in the short term. 
 
The response from Leonians was substantial and participation far exceeded expectations.  Eversolar, Leonia’s partner in this solar energy program, was surprised it reached its sign up capacity so quickly.  All expenses (including the mailer) were borne by Eversolar.  No Leonia tax dollars were expended in this effort.  Eversolar’s intent is to offer another opportunity to lock in a discount when another of their solar projects comes on line mid 2026.  At that time, Leonians will again be invited to sign up for the program. 
 
Please keep an eye out for additional information as that date approaches. 

Veterans Day Banners are now up:
Adorning Broad Avenue along the business district and in Wood Park, you can’t miss Leonia’s proud display of veterans banners—each one a tribute to the men and women who selflessly answered the call to serve.

Tuesday, November 11th is Veterans Day.  Please take a moment to thank a veteran for their service, especially those who served in foreign wars. These banners are deeply meaningful to our community and to the families who sponsored them in honor of loved ones. Our continued thanks go to Christian Choi, who made these banners his Eagle Scout project and who is now in his Plebe year at West Point Military Academy—a fitting continuation of his own commitment to service.

I feel a tremendous sense of pride each time I pass these banners—among them, that of John McCloy, a two-time Medal of Honor recipient, and banners honoring at least two of the three Tuskegee Airmen who called Leonia home.

Forty-one Leonians made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Their names are respectfully displayed on the War Memorial behind the Library—forty-one Leonians who never came home, who gave everything for our freedom, our democracy, and the Constitution.
Let us never forget their sacrifice, nor the ideals they fought to defend. As you walk through town and see these banners, may they continue to remind us of the courage, character, and commitment that is a big part of Leonia.

Treat Street:
To wrap up this update… my thanks to our Recreation Commission for hosting another hugely successful Treat Street Halloween extravaganza on Broad Avenue. The street was closed to traffic on Saturday, October 25th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and our community turned out in full force to enjoy it.
A special thank-you as well to our outstanding DPW, Police Department, and volunteer Fire Department for their support — events like this simply wouldn’t happen without their hard work and coordination.

It was a perfect fall morning, and hundreds of children (and plenty of parents) came out for the fun. HERE are a few photos from the day.  I suited up as Jinu, one of the Saja boys from K-Pop Demon Hunters. If you’re wondering how I suddenly became fluent in K-Pop fantasy characters — don’t worry, I had expert youth consultants guiding me!

I even watched the movie to prepare (homework can be fun), and I’ll admit it — I get why the kids love it. Highly entertaining, great music, and now I can say I’ve officially expanded my pop-culture horizons!

On that note, I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving holiday,