Full Notification

Mayor Bill Ziegler’s Monthly Status Report: June, 2026
 
There is quite a bit of news to update you about this past month…
 
Bulk Trash Pilot Deemed a Success; Monthly Schedule to Become Permanent
The results are now in and, by every meaningful measure, we can confidently say the DPW's bulk trash pickup pilot was a success.
After reviewing the data, recommendations from our Department of Public Works, and input from the DPW Committee chaired by Councilmember Diane Scarangella, the Mayor and Council unanimously endorsed a permanent move to a once-per-month bulk trash pickup schedule on the 2nd Thursday of the month.

Why?

Simply put, the program saved money, improved efficiency, reduced abuse of the system, and allowed our DPW to redirect valuable time toward other priorities.

By moving from two bulk trash pickups per household per month to one, we saved and redeployed approximately 144 DPW man-hours each month to other important operational needs. We also saw a dramatic reduction in improper set-outs, including a noticeable decrease in contractor and construction debris being left at the curb, helping to reduce disposal costs borne by taxpayers.

Most notably, bulk trash tonnage declined by an impressive 61.4%. Overall tipping fees fell by 6%, despite a 16% increase in regular household garbage tonnage. Part of that increase appears attributable to residents properly placing items in regular garbage that had previously been mixed into bulk trash collections.

Equally important, after some understandable initial concerns regarding the change, resident feedback and concerns stabilized fairly quickly following additional outreach and public education efforts.

One of the reasons we intentionally scheduled the pilot during the first half of the year was so we would have sufficient data and time for any permanent decision to be reflected in the next community calendar. All updated pickup dates will therefore appear in the upcoming calendar mailed to residents.   Please note that the next bulk trash pickup (and the only one for June) will be Thursday June 11. 

For those interested in reviewing the results firsthand, HERE is the video of the DPW presentation to the Mayor and Council, and HERE are the accompanying slides. If you would like to revisit some of my earlier updates describing what we intended to measure during the pilot, you can find those HERE.

And for those of you who really enjoy digging into the details, HERE is the portion of the Mayor and Council meeting covering the presentation and discussion regarding how best to proceed moving forward.

Promise Church
The Promise Church application before the Planning Board, which ultimately was limited to three very specific and relatively minor variance requests, was formally approved at the Planning Board meeting on May 13th.  HERE is a link to several previous monthly status updates where the application and process were discussed in greater detail.

As many of you know, the issues that generated the greatest level of resident concern centered around potential flooding and stormwater management, traffic impacts, and the proposed removal of approximately 99 trees located in the rear portion of the property.
With respect to stormwater management and flooding concerns, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection approved the project’s stormwater management plan. Under New Jersey law, that determination is made at the state level and is not something the Borough of Leonia can overrule.

That said, there remains an important additional layer to the process. Because the adjacent CSX rail line may at times carry hazardous materials, Promise Church’s ability to proceed remains contingent upon receiving approval from all agencies with jurisdiction including CSX Railroad as required relating to potential excess run off at the southwest corner of the property near the railbed.  Promise Church is currently pursuing that sign off from CSX. 

Traffic circulation was another major topic of discussion throughout the hearings. Because Grand Avenue is a state highway (State Highway 93), the NJ Department of Transportation ultimately had jurisdiction over Grand Avenue and the overall traffic pattern.

Promise Church had asked NJDOT whether vehicles could continue using the site’s existing driveway on Grand Avenue for ingress and egress. Despite earlier representations suggesting vehicles might instead be required to exit through the signalized intersection at Grand Avenue and Moore Avenue by way of an interconnection to the Pool driveway, NJDOT ultimately advised that continued use of the existing driveway would be permitted for both entry and departure.

As a result, the application approved by the Planning Board does not include any interconnection between the Promise Church property and the Pool driveway leading to Grand and Moore Avenues. If that changes in the future, Promise Church would need to return to the Planning Board for an additional approval. Furthermore, any use of the Pool driveway itself would also require separate consideration by the Mayor and Council, which operates under a completely different legal and procedural framework than the Planning Board.

Time will tell whether any such future considerations become necessary.  

In the meantime, the Planning Board included a condition in its approval requiring vehicles exiting the Promise Church driveway to make right-hand turns only, similar to the existing traffic pattern at the Sylvan Park driveway exit. According to the expert testimony presented during the hearings, this restriction is expected to significantly improve safety while also allowing for a more efficient flow of departing vehicles.

As for the trees, I have explained previously that private property owners retain the legal right to remove trees located on their property. However, Leonia’s tree ordinance still applies, and Promise Church agreed, as a condition of Planning Board approval, to comply with all associated tree replacement fees and requirements.

We take our trees seriously in Leonia. Our tree canopy is one of the defining characteristics of the community and something residents care deeply about. If Promise Church proceeds with its proposed tree removal plan, it will be required to pay the graduated replacement fees established under Borough ordinance based upon the diameter of each tree removed. Those requirements apply equally to everyone.
Finally, in what I view as a positive gesture toward building a better “good neighbor” relationship with the community, Promise Church has offered use of the new facility’s gymnasium and other spaces to the Borough Recreation Commission upon request. Whether or not the Recreation Department ultimately utilizes the offer remains to be seen, but the gesture itself is appreciated.

My sincere thanks to all our neighbors who volunteer on the Planning Board for their due diligence and focussed attention during these 10 meetings and 20+ hours of testimony.  Special thanks to Chair Mike DeGidio for his effective leadership.  Their commitment to our community is clear and very much appreciated. 

Police Department Staffing
For some time now, we have operated the Leonia Police Department with a staffing cap of 20 sworn officers, not including our Special Law Enforcement officers.  As many of you know, this administration strongly believes in delivering value for the taxpayer dollar — but not at the expense of public safety and welfare when other alternatives are not available.

There is no question that police officers are expensive. Police officers are one of the largest and most important investments any municipality makes. Arguably, a department size of 20 officers is relatively lean compared to many Bergen County communities of similar population.  Maintaining the staffing level of 20 consistently over time has become increasingly challenging. 

The fact that we have not experienced any significant spike in criminal activity should not be viewed as a reason against adding a 21st officer. In many respects, it is a reflection of the outstanding work our officers have done while operating with lean staffing levels and continuing to do more with less. 

First, we have experienced a substantial number of retirements among more senior officers in recent years. That naturally creates a lag between the announcement of a retirement and the point at which a replacement officer is fully trained and operational. Assuming a newly hired officer must attend the Police Academy and then complete field training, the process can easily take upwards of nine months before they are ready to hit the street.

Second, the nature of police work itself presents staffing challenges. Law enforcement is dangerous work, and unfortunately injuries sustained in the line of duty are not uncommon. At present, one of our patrol sergeants remains out following injuries sustained during an arrest involving a violent suspect. I’m encouraged that the officer is recovering well and is expected to return to active duty soon, but situations like this further illustrate how difficult it can be to consistently maintain 20 active officers available for duty at all times.

After reviewing a recent presentation from the Chief of Police at the last Mayor and Council meeting, the governing body approved increasing the department’s staffing level from 20 to 21 officers. You can review the Chief’s presentation HERE.

While I remain mindful of the financial implications associated with adding another officer, we also identified an outstanding opportunity that may help offset a substantial portion (or all) of the incremental cost.

Specifically, adding a 21st officer may allow one of our more senior officers to participate in a federal law enforcement task force and investigation program. Under federal asset forfeiture rules, participating agencies may receive a share of proceeds recovered from criminal enterprises investigated through the program. Based on the experience of other communities, including Glen Rock, participation has in some cases generated revenues that exceeded the annual salary and benefits costs associated with the participating officer.

Of course, there are no guarantees regarding any future financial recovery, and strict federal rules govern how any recovered funds may be used. Nonetheless, this appears to be a thoughtful way to hedge our bets — potentially increasing police coverage and operational flexibility in Leonia while also creating the possibility of recovering a meaningful portion of the additional cost.

Participation in the program may also provide an important morale and professional development benefit by giving one of our officers the opportunity to broaden their law enforcement experience and perspective, ultimately benefiting both the officer and the Borough.
In any case, by moving to 21 officers we dramatically increase the odds we will have at least 20 available officers for active deployment in Leonia. 

I’m also pleased to share that we have successfully recruited an outstanding new bilingual officer to join the department, and I will have the privilege of swearing her in at the next Mayor and Council meeting.
 
Two new Senior Buses
You may already have seen one or both of our new senior citizen buses around town. These electric vehicles, like the gas-powered bus that preceded them, will help transport our seniors to grocery shopping, doctor appointments, and other important errands. Appointments for transportation can be arranged through the Senior Center by calling 201-305-0758, and the service is available to all residents age 55 and older.

What’s even better is that these two electric buses were acquired at no additional cost to local taxpayers thanks to a $250,000 federal government grant.

Our targeted grant strategy—focused on pursuing only the items we genuinely need while minimizing matching requirements and out-of-pocket costs—continues to produce positive results for the Borough. It is always gratifying to recapture some of the federal and state tax dollars our residents already pay and put them to work here in Leonia helping to ease pressure on local property taxes.

HERE s a photo of our two buses with Sean Krakower, Recreation Superintendent, Maggie Brown, Senior Coordinator and myself.  You will need a magnifying glass to see us but it’s more important you see the buses!  They look great and have received strong reviews from our senior community.

Leonia’s Memorial Day
I was pleased with the Leonia Memorial Day turnout for our Broad Avenue parade and the subsequent service which, given the weather conditions, was set up in front of the American Legion. 

Memorial Day is both a solemn occasion and a celebration–a rare pairing.  We gather as a community to mourn, to give thanks and, at the same time, to recognize the freedoms we enjoy because our veterans were willing to sacrifice everything.

42 Leonians sacrificed their lives during WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam.  42 men from this small town who never came home.  They sacrificed all so we could live in freedom, by protecting our Constitution, our democracy and our rule of law. 

Leonians fought shoulder to shoulder with their countrymen at Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima,   They were on the Bataan Death March, at the Chosin Reservoir and in the Tet Offensive. They all stood up for something larger than themselves. 

On the Highland Street side of ACS is a quote attributed to President Warren Harding which I passed every day as a student and says, “The strength and security of the nation rests in the intelligent body of its people”.  That idea matters just as much today as it did then.

Because democracy is not self sustaining.  It requires participation.  It requires awareness.  It requires us to think critically, to listen, to engage, and, yes,at times, to challenge ourselves.

In a world filled with noise and one sided media outlets, it is easy to retreat into what is familiar.  But the strength of this country has always come from an engaged and informed citizenry–people willing to listen, to learn, and to stand up for values that define us.  That, too, is part of honoring those who served. 

Because they did not fight for comfort.  They fought for the right to disagree.  For the right to think freely.  And for the right to govern themselves.  And that is a responsibility we all share.

So on Memorial Day and every day in between, as we remember the 42 Leonians who never came home– and all those who have served and are serving– let us do more than honor their memory.  Let us live in a way that justifies their sacrifice.  Let us carry forward not only our gratitude–but our commitment.  To this community.  To our country.  And to the ideals that make both worth defending. 

This was all part of my message during my Memorial Day speech this year along with a special tribute to the longest held POW in American history, Colonel Floyd W. Thompson, who I had the privilege to meet when I worked in Washington in my early 20’s.  I worked hard on this year’s speech with a very specific message in mind.  You can see my speech HERE. 

World Class Data Committee
Volunteerism is alive and well in Leonia.

That is very good news, because more and more residents are stepping forward to offer their skills, experience, and time in service to our community. In fact, over the past three years, we have successfully doubled volunteer participation across the municipality.

In my last update, I asked residents with a very specific skill set—data analytics expertise—to help us with a new traffic flow study designed to better understand and manage Leonia’s sometimes overwhelming traffic challenges.

Quite frankly, when I made that request, I was not entirely sure it was realistic. Data analytics is a highly specialized field, and I would not have been surprised if no one stepped forward.  

Instead, I was astonished by the response.

Within just two hours of sending out my May update, we had what can only be described as a world-class group of Leonia volunteers offer their help and expertise. Once again, I was reminded of the extraordinary depth of talent and experience that exists within this small community.

Perhaps I should not have been so surprised. After all, Leonia—a borough of just over 1 square mile—has produced five Nobel Prize winners over the years. That is more than some U.S. states.

Let me share just a few of the backgrounds of the individuals I recently appointed to the Data Committee under the leadership of former Councilman Scott Fisher. Among the volunteers are: a theoretical physicist with a PhD from Caltech who recently retired from Wall Street, a medical doctor, two software engineers, a PhD college professor, another PhD professor from Columbia University specializing in data science, and our Chair, who is himself a college professor holding two Master’s degrees and a PhD.

This is an extraordinarily accomplished group of volunteers, and I am deeply appreciative that they are willing to dedicate their time and expertise to helping Leonia (and all of us) address one of our most challenging issues.

I very much look forward to their work and recommendations.

Leonia’s T-Rex
Our Leonia dinosaur has received a Spring “refresher,” including a repair to one of his legs—all completed at no cost to Borough taxpayers thanks to the volunteer efforts of Guy Gsell. HERE are some recent photos, including one of Guy and me during one of the two days he generously volunteered to work on our T-Rex.

While I was there with Guy, it was wonderful to see how many families and children stopped by to take photos. The amount of community enthusiasm surrounding our T-Rex has been truly remarkable.

That enthusiasm continues to grow. One group of volunteers is now designing custom hats for the dinosaur. One of the first designs, in honor of our nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, will be a three-cornered colonial hat.

Even the children are getting involved in the project. HERE is a photo, shared with permission from the parents, of two young residents proudly holding one of the hat prototype designs. Their excitement and creativity are contagious.

I’m looking forward to seeing the first official hat placed on our T-Rex in the near future.

John Villareal's Retirement
One of Leonia’s silent heroes has retired.  After 44 years of service, John Villareal has stepped away from his job as our DPW Superintendent to enjoy retirement.  I know I speak for many of us when I say words cannot adequately express our thanks. John was always ‘all in’ on Leonia.  Three generations of the Villareal family served in our volunteer fire department with John serving approximately 20 years himself.  

John’s journey through the ranks of the DPW began shortly after high school and he worked his way up ultimately to become Superintendent for the last 12 years of his career.  His love for our little town showed in the pride he took in taking on resident requests and directing the activities of our DPW.   During his tenure our DPW was held in very high regard by our residents for all their excellent work in maintaining our parks, roads, garbage/recycling pick up, snow removal etc. etc.  John will be sorely missed and we all wish him a wonderful retirement.  He certainly deserves it.

At the Mayor and Council meeting on May 18, I presented John with the “key to the city” a rare honor I bestow on very few people.  HERE is the presentation at the Mayor and Council meeting.  The following week the Borough hosted a very well attended retirement dinner for John’s family and friends at Dante’s.  It was an outpouring of appreciation and love that reflected well on the guest of honor. 

Nixle Sign Up
More than a few people including myself were inexplicably bumped off Nixle text alerts.  Sometimes if texts are no longer coming in you might not notice their absence considering all the other texts, emails etc you probably still receive.  To sign up (or re-sign up as the case may be), please text 07605 to 888777, or CLICK HERE to provide your information.  Forward this to your friends and neighbors who are not on the Nixle.  It takes only a minute!  

Eversolar Update
For those who signed up for the Eversolar PSE&G electric credit program, you should finally be receiving credits in your latest bills.  I know I have and was pleasantly surprised to have gotten as much of a credit as I did.  HERE is some information on the program which I shared previously along with Frequently Asked Questions.  Should this program become available again, I urge you to seriously consider saving some money as it is a state administered program and there is no downside risk.

Business News
Kindred Yoga Studio is relocating to 271 Fort Lee Road, Suite 1 and will be open for business again fairly soon.  It is a charming space and will serve Leonians well.  Please check it out. 

As we turn our attention to June and begin to wrap up the school year, I wish everyone a great start to the summer.

In Closing
In addition to June being Pride Month which celebrates Leonia’s diversity while recognizing the ongoing pursuit of equal rights and freedom from discrimination (our Pride flags are now displayed along Broad Avenue), did you know that June is also Men’s Health Month?  The Leonia Board of Health has compiled helpful resources, wellness information, and local community events to support health and well being for all.   Click HERE for more details. 

Finally, we are using grant monies to repave Station Parkway from Fort Lee Road to Grand Avenue since the road was becoming increasingly treacherous.  That work began this week and will conclude next.  As there may be traffic disruptions there, please plan accordingly.

Kind regards,

Bill Ziegler
Leonia Mayor