I am pleased to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving and a festive holiday season and New Year.
I must first thank the voters of Demarest for returning Councilmen Tom Connolly and Brian Bernstein to the Borough Council for three more years. There is significant work to be done, and Tom and Brian have worked very hard with the rest of the Borough Council in a team effort to implement exciting new developments.
The impending new Public Works facility, Downtown Streetscape, road improvements, drainage program and Phase III of the Railroad Depot renovations are several such examples. Also, with the passage of the Municipal Library referendum, I have already begun the process of establishing a Library Board and transitioning from a private association to a municipal agency. This will allow for better service, expanded hours and more outside funding opportunities for the library.
I would like to thank Chief Al Bolduc and the Demarest Fire Department and John Crosman, Bob Miller and their men at the Department of Public Works for their work in stringing the lights on the Borough’s festive holiday tree. Congratulations are also in order as the Fire Department was honored as the outstanding department at the Northern Valley Chiefs’ Parade with the award of the Dell Trophy at the October 11 ceremony. I salute our volunteer firefighters on their consistently excellent efforts.
Congratulations are also due the Demarest Volunteer Ambulance Corps on its resurgence as the success in recruiting has resulted in nearly 100% response rates for most of this year. This rebirth is a testament to the spirit of volunteerism that makes our community great.
I would like to extend best wishes for happy and healthy holidays, and a happy New Year to each and every one of you. Finally, I invite you to join me on New Year’s Day at 12:00pm in the Borough Council chamber for the Annual Municipal Reorganization meeting. I look forward to seeing you there.
With warmest holiday greetings
from our family to yours,
I am,
MAYOR JIM CARROLL