posted: March 8, 2010
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
As I begin my fourteenth year as a member of the Demarest Governing Body and my eighth year as Mayor, I cannot help feeling a bit of nostalgia. Although it has been a long time, it has passed very quickly. In the words of Yogi Berra, speaking of right field at the old Yankee Stadium, ‘It gets late early out there.’
With just the slightest shame, I feel compelled to highlight some of the accomplishments I am most proud of during my years representing our municipality. In no particular order:
I am proud to have saved the Borough over $100,000 by changing the health plan that covers our employees several years ago.
After years of neglect, we have been able to make significant improvements to culverts and drainage systems, in many cases at little or no cost to local taxpayers. The road paving program has been a good example of long term planning that will stand the Borough in good stead for years to come.
Over the din of naysayer's, we were able to successfully accomplish the dredging of the Duck Pond, saving significant costs in the $100,000s through intergovernmental cooperation and contractual agreements.
I am particularly proud of the accomplishments that were achieved through non-partisan cooperation in the best interest of the community, such as the South Street bridge and paving projects and the Shoreline Restoration at the Duck Pond. Mayor Ben Romeo from Cresskill and former Councilwoman Carole Cardinale, respectively, put partisan interests aside and worked with me to implement these improvements for the good of our communities.
Long awaited improvements to the downtown area and replacement of a dilapidated public works facility are coming to fruition. We received a substantial funding grant of approximately $450,000 to revitalize our downtown, for the benefit of our merchants and residents.
My critics are quick to point out my shortcomings. I never shied away from a fight for what I believe in, and I have no regrets for what I have helped accomplish for our community these past fourteen years. I look forward to continuing to serve you.
WITH WARMEST REGARDS, I AM,
MAYOR JIM CARROLL
Click on any of the messages below to read more messages from the Mayor.