Dear Harrington Park Residents,
Hatred has no home in Harrington Park. For some time now, we have learned of the harrassment, intimindation and physical attacks on members of the Asian community in the United States. These events are appalling, unjustified and worrisome. They must stop immediately. To that end, the Mayor and Council of Harrington Park, on March 8, 2021, passed Resolution 2021-62 which condemms hate crimes against all Asian and Asian American Communities.
It is my hope that all residents of the Borough of Harrington Park, will join together in supporting our friends and relatives of the Asian community and put an end to these unjustified assaults. Many of us, because of our backgrounds, know, or have experienced, the harm prejudice can cause. Please join our efforts to keep hatred out of Harrington Park, as well as, eliminate it from th hearts and minds of all Americans.
Please see the complete Resolution 2021-62 below.
Thank you.
Paul A. Hoelscher
Mayor
Resolution
2021-62
Declaring Solidarity with the Asian and Asian-American Community
WHEREAS, hate crimes motivated by anti-Asian sentiment have jumped 1,900% in New York City in 2020 and almost 3,000 reports of anti-Asian discrimination between March 19 and December 31, 2020 have been recorded by the Stop AAPI Hate;
WHEREAS, racially-motivated assaults and harassment targeting of Asian and Asian-American seniors have dramatically increased, including the recent attack and subsequent tragic death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee in San Francisco on January 28, 2021;
WHEREAS, in response to the xenophobic and inflammatory rhetoric about COVID-19 President Joseph Biden issued an Executive Order on January 26, 2021 during the first week of his administration;
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Harrington Park unanimously resolved and declared racism as a public health crisis to the residents of Harrington Park and unanimously request to pass a resolution to support measures at the municipal and state level to combat the insidious and persistent impact of racism.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council to:
- Condemn and denounce racism, xenophobia and intolerance in all forms.
- Call on public officials in other municipalities and at the state level to condemn and denounce racism, xenophobia and intolerance in all forms and stand with us in solidarity with the Asian and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders communities.
- Continues to promote and advocate for equality and equity through all policies approved by the Mayor and Council.
- Recognize the dedication of Asian and Asian-American frontline medical workers, teachers, police and fire officers and essential workers. They along with their colleagues show up to work every day so that our society can still function. The strain of COVID is particularly heavy for Asian and Asian-American frontline and essential workers because they have been personally attacked for their ethnicity in the midst of providing their essential services to us.
- Continue to advocate locally and through the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, New Jersey Conference of Mayors and all other appropriate associations for relevant policies that improve health in communities of color.
- Support local, state, regional, and federal initiatives that advance efforts to dismantle systemic racism.
- Further work to solidify alliances and partnerships with other organizations that are confronting racism and encourage other local, state, regional and national entities to recognize racism as a public health crisis.
- Support community efforts to amplify community efforts to be anti-racist and to combat discrimination and xenophobia while engaging actively and authentically with communities of color wherever they live.
- Promote and support policies and resources that prioritize the health of all people, such as bystander intervention programs like https://www.ihollaback.org/bystanderintervention/.
- Encourage racial equity training among all community partners, vendors and contractors.
- Call upon Bergen County Executive Tedesco and the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders to declare racism as a public health crisis and to enact equity in all policies in the County of Bergen.
- Call upon Governor Murphy, State Senate President Sweeney, and State Assembly Speaker Coughlin to also declare racism as a public health crisis and to enact equity in all policies of the state of New Jersey.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Governor Murphy, Senate President Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Coughlin, Senator Weinberg, Assemblywoman Schepisi, Assemblyman Auth and Bergen County Executive Tedesco, for their review and potential action.
As your Mayor, I want to share with you what we are doing in preparation for any problems(s) that might develop in relation to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
On Friday, March 6, 2020, we held our first meeting to organize and develop a task force to deal with potential problems. The group consisted of members of Council, the Police Department, the Ambulance Corps, Board of Health, Recreation, and local education leaders. Our goal is to provide you with the best information available, as well as protecting our residents and first responders, who may have to assist or transport those affected.
The Bergen County Health Office has provided us with the following information:
While CORVID-19 is a new disease and there is still information not known about it, the risk of contracting it in the United States still remains low.
County Tool Kit:
https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/health-promotion/2019-novel-corona-virus
COVID-19: Information for Communities and the General Public
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_community.shtml
You can check back often as the County of Bergen and the State of New Jersey will update their websites on a regular basis.
Please be assured that every attempt will be made to provide you with more information, as it becomes available. If you have any questions, please direct them to the Borough Hall at 201-768-1700 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Task Force will be meeting once again this week to discuss the latest information that has been received through the County Board of Health.
Hopefully, conditions will improve and we can all get back to our normal lives.
Stay well,
Paul A. Hoelscher
Mayor
2021 Governing Body of the Borough of Harrington Park
Mayor Paul A. Hoelscher-(Center) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Councilmembers (L-R)
Councilman Gregory Evanella This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Councilman Allan Napolitano This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Councilwoman Diane Walker This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Councilwoman Joon Chung This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Councilman Jeffrey Brockman This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Councilman Jorden "Nick" Pedersen-Council President This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Harrington Park is governed by a Mayor and six (6) Council members elected for terms of four and three years, respectively.
All serve without pay or expenses.
The Mayor and Council generally meets the second and third Monday each month at this
time held through ZOOM and are posted on the MEETING SCHEDULE PAGE
All meetings are open to the public in compliance with New Jersey’s Sunshine Law.
During Council meetings citizens are given the opportunity to address the Mayor and Council
on proposed ordinances or any other issues of concern.
2021 Council Assignments:
Plan. Bd., BOA, Building, Fire and Ambulance Chair, Napolitano, Evanella, Walker
Police, Court, Personnel Handbook Chair, Evanella, Walker, Napolitano
DPW, Build & Grounds, Sanitation/Recycle. Chair, Walker, Napolitano, Evanella
Bd. of Health, Envir. Commiss. Chair Brockman, Pedersen, Chung
Finance, Admin. & Exec., Grants Chair, Pedersen, Chung, Brockman
Recreation, Liaison BOE, Public Info (website, soc. media, newsletter) Chair, Chung, Brockman, Pedersen
2021 DESIGNATED PROFESSIONALS FOR BOROUGH ASSIGNMENTS
(without competitive bids as authorized by NJSA 40A:11-1 et seq.)
Borough Auditor - Gary W. Higgins, CPA, RMA
Borough Attorney –John R. Dineen, Esq.
Special Police Counsel – Raymond Wiss, Esq.
Judge-Matthew Fierro, Esq.
Prosecutor – Siobhan Bailey, Esq.
Alternate Prosecutor-Laura Nunnink, Esq.
Public Defender – Robert C. Metzdorf, Esq.
Borough Engineer & Sewer Engineer - Michael J. Neglia, PE, LS, PP
Special Planning Consultant-Richard Preiss PP, Phillips Preiss Grygiel, LLC
Risk Manager – Brian H. Eifert, CPCU, AAI
Planning Board Attorney-Gail L. Price Esq., Price, Meese, Schulman & D’Arminio
Zoning Board of Adjustment-John Schettino, Esq.
Special Counsel (M&C) - Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A.
Special Counsel (Environmental)-Michael G. Luchkiw, Esq.
Minutes
Minutes from early 2016 and earlier are here
If you have any trouble with accessing information contained within this website, please contact the Borough Clerk’s Office at 201-768-1700 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
