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Residency Requirement Restored
December 4, 2006
Satisfied that the township has fulfilled its obligation to provide the community with a diverse police force, Saddle Brook officials moved recently to restore the community's residency requirement for new department hires. On November 24, the council voted unanimously to approve the residency requirement it suspended after the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) sued the township in 2000. "We met our obligation to the law, and I think this gives residents the opportunity to serve the township," said Mayor Louis D'Arminio. Six years ago, the NAACP sued Saddle Brook, and several other communities including Garfield and Lodi, looking to have their residency requirements dropped and have hiring opened to residents of other communities. The organization claimed that the residency requirement for police officers discriminated because Saddle Brook did not have a significant minority population. Since dropping the township's residency requirement, D'Arminio said, a number of minority officers have been hired, enough to foster an equal opportunity for all races. The mayor added that residency offered police recruits a familiarity of the community that could not be matched by a candidate living elsewhere. "They know the community, they know the needs of the township, they know the families," D'Arminio said. "They should have preference. It's an advantage of the township to have somebody from the township working for the township."
—07663Online Staff |
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Democrats Welcome Mazzer To Ranks
February 14, 2007
Saddle Brook Councilwoman Florence “Flo” Mazzer recently announced her change of political affiliation from Republican to Democrat, making the two-term councilwoman the fourth Republican to switch parties in less than a decade. “During recent years, I had the privilege of serving on the council with the Democratic majority,” Mazzer said in a written statement, citing the Democratic Party’s accomplishments in controlling spending, improving services and boosting community pride. “These are community-oriented leaders that have done a fantastic job for the township. I am 100 percent in agreement with their ideals and philosophy when it comes to governing the township, and am proud to register as a Democrat.” Mayor Louis D’Arminio said that he welcomed Mazzer’s change of party and looked forward to working with the entire governing body for the good of the township. “The Saddle Brook Democratic Party is not about politics, but about serving the township. We are the party of the people and we are open to all,” D’Arminio said. “We welcome Councilwoman Mazzer, and individuals like her who put our community first. Flo has done a fantastic job serving her constituents during the last six years, and we are proud to include her among our ranks.” As a Democrat, Mazzer joins Councilman Edward Kugler, D’Arminio and Councilman Joseph Setticase, all former Republicans who switched parties beginning in the late 1990’s. The only former Democrat to switch to the Republican Party was Councilman John Cook, who changed his affiliation after losing the Democratic mayoral primary to D’Arminio in 2002. —07663Online Staff |
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State Grades Township Schools On February 7, the NJ Department of Education released the 2006 School Report Cards. Generally, Long students fared the best of the township's public schools, exceeding the state median in all categories, and the county median in all categories but Science. The following table details how each township school performed in the major testing categories, compared to school districts in the county and state. Percentage of Students Passing Standardized Testing |