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Freeholders Steve Tanelli of North Arlington, Tracy Zur of Franklin Lakes, and Tom Sullivan of Montvale were all sworn in -- Tanelli and Zur for their second 3-year terms, and Sullivan for the one-year unexpired term remaining when County Executive Jim Tedesco left the board to run for the county's top office.
Sullivan filled Tedesco’s seat in 2015, as well.
Tanelli was elected freeholder chairman, and GOP Freeholder John Felice of River Edge was elected chairman pro tempore for the fourth year and made budget chairman.
Outgoing Chairwoman Joan Voss of Fort Lee complimented Felice on his budget skills, saying she didn’t believe him when he said last year that he’d complete the process in six days.
“We all get along like a family here, and we have great leadership,” said Voss. “John said he was going to do the budget in six days. He did it! And this year he says it’s going to be five.”
Freeholder Maura DiNicola, the other Republican on the board, agreed with Voss.
“I appreciate the spirit of cooperation and the dedication to the people of the county,” said DiNicola, from Franklin Lakes. “We don’t always agree, but we shouldn’t. Healthy debate is part of finding compromises.”
Zur cited the county police merger, building a special needs school in Paramus, and entering into “an unprecedented agreement with Rutgers Newark” as accomplishments during her first term.
The meeting was a magnet for political figures from northern New Jersey.
Attending were state Sen. Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck, former U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli, state Assemblyman Gordon Johnson of Englewood, state Sen. Robert Gordon of Fair Lawn, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto of Secaucus, former county counsel and federal judicial nominee Julien Xavier Neals and newly appointed Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal of Glen Rock, as well as various mayors and other elected municipal officials.
Democrat Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop also attended.
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