Sine Die 2019

4-January-2019
  On Thursday-3-January the Bogota Borough Council held their annual Sine Die, and Reorganization meeting to start the New Year. The Sine Die is the last official meeting of the Borough Council from 2018. This allows for any unfinished business from the previous year. In the public comment session New Jersey State Senator Loretta Weinberg, and New Jersey State Assembly Members Valerie Huttle and Gordon Johnson presented Council Members Daniele Fede and Frank Miranda with Proclamations thanking them and recognizing their public service to the Borough of Bogota. The two out going Council members were also present plaques from Mayor Chris Kelemen and the Borough Council honouring their time on the Bogota Council. 
  After this meeting was adjourned  the Reorganization meeting was called into session. Mayor Kelemen thanked everyone in attendance, and said that this was the first Official Council Meeting during the 125th Anniversary of the Borough of Bogota. Then Consuelo Carpenter was given the oath of Office by  New Jersey State Senator Loretta Weinberg. After  Councilwoman Carpenter took her seat. Robert Robbins was swore in by  New Jersey State Assembly member Gordon Johnson.  Both new Council Members forgoed any speech and took their place on the dais. Mayor Kelemen welcome current and former elected offices to the meeting. Then Julie O'Brien  of the Women Empowered Democratic organization presented  Councilwoman Carpenter, and then  Councilwoman Mary Ellen Murphy certificates on being elected, as Women to public office in New Jersey. The last presentation was done by Bergen County Freeholder Tracy Zur to  Councilwoman Carpenter, and Councilman Robbins for being elected to the Borough Council. 
   The first order of Business was to elect Councilwoman Murphy as the next Council President.  Then the council voted on the consent agenda , which was passed by a unanimous vote. Some agenda items were then voted on separately. These were to fill the appointment of Professional Companies which will work for the Borough in 2019. When is it was time to vote on a Borough Engineer, and Architect one member of Council wish to know the reason why they were choose over other that  would possible charged less of a fee. Other Council Members explained the research they did on the Company's background. While others explained of being familiar with the company's past work. The new Engineer firm was approved by a unanimous vote. The  Architectural firm was approved by a 5-1 vote. Other appointment of Borough Professionals did not come up for a vote and those jobs need to be re-advertised.
   Mayor Kelemen then appoint Councilman Thomas Napolitano to the post of Police Commissioner.  Mayor Kelemen then swore in Officers of the Bogota Rescue Squad. He finally announced other appoints to various Committees and Boards for the coming year. Then the meeting was adjourned. 
   This marks the first Democratic majority on the Borough Council in 6 years. This Council will face the issue of maintaining the recent fiscal year without a raise in the Borough tax rate. Other issues facing the new Council is to oversee the expansion of the population of Bogota with the new River Club Development now under way. Refurbishing, or replacing the Bogota Recreational Center, and the Central Ave. Fire house used by Hose Company #2. Increasing the safety of the Resident, and School Age Students with  new technology combined with  the possibility of an increase the number of Uniformed Police Officers serving Bogota. All of this while maintaining fiscal responsibility and continue growth of Bogota entering in to it's 125th year since incorporation. 
    the next Bogota Borough Council meeting will  take place on Thursday -17-January.  At this meeting the Borough will official kick-off it's 125th Anniversary celebration. This will be held in the Senior Centre located on the second floor  of 375 Larch Ave. Bogota NJ starting at 7:30p . The Public is invited to attend.

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