Mayor's Address
January 1, 2020
The following is a report of the Borough events and activities of 2019 and a brief look forward to the New Year and 2020.
The Borough Council
The Borough Council members have met the year’s challenges with diplomacy and with the dignity that would be expected from such an experienced group. I applaud each of you for the contributions you have made on behalf of all the residents of Rumson and I extend my heartfelt thanks for your support and assistance throughout the past year.
In November, Council President Laura Atwell and Councilman Clay Kingsbery were each elected to a three-year Council term and I was elected to a new four-year term as mayor. On behalf of the Council members and myself, it is our honor and privilege to serve our community as your volunteer elected representatives and we appreciate your support.
Major Community Events
Rumson is a small, close-knit town with a big heart and a lot of spirit. There are numerous community events throughout the year that bring our residents together for fun and, often, to benefit a good cause. Some are sponsored by the Borough and others by independent entities, but all add to the feeling of community and togetherness long enjoyed by our residents. This past year we saw residents turn out for the Annual Rumson Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, the Annual Baseball Parade, the Memorial Day Parade and the Halloween Parade. In addition, we supported the Kelleher Triathlon and the Rumson Boat Race. We ended the year with our traditional Veteran’s Day and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies. We hope that you will keep an eye out for those events and join us in 2020.
Rumson EMS
The Rumson First Aid Squad has dozens of volunteer members, many of whom have completed the rigorous, 250-hour Emergency Medical Technician course. The Squad responded to over 400 calls in Rumson and assisting in neighboring communities. The residents of Rumson should take pride and comfort in knowing that their First Aid Squad is ready, 24-hours per day, to respond to every type of medical emergency. If you are interested in joining the Rumson EMS as a volunteer please see our website or drop by Borough Hall for more information.
Rumson Fire Department
The Rumson Fire Department responded to approximately 350 fire calls in the Borough and in surrounding towns. The Department is staffed solely by trained volunteer members. The Department was ably led by Fire Chief James Anderson and Assistant Fire Chief Robert Boyer. We also wish to thank all of the volunteer officers and membership that continue to support our Volunteer Borough Fire Department.
Volunteers are always needed and Borough residents are encouraged to apply and learn about how they can assist with the Borough’s First Aid and Fire Protection. Applications for both Department can be obtained at Borough Hall.
Rumson Police Department
The Rumson Police Department, led by Chief Scott Paterson, is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year to serve the Borough of Rumson. All officers of the Rumson Police Department each complete approximately 100 hours of training annually to sharpen their skills and stay up-to-date on the latest law enforcement tactics.
The department saw three retirements in 2019, Ron Vilardi, Peter Koenig and Kevin Gaynor. We thank them for their many years of service to our Borough. We also hired two new officers in 2019. Patrol Officers Stephanie Lehner and Donald Morse were hired this past summer and both have completed all required departmental training.
This year also saw the complete replacement of the Police Department’s radio systems. This important investment includes an upgrade in technology to a digital format system with greater area wide coverage.
Department of Public Works
The Department of Public Works does a fantastic job keeping our streets clear, our sewers flowing and our parks looking their best. They handle all kinds of work in all sorts of weather conditions. The Team, led by Mark Wellner, work hard year-round to address all different types of issues helping to keep Rumson looking its best.
The Borough’s often forgotten but vital sanitary sewer system requires around the clock care, service and maintenance. The Borough has approximately 75 miles of sewer pipe that sends household sewage to one of the eleven pumping stations in the Borough and then eventually to Monmouth Beach, where it is processed.
The Department of Public Works Toy Drive in early December was a great success. The Toy Drive brought in 740 toys, which were distributed to Family and Children’s Services and the Salvation Army in Red Bank and will benefit local children in need. Thanks to everyone for your generous gifts, and to our Public Works employees who donated their time to help.
Parks & Recreation
Rumson Recreation, led by Kevin Delia, offers over 25 programs annually enjoyed by more than 4800 residents of all ages. Activities include a variety of recreational youth sports and non-sports programming, summer camps, as well as featured family events and holiday parades. We continue to look for new programming and for ways to improve our recreational processes.
Rumson Rec utilizes over 300 volunteer coaches each year and provides volunteer opportunities for local teens and seniors. The Council and I would like to thank all our Rec volunteers for their time and devotion to the benefit of our children and our community. We would also like to thank our parents and participants for their support.
Maintaining the highest quality parks and recreational spaces is a high priority for the Borough. As such, grass playing fields are periodically closed for rest and maintenance and DPW is regularly checking our facilities to ensure maximum safety. As part of our on-going park maintenance, the Borough installed new basketball backboards in Victory Park and in Rogers Park. The total redesign of Piping Rock Park was also completed and was opened on a limited basis this past fall.
Construction & Engineering
The Borough of Rumson’s Construction and Engineering Offices are two of the best in Monmouth County. With the skilled fulltime and part-time staff, the Construction Office, led by Dennis Peras, oversees all the building projects within our Borough as well as in Little Silver and Fair Haven through a multi-town shared service agreement.
The Borough’s Engineering Office designs and manages projects such as roadway improvements, sidewalk and curb improvements, sewer upgrades and park projects. Engineer David Marks is also the Borough’s representative for many Monmouth County projects, including but not limited to, the two new bridges planned in our near future. Having the Engineering Office as part of the Borough staff has significantly reduced the cost and reliance on outside consulting firms.
Infrastructure Improvements
The Borough has continued its successful road improvement program with the paving of eleven Borough streets. A major part of this year’s Capital Improvement Program included the installation of new curbs, sidewalks, and handicap ramps on Lafayette Street, Church Street, and Hunt Street. That project also included the expansion of angled parking at Victory Park and improved one-way circulation on Lafayette and Hunt Streets.
The Borough is currently working to advance numerous infrastructure improvement projects in 2020. Through our diligence, the Borough has been awarded three NJ Department of Transportation grants for the installation of new curbs, sidewalks, and handicap ramps along River Road totaling nearly $1.2 Million. The Borough anticipates the first phase of that work to start in 2020 on East River Road between Bingham Avenue and Black Point Road. A schedule for the subsequent phases on West River Road will be announced as the plans are further developed.
In addition to Borough sponsored infrastructure projects, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders has authorized the final design stages of the Sea Bright-Rumson Bridge (S-32) Replacement. It is currently anticipated that construction on the new bridge structure will begin in 2021.
Borough Staff & Commission Volunteer Updates
We appreciate our Borough’s municipal staff, including the Borough Hall Staff, Department of Public Works and Police Department, which all continue to provide the best and most courteous service to our residents. Borough employees provide the high level of services our residents expect, as they work within the budget and regulatory constraints set forth by the State of New Jersey.
Personally, I would like to extend a special thank you to the Chairs and Members of all the various Committees, Commissions and Boards. Each of these volunteers give considerable amount of time attending meetings and reviewing issues important to our community. Their personal commitment and volunteerism is one of Rumson's most valuable assets and is greatly appreciated. Any resident interested in volunteering to help run our wonderful community should reach out at any time. We welcome your involvement.
Our Police Department and our volunteer Fire Department and First Aid Squad are to be commended for their unconditional commitment to the safety and welfare of our residents, addressing every emergency with courtesy and respect. We appreciate your service, thank you.
On behalf of all our Council Members and myself, I want to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year.
May God Bless us all and God Bless America.
Sincerely,
Joseph K. Hemphill, Mayor
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Rumson NJ 07760