Message from Township Manager Dean Kazinci:

No Place for bigotry and hate in Teaneck

There is NO PLACE FOR BIGOTRY AND HATE IN TEANECK, or anywhere else in our society. The Township remains committed to making Teaneck a safe community. Although the tragedy in Minneapolis, Minnesota occurred hundreds of miles away, the impact is felt all over the nation and world, especially in the African America community. As a previous member of the law enforcement community, I know that those in this profession, especially our brave men and women at the Teaneck Police Department, work earnestly to serve our community with fairness and sincerity. However, we cannot permit or accept those who stain the profession and promote distrust amongst our communities. This type of conduct will not be tolerated.

The Township of Teaneck will continue to work with our partner stakeholders to ensure that we are policing with fairness, transparency, and dignity.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family of George Floyd and the citizens of Minnesota during this difficult time.

In Memoriam: Memorial Day In Teaneck (2020)

Every Memorial Day, we meet at the Municipal Green to honor those that have given the last full measure of devotion to our Country.

May we soon be able to resume honoring our fallen in person.  Until then, a digital observance is available below.

The observance is dedicated to Teaneck’s First Responders, the staff at Holy Name Hospital and all residents affected by coronavirus.

Please join Teaneck in watching our memorial day services via video below:

Even More Pedestrian Safety Improvements

Despite the pandemic, the Township has been able to upgrade pedestrian safety throughout Town.

Here’s a sample of the new crosswalk striping (now with a bit of color to help drivers and pedestrians) and LED signage on Sussex Rd. at Billington (near the Rt. 4 bus stop):

The following actions were taken (or scheduled to be taken):

Solar Powered Radar Signs (3 machines)

  • Palisade by Votee
  • Windsor Road
  • Sussex Road (Scheduled)

Safety Striping

  • Park Avenue
  • Sussex Road

Pedestrian LED Crossing Signs (11 sets)

  • Queen Anne and Edgemont
  • West Englewood and Jefferson
  • West Englewood and Pennington
  • West Englewood and Palisade Avenue
  • Glenwood Avenue by Little League Field
  • Cedar Lane and Grange
  • River Road and Terhune
  • Teaneck and Sackville (Scheduled)
  • Teaneck Road and Vandelinda (Scheduled)
  • Billington and Sussex (Scheduled)
  • Van Cortland and Intervale (Scheduled

Rapid Flashing Beacons (5 sets)

  • FDU Repaired and replaced batteries
  • Cedar Lane and Chadwick
  • Windsor Road (2 sets will be installed when new crosswalks completed)
  • Teaneck Road and Franklin (Scheduled)
  • Teaneck Road and Oakdene (Scheduled)
  • Location to be determined

More Pedestrian Flashing Beacons

Additional Rapid Flashing Beacons Added

Executive Order 142: Non-Essential Services and Construction

Governor Murphy has issued Executive Order 142, which rolls back some of the previous measures that were put in place to halt the spread of COVID-19.

I’ve reviewed the order and compiled the list below.  This is not legal advice and I would strongly suggest anyone operating a business to review the rule in its entirety and seek legal guidance before changing any operations.

As the rate of infection decreases, the following changes take effect:

  1. Constructions projects not designated as essential may resume (subject to restrictions)
  2. Some vehicular based gatherings are permitted (subject to social distancing restrictions).
    1. Leaving your home to participate in such a gathering is no longer a violation of Executive Order.
  3. Certain Recreational and Entertainment events are now permitted (subject to social distancing restrictions).
  4. Non-essential retail businesses are permitted to reopen to the public, but only where they adopt specific policies as outlined in section 9.
    1. Curbside pickup only
    2. Limited employees required to effect curbside pickup
    3. Emphasis on contactless payments
    4. Arrangements for scheduling are encouraged
    5. Employees will place goods in vehicles
    6. Mall businesses can operate with curbside pickup (subject to social distancing restrictions)

The order tasks the State Director of Emergency Management with discretion to make additions, amendments, clarifications, exceptions, and exclusions to the terms in the order.

Municipalities are prohibited from any contrary rules.

Executive Order 142 Nonessential Contrcution Curbside Pickup Gatherings in Cars

A New Council

Unofficial Results, pending certification for the May, 12, 2020 municipal election:

Congratulations  to everyone that ran and I look forward to working with the new council on July 1st.

Pagan 5,115
Schwartz 5,089
Orgen 5,076
Belcher 4,750
Gerzsberg 4,657
Walser 4,618

Who will be on Council?

Teaneck’s municipal government operated under the Council-Manager form of the Faulkner Act.

We (residents) elect seven members to a council and they choose a manager who is tasked with the day-to-day operation of the Municipality.

Since 1988, Teaneck residents go to the polls in staggered council elections in even numbered years to choose members who serve 4-year terms.

This week, 3 of the 7 council seats were up, and in two years, the remaining 4 will be voted on by residents.

After each election, the newly constituted group will meet on July 1st at a “Re-Organization Meeting” to determine a Mayor and other positions.

Each of the 7 members of council represent everyone in the municipality.

[As one of your representatives, I will do my best to respond with information to any inquiries received]

Click here for contact Info for current council-members

Who will be Mayor/Deputy Mayor?  Does it go to the person with the highest vote tally?

Not necessarily. Continue reading “A New Council”

More Pedestrian Flashing Beacons

As mentioned a couple week ago, the Township has been working on several safety projects.  In addition to the installation of Pedestrian Flashing beacons on West Englewood Avenue in the area of Jefferson Street and traffic calming measures, such as the striping of Sussex and Garrison Avenues, we have now installed Pedestrian Flashing Beacons on West Englewood Avenue in the area of Pennington Road.

You can see the new systems below.

The council and manager are committed to ensuring that appropriate safety precautions are made in various areas of the Municipality.

If you have any recommendations, please feel free to reach out and we can ask the Teaneck Police Department Traffic Bureau to investigate the possibility

Continue reading “More Pedestrian Flashing Beacons”

Law is hard

When one starts to review laws, either on a local or state basis, the complexity factor is readily apparent.  There are many layers, tweaked over the decades (and sometimes centuries) which make legal counsel a requirement, even to understand what otherwise look like simple words.

Take this example:

“The commission shall consist of not less than five nor more than seven members, appointed by the mayor of the municipality…”

Source: NJSA 40:56A-1

Who does the appointing?

  1. The Mayor, Mohammed Hameeduddin
  2. The Council
  3. The Manager, Dean Kazinci

If you answered, the Mayor, you probably aren’t alone.  But you’d be wrong. Continue reading “Law is hard”

COVID-19 Testing – May 11th

All testing will be performed by Sunrise Diagnostic Laboratory between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. To enter the testing site, take North Umberland Road and follow the service road which parallels the river. Signs will be posted.
All testing performed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be for Township employees, TVAC, and staff from FDU. You must have a physicians referral (prescription) to be tested. To schedule your screening, call 862-257-0718 or send email to covid19testing@sunrisegoc.com. You can also visit the portal at https://sunrisediagnosticlab.com/covid-19-testing/.
Please bring your physician’s order (prescription), your ID, and insurance card at the time of testing. All major insurances are accpeted, including Medicaid, Medicare and cash. See attachments for additional information including “Frequently Asked Questions.”
Starting Monday, May 11th, testing will be open to all Teaneck residents.