Mondello Seeks to Strengthen Master Plan, Upgrade Fields

The following is the second in our eight-part series of council candidate profiles for the Nov. 8 election. Each day, Tri-Boro Patch will bring you a new profile so that you know who you can vote for and what issues they are most concerned with. On election day, we will bring all of the profiles together for you in one article so you can make an informed decision.

In Kinnelon, two incumbent councilmen are running unopposed. This is a profile story of one of them.

Kinnelon Councilman Ron Mondello said he hopes to spend the next 45 years, "with a little luck and help from God," in Kinnelon.

Having relatives who have lived on Powderhorn Drive for years and after moving to the borough in 2005, Mondello said Kinnelon is home and it's where he plans to stay.

There is a lot Mondello loves about Kinnelon, namely "the friendly residents, the old fashioned, caring nature of our community, the breathtaking views, the schools, the numerous sports activities and the precious lakes and open space." But even with all that, the councilman feels there is room for improvement.

He is campaigning to make Kinnelon even better than he believes it already is as he runs for his second full term on the council. Part of this includes pushing the mayor and council to improve transparency and communication through various channels, such as television, Internet and on paper.

"I hope communication will bring greater understanding of town government, the decisions they make and the impact they have and will ultimately bring greater community involvement," he said.

Another priority of Mondello's is to upgrade recreational fields, although he acknowledged that this comes at a price that some residents may have a hard time swallowing.

"We are all choking. Our breath is being cut off from the nose and the throat. Everything from extreme gas prices to preposterous property taxes threaten our community's diversity. My heart especially goes out to the seniors and those folks on a fixed income. How can they continue to be a part of this community when finances are forcing them to leave?," he asked. "We can't add one more tax burden. However, the fields are in dangerously poor shape. They need to be permanently improved. Children, parents and referees are getting injured. I have seen it. I am concerned for their safety and the borough's liability."

Mondello said he has seen other municipalities privately fund turf fields and that he would like to see Kinnelon try again to do the same.

"The key is a combination of private and public dollars for installation and maintenance," he said.

During his time on the council, Mondello said he is proud to have helped avoid increases in the municipal budget. He said he is also proud to have played an integral role in helping the . build a

One of the more urgent borough needs, in Mondello's opinion, is to bring the entire community together to chip away at the borough's master plan.

"I would like to see the master plan drafted in sync with residents, business owners and elected officials with the planning board quarterbacking," he said.  "There will be development projects presented in the future. Without an updated master plan, we cannot properly determine if they are good or bad for our community. "

Mondello, an attorney, is a previous Kinnelon Board of Adjustment member, parishioner at Our Lady of the Magnificat and coach. He lives in the borough with his wife, Kaity, daughter, Allessandra, 12, son, Nicholas, 9, mother-in-law Fu-Mei Jung Chiu and Dachsund Sparky, 3.