Swearing In Means 'New Day in Bloomingdale,' Mayor Says

Bloomingdale Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy is confident that the future is bright for the borough.

He pledged, before a packed room of attendees at Tuesday's new council member swearing-in ceremony, that this will be the year the borough fulfills promises elected officials have made to their constituents.

"If the smile is big on my face, it's because it's a new day in Bloomingdale," Dunleavy said.

Newly elected Councilmen Rich Dellaripa and Mike Sondermeyer were sworn in Tuesday before a crowd full of relatives, friends and Bloomingdale constituents. Former mayors, borough professionals and other dignitaries were also present.

Before swearing in the new council members, Dunleavy told the audience that "we're not going to dwell on the past," but that the council would quickly take action to ensure Bloomingdale's future. He mentioned redevelopment on the Union Avenue corridor and said the borough has already received commitments for funding to help see further development in that area of the borough come through.

More specifically he brought up the AvalonBay Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program that was rejected by the council's Republican majority last year and said the issue will immediately be revisited in 2013 at the Jan. 8 meeting.

"I just know it's going to be a great year," he said.

In their remarks, both new council members promised to do what is best for Bloomingdale always. Dellaripa thanked volunteers who helped him throughout the election process and the residents of Bloomingdale for putting their trust in him with their votes. He said that "things will be done correctly for the people of Bloomingdale."

Sondermeyer also said he will put his constituents first when making decisions.

"I was not raised to be a Democrat or a Republican. I was raised to be an independent thinker," he said.

Sondermeyer said the entire council is a team working toward the goal of doing what is right. He challenged his fellow council members to keep open communication on issues and to not think along party lines.

Councilwoman Linda Shortman thanked Sondermeyer for his remarks and said that it is not always easy to be a council member. While acknowledging that the members may not agree on issues, she promised to restore respect to council dialogue and interaction.

"When we disagree, we will go back to being respectful of one another," she said.

Dunleavy also acknowledged that there will be times not all council members, or himself, will agree, but said that he is still optimistic about the borough's future.

"I just know it's going to be a good year," he said.