Wayne - Issues
Putting Wayne Taxpayers First!
Under Mayor Vergano’s leadership:
- 44 full-time positions have been eliminated to cut costs
- Wayne holds strong bond ratings: “AAA” by Moody’s and “AA+” by S&P
- The municipal tax portion of your property tax bill is only 22% while Passaic County comprises 23% and the Board of Education controls 55% of your tax bill.
Keeping Wayne Safe
As Mayor, Vergano always has put public safety at the forefront of his administration. Under his leadership, Wayne has increased its police force to 126 uniformed police officers who all protect and serve Wayne and its residents. Working collectively, Mayor Vergano, the Township Council and the Board of Education established the School Resource Officer program which placed a sworn School Resource Officer in each of Wayne’s three middle schools and two public high schools. Vergano and the Township Council also worked with the Board of Education to hire Class III Special Officers to staff the Township’s elementary schools. Most recently, after the Board of Education threatened to revoke the program due to budgetary concerns, Mayor Vergano renegotiated the current contract with the Board and we were able to keep Wayne Police Officers in our schools.
Team Vergano also has been supportive of Wayne’s volunteer first responders. Council President DeStefano led the effort to fully fund the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP), which goes to benefit Wayne’s volunteer Firefighters and First Aid Squad members.
Preserving Open Space and Supporting our Youth and Seniors
Team Vergano is committed to making sure Wayne has the best parks and programs for our Township residents—especially our youth and seniors. Under Vergano’s leadership, major renovations and improvements have been made to the James Roe Memorial Town Pool, Toms Lake, Barbour Pond Park, Alps Road Fields and various playground improvements at parks around town. Last year, Mayor Vergano led the effort for the Township to purchase the former ‘Wayne YMCA’ facility and convert it to the Wayne Township Community Center—preserving the facility for recreational use for Wayne residents and future generations and prevent the property from seeing potential development.
Through coaching, Council President DeStefano, DeDio and Pietropaolo have close ties to various youth organizations in town such as the Wayne PAL, Wayne Boys and Girls Club, Wayne Little League and Packanack Lake Athletic Association and will continue to make sure there is a positive working relationship between Township and these important organizations.
Fighting State-Mandated Overdevelopment
Wayne Township Republicans have long been adversaries of New Jersey’s Mount Laurel Housing Doctrine. The quotas set forth by the state have put many New Jersey municipalities in impossible situations to meet unrealistic demands. Mayor Vergano, Council President DeStefano, DeDio and Pietropaolo all stand against the current state-mandated housing obligations and strongly advocate that the next Governor revisit the issue and come up with a new solution that does not overdevelop suburban New Jersey. Wayne along with surrounding towns like Pompton Lakes, Totowa, Little Falls, Lincoln Park, Montville and Parsippany are all facing similar problems with inclusionary developments. All you need to do is drive through these communities and you will see the State Mandated Overdevelopment.
Mayor Vergano, Township Republicans and Township Administration have done everything possible to lessen the impacts of the state’s demands. In Round Three of the Mount Laurel Housing Doctrine, Wayne used the strategy of a vacant land adjustment to drastically reduce its housing obligation from the state’s original number of 2,200 low-to-moderate income units to 528 units. To build the units, Wayne had to approve multiple new private housing developments to meet the state’s housing requirements. While the new developments bring additional units, none of these developments come at the cost of the Wayne taxpayers.
In Round Four of the Mount Laurel Housing Doctrine which runs from 2025-2035, the state of New Jersey determined that Wayne has to build an additional 1,000 low-to-moderate income units. Wayne will continue to utilize the strategy of the vacant land adjustment to lower the state’s number. To build the Round Four units, the Township will use vacant township owned property and partner with a developer to build a 100% low-to-moderate income housing development. This decision will help limit the total number of units needed to be built and lessen future potential development in town. The Round Four development will contain 10 units dedicated to developmentally disabled residents.
Chris, Jason, Donnie and Frank join the vast majority of residents concerned with all the development taken place in Wayne. The development comes strictly from the State of New Jersey’s demand to build low-and-moderate income housing. Team Vergano will always do everything in the Wayne’s power to preserve open space and stop the overdevelopment that is seen in just about every New Jersey suburban town.
Growing Wayne’s Economy and Bringing New Ratables to Town
Essential to Wayne’s economy is its commercial, industrial and small business communities. Not only do these businesses provide economic employment to our residents but they are also vital to stabilizing the municipal tax base. Mayor Vergano and the Township Council have worked tirelessly to bring new businesses to Wayne’s economy and keep Wayne’s commercial sector evolving with the times. Starting with the revitalization of the Willowbrook Mall and Wayne Town Center, new restaurants such as Fogo de Chao, PF Chang’s, Dave and Buster’s and Tommy’s Tavern & Tap have turned the area into one of the premier dining destinations in North Jersey. Additionally, new anchor stores like BJ’s, JC Penny, Cinemark, Costco and Dick’s Sporting Goods keep Willowbrook Mall and the Wayne Town Center growing and a major tax ratable for the Township.
In town, the Mayor, Council and Administration are determined to make sure our shopping centers are occupied and thriving. New improvements have been made to the Plaza Square Shopping Center which include a new Aldi’s Food Market, Five Below and Retro Fitness. Also, on Hamburg Turnpike the old Charlie Brown’s has been converted into a Chipotle and Spark Car Wash while the former Moore’s Funeral Home has been redesigned into The Yard Shopping Center featuring stores such as Crumbl Cookies and District Taco. Atlantic Health will also be building a facility on Berdan Ave keeping the former Corrado’s Market Center with a main anchor. New restaurants are in the process of being opened at the former Mother’s Ale House and Lakeside Restaurant and Bar while Gencarelli’s Bakery is opening a new Italian Market on Hamburg Turnpike. Wayne continues to offer a strong environment for small businesses to open and thrive.
Mayor Vergano and team, like many others in town, are also eagerly awaiting plans to redevelop the Preakness Shopping Center. Located in the heart of Wayne, the Preakness Shopping Center has the potential to be a premier destination for commerce, cuisine and leisure for residents. Recently, Mayor Vergano and the Township Council re-zoned the areas of the Preakness Shopping Center and Wayne Hills Mall to allow for mixed use developments, a move to entice potential developers to redevelop the area for a new town center. Team Vergano is committed to seeing this property designed in a way that benefits all of Wayne’s residents and community.
Important to growing Wayne’s economy is the diverse professional backgrounds of Team Vergano. Mayor Vergano has years of experiencing negotiating and attracting new businesses to Town. Council President DeStefano is a finance director and former planning board member, DeDio has worked in both municipal and state government and Pietropaolo is employed by one of the largest construction companies in the state—all brining important perspectives to Township government to help keep Wayne’s economy moving in the right direction.
Mitigating Flooding And Home Buy-Outs
Flooding along the Pompton and Passaic Rivers has always been an issue in Wayne. Mayor Vergano and the Republican Township Council has taken significant steps to reduce the effects of flooding in Wayne. Since 2008, Wayne has purchased, using federal and state grants over 300 homes in flood prone areas of town. Not only has this measure removed residents from dangerous areas but it has allowed the areas around the rivers go back to their natural condition and limit water runoff.
In 2023, Mayor Vergano and the Republicans on the Township Council voted to designated over 113 acres of flood hazard land near the West Belt Plaza and Route 23 for open space. Building on this land is now prohibited, allowing the land to stay in its natural condition and prevents new development occurring in flood prone areas. Team Vergano is committed to mitigating the effects of flooding in Wayne.
Accessibility and Community Engagement
Team Vergano prides itself on public accessibility and community involvement. For the past 17 years as Mayor, Vergano has held office hours on Tuesday nights to meet and address the concerns of Township residents. All residents are encouraged to reach out to his office and set up an appointment if needed. Mayor Vergano has also been a proud supporter of Wayne’s great community, attending events for just about every organization in town. As Mayor, Vergano has performed hundreds of weddings for town residents, attended countless Eagle Scout Court of Honors and was a former member of the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad. There is no bigger supporter of Wayne’s community than Mayor Vergano.
Council President DeStefano is also a dedicated community leader. As Council President, DeStefano led the effort to add the Council Agendas to “WayneAlert” which brought further transparency to the council by alerting residents when new agendas become available. Jason is also an active coach in the community coaching his three boys in football, baseball and basketball and serves on the board of Foundabilities and Vice President of Wayne UNICO.
Donnie DeDio is passionate about Wayne’s youth and has spent the last 11 years coaching basketball at the Wayne PAL and Wayne Boys and Girls Club. Donnie has coaching over 200 children in town and is now coaching high school basketball at Wayne Hills. DeDio currently serves as member of the Wayne PAL Board of Trustees and was the PAL’s President in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, DeDio is a Commissioner on the Township’s Zoning Board of Adjustment and an active member in Wayne UNICO.
Pietropaolo is also an active member of Wayne’s community, volunteering hundreds of hours of his time supporting numerous Wayne organizations. Frank was active at the Wayne PAL and the Packanack Lake Athletic Association for many years, coaching softball, football, basketball, and lacrosse and assists with the Wayne Valley Football Booster Club. Basketball and Lacrosse Booster Clubs. In 2022, he was awarded the Wayne PAL’s Chief Award, which is presented to the organization’s volunteer of the year. Pietropaolo was appointed to the Township’s Zoning Board of Adjustment in 2019 and currently serves as the board’s Vice Chair.