Mahwah Township Council Candidate Profile: Janet Ariemma

MAHWAH, NJ — Candidates are set for the Mahwah Township Council race on the Nov. 8 ballot.

In anticipation, Patch sent questionnaires to each of the six candidates vying for the four open seats on the Township Council, asking them to share facts about themselves and why voters should choose them to represent the township.

Janet Ariemma looks to hold onto her seat against three other incumbents, one newcomer and a former councilman. She is running under the slogan "Lower Taxes and Stop Overdevelopment."

Here are Ariemma's responses:

Name:

My name is Janet Ariemma.

Town of Residence:

I am a lifelong Mahwah resident.

Position sought:

Township Council member

Party affiliation:

I am not affiliated with any political parties. My only loyalties are to You, the People of Mahwah.

Family:

I live with my son and daughter who are also lifelong residents and two young granddaughters who are now growing up in Mahwah too.

Education:

I have a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Ramapo College.

Occupation:

I am currently a mathematics professor at Rockland Community College.

Why are you running for this office?

I have been on the Town Council for eight years. I am running for re-election because I am passionate about Mahwah and want to continue working to make our town the best that it can be for everyone.

What do you feel is the most important issue facing constituents, and what do you intend to do to repair or resolve it?

I believe the most important issue facing constituents today is spiraling inflation. Many people are struggling and cannot afford any tax increases. I have worked hard for the last eight years to keep taxes low by advocating for a no-frills budget. I speak up and eliminate unnecessary perks and capital expenditures from the budget without affecting essential services. For example, I voted against the bonds (and plans) for the DPW building because the total price was approaching 40 million dollars and that was too much for Mahwah taxpayers to bear. I advocated for a redesign with a different architect which was eventually done, and the price was cut in half.

What differentiates you from other candidates?

What differentiates me from the other candidates is that I stand up for residents and will not give up fighting for them. I do not just ‘go along’ with everyone if I think we are doing the wrong thing.

What other issues or ideas do you feel deserve attention?

I think we are being overdeveloped. I am against uncontrolled development and would like to maintain the character of our neighborhoods and our small-town feel. I am against changes to our zoning ordinances that would alter the look and feel of our town. I want to specifically address warehousing in the master plan and zoning ordinances so that it is not permitted near schools or in residential neighborhoods.

I also want to control high-density housing especially in congestion prone areas such as the Crossroads. I am in favor of meeting our affordable housing obligations using partnerships with charitable organizations to build affordable housing in small, attractive, non-disruptive ways. For example, we built 100% affordable housing for seniors and the disabled across from Mahwah Bar and Grill. I also support the extension of affordability controls on rental units that are due to expire. This was done at both Norfolk Village and Ramapo Brae at no cost to Mahwah taxpayers.

Another issue that deserves attention is our drinking water. We have one well with elevated PFOS levels and need to prevent a similar situation at our other wells. Our water supply must be protected and kept pollution free. I helped pass the Wellhead Protection Ordinance which prevents developers from disturbing areas around our drinking water supply. I also worked to pass a resolution against unregulated pipelines running through Mahwah. These ordinances are first steps, but we need to do more. We need stricter groundwater protection ordinances. We need to start soil testing around our wells to find sources of contamination and clean up areas with toxins that are leaching into our water supply. And we need to put an end to illegal dumping in Mahwah.

Do you want to tell voters anything else about you or your positions?

Mahwah is Bergen County’s parkland. I would like to keep it that way by preserving and maintaining our parks, open spaces, trails, and woodlands. I have been a member of the Environmental Commission for eight years. I am currently working to help create a five-year plan for the planting and maintenance of trees on township properties.

I am the liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission helping to preserve and protect historic Mahwah properties.

I am also chair of the Transportation Committee addressing safety issues and congestion on our roadways.

I actively support our first responders and veterans, and I thank them for their service. I also support our seniors, township employees, and Scouts.

For more information about me, please visit my website: JANETARIEMMA.COM or visit my Facebook page: Ariemma for Mahwah Council.

Please remember to vote on November 8th. I ask for your vote in Column 2.