Glen Rock Swears in Mayor, Council Members

The names echoed in Borough Hall's chambers Wednesday night were certainly familiar – you could tell by the neighborly applauds that accompanied the names as they left the lips of officials at the annual reorganization meeting.

Wednesday night's of Mayor Jon van Keuran and his council colleagues Art Pazan and Pamela Biggs was bookended by the numerous reappointments made to zoning and planning boards, environmental committees, senior committees, ethics committees, the library board and others.

Those are part of what makes Glen Rock a special town to live in, van Keuren said, a point punctuated by similar statements made by council counterparts.

Good feelings aside, there are challenges facing the council and its citizens as it forges through a new year.

In his first mayoral address of the year, van Keuren said the goal to find and develop new senior housing units will be key to checking off 2012 with success.

As , seniors often migrate south to more digestable bills and sunnier weather. Developing a is the top initiative in 2012, van Keuran said.

"I believe it is imperative that we firmly identify a location and create an overall plan for a structure and get the detailed planning well under way this year."

"There really is an ," added Carmine Nogara, who replaced Biggs as council president. "They're a great resource we don't want to lose."

Nogara, who added that keeping a keen eye on the municipal budget is critical for a successful future, said he was humbled to receive the title with so many bright minds seated beside him at the dais.

Van Keuren also cited the completion of the renovation of the Recycling Center on Doremus Avenue as a top intiative in 2012.

"I think that it is extremely important that we complete the in order to provide adewuate parking, safe access to fields and proper bathroom facilities for the kids who use the fields at the Faber complex."

Ultimately, Councilwoman Joan Orseck said, while there are often disagreements and differences of opinion on the , compromises are reached.

"I wish those in Washington could do as well in that regard," she said, as applauds followed.