YMCA Purchase, Future Of Wayne Police Department Highlight Mayor's Annual Address

WAYNE, NJ — Township Council members re-elected Jason DeStefano as their president, as Mayor Chris Vergano delivered his "state of the township" address last week to begin 2025.

It was the governing body's first meeting of the new year, and council members also welcomed Dave Citer as the new fire commissioner. There will also be an official change at Wayne Township Police Department on Feb. 1, when Deputy Chief Joe Rooney is sworn in as chief, and the town is also planning to hire a new police officer.

The mayor was positive in his speech, acknowledging the hard work of many employees and volunteers in the township.

"Things are well," Vergano said to open his address. "We have a great community, and I think we prove that every day of the week."

The mayor touched on the township's acquisition of the former YMCA building at 1 Pike Drive, and the ensuing "adventure" of running it as the Wayne Community Center. He said more than 2,000 people have signed up as members, and that staff are continually adding new programs to serve the community.

"It's dedicated not just to the people that are living in Wayne today, but to the residents of the future," he said. "And I think that's the important part."

And, with the temperature outside reading 21 degrees, Vergano recognized the volunteer firefighters and first aid squad members who respond to calls no matter the weather.

"The moment their tones go off, they're out there," he said, also thanking the 126 members of the Police Department who "do an unbelievable job each and every day."

To close his remarks, the mayor also thanked township employees for their hard work and dedication.

"Are we perfect? Absolutely not," he said. "But we certainly try our best, and we will continue to do that.”

In his speech, Vergano did not mention the number of residential developments that are planned or in progress around Wayne, nor about the next round of state-mandated affordable housing obligations, which will see thousands of new units built in the township in the coming years.