Council taps retired teacher to succeed Ejk
Razzano supports downtown revitalization, but not eminent domain
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

Anthony Razzano

SOUTH RIVER -- A retired school teacher is the newest addition to the Borough Council.

Anthony Razzano, who taught for 35 years in the borough's schools, was sworn in last week to fill the remainder of a term held by Democrat Linda Ejk, who resigned from the council earlier this month.

Council President David Sliker and Councilman Richard Reichenbach, both Democrats, voted in favor of appointing Razzano to the seat during the Sept. 18 meeting. Republican councilmen John Krenzel and Raymond Eppinger abstained from the vote.

Mayor Robert Szegeti said he is excited about Razzano joining the council.

"I know that he has long-standing roots in the borough, and the dedication that he had as a teacher in the school system was wonderful," Szegeti said. "I know he will use that same dedication on the council."

Razzano, who was already on the Democrats' ticket for two Borough Councils seats in the Nov. 7 election, grew up in the borough and graduated with the class of 1966 at South River High School, despite living with his family in Spotswood by that time.

After earning his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Jersey City State College, which is now New Jersey City University, Razzano taught in South River from 197 to 2005. He taught for most of those years at the middle school.

Razzano moved back to South River in 2000.

He told the Sentinel that his teaching experience showed him how to be patient and instilled an ability to roll with the punches.

"In the classroom, if something comes up, you have to handle it as a professional," Razzano said. "I can carry over that professionalism to the council and be able to handle anything that comes along, even if it is unexpected. I know the town exceptionally well. I have been involved in several committees with the school district."

One of those committees, which Razzano chairs, is for disaffected youths who are at risk of dropping out of school.

"There are a great deal of volunteers counseling students who are at risk," he said.

Razzano also coached sports teams at the high school.

"Leadership, organization and budgeting skills are what I can bring to the table for the council," Razzano said. He said he would like to see more parking in downtown South River and fewer empty stores.

Razzano's stepson, Devyn Osborne, was in Brooklyn at the time of last week's swearing-in, but his wife, Linda, and their 14-year-old daughter, Angela, and son Christopher, 33, attended.

"It was very nice," Razzano said. "One of the main reasons I decided to run to begin with was because I grew up in South River. The community has been good to me and I hope to give back to my town."

Despite his support for the idea of redevelopment, Razzano abstained from a vote on the issue at last week's meeting. The council voted to designate three areas in need of redevelopment - the vacant Eckerd drugstore on Main Street; the 3.3-acre Witty's Liquors site, Old Bridge Turnpike; and the old Lincoln School property, Prospect Street.

The council, which had defeated the same measure several weeks ago, wound up in a 2-2 tie on the issue last week, along party lines. Szegeti broke the tie, voting in favor of designating the areas as being in need of redevelopment.

Szegeti said that discussion of redevelopment was beneficial at the meeting.

"There was a lot of dialogue between the residents," Szegeti said, "and I think a lot of misconceptions were brought out. I believe now we are at the point that the plan is being developed and we can then have the redevelopment planner present his work."

Szegeti described redevelopment as a lengthy process, adding that the plan is not complete yet.

"We have been accused of having a secret plan or of not having a plan, but there are steps we must go through in the redevelopment process and we are at the point where there is a redevelopment plan being prepared and that will be brought out to the public and the boards. We are not trying to railroad anything through."

Razzano said he is in favor of the revitalization of downtown South River.

"Redevelopment is one avenue," Razzano said, "but there are several others to explore. I will not, by any circumstances, vote for eminent domain. I spoke to the mayor of South Amboy and I found out that they did their redevelopment without forcing eminent domain. Carteret is a better example. They did a much larger area and did not even have to go to condemnation or anything else. It can be done."

Razzano said the process of redevelopment is aided by the input of local merchants, community leaders and concerned residents .

"Maybe together, we can give the town a bit of a face-lift," he said. "I truly believe we can go forward in these areas without the use of eminent domain. If someone feels we need to use eminent domain, I will vote against it."