Hoboken Hires County Freeholder Romano Part-Time

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HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken City Hall announced Friday that it has hired Hudson County Commissioner and former police captain Anthony Romano to be a part-time public safety advisor for $50,000 per year, and has also hired educator and former City Council candidate Nora Martinez DeBenedetto to coordinate constituent services full-time for $82,500.

Romano, whose county commissioner spot is considered part-time as well, was scheduled to start this past Saturday, Jan. 1.

“Anthony’s experience both as a former police captain at the Hoboken Police Department and as a dedicated public servant will be crucial to increasing community and public safety relations in Hoboken,” said Mayor Ravi Bhalla.

Bhalla said, “He has institutional knowledge of both the Police and Fire Departments
that is invaluable to the city and he will help us build upon the strength of our Police and Fire departments in the new year.”

The release said Romano will assist on matters including EMS Services, community public safety relations, personnel, identifying cost-savings measures, and more.

A year ago, two people protesting the county freeholders' renewal of an ICE contract with the county prison made police complaints about Romano, according to this NJ.com story, which links to the video from that night. City spokesperson Marilyn Baer said Friday that the complaints were dismissed.

Romano was an officer with the Hoboken Police Department for more than 30 years, rising to the rank of captain before his retirement,the city noted. As a county commissioner (the position known as freeholder until this past summer), Romano serves as the chair of the Board's Public Safety Committee, Personnel Committee, Economic Development and Housing Committee, and others.

Romano earned his bachelor’s in history at St. Peter’s University and a master’s in criminal justice from New Jersey City University. He also completed the Command and Leadership Program at West Point and teaches as an adjunct professor at Saint Peter’s University.

“Anthony Romano has a history of advocacy and a wealth of public safety knowledge that will be an asset to our departments,” said Hoboken Police Chief Daniel LoBue and Hoboken Fire Chief Anton Peskens jointly in the city's press release.

Constituent Services

The city's other new hire, DeBenedetto, will start her job Feb. 1.

She's currently an early childhood educator at Kaplan preschool and has worked for the city in summers coordinating the Art in the Park series, a popular toddler art program. The city noted that she is bilingual and a lifelong resident.

“As a vibrant and diverse city, we are constantly adapting to best meet the needs of our residents,” said Bhalla. “Nora has a long history of problem solving and volunteerism that makes her a perfect fit to work with residents across the city as the new head of the Office of Constituent Services ... I know she will do an outstanding job serving our residents.”

DeBenedetto ran as a Ward 2 council candidate in 2019 against sometime Bhalla critic Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher. She is also on the executive board of the Hoboken Democratic Committee, and her letter of support for Bhalla is featured on his website.

Despite having opposed her in an election, Fisher praised the choice. "We needed someone who knows Hoboken, and in particular how to support our most vulnerable neighbors," Fisher said. "Nora is a great fit and I look forward to working with her."

DeBenedetto is also a founding member and volunteer manager of the Hoboken Uptown Farmers Market, organized voter registration drives, and was part of the Hudson School Strategic Plan Committee, the city said. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Syracuse University and Master of Education from New Jersey City University.

The city said that DeBenedetto "will coordinate inquiries and requests with city departments and agencies on behalf of residents on topics including the handling counseling and referrals for social services, tenant assistance, and education, housing and employment inquiries, various quality-of-life issues, violations of city codes, and general questions regarding available city services."

City Abolished And Re-Started The Office

A City Council majority voted in 2020 to abolish the constituent services office, saying it was a cost-saving measure as Bhalla's administration announced impending layoffs for dozens of other city workers amid the pandemic. The measure was sponsored by Councilmen Ruben Ramos and Michael Russo. READ MORE: Hoboken Says It Will Lay Off 26 Workers

Three allies of Mayor Ravi Bhalla on the City Council responded at the time by saying that councilmembers Michael DeFusco, Ruben Ramos, Vanessa Falco, and Michael Russo "are leading the seemingly politically motivated charge" to eliminate the office. READ MORE: Hoboken Officials Exchange Barbs Over Layoffs And Personnel

But this past December, a majority of the council, now on the side of re-elected Mayor Ravi Bhalla, reinstated the position. Bhalla's office said in a release in December that they would start seeking resumes for the slot.

Last month, one council member pointed to the office — as well as Bhalla's recent $87,500 hire of outgoing Councilwoman Vanessa Falco to head a newly created Division of Housing — as a way for Bhalla to farm out his own duties to others so his aides "can focus 100 percent of their time on him." Bhalla is also "of counsel" with a law firm as he serves as mayor.

The city said that the office is needed, as during its almost two years of operation, it serviced approximately 2,500 requests from residents, assisted with 50 cases in coordination with the tenant advocate, oversaw 1,050 requests through the Hoboken 311 system, and sent more than 6,000 emails and correspondence on behalf of constituents.

READ MORE: What's Up At Hoboken City Hall? Council Votes On Raises And Bigger Campaign Donations

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This article originally appeared on the Hoboken Patch