Woodland Park mayor will resign to take job as Ridgewood's manager

The Ridgewood Council appointed Woodland Park Mayor Keith Kazmark as its next village manager on Wednesday night.

Following his appointment, Kazmark said he will resign his position as mayor effective July 9.

"One of the conditions is that they wanted me to be fully devoted to Ridgewood," Kazmark said.

Ridgewood officials said they are fortunate to get Kazmark.

"He is a dynamic individual who brings a long record of public service and a wealth of experience to the job," said Ridgewood Mayor Paul Vagianos.

Deputy Mayor Pamela Perron said the council "is very excited to have Keith come on board.  He has deep municipal  management  experience and is brimming with ideas."

Kazmark is expected to start the Ridgewood post on July 10 and earn a salary of $225,000, Village officials said. Once he takes the position, Kazmark will be back in the state's pension fund, where he has accrued about 18 years, he said.

"This is a great opportunity for me and my family," Kazmark said

More: Ridgewood's No Mow May helped 'environment to heal'

Kazmark took over Woodland Park's administrator's duties in September 2020 after longtime administrator Kevin Galland retired. He also worked as borough clerk and administrator in Elmwood Park, a position he was forced to resign from and later filed a whistleblower suit.

Kazmark said he was targeted and forced to resign in part because he alerted an election official to alleged irregularities in the 2017 Elmwood Park mayoral race, which was the center of a criminal election fraud case involving the ex-mayor.

Soon after he left the Elmwood Park job, Kazmark was hired as Parsippany's administrator.

During the pandemic, Woodland Park officials said the borough wasn't able to attract good candidates for the open administrator position and asked Kazmark to take it on.

Kazmark also served three terms as a council member before he was elected mayor in 2011.

Who will be the mayor of Woodland Park?

On July 9, the day Kazmark is scheduled to step down, Council President Tracy Kallert is expected to be sworn in as acting mayor. Kallert, who was first elected in 2013, said she has learned much about governing from Kazmark.

"She's definitely ready," Kazmark said. "I am as excited for her as she is."

Kallert said she will run for mayor in November, and even though there is no opposition, she will campaign as if there is.

Nearby: Looking for a farmers market? Here's our handy guide and map

"I don't expect anything to be handed to me," she said. "I will go out door to door to meet the people."

Filling Kazmark's administrative shoes will be longtime Passaic County Administrator Anthony DeNova, who Kallert said is an excellent choice.

"He's way overqualified," she said.

Borough officials said DeNova will work part time and just long enough to find a successor.

Kazmark is not totally leaving Woodland Park politics behind as he will remain the Democratic municipal chair.

"It's good to know that I can call him anytime," Kallert said.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Woodland Park NJ mayor to resign, to be Ridgewood manager