As the new year gets started, South River Mayor Raymond T. Eppinger and the Borough Council reflected on the past year as well as what lies ahead. Eppinger, beginning his second year as mayor of the borough of 15,738 residents, looked at the past year as a time of some basic changes.

"We tried to open government more, making it more transparent, streamlining the process of the meetings, and making the agendas as efficient as possible," he said. "We changed our business and regular meetings to one night, allowing people to speak for longer periods of time. … The public has the last say."

In previous years, the borough held its business meeting one Monday and the regular or action meeting the next.

It was just one year ago that the Republican Party took control of what had been a Democrat-controlled governing body for more than a decade. Eppinger had defeated longtime Democratic Mayor Robert Szegeti in the November 2007 election, and newcomers Jim Hutchison and Michael Trenga won three-year terms on the council, defeating their Democratic opponents Peter Guindi and then-council President David Sliker. In 2008, the council was made up of five Republicans — Hutchinson, Trenga, Suzanne Buffalino, John Krenzel and John Trzeciak — and Democrat Anthony Razzano.

But the Democrats came back in last November's election, gaining two seats and dividing the council evenly between the two parties. Guindi and newcomer Rui Almeida ousted Krenzel, who was council president in 2008, and Buffalino, who filled Eppinger's vacant seat on the council when he became mayor.

"Suzanne and John have been good public servants," Eppinger said. "We have accomplished so much [in 2008] with their hard work, and they are going to be missed."

Despite Guindi and Almeida being Democrats, Eppinger welcomed the two new councilmen.

"The most important thing is, we are not affected by partisan [politics]," he said. "I have always said we are just seven South River residents, and we are up here doing what is best for the borough."

Almeida and Guindi both said they were ready to begin their service. They were sworn in at the Borough Council's reorganization meeting, held at South River Middle School on Jan. 1.

"Obviously this is all new to me, even though I have been involved in the community for nine years," Guindi said. "I have talked to the mayor, and we're here to work for the people as a team. That's what it's all about … I'm definitely ready," he said. Almeida agreed.

"There are good people on the dais, and good things have been done this year," he said. "We will continue to work in the right direction for South River."

Eppinger said he and the council have worked with borough Business Administrator Andrew Salerno and Borough Attorney Gary Schwartz to bring the borough's master plan, maps, utilities and more up to date.

"We have gone out and collected from Verizon, Comcast and AT & T[for their utility pole usage in the borough]," Eppinger said.

One of the ordinances passed this year included regulating unfit buildings. Eppinger has said there are buildings in the borough that fall into the category of severe disrepair. The ordinance, he said, would streamline the process of dealing with structures that pose a risk to public safety and give the governing body a way to address them.

Looking forward, the mayor said he would like to see the capital improvements program his administration has been working on this past year start in the spring, including paving of the roads.

As for long-range planning, Eppinger said his administration is working to bring in modern electric water meters, which are expected to go out for re-bid early this year, and revise the master plan.

Hutchison, Trenga, Trzeciak and Razzano agreed with the mayor that they would like to see infrastructure work through the capital improvements program come into fruition this year.

In addition, Razzano said he wants to make progress toward a new public safety building, because the current one is in serious need of repair. He also wants to establish a paid first aid squad, as was proposed by Bill Synek, president of the borough's rescue squad.

Razzano added that he would work hard with the mayor and other council members to lower the municipal tax rate.

Hutchison said he is working on energy solutions such as natural gas and bio-fuels for the borough with the Alternate Energy Committee, which was formed in September. The councilman added that officials will push to bring in electric water meters.

"We hope the new technology will eliminate billing questions and eliminate safety concerns. … There will be no confusion of whether or not the person at your home is an employee from the water company or not," he said.

Buffalino said she is proud to have served the community.

"We accomplished a lot this year, and I know, speaking on behalf of John [Krenzel], that we look forward to the future … I'm not going anywhere, and I will continue to follow up on things," she said. "I'm proud to have served the community, and I have really enjoyed working with everybody."

Buffalino has been working with Board of Education members to create a partnership between TV-35 and 36 and the school system.

Krenzel, who served on the council for 11 years, had to miss his last council meeting on Dec. 23 because he had bronchitis. Buffalino, in his absence, read a factoid, which Krenzel has read at the end of his council comments at every council meeting. "Energy-saving bulbs need to be faced upright," she said.

Eppinger noted that his administration and the council are still relatively new in 2009. He has served the longest on the governing body, having started as a councilman in January 2006. Razzano is the council's senior member, having served since September 2006, while Trzeciak began in January 2007 and the others in 2008 and last week.

"When it comes to experience, we will still be inexperienced," Eppinger said. "We will be going through the growing pains together. I know everybody will work together in the best interest of the borough, and I look forward to working with everyone."