Council Meets, Murderer's Sentencing This Week

The Hopatcong Mayor and Council is scheduled to meet this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in its first gathering after presenting the annual budget.

That budget, if approved, is set to raise taxes by about $38 for the average homeowner in the borough. Also at that meeting, an ordinance was introduced appropriating $80,000 for the purchase and installation of police equipment.

The meeting is open to the public at the municipal building and residents are encouraged to attend.

Hopatcong residents may also be interested in the sentencing of Guiseppe Tedesco, the convicted killer who murdered Hopatcong resident Alyssa Ruggieri in March of 2010.

Tedesco was found guilty on Jan. 10 in Sussex County Superior Court and faces a maximum sentence of life-plus-20 years.

Last week, Tedesco requested . A judge then ruled he would be required to be present, but Tedesco’s defense attorney appealed and is now waiting on an Appellate Court to make a final decision.

Sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 20 in Newton.