Five Questions With Verona Incumbent Jay Sniatkowski

Verona council member Jay Sniatkowski has lived with his wife Liz in Verona for more than 21 years. He works as a financial broker in New York City.

Together they have three children Alex, Luke and Eliza each either attend or graduated from the Verona school system. He has served three terms on the Verona Council over the last 12 years and has seen Verona “maintain a top AA bond rating and a low bond debt while expanding recreational opportunities and improving services.”

One of the biggest challenges he has faced on the council, he said, “was working with his fellow council members, Essex County and property owners to take what would have been hundreds of multiple single family homes at Hilltop and turning most of it into parks and recreation to preserve the area.”

Another concern he had was Verona had an “ugly downtown,” he said. “Through mostly grant money and some local dollars we have improved the downtown with a beautiful streetscape project that helps keep our downtown appealing for business and residents.”

“A major thing is dealing with unfunded mandates passed down by the state,” said Sniatkowski. “They pass regulations on to municipalities but don't fund them. We continually have to deal with funding these mandates at a time when they have cut our aid and our revenue was declining.”

What issues are important to you as a resident?
What's important to all residents is controlling taxes while maintaining services. It's a difficult task in these times. Public safety is obviously a concern as well as maintaining the streetscape, property values and the integrity of our neighborhoods.

What other organizations or bodies have you been a part of?
I have been a member of council since 2001 and served as mayor from 2005 to 2007. I have been a coach for Verona recreation soccer, basketball, VBSL Eagles organization for over 20 years and also helped to create the Verona September 11th committee and monument.

I have served as liaison to various boards like the Cable TV Committee, Pool Committee, Shade Tree and I am the president of the Verona boosters and C-President of the VHS Baseball Parents Assoc. I am a member of our Lady of the Lake parish.

Why do you want to be on the council?
To continue to bring a positive, creative and proactive approach. I want to continue what I started: Responsible budget planning that prepares us for the future and unforeseen bumps in the road. Work to increase revenues and preserve services to our seniors and families. Continue to listen to all residents and openly, honestly represent them.

I have been actively involved in creating the Hilltop Plan and Centennial Field was built when I was a mayor at no cost to the taxpayers. I have been extremely active in increasing recreation opportunities for residents and youth programs. I would like to continue that as well as working with senior citizens and improving communications with our residents. I've accomplished a lot and have a lot left to offer the town.

What makes you qualified for this position?
I am a resident and I know the town well. I have 12 years’ experience on the council and have always been an independent voice. I think that I’ve accomplished a lot, shown the ability to work with others and always make rational decisions that put our town first, my record and qualifications speak for itself.

What issues do you plan to tackle if re-elected?
I want to continue to work to try and find new sources of revenue to help control our taxes. We are not a town that has a lot of industry so we don’t have the rateables other towns have. We need to remain aggressive and creative in finding new revenue sources.

Hilltop has been one of the biggest revenue producers as well as our water wells expansion which all were created during my tenure as was the solar panel program that I introduced and helped create. Our water rates have remained the same for the last 12 years.

I am going to once again control these rates and try to get the municipal portion of our tax levy to flat again for a third straight year.