e e it's time for insight an inside view of what's happening in South Jersey join your hosts Anthony fucci and Jim Quinn as QVC brings you Insight with Anthony and
Jim good evening everyone and welcome to uh Insight I'm Jim Quinn and joining me is the mayor of the city of Vinland the record setting mayor of the city of irland Mayor Anthony fucci mayor good to see you good to see you too Jim thanks for having me you're welcome May's
looking really good I'm telling you getting younger every day trying to keep up with Jim F I can have your energy when I get there yeah that's true I well you know it's interesting I definitely have ADD I get bored very easy and thank you for
coming in CU what I had to look forward to all my days or my shows and not n are nicer than being here at the Queen restaurant at Lincoln and Landis in vinand fabulous food oh my God the prices are phenomenal still two for two
for $30 15 bucks a person for meal just recently I had a delicious turkey dinner with stuffing and uh vegetable and salad and dessert all that for when Joe pep was with me all that for 15 bucks I mean
you can't beat that be you cannot beat that and 30 15 you know and the Fe food is great the service is always great uh I'll be here actually for breakfast tomorrow morning with a couple buddies before I head into work we come in early once a month um and they do a great job and speaking of My Buddy Joe pepone
how's he doing I haven't seen him in a while he's doing pretty well he uh had some operation everything's going well for him and he retired from education as a guidance counselor but he also is working for a company where he does uh
Psychotherapy like psychologist type work he does that part time because he's such a great guy he is I haven't seen him in a while we know it's funny speaking of him and uh when he and I go to the Pegasus Restaurant up in Mal
Malaga right he's like a rock star Mr pep Mr pep cuz all the kids who work went to Mel I said Joe if you lived in Franklin Township you could be the mayor that's right everybody knows him everybody likes him he's a great guy yeah he really is and of course another
Vinland guy speaking of uh Vinland what a great uh road department your guys did a super job just thank you really got ahead of this storm which was great you know they've done a frankly they've done a fantastic job through this whole winter season even considering the early
on storms in like December and January that were so frigidly cold this storm um gave us a little bit of a a slight break because it never got below 20° and you know when it gets that cold it's difficult salt doesn't react abely
um and you're you're plowing it's like plowing a rock at at certain points so um but they're there and uh director you know Jimmy near oh I love Jimmy jimy great what a great worker yeah and he literally you know we we prep for the storms we talk we talk during the storm
events we talk after and debrief and he has a great plan that gets rolling we talk about it he puts together a 12-hour shift um and then has the next crew getting ready to come behind him so our people aren't burned out right you know cuz a lot of times you know they were running 16 hours it's a lot and it's
hard and I only want our our men and women running 16 hours if it's an absolutely brutal storm and there's no other alternative but to continue to push through which they're saying we may see next week um which I'm not really looking forward to I was hoping this would be the end of the stretch and we'd be getting close to getting out of the
woods with this but uh potentially it's a little early to call but potentially they're saying Wednesday Thursday Friday could be blizzard-like conditions that's terrible G yeah so although it's better than Chicago I think they had a foot and a half or two feet Dum my goodness no kidding wow holy cow so bring on Spring
yeah you bet cuz time it snows you the city the county have put out a lot of money like you're saying 12 hour shifts to get the roads cleared and and and the good point you made too mayor because I was for many years I was in charge of the County Road Department as my
Freeholder assignment was Public Works and uh this was interesting my I got elected in January of 1983 in February of 83 we had a horrendous snowstorm I was actually locked in the building I couldn't even get out for a day and a half wow and you
know I was my first storm I had to go over and talk to the radio stations and do all the things we had to do but uh to the fellas credit they worked very very hard long shifts and that type of stuff to get it done but you made a good point when the temperature is below 20 the
assult isn't going to work you know it just won't melt at that cold of a temperature no so you know especially when you're not getting Sunshine exactly yeah it's been cloudy and of course I cringe now because I have two giant parking areas my two businesses and then
of course my driveway and my friend's driveway by the time you get all that that's another 400 bucks every single time yes like okay that's more going on but I'll tell you what I have a wonderful fellow named Trevor Valentine that uh he's with Cumberland tree
service and he does the plowing does does a great job for us but some of the good things we were going to talk about too is the thing that people people don't realize is violin has so many wonderful assets one of the biggest
assets they have is the violent electric utility and it's just fantastic in fact I tell the story much I love the Von electric utility years ago I started the Cumberland independent softball league
on South vinand on Lincoln Avenue South lincol Avenue Carrie caressi and Castellini and those guys were with me and I went to at attic electric cuz that's who serviced that area back then sure so I said to them could you guys donate some used electric poles to us to
put lights on we don't have used poles well I went by down behind bacon school where and there was all kind of used poles but violent came through for us and just were wonderful and I'll tell you another thing speaking of V being wonderful uh I guess it was in that same
era so I started running a benefit softball tournament for Cumberland County college and we held it in vinand 10 Fields the people from the shore going oh my God this is fabulous cuz they don't have 10 Fields all can't make
they were like they loved it and we did well and everybody your people were so helpful and we got made lots of money for the college and donated to their sports program and things like that so got a lot of great memories and a lot of great things that are happening but tell me what's going on now with the V
electric utility so uh utility is doing great um we have have um a lot of different upgrades going on with our infrastructure currently uh we have um you know a number of um different things with expansions in the city where it's um where our electric users are growing
which is a great thing for us because it's more Revenue um we are um of course you know keeping up with um you know giving reliable cost-effective power um as you know there's been a lot going on in the uh in the Atlantic Electric
territory yeah um and there's been a lot of criticism in the last number of months um by you know local people elected officials they've been kind of being attacked for their rate structure um and apparently the Board of Public Utilities has signed off on increases
for those utilities that they're able to do that again now for our standpoint that gives us you know separates us even further our rates you know are staying staying the same um the only problem is with with rates is that there are factors that are outside of our control
as a municipal utility and not an investor ear utility and what happens with these rate increases in the demand and this war on fossil fuels that's been going on all around the country and especially in our state yeah it has made natural gas more expensive and that's how we run our turbines and
that's how the majority of the turbines that are in the area powering pjm are grid you know um how they're powered you of course there's a nuclear power uh allocation there there's a Hydro power allocation there's solar um and you know
other Renewables that are being utilized uh every day but natural gas is still you know a very clean easy way to burn well when these things start happening and the demand goes higher for the gas of course the prices go up that we can't control but with everything else we're
there but we're significantly um less than our competitors around us which is great the residents of Island still enjoy um great uh low electric rates and very consistent rates I've not increased our rates as mayor um and which is good you figure we're eight going in the year
we're in year n now right um we don't anticipate anything right now you you don't have a crystal ball for what the future brings but again our rates can fluctuate slightly based on fuel procurement costs you know and um and what's happening especially when the demand goes very high when it's
extremely cold like it's been true so you know we tell people always be cautious of what you're using take a look at what you're you're burning up um some houses have electric heat and that's brutal um and um and and not efficient in many cases you know cuz
they're older units so we see a little bit of that around the area but uh but the utilities uh going strong um you know we're trying to do some succession planning in there some some building up and getting some young men and women into the programs to uh start their apprenticeships and you know get through
these groundhand programs so that someday they can become linemen and then bringing in electricians to work on substations and teach because you know the a lot of the people are it's an aging Workforce yeah so over the last eight years we've looked at good recruitment um we've we've had a good young crop come in oh that's super those
men and women are progressing and now it's time to get some younger men and women behind them and get them prepared but yeah we would we do so well and we're so grateful for the electric and water utilities for what we're able to provide our residents and businesses because it makes a huge difference yeah
it really does and and one of the things too that makes it so nice if you have a business why you want to locate in vinent is the VIN electric utility as much more reasonable rate and Atlantic Electric and uh you know it's just amazing how well you guys have done in
bringing businesses to Vinland it's fabulous I go through that industrial park and I just go oh my God this is amazing really is wonderful a lot of expansions to current businesses that have existed there uh we're seeing that which is wonderful because that means they're reinvesting and staying because they're doing well uh new businesses
coming in new properties being sold development happening strategically all over that industrial area um which is fantastic because we've seen continued job availability um new tax ratables new electric users um cold
storage facilities are expanding like wildfire here it's amazing uh to see that and they're great cuz they're no drain on the schools that's right right yes exactly they're pumping Revenue into the utilities between Water and Electric which is great and the sewage Authority um when they're in those territories
which is wonderful so yeah we have a lot going on we're very proud of the progress we've made over the last eight years um we have some significant things happening we think this year in year nine and then in year 10 for next year um with growth with business and um and it's wonderful and frankly um there's so
many jobs available right now it's unbelievable we've um we've really grown when I first took office as mayor we were coming in off of a uh previous segment of administration where businesses were leaving the area people did not want to be here and they just were not comfortable with the leadership
and then fortunately when we took over we came in with PL plans um and our plans have worked and people have a renewed faith in violand um our marketing initiatives which you probably see all over absolutely are doing great um the notoriety is great there people are realizing how accessible we are to
New York to Philadelphia to Atlantic City to Kate May um and they're realizing the quality of life in Cumberland County um is great especially here yeah you know for sure yep it's be I mean let's face it we are in God's country and it got all this beautiful
land and you know vand is 69 square miles I believe land and you're bigger than Greenland how about that population wise maybe you could be the governor of Greenland no no that's not going to be a 51st state that's Canada Greenland's just going to be a possession it gets
too cold up there too I'm good run at it this is too cold for me I understand why we have so many snowbirds around here you know yeah well you know speaking of that though I did read an article today where Trump is not making the Canadian residents very happy and I was
reading where they are now going to boycott Disney World Disneyland and coming to America they're talking about going to Mexico or going to like Nova Scotia and all that kind of area because they're not happy with him wanting to push them being the 51st
state anyway it's so interesting you know he has a special personality well he sure does doesn't he have you met him yes a number of times um honestly he's been um was very kind and gracious to myself and um and to my family when when we have seen him when we were in Florida
um you know so I I can't speak negatively you know of him in that respect he's very personable and genuine um I know that at that level you have a very difficult job to do yeah I know how difficult it is and as do you as a mayor and you know and a commiss county
commissioner and Freeholder back then apply that by 100 what he's got to do yeah I mean I you see my hair is gray now I don't know if I'd have any left if I went to Washington um but um you know I I always tell people whether you like
the sitting president or not whether it's Donald Trump whether it's Joe Biden whether you know it's Bill Clinton whether it's you know Ronald Reagan you take your pick you know John Kennedy you you never want to root for them to fail no right no um because if they fail we
all we all fail um and listen I've agreed and disagreed with members of my party and members of the opposite party over the years um and uh but like you're always praying in the back of your mind um please make a good decision make a decision for the people make a smart
decision the problem in our country and people like to throw the term special interest around a lot um but it does exist right these special interests and um and it's difficult to govern when they are people are so heavily influenced by those special interests
and um I you know I I think people need to remember there prayer is powerful and you got to believe in the power of prayer to get through to some of these men and women in office but that they're so divisive um is sad isn't it the fighting is just unreal and you know the worst part is is they can't find one
ounce of Common Ground yeah for the betterment of the people because frankly there's members on both sides that are so bullheaded they forgot that they're elected by the people to serve the people and they screaming that they're serving an agenda and whatever the topic
is maybe as minute as this paper that the straw comes in right yeah to say well this is what I'm fighting for but there's a whole glass of water here that feels left out you know good an we're talking with mayor fuchi from the great city of vinin we'll be back
with more with the mayor right after these messages the most important decisions a family can make are usually made around the kitchen table at DeMarco louisi Funeral Home we believe pre-planning and the difficult decisions you face with
the loss of a loved one should also be made around the comfort of a table like a family our friendly kind and compassionate staff is committed to helping you get through this most difficult time in your time of need trust Dem Marco Lisi funeral home
vinand at mince Insurance we're proud to have been serving our customers for nearly 80 years offering 30 different Insurance products for your Auto home and Business and to help ensure that you're getting the best rates possible we give you up to three quotes for every policy so you can choose what's right
for you at mince we're part of the community local Representatives supporting events and proud of it it's part of who we are mince Insurance call today and find out how we can help you save on insurance or visit us at mince
insurance.com we're all looking for God all the signs point to there is really a god we try to find him in all kinds of ways in all kinds of [Music] places and through all kinds of
things but there's only one way to find him that's by personal experience with him come visit us this Sunday we can introduce you to him New Life Church milville New Jersey more than a century ago General
Ty was born right here in America since then we've made a name for ourselves and making tires you can depend on tires built to handle any road this country control you and relied on by every kind of driver so you know that
no matter where life takes you with General Tire anywhere is possible it's time for insight an inside view of what's happening in South Jersey join your hosts Anthony fucci and Jim Quint
as QVC brings you Insight with Anthony and Jim welcome back to Insight mayor Anthony fucci is our co-host of the show and I want to thank yelma canle and the wonderful people here at the uh Queen
restaurant Lincoln atlis and violand and let me tell you it's a beautiful facility folks and as the mayor said I'm not a morning person but he comes in and has breakfast with staff and gets things going and they're open breakfast lunch and dinner and uh you know you just
don't get better prices I it's amazing when you think about the inflation that you can get a well many dinners but I get turkey and stuffing and uh vegetable and it's big salad you could get soup if you want soup or salad and a dessert all for 15 bucks and they got to see the
cakes in this place oh my God they're amazing these cakes are massive cakes the pies the cookies the this the that and I have a sweet tooth I get that from my mother um so you know every time I walk in here I look at it and I got to turn away especially when it's early in
the morning because you don't put sweets in front of me I'll take it down anytime but you know in in losing all that weight I've lost over the years you can eat it back on real fast Yeah Boy comes on quick doesn't it it's got It's like thank God for Dr AA now this guy I'm proud of him because you did the
intermittent fasting I still do and that's how I maintain yeah that's um I've been um I've been training now for a little over a year again back in the gym and working out and doing some things not like I used to you know I can't I can't operate like I was 20 and
30 anymore you know how it is but um it's it's been good and I've been able to maintain and um keeping my health in line the best I can I just got to figure out how to get rid of my stress levels yeah that's well being the mayor of a
city 60 some thousand 65,000 yeah well you know you figure that's what the census tells us you know espe Farm here you know so many people here we're 70 plus speaking of farm season I am so excited next Tuesday
night I get to have dinner with one of my favorite farmers in all of Cumberland County Joe spro oh my man Joe's great isn't he though I love I miss Joe you know he's such a good human being and a great family was great you know as a
Freeholder when he was a Freeholder yes he was he was my favorite well you know it's funny I've been in I was in government a total of 35 years between local and County and during that period of time most of the time I was single and after the meeting I would go
somewhere to get something to eat and Joe was the only person in all those years at one one meeting we'd go to Town Tavern in bridon another one we' go to windfields and milville so Tuesday night we're meeting at the Town Tavern in Bridgton and he invited my cousin George
Castellini oh Georgie my man I haven't seen him in a while I haven't you know what George is great I haven't seen him either and I miss him you know I used to see him all the time um and talk to him and you know now he's pretty much retired and and enjoying life a little bit which is good he worked hard um and
what a sweetheart his wife is oh and she that's how he's my cousin through for her okay I should have known she's phenomenal yeah she is really just great is she still at the bank I'm not sure I know she was for long time she
did Mak be there I I'll ask George Tuesday nighty sure yeah he's the son works for us in the electric utility oh that's great oh that's right I remember great job yeah um nah George is great really really great enjoyed what a great time with he and I and Joe were on the
freeholders at that time we were still freers just really enjoyed their company not that I didn't like the others but we bom but still really really well speaking of great people Keith Petroski is retiring can you believe that oh my God yeah yeah
there's one of the most organized men I've ever met in my life yeah he's uh he's wrapping it up at the end of the month and um you know an amazing career I'm actually um being one of the people recorded on a video tribute for him tomorrow morning as well and um you know
they said what are you going to say and I said you know me I usually wing it I said but this is an easy one I said because there's so many incredible things you can say about this guy yeah you know and just his commitment and you know and I'll be saying this probably tomorrow morning but when I was a
council president I attribute so much of my success as a councilman and as a president leading those meetings to Keith yeah organized everything was right there you know the dialogue sheets were there you could communicate he and I would communicate
on the agendas and and do so much you know uh it's it's good for him because you know he deserves it in his retirement I wish him and the family well but he he is a um a loss to the administration yeah you know do you know
who's gon to replace him yeah Rich franchetta who's the deputy clerk okay um he's also the fire director in the city of that's where I first um rich is a great guy um he's been learning under Keith for the last several years very organized good skill set good with
technology um conscientious worker you know a um a lot of similar attributes to Keith and um you know so we're we're very blessed to to have that and um and that he's had so many years with Keith you know to learn a lot and um I'm
really happy for Keith you know him and Lois are wonderful people yes they are you know and and they deserve listen you know what we work till sometimes were dead you know that's true and I I I admire people that can actually retire and enjoy life I don't know that I'll ever do it you haven't figured it out
either I'll never I don't have any hobbies this is my hobby being with you okay I'll take it i f wait cuz I keep saying that seriously folks I keep telling people I'm going to die on the set you know at the TV station I have
Christy's come pick my body up but I I love doing what I do and and it was funny when I taught school I used to say that to my students do what you love if you want to be an electrician be the best electrician or you auto mechanic or teacher or scientist whatever it is but
you got to love it you know I mean you've been fortunate you love your business dealings and you love serving the people you know and that's what's wonderful and I mean I've been lucky 35 years I had in government to serve the people of milville and the people Cumberland County and most of those years were wonderful years and I really
enjoyed except for one guy I enjoyed all the time that I worked in county and City govern city government there's always one Jim oh my God this one Takes the Cake anyway it is what it is but you know speaking of that you have uh I'm
really glad to see the Paul's back Paul Spinell is your council president but you've always had pretty good relationship with your Council haven't you always um you know we've always tried to look at things as a team when you know we were running I wanted to recruit good people to be here because everybody's like you know yes it gets
branded as team fucci because it's how it's branded through the campaign should be but in reality right in reality it's team violin you know when you're elected you're here to serve yeah um and it's important and you know we've both served in levels of government where you've had bad people on One side or another and uh
and that's not good but I wanted to make it very clear that when governing at my level as a mayor um I wanted a legislative body that was going to be able to understand my vision help me impart that vision and help me impart that for the success of violence it's
not the success of me or you or Ryan or my family it's the success of all the people that either live here visit here or do business here right you know and and and that's the thing a lot of people get into this for an ego you know and I'm sure you've seen it in milville and
at the county over the years well and you know what you bring to the table and so did I is we have the business background we understand what it is to make a payroll and to do the things that businessmen have to do and I remember was interesting when I first got elected mayor of milville Lou Thompson who was
like the Keith patros there knew everything going on and he said to me I guess in the past this is what happened he goes Jim I'm going to put a phone in at your office on High Street I said no I'm going to down no no no I'm going to put a phone in I said no I wanted to be the mayor of milville I'm going to be
there every day luckily I had great people working for me I didn't have to go in very often and I was able to devote fulltime to the city and of course got thank God for the different people that worked there you know besides Lou you had the economic development department all the good
people that were there and I loved and it was like that was one of my dreams as a kid I always wanted to be the mayor of noville and I had that success for 12 years Neville's form of government though is so weird I just reading the history the nville Historical Society
had a whole thing on milville from the 1700s or whatever and one of the factors is I'm looking at all the Mayors over that period of time and to their credit they gave me credit that I'm the only one ever in the city's history to serve three terms uh there everyone and Mike
Santiago did get two terms but up until when I got elected every single mayor was one term that's it but that's that form of government you're not running as mayor you're running as a commissioner hoping you're the top po getter right and I told the story often I went in
Chad Goodwin was my accountant insurance guy super person I thought he did a great job as the mayor this is before I got involved at least in city government so I went in and I voted for Chad first in mville you get five votes I give my number one vote to Chad and I get down to the fifth vote and this guy I'm
thinking he's a nice guy but he's not really necessarily cut out to be the mayor but nice person okay so I gave him my fifth vote my fifth vote that guy ends up being the mayor and it almost killed him it was so much stress for him just wasn't his cup of tea but how do you turn it down once you get that thing
and his family's like you got to take it and all that and he had it for the one term but it's amazing that's that form of government thank God violent has the good form of government and I mean in all due respect mayor you'll be there as long as you want to be there I mean you've done such a great job you know
it's probably when stacy says to enough you know we're going to travel a little more or something but you know you've just done a fantastic job and I'm proud of you and the people you've surrounded yourself with it's really good my god I've been fortunate because in coming up in the elected offices that I've served
in over school board city council and now my third term as mayor I've gotten to watch guys like you and so many others that have been in office and serve and you you you watch you know you see people that are really smart then you see people that are um very
articulate then you see people who are just you know all class you see people that are negative you see people that are argumentative and You observe and I've learned bits and pieces from all those people for the good or the bad in which I said you know I want to be this
type of person and the person I always wanted to be and I always say it is you know um I am a very nice person right I'm not a mean person by Spirit um but I like to be a Diplomat with a heavy hand because I think you need to be diplomatic most times but you have to
not be afraid to make a decision stick by your decision unless it's wrong and then sometimes you have to reverse your course but you have to understand how to deal with people everybody should have their time um you know you don't need to to to wield with an iron fist you know because that's not good either because
then nobody wants to work for you um and um and I'm been blessed with a fantastic staff you know we've recruited great people we've team built you know and you know my my staff as as well as I do if not even better you know you coach Bobby D I love
Bobby you know what a great little well good high school player he's good baseball player heck of a pitcher yeah fantastic and what a wonderful family my God his mom fortunately still around Sally but his dad was just one of the nicest people they were him and Sally were just here sitting on the other side
of the restaurant um about 10 days ago um having uh having lunch I came in for a little lunch meeting and um I saw Sally with him she and you know what she's full of life and spunk I love her yeah she's a sweetheart she really is God bless I mean she's another one I
hope I have that energy yeah why he's such a and his dad was just such a wonderful man and we were together at little league and you know got to know them and I couldn't ask for anything more out of a business administrator and a friend yeah you know in Bobby a great guy you know he's his heart's in the city his Soul's in the city you know he
he stands by my side um he he's behind me 100 per you know when I'm doing things he's not afraid to say come here I got to talk to you um he's like I think you may want to approach this this way you know which is good it's what you need you know in leadership roles you need people
that are not afraid to tell you when you're right and when you're not when you're wrong or when you might be going down a wrong path so um he's very very good at that and um and there's really another one who has helped me Excel uh Rick Tanetta oh God you know our City
attorney um Sandy foris yeah she does such a great job you know my my assistant in the office Alona um you know who who does a phenomenal job for us with everything there and keeps me really on track and and things um you know I mean my God my director Matt
Rabbi and John L you know Tony Quigley and um you know and you start running it down you're like thinking wow I got to Le McLoud and just all these people they're just and dere ly I love him oh listen you know I got the best of your crew you sure did I I do and I always tell them I said listen if there's
anybody else that's any good over there let's get them and thank God they all went they were in mville I was in County I think at that time but a whistleblower lawsuit those people filed against one of the worst City commissioners I had ever served with and fortunately they
won they settled a lawsuit and then they three of them all went to violin and just you know done I Joy's retired but and uh Derek I just love Derek went there and they're just great people and Jane J and I did some house flipping in
violent super to deal with they work with you help you in any way they could and I love Matt Rabbi s you so it's what a great crew these a special one to um you know we've got great guys you know I have great Chiefs uh right now acting Chief tronto is doing a good job in the
PD uh Mar Shalo is a chief of fire in EMS he's doing a great job uh lantana's back out of retirement running OEM for us now um which they've been doing a phenomenal job especially with coordination with the storms yeah um you know people wonder why we enhanced and
really created the Office on Emergency Management program here you know you see it work all over the place towns like ours sometimes don't have it you kind of delve off responsibilities but in the last eight years we've really started working on it as its own little department and now he can he can run it
for us as well cuz he did it it doubled up his fire chief and did it you know for no pay um on top of it and just we've been able to to enhance and do so much more it's been great especially parade events yeah that's true everything in the summer I mean cuz they
have our uh Emergency Operations Center Online for all these events and you know what they've got somebody from electric and water and police and fire and EMS on standby and in the operations center in the EOC for events so if something goes
on it's one phone call into one room and they're dispatching to their various departments immediately in public works so that way they know what to do and how to handle it so coordinating for these things has been has been great I mean it's really we are a big city and we are running first class you know absolutely
we're talking with mayor fucci from the city of Island we'll be back with the mayor right after these messages many people treat their health like a game with Complete Care Health Network it's easy to start your Healthcare Journey just select from our
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Health Network no gains just great health care for everyone the most important decisions a family can make are usually made around the kitchen table at DeMarco louisi funeral home we believe pre-planning and the difficult decisions you face with the loss of a
loved one should also be made around the comfort of a table like a family our friendly kind and compassionate staff is committed to helping you get through this most difficult time in your time of need trust to Marco Lisi funeral home
vinand at mince Insurance we're proud to have been serving our customers for nearly 80 years offering 30 different Insurance products for your auto home and Business and to help ensure that you're getting the best rates possible we give you up to three quotes for every policy so you can choose what's right
for you at mince we're part of the community local Representatives supporting events and proud of it it's part of who we are mince Insurance call today and find out how we can help you save on insurance or visit us at mince
insurance.com life puts a lot of Demands on us there's our jobs those community and charity projects our friends and the demands of the family happy birthday birthdays and homework the upkeep and maintenance of
our homes cars and possessions maybe it's time to really weigh out the things of Greater importance our relationship with God let us help you New Life Church milville New Jersey it's time for insight an inside view of what's happening in South Jersey join your host
Anthony fucci and Jim [Music] Quinn as QVC brings you Insight with Anthony and Jim welcome back to Insight Jim Quint along with mayor Anthony fucci and mayor
I know you've got some projects coming up this year on infrastructure tell us a little bit about that yeah so um as you know we've done a lot of road work a lot of underground drainage a lot of sidewalks a lot of you know different programming in those areas um in the last eight years we have a very
aggressive program for this year and for next year already now of course we plan out about five to 7 years anyway and but they have a tendency to change based on need right um but now like in um in 20125 once this weather finally gives us
a little bit of a break um we're going to be Off to the Races you there's a lot going to be happening and um they're um getting closer to starting the Chesnut Avenue re project from delce to main oh okay um which is going to be so overdue and much needed you know they're in
final design phases now we're still dealing with the feds on that because it's a Fally funded project um but we're getting closer with that that'll be great once that's together that's my way getting across town see I come all 55 right on Middle Road go down to Chestnut and come across not that I
don't love Landis in fact this is funny I was out with a friend of mine recently and we went to falar but I wanted to show she's from Glassboro I wanted to show her downtown vland she goes oh my God Jim this is amazing it's you know we take it for
granted but Lis Avenue is one of the Premier main streets in ation I'm sure you can't get much better than that it's a great spot now that we've been able to pave it from Route 55 all the way down the main road yeah we've done the entire city portion and um and it's in great
shape um I wish the county would you know maybe jump on the county portion and take it from you know well all the way down here obviously but because this is all the county portion up until the county line but take it from here right back up to main you know um and get that
done would be incredible I know the director he's actually he's going to be speaking at the chamber lunch I think Thursday it's we're we're going to televis it so ni yeah and Jimmy Jimmy Sor of course is the director I really like he and Sue and it's nice to have
somebody from Bland as you know there with him absolutely of course I guess Silo was from VI too but he listen you know when you delve Out close to $50 million a year that's right you guys are the big contributor to the county my goodness yeah you give more than everybody else put together they're not
kidding I mean and you know I kind of chuckle a little bit but I'll take you know the next 60 seconds to be selfish and remind people that when they think about the tax dollars that they pay into vinin with their tax bill that only 30 32 and 3/4 cents on that dollar comes to
the city the rest goes everywhere else right the school board the county um the library has their piece and then the open space which is county open space so we're really running the largest city in the state geographically with all full-time departments there are no
parttime Department in the city of um on just under 33 cents on a dollar and it's it's incredible so you figure literally a third of what you take in is is what you're running the whole city on the operation and it's full-time police full-time fire full-time EMS right
full-time Health full-time planning full-time zoning you know full-time lni code enforcement trash yeah you know it's a lot it is you know oh I wanted to ask you um you know with the co well we talked about code enforcement the trash
you have pine lands is that the company yeah he's very well known in K May County and was a councilman in SE City actually Frank Franky that's it yeah friend of mine she works for him I'll tell you what they are doing a good job
that's good there are when I say minimal complaints minimal and it it could be something random they happen have a new driver up here today and he was unfamiliar with a route so they got their leate or they missed it and they got to come back the next day but that's very rare anymore um
they are doing a great job um it's worked out the way we've been able to do it to keep the trash rate level um and um and that's the thing you know people complain oh I spend $24 a month or whatever it is on my trash I remember the days when I lived
here on Landis Avenue literally 9/10 of a mile from where we're sitting right we didn't have violent trash pickup we had to pay for our own wow and we had you know um I if you the Higgin bams I do absolutely Mr higin Botham Zach would
come in and would we'd pay him monthly to pick up you know the trash and frankly they only came once every two weeks wow you know so every two weeks you would put your trash out and then you had to pay and back then we were paying more for that than we are now for
what we pay monthly that's good so I I I remember you know because I was helping my mom support the household and you know it it was a big challenge then so for what they're able to provide and they've done a great job it's been a great hybrid where you know we own the equipment that's right they handle the
workforce you know um it's been it's been a pretty good marriage and you know of course we'd always like to you know save money somewhere be cheaper but honestly they've done not going would such a great job um I'm happy with what we've done they've lived up to their contract and um it's been a night and
day difference from what we had going on with the acua you know they had their challenges well it's funny now I we have the AC UA and milville I have never had a problem they've been great I have to say you know for me anyway right it's worked out really well and uh of course
milville just put on the trash tax the $20 a month or whatever it is I guess it's a 240 here added to it well you know what happened there is when they had us they were not supposed to expand into another territory I see and they
did and then they took milville which is what 455 sare miles yes 100 some square miles wow and and then Co hits and then you wonder why you got a problem yeah good point so that and then of course they were we were getting sacrificed all the time and for me I'm not happy about
that because I'm thinking we were your first one we're your biggest one we bought all the equipment oh wow you know and that was our structured deal yeah you know um and then it was like we were the Forgotten child and that doesn't work for me not when I'm taking oath to
protect this city and fight for this city no matter what and that's what we had to do we had to engage in that battle um in order to do that so sorry to hear that yeah um the cumland county well it's now called The Authority but I had Improvement Authority Jerry lasas
was on just recently with me and Jerry and I go back to 2000 when he was hired as the empowerment Zone director and then Sandy was his assistant I mean great people that went through that program and uh luckily the powers to be
at the County gave him at least a couple year contract two or three contract so he's still on and I know he's done a lot with the city of V the police department anyway the police building right it was helpful getting the contracts and milville you just did the library and
I'll tell you what made me feel good as a county commissioner uh well that I was Freeholder at that time I was on the South Jersey Development Council and the guy will M from Kate May County one meeting was talking about and the
Cumberland County Improvement Authority and how much he loved what they did for them and I thought well well they did Route 49 and Route 47 in Middle Township or Rio Grand actually and it was a shopping center it was blighted and a movie theater and Jerry went in and did
the whole thing for them and they were thrilled and then uh Ben Lorry he was happy Jerry helped them with their building over were there as well and I thought this is nice to hear as a Freeholder of Cumberland County having Kate May and Salem County tell me what a good job one of our fantastic it really
is it makes you feel good and you know I mean I know Jerry works hard and you know he's done a good job and I'm glad that they left him alone for now do you oh yeah I was going to say uh on the coup the county Improvement Authority or
the authority you know who the newest member is right I just heard it's Perry yeah how about that yeah um I wasn't aware of that but I don't really delve into the county all that much and and and but they got a very smart guy there they do um he he's very good with with
numbers he he gets great account oh yeah sure is and um and he gets government yeah you know exactly he does so I'm I'm very happy for him for that and um I actually have to reach out cuz I just heard that that was um confirmed and I said how about that um I just heard that
today and I said that's great I really got to reach out to him and tell him um and wish him well because you know he'll again selfishly I like it when somebody from violent is somewhere because I know that they're looking out for for us you know and it's important and you know and and not only are they looking out for us
but they also know that there's a bigger picture and it's the whole County right um and that's always been my gripe with elected officials over the years you you I can't be the mayor of East vient I got to be the mayor of all of violent right can't show and just like you're a
Freeholder you're a Freeholder for the whole County exactly yes listen is milville in your heart and soul of course so you know are you going to try to lean that way sometimes of course but at the end of the day you also know that there's so many other people out of 165,000 people that are relying upon you to govern properly and fairly you know
and you took that very seriously I can't say the same for every elected official um and I won't call them out individually but they know who they are over the years and and that's problematic for me because you know I never govern that way and I just I don't like when that happens we you know it's
interesting speaking of that I I've always been and I know you are too whatever I was on I put 100% into it I'd attend every single meeting I would make sure you know whatever needed to be done I'd follow up of course I was lucky and you were too because we both had our own businesses so we could take turn it over
to our assistant or whatever and go do the things we needed to do and that's why I say when I look at successes you're a great success because you've been in business and you know what it takes to run a business you've had your own employees and all these things so
stepping from a business to the mayor there's a lot of similarities and that's what's really good and sometimes as I said I've seen people in milville especially become mayor had no clue what they were doing because they've never been involved with that type of stuff and you know so again millville's for of
government is probably one of the worst in the state of New Jersey I don't think there's four or five commission forms left in the state yeah there's very few even SE City went to mayor council I mean and like what you have is perfect in New Island you got a great mayor you got a great Council they work together
he's executive they're the legislative branch you know and it's just makes a lot more sense and even Briton does the same to their credit and uh but milville is still and I tried when I was back there to try to get it put on the ballot but what happens to be honest with you
the Commissioners don't want that because if you think about being a City Commissioner you're almost like a minire you have the public safety department and that's the person you know whoever it is and that's their Department that commissioner department so he doesn't give up that power and become one of the
uh legislators he wants to be the executive to that that department but and it's so shortsighted it sure is you know it's sad because frankly the form of government is one of the issues and why milville has challenges you know doing business daily and and and that's
what's problematic because um and and you're right in our form of government you know I get to be the ambassador Le on to the people the businesses I have a legislative body that will you know enact things and and you know create legislation that makes sense and and and work with stuff but you know I never
stop my council members from working with the the municipal staff directly I don't I've never had to separate that line if I ever had an issue where I thought a council member was was really overstepping or overreaching I we sit in and talk about it we'll talk to Perry sometime he'll tell you about a guy that did that oh I can only imagine you know
who it is but it's the truth yeah well one thing I wanted to ask you um the how many men and women do you have in the on the police department you know so we have um around 165 fully sworn officers right now and are you at the maximum no
well by ordinance no we could go a little more but my goal would be to really get the Department up to 175 which will include you know Administration as well um because I want to get some more folks out on the street we have a street crimes unit that's doing really well that we brought back that was you know taken out by by a
previous uh administrator there um and they're already doing phenomenal things I would like to add another second shift to that unit and continue in the violent Police Department there is so much room for advancement if you just want to be a patrolman for your entire career you can do it and get paid very well if you want
to leave Patrol and you want to go into a specialty unit traffic right um community policing juvenile Street crimes um things like that you have the ability to advance into those sectors you could become a sergeant you know from Sergeant we have I think 26
Sergeants sure um we have [Music] seven seven or eight Lieutenant positions um we have um currently you know four Captain's positions a deputy chief and a chief right so we have administrative ranks for people to go to gosh the county Now is working on
creating a SWAT team again oh that's good um of which I think the at least half of the members are going to come from our department because they'll qualify as Shooters um so we'll be going to County SWAT I mean there's a lot of advancement in law enforcement here um and frankly I'm very proud of the fact
that I can say we pay our men and women very well well that's my point was I was talking to friends in nville they are approved uh for 85 officers and they only have 70 they can't fill those other things because they're not paying I
guess whatever other people are paying in fact a friend of mine her son was number one in the class several years ago for milville to be police officer went there for six 6 months transferred to to state of Delaware Delaware State cop making all kind of money and I run
into a whole bunch unfortunately a lot of the state police officers in our area our former milville police officers you got and the other thing do you like well you don't need it you got enough people when I was mayor mville we had 19 special ones and we had like a couple
special twos which were inexpensive and the presence was there although now I wouldn't put a special one without a gun on third or fourth street that wouldn't be working but they have one special one and that's it they've done away with that they're hard to come by like so we have class ones class twos
and they're working on class 3es for the school system right now okay um and you know and it's hard to fill the class ones and twos see um I I wish we had more of them because they're very versatile and you can fill roles and you can start training people have quite a few of those we did and then you know a lot of things in Co kind of killed a lot
of that off um with the way they they frankly I'll say it mismanaged you know a lot of things throughout the country um and we lost a lot of those people and the wages were not competitive but for us you know and here's the thing as well as I pay our people I wish I could pay
them even more they First Responders police Fire EMS they deserve every dollar they get they do um but we've been very competitive we were losing people to State Police over the years so we've gotten competitive against them we were losing people to like Winslow Township in areas like that and people
are like well you know and then the unions are always like well gez well how come we can't make I said we are a city we are not a full Township drawing from multiple areas and getting additional funding sources you know it's like the county how does the county do it you 14 municipalities correct right so
everybody's contributing to the coffers and the sad part was they weren't paying the sheriff's department squat back then right they're doing a little better now could probably still be even better considering the powers that a sheriff's officer really has um so no it's it's very important and listen without Law
and Order there's no Economic Development there's no econom there's no quality of life um and and I tell everybody that all the time so I don't ever regret any of the money I spend on our Our First Responders well and you see you're doing well because your numbers are up and you're not at
that big of a gap so that's been great mayor thanks for coming in it's great to see always good to see you thank you good to see you thank you so much and his mayor's beautiful wife and his two beautiful daughters came and are having dinner while we were doing this show thank you Stacy for bringing your daughters here as well thank you Ryan
narowski for producing the show always one of my favorites to have the mayor of the city of Island Anthony Panucci as my guest here on insight and we'll see you soon folks take care bye-bye this has been a QBC television production in association with our
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