Redevelopment consultant Robert Ceberio responds to Dems’ questions at council session.
NORTH ARLINGTON –
Robert Ceberio, retained earlier this year by North Arlington as its redevelopment consultant, duked it out – verbally – with the two Democratic members of the Borough Council last Thursday.
Ceberio took umbrage at an undated letter to him from Councilmen Al Granell and Tom Zammatore, asking for “full disclosure” of his firm’s current – and past – dealings with prospective developers.
The letter also requested copies of a Request for Qualifications to solicit developers for the Porete Ave. Redevelopment Area that Ceberio drafted for review by the borough attorney that will, presumably, be used to solicit proposals from developers.
Ceberio did produce the RFQ but, reading from a prepared statement, said he would not share information about any discussions about “development opportunities” in the borough because doing so would “jeopardize the projects that are being considered, are on the verge of being finalized or those that are tied to confidentiality agreements.
“Confidentiality, until a commercial developer is ready to publicly acknowledge their intentions, is a very standard practice. To make public these names now would jeopardize our efforts…”
Ceberio said that his company, RCM Ceberio LLC, has never “represented” any of the firms with whom he is now in discussions with about development prospects in the borough.
Responding to questions raised in the Dems’ letter, Ceberio said that he “met with Mike Pembroke, executive vice president of Russo Development, one time” in connection with his duties as the Carlstadt economic business consultant, that he has “worked for Petrucci Development on his Lyndhurst projects” and that he was involved with Merida Capodaglia Properties on an unsuccessful development project in Rutherford about two years ago.
“Should Petrucci or Capodaglia wish to discuss opportunities in North Arlington,” Ceberio said, “I will notify the Mayor, Council, Administrator and Borough Attorney in writing, and I will recuse myself from those discussions.”
Ceberio went on to point out that despite fears circulating among Porete Ave. property owners, North Arlington has no intention of condemning properties in that redevelopment area.
As stated in the Porete Ave. RFQ, Ceberio said, “At no time will the Borough of North Arlington use its powers of eminent domain to effectuate the assemblage of properties. Developers are encouraged to assemble properties through … joint ventures, exchange of properties, purchase, etc.”
Taking issue with the “tone” of the Dems’ letter, Ceberio said: “I will not allow myself or [my] firm to be libeled and slandered for anyone’s political agenda ….”
Zammatore and Granell said their letter was composed in good faith, in an effort to shed more light on the process of securing legitimate redevelopment projects for the borough.
Zammatore said the councilmen simply wanted to know more about Ceberio’s background and to learn whether there were any possible conflict of interest situations. “That’s our duty, [to provide] oversight,” he said. “And our questions are legitimate. I’m gratified you answered us.”
GOP Councilman Dan Pronti, however, called the Dems’ letter “a game” and chided the Dems for not sending copies to their Republican colleagues. “You guys have to let us know what’s going on,” he said.
Granell countered that, “We have no desire to exclude anyone. It’s about transparency.”
Mayor Joseph Bianchi defended Ceberio, saying: “This town has been stagnant for the last 20 years. Kearny and Lyndhurst are moving forward. We’re not. We need a man like you with your intelligence to move us forward, too.”
Ceberio went on to report that his firm has been “in contact with … potential purchasers and developers of the Ridge Lumber and the Arndt properties [on Ridge Road]. Attorneys for both buyers and sellers have exchanged contracts and are working on the details of those contracts.” He did not identify the individuals involved.
Among other recent activities listed by Ceberio:
• Design of a new en trance to the Bethlehem Steel site onto the Belleville Turnpike could entice a developer. “We are hopeful that the unveiling of the project will occur within the next 45 days.”
• A potential “town home development” may be in the works for Schuyler Ave.
• “Several inquiries” have been received about potential development on River Road, including properties that are currently “vacant or have vehicles stored on the sites ….”
