West New York’s new police director, Mark Flores, was officially sworn in at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Aug. 7. His appointment came with the retirement of former director Robert Antolos, who served as director since 2013 after stepping up from a captain position in the department.
Flores, whose contract as director runs until 2022, retired from the WNYPD as a captain in 2017, having spent his career with the department. Giving a shout out to the Junior Police Academy Explorers in the back of the room, Flores said that his history with the department started in that very program, which inspired him to work in law enforcement.
Fellow West New York officers turned out for his swearing-in ceremony, as did Union City’s Police Chief Nichelle Luster.
“It’s a point of honor and pride to re-welcome Mark Flores to our police department and community,” Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez said. “He dedicated his career to serving this community. Something I take as a point of pride is when individuals decide to remain in their communities, serve their communities, and make their communities a better place.”
The night before, Flores turned up for the town’s National Night Out event to meet residents face to face.
Seeking community feedback
“We’ve had a great summer thus far in public safety,” Rodriguez said. “Our youth academy started this week, and this year’s class is the biggest we’ve ever had. National Night Out was another success, and represents what this board of commissioners and this community is about, which is bringing positive events and programs to a community that’s been waiting to take this town to the next level.”
Rodriguez, who has just a few months under his belt as mayor, said that he and his newly-elected administration plan to place heavy emphasis on community feedback, both inside and outside the realm of public safety. Flores echoed that sentiment.
“After I left here [in 2017], I went to Union City, where I learned many things, saw their operations, and had a great relationship with Chief Luster and other members,” Flores said. “I’ll be guided by our residents to do what is right by our residents. We have a fine police department, and I want to set up some kind of a suggestion box, because I want to hear solutions from everyone about what we can do to bring this department to the next level.”
One resident said she appreciated former director Robert Antolos’s accessibility, and said that she hoped Flores would continue that practice.
“I’ll be very accessible,” Flores said. “My number is 201-295-1539, and you can call my office any time.”
Flores left for the hospital shortly after swearing in. His daughter was due to give birth to his first grandson. “That’s why I’ve been checking my watch so much. I’m just waiting for that phone call.”
Parking Authority is officially out
At the meeting, officials also voted in favor of adopting measures to dissolve the parking authority, which previously operated as an independent entity working under a contract with the town. It will be replaced with a parking utility that is run by the municipal government.
A 2017 audit indicated that the town would likely save more than $400,000 a year by absorbing regulatory oversight of all parking matters, largely by eliminating top-level administrative positions. The audit was conducted by New York Capital Markets, Inc., an independent financial agency.
The measure was first introduced on July 10. Rodriguez said that dissolution was a long time coming, for reasons that include cost-saving, as well as the fact that the township wants to improve the current parking situation by constructing multi-level public parking decks at various spots throughout town.
Officials also appointed Rafael Martell to the housing authority, to replace Adam Parkinson, who currently serves as president of West New York’s Board of Education.
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