Welcome to the Borough of Caldwell Quarterly Newsletter
ISSUE 2 • Spring / Summer 2025
Borough Project Updates 2025
Promotions throughout the Borough
William Roberts was promoted from the rank of lieutenant to captain in the Caldwell Police Department. He has been part of the department for 17 years. Captain Robert's career has included service as a Police Officer, Juvenile Officer, Detective, Patrol Sergeant, and Administrative Sergeant. He is an Internal Affairs Investigator, Field Training Officer, L.E.A.D. Instructor, Drug Recognition Expert, Fleet Commander, Firearms Unit OIC, and Crossing Guard Coordinator. Roberts became a detective in 2021 and earned the rank of sergeant just one year later, overseeing the patrol squad. Mayor Garrett Jones said he believes that Roberts will be a "great leader" for the department in his new role.
Acting Sergeant Michael Kraynanski was also promoted to Full-Time Sergeant of the Caldwell Police Department. He joined the CPD in January 2012, is a Squad Sergeant and is a Traffic Reconstructionist, Firearms Instructor, Active Shooter Instructor, and certified Drone Operator for the department.
Jake Pohlman, too, was promoted in the second quarter. Jake assumes the role of the DPW Director on July 1, suceeding long time Director Mario Bifalco. Jake has served as part of the DPW for the past 17 years.
Congratulations to all three gentlemen on a job well done.
Fire Truck Arrival
Our new E-ONE 2025 HP-100 platform truck HAS ARRIVED and training is complete! This truck will be in service very soon, replacing our current ladder truck which has been in service since 1991. We are so excited to have this new truck amongst our fleet to provide top notch fire protection to all of the residents of Caldwell!
Beautification Day
Sunday, May 18th marked our annual Caldwell Beautification Day. Thank you to all of our volunteers and our fantastic DPW who participated in the event. Be on the lookout for our 22 newly planted planters, our 46 new hanging baskets and the 25 new trees that were planted along Bloomfield Ave. 🪴
Recycling Bins
We have NEW, complimentary Caldwell Borough branded recycling bins available for all of our residents. Please bring proof of residency to collect your one bin per household. These can be picked up at the DPW garage (located near Calandra's) between 8am-3pm daily.
Budget Approval
The 2025 budget was adopted on April 15th making it one of the earliest adopted within Essex County and the earliest it has been adopted for at least the past 4 years for the Borough: 2024: 06/11, 2023: 09/19 and 2022: 10/11.
The sewer utility is now fully "self-liquidating" in that the revenue supports the appropriations which results in a $7.1M reducti9on in our debt utilization.
Our fund balance has increased almost 5x since 2022, going from $531K to $2.56M and the Borough now has borrowing capacity again.
The average annual residential tax bill will increase only 2.07% or $282.08 in 2025.
80 Bloomfield Avenue Progress
Renovations at our new municipal offices and borough library are progressing well. Demolition is complete as well as initial electrical installation and framing. Initial plumbing and HVAC installation are underway.
Councilwoman Hunkele has been working alongside the architects to select the finishes to keep us moving forward in a timely manner and on budget and the library team has been busy making all of their final selections as well. We look forward to populating the space in the third or fourth quarter of this year barring any delays in material or equipment.
Upcoming Events/Projects
Ice Cream Social
The Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association in cooperation with the Office of New Jersey StateHistoric Sites, and New Jersey State Park Service is pleased to announce the Annual Grover Cleveland Birthplace 4th of July Ice Cream Social for 2025. The event will take place on the birthplace grounds at 207 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell.
Click "Learn More" for details!
Time to Explore Caldwell's Pollinator Garden!
The garden was begun in 2015 by the Caldwell Environmental Commission. The borough purchased the parcel of land, measuring 70 feet wide and 100 feet deep, on Personette Street with Green Acres and Open Space Trust funding. A plan was developed to create a rectangular meadow in the center of the property bordered by a four-foot wide path with gardens dedicated to different pollinators located on the outside perimeter. The meadow was established in the fall of the first year using a seed mixture of native plants usually found in such an ecosystem. The meadow, once begun, has had little maintenance to date except for being cut down once in the late winter. The outside gardens were developed gradually using only native, untreated perennials. Those perennials were selected for tolerance of clay soil, the presence of a black walnut tree, nearly day long sunshine, and the presence of deer in the area. Plants were chosen that would bloom at various times throughout the growing season to provide food for pollinators year-round. Native trees were planted including dogwood, redbud, pawpaw, and serviceberry. While volunteers from various local organizations were involved in the beginning of this project, over the past couple of years it has been volunteer Master Gardeners who have worked at maintaining the garden. With their support, the garden continues to be an inspiration to gardeners who visit it to learn how to create their own pollinator gardens in the effort to restore our native pollinators. The garden, in turn, has educated the volunteers in learning about meadow ecology, native perennials, and the diversity of insects and birds.
Affordable Housing Update
An explanation of how Caldwell is complying with its affordable housing obligation
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Official Newsletter of Borough of Caldwell, New Jersey © Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved 24 Smull Avenue, Caldwell, NJ 07006 | (973) 226-6100 Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am–4:30 pm