Mark S. Sena
Office: Hamburg Borough Council
Age: 58
Political History: A Councilmember of Hamburg for 18 years. Presently serving since 2001 on Finance & Budget, Board of Health Liaison, Road Department since 2013, Municipal Drug Alliance, Police Collective Bargaining & New Hire Committee, and Council Fire Truck Purchase Committee. Past Council President, Police Commissioner for 10 years, Recreation Commission Liaison on three separate occasions, Fire & EMS Commissioner, and Sussex County Economic Development.
Occupation: Self employed selling industrial drive equipment to manufacturing facilities and machine builders.
Education: Bergen and Sussex Community Colleges.
Family: Yes, father of daughters Megan a Masters Degree graduate from Rutgers University this August, and Danielle, mother of 2-year old William.
Top Three Issues: 1. Taxes, Finance, & Budget: We must continue on the path of responsible budgets, cost reduction, shared services, and limited borrowing. Hamburg stays within budget every year while reducing costs. The average home valued at $152K paid $1331.00 in Municipal taxes in 2017. Twenty plus years ago, the financial situation in Hamburg was not good. Maintaining common sense accounting practices, following state guidelines, and staying within budget will help to keep our Municipal tax rate low.
2. Roads, Sidewalks, and the Park: We must continue to maintain and keep our roads safe. Hamburg has won another state grant in the amount of $72K to help pave Mulberry & Oak streets this Spring. Sidewalks are needed along routes 23 & 94, and we must seek state funding to help with the cost. Improvements to the Park continue with six benches recently installed, plans to build a gazebo, and install exercise stations along the walking path this year.
3. Municipal Drug Alliance: The Hamburg program ended in 2012 due to difficulty with paperwork. Until last month Hamburg was one of two towns in Sussex County not participating, and not receiving the state funding. Hamburg was just accepted into the Hardyston & Franklin Municipal Alliance, and we are working on getting our funding back. Many drug prevention and awareness programs will be available this year.
Editor's Note: Other candidates for the office did not submit profile information