PRONTI APPROVES $289,941 PAYOUT TO EX-POLICE CHIEF!
Democratic Challenger Balwierczak says Pronti is Bleeding Taxpayers Dry!
NORTH ARLINGTON – Republican Mayor Dan Pronti, the ex-cop and real estate agent, approved a $289,941 retirement payout to the former Police Chief, Scott Hedenberg.
The payout was awarded after his retirement for unused paid leave, mostly from unused sick days. According to sources, the payout equated to 2300 hours or over a year’s salary.
Read the article here dated June 29th:
Pronti claims Hedenberg was “paid only what he was owed” under the collective bargaining agreement while the retired chief “could not be reached” for comment.
“These terms are fully vetted and budgeted,” according to Pronti, who is seeking a third term this fall.
Pronti claims the payout did not generate controversy in the community.
“It didn’t cause any controversy because no one knows what Pronti and the Republicans are doing. There is no transparency or accountability to anyone when one party holds every seat on the Mayor & Council,” offered mayoral hopeful John Balwierczak, a lifelong resident and graduate of North Arlington High School.
Balwierczak is now calling Pronti the “New Bayonne Bleeder.”
“Pronti isn’t from North Arlington, he’s from Bayonne and his policies have North Arlington taxpayers bleeding from all of his tax hikes, pay raises for elected officials, incessive borrowing, rolling tax reassessments and the massive overdevelopment practices that have NA looking like Belleville. This can only end when Dan is tossed from office,” offered the candidate.
“There was no information provided to the public, no announcement of anything. It’s a pattern with Pronti. Did he make a statement on the fact a local business was raided on the Belleville Turnpike by federal agents earlier this year? Is that business still open? Was it ever vetted? Why hasn’t Pronti explained to voters that he approved a $200,000 out-of-court settlement for an ex-library employee who accused the borough of a hostile work environment? Under Pronti, North Arlington has become an ATM machine for six-figure payouts,” blasted the Democratic challenger.
Many towns have a CAP on unused sick and vacation days so that these kinds of lump sum payments in the hundreds of thousands of dollars are avoided.
“Dan Pronti believes this is his town. You don’t count and you don’t matter. He actually believes he should be reelected because the property tax increase was just fine. He doesn’t get it and never will,” offered the Democrat.
Local Republicans have a complete stranglehold on local government holding all seats on the Mayor & Council.
No Democrat has served on the governing body since 2019, some seven years ago.
“Pronti just does as he pleases and lets the homeowner be damned. Another tax hike this year, that’s fine with MAGA Dan. Another fat raise for himself and the entire borough council along with his two running mates? Dan doesn’t care. Tax hikes, empty storefronts and wasteful spending compounded by the proliferation of apartment construction along Ridge Road has longtime residents and seniors priced out of North Arlington,” offered Balwierczak.
And Pronti is once again boasting about another political clubhouse on Ridge Road in a property that was empty and dormant. 
To many, North Arlington is becoming Potterville.
“Belleville is more like it,” said Balwierczak.
“Why are prime pieces of commercial real estate empty, vacant and dormant all over Ridge Road like MELRAY’s? Our business district has been decimated by the proliferation of apartments and random, rolling property reassessments thanks to MAGA Dan Pronti and his miserable record of raising taxes now and asking questions later.”
Meet North Arlington’s next Mayor. 
John is more than happy to stop by your home and talk about the issues you want to talk about! Call him at (201) 655-8497.