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Betsy
and her husband Chris have lived in
Oakland
for over twenty-eight years. She originally lived
within Rye Cliff Estate (now the
Ramapo
Mountain
State
Forest
) the estate of Bud Vervaet, former Mayor of
Oakland. She has resided on
Long Hill Road
for twenty-three years.
When her son, Jenner, was a student at Dogwood and
Valley
Middle Schools
, Betsy volunteered as a Den Mother, Cub Master,
Merit Badge Advisor and Unit Commissioner for the
Boy Scouts. She is now a Board Member of the
Northern New Jersey Boy Scout Council, where she
donates her engineering expertise to
Camp
Maintenance
and Upgrade programs.
Betsy, a licensed Professional Engineer, licensed
Professional Planner and Certified Municipal
Engineer, owns her own consulting firm, an
environmental and civil engineering firm,
specializing in land development, planning, and
permitting. Previously, she was a consultant who
participated in many
Oakland
projects including water, wastewater and, land
development. Most recently she designed the site
and infrastructure for two new residence halls,
and the new student center/dining hall at
William
Paterson
University
, where she also handles on-going storm water
management and on-campus drainage improvements.
She has also completed numerous air permits for
the University this year, while still finding time
for many smaller clients. Last fall, Betsy became
a certified LEED Professional- those professionals
dedicated to building green, saving the
environment and saving energy. This field has
become nationally recognized as the only way to
build.
Betsy's knowledge and dedication to the Borough
have kept her an active Chairman of our Water
& Sewer Committee for the past three years.
Through her insistence and due diligence in 2004
we were able to forestall an emergency
appropriation to cover our water department
deficits. Betsy also readily accepted additional
responsibility in trying to deal with the Army
Corps of Engineers, from an engineering
perspective, on the Pompton Dam Project.
Betsy has been the Council Liaison to the
Environmental Commission for three years, where
she uses her expertise for guidance and advice in
the many areas that the Commission addresses.
Open Space has been her main focus, as the Borough
has purchased the Raymond tract, and she was
personally thanked by the State Commissioner of
Environmental Protection for her efforts in
saving
Camp
Todd
.
Betsy has used her excellent communication skills
in the education field, having taught second
grade, high school, junior college, college and
finally, graduate school. She is a "natural
teacher", enjoying sharing her knowledge with
all.
Time constraints have precluded her active
participation in the Bergen County Republican
Organization (BCRO), but she has become active in
the Oakland Republican Club, and in interacting
with Senator McNamara, and State Assemblymen Kevin
O'Toole and David Russo, working for the benefit
of the Borough. She is also an active participant
in the State's Watershed Management Program, as
well as being a member of several engineering and
water related societies.
 Betsy toured
Ireland
with her husband last fall and loved every minute
of it. Then in the early spring she had foot
surgery, which has slowed her down a bit. But this
has given her a little time to begin knitting
again, on projects for the Valley Hospital
Auxiliary.
Betsy's knowledge of planning and engineering
principles as applied to open space,
proposed development, and her knowledge of the
Borough's infrastructure and septic related
problems will continue to make her a real asset to
the Borough, especially in the capacity of
Councilwoman.
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