Our Commitment to Teaneck
We come from different neighborhoods, professions, and life experiences. What we share is a commitment to leadership that brings people together, respects every perspective, and delivers real results.
As residents, parents, professionals, and community volunteers, we know what makes Teaneck special. This is not just campaign rhetoric. It is a commitment rooted in decades of service, shared values, and ongoing conversation with our neighbors.
Our approach is practical and community-first:
- Listen first, and lead collaboratively
- Plan responsibly for tomorrow while meeting today's needs
- Be open, honest, and accountable in how decisions get made
We are proud to work alongside Mayor Mark Schwartz and our Township Council colleagues to build on the progress already made.
Accessible, Transparent Leadership
Residents deserve a Township Council that is approachable, responsive, and open in its decision making. Strong neighborhoods are built on trust, communication, and collaboration, and that starts with showing up. We will:
- Hold regular town halls, community forums, and open office hours so residents can voice concerns and hear directly about council activity
- Use community surveys to learn what matters most to residents before decisions are made
- Make council proceedings, budgets, and decisions easy to find and easy to understand
- Explain the "why" behind our votes in plain language
Real leadership means listening, staying engaged, and earning your trust every day.
Parks, Recreation, and Green Spaces
Teaneck's parks, athletic fields, and recreation programs bring our community together and improve quality of life for residents of every age. Avi has spent years working alongside residents on exactly these issues, and the slate will build on that record. We support:
- Continued investment in maintaining and improving parks, fields, and recreation programs so they stay safe, welcoming, and accessible
- Fixing long-standing field drainage problems and continuing to advance a new multisport field at Votee Park
- Using the Municipal Open Space Trust Fund to preserve and expand parkland
- Preserving, beautifying, and expanding parks, community gardens, and other green spaces
- Practical sustainability measures, including stronger recycling and waste reduction efforts
Green space is part of what makes Teaneck home, and we will plan carefully so it is here for the next generation.
Fiscal Responsibility and Smart Development
Responsible fiscal management means balancing today's needs with planning for tomorrow. We will prioritize transparency, accountability, and honest governance in every budget decision. We support:
- Careful budgeting and long-term financial planning that make investments strengthen Teaneck for years to come
- Budgets that residents can actually read, with clear explanations of where money comes from and where it goes
- Smart growth that balances new development with the character of our neighborhoods and our green spaces, guided by Teaneck's Master Plan
- Infrastructure planning built around the township's long-term needs
- Safe, affordable housing options for residents at every stage of life, including those in continued education
Amrit's experience managing large infrastructure projects and reviewing development applications on the Zoning Board of Adjustment will help the council plan responsibly.
Strong Neighborhoods and Quality Services
Everyone deserves to feel safe at home and to count on the basics being done well. We support:
- Efficient, reliable essential services, with a particular focus on leaf removal, snow removal, and waste management
- Public transportation options that are efficient and meet the needs of residents
- Collaboration with local law enforcement to strengthen community policing, so every neighborhood feels safe
- A council that responds quickly when neighbors raise a concern, and follows up
When the basics work, neighbors notice. We will hold ourselves accountable for the details.
Supporting Local Businesses
Small businesses give Teaneck its character and keep our economy local. We support:
- Initiatives that help local businesses start, stay, and grow, including a more streamlined permitting process and partnerships that connect owners with available grants and resources
- Spotlighting Teaneck businesses so residents know who is in their own backyard and have more reasons to shop local
- Revitalizing our downtown and other commercial areas to attract new businesses and strengthen the local economy
A vibrant business community means more jobs, a stronger tax base, and livelier neighborhoods.
Schools and Youth
Strong schools and engaged young people are central to Teaneck's future. Sharon spent her career as a special education teacher and administrator, including in Teaneck Public Schools, and knows how much families rely on a strong partnership between schools and the town. We support:
- Working closely with the Board of Education and school community so Teaneck schools are well supported and provide a high-quality education
- Creating and enhancing after-school programs, sports leagues, and other activities that keep young people connected to their community
- Making full use of our parks, fields, and public spaces for youth programming
Every child in Teaneck deserves a safe, enriching place to learn and grow.
Bringing Teaneck Together
Teaneck is proudly diverse, and that diversity is our greatest strength. In recent years the township has faced real challenges and divisions. We will be voices for constructive dialogue and bridge-building, and we will work to keep Teaneck a welcoming, vibrant community for current and future generations.
- Celebrating Teaneck's diverse population through initiatives that help every resident feel included and valued
- Pursuing fair policies that address inequities and ensure equal treatment and opportunity for all residents
- Encouraging civic participation, so more neighbors have a voice in the decisions that shape their town
Our mission is to bring people together around shared values and a shared future.
Three Neighbors, One Team
Avi, Sharon, and Amrit bring different experiences to one shared mission of public service.
Avi Berliner is a financial services professional and a lifelong New Jersey resident who has called Teaneck home for 13 years with his wife and four children. As Chair of the Fields Advisory Board and Chair of the Municipal Open Space Trust Fund Board, he has worked alongside residents to improve our parks, fields, and community spaces.
Sharon Kolb is a lifelong educator and community advocate who has lived in Teaneck for 26 years. A former special education teacher and administrator, she serves on the Board of the Teaneck Chamber of Commerce and has held leadership roles with numerous local organizations. She and her husband raised four children in Teaneck and are now grandparents to eleven.
Amrit Ramjattan is an engineer and infrastructure professional who grew up in Teaneck after his family immigrated from Trinidad and Tobago when he was nine. A graduate of Teaneck Public Schools and NJIT, he spent eight years overseeing major rail infrastructure projects with MTA New York City Transit, works in the Rail and Transit Division at Parsons, and serves on the Teaneck Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Their candidacies are endorsed by Mayor Mark J. Schwartz and Deputy Mayor Karen Orgen, who look forward to serving alongside them.