Former Councilman and Longtime NP Resident Honored at Council Meeting

Jim Cucco, who served on the borough council for 34 years, was formerly honored with a proclamation and plaque at the Feb. 25 New Providence council meeting for his dedication and years of service to the Borough.

Cucco served as a member of council from 1976 to 2005 and then again from 2008 to 2012.

“He left for a little while but we needed you back and you came,” Hern said. “And made a very substantial contribution to the Borough of New Providence.”

During his years of service, Cucco worked on a variety of projects to better New Providence, only so many of which could fit on the plaque, Hern joked.

Cucco worked on the reduction of flooding along the Salt Brook, the retrofitting of the former borough hall to a rental property, upgrading the sewer treatment plant, construction of the board of education offices within the municipal center, the construction of a new fire house and many more.

“He ultimately saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands dollars,” Hern said in the proclamation.

Hern read in the proclamation that Cucco was reelected 11 times, served as council president for over 20 years, as a chair or co-chair of every council committee ever established and worked with five mayors.

In addition to his accomplishments on council, Cucco was also elected to the Leaders Hall of Fame of the New Jersey League of Municipalities in 1999, among many other achievements.

Cucco remarked that Assemblyman Jon Bramnick says “keep it short and sweet they won’t run you out of the office.”

So, Cucco thanked the Council and said, “It’s nice to hear nice things while you’re still alive.”

Check back with newprovidence.patch.com for more from the Feb. 25 council meeting.