TINTON FALLS – At about 15 square miles, Tinton Falls isn’t the largest borough in the Two River area, but it is long, stretching from exit 109 south to exit 100 on the Garden State Parkway. It has a namesake waterfall and is on both the state and national registers of historic places. Mayor Vito Perillo answered some questions about what makes the borough unique.
The Two River Times: How did you become involved in local politics?
Mayor Vito Perillo: I became involved in politics because I wanted to control property taxes. Although I know the municipality only controls a small portion of total property taxes, I felt I could make a difference.
TRT: What is an accomplishment during your mayoral term you are proud of?
Perillo: I am proud of the robust infrastructure improvement program during my term. The Borough has made a substantial investment in improvements to the borough roadways and sidewalks, development and improvement to Borough parks, and sewer infrastructure. I feel that investing in the infrastructure on an annual basis is critical for a community to thrive. I am also proud of the budgets during my tenure which have been fiscally responsible while maintaining borough services, providing for infrastructure improvements, and reducing the municipal tax rate by 3.4 cents over my tenure.
TRT: What are the pandemic-recovery challenges Tinton Falls faces in 2021?
Perillo: A pandemic-recovery challenge for the Borough will be transitioning back to doing business as usual post Covid-19. We have learned how to provide some services in a different way and will probably incorporate some of what we have learned post recovery. I look for ward to things getting back to normal.
TRT: Describe your perfect (pre/post-COVID) Saturday in Tinton Falls.
Perillo: My perfect Saturday in Tinton Falls would be driving through the Borough and stopping at one of our many wonderful parks to watch the residents enjoy the facilities and hopefully catch a youth game being played. I would then stop at one of the Borough’s great restaurants for lunch and enjoy the rest of the afternoon browsing our retail establishments and the Jersey Shore Outlets.
TRT: You’ve been the mayor for a number of years. Tell our readers something about yourself they don’t know.
Perillo: I still play golf at the age of 96, although I can barely get the ball in the air it’s still a great walk. I have four great-grandchildren and I have two more on the way whom I am very excited to meet.
This article originally appeared in the Feb. 18 – 24, 2021, print edition of The Two River Times.
