Township of Hillside Council

GERALD PATEESH FREEDMAN

Council President

gfreedman@hillsidenj.us
(973) 681-7155

Councilman Gerald Pateesh Freedman's dedication to Hillside is exemplified by his long-standing service to the community. He has served on the Council for 21 years and is currently serving as Council President and the representative for Hillside's 4th Ward.

During his tenure, Freedman has been appointed to many committees. He is currently a member of the Finance Committee and serves as an alternate member of the Recreation Advisory Council.

Professionally, Councilman Freedman is a Professor and Supervisor of Physical Education at Essex County College where he has worked for 51 years. He is a former boxer, boxing trainer, and referee.

Councilman Freedman's educational background includes East Stroudsburg State College, Newark State College, and New York University (NYU).

Councilman Freedman is a proud father and grandfather and is a Robert Street homeowner in Hillside's Fourth Ward.

GEORGE L. COOK III

Council Vice President

gcook@hillsidenj.us
(908) 963-3824

Councilman George L. Cook III has lived in Hillside for over 40 years. He is a 1986 graduate of Hillside High School and has always maintained a connection to his community as a public servant, most recently as Councilman-At-Large.

Councilman Cook started his public service in 2010 after being elected to the Hillside Board of Education. He served two terms on the Board and during his tenure served four years as Board President and two years as Board Vice President. He was also appointed to the New Jersey School Board of Directors in 2015.

Following his service as a School Board member, Cook ran for local office and was elected to the Hillside Township Council in 2017. During his tenure on the Council, he has served as Chairman of the Personnel Committee, liaison to the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Council Vice President in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Councilman Cook's public advocacy is only matched by his volunteer work, specifically, his efforts to serve the youth of Hillside. He has been a volunteer basketball and football coach for the Recreation Center and has sponsored State legislators visiting with residents. He led the Juneteenth Ceremony and African American flag raising during Black History Month in 2020.

Councilman Cook has been a member of the Hillside Scholarship Fund since 1986, the Lions Club since 2017, and the Union County College Foundation. He also served in the United State Army New Jersey National Guard from 1991-1994.

Councilman Cook is married to his wife, Quanda, and has one daughter, Brittany, who is a Class of 2017 graduate of Hillside High School.

ANDREA HYATT

1st Ward Councilwoman

ahyatt@hillsidenj.us
 (973) 390-3584

Andrea Hyatt is currently serving in her second term as Councilwoman of the First Ward in Hillside NJ. She has established herself as servant leader who stands firmly in her commitment to create good government; to be the voice of the people of Hillside; and the conscience of the governing body.

Andrea is a graduate of Rutgers University and the managing member of Hyatt Financial L.L.C. She has a vast amount of business experience across various industries and has held leadership roles in accounting, finance and operational sustainability. She has used and or continues to use her expertise to make quality decisions in her roles as Council President, Chair of the Finance Committee and proudly as the Councilwoman for the first ward.

In collaboration with Faheem J. Ra'Oof, she recently started Andrea Hyatt's Sharing the Love Civic Association, Inc. which is a non-profit organization that provides social services, practical education and training to Hillside residents as part of their ongoing community building initiative. She is a financial officer and executive board member of the Central Jersey Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is a trustee & finance committee member of Burch Charter School of Excellence in Irvington, NJ and she serves on the board of her beloved church, Agape Family Worship Center in Rahway, NJ.

Andrea is a life learner, who chose to increase her knowledge of government by earning her (CPM) certification in public management from Rutgers University in 2017, she also obtained the mini master's in public administration certificate from Rutgers University in 2016.

The Councilwoman is married to Anthony Hyatt, and they have two daughters and one son. Andrea has proven that she genuinely cares about the needs of all residents and business owners in Hillside. She is a thoughtful and pragmatic leader who possesses the heart of the people. She is a woman of faith, who believes that her life is one of purpose. She delights herself in serving God through her service to people and she understands that to whom much is given much is required.

CHRISTOPHER D. MOBLEY

2nd Ward Councilman

cmobley@hillsidenj.us
(973) 681-7155

Councilman Christopher Mobley is a 15-year resident of Hillside. He represents the 2nd Ward and brings a background that represents a skillset of deep experience and knowledge of municipal government.

Professionally, Councilman Mobley serves as the Assistant Director of the Department of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Orange Township. In this role, he helps drive sustainable development of market-rate and affordable housing; supports and encourages business development and expansion, and serves as the City's Urban Enterprise Zone Coordinator. He also is a Class II Planning Board Member.

Councilman Mobley's extensive background and experience in finance, purchasing, and grant procurement is an asset for Hillside. He currently serves on the Finance Committee, is an Alternate Member of the Personnel Committee, and is a Class III Planning Board Member.

Councilman Mobley has a Bachelor's degree from Kean University and a Master's Degree in Public Administration. He is a married Munn Avenue homeowner and is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

DONALD DEAUGUSTINE

3rd Ward Councilman

ddeaugustine@hillsidenj.us
(973) 681-7155

Councilman Donald DeAugustine represents Hillside's 3rd Ward. A dedicated public servant, Councilman DeAugustine, has lived in Hillside for over 50 years.

Councilman DeAugustine is a seasoned public official. He has served two terms as Council President and is a District 3 Committeeman. He currently serves as the Council liaison to the Senior Advisory Committee, the Swimming Pool Commission, the Veteran's Committee, and Police and Fire Departments. DeAugustine is also Chairman to the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties. He is a past liaison to the Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

Professionally, Councilman DeAugustine is a Business Agent for Millwright Local 715. He is a Council Representative for the Eastern Regional Millwright Council and has served more than 40 years in the union.

Councilman DeAugustine is a husband and father. In addition to his municipal responsibilities, DeAugustine is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Hillside UNICO, and a Free Mason.

CRAIG M. EPPS

Councilman At-Large

cepps@hillsidenj.us
(908) 327-4604

Councilman Craig Epps is a public servant as a citizen and professional. The At-Large Councilman serves Hillside with a focus on mentoring youth.

Councilman Epps has been on the Council since 2018, immediately showing his leadership and desire to be a mentor for youth. He currently serves as the Chair of the Personnel Committee and is Council Liaison to the Recreation Advisory Council and Alternate Board Member to the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties.

A police officer for more than two decades for the city of East Orange, Councilman Epps is the President of the East Orange Fraternal Order of Police. He graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Political Science. He is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

In a profile with Tap into Hillside, Councilman Epps explained his philosophy, stating he believes, "It's important for the next generation to work towards their goals by working hard to achieve what they want. In order for the future generation to be prepared and successful, the responsibility is on the adults to help teach and lead and mentor the children, along with mentoring and educating the parents to effectively communicate with our kids."

Councilman Epps is married to Hawaiian Thompson-Epps, and they have two children. He is a homeowner on Stanley Terrace and he is a Trustee of St. Matthew A.M.E. Church.

NANCY MONDELLA

Councilwoman At-Large

nmondella@hillsidenj.us
(973) 681-7155

Councilwoman Nancy Mondella has lived in Hillside for over 12 years. She brings a diverse and vibrant background with a track record of civic engagement.

Councilmember Mondella's town-wide public service began in 2010 when she successfully won a seat on the Hillside Board of Education. Ms. Mondella served on the Finance, Buildings & Grounds and Personnel Committees during her two-term tenure at the Hillside Board of Education.

Currently, Councilmember Mondella serves as the Finance Committee Chair, is a member of the Personnel Committee, and is Council representative to the Health Advisory Board.

Professionally, Mondella is a Certified Registered Nurse (CNOR) and works as the Nursing Director of the Operating Room at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Her educational background consists of a BSN from Long Island University in Brooklyn and a Master's in Nursing from CUNY, College of Staten Island.

Councilmember Mondella is a homeowner on Wilder Street in Hillside's Fourth Ward and is a mother and a grandmother.