The Hillside Municipal Council is the legislative body of the Township of Hillside
The council enacts by ordinance, resolution, or motion the local laws which govern the Township of Hillside. The Municipal Council is responsible for approval of the municipal budget, approval of certain Mayoral appointments, and official policies of the Township of Hillside.
Please click on the Councilmember’s name to access contact information.
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.
Councilman Rios has been a proud homeowner with his wife, Sonia, in Hillside for the past two years. Together in their love, they adopted a rescue dog, Luna. The three have turned the house into a home by quickly becoming members of their community. With fresh eyes into life at Hillside, Robert brings a new outside perspective to this proud township.
Robert graduated from William Paterson University with a major in Business Communications and a minor in Professional Sales at the Russ Berrie Institute. He formerly served as the Vice President of Marketing for Pi Sigma Epsilon, the National Professional Fraternity in Marketing, Sales, and Management for the Epsilon Sigma Chapter.
The boards Robert currently serves in Hillside are Chair for the Finance Committee and Member of the Personnel Committee. He also sits on the Hillside Library Board.
Robert's multi-faceted experience ranging from marketing director, franchise development, medical orthopedic device sales, and application development has allowed him to utilize all his accumulated knowledge to benefit the township of Hillside.
Councilman Rios is currently the Chief Marketing Director for Intentional Marketing, LLC. Previously, he spent eight years at CKO Kickboxing, working in business development while assisting with opening new gym franchises across the United States. His strong marketing and sales background will help bring a new vision to the future of Hillside Businesses.
His passions are his love for family along with mentoring today's youth. Robert prides himself on working hard to provide for his family while making a difference in his community!
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.
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LISA BONANNO
Council Member-At-Large
lbonanno@hillsidenj.us (973)-681-7155 Lisa has been with the County of Union for thirtyfour years. She studied at Kean University as well as Rutgers University, Newark Campus. Additionally startingher long career at the Board of Social Services and now is currently employed with the Union County Workforce Development Board for over fifteen years, where she currently hold the title of Deputy Director. She loves working with smart, passionate people to create programs that make training and good job opportunities available to residents in need. In her role, Lisa connects local and field implementation with innovative strategies to help create new solutions for the greater workforce community. Through her years at the UWDB, she has learned to take on every opportunity to learn from people around her: co-workers, colleagues, grantees, and stakeholders. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, doing anything creative from cooking to art, all the while making time for mentoring the next generation of public servants. She is a New Jersey State Certified Job Coach, as well as a State Job Developer and Navigator for the Disabled Job Seeker. She is a member of the Hillside Chamber of Commerce, as well as a proud member of Hillside Chapter of UNICO and is the treasurer of The Union County Status of Women. Lisa is a proud Hillside Resident for over forty-five years. Lisa’s enthusiasm for reaching out to make a difference is reflected in her commitment to serve, and her passion to educate local residents. She follows a long lineage of civil servants starting with her father Angelo J. Bonanno, a former Hillside Health Administrator and a Registered Environmental Health Specialist. As well as her mother Lee Bonanno a Library Assistant for Hillside Public Library as well as a former Hillside School Board member and culminating with her attaining the rank of Board President in the 1980’s
Councilwoman Salonia Saxton is an experienced public administrator, businesswoman, and community leader. In 2011-2015, she served on the Hillside Township Council. From 2013 to 2015, she was the Council President, presiding over meetings and setting meeting agendas; as a former Director of Paratransit for the Department of Human Services with the County of Union, she collaborated with local government agencies to address transportation needs for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
She has dedicated her resources to feeding people experiencing homelessness for the past 17 years at Newark Penn Station; she delivers yearly toys to children in the Township of Hillside who are in need. Every year Councilwoman Saxton prepares Thanksgiving turkey baskets for needy families in Hillside Township. Councilwoman Saxton will continue to support community development while working hard to build a stronger community to improve lives through food donations, clothing, and shelter referrals.
Governor Phil Murphy worked with local leaders like Councilwoman Saxton on the governor's initiatives to increase minimum wages and create access to the Affordable Care Act, education funding, and gun control.
Councilwoman Saxton is a lifetime Democrat who has devoted her time and efforts to the Party and its policies. Democrat Congressman Donald Payne Jr. stood with local women leaders like Councilwoman Saxton in New Jersey's 10th congressional district as he advocated for infrastructure, clean energy, and transportation projects that create jobs in Hillside.
Councilwoman Saxton earned certification as a Public Administrator from Rutgers University and a Certificate in Advanced Grant Writing from Kean University. She is certified in Computer Information Systems by Rutgers Technical Institution. She also received extensive training in municipal operations from the New Jersey League of Municipalities' Local Elected Officials Leadership Program.
Councilwoman Saxton is a homeowner in the 2nd Ward. She believes in family values. Saxton's daughter is an educator and a graduate of Hampton University. Also, her daughter is an Alumna Member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She is a woman of the Baptist faith who has a personal relationship with God and attends multiple churches for fellowship and worship.
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DARYL JOYNER
3rd Ward Council Member
Daryl Joyner – Ward 3 Councilman
“To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.” Douglas Adams
Daryl Joyner has been a proud Hillside homeowner for over 23 years.
Daryl brings over 30 years of accounting experience where he has implemented processes, and managed groups of individuals which helped the company to benefit efficiently. Aside from that Daryl has years of professional entrepreneurial experience that could benefit the town. Most people know Daryl from being an event planner where he has managed events throughout the east coast which brings communities together through social engagement.
As a community service advocate, Daryl volunteers with the Big Brother program working as a mentor for youth who come from single parent families and need someone to provide additional guidance as they navigate through life.
Daryl also volunteers with the Junior Achievement Program. Helping youth discover the positives in their lives as they learn and experience the challenges of social, educational, and emotional events of life and the ability to use the tools given through mentoring to understand how to maneuver through life.
Daryl promotes “A positive attitude will bring a Positive outcome.” It is part of Daryl’s goal with not only youth but the community to not allow your past challenges to dictate your future.
As Ward 3 councilman it is Daryl’s goal to help the mayor improve, and execute her mission for a better Hillside, and to be the liaison between the constituents and the mayor.
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DAVID FEUERSTEIN
Council Member
David has been a proud resident of Hillside for over 13 years, and had the privilege of witnessing the growth and development of a vibrant community firsthand. David's journey in Hillside has been marked by a deep commitment to serving neighbors and contributing to the betterment of the Town.
With a career spanning 15 years in the insurance industry, David has cultivated valuable skills in negotiations, creative risk management, and customer service. This professional experience has equipped him with a keen understanding of the needs and concerns of community members and businesses, particularly in matters relating to safeguarding their assets and ensuring their well-being.
Driven by a passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to make a lasting impact, David took the leap to start his own insurance brokerage three years ago. In addition to his professional pursuits, Daivd has been engaged in the civic life of Hillside. Over the past decade, David has actively participated in local elections, advocating for policies and initiatives that promote transparency, inclusivity, and progress. David's outlook reflects his unwavering commitment to democratic principles and ensuring that the voices of all residents are heard and represented.
As a member of the Hillside community, David is dedicated to fostering a spirit of collaboration and unity to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. David brings new energy and new solutions to the complex problems that have kept Hillside from reaching its full potential.
David lives in Hillside with his wife and 5 children. He is involved with a few charity organizations and volunteers as a Chaplain.
