Biographies | North Jersey District Water Supply Commission

Dr. Howard L. Burrell, Chairman

Dr. Howard L. Burrell, of Glenwood, was appointed by Governor Chris Christie to the Board of Commissioners of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission in 2013. Dr. Burrell also currently serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Ginnie’s House Children’s Advocacy Center; on the State of New Jersey Selective Service System Local Board; and on New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District Service Academy Nomination Selection Committee. Previous positions held by Dr. Burrell include serving as the Mayor of Vernon Township; on the Centenary University Board of Trustees; on the Board of Trustees for the Northern NJ Veterans Memorial Cemetery; as an Assistant Director in the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development; as a Sussex County Commissioner; as a Vernon Township Council member and Deputy Mayor; as a member and President of the Vernon Township Board of Education; and as the Special Assistant to the President of Felician University.

Charles P. Shotmeyer, Vice Chairman

Charles P. Shotmeyer, of Franklin Lakes, was appointed by Governor Christine Whitman to the Board of Commissioners of North Jersey District Water Supply Commission in 2000 and has served as Chairman since 2012. Mr. Shotmeyer serves as CEO of Shotmeyer Bros. Fuel Company, a family business founded 88 years ago by his father. His other pastimes and activities include working with the Boy Scouts since 1948, serving on the Foundation Board of Valley Hospital, and assisting various non-profit and charity groups.

Alan S. Ashkinaze, Commissioner

Alan S. Ashkinaze, of Oradell, was appointed by Governor Chris Christie to the Board of Commissioners of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission in 2011. Commissioner Ashkinaze is a lifelong resident of Bergen County and practices law in Hackensack, N.J. Commissioner Ashkinaze has extensive experience in representing clients in the private and public sectors on a broad range of environmental, land use, and administrative law matters. He also has extensive experience in public service. Mr. Ashkinaze served as Chairman of the New Jersey Advisory Council on Solid Waste Management. Additionally, Commissioner Ashkinaze served on the NJDEP “Brownfields” working group- an ad-hoc committee of environmental attorneys, corporate officers and public officials who assisted the NJDEP in developing policy toward remediating and developing contaminated sites.

Donald C. Kuser, Commissioner

Donald C. Kuser, of Wayne, was appointed by Governor Chris Christie to the Board of Commissioners of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission in 2012. Mr. Kuser served for many years on the Council in the Township of Pequannock including the Office of Mayor. Mr. Kuser also served as Congressional Aide to the Honorable Robert Roe in the U.S. House of Representatives. While serving as Congressional Aide, Mr. Kuser was involved in many water resources and environmental projects. One of those projects was the State of New Jersey and the Federal government’s recommended plan for flood control, “The Pompton River/Passaic River Dual Inlet Tunnel” signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1991.

Robert C. Garofalo, Commissioner

Robert C. Garofalo, of Brielle, was appointed by Governor Chris Christie to the Board of Commissioners of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission in 2015. Commissioner Garofalo practices law in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, where he previously served as Township Attorney. His firm represents a broad spectrum of the business community primarily engaged in all phases of real estate development, including national and regional commercial enterprises. His firm was a forerunner in the implementation of wireless telephone facilities throughout the State representing many of the major providers. Mr. Garofalo has also served as an Arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association for over forty years.

James L. Cassella, Commissioner

James L. Cassella, of East Rutherford, was appointed by Governor Phil Murphy to the Board of Commissioners of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission in 2019. Mr. Cassella has served in an elected position in East Rutherford for 40 years; board of education trustee for 5 years; councilman for 11 years and mayor for 24 years. As mayor and lead negotiator, Mr. Cassella was instrumental in negotiating agreements with both the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and American Dream that resulted in East Rutherford receiving and continuing to receive tens of millions of dollars in revenue. He was appointed to the New Jersey Complete Count Commission by Governor Murphy in 2019. Mr. Cassella has been a ten year member of the NJ League of Municipalities Executive Board, serving as president in 2018; he continues his association with the NJLM as a past president and as a member of the legislative committee. He served for 15 years on the Bergen County Utilities Authority Board of Commissioners and has served for 10 years as chairman of the Hackensack Meadowlands Municipal Committee. Mr. Cassella has also served on a number of other boards and committees. During his time in public service Mr. Cassella has been recognized by numerous organizations, including receiving the “Excellence in Public Service Award” from the Hackensack Riverkeeper and the “Arline Simpson Leadership Award” from the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Cristina M. Cutrone, Commissioner

Ms. Cristina Cutrone, of Fair Lawn, was appointed by Governor Phil Murphy to the Board of Commissioners of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission in 2022. Ms. Cutrone has served on Fair Lawn's town council since 2018 and currently serves as the Deputy Mayor. Cristina has been a public school educator for 18 years. She currently is the Social Studies Department Chairperson at Tenafly High School. She is also the co-founder and president of a grassroots organization called WE DO (Women Empowered Democratic Organization) whose mission is to support women interested in public service. Ms. Cutrone previously served as a trustee to the Bergen County Board of Education for Special Services. Cristina holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in Government and Politics and Secondary Education and a master’s degree from New Jersey City University in Educational Leadership. Deputy Mayor Cutrone is married and is mom to two children, Cole & Nora.