Vernon Township
21 Church Street, Vernon, NJ 07462
Phone: 973.764.4055
The township council is the elected governing body responsible for legislative functions in Vernon Township. It is comprised of five members, all of whom are elected at-large. Subsequent to the implementation of Vernon’s new form of government on July 1, 2011, initial council terms are staggered—three members serve for two years and two members serve for four years. Going forward, all will serve for a term of four years.
Regular meetings of the township council convene on the second and fourth Monday of each month at the municipal building, located at 21 Church Street in Vernon.
Natalie Buccieri, President nbuccieri@vernontwp.com
Term Ends 12/2025
Patrick Rizzuto, Vice President prizzuto@vernontwp.com
Term Ends 12/2025
Bradley Sparta bsparta@vernontwp.com
Term Ends 12/2023
Joseph Tadrick jtadrick@vernontwp.com
Term Ends 12/2023
Peg Distasi pdistasi@vernontwp.com
Term Ends When 11/7/2023 General Election Results are Certified
Councilwoman Natalie Buccieri has lived in Vernon since 1997. She and her husband Dan have raised their four children in Vernon and their youngest attends VTHS. Natalie graduated from Jefferson Township High School, County College of Morris and received a paralegal certificate from the College of Saint Elizabeth. Upon graduation, she began working at CIGNA Healthcare, eventually becoming the regional customer service coordinator, responding to department of insurance and department of health inquiries, aiding CIGNA's legal department and coordinating the insurance appeal process, ensuring it met governmental regulations. Leaving CIGNA in 2000, Natalie worked with her husband Dan and they began a countertop installation and repair business. She managed the day-to-day operations of the business while raising their children. Since 2019, Natalie has been employed at Selective Insurance, as a distribution strategies specialist. Mrs. Buccieri served on the Vernon Township EDAC in 2011. In 2017, Councilwoman Buccieri was elected to the Vernon Township BOE and served on the board from 2018-2020. While a board member she served on the following committees: Superintendent Search Committee, Finance Committee, Negotiations Committee, Adhoc Healthcare Committee and chairwoman for the Liaison Committee.
Councilman Joe Tadrick currently serves as the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD), Northeast Regional Coordinator. Mr. Tadrick supports homeland security efforts, serving in an advising and reach-back capacity for the State Homeland Security Advisor. He contributes to the development of the national risk picture by assisting with the identification, assessment, monitoring, and minimizing of risk to critical assets at the local level. As a Regional Coordinator, Mr. Tadrick facilitates, coordinates, and performs assists visits and acts as a technical security advisor to Federal, State, and local law enforcement and emergency management agencies.
Mr. Tadrick holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology from Rutgers University, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management from Long Island University and has pursed on a Master of Science Strategic Intelligence (MSSI) from DIA, Washington, D.C. He also a Master of Science (MS) in Protection/Security Management from John Jay College. Mr. Tadrick achieved the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) status from ASIS. He holds a certification as a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and a Post Blast Investigator among other disciplines. Mr. Tadrick is married with three children.
Bradley Sparta
Mr. Sparta has lived in Vernon his entire life and his family goes back to the 1880’s in Vernon. After graduating from Vernon Township High School in 1988 he went on to attend East Stroudsburg University. He graduated with a BA in economics and a BA in Management.
While in college Mr. Sparta worked on a golf course and fell in love with the game of golf and was taken in by what it took to maintain a golf course. In 1996 he made the decision to attend Rutger Professional Golf Turf Management School so he could further his career in the golf industry.
Mr Sparta worked for almost 15 years in the Crystal Springs organization as a Superintendent and Project Manager. By the time he left Crystal Spring he was overseeing the maintenance on three of their golf courses and had managed and complete many projects for them.
Mr Sparta now works for the construction division of Downes Trucking Service. He was hired to build the golf course construction and renovation segment of the business.
Mr. Sparta was elected to the Town Council in November of 2022 and was sworn in November 21, 2022. He will be up for reelection in November of 2023.
Mr Sparta is married to his wife Robyn for 27 years and they have two adult daughters Haley and Sidney.