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.
Patrick Rizzuto, President prizzuto@vernontwp.com
Term Ends 1/2026
Natalie Buccieri, Vice President nbuccieri@vernontwp.com
Term Ends 1/2026
Bradley Sparta bsparta@vernontwp.com
Term Ends 1/2028
Jessica DeBenedetto jdebenedetto@vernontwp.com
Term Ends 1/2026
William Higgins whiggins@vernontwp.com
Term Ends 1/2028
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.
William Higgins
Mr. Willam Higgins, a resident of Vernon Township since 1978, is the proud father of 3 children. Mr. Higgins has been an active contributor to the community, having served on the Vernon School Board and actively participating in various youth sports programs. Mr. Higgins received his BA from Kent State University as well as a MBA from Rutgers University. His dedication to education and youth development has left a lasting impact on Vernon.
Mr. Higgins has a background in business administration and a passion for community service, Mr. William Higgins stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of professional success and civic responsibility. His previous experience is as follows, Co-Owner of a Consultant & Manufacturer Rep Company for a Physical Security Industry. Mr. Higgins has played a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of the community.
Join Mr. Higgins in his journey of enhancing security, fostering education, and contributing to the well-being of Vernon Township.
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.
Patrick Rizzuto
My name is Patrick Rizzuto, I moved to Vernon 55 years ago with my wife Barbara, my son Patrick Jr. and daughter Lauren. A few years later we had our youngest daughter, Dianne. I was employed by Frier industries as a sales manager and in 1982 left them to start my own business, Castle Sales Associates, where worked styling and importing men’s footwear to major footwear retailers in the United States. I retired in 2013 after the birth of my three youngest grandchildren.
I graduated from Seton Hall University in 1965 with a BS in marketing and in 1971 from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Masters of Business Administration.
I had never expected Vernon to be our home for so long but as the years progressed the roots grew deep and as did our friends and attachments. I rand for the Board of Education in 1975 serving for 15 years with eight consecutive years as Board President. In 2011 I was elected to the town council and until relinquishing my seat in 2017 after serving three years as Council president. In 2021 I again ran for town council serving as Council president in 2022 and will be a council member until 2025.