Q&A: From Applications to Zoning, LaCosta is the Township's One-Man-Band

If you've built a home in Scotch Plains, added an addition to your house, opened a business, petitioned the Zoning or Planning Boards, or stopped by the on a Saturday morning, you've almost certainly seen or crossed paths with Robert LaCosta. Simply known as Bob, LaCosta's colleagues and friends refer to him as a repository of township history and trivia. And no wonder – he's lived in Scotch Plains his whole life, and has spent half that time working for the municipality.

On Tuesday morning, Patch swung by LaCosta's office on the second floor of the municipal building to talk about his career with the township, his accomplishments and inspirations, his favorite music and, of course, his distinctive white mustache.

Name: Robert Bruce LaCosta
Age: 63
Years in Scotch Plains: 63
Family: Married, three grown sons, "one beautiful granddaughter." 

Job Titles and Roles: Construction official, building subcode official, building inspector, mechanic inspector, zoning officer, public officer. Oversees the planning, zoning health, building and engineering departments, and handles day-to-day IT issues. At the state level, serves as co-chair of the building subcode committee, sits on the League of Municipality's land-use committee, and appointed to peer review in the Department of Community Affairs.
Years Working for Town: 34 years as of June 15. 

What do you like about it? "This is fun. It's actually fun. It's interesting, it's different every day. I like the people in town. I like the people I worked with. And I like the people I work with. By living here, you have a good feel for the town."
What are some of the challenges? By living in town, "You're literally on duty 24/7. People stop you in church, at the market, or the farmer's market….. You basically don't leave your job, you don't go home to a town three towns away….But the people are grand. Ninety-nine percent of the people are great. And I'm not saying that the other 1 percent are not great. But every day is a new day. I guess I'm just lucky to have this kind of attitude….. I think I have a very strong drive and a very strong work ethic. And, look, if it wasn't fun, you wouldn't be here at 8, because we don't open until 8:30. And I've been here since 6:30."
Where do you think that work ethic comes from? "I think it comes from my parents. My parents owned a grocery store across the street – one of four at the time. My parents struggled, and it outlasted them all. It was called Community Market. I probably realized at a very young age – I'm one of six, and it's not like I grew up wanting anything…. I saw how hard they worked to give us that, and I guess it just fell my way."
What is your proudest accomplishment? "Geez, there's a lot of them…. From a code issues standpoint – I've been very, very lucky, because I've been fortunate to have been appointed to sit on a number of state committees, which in some capacity kind of trickled down from the governor to the commissioner at the Department Community Affairs…. I was named Inspector of the Year in 2007. It's a state accomplishment, not a good-old-boys thing. I was proud to be nominated, and proud to get the award."

What book is on your nightstand? "Now? These," he says with a laugh, pointing to two thick binders sitting on a shelf: "The International Building Code of New Jersey, 2009," and "The International Residential Code of New Jersey, 2009." "You can read it one night, and interpret it one way. Then read it the next night, and read it another way." LaCosta adds that he just finished reading "Hooked: Pirates, Poaching and the Perfect Fish," and that he frequently reads books on the Vietnam War. LaCosta served in Vietnam, working with helicopters in 1969 and 1970.
What was the last movie you saw? "I couldn't tell you. I don't remember."
What do you do to relax? "I run. I ride my bike. I make wine. I like to garden.... Another of my hobbies is working on my 1929 Chevy."
Which CD is in your car's CD player, or which music is on your iPod? "I still listen to a lot of traditional music. When I run, I got a compilation of a lot of different things – Phil Collins, there's a couple Doors songs, Bare Naked Ladies. I try to run 30, 45 minutes to an hour."
Beatles, Stones, or The Who? "Beatles." 

How long have you had your mustache? "Since June in 1966, except for eight weeks when I was in basic training. Very, very few people know what I look like without  it – Vinnie, Nicky [Losavio, of ], two of my closest friends. My kids don't know what I look like without it. My wife doesn't. 
Have you come close to shaving it off? "Never. I've told my sons that when I have my first grandson, I would shave it off. So the pressure's on them. But I didn't say for how long I'd keep it off."

Who or what do you turn to for inspiration? "I'm a religious person. I had 12 years of Catholic education. I go to church weekly. I think everyone should have some type of religion that they can rely on, no matter what that religion is. I look at my kids, I look at my beautiful granddaughter – you've got to think that there is a good."
Do you have a favorite quote, or one that you frequently find yourself thinking of? LaCosta points to a square piece of paper, taped to a box on a high shelf at the back of his office. "'See everything, overlook a great deal, correct a little.' Pope John XXIII said that…. If everybody did that, I think we'd have a better world."