By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
DAVE BENJAMIN Manalapan Municipal Court Judge James M. Newman administers the oath of office to Drew Shapiro, who will serve as mayor in 2003.
MANALAPAN — Township Commit-teeman Drew Shapiro has been elected to serve as Manalapan’s mayor for 2003.
Meeting on Jan. 6 for the annual reorganization, committee members Rebecca Aaronson and Beth Ward joined Shapiro in supporting his bid for the mayor’s office.
Committee members Mary Cozzolino and William Scherer voted against Shapiro’s nomination. Cozzolino cited what she described as a conflict of interest matter concerning Shapiro that she said would prevent her from supporting his bid for mayor.
All five members of the governing body are Democrats.
Manalapan Municipal Court Judge James M. Newman administered the oath of office to Shapiro and Aaronson. He also swore in Aaronson and Scherer to begin their second three-year terms on the committee. Both were re-elected in November.
In handing over her post as mayor to Shapiro, Aaronson said that serving the people of the township made her job rewarding.
"Republicans and Democrats alike want the same things for this town," said Aaronson. "We all want to slow growth and ease overcrowded roads and schools."
Aaronson, who served as mayor in 2002, pointed to the accomplishments of the last year, including the acquisition of land for open space and farmland preservation, purchasing land adjacent to the Manalapan Recreation Center for playing fields, hiring additional police officers and signing municipal service agreements.
Aaronson praised the efforts of the police department, Police Chief John G. McCormack and police captains Stu Brown and Lou Moreto.
She thanked the people who work at the municipal complex, particularly Rose Ann Weeden, municipal clerk, Jim Devereaux, township administrator, and his staff, Irene Dimiceli, Renee Garrigana and Tara Lovrich; and the members of her family.
In accepting the mayor’s role for 2003, Shapiro said, "In our form of government, the mayor is someone who represents their town. They are a reflection of the residents and the employees of that town."
Shapiro said he only hoped that he can reach the same level.
"I’ve enjoyed my year as police commissioner," said Shapiro, who as a committeeman held that post in 2002. "I take great pride when people from other towns and other police departments compliment our police department. I hope the residents appreciate what we have here."
Shapiro complimented the road department and employees at town hall for their efforts.
The new mayor said the township will always come first.
"This is evidenced in our new township attorney and our new law firm," said the mayor. "I will continue to do what I think is right and I will never bow down to political pressure. If I lose an election, so be it. As long as I do not lose the respect of the people."
The committee then made a host of appointments for the new year.
Newman will continue in his position as municipal court judge. Attorney Allen E. Falk will be the municipal prosecutor and attorney Patrick D. Healy will be the alternate municipal prosecutor.
Raymond Raya’s reappointment as Manalapan’s public defender was tabled by the committee in a split vote. Cozzolino abstained; Ward and Shapiro voted no; and Aaronson and Scherer voted yes. Municipal officials will attempt to resolve the matter in the near future.
Greg Valesi of CME Associates, Howell, will remain in his position as township engineer and Richard Cramer of Townplan Associates, Middletown, will continue as the township’s municipal planner.
Planning Board members will include Richard W. Hogan, Anthony Gennaro, Stephen Pine, Ron Wishart, Donald Holland (replacing Daniel Larkins), Richard Cohen, and returning to the board will be Howard Benkov. Ward will serve as a Planning Board Class III member for one year.
Appointments to the Zoning Board of Adjustment include Cynthia Maurino and Sal Vitale. Both appointments are four-year terms ending Dec. 31, 2006. Henry Rose was appointed to a two-year term as zoning board alternate No. 2.
Gary Lovallo of Consulting and Municipal Foresters Co., will return to his position as Manalapan’s forester-arborist.
Shade Tree Committee members include John Basselini, Joseph Cangialosi, Beth Fazlibegu, Louise Lang, Steve Laudati, Dr. Lawrence Miller and Janet D. Schmid.
Environmental commission members will be Thomas Pacheco, Jack Eisner, Neil Mulvey, Patricia Laudati and Holland. Walter Pytlik will be the chairman of that panel.
Members of the emergency management council will include Shapiro, Devereaux, McCormack, Moreto, Brown, Hogan, Sgt. Kenneth Gibson, Sgt. Timothy Kirkland, Frances L. Gracon, Leonard Miller, Elaine P. McNamara, W. David Richardson and Steve Ross.
Thomas P. Fallon was appointed as the township auditor.
Dr. Preston Deutsch and Karen Rothenberg will serve three-year terms as members of the board of health.
Wanda Holland and Leonard Zimmerman have been appointed to the transportation committee.
Recreation advisory board members will be Glenn Essner, Gerard Ward, Jill Levine, Sandy Lax, Howard Krant, Emile Berger, Ciro DeFalco, Leonard Minski and Andy Cioffi.
Lydia Wikoff will fulfill the role as township historian once more, and Edward Burke will be the alternate historian.