appointed to vacant seat on governing body
Murphy takes seat
on Borough Council
Dem candidate
appointed to vacant seat on governing body
BY SANDI CARPELLO
Staff Writer
RED BANK — Borough-based builder and former zoning board member Arthur Murphy was sworn in as a member of the Borough Council last week.
Murphy, 44, 117 Prospect Drive, will replace 12-year Councilwoman Florence "Betty" Thompson, who relocated to Florida three weeks ago.
Murphy’s appointment was approved by the council in a 4-1 vote. Councilwoman Jennifer Beck, the governing body’s lone Republican, voted against the nomination.
Noting recent development issues that have surfaced in the borough, Beck said, "I don’t think it’s a good idea to have a builder on the council."
Beck also noted that, with Murphy’s appointment, she would be the only woman on the council, and there are no other minorities on the governing body now. "We have a lot of diversity in this town. I would like to see more women on the council and some more minorities."
Last February, Murphy was one of the zoning board members to vote in favor of a density increase variance, requested by Building and Land Technologies, a borough-based company planning to build a proposed 24-unit condominium project on 1.2 acres at the corner of Monmouth and West streets.
Mayor Edward McKenna, who nominated Murphy, disagreed with Beck’s position.
"We are lucky to have this individual," he said, noting that Murphy voted against the expansion of large projects like the Navesink House expansion.
"We reached out to the African American community and church organizations, and we asked them to name some candidates," he said.
Murphy has been appointed for the remainder of the year, but is seeking a full term on the council. Murphy and Councilman Pasquale Menna are the borough Democratic Party’s candidates in the Nov. 4 election.
They are being challenged by Republican candidates, Kay Ernst and Paul Emberger Jr.
Murphy, who will be the council’s liaison to the borough’s Parks and Recreation Committee, said it was an honor for him to serve the community.
"I was appointed to the zoning board three years ago," he said. "In that time, Red Bank has seen a lot of positive changes, and I feel a part of that. I want to be a part of it now."