Borough resident fills BOE seat

By: Purvi Desai
   UPPER FREEHOLD — The newest member of the Upper Freehold Regional School District is Doug Anthony, an Allentown resident and a professional business agent heavily involved in the community.
   Mr. Anthony was named to replace Kathy Wolden, who resigned her seat on the board on Aug. 10, for personal reasons.
   "It looks to me like he’s sincere about wanting this job," said Superintendent Robert Smith on Monday. "He talked about having lived in the town for a little over eight years, and wanting to get more involved locally. He also has some background in labor relations that may help the board."
   At the Sept. 20 regular Board of Education meeting, two candidates, Mr. Anthony and former board member Robert Cheff, of Allentown, were publicly interviewed for approximately half an hour before the board voted 5-3 in favor of Mr. Anthony.
   Mr. Anthony said he became interested in the school district recently due to the controversy surrounding the construction site of the new middle school on Elisdale Road. The proposed site has been criticized because after testing in April 2004 and November 2004 revealed there were unacceptable levels of pesticides dieldrin and arsenic on the site. Dr. Smith said on Monday school officials are studying a site on Breza Road as an alternative, and the findings will be revealed at the next board meeting on Oct. 4.
   Meanwhile, Mr. Cheff, who served on the board from 2003-06, until losing his re-election bid in April, said he was concerned about the amount of time the board is taking to hire a new superintendent, delays in making a decision on the new middle school site, and negotiating teacher contracts.
   "I wish him all the best and thank him for stepping forward," Mr. Cheff said of Mr. Anthony. "I know the district has a lot of issues and hope they are able to overcome them as soon as possible and get that school built."
   Board member Jeanette Bressi, who voted against Mr. Anthony’s appointment, stressed to her colleagues that they needed someone experienced like Mr. Cheff. She also added that since the new member’s term would be only for the remainder of Ms. Wolden’s term expires in April, the board needed someone who already had a feel for the position.
   Board member Kathy Winecoff said, however, that the board needed to "break away from the past," and added that voters had made a statement in April when they decided not to re-elect Mr. Cheff.
   "I was very impressed by the way the group brought me into the fold very quickly," Mr. Anthony said last week. . "I believe that my skills can facilitate and move the board forward with middle school issues and the hiring of a new superintendent and negotiating contracts between teachers and principals."
   Mr. Anthony has lived in Allentown for nine years and is a business agent who negotiates contracts for utility employees at both Public Service Electric & Gas Co. and First Energy Corp. He said he has been involved with the Allentown Presbyterian Church, and been a youth group leader for two years, and has been on the local church buildings and ground committee for two years; he also coaches soccer and basketball and Little League.
   "All I really care about is doing what’s right for the children and moving forward," Mr. Anthony said.