NORTH BRUNSWICK – “Dream big. Help others. Always tell the truth. Keep your promises. Work hard. Do your best. Say please and thank you. Don’t whine. Love one another. Smile. Laugh out loud. Make good choices.”
These words are hanging on the wall in Amanda Guadagnino’s daughter’s room, serving as inspiration.
“These are phrases we can all use everyday,” she said.
After Guadagnino was sworn in as council president for the North Brunswick Township Council during the council reorganization meeting on Jan. 1, she said she has learned much in the past two years on the council, but still has a lot to learn as the world continues to change.
She encouraged residents to “dream big,” with future plans to potentially offer free WiFi through town; install new water meters; and create an indoor complex inside a community dome for activities such as health and wellness, an emergency shelter, cooling and heating shelter, training facility, a science fair, a cheer competition or a movie night.
Carlo Socio and Dr. William Lopez were sworn in after being re-elected to the council in November.
Socio, whose family moved to North Brunswick in 1976, said he “never thought” he would be here 43 years later, especially elected to his seventh term on the council.
“Our job may not be as on the spot or threatening or demanding [as is for first responders] … but the phone rings and without a supportive household you just can’t do it,” Socio said, thanking his wife and daughters.
He said the council’s job is to provide the best budget with the smallest tax increase while maintaining programs. He said North Brunswick should be a town for children to grow up in, and everyone growing old together.
“I look at all our kids when we’re either at the baseball field or the soccer field or at Heritage Day or the many events and they look forward to a lot of these activities the same way we did and it makes for a nice hometown community and that’s what North Brunswick is – North Brunswick is home,” Socio said.
Lopez made note of the Governor’s Pointe fire from December, saying, “I never felt so afraid, yet I knew I had the duty to go out there and see what was going on.”
After his swearing in, he thanked all the first responders for their service to the town, grateful all residents survived.
“Thank you, Township of North Brunswick, I am truly grateful,” he said.
Ron Gordon was sworn in again as township attorney. After, Socio thanked Kala Sriranganathan in her retirement as chief financial officer.
At the conclusion, Fire Chief Kevin Meehan, First Assistant Chief Kenneth Graulich, Second Assistant Chief Matthew Levine and Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention Thomas Lettieri were sworn into their positions.