COLTS NECK – Township Committeeman Thomas Orgo will serve as Colts Neck’s mayor during 2019 after he was elected to that position by his fellow members of the Township Committee during the governing body’s reorganization meeting.
In Colts Neck’s form of government, residents do not directly elect the mayor. Each January, the committee members select one person on the governing body to serve as mayor for the year. Republicans hold all five seats on the governing body.
During the Jan. 6 meeting, Committeeman J.P. Bartolomeo commented on his year as mayor in 2018.
“The mission I had with the help of the Township Committee was to evolve, not change,” Bartolomeo said. “It was to evolve this awesome town into a newer time and keep all of the values the same; open space, horses, golf courses, no sewers, no (public) water, the things we moved here for.
“The township suffered an incredible loss with the tragic deaths of the Caneiro family. I am proud to say the township came together to support the Caneiro family and one another during a very difficult time. It is times like that when we realize how fortunate we are to be part of such a wonderful, caring, tight-knit community,” he said.
After Bartolomeo spoke, Orgo was sworn in as mayor by John O. Bennett, a former state senator and Colts Neck’s former township attorney.
“I want to thank my four fellow committeemen for nominating me for mayor,” Orgo said. “It’s an honor and I am looking forward to serving the community. I want to thank the residents and our emergency services members for being here today. These are the people who make Colts Neck a great place to live and work.
“It’s hard to believe I just finished my seventh year of being a committeeman. I want to recognize Committeeman Russell Macnow for being our senior committeeman, for his wisdom and guidance. (Committeeman) Michael Viola, for doing a great job in his first year and going to all of his committee meetings. (Committeeman) Frank Rizutto, for being my deputy mayor and covering my back. J.P. Bartolomeo has done a great job and he started and finished everything we set out to do in 2018.”
“Our biggest challenges this year are going to be dealing with (pending affordable housing litigation) and keeping our tax rate steady,” Orgo said. “As you all know, the cost of living continues to rise and I think I can speak for all of us on the dais that we will continue to work hard to find ways to provide quality services to our residents and our business owners while keeping costs as low as possible. It’s no easy task, but we will do our best.
“We try hard to improve, protect and maintain our way of life. I have no doubt rocked the boat a few times, but have been there to bail the water if needed to keep our ship sailing,” the mayor said.
During the reorganization meeting, Bartolomeo and Frank Rizzuto were sworn in to begin serving three-year terms. Bartolomeo was sworn in by Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden and Rizzuto was sworn in by John Cantalupo, the vice chairman of the Monmouth County Republican Committee.
Rizzuto was elected to serve as deputy mayor and was sworn in by Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone.
“At gatherings like this, you will hear Colts Neck referred to as a jewel, or a jewel in the crown of Monmouth County. In my opinion, these characterizations are generally true.” Rizzuto said, “Colts Neck is a unique and wonderful place to live, but this status was not achieved accidentally.
“The current state of our township is the result of a long and stable succession of conservative municipal government. Since 1847, the men and women who lived in this town placed great emphasis on open space, appropriate development in the business districts, keeping taxes low and keeping government small.
“So if Colts Neck is, as they say, a jewel, and if Monmouth County a crown, history has shown us that jewels and crowns need to be protected. We can’t promise solutions to every problem facing our township today, but together we can strive to preserve the stability, security and sanctity of our hometown,” he said.
In other reorganization business, Bartolomeo and Rizzuto were named to serve on the Planning Board as representatives of the governing body. Department of Public Works Director Louis Bader and Vito Viola were appointed to one-year terms on the board. Andrea D’Eletto and John Tobia were appointed to four-year terms and Scott Stanford was appointed to a two-year term as an alternate.
Michael Taeschler and Jeffrey Reisinger were appointed to four-year terms on the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Kris Lukowitz was appointed to a one-year term as an alternate and Steve Dnistrian was appointed to a two-year term as an alternate.