Risa S. Clay, Tracy A. Buckley and Michael J. Nesci have assumed their new positions and started their duties in Tinton Falls’ municipal government.
Clay, Buckley and Nesci have joined councilmen Brock Siebert and John Manginelli on the Tinton Falls Borough Council.
Clay, Buckley and Nesci ran as the Independent Advocates for Tinton Falls in the Nov. 5 nonpartisan municipal election and were elected to their first terms on the governing body. They succeed former council members Christopher Pak, Nancyanne Fama and Gary Baldwin.
During Tinton Falls’ annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 7, Buckley took the oath of office and began serving a three-year term. Luanne Peterpaul, the municipal court judge in Long Branch, administered the oath of office to Buckely.
Accompanied by her family, Clay took the oath of office and began serving a three-year term. State Sen.Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) administered the oath of office to Clay.
Clay recently retired as the principal of Red Bank Regional High School after 27 years in the school district.
Gopal then administered the oath of office to Nesci, who was joined by his wife and two children.
In her remarks, Buckley said, “I look forward to working with everybody in the community, the administration, Mayor Vito Perillo and my fellow council members.”
Clay followed Buckley’s remarks, saying, “I want to thank the voters for your amazing show of support and your graciousness as we knocked on doors day after day – even when we came more than once … I also want to thank my running mates who made the process so much better.”
In his remarks, Nesci said, “For all of our supporters who knocked on doors with us, walked with us and went to meet and greets, thank you so much for your support … I want to thank my fellow council members for their guidance as well.”
After taking their seats on the dais, the newly elected officials participated in their first roll call vote to elect a council president. Manginelli made a motion to elect Buckley as council president. Clay seconded the motion and the five council members unanimously voted “yes.”
When it came time to elect a deputy council president, Buckley made a motion to elect Clay. Siebert seconded the motion and the council members unanimously elected Clay to the position.
Gopal then administered the oaths of office to Buckley and Clay, who took turns holding the Bible for one another.
In his mayoral remarks, Perillo commended the new council members for their commitment to the borough.
“One thing I must say about this new council is that I have spoken to every one of them and what I love about them is that they have no plans other than serving the people of Tinton Falls. They don’t want to be congressmen or governors. They just want to (serve) Tinton Falls,” Perillo said.
In other business, Business Administrator Michael Skudera resigned from his position as of Jan. 7. Chief Financial Officer Thomas P. Fallon will serve as the acting administrator.
Kevin Starkey, the borough’s director of law, said Skudera “resigned in good standing and will pursue other endeavors.”
And, Fallon said grant applications for the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act have been released. He said the mayor will include a $150,000 appropriation in the 2020 municipal budget for repairs at the Tinton Falls Public Library.
During the general election in November 2017, voters throughout New Jersey supported a $125 million bond act and authorized funding for library improvements. State officials announced this week that they are now ready to accept applications for the funding.
Municipalities wishing to apply for a grant must match the grant amount in their municipal budget.
Previously, an engineering firm that was hired by Tinton Falls estimated it will cost $182,000 to remove mold and make repairs at the the Tinton Falls Public Library, which is a former home. The borough’s library has been closed since August 2017.