FREEHOLD – Councilwoman Margaret Rogers has been elected by her fellow members of the governing body to serve as president of the Borough Council in Freehold Borough for 2022.
At the start of Freehold Borough’s annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 2, incumbent council members Annette Jordan and Sharon Shutzer, who were the winning candidates in the November 2021 election, were sworn in to begin serving new three-year terms.
After all of the members of the governing body were seated, Rogers, who has served on the council since 2019, was elected to serve as president in an unanimous vote by Jordan, Shutzer, Councilman Michael DiBenedetto, Councilman George Schnurr, Councilman Adam Reich and herself.
Democrats hold all six council seats and the mayor’s office in Freehold Borough.
In separate resolutions, the council members accepted Mayor Kevin Kane’s nomination of Robert Cosgrove as municipal prosecutor for 2022. Ray Raya was named public defender for the year.
Through one resolution, council members accepted Kane’s nomination and appointment of Lynn Cannon as deputy clerk, Chief Financial Officer Richard Gartz as treasurer and collector for water and sewer rents, Kathleen Caruso as deputy treasurer, Patricia Berg as tax search officer, and Kevin Coyne as borough historian, each for a one-year term.
Council members made the following appointments to the Planning Board: William Barricelli, Shealynn Crombie and Caridad Argote-Freyre, each to a four-year term; Brianne Van Vorst to a one-year term; Garry Jackson to a two-year term as an alternate member; and James Keelan to a one-year term as an alternate member.
Business Administrator Stephen Gallo was appointed as Freehold Borough’s affirmative action officer for 2022. Gallo, Gartz and engineering aide Michael Sweetman were appointed as community development representatives and alternates for the year.
For legal services, the council authorized a contract with Matthew Goode. For engineering services, the council authorized a contract with Anthony Maltese of Abbington Engineering. For borough auditor services, the council authorized a contract with Suplee, Clooney & Company.