Towns Reorganize Governments for 2020

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By Allison Perrine

In the first week of January local town governments hold their annual reorganization meetings: Elected officials take their solemn oaths, professionals are appointed and sometimes first responders and volunteers recognized. The air is often celebratory, with spouses and children present for photos. In some cases, refreshments are served after the work is done. Here is a list of municipal reorganization meetings in the Two River area:

Monmouth County: The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders will meet for the first time in the new year at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7 at the Hall of Records, 1 East Main St. County Republican incumbents, including Tom Arnone and Nick DiRocco, will be sworn in to their terms after winning elections this November. The two were challenged by Democrats Michael Penna and Moira Nelson.

Atlantic Highlands: Republican Loretta Gluckstein will be sworn in as the new mayor after defeating Democratic incumbent Rhonda LeGrice in the election. Councilmen Stephen Boracchia and Brian Boms will also be sworn in. The meeting will be held at noon Wednesday, Jan. 1 at borough hall, 100 First Ave.

Colts Neck: Republican incumbent Councilwoman Sue Fitzpatrick will be sworn in to a new term on the township committee. She ran unopposed in the November election. The meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4 at the township courthouse, 124 Cedar Drive.

Fair Haven: Democratic newcomers Meghan Chrisner-Keefe and Michael McCue will be sworn in to their new positions on the borough council after defeating Republican incumbents Jacqueline Rice and Jonathan Peters. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6 at borough hall, 748 River Road.

Highlands: After a one-vote victory this election season, Carolyn Broullon will be sworn in as the new mayor of Highlands. She defeated incumbent Rick O’Neil, 603-602 votes. The meeting will be held at noon Wednesday, Jan. 1 at Robert D. Wilson Memorial Community Center, 22 Snug Harbor Ave.

Holmdel: It was an interesting election season for Holmdel this year. A challenge is ongoing to determine whether Republican Chiung-Yin Cheng Liu or Independent candidate Prakash Santhana will claim a seat on the dais. Currently Santhana has two votes over Liu, but Liu filed a lawsuit last week challenging the outcome of the recount. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2 at the Holmdel Township Meeting Room at Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Road.

Little Silver: Republican incumbent Mayor Robert Neff Jr. will be sworn in after running unopposed in the November election. Fellow Republican council members Donald Galante and Corinne Thygeson will also be sworn in to their terms. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6 at Little Silver Borough Hall, 480 Prospect Ave.

Middletown: The township committee will remain the same this year, as Republican incumbents Kevin Settembrino and Rick Hibell will be sworn in to their new terms. They recently defeated Democrats Sean F. Byrnes and Jeana Sager in the election for township committee. The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5 at Middletown Town Hall, 1 Kings Highway.

Monmouth Beach: Monmouth Beach’s three-member board of commissioners will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7 at Monmouth Beach Borough Hall, 22 Beach Road.

Oceanport: Incumbent Mayor Jay Coffey will be sworn in to his new term as Oceanport Mayor at noon Wednesday, Jan. 1 at Maple Place Middle School, 2 Maple Place, after facing off against Republican Councilman Robert Proto for the position. Newcomers Thomas Tvrdik and Meghan Walker will also be sworn in, after defeating incumbent members Joseph Irace and Stephen Solan.

Red Bank: The borough council will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 at Red Bank Borough Hall, 90 Monmouth St., for a reorganization meeting. Incumbent Democrats Kathleen Horgan and Erik Yngstrom defeated Republican challengers Allison Gregory and Jonathan Penney during the November election.

Rumson: Incumbent Republican Mayor Joseph Hemphill will be sworn in to his new term as the Wednesday, Jan. 1 meeting, held at noon at Rumson Borough Hall, 80 East River Road. Hemphill ran unopposed in the November election.

Sea Bright: Republican Councilman Brian Kelly will be sworn in as the new mayor of Sea Bright at the Saturday, Jan. 4 meeting at 10 a.m. at the Cecile F. Norton Community Center, 1167 Ocean Ave. Additionally, incumbent Independent Kevin Birdsall and newcomer Sam Catalano, a Democrat, will be sworn in to the borough council.

Shrewsbury: Republicans Deidre DerAsadourian and Jason Sena will be sworn in to their full terms on the borough council at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6 at the reorganization meeting at Shrewsbury Borough Hall, 419 Sycamore Ave. Additionally, Republican incumbent Brendan Gilmartin will fill a one-year unexpired term on the council, after defeating Democrat challenger Norma Rosenbloom.

Tinton Falls: Tracy Buckley, Risa Clay and Mike Nesci will be sworn in to their terms on the borough council at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7 at Tinton Falls Borough Hall, 556 Tinton Ave. They defeated challengers Ronald Wollner, Donald Michaels, Kenneth Asmar and Lawrence Dobrin in the November election.