Byrnes Tapped As Council President For Third Year In A Row

by Patricia A. Miller

They must like what he's doing.

Township Council members voted unanimously at the recent 2014 organization meeting to appoint James J. Byrnes to serve as council president for the third year in a row.

Councilwoman Judy Noonan will again serve as council vice-president this year.

Byrnes recently announced he plans to seek the Third District Congressional seat. Congressman Jon Runyon has decided not to seek another term. Byrnes screened for the seat last Saturday.

Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari swore in Byrnes, who was elected to his first full term in 2013. He was first after being appointed to the council when Councilwoman Karen Davis stepped down. He was elected to an unexpired term in 2012.

Noonan was sworn into her second full term as the Ward 3 representative, along with newcomers Angelo Guadagno and Sophia Gingrich. All of the four ward seats went to the Republicans this year, since no Democrats filed to run.

Other major appointments for 2014 include:

• Township Attorney: the Toms River firm of Gilmore and Monahan. George R. Gilmore is the Ocean County Republican Party chairman.

• Municipal Prosecutor: Steven A. Zabarsky, Citta, Holzapfel and Zabarsky. Vicari's daughter Dina M. Vicari, Bonnie A. Peterson and O. Nicholas Monaco were appointed as alternate municipal prosecutors.

• Alternate Municipal Prosecutors: Bonnie A. Petersen, Dina M. Vicari, O. Nicolas Monaco.

• Conflict Township Attorneys: Thomas Gannon, Paul Leodori, Gregory McGuckin, Dina M. Vicari.

• Zoning Prosecutor: Dina M. Vicari to a one-year term.

• Public defender: Brian DeStefano

• Auditor: Holman, Frenia and Allison, William Antonides

• Planning Board - Robert Martino, Stephen Pellecchia, Sal Mastroberti, Nick Donatiello. Pellecchia was just elected to a second term on the Berkeley Township Board of Education, is a Berkeley Township Sewerage Authority commissioner and was appointed to the Golf Advisory Committee at the Jan. 1 meeting.

• Zoning Board - Louis Tuminaro, Richard W. Elliott Jr., Edward F. Cammarato were appointed to four-year terms.  Jerome Bollettieri and John MacMoyle were appointed to two-year terms.  Cammarato and MacMoyle were elected to the Berkeley Board of Education in November. Tuminaro is already a board member.

• Municipal Utilities Authority: Keith A. Buscio was appointed to a five-year term. Buscio is president of the Central Regional Board of Education. Former Councilman Kevin Askew was appointed to a five-year term as an alternate member.Askew was won a one-year-term on the Township Council in 2013, but decided not to run for a full-term. Askew's wife works for the Berkeley Township Sewerage Authority.

MUA commissioners are paid a salary of $2,500 per year.