Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Kevin M. Askew selected as Ward 2 representative, replacing Carmen F. Amato Jr., who won the mayoral election in November
Up until about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Bayville resident James J. Byrnes was president of the Berkeley Board of Education. Several minutes later, he had a new title — Township Council president. Byrnes, 62, Dogwood Drive, made the jump from the school board to the governing body shortly after Township Council members unanimously selected him as the Ward 1 representative at the Jan. 17 council meeting. He replaces former Township Council President Karen Davis, who resigned on Jan. 1 to concentrate on knee surgery rehabilitation. "I'd just like to thank the board for your confidence," Byrnes said, as he took his seat at the center of the council dais. "I'm flattered to be moved here so fast. I think I can do more for the schools and the town by …
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Two-Term Township Councilman will be township's first Republican mayor in more than 20 years
Carmen F. Amato Jr. is slated to be sworn in as mayor at 2 p.m. today at the Berkeley Township Elementary School on Emory Avenue in Bayville. Congressman Jon Runyan (R-NJ) will swear the 42-year-old Amato into his first four year term. Runyon will administer the oath of office to Robert Ray, who was elected to his first term on the council. Republicans Ray, John Bacchione and Thomas Grosse, all part of the Amato team during the campaign, won decisive victories over their Democratic challengers in November. Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari will swear-in Bacchione and Grosse, Amato said. Amato narrowly ousted longtime Democratic Mayor Jason J. Varano by 248 votes out of nearly 14,000 votes cast, ending Varano's quest for a fourth term. The …
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Mayor-Elect announces his professional team
You'll know who he is. Mayor-Elect Carmen F. Amato Jr. says his new administration will be more open and accessible to the public once he takes over on New Year's Day. "I want to be a hands-on mayor," Amato said. He plans to hold either monthly or quarterly town meetings in various sections of the township, so residents bring problems to officials without having to wait until a Township Council meeting. Amato also plans to replace almost all of outgoing Democratic Mayor Jason J. Varano's professional team when he is sworn in on New Year's Day. "I want to bring in people I'm comfortable with," he said. "Like-minded people I've dealt with in the past. It's typical when there is a new administration. You bring in people you are comfortable …
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Last Township Council meeting for Democratic Mayor Jason J. Varano, three council members and many township professionals
He was only 26 back in the waning days of 1999, when he took over as mayor after the sudden death of Democratic Mayor Bill Zimmermann Jr. Mayor Jason J. Varano - now with a little gray at his temples - was back at his seat tonight, his last Township Council meeting as mayor. It was his first appearance at a council meeting since his narrow defeat in his quest for a fourth term in November. Varano lost to Republican Township Council Vice-President Carmen F. Amato Jr. by 248 votes out of nearly 14,000 cast. Varano was gracious and brief. He congratulated Amato on his victory. "Thank you to the residents of Berkeley Township," he said. "It has been my pleasure to serve the residents of Berkeley Township. I've really enjoyed my time here. It…
Amato to be sworn in as mayor at Berkeley Township Elementary School on Sunday
Tuesday - Berkeley Township Council meeting, 7 p.m., Town Hall, 627 Pinewald-Keswick Road. The caucus meeting starts at 7 p.m., followed immediately by the regular council meeting. This is the last council meeting of 2011. Tuesday - Teen Food Fear Factor -6 p.m. Berkeley branch of the Ocean County Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville. Come and sample some truly gross and bizarre foods. Ages 13-18. Register online or call 732-269-2144. Thursday - Bingo night, sponsored by the Holiday City at Berkeley Bingo Club, Clubhouse #2, Port Royal Drive. Doors open at 5 p.m., bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday - "Just Dance Off," 1 p.m. at the Berkeley branch of the Ocean County Library, 30 Station Road, Bayville. Show off your dance skills in a "Just …
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
New administrator, attorney, planner and engineer coming in
Call it cleaning house. Most township professionals in any municipality know their work days are dwindling when one political party gains a strong majority on the governing body. And Berkeley Township is no exception. Republican Township Council Vice President and Mayor-elect Carmen F. Amato Jr. plans to announce four key township professional appointments by the end of the week. Amato - who will be sworn in at 2 p.m. on Jan. 1 at the Berkeley Township Elementary School - is replacing the current township professionals. Gone will be longtime Township Administrator Leonard W. Roeber, who submitted his resignation effective Dec. 31; Township Attorney Patrick Sheehan; Township Engineer Chris Theodos and Township Planner David Roberts. All …
Local GOP needs to fill two upcoming Township Council vacancies; application deadline is December 30.
Wanted: Two Berkeley Township residents willing to serve out 2012 terms of Council President Karen Davis and Council Vice President Carmen F. Amato Jr. Must be diplomatic, possess a tough skin and sit through sometimes hours-long, rowdy Township Council meetings. The local municipal Republican organization is accepting resumes for two looming vacancies on the Township Council, following Davis' resignation earlier this month and Amato's victory in the November mayoral election. The deadline to submit applications is Dec. 30. The local municipal organization will interview candidates, then submit three names to the Township Council early in January, assistant GOP municipal chairman Anthony DePaola said. "They pick three for each ward," he …
Friday, December 16, 2011
School board member should have identified himself, member of Berkeley Shores Homeowners Civic Association says
A Berkeley Board of Education member recently urged the Township Council to proceed with green energy plans, before federal subsidies dry up. But since school board member James Fulcomer didn't identify his position when he made his comments, that led to an exchange about whether office holders should identify themselves when speaking during council meetings. Fulcomer asked the governing body what the future holds for solar energy in the township. Council President Karen Davis said the council formed an alternative energy committee about a year ago to look into the feasibility of solar power for municipal energy needs. Township Council Vice-President and Mayor-Elect Carmen F. Amato Jr. serves on the committee, which focused on signing a …
Friday, December 2, 2011
Large crowd expected, Mayor-Elect says
New Years Day will mark the first time in more than twenty years that Berkeley Township will turn from a Democratic administration to one solidly under Republican control. Township Council Vice-President and Mayor-Elect Carmen F. Amato is waiting for permission from Berkeley Board of Education and Township Council members to move the 2012 reorganization meeting from Town Hall to the Berkeley Township Elementary School. Amato said today he plans to ask council members to approve the change at the Dec. 13 Township Council meeting. "The four of us have pretty large families and since I'm the first Republican mayor in 20 years, we anticipate a larger than normal turnout," Amato said today. Amato, 43, won the four-year mayor's term on Nov. 8…
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Mayor, mayor-Elect, administrator and council president absent
Short and sweet. The Nov. 14 Township Council meeting finished up in what must have been record time, ending at 7:42 p.m. "My God," said Township Councilman Nathan A. Abbe, as he glanced up at the clock in disbelief. On a normal meeting night, even the Township Council caucus meetings routinely run until 10 p.m., followed by the regular council meeting. But Tuesday night was different. It was the first council meeting since the Nov. 8 election. There were a lot of empty seats, both up front and in the audience. No mention of politics. Democratic Mayor Jason J. Varano, defeated in his quest for a fourth term by Republican Township Council Vice President Carmen J. Amato Jr., did not attend. Neither did Amato, who is on vacation. Township …
Bayville for 40 years
3:40 pm on Wednesday, January 18, 2012
An honest politician, a kind lawyer and Santa Claus were walking down the street and saw a $20 bill. Which one picked it up?? Santa! The other two don't exist! more ›