By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
There were no changes in the appointments of personnel including attorneys, engineers and auditor, made by Asbury Park Mayor John Moor at this week’s reorganization meeting.
The city did not however appoint a redevelopment attorney, which City Clerk Cindy Dye said was still being decided and would be on the agenda for the first regular meeting of the year on Monday.
The only new appointments made by the mayor were to the library and planning boards and the Office of Emergency Management.
Kerrin “Kerri”Martin was appointed to the library board committee.
Garret M. Giberson, city fire official, was made Director of the Office of Emergency Management and was also appointed as a Class II member of the Planning Board.
Councilman Joe Woerner was appointed as a class I member of the Planning Board to the disappointment of former member Seresa Grillo, who was not reappointed.
Grillo, who owns two city properties, one on Eighth Avenue and one on Cookman, has served a total of four years on the board.
During public comments she made her dismay known reading from a prepared statement asking why she was not reappointed in favor of a minority member of the council, referring to Woerner.
Grillo said as an owner of a Cookman Avenue condominium in the central business district and the fact that she owns another home and is raising her child in Asbury Park indicates her dedication to the city and its growth.
Grillo also said the city will be reviewing and possibly revising the city’s master plan in the coming year and expressed concern that residential areas are not getting the same attention as new development.
“We must create sustainable (growth)…reconsider my reappoint to the planning board,” Grillo said to applause from the audience.
Speaking on his own behalf Woerner said he had wanted to be on the board for a long time, but was not appointed in 2013 or 2014.
“I asked the mayor to appoint me, I care deeply about the city, it’s been something I’ve been interested in for awhile,” he said.
Councilwoman Amy Quinn thanked Grillo for her service and assured her that she could reapply in subsequent years.
“Spots come up every year. There are limited spots on the Planning Board…I foresee a spot in the future,” Quinn said.
Tom Gilmour of the Asbury Park Music Foundation announced at the meeting that the foundation received a $25,000 grant, which will be used to fund a free concert series at the new Springwood Avenue Park this year.
“It will be free to the public. We are hiring local musicians and hired professionals,” he said.
Deal Court resident Maureen Nevin said she had been working with City Manager Michael Capabianco and CFO Ricky Gartz and “cleared up” some misconceptions regarding the payment of debt on landmark buildings in the city.
“The city manager thought they were sewer bonds. We cleared it up two hours ago. They are open and we are paying on them…we have to get our accounting in better order,” she said.
