Coaster Photo – Danielle Pappas-Long (center) is sworn in as the newest member of the Neptune City Borough Council by Mayor Robert J. Brown (left). Monmouth County Freeholder Director and former borough mayor Thomas A. Arnone and Pappas-Long’s daughter and husband look on.
By PETE WALTON
Newly appointed Neptune City Borough Councilwoman Danielle Pappas-Long will face Board of Education member Michelle Lewis for election to a one-year expired term on the council.
Pappas-Long was sworn in to the council at its regular meeting earlier this week. She was appointed Aug. 6 to the seat vacated by Alexander J. Tallman, who resigned to take a job in California.
After the meeting, Pappas-Long told The Coaster that she would run in November on the Republican ticket for the remaining year in Tallman’s term.
Neptune City Republican Chairman Brian J. Thomas said that the party supports Pappas-Long and that he does not expect any other Republicans to seek the party’s endorsement.
Councilwoman Pamela Renee, the longest serving of two Democrats on the council, said that Lewis has filed the paperwork to run for the unexpired term on the Democrat ticket. Renee said she was not aware of anyone else who would pursue her party’s support.
Republicans hold a 4-2 majority on the council. Incumbent Republicans Rick Pryor and Andrew Wardell are seeking reelection in November to new three-year terms. They will face Democrats David Calhoun and Meghan Huryk. The four candidates were unopposed in their respective party’s primaries in June.
Because of the timing of Tallman’s resignation, there is no primary election for candidates seeking to fill the unexpired term. The local Republican and Democrat organizations designate the nominees for their respective parties.
Independent candidates who wish to be on the ballot for the unexpired term should contact the Monmouth County Clerk of Elections at 732-431-7790 for more information. Several calls by The Coaster to the election clerk’s office were not returned by press time.
Also at this week’s meeting, the council approved an application for an open space grant in the amount of $250,000 for further improvements at Memorial Park.
Borough Admimistrator Henry M. Underhill said the improvements would include a gazebo at the eastern end of the park for concerts and other gatherings. The playround would be updated, new benches and picnic tables added, and access for the disabled would be increased, he said.
Monmouth County officials will review the application and give their input on the proposal. If the full requested grant is available, the borough would contribute $75,000 to the project, funds which are already allocated in its capital expenditures account.
The council voted to cancel a number of balances which remained in the capital account after several projects ended up costing less than anticipated.
Underhill said the cancellation resulted in the elimination of $109,000 in debt from the borough’s books.
Shore Top Construction Corp. of Farmingdale was awarded a $261,000 contract for work on Windsor Avenue.