(Fanwood, NJ) – A new police officer was sworn in and another officer was promoted to sergeant at the Monday, August 11th Borough Council meeting. The council also applied for a Union County grant for the Fanwood Historic Train Station renovation project.
At the start of the meeting, Mayor Colleen Mayor gave the oath of office to Fanwood’s newest Police Officer, Jeff Yosurack. Lt. Dan Kranz, Officer in Charge of the Fanwood Police Dept., said Officer Yosurack most recently worked for the Union County Sheriff’s Department where he was assigned to the juvenile unit and the emergency response team. Prior to that he was employed by Union County Emergency Medical Services.
Mayor Mahr also administered the oath of office to Tyler Flowers for his new rank of sergeant. Lt. Kranz said Sgt. Flowers began his law enforcement career with New Jersey State Corrections and was later employed by the Kean University and Tewksbury Police Departments before joining the Fanwood Police Department in 2019. He joined the department’s detective bureau in 2022.
Joan Skubish gave a presentation on the Fanwood Historic Preservation Commission’s plans to celebrate the Nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. She said the State has asked towns to commemorate this anniversary with programs that engage the local community, students, civic organizations, libraries, and historic sites.
Skubish said the historic commission has proposed a Fanwood Build-a-Lego event whereby up to 50 Families with children aged 5 to 14 would take part in a two-hour event constructing buildings out of Legos from pictures of Colonial Fanwood homes supplied by architect Steven Schwartz. Another suggestion is for a Memorial Day concert with music featured from decades dating back to the 1870s.
Sagar Desai, one of the owners of Fanwood Liquors, asked the Mayor and Council to allow his store to open earlier on Sundays than the noon restriction the borough currently has for liquor stores.
The council approved resolutions for the Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) for 11 members of the Rescue Squad and 11 members of the Fire Department.
A resolution was approved for the purchase of a street sweeper. The acquisition will be funded through a state grant the borough received last year.
A resolution was approved for the borough to apply for a grant from the Union County Open Space, Recreation & Historic Preservation Trust Fund in the amount of $200,000 to renovate the Fanwood Train Historic Station with the borough matching that amount.
A resolution was approved for Douglas Germinder Jr. of Fanwood to join the Fanwood Fire Department.
Mayor Mahr said the Raritan Valley Line Mayors Coalition has received a letter from New Jersey Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri that the agency is committed to additional one-seat rides to New York Penn Station by the fall of 2026 on the Raritan Valley Line.
Elizabeth Jeffery, director of economic development, reported that construction of the SoHo at Fanwood Station building, 282 South Avenue, is winding down and that First Street will be paved later this month and will return to a two-way street. She said Beam Light Therapy and Hot Yoga have permits for their fit out and when that work is done they will open their retail spaces. Double Jelly on Martine Avenue is also in construction of their space and will be opening soon.
Ms. Jeffery also said Fabio’s Bistro will be demolishing the former Sheelen’s Crossing building, which Fabio’s purchased. They have approval to construct a new larger restaurant at that site.
