(Fanwood, NJ) – The Borough Council approved the appointment of Paula Ferreira, at the last meeting of the year Monday night, as the new tax collector and payroll supervisor, replacing Colleen Huehn who retired after 35 years. Ferreira was also appointed qualified purchasing agent for the borough.
A resolution was approved to renew a shared services agreement with Garwood to continue to provide the town with Director of Public Works services.
Councilwoman Patricia Walsh said Lt. Dan Kranz, Officer in Charge of the Fanwood Police Department, has graduated from the FBI’s National Academy, an 11-week course on advanced communication, leadership and fitness training. She also announced that the borough is collecting resumes for a police officer vacancy because of a retirement.
She said the town is working with the borough’s police department, State Police and the Governor’s Office to advocate for answers on the increased drone activity over the state.
Council President Katherine Mitchell said public works crews have completed leaf collection operations for the year. Anyone who still has leafs on their properties is asked to hold them until the borough starts collecting leaves again around March.
In the event of plowable snow, residents are urged to remove their vehicles from roads and into their driveways.
Director of Economic Development/Downtown Redevelopment Elizabeth Jeffery reported that a new medi spa will be opening in the former Joli Visage Clinique space in Fanwood Crossing. The business will offer cosmetic services such as skin care and cosmetic services. Ms. Jeffery also said that Ron and Kara Shovlin, the owners of The Shovlin Mattress Factory, are working to open a Beam Light Therapy location in Fanwood. The business will offer infrared and red-light therapies for inflammation and other health benefits.
Ms. Jeffery also said that Fabio’s Bistro will be moving into the former location of Sheelen’s Crossing Pub & Pub on South Avenue. The new location will enable Fabios’s to expand its restaurant space.
Council President Mitchell swore in Cheyenne Mastroti as a member of the Fanwood Historic Preservation Commission. Mastroti, a 12-year resident of Fanwood and who is currently renovating her 100-year old home on Farley Avenue, said she is interested “in making sure that the preservation of historic structures are preserved” in Fanwood.
Girl Scout Cadette Troop 40969 from Nottingham School led the council in the pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting.
Troop Leader Teresa Panas said the girls are seventh graders and have been Girl Scouts since kindergarten. Panas said the girls have worked on a number community projects this year including organizing a local toy drive, collecting pet food and supplies for veterans residing at Valley Brook Village, a Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing facility in Basking Ridge, and collecting toiletries for a drive at St. Bartholomew’s Church.
The Troop also collected crayons for the Fanwood Green Team, which is partnering with The Crayon Initiative, an organization that collects used crayons, melts them down and then recirculates them for children in hospitals.
The next council meeting will be the reorganization meeting on Monday, January 6 at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
