Mayor Colleen Mahr swore in Fanwood’s newest police officer during the monthly work/agenda meeting of the Mayor and Council on Monday, October 3rd, 2022. Sean Murphy, a resident of Fanwood who most recently worked for the Newark Police Department, took the oath. His fiancé, Samantha Pauls, held the Bible. His parents, Mary and Harry Murphy, were at his side. Also present was his brother Matt, sister Jillian and nieces Claire, 3, and Leah, 7. Originally from Nutley, Murphy is a graduate of the Bergen County police academy and worked in Newark for two years.
Officer Murphy, center, with fiancé Samantha Pauls and, left to right, Fanwood Police Director Mike Bramhall, Councilwoman Trisha Walsh, Mayor Colleen Mahr, Sean’s parents Mary and Harry Murphy, sister Jillian Costigan, brother Matt Murphy and nieces Claire and Leah
Andy Song
In other business, Andy Song, owner of Diva Nail salon on South Avenue, spoke on behalf of the owners of the other nail salons in town to express concern about a new salon opening on South Avenue. Nail Boutique occupies a storefront at 268-A South Avenue next to Ginger Sushi and is the fifth nail salon in downtown Fanwood. Mr. Song said business has been down 35% since the pandemic and expressed his fear that yet another salon will further impact business. Mayor Mahr expressed reluctance to involve the governing body in the flow of free commerce in the downtown, but promised to refer Mr. Song’s concerns to the Zoning official to make sure the new business’s permits were in order. No one from Nail Boutique was at the meeting.
The Council also authorized the sale of an additional $3.7 million in bonds or notes to fund the construction of the new library. The current budget for the library is approximately $7.2 million with half funded by a state grant. The remaining $3.5 million is to be funded by a previous bond sale. However, all bids for the construction were recently rejected because they were above the project’s appropriated amount. The additional $3.7 million would give the Borough flexibility to accept revised bids.
