The Fanwood Borough Council hosted its last Mayor and Council Meeting on Monday, December 17. To close out the year, Mayor Mahr and the Council members honored a few leaders within the community.
Councilman Molenaar Retires His Position
The Mayor and Council bid a heartfelt farewell to retiring Councilman Jack Molenaar. He decided not to run for reelection to continue his nine-year career on the Council. He said, “I left things better than when I arrived.”
Photo courtesy of John Mooney.
Councilman Molenaar’s major accomplishments include leading the downtown redevelopment and getting curbside recycling before the Council for passage. Councilman Molenaar will remain involved with the Borough of Fanwood as a member of the Fanwood Planning Board, where he has also served for 15 years. He is also Transportation Director for Rutgers University and a city planner.
Mayor Colleen Mahr honored Councilman Molenaar by presenting him with a Proclamation from Trenton commending him for his service along with a pen set. She also announced that his name will be added to a plaque documenting all of Fanwood’s Council members. He served with 15 of them over his career.
Terrill Road Bible Chapel Recognized as Volunteer of the Month
Photo courtesy of John Mooney.
Councilman Anthony Carter poses with Boy Scout Joseph DeSantis. For more than 20 years, Terrill Road Bible Chapel has served the voters of Fanwood as the official polling place for Districts 4 and 5. This year, voting was permanently moved to LaGrande Park. To recognize the church for its decades of public service, Mayor Mahr presented church member Allan Wilks with the traditional framed print of the Fanwood train station as a token of appreciation.
Boy Scout Earns His Government Badge
Boy Scout Joseph DeSantis earned his government badge by attending the Council meeting. DeSantis is a member of Troop 33 as well as an 8th grader at Park Middle School. He posed for photos with Councilman Anthony Carter.
Join Us Next Year!
The annual Reorganization Meeting for the Mayor and Council will take place January 1, 2019, 12 noon at Council chambers. Newly elected Council member Trisha Walsh will be sworn in, along with Councilwoman Erin McElroy Barker who was re-elected. The public is invited to the ceremony and to a reception following.
Some photos and reporting details courtesy of John Mooney.
