From the Meeting Room

Scene Around: In with the New Community Leaders in Fair Haven

New year, new council members, emergency responder line officers and all sorts of political appointees and contracts. That’s how it goes every new year in every municipality. And Fair Haven is no exception.

At the top of the visibility list is always newly elected governing body representatives. This year, with two outgoing Republicans, Kristen Hoey and Drew LaBarbera wrapping up their first and only terms on the Borough Council dais, neither having sought re-election in November, newcomers to the race and split-ticket winners, Democrat Christina Malecki and Republican Kevin Griffin were sworn in to their three-year terms on Tuesday night.

Malecki, whose family moved to Fair Haven when she was 4, graduated from Sickes and Knollwood schools and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) in 2006. After some time away from home, she came back to the borough in 2017 to raise her own family.

Known as an area volunteer for various causes and sports, Griffin has lived in Fair Haven since 2011. His three children attend Fair Haven schools and RFH.

There is also a host of other appointments, many of which people tend to overlook. For instance, each council member is assigned to be a liaison, or chairperson or vice chairperson, to a borough department or entity. Check those assignments out if you have questions or concerns about any of the related departments or their functions. There are also many committee, commission and/or board appointments and advisory committees.

There are also a series of annual professional contract renewals. These contracts reveal where borough money is going and for what service that is usually in cooperation with state mandates.

Here’s the full list. Click here and take a look.

Photo/FHFD Media

And then there are the Fair Haven Fire Department line officers. This year, there’s a new fire chief in town — Matt Bufano. Daniel Maloney is First Aid captain and Scott Smth is Fire Police captain.

As for the department’s Water Rescue Unit, Wade Davis is its coordinator. Ashley Finamore is the Auxiliary’s president.

These swearing-ins took place on the usual New Year’s Day at the firehouse. All became official at last night’s meeting.

For the rest, peruse the extensive list.

Congratulations to the new leadership in the borough and thank you for your service!