The Secaucus mayor and Town Council made several appointments to various town boards at the Jan. 10 council meeting. Among the newest slate of appointees, the council has made room for diversity with more young voices and the reappointments of several women. Mayor Michael Gonnelli said that he wanted to bring on board young, energetic people with some knowledge in the field.
Bringing new ideas
Jennifer Modi is a senior civil engineer at the global consulting firm Parsons Brinkerhof, and was appointed to the Planning Board to fill in an unexpired term for Paul Smith, who resigned. She was also appointed as an alternate member of the Secaucus Municipal Utilities Authority (SMUA) board. Both roles are unpaid volunteer positions.
“I’m excited,” said Modi. “It is a way to give back to the community.”
“I understand what youth want, and what they want is to make the world a better place to live.” – Amanda Nesheiwat
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Eleanna Ballis, 25, a recent graduate of Rutgers, was reappointed to serve on the Environmental Committee. Other members of the committee include Suzan Taylor, Leonard Adis, Captain Bill Sheehan, alternate member Oleg Li, Loraine Sadowski, and Committee Chairperson Amanda Neishewat.
Nesheiwat, 22, a college student, also saw an expansion in her involvement in the town with the appointment to serve a two-year term as an alternate member of the SMUA board. She organized the Summer Green Festival last year and studies environmental science at Ramapo College.
The SMUA oversees the operations of the wastewater treatment facility.
“I understand what youth want, and what they want is to make the world a better place to live,” said Nesheiwat. “I thought [my age] was going to be an issue but it is really not…When you walk in with confidence and strength about your issues people want to listen no matter what your age.”
She said that all members of the committee get involved regardless of age, including 83-year-old Loraine Sadowski, who goes out to physically help with environmental cleanups.
Nesheiwat said she brings value to the committees because environmental science is fairly new and she brings new ideas to the table about what is happening chemically to the earth. She said she looks forward to getting involved with the SMUA, especially when environmental concerns come up.
Good for the town
Fred Vogel, previously an alternate member, was appointed to serve a five-year term as a regular member of the five-member SMUA board, and replaces Paul Hugerich. Vogel previously worked at the SMUA plant.
Guy Pascarello replaced Thomas Lee, who moved out of town, to serve as a member of the SMUA board for a two-year term. Full-time, Pascarello works for the engineering company Louis Berger Group.
Other members on the SMUA committee include Maribel Anota, Dean Moreira, and George Schoenrock. Schoenrock has been a commissioner on the SMUA 19 years, currently serves as the town’s volunteer fire chief, and has been a volunteer firefighter in Secaucus for 49 years.
“It is always good. The younger, the better,” said Schoenrock regarding the recent SMUA board appointments.
Kathleen Gerbasio and Joseph Kane were both reappointed to serve a four-year term on the seven-member Board of Health. Gerbasio, 54, a board member of seven years, became president last year. She is the middle school/high school nurse and has lived in Secaucus over 21 years.
Learn from listening
“I wouldn’t serve on it unless I truly loved everything about the town,” said Gerbasio about her involvement. She said that although she was surprised to be selected to serve as president last year, she brings 33 years of nursing experience and completed her master’s in education last year.
“I like that we are able to get things done in a positive way for the town. We got a lot done this year,” said Gerbasio. Among the board’s accomplishments, she said, they hired a part-time inspector, have increased public awareness about contacting the Board of Health with concerns, completed all inspections, limited the number of ice cream trucks in town to two, and provided public health advisories.
Gerbasio’s advice to younger members is to “sit and listen to what people have to say and you can learn from that.”
Other appointments
The zoning and planning boards make decisions on development and construction projects in town.
Julie Bascom was reappointed to serve a four-year term on the seven-member Board of Adjustments, otherwise known as the zoning board.
Barbara Warth was reappointed to serve a two-year term as a Planning Board alternate member. Councilwoman Susan Pirro was reappointed to serve a one-year term on the nine-member Planning Board. Bill Sallick and Thomas Flannigan were both reappointed to serve as alternate members on that board.
Vincent Chisari was reappointed to serve a three-year term on the Alcohol Beverage Commission.
Adriana Rambay Fernández may be reached at afernandez@hudsonreporter.com.