Mayor: Citizenry makes Roosevelt best place to live Council changes meeting schedule, appoints new attorney BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer Roosevelt ROOSEVELT - Borough Council meetings will now take place on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The council voted on this change among others at its Jan. 2 reorganization meeting, including the replacement of longtime Borough Attorney Ira Karasick. Future council meetings will be held at 7 p.m., with formal action taken at all meetings. Due to holiday and other conflicts, some council meetings will take place on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Previously, the council met on the first Monday of the month for an agenda meeting and on the second Monday for its formal action meeting. During the reorganization meeting, Borough Clerk Krystyna Olejnik administered the oath of office to new council member Arlene Stinson, who is replacing longtime Councilman Michael Hamilton, and to Bob Silverstein. The council appointed Silverstein to fill the unexpired seat of Councilman Jeff Hunt in late 2005 after Hunt moved out of town. Silverstein then won election in his own right in November. In her speech, Mayor Elsbeth "Beth" Battel called Roosevelt "the best town in New Jersey in 2006 and 2007," referring to New Jersey Monthly magazine's rating of the borough last year as the best place to live in the state. Battel also thanked the numerous citizens who give up their time to participate on various township boards. "It's a wonderful town to live in and raise a family," she said. "Thanks to all our citizenry." The council elected Councilman Dan Hoffman as president to replace Hamilton. Hoffman was also appointed as the council's representative to the Recreation Committee. Councilwoman Pat Moser will again serve as the representative to the senior citizens organization, while Councilman Jeff Ellentuck volunteered to serve as a representative to the school board. Resident Robert Clark agreed to continue serving as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) representative. For the Planning Board, Michael Ticktin was reappointed for a Class 2 position for one year, and Stinson was appointed as the council's representative to the board. Alison Petrella became a Class 4 member of the board for a four-year term, and Tim Hartley was appointed as second alternate for a two-year term. Planning Board member Ed Moser was appointed as the board's Environmental Commission representative for a three-year term. Silverstein was appointed as the council's representative to the Environmental Commission. Two three-year positions and one two-year alternative position on the Environmental Commission remain unfilled. When Battel asked attendees at the meeting if anyone wished to volunteer for the positions, there was no response. Since Karasick was not reappointed, Richard Shaklee, an attorney with the firm of McLaughlin, Gelson, D'Apolito & Stauffer LLC in Wall Township, will now fill the position of borough attorney. Carmella Roberts was reappointed as borough engineer, Jerry Stankiewicz as municipal accountant/auditor and John Bennett as bond counsel. Howard Cohen was appointed as a special attorney. The borough again authorized an interlocal service agreement with Millstone Township for its municipal court, where Deborah Gelson will serve as municipal court judge, Richard Kelly as municipal prosecutor and Mark Tarantino as public defender.