Ciarrocca to Head Finance Committee in Council Reshuffle

Councilman Mark Ciarrocca will take the helm of the Town Council's finance policy committee in Mayor Andy Skibitsky's reshuffle of Council committee assignments that will be formalized tonight.

Skibitsky's reshuffle was precipitated by former Councilman Sal Caruana's decision not to seek reelection to a third term in last November's election. Caruana had chaired the budget writing panel for the last two years. The finance policy committee writes the annual town budget, handles all financial related legislation for the Council and plans issues relating to long term debt and bonding. The committee also oversees human resources policy, the town's financial relationship with the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority and administrative affairs including insurance. The committee is expected to be a hot spot in the coming months in the writing of the 2010 municipal budget.

Ciarrocca's move to the finance chairmanship opens up his prior post as chairman of the public safety, parking and transportation committee. Councilwoman Joann Neylan, a former prosecutor in Brooklyn, will move over to this committee, which oversees all legislation relating to the police and fire departments and parking in town. The committee has been active over the last several years in handling pedestrian safety issues in town.

Neylan's old post as chairwoman of the public works committee will move over to Councilman Frank Arena, who has not previously held a chairmanship. The committee oversees the Department of Public Works and includes the writing of the town's capital plan, in conjunction with the finance panel.

Councilman Jim Foerst will be the only committee chairman to retain his post in the new year. He will continue at the helm of the code review and town property committee. This committee oversees the town code, land use and property related issues. Forest will move over from the public works committee to be a member of the public safety panel.

Ciarrocca will continue to serve as a member of the public safety panel in the coming year and Neylan will retain her seat on the finance committee. Arena, who served the last two years as vice chairman of the code review committee, will continue as a member of that committee.

The finance committee will see three members returning as Councilman Dave Haas, the Council's sole Democrat, will retain his post as committee vice chairman. New First Ward Councilman Sam Della Fera will assume the seat Caruana vacated on the committee. Della Fera will take over as vice chairman of the code review panel and Haas is retaining his seat on the public works committee.

New Fourth Ward Councilman Keith Loughlin will assume the vice chairmanship on the public safety committee along with a seat on the public works committee. Councilwoman Vicki Kimmins will move over to the vice chairman's seat on the public works committee from her previous vice chairman's slot at public safety, along with retaining her seat on the code review panel. The public works vice chairmanship was previously held by former Councilman Tom Bigosinski.

Skibitsky is keeping the line of succession intact in 2010. Ciarrocca will continue to serve as the town's acting mayor, while Neylan will serve as alternate acting mayor. This allows them to preside in Skibitsky's absence and handle any other of the mayor's duties which may arise in his absence.

Most of the Council liaison posts will remain the same in the coming year. New assignments go to Loughlin, who will take over the mayor's seat on the Memorial Library board of trustees from Neylan. Loughlin has served as a library trustee for the past year. Della Fera will take over Board of Health liaison duties from Bigosinski.

Foerst will remain a member of the Planning Board and Arena will retain his seat on the Downtown Westfield Corporation board of directors. Neylan will remain liaison to the Chamber of Commerce and the drug and alcohol awareness group Panda. Ciarrocca will continue as liaison to the Recreation Commission and the Board of Education. Kimmins will retain her roles as liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission and the Communications Advisory Board. Haas continues as liaison to the Tree Preservation Commission. Skibitsky continues to maintain his role as liaison to the senior citizens housing corporation.