For Immediate Release

PRESS CONTACT:   Joe Criscuolo, Township Manager

                                   (732) 583-4200, Ext. 118

ABERDEEN COUNCIL HONORS MAYOR SOBEL, COUNCILMEN

PERRY& RAYMOND FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE TOWNSHIP

ABERDEEN, N.J. (12/15/09)—The Aberdeen Township Council tonight honored Mayor David Sobel and Councilmen Thomas Perry and Joseph Raymond for their years of service to the municipality. Each will be leaving Aberdeen’s governing body when their terms expire on December 31, after deciding  not to run for re-election.

            The Council presented each with a plaque thanking them for “their outstanding and dedicated service to the Township of Aberdeen.”

            Sobel had served as a Councilman from 1990 through 1993, and as Mayor from 1998 through 2009. He has also served as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Aberdeen Planning Board, and as Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Treasurer of the Bayshore Conference of Mayors. In the latter role, he was instrumental in the resurrection of a group that has led to numerous inter-local service agreements.

            Perry has served on the Council since 2002. He also has been a member of the Township’s Planning and Zoning Boards. His other community activities have included roles as a coach in Matawan-Huskies Indoor Soccer as a Committee Member of Boy Scout Troop 92.

            Raymond, who has been on the Council since 1998, is also a Life Member of the Cliffwood Volunteer Fire Company (Aberdeen Fire District 2), joining in 1974 and serving as its Chaplain since 1981.  In connection with that, Raymond is now in his fourth term as Commissioner of Fire District 2, while also serving as its Treasurer.  

            “In addition to their many community activities, Dave Sobel, Tom Perry and Joe Raymond have served Aberdeen admirably during their many years on our Council. Each is to be commended for their hard work on behalf of our residents and businesses,” said Councilman Fred Tagliarini, who was elected Mayor in November and will be sworn into that role on January 1. He will be joined on the Council by newcomers Greg Cannon, James Lauro and Margaret Montone, as well as veteran members Owen Drapkin, Wilhelmina Gumbs and Vincent Vinci.  

             During the 16 years Sobel served as a Councilman and Mayor, the township’s governing body had a lengthy list of accomplishments across a number of different areas. Examples in recreation include establishment of Aberdeen’s first Senior Center; creation of new recreational activities at the Cliffwood beachfront, including an in-line skating and hockey rink; launch of the project to upgrade the Cliffwood Beach seawall; development of numerous soccer fields, including Aberdeen’s first regulation facility; ongoing upgrades to the entire park system; expanded offerings in the summer recreation program; and the creation of a variety of new community festivals and special events for people of all ages.

            In the environmental area, during those 16 years the Council preserved over 125 acres for open space; made Aberdeen the first municipality in Monmouth County to take ownership of its recyclables,  resulting in significant revenue to town; expanded the township’s recycling program; and updated the township’s water and sewer system, while replacing and upgrading the entire sewer pump system.

             In transportation and roads, the Council continued to invest in infrastructure, making Aberdeen’s road program a model for all of Monmouth County; worked with the county and state to launch improvements to the intersection of Lloyd Road and Route 34; worked with the county on the completion of a new bridge on Wilson Avenue; worked with the state on upcoming drainage and intersection improvements along Route 35; and created several new commuter parking lots.

            Elsewhere, the Council established five redevelopment project zones, including the Church Street site that is now being developed for senior housing and a new senior center; executed numerous interlocal shared service agreements with Matawan, other neighboring municipalities and the Regional School District; transferred the health department to Monmouth County, resulting in cost savings to Aberdeen and enhanced services to residents; developed an automated call system for emergencies and other important alerts; launched the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT);  and executed a  revaluation program that promoted equalized and fairer taxation.

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