Alvarez to serve as deputy mayor

HOWELL — The Township Council held its reorganization meeting Monday, and the first order of business was the swearing in of Councilwoman Kimberly Alvarez as deputy mayor for 2002.

This will be Alvarez’s second term as deputy mayor since taking office in 1999.

In other business, Richard Schibell was reappointed township attorney. Attorney Steve Rubin was appointed municipal prosecutor, and Harvey Rothman was appointed public defender. Reappointments also included Birdsall Engineering as township engineer and Barry Lefkowitz as economic development consultant.

Mayor Timothy J. Konopka announced that at the request of the Shade Tree Commission, a new office was being created, that of certified tree expert. Joseph Aufiero was appointed to the position.

Planning Board member Dr. Mindy Factor-Spano stepped down from that panel to accept a five-year appointment as Howell’s representative to the Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority.

Appointments to the Planning Board included newcomers Mike Howell to a one-year term and Debra Massa and James Downey to two-year terms as board alternates. Reappointments to the board included Alvarez, Joseph Deckhut and Pauline Smith, each to a four-year term.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment saw the appointment of Susan Trethewey to a four-year term and Ken French as a second alternate for a two-year term. The appointment of a first alternate is yet to be determined.