by Erik Weber
Bonnie Verga
– Marking the end of an administration that has governed this borough since the January 2008 reorganization meeting that saw Democratic Mayor Ronald W. Jones, Councilwoman Katina L. Clark and Councilwoman Bonnie M. Verga take office, sitting members and residents present paused during the December 15th borough council meeting to thank outgoing Councilwoman Verga, who did not win her re-election bid in November’s election.
Mrs. Clark chose not to run in the November election, stating during the December 1st council meeting that she and her family’s lives had taken “a different direction.” She thanked those present and acknowledged that it had been “a crazy few years, but I’ve learned a lot from the good and bad situations and I’ve been very blessed by being in this position.” That meeting was her last due to a scheduling conflict on the 15th, and she was also thanked by sitting council members and residents.
Mayor Jones and Mrs. Clark in particular had been embroiled in a series of conflicts and lawsuits between themselves, current and former council members, and residents since taking office in what was seen as an upset victory that bumped Republican incumbents Mayor Hal Morris and Councilman Gerald W. LaCrosse from office. Mr. LaCrosse earned back his seat during last November’s election on a ticket he shared with longtime borough volunteer, but first-time councilman Edward A. Zakar.
This year marked the end of a second term on the borough council for Mrs. Verga, who was previously elected in 1979 and served from January 1980 to December 1982.
Speaking this week, she stated that her proudest accomplishment of her latest term was the creation of the borough construction department, which she created “from scratch, and getting the best qualified people to work for it and getting the shared services.”
The Beachwood Construction Department also earns revenue for the borough by handling all building services for South Toms River and Island Heights. Prior to that department’s establishment, the borough and numerous other municipalities had their building services performed by the county offices.
“We had construction services down through Ocean County and they would collect fees,” Mrs. Verga stated, noting that the borough still maintained a department in borough hall, but that “we were actually paying the county to do the inspections, and they kept all the money.”
Shortly after the councilwoman was sworn into office in January 2008, she said, the borough received a notice from county officials that it would be discontinuing its building services with local municipalities.
“They were going to be pulling out as of June 30th,” she recalled. “We had to get on the ball.”
Snapping into action, Mrs. Verga said that she arranged a meeting with South Toms River Borough officials to go over different scenarios on sharing the service between them.
“The mayor of South Toms River then contacted me and I went and sat down with their representatives, and they agreed to have all the services done by our department,” she continued.
Shortly thereafter, representatives from Island Heights contacted the borough council and soon they also signed on to have the new Beachwood Construction Department handle their building services as well, adding further revenue to the borough.
At the mid-December meeting, council members reflected upon Mrs. Verga’s work for the borough during her three-year term, adding that she also shared a perfect record of attendance to 2010 borough council meetings with Councilman Gregory Feeney.
“I gave you a flat tire and you still came here,” joked Mr. Feeney.
“I can honestly say that it was a genuine pleasure to serve with you,” stated Council President Ronald Roma. “You were an excellent council person and I think everybody here would agree that you did the job you were elected to do.”
“You certainly did everything you were asked to do by the people that voted for you, and you can be proud of yourself,” he added.
Councilwoman Beverly Clayton also praised the outgoing council member.
“Thank you very much – it was a pleasure to work with you for the past three year, and you’ve done one really outstanding job,” she said. “Anything that was given to you, you certainly took the bull by the horns.”
“I’m sorry to see you go but also happy about what’s coming up here,” Mrs. Clayton continued. “I just wish we had an extra seat for you, [and] I hope that we’ll still get to see your face around.”
“Oh, you will,” replied Mrs. Verga.
“Thank you, Bonnie, for your service to Beachwood,” said Councilman Steve Komsa. “It’s been an honor and a pleasure sitting next to and serving with you, [including] judging the bicycle contest.”
“I wish Tom, your children and your family nothing but the best,” he added.
“Mrs. Verga, sitting next to you for 75-plus meetings, a lot of times when you work with somebody, you get caught up in the minutiae, but when you sit next to somebody where you kind of share the same ideals, same ideas in what’s really best for the borough, you get to know somebody differently,” said Mr. Feeney. “Sitting here and learning from [you], it’s been a real pleasure.”
“Everyone talks about dedication, but you’re a real professional, you know that – you came here, you did the right thing, you always will do the right thing, and I welcomed it and I really learned a lot from it and I appreciate that,” he continued. “Good luck to you.”
Mayor Jones was not in attendance for the meeting.
Beachwood Office of Emergency Management officer Shiela D. Solowynsky presented Mrs. Verga with a bouquet of flowers that she said were from herself and Mary Cairns, a borough police officer and wife of Chief William Cairns.
“I never want to stand up and say anything, but I wanted to tell you that not only is the council appreciative of you, but we are appreciative of you,” she said before presenting the flowers, which prompted a standing ovation from members of the public in attendance and the governing body.
“It’s been such a pleasuring working with each and every one on the governing body,” stated Mrs. Verga, who said that even with their differences they worked together to do “everything in the best interest for this borough.”
“Keep on doing it – I’m going to hold you to it,” she continued. “It’s been wonderful, even the audience when they get cranky.”
Councilman-elect LaCrosse was also in attendance and commended the outgoing councilwoman on her respectful manner throughout the November election, which was a stark contrast to the 2009 election in which political accusations and turmoil ran high.
“Thank you very much for your service and for the way you conducted yourself during this past election,” he said. “It was professional and above-board, and you gave Beachwood back its reputation.”
“Mrs. Verga, everything your colleagues said is absolutely true and should make you feel good about yourself,” said Halliard Avenue resident and former councilman, Robert DiBella. “You’re one of the finest council people to serve that I can remember.”
Speaking this week, Mrs. Verga stated that she “enjoyed working with everybody – the employees and the council members.”
“Even when we disagreed we were always totally cordial and always listened to each other and had a good time,” she said. “I love taking care of people.”
Considering the future of the borough without her place on the governing body, Mrs. Verga said that she would “like to see a continuation of the water mains [replacement project] that we started.”
“I don’t want them dropping the ball as far as our water goes,” she added, stating that she did not want to see it privatized as other area municipalities had.
Mayor Jones, also speaking this week, stated that “the legacy will continue as she will represent the borough as my alternate on the land use board.”
“This is position [of] great trust and confidence,” he continued. “Mrs. Verga will offer the board a unique perspective based upon her working knowledge with the construction department and her experience as an elected official.”
The next meeting of the Beachwood Council will be the annual reorganization meeting, held on Wednesday, January 5th at 6:30 pm in borough hall on Pinewald Road.
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