WLB reorganizes with new council member GOP holds 5-1 majority on council and mayor’s office BY SUE MORGAN Staff Writer WEST LONG BRANCH –– As the Borough Council enters 2006, its latest roster of players hopes to remain intact for at least the rest of this calendar year. Republican Councilman J. Thomas DeBruin is the governing body’s newest member thanks to his Nov. 8 victory and his swearing in during the council’s Jan. 1 reorganization meeting at Borough Hall. Both DeBruin and one of his running mates, Councilman Christopher Neyhart, began their first elected terms with the start of the new year. Neyhart, a local real estate salesperson, was also sworn to his duties during the same ceremony. It was actually the second time in less than a month that Neyhart took the oath, having stepped in temporarily on Dec. 7 to fill the seat vacated by former councilwoman and present-day Mayor Janet Tucci. Tucci, who was elected mayor in a special election held concurrently with the November general election, was sworn to the top administrative position on Nov. 18. She is presently filling the last remaining year of the term vacated by former Democratic Mayor Paul Zambrano, who resigned from office on March 1 after he was arrested on federal charges of extortion on Feb. 22. With the seating of DeBruin and Neyhart, the GOP holds the balance of power on the council with a 5-1 margin. Tucci, a veteran official, is also a Republican. DeBruin succeeds former GOP councilman William Boglioli whose term ended Dec. 31 after he chose not to seek re-election. Retired from his position as a detective with the state’s Office of the Public Defender, DeBruin now works independently as a polygraph examiner. After the makeup of council committees was announced, Councilwoman Bettina Munson, the governing body’s sole Democrat, abstained from the vote to approve those groupings. Council President Richard F. Cooper Jr., who was re-elected to that post, will chair the finance and administration committee composed also of Munson and Councilwoman Barbara Ruane. Councilman Joseph Woolley will lead the public works committee made up also of Cooper and DeBruin. The police committee, will be chaired by DeBruin, with Neyhart and Cooper as members. The fire and first aid committee will be lead by Ruane, and be composed of Woolley and Neyhart. Ruane is president of an emergency management and counter-terrorism consulting firm in the borough and at nearby Fort Monmouth. Neyhart will chair the recreation and environmental committees made up of Munson and Ruane. Munson will continue to oversee the public property committee, as she did last year in her first year on the council, with DeBruin and Woolley on hand. Longtime Borough Attorney Gregory S. Baxter, who is also a partner in a private law firm in Shrewsbury, was reappointed to his job by council vote. At the same meeting, Matthew Guido was sworn in as the borough’s newest patrolman. Guido, who most recently served as a class II special officer in the borough, will begin training at the Monmouth County Police Academy in Freehold on Jan. 23. In addition, Jonathan Tucci, son of the mayor, took the oath administered by his mother to become the borough’s new fire chief as his grandfather, J. Russell Woolley, held the Bible. Brian Kramer will serve as assistant fire chief, under the oath he was sworn to during the meeting. Donald Wanamaker was sworn to his leadership post as captain of the West Long Branch First Aid Squad. Members Linda Courtney and Judith Schneider took oaths to become the squad’s first lieutenant and second lieutenant, respectively. The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. at the Borough Hall.