FMERPA reorganizes and posts new position Search is on for $65K project manager BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority held its fifteenth meeting June 20 at the Tinton Falls municipal building. At the meeting, which was the panel's annual organizational meeting, the authority reappointed a number of officers and passed a number of resolutions, one of which sets in motion the hiring of a project manager. Robert Lucky, chairman, and Virginia Bauer, vice chairwoman, will continue in their positions, as will Executive Director Frank Cosentino, who also serves as secretary, Beverlee Akerblom, treasurer, and Kathryn Verrochi, assistant secretary. Authority members also voted to adopt the notice of meetings schedule, which stipulates that the authority will continue to meet on the third Wednesday of each month. The policy on public comment during the monthly meetings was also changed. Until recently, the public was allowed to spend three minutes per agenda item on public comment at the beginning of the meetings. That rule was changed to five minutes no matter how many items the person wished to discuss. Now, during the last public comment period at the end of the meetings, speakers will be limited to a total of three minutes. Authority members also approved a resolution authorizing the expenditure of liability insurance at a annual premium cost of $13,745. When he heard the amount, Lucky said, "That's pretty scary." During a discussion on the hiring of a project manager, Cosentino said there is a need for someone capable of handling documents that are flowing through the office. He explained that the $65,000 position had already been advertised in newspapers and on the Web site, and 23 résumés have been received so far. According to the advertisement posted on the FMERPA Web site, the person who fills the position will be responsible for a number of things including general research on new projects, conducting research of funding opportunities, managing and maintaining documentation flows and archives. Cosentino noted that they have been conducting interviews, but a decision has not been made yet. He said the authority members are reluctant to offer the job until they get formal approval from the state for the establishment of the position. The authority also passed, by resolution, the fiscal year 2008 budget of $2,374,955. It anticipates $2,137,459 in federal funds and $237,496 in state funds. Finally, a resolution was approved expressing appreciation to Garrison Cmdr. Col. Ricki L. Sullivan, who served as the Department of Defense representative on the authority. Sullivan, who stepped down because he has retired from the Army, has been replaced by Col. Stephen M. Christian, who took over the garrison during a ceremony on June 21.