Council members say farewell to borough Three GOP members to be sworn in to office at Jan. 1 meeting BY DANIEL HOWLEY Staff Writer EATONTOWN - Mayor Gerald Tarantolo and the council honored borough officials and police officers at the Dec. 19 council meeting. Last week marked the last council meeting for council President Theodore F. Lewis and Councilwoman Joyce Englehart whose successors will take office on Jan. 1. At the meeting, Tarantolo thanked the two council members for their years of service to the borough. "This is a special night here in the borough of Eatontown," Tarantolo said. "We are going to honor two individuals for their many years of dedicated service to the borough. "Ted Lewis and Joyce Englehart, as many of you know, have dedicated much of their lives to Eatontown and its residents. "Tonight is their last meeting and we want to wish them both well. We are proud of the years that they volunteered their time to make Eatontown a better place to live," he said. Council passed two resolutions of appreciation at the meeting in honor of the two council members and Englehart and Lewis were presented with framed copies of the resolutions. Englehart, a council member since January 1999, served as the chairperson to the parks, recreation and parking committee from January 1999 to December 2004. Englehart has also been an active member of the volunteer first aid squad since 1979. During a tearful acceptance speech, Englehart said, "I'd like to say how proud I have been to serve the town of Eatontown. "I've lived here all my life. It has really been a pleasure. I am really proud of everything that I accomplished," she said. Lewis, a member of the Eatontown volunteer Fire Department, as well as a member of the Eatontown first aid squad, was chairman of the fire and water, public buildings and finance committees during his years on the council. He served as council president from 1984-1994 and again from 2000-2007. After being presented with his copy of the resolution, Lewis said, "I just want to say its been an honor and pleasure to serve on the borough council. "Most people think it's an onerous or difficult job, but it really isn't. We have some excellent people operating the borough of Eatontown on a day-to-day basis. "I'm not actually going anywhere. I intend to remain active in the fire department and first aid squad. Whatever other capacity I can serve the borough in, I would be happy to do so," he said. Lewis continued, "It has been a real pleasure. I appreciate the trust the people of Eatontown have had in me, and it's been a great honor to serve them. I just want to say thank you to you all." Democrats Englehart and Lewis lost their seats in the November municipal election to Republicans John Schiels and Theresa Forbes. Republican Vicky K. Rau also beat out Democrat incumbent Kristine Fisher for an unexpired term in the election. Schiels, Forbes and Rau will be sworn into office on Jan. 1. Several police officers were also recognized at the meeting for their contributions to the borough. "This is really police night here in the borough of Eatontown," Tarantolo said at the meeting. "We have a lot going on and the next part of the agenda really applies to the quality of the police department. "We are going to present some commendations for outstanding service," he said. Police Chief Michael Goldfarb thanked council for their continued support of the police department before he presented the borough police officers with awards. Goldfarb awarded a Life Saving Award to Eatontown Patrolmen Ryan Braswell, William Lucia and John Gugliuzza for saving the life of a 4-month-old child. Goldfarb read a letter from Sgt. Michael Panchak explaining that on Nov. 16, after receiving a call of a child in respiratory distress, Gugliuzza arrived on the scene with Braswell and Lucia. After performing CPR on the child for nearly 20 minutes, the officers began to feel a pulse. The child was then rushed to Monmouth Medical Center and the 4- month-old made a full recovery. Goldfarb also awarded a squad commendation to officers Antonio Amodio, James Vandenbos, Arthur Ehrmantraut and Philip Emanuele. The officers were awarded for stopping a car that was reported stolen out of Newark during a random license plate check. When the car was searched, it was found to contain 2,000 bags of heroin, with a street value of over $40,000. After awarding the officers their commendations, the mayor and council voted and passed four resolutions appointing three officers to new ranks and adding one patrolman to the force. Members of the force since 1981, John Cleary and Thomas Clayton were both promoted to lieutenant. Officer Kenneth Kleinman, a member of the Eatontown Police Department since 1986, was promoted to the rank of sergeant. Drew Clancy, a 2007 graduate of the Monmouth County Police Academy, was sworn in as Eatontown's newest patrolman.