MILLSTONE – A longtime member of the Township Committee in Millstone Township has stepped down from his position on the governing body.
Bob Kinsey announced his resignation in an Aug. 16 letter to Township Administrator Maria Dellasala. His retirement from the committee became effective Sept. 1.
“It is with a heavy heart that I submit my letter of resignation,” Kinsey wrote to the township administrator. “After almost 14 years serving the township, the severity of my illness has made it impossible for me to complete my duties as committeeman and has forced me to retire. Thank you for all of your support and friendship during my time with the township.”
Kinsey has been battling an illness for several years.
“We are all very fortunate to know Bob,” Mayor Gary Dorfman said. “He stepped into some responsibilities on behalf of our town about 14 years ago to really help lay the sustainable financial tax plan we have been on pretty much that entire time.
“He has helped in so many ways, not only toward the town’s finances, but with valuable guidance and contributions on many of the ordinances, rules and programs that exist within this town. Words cannot express the thanks, appreciation and positive impact he’s had on all of our lives, so I just want to thank him,” Dorfman said.
“I worked with Bob for a long time,” Deputy Mayor Nancy Grbelja said. “He is always a very vibrant and fun-loving individual. I wish him him well and I wish the best of luck to his family.”
“He has been a tremendous asset, a great leader, a great mentor, a great friend, a tremendous person and he carried a lot of weight in this town for many years,” Committeeman Michael Kuczinski said.
“You talk about the finances over the last 14 years and how we’ve been on a good trajectory, but that’s not the way it was when he got into office. The town was moving in a bad direction and if it wasn’t for the efforts of people like Bob, we would be in a whole different direction today,” Kuczinski said.
“I want to thank Bob for his commitment to this township while he’s been here,” Committeeman Fiore Masci said. “Bob is a friend of mine, I love him and the town will greatly miss him.”
Kinsey joined the Township Committee in 2005. At the time of his retirement, was the second-longest serving member of the governing body. He served as mayor from 2014-16 and deputy mayor from 2006-10.
Because Kinsey is a Republican, as are the other four members of the governing body, the local Republican Party had the duty to nominate three individuals to replace him on the committee.
GOP officials submitted the names of Al Ferro, Eric Davis and Chris Morris. Ferro is currently an alternate member of the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Adjustment; Davis chairs the environmental commission; and Morris chairs the recreation commission.
“These three individuals are all people who have a demonstrated experience of serving the town on our boards, councils and committees,” Dorfman said. “Many of us know these three individuals. They are very well qualified, very well-intended people in line with what really are the interests of the community as a whole.”
On Sept. 5, Ferro, who has lived in Millstone since 2000, was selected to succeed Kinsey in a motion approved by Dorfman, Grbelja, Kuczinski and Masci.
“Al is a supporter of the township’s ideology and vision,” Dorfman said. “I have had the pleasure of knowing Al through the years.”
On Election Day, Nov. 6, the final year (2019) of the term Kinsey began serving in January 2017 will be on the general election ballot. Individuals who want to run for the one-year unexpired term have until Sept. 13 to enter the race.
Ferro is expected to be sworn in as a member of the governing body at the committee’s Sept. 18 meeting.
