TINTON FALLS – Tracy Buckley has been elected by her fellow members of the governing body to continue serving as president of the Tinton Falls Borough Council during 2022.
The council’s annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 4 began with the swearing in of the winning candidates in the November 2021 election.
Vito Perillo was sworn in to begin serving his second four-year term as mayor. Perillo, 97, heads the municipality’s administration, but he is not a voting member of the Borough Council.
Newcomer Dr. Lawrence Dobrin was sworn in to begin serving a three-year term on the council. John Manginelli, an incumbent councilman who won re-election, was absent from the meeting and will be sworn in to begin serving his new three-year term at a later date.
Tinton Falls has a nonpartisan form of municipal government in which candidates do not run under the banner of a political party. The three winning candidates – Perillo, Dobrin and Manginelli – ran together in the general election.
After all of the members of the governing body had been seated, Buckley was elected to serve as council president in 2022. She joined the governing body in 2020 and has been the council president during all three years of her term.
Risa Clay was elected to serve as the deputy council president for 2022. She, too, joined the council in 2020 and has been elected to serve as the deputy council president during all three years of her term.
Following his swearing in, Dobrin said, “I am pleased to be joining this council. Over 36 years ago, my wife Pamela and I decided to make Tinton Falls our home to raise our three children. Now I am very proud to serve the residents of Tinton Falls as your newest elected council member.”
Councilman Michael Nesci noted that Dobrin previously coached him in basketball.
“I am eager to work with you (Dobrin) as we once have back in the late 1990s when you were my basketball coach for Tinton Falls Recreation’s undefeated team,” Nesci said.
In their comments, Buckley and Clay congratulated Perillo, Dobrin and Manginelli on their election victory.
“It has been wonderful to work with (Perillo) and I look forward to that continued working relationship and all the great things the mayor is going to do for Tinton Falls,” Clay said. “I would also like to congratulate Dr. Dobrin, who I am looking forward to working with, and Councilman Manginelli, who has been a pleasure to also work with.”
Clay also thanked the borough’s professionals and Buckley for their guidance.
“In the last couple of years, I have learned so much from each of you (borough professionals) and I look forward to that continued path,” she said. “Also, I would like to thank our newly appointed council president for everything she has done the past few years and everything she has taught me since I came on board.”
During his remarks, Perillo said, “I would like to thank my family who supported me and gave me the courage to run for a second term. At any rate, I am looking forward to working with the council, Dr. Dobrin and Mr. Manginelli.”
