BRADLEY BEACH — Mayor Larry Fox officially appointed Borough Council president Meredith DeMarco as the new borough administrator on Sunday, Oct. 1. Ms. DeMarco had stepped down from her position on the council on Sept. 30.
“I am pleased to announce that Meredith Demarco, most recently Council President, has accepted the position of Acting Business Administrator. Meredith resigned her Council President position on 30-September. Her new appointment is effective 1-October,” said the mayor in a written statement. “Meredith’s diverse experiences, her career development to-date, and her knowledge of Bradley Beach make her well suited for this assignment.”
The appointment comes a week after Mayor Fox had emailed council members on Sunday, Sept. 25 notifying them of his intentions. The council responded in complete opposition to the appointment.
“Mayor Fox continues to set Bradley Beach back, financially, operationally and in public perception. We, the residents of Bradley Beach, deserve the best for this highly paid position,” Councilwoman DeNoble wrote to The Coast Star on Sept. 26.
Councilman John Weber, though opposed to the mayor’s legislative move, said he “would sit down with the new borough administrator and see how we can get things done in Bradley Beach.”
“I will gladly extend my olive branch to Councilwoman DeMarco and see what we can do.”
Ms. DeMarco’s appointment received backlash at the previous borough council meeting, with residents up in arms about the appointment.
“If I was you [Ms. DeMarco], I would withdraw my name. You do not have the qualifications or the education,” said Rosemary Accurso of Park Place Avenue during public comment. “When the mayor doesn’t get re-elected … you will be out the door the minute the new mayor starts.”
Mayor Fox also emailed the council announcing that he will nominate Deborah Bruynell as the new councilwoman to fill Ms. DeMarco’s vacancy.
“Ms. Bruynell is a 27-year resident who has been engaged in the community on several fronts.
As you know, Ms. Bruynell stepped up last year and ran for this office, where she garnered almost 800 votes in that 2022 election. I think this is a case where the voters gave us their input; and we should factor that into our decision vote next week,” said Mayor Fox in his email.
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