News
Ben Lucarelli Appointed To Vacant Seat On Fair Haven Council
By Ryan Fennell
FAIR HAVEN - Thomas Gilmour stepped down from his position on the Fair Haven Council effective December 31, 2008 citing increased demands at work and a family illness that was preventing him from devoting the necessary time to the council.
The Fair Haven Republican Committee had 15 days to submit three names to the council, and in turn the council had 15 days to select one of those three names. At Monday night's council meeting a final decision was announced.
Benjamin J. Lucarelli, 47, a Fair Haven resident for 18 years was appointed to fill Gilmour's unexpired term.
Lucarelli has been a member of the borough's long-range planning committee and was a prior member of the Republican Committee for 13 years.
Lucarelli has coached various sports including baseball, soccer and lacrosse and said, "it's a good fit" that he was appointed as the Recreation Committee liaison.
Lucarelli was born and raised in Rumson and said that his parents "imbued a sense of community service in him."
Lucarelli said that he has wanted to run for council for a long time but waited until now to submit his name for the open seat because his youngest child is now in the seventh grade, and he wanted to wait until his kids were older.
Lucarelli is a past President of Monmouth Day Care, as well as a member of the Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club, as well as a member of the Navesink Country Club.
Lucarelli served on the board for the Two River Theater Company and was instrumental in its construction.
As a member of the Council, Lucarelli is interested in integrating shared services and believes that "it is very important going forward."
"I don't have an agenda, so to speak," Lucarelli said. "I just want to do the right thing and serve my community."
