Shrewsbury NJ Government
Shrewsbury Borough is located within Monmouth County, New Jersey. According to the March 2011 Monmouth County Voters Registration Summary, there were a total of 2,844 registered voters in Shrewsbury Borough. Democrats comprised of 650 or 22.9 percent of the registered voters, Republicans consisted of 863 or 30.3 percent, while 1,330 or 46.8 percent were unaffiliated.
This article will delve into the governing body in Shrewsbury. It will also discuss the police and fire departments in the borough.
Local Government
Shrewsbury is under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government. It is the most common system used in New Jersey. In this type of government, the people elect the mayor and the borough council. These positions are elected at-large on a partisan basis during the November general election.
The mayor is elected on a four-year term, whereas the six-membered borough council is elected on three-year terms. Two council seats are elected every year on a three-year cycle. The council acts as the legislative body, and the mayor presides over their meetings, voting only when there is a tie. The mayor can also veto ordinances, which can then be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote of the borough council. Moreover, the mayor also assigns liaisons for council members and makes appointments with the advice and consent of the council.
Federal, State, and County
Shrewsbury is part of the fourth congressional district and the state’s 11th state legislative district. Shrewsbury used to be part of the 12th Congressional District but was changed by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission based on the November 2012 general elections. It took effect on January 2013.
On the other hand, Monmouth County is administered by the Board of Chosen Freeholders. It is comprised of five elected at-large members, who serve three-year terms on a staggered basis. The Board holds a reorganization meeting every January where they select one to be the director and another to be the deputy director.
Government Departments
There are currently 19 departments in the Borough of Shrewsbury. Some of them are:
Shrewsbury Police Department
The Shrewsbury Borough Police Department is located at 419 Sycamore Avenue. The current chief of police is Chief Robert Turner. The current captain and lieutenant are Capt. Daniel Calicari and Lt. Adam Cerminaro. The department currently has four sergeants and nine patrols.
According to its website, the police department’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of all people in Shrewsbury; to provide service to everyone; to regulate and control traffic; to enforce all laws, so that safe conduct is implemented within the police department’s jurisdiction.
Shrewsbury Hose Company #1
The Shrewsbury Hose Company No. 1 is located at 783 Broad Street. Its current chief is Bruce Macdonald, with John J. Merris and Edward Magenheimer serving as the current first assistant chief and second assistant chief respectively. It was founded in 1908 and is solely a volunteer organization. They pride in helping the borough’s residents with the best in fire protection and emergency services.
Fire Marshal
The borough’s current fire marshal is Elizabeth Sweeney. She is a State of New Jersey certified fire official and is responsible for fire prevention inspections. A few of the responsibilities of the fire marshal include inspecting all businesses for fire safety, checking the smoke/carbon monoxide detector compliance of residences, and investigating fire cause and origins among others.
Other Departments
The other departments in the borough include Recreation, Administration, Clerk/Registrar, Finance, Tax Assessor, Public Works, Construction, Court, First Aid Squad, Emergency Management, Planning Board, Zoning Board, Shade Tree, Environmental, and Board of Health.
Conclusion
The governing body and each of these departments have their responsibilities when it comes to serving the residents of the borough. To know more about them, you can visit their website or their respective offices in Shrewsbury.