Farmingdale Council Prepares For New Year

When the Farmingdale Borough Council met on Wednesday night it was the first time all the members at the dais had been elected by residents since the summer. 

Following a busy year where all the previous members of the Borough Council had resigned Mayor Jay Morgan said he and the newly elected members are looking forward to 2013. "We're looking forward to looking forward," he said. "The past is the past and I think things will go well."

With so many new members Mayor Morgan said he has made himself available to help with any learning curve they may have with being members of the governing body. According to his profile on the borough's website Morgan has been on the council since 1992 with the exception of one year. He said the biggest areas the new members will have to learn about are things like budgets and what role the governing body plays in operating the borough. 

Morgan said in 2013 he would like to see the borough apply for more funding to continue recent efforts to improve the downtown area. The work that has been done so far has been good, but he said there is more that can be done. "I think it's a great improvement," he said. "I hope we can get more funding to improve more of the downtown area."

Also at Wednesday's meeting James Daly was selected by the council to serve as Council President. Morgan said Daly was his suggestion in light of his prior service to the borough. The remainder of the council includes fellow Republicans Michael Burke and Democrat Richard Geffken who were elected to fill two year unexpired terms and Republican Michael Romano and Democrat Carly Immen who were elected to one year unexpired terms. 

Mayor Morgan said he did not believe partisan politics would play a role in the decisions made by the council. "In a small town, having a difference of opinion I'm not so sure that politics plays a part," he said. 

As 2013 starts Morgan said he feels good about the state of the borough. "I think we're in pretty good shape," he said. "I think we can maintain a pretty sound town throughout the years."