Councilwoman Maruca Praises Departing Councilwoman

As submitted by Toms River Township Councilwoman Maria Maruca:

The Toms River Township Council experienced a bittersweet meeting on June 28. At that time Councilwoman Melanie Donohue Appleby announced that this would probably be her last council meeting. Melanie was nominated, by Governor Chris Christie, to be an Ocean County Superior Court Judge. The township Clerk’s office received a letter with her resignation on June 29. Since that meeting Councilwoman Donohue Appleby has gone before the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now a Superior Court Judge.

 It is from that date on her resignation letter that the process for replacing Melanie on the council begins. The process must be met within thirty days of the date of the letter of resignation.

The law requires that the Republican Municipal Committee, since Councilwoman Donohue Appleby was elected as a Republican meet within fifteen days. At that time the municipal committee will choose three names to be presented to the Council for the vacant seat.

The Council has the remaining fifteen days to choose one of the three names. The Council will then decide from those three names. By the end of July there will be a new addition to the Toms River Township Council.

This is the second time this Council has been faced with naming a replacement on the Council. On May 1, 2009, Councilman Peter Cassano passed away while he was still serving on the Council. The above mentioned process took place and Councilman George Wittmann was appointed to take his place on the governing body.

Councilwoman Donohue served the people of Toms River well in the 3 ½ years she was on Council. Melanie accomplishments were the rewriting of the Administrative Code which saved the taxpayers over $100,000. Another project she oversaw was the new township web site which enables our residents to access information on all aspects of the township.

I am sure that I speak for all members of the governing body saying that Councilwoman Donohue Appleby will truly be missed. Our lose of this dedicated public servant is the gain to all residents on Ocean County through Melanie’s appointment to the bench.