Shapiro ends service on committee
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

Drew Shapiro

MANALAPAN — Drew Shapiro concluded six years of service on the Township Committee by presiding over his final meeting of the governing body on Dec. 27. Shapiro served as Manalapan’s mayor for 2006.

Shapiro’s service drew accolades from Republican Committeeman Andrew Lucas, with whom Shapiro had sparred on more than one occasion since Lucas joined the governing body two years ago.

Shapiro is a Democrat.

Although he began his remarks by saying his plaudits for Shapiro were due to Shapiro having been a “great mayor,” Lucas then stated, “It’s no secret to anyone who has been here the past two years, we’ve been a bipartisan committee.”

Continuing with a wry smile, Lucas said, “it’s presented challenges.”

Lucas went on to note that although it could be safely said he voted more on the opposite of Shapiro than with him, he believed theirs had been a working relationship.

Referring directly to the death that week of former president Gerald Ford, Lucas noted that Ford was credited with observing that people can “disagree without being disagreeable” and said working with Shapiro brought that point home for him.

Speaking of the overall experience of working together with him, Lucas said to Shapiro, “The last year has shown that we can certainly have different views and different ideas, but we can still work together. I’d like to thank you for that.”

Lucas closed his remarks by saying he hoped the committee “continues that legacy.”

Republican Committeeman Joseph Locricchio was not present at the Dec. 27 meeting due to a health issue, but reached later, Locricchio also had some remarks to make about his tenure on the committee while serving alongside Shapiro.

In noting that he and Shapiro disagreed more than they agreed, Locricchio, too, said Shapiro should be commended for his years of service to the township — six years as an elected official and for his service on other municipal boards.

“Look. He gave up six years of his life to the township. And although I disagreed with him on the direction the township should be headed, it is commendable that anyone would give six years. I thank him for his service,” Locricchio said.

Locricchio said thanks should also go to Shapiro’s wife and children for the sacrifices they made over the years he was busy with the business of the town and not at home with them.

Speaking about the praise his political adversaries had given him, Shapiro said he was heartened to hear their words. He said while it is true that any elected official gives up a lot to serve in a public capacity, the sacrifices are well worth it if one can look back and be proud of the effort.

Shapiro said his proudest accomplishments over the past six years were, “to list just a few,” the ongoing staffing of the police department and the development of the Mayor’s Arts Council and the Mayor’s Special Needs Council. He said they are all part of a legacy that any elected official would be proud to be known for.

However, he said, what meant the most to him about the last six years was having worked with the township employees.

Shapiro said their dedication to doing the hard work of running the town and serving the residents provided all the inspiration he needed and was the reason he and his administration had been able to accomplish all that they had.

As part of his final meeting, Shapiro, along with the unanimous vote of the rest of the governing body, hired two police officers to bring the Manalapan Police Department up to 70 officers.

One of the new officers is Jared Aronson. He will be paid $29,000. The other new officer is Adam Sosnowski. He will be paid $38,002.

According to Lucas, the recommended ratio is one officer per 500 residents. Lucas said at present, Manalapan’s population is 35,000 and 37,000 residents. Lucas said the hiring of the two new officers brings the department’s police-to-population numbers up to a “healthy ratio.”