Elected, appointed town officials sworn in at meeting
Page 4 • Wednesday, January 8, 2020 • The Hammonton Gazette
OAtH, from Page 3
DiDonato said that Hammonton
is on its way to being debt-free by
2025 and will continue to provide
opportunities to flourish.
“Our town continues to be the
gem of South Jersey. that is why
I would like to continue to see this
job through in our new decade and
will be seeking re-election in
2021,” DiDonato said.
the first order of business was
to administer the oath of office to
the three councilpersons-elect.
atlantic County fifth District
freeholder James Bertino admin-
istered the oath for re-elected
Councilman Joseph Giralo, who
was joined by his wife and two
daughters.
“for those of you who have the
opportunity to serve, remember:
you’re here to serve all the people,
not just the few that call and yell
at you every time, when you hang
up the phone they tell you that you
did this or you did that wrong. It’s
the quiet ones at home that sent
you here to do the job for them be-
cause they trust you and they
know you’ll do the right thing.
that’s what’s important in public
service,” Bertino said.
Giralo, who said he has been in-
volved in Hammonton politics
since he was 16 years old, later of-
fered this comment to the other
members of council:
“there may be times when we
disagree up here, but I know one
thing: that we all love this town
from the bottom of our hearts,
each and every day, and we want
what’s best for everyone ... I’ll say
to you younger folks, thank your
family, because, before you blink,
your children will be 20 years old.
time goes by. Somebody said to
me today that you could have as
much money as you want, but
you’ll never replace the time. So,
enjoy your children, and enjoy
your families. enjoy your parents.
enjoy all of them,” Giralo said.
retired New Jersey Superior
Court Judge Nelson Johnson then
administered two oaths to re-
elected Councilman thomas Grib-
bin: one for his seat on the council
and one as deputy mayor. Gribbin
was accompanied by his wife and
three daughters.
“tom, I’m very proud and
pleased by all your accomplish-
ments on behalf of our commu-
nity. You’re doing a great job,”
Johnson said.
Gribbin later noted that it was an
honor to once again serve on town
council, and that his eldest daugh-
ter, Grace—who is 10 years old—
was 3-and-a-half months old when
he took his first oath of office.
“I got involved with this for
them, for the future of my children
and their friends and families, for
the type of town I wanted to see
them grow up in, and I want to
thank my wife and my family for
allowing me the opportunity to do
this. I really love Hammonton, and
it means a lot to me to be able to
shape the town that they will grow
up in and their friends will grow
up in and that our residents live
in,” Gribbin said.
Newly elected Councilman
Jonathan Oliva then proceeded to
the floor, accompanied by his wife
and newborn son and other family
members. His oath of office was
administered by the Hammonton
Joint Municipal Court Judge
frank raso, who noted that
Oliva’s son represented five gen-
erations of friendship between
their families.
“What’s more important than
the history is what we’re looking
at here, the future of the town of
Hammonton. So many of our chil-
dren have gone to colleges, grad-
uated, made us proud, come back,
live in Hammonton and then run
for office to serve the community
where they grew up. I’m honored
about our past, but I’m privileged
to look at you as the future of the
town of Hammonton,” raso said.
Later in the meeting, Oliva ex-
pressed his appreciation to other
members of council for extending
offers of support to the freshman
councilman.
“I’d really like to also thank the
residents of Hammonton for trust-
ing me to be a voice in this com-
munity. It’s really an absolute
honor to come to the place and
stay in the place where I grew up,
my entire life, grow up, go to
school here, play sports here, now
raise my family here—my wife is
a teacher in our school system—
and it’s just an absolute incredible
feeling to be able to impact my
community,” Oliva said.
Michael Malinsky of fox roth-
schild LLC was appointed as so-
licitor for the town of Hammonton
for a term of one year. the solici-
tor has agreed to provide the legal
services for the sum of $125,000
with extraordinary services (in-
cluding litigation) billed at a rate
of $300 per hour at an anticipated
annual total cost of $40,000 for
services rendered.
raso administered the oath to
THG/Joseph F. Berenato. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Atlantic County Fifth District Freeholder James Bertino administered the oath of office to Councilman Joseph Giralo. Giralo
was joined by his wife Gina and daughters Gemma and Gianna.
Malinsky, who was joined by his Sean Macri as fire Chief and Do- year, per fire Company elections.
minick DiGiovannangelo as assis- raso administered their oaths of
daughter.
Council also voted to appoint tant fire Chief for a term of one
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