Kinney leaving council after year of service

Hopkins ready to take seat; Democrats now have 4-2 majority

By Sherry conohan

Staff Writer

EATONTOWN — With Gerri Hopkins about to be seated as the newest member of the Borough Council, the governing body bid a warm farewell to William M. Kinney, the councilman she replaces.

Hopkins, who won election in November, defeating Kinney, was to be sworn into office when the council gathers at noon today for its annual organization meeting.

But at the council’s last full meeting of 2002 on Dec. 18, Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo, a Democrat, and Councilman John J. Collins, a Republican, made a point of thanking Kinney, a Republican, for his service as a councilman.

Hopkins’ election over Kinney changed the political makeup of the council from a 3-3 split between Democrats and Republicans to a 4-2 Democratic-controlled group.

Tarantolo began the tribute by thanking Kinney, who was appointed to the council a year ago to fill a vacancy, for his dedication and the work he had done on behalf of the residents of Eatontown.

"It’s obvious we didn’t always agree politically, but both of our motivations have always been the betterment of the residents of Eatontown," the mayor said. "So I just wanted to wish you well and thank you on behalf of the residents for your service and we wish you well in the future."

Collins, who was re-elected to the council in November when Hopkins won her first term on the governing body, also thanked Kinney for his service and said that in addition to the usual sacrifice a public official makes in giving up time and privacy, Kinney had made another: he gave up his position on the Board of Education, to which he had won election, to accept the council seat.

"We all open ourselves up to telephone calls from the pubic, questions and sometimes complaints," Collins said. "(When we) walk into any commercial establishment in the borough or the nearby vicinity you’re always likely to have people come over and ask you something or offer a suggestion on how you might be able to do your job just a little bit better and that goes with the territory. It’s something we all expect and accept.

"In Bill Kinney’s case, I would like to point out that an additional sacrifice was made," he continued. "When Bill Kinney was selected to serve out the unexpired term that was created a year ago, Bill Kinney was already sitting in office. He was sitting on the Board of Education, serving as vice president of that body…and we plucked him right out of familiar ground and put him right down in the middle of all the issues that the governing body was dealing with.

"He hit the ground running. He was a very fast study," Collins said. "We took him away from the job that fellow board members had selected him for on the Board of Education and Bill came willingly. So he gave that up.

"As his council term is ending now, his Board of Education term would have been continuous," Collins further noted. "Bill will be a private citizen after Jan. 1, but I don’t suspect that will last for long. There are many opportunities for public service in Eatontown, whether on an elected board or on an appointed board and we expect to see him in some kind of public office again soon. He has demonstrated that he’s an effective public servant."

Kinney, for his part, thanked Tarantolo and all the members of the council.

"It’s been truly a great experience," he said. "I’ve learned a lot, as you do sitting up here. It’s not always easy, but it’s always good-hearted and well-reasoned debate."

Kinney, who oversaw the departments of Public Works (DPW) and Welfare, then thanked all the members of the staff, "especially [Business Administrator] Mike Trotta, and Gene [Anthony, borough attorney] and the borough clerks, and especially the DPW guys who make me look good at every meeting."