Fanwood Council Honors Police, EMS

The Fanwood Mayor and Borough Council honored the the town's police officers, EMTs and other active community members and volunteers during the council's monthly regular meeting May 10. 

In honor of May being National EMS Month, it presented EMT Joe Kaiser, 19, its Volunteer of the Month award and approved an honorary resolution declaring May " Month." 

"Having been an emergency room nurse for 12 years, I truly do have an exquisite appreciation for the men and women that volunteer on the emergency medical services squad," Council President Joan Wheeler said. "Many of these communities could not provide these services without volunteers."

In addition, last week was National Police Week. In honor of the occasion, the mayor and council awarded letters of commendation to Sgts. Tom Jedic and Frank Marrero for their assistance with administrative duties in early 2010, exceptional duty citations to Detective Eugene Chin and Cpl. Marc Gottlick for assisting the transfer of dispatch services to the county and their investigation of a burglary, an exceptional duty citation to Officer Elliot Bernard for the apprehension of a burglary suspect in March, and the Chief's Award to Cpl. Ronald Greco, who will also be receiving an award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for the 12 DWI arrests he made in 2010. In addition, Officer Nicholas Mauro received an exceptional duty citation for his apprehension of two suspects following a car and foot pursuit earlier this year, and life-saver awards for CPR saves in September 2010 and February 2011.  

"What they were given awards for is just what they do everyday in the line of duty," Chief Richard Trigo said. "They don't think twice whether they're going to get a recognition tonight."

National Police Week coincided this year with National Public Works Week. The mayor and council took the opportunity to "shine a light on…a really small, well run, efficient department that really is one of our crown jewels," in the words of Councilman Russell Huegel. He specifically cited DPW Director Clint Dickson.

"To think what we endured over the past winter, when you have a five-man crew," Huegel said. "A five-man crew took care of our beloved borough, plowing the streets. I want everybody to know and understand that after three years working as the liaison to public works, if there's a way to save money for the borough, Clint will do it."  

Additionally, Sean Flannery and Brian Walter, the owners of Flannery's Pub on South Avenue, presented a $2,500 check to Scotch Plains and Fanwood's youth baseball organizations. Flannery and Walter raised the money through their pub's  March 19.

"The community really, really got behind us, and we couldn't have done it without your support," Flannery said. 

"It's not often I get to go to a pub and go home with money," joked Scotch Plains Police Chief Brian Mahoney, who accepted the check on behalf of the department's Police Athletic League. 

Finally, Councilwoman Wheeler presented an honorary proclamation to Historic Preservation Commission member Joe Nagy in honor of May being the fifth annual National Preservation Month.