(BRICK, N.J.) — Brick Township Council has appointed a new councilmember after the Mayor broke a split vote.
During the October 13 Township Council meeting, three nominees were announced to fill the vacant spot of councilmember Vince Minichino, who stepped down in late September. These nominees were Nancy Ellson, Susan Lydecker, and Daniel Ward.
Councilwoman Melissa Travers moved to appoint Ward to the position, citing his work and dedication to the community. Travers explained that Ward demonstrates the ideals of “protecting, preserving and improving the town we call home.”
Photo Credit: Brick Township / Daniel Ward.
Travers, alongside Council President Steve Feinman, and Vice President Derrick Ambrosino, voted to appoint Ward to become the next Councilman. Councilman Gregory Cohen, Perry Albanese, and Lisa Reina did not approve the motion.
In the case of a split vote, the Mayor of Brick Township, Lisa Crate, would cast the deciding vote. Crate decided to approve the motion, and Ward was formally appointed to a councilmember seat. Ward will serve the rest of Minichino’s term, which will end in December of 2027.
Photo Credit: Brick Township Council Meeting / Daniel Ward being appointed to become the new councilmember by Mayor Lisa Crate.
OpGov.News had the opportunity to speak to Ward and learn more about him and his plans for Brick Township.
When speaking about ordinances that Ward would potentially like to implement during his term, Ward noted that he wants to “continue protecting Brick’s suburban character.” Ward explained that Brick is one of the towns in the county that has “managed to hold the line on overdevelopment.”
Our responsibility now is to stay vigilant and maintain our strong zoning and active community involvement to protect our open space and our quality of life even as the rest of the county continues to grow,” Ward said.
Ward would like to take on the town’s most pressing issue: affordability. Ward explained that nationwide, inflation has affected every household, including “food, fuel, housing and everyday goods and services.”
“Brick is no exception,” Ward said. “We can’t stop inflation, but we can continue to make sure that the municipal property taxes remain under control.”
Ward is “excited” for this new role within the community. Previously, he has worked with Mayor Crate and the community, served on the Planning Board, and Brick Open Space Savers. Ward is looking forward to deepening his commitment to Brick and continuing to work to improve Brick.
Ward is a lifelong resident of Ocean County and is a Chemistry Professor at Ocean County College. Ward also stated that he serves as the president of the Lectures Association at OCC. He is a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology with a degree in Chemical Engineering and a master's degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
When Ward is not in class or meetings, he finds himself fixing his home, refinishing thrifted furniture, or catching up with friends over a video game.
“My cat tries to help me in all these endeavors, though she is not very good with a hammer,” Ward said.
When asked if there were anything Ward would like the community to know, he noted that the town is “full of resources and people that want to help.” Some of those resources include senior services at 732-920-8686, the pothole hotline at 732-262-4602, the council office at 732-262-1005, or contacting him directly at 609-756-3409.
To add to or correct any information in this report or to share tips or a story, please contact me at alexis.n@lead4earth.org.
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