MANCHESTER – It was a tearful farewell for the Township Council’s senior member, Sam Fusaro and retiring Township Clerk Sabina Martin. The two welled up as they bid goodbye and recalled their time serving the community.
It was a packed crowd at the Town Hall courtroom for Martin’s last meeting as clerk. She will retire at the end of the month. Fusaro resigned earlier in January.
Fusaro joined the council in 1990 and was re-elected in 1994, 1998 and 2002. He stepped down for career reasons in 2006 but returned in 2011. “Sam served on various township boards, the municipal planning board, master plan committee, recreation committee and the Pine Lake restoration committee, coached Manchester Little League and was involved with Manchester’s open space referendum,” the proclamation read by Mayor Robert Arace stated.
“Sam retired from council on January 15, 2023 after more than 30 years of dedication to township of Manchester. I wish him good health and all the best in his retirement,” Arace said.
It was Fusaro’s time to speak and he opened with a good natured jab to Council Vice President Jim Vaccaro who was presiding over the meeting in the absence of Council President Roxanne Conniff who could not be present due to illness.
“I’m not going to make it as long as Jim,” he said. The two would often joke about the length of some of Vaccaro’s council reports during meetings. The laughter however turned to tears as he began to reflect on his many years on council.
“I’ve never been on this side of the dais before and it feels weird. We have wonderful employees. Time flies sometimes. I will remember my time here with joy, pride and tears and thank you all,” Fusaro said.
Vaccaro told Fusaro, “I wish you the best in your retirement. Over the years we have worked together, when I was on the planning board as a member and subsequently as a councilman. I have respect for you as a person and as a professional. You have always been there for advice and direction.
“You will be missed by all of us,” Vaccaro added.
Members of the Manchester Coordinating Council also made a presentation to Fusaro thanking him for attending their meetings over the years and expressing their views on issues of the community. The MCC represents the senior development communities of the township.
Councilwoman Michele Zolezi noted how odd it was to see Fusaro in the audience and not sitting on the council dais.
“I want to say thank you Councilman Fusaro for all the years you have given Manchester. I know firsthand how passionate you have been about the town. I saw that when I was first getting involved with the town on the planning board. You were extremely helpful and you were always passionate about doing what was right for Manchester,” Councilwoman Zolezi said.
Councilwoman Zolezi said of Martin that while she had only worked with her over a short amount of time, (since the summer of 2021) that in that time period “you were very helpful to myself and the council and I have seen firsthand how you have jumped through hoops first hand to help our residents. I want to thank you for all your hard work and dedication. You will truly be missed.”
“I thank you Councilman Fusaro for your service over so many years. You have been a tremendous asset to the town,” the mayor said.
Mayor Robert Arace said of Martin, “while our time together has been so short, it has been fabulous working with you over the last several weeks. Congratulations on your retirement and your service to the community.”
Martin also welled up as she was presented a bouquet of flowers. “Where do I start? My connection to Manchester started when I moved here in 1977, so I have close to 46 years invested in Manchester Township.”
“I was here as a resident that had a water contamination issue. I worked with many people including Councilman Fusaro in helping change the form of government to a non-partisan form of government and unveiling one of the biggest corruption cases in the state of New Jersey at the time,” Martin added.
“My children were born and raised here, I met my husband here, I served on the Planning Board for six years, vice chair for four of them, and worked with Councilman Fusaro to get the funding for our football field,” she said.
Prior to becoming clerk she was part of the Municipal Alliance. “I have a history with the town and I hate to retire here but I will always consider Manchester my home.”
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