Mayor reappoints numerous people at inauguration

IRVINGTON, NJ — Mayor Tony Vauss was appointed and reappointed numerous department heads at his inauguration ceremony in Christian Pentecostal Church on Sunday, July 1.

“I’m going to ask that Councilman David Lyons and the Irvington Municipal Council, I respectfully submit to you Mr. Musa Malik for business administrator; Tracey Bowers, director of public safety; Tharien Arnold for director of housing services; Jamel Holley as public works director; Monique Griffin, health director; and, of course, the host for this evening, who’s done a great job for parks and recreation, the great Donald Malloy, for your consideration for directors,” said Vauss on Sunday, July 1.

“I also select for communications and appointments Musa A. Malik as acting director of revenue and finance; Althea Headley as assistant business administrator and qualified purchasing agent; Ramon Rivera esquire as township attorney; Kyana Woolridge as director of community development; Genia Philip, director of economic development and grants oversight; Deborah Simpkins, director of the Irvington Neighborhood Improvement Corporation; Theresa Yuelling, municipal court director; John Brown, Office of Emergency Management coordinator. We’ve already mentioned Chandra Rainey Cole, chief municipal court judge; and Ahmed Screven as acting chief municipal public defender.”

The council majority approved all the mayor’s appointments. At large Councilwoman Charnette Frederic was absent from the inauguration, which also doubled as the council’s reorganization meeting.

“I hereby respectfully submit these names for your consideration,” Vauss said. “I thank you for your support over the last four years and I look forward to another four years, where we can continue to make Irvington a safe, clean and prosperous community.”

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., who was present at the event, agreed with Vauss that the teamwork and cooperation between his administration and the council that are also part of the Team Irvington Strong social and political organization have been the reason Irvington’s success since 2014, when he was elected and sworn into his first term in office.

“What he has done in the last four years — and he hasn’t done it alone, he always speaks about his team in what he has accomplished here, because he can’t do it without his team, his political team, without his governmental team — and the council people, they work together as a team for the betterment of Irvington and you’ve got to continue to work together,” said DiVincenzo on Sunday, July 1, as he introduced Vauss. “It gives me a great honor that I get to introduce him, but before I do — keep on working together, if you’re serious about getting things done. You had a great first four years, but that’s the past. You’ve got to look toward the future.”

Vauss agreed with DiVincenzo and said he was right to point out Irvington’s successes, and that there’s no value is dwelling on those past successes, when there is still much work to be done in the township.

“As we get sworn into office this day, after four years of tough service and working for the citizens of Irvington, I am even more committed to do it for the next four years,” the mayor said.

  Mayor Tony Vauss