Manchester Township Councilman enters NJLOM Hall of Fame

Two decades of service to Manchester earn Township Council President Sam Fusaro a place in an elite group - the Elected Officials Hall of Fame of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.

Fusaro was inducted February 8 at the Statehouse in Trenton, during the 25th annual Mayors' Legislative Day. Of the many who have served in New Jersey's 565 municipalities over the years, only 585 have earned this milestone.

Members of municipal governing bodies who serve at least 20 years become eligible. Sam meets the requirement with 21 years, and counting, since 1990.

Now, some quick math tells you that the span is actually 27 years, but that's without subtracting the span during which Fusaro stepped away from the Council, in 2006, to focus on responsibilities as Project Manager of the U.S. Army's Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) at Fort Monmouth.

He returned to the Council in 2011, to fill the void left with the departure of the late Councilman Ken Vanderzeil.

Sam won election in four successive elections, 1990 through 2002, and applied a great deal of his energy to the township's Open Space referendum in 2001. He also helped spearhead the township's 2016 business-boosting loyal customer card program.

He also served on various panels including the Planning Board, Recreation Commission, Master Plan Committee, and Pine Lakes Restoration Committee. Plus, he coached township youth baseball and basketball.

In addition to his work at Fort Monmouth, Fusaro spent much of his career guiding finances in the health care sector, notably as Newark Beth Israel Medical Center's dental department business manager.

See the notables in the Elected Officials and Mayoral Hall of Fame at the League of Municipalities web page.