Cory Booker wows Belleville Council at Meeting

The appearance of Newark Mayor Cory Booker to support township council members Marie Strumolo Burke and John Notari spiced up an otherwise uneventful annual reorganization meeting Thursday afternoon.

The charismatic mayor appeared at a packed Belleville Town Hall decorated with flowers and filled with the family and friends of council members.

Booker said Strumolo-Burke fed him, "the best eggplant parmigiana I ever had," and he talked about the many Belleville people whose roots come from Newark, and the value of local public service.

"Local government workers deserve the most credit," he said. "They keep our neighborhoods safe, and that is truly what our democracy is all about, protecting the heritage of great towns like Belleville."

Burke said the day was special for her because it was her late husband Charlie's birthday, and, "I would never have imagined having both Assemblyman Ralph Caputo and Mayor Cory Booker here for my installation."

Notari talked about the day he found out he was running unopposed for a third, four-year term.

"My word than was 'wow,' and is again today - wow!," he said. "I would especially like to thank my mother for setting an example for me and my brother to march to our own tune."

Second Ward Councilman Steve Rovell spoke about his health difficulties, the loss of his mother, and thanked his family for "putting up with my political season behavior," which took him away many days and nights.  

Third Ward Councilman Vincent Cozzarelli was named deputy mayor, less than one year after winning the seat left vacant by the P.J. McDonald, who died in 2011. Cozzarelli won a full four-year seat in May.

"I'd like to thank everyone for putting up with me through two elections, and for the privilege of serving as deputy mayor," Cozzarelli said. "Luckily I have people like (Belleville) Mayor Ray Kimble and Mayor Booker to serve as role models."

Interim Township Manager Kevin Esposito will continue on as long as the council wants, Kimble said in an interview afterward. A manager must have the support of at least four of the seven council members to remain in the post.

At-Large Councilman Kevin Kennedy did not attend the meeting.