EATONTOWN—A Fair Haven resident has been named to chair the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority (FMERPA) during the group's first meeting on Friday, July 14 held at Gibbs Hall on Fort Monmouth, here.

      Dr. Robert Lucky, a retired telecommunications executive and current member of the Department of Defense's (DoD) Science Board, is one of four private sector members that were nominated by Governor Jon S. Corzine and approved by the New Jersey State Legislature on June 30.

      “We have a tremendous opportunity to do good,” said Lucky after his selection as chairmen of the nine-person authority.

      The other authority private sector members are Joseph A. Colfer, president of the Monmouth and Ocean Counties Building and Trades Council from Howell; Rosemarie D. Estephan, a real estate broker based in Holmdel and Lauire Cannon, a Wall Township school board member and local environmental activist.

      Virginia S. Bauer, CEO and Secretary of the New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth & Tourism Commission, will serve as FMERPA Vice-Chairmen.  Bauer a resident of Red Bank will represent the state as one of five public sector members.

      Serving with Bauer will be Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry of Colts Neck and the elected leaders of the three towns that share Fort Monmouth 's 1,125 acres of property.  Representing Eatontown is Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo joined by Tinton Falls Mayor Peter Maclearie and Oceanport Mayor Lucille Chaump.

      Governor Jon S. Corzine signed into law legislation on April 28, 2006 to create the local redevelopment authority to develop a revitalization plan to address the closure of Fort Monmouth.

      The legislation established a ten member planning authority mandated by the Department of Defense's 2005 Base Realignment and Closure recommendations.  The tenth and non-voting member of the authority is Col. Ricki L. Sullivan, Fort Monmouth Garrison Commander and he will represent the Department of Defense.

      With the passage of the state budget the authority has up to $1-million dollars in state funds to apply for 90 percent matching Federal dollars from the DoD's Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA).  FMERPA will apply for OEA funding to pay for a full-time staff and office expenses.  Authority members formed a personnel sub-committee that will develop a job description for an executive director.  The position should be advertised in the coming weeks with the goal of hiring an executive director by the end of September.