Mayor Pasquale Menna swears in Pam Borghi as borough clerk as deputy clerk Bonnie Thomas holds the Bible.

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

Nearly 20 years ago she was on the other side of the dais, taking notes as a reporter. Now, Pam Borghi is Red Bank’s Borough Clerk.

The council made it official Monday night when Borghi was sworn in to take the job left vacant by Carol Vivona, who retired in August.

In that time, Borghi, as deputy clerk, had been acting as Vivona’s replacement while handling her own duties as registrar. Mayor Pasquale Menna said Borghi’s main role will remain as registrar, but she’s now also the clerk, a title she beat out nearly two dozen other candidates for.

“It’s long been coming,” Menna said.

Borghi, of Red Bank, first started working in borough hall as a reporter covering council meetings for the Courier weekly newspaper before landing a job with the borough as a part-time public information officer in 1993, she said. She signed on full-time in 1996 as a secretary and eventually earned her certification to become the borough registrar in addition to being the public information officer.

Since August, when Vivona left, Borghi has held the title of registrar, public information officer, deputy clerk and acting clerk.

Having Borghi handle both the registrar and clerk duties will save the town some money, officials said. Borghi will get an additional $10,000 a year for the clerk position, which will bring her salary to $58,000. The clerk position, in 2008, paid $71,737.

“She’s going to be able to do two jobs, basically, for the price of one,” said Councilman Michael DuPont, who heads the finance committee. “She also knows Red Bank. She’s been here for many, many years. We are thrilled with this selection.”

Menna said about 20 candidates had been interviewed for the job in the last few months. He called Borghi diligent and dedicated, and said while she has worked so well for the borough she’s also “raised some wonderful children.”

“It’s extremely heartening to make this appointment,” Menna said.

Borghi, seemingly humbled or perhaps conditionally apprehensive of the press, said little on the promotion.

“I just want to thank everybody,” she said. “I’ll do my very best.”