CLERK WHO USHERED RED BANK THROUGH CHANGES CHECKS OUT

Outgoing Borough Clerk Laura Reinersten gets a hug from Mayor Billy Portman and a standing ovation from members of the Borough Council at the November 14, 2024 meeting. (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)

By BRIAN DONOHUE

Wednesday is the final day on the job in Red Bank for Borough Clerk Laura Reinertsen, who is going back to work in the town Red Bank hired her away from: Kenilworth.

Reinertsen, credited with keeping the gears running smoothly during a time of political turmoil and the launch of a new form of government, has taken a job in the Union County town where she worked before taking the Red Bank job in 2022. She lives in Winfield in Union County.

A box of tissues was necessary at her final council meeting earlier this month as Mayor Billy Portman, Borough Manager Jim Gant and members of the Borough Council showered her with praise.

“I hope whatever backwoods podunk town you’re going to appreciates what a gift they’re getting,” Portman said, jokingly referring to the Union County town of 8,500 people famously known as the former headquarters of late mob boss Sam “the Plumber” DeCalvacante and soon-to-be former headquarters of global pharmaceutical giant Merck.

Reinertsen was pretty choked up at the meeting, but sent redbankgreen her collected thoughts in an email which read in part:

“It has been a privilege to serve as Borough Clerk for the Borough of Red Bank and I am grateful for the opportunity and experiences that have been afforded to me during my time here.

I want to express my sincerest appreciation for the support and dedication of my colleagues, particularly Bonnie and Kait. Working alongside such a talented and hardworking team has been a truly rewarding experience. I will miss the camaraderie and teamwork that we have fostered together.

I also want to commend my colleagues for their exceptional professionalism and dedication to serving the public. It has been a pleasure working with every one of you, and I will miss the sense of community and collaboration that exists within our offices. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated and talented individuals, and I am proud of the accomplishments that we have achieved together.”

Reinersten was charged with the task of ushering the borough through its conversion to a new council-manager form of government in 2023, not to mention the remarkable period of political gridlock and dysfunction and personnel changes that preceded it.

“I don’t think there are many clerks in New Jersey who get this many challenges,” said councilman Ben Forest. “You definitely rose to the occasion of a very challenging period in this borough.”

Also departing Red Bank along with Reinersten, sadly, will be her service dog Smalls, a regular at council meetings and the most beloved civic minded pooch the town has seen since Borough Hall regular Bum was killed from eating rat poison in 1924.

The borough has posted a job listing to find a new municipal clerk. There is no word on a replacement for Smalls.

redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331 or yelling his name loudly as he walks by. Do you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen? Please become a financial supporter if you haven’t already. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.