Berkeley Council Organizes For Year Ahead

Lt. Michael Charles Roth, center, surrounded by family, fellow officers and elected officials after a ceremony during the township reorganization meeting. (Photo by Catherine Galioto)

BERKELEY – The annual reorganization meeting for the township council featured new picks to lead the governing body, but also welcomed Michael Charles Roth to a promotion to police lieutenant.

Roth has served as a sergeant since 2011, and in his new role will be in charge of the overnight patrols, said Police Chief Karin DiMichele.

He and his twin brother and younger siblings are longtime Berkeley residents, and his father and several siblings have worked for the township or in police work. He has served as Class 1 and Class 2 officer for places such as Seaside Park and Seaside Heights, before joining Berkeley as a patrolman in 1998. His training includes Ocean County Strike Force, work in narcotics operations and investigations, before his promotion to sergeant. He now resides with his family in Ortley Beach.

Photo by Catherine Galioto

He was sworn in at the January 4 meeting surrounded by family and colleagues as well as the township council and mayor.

The reorganization meeting also chose Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich as council presidents – her first time in the role – and chose Councilman L. Thomas Grosse, Jr. to serve as vice president.

Outgoing council president John Bacchione thanked his fellow council members and the clerk’s office and administration for their assistance in 2016 and said he looked forward to working with the new council leadership for the year. Bacchione will also serve as the council member to the planning board, as a Class III member.

Mayor Carmen Amato said nearly all the annual appointments, save for some subcommittee volunteer positions, remain the same year over year, as the council confirmed the appointments for township attorney, engineer and other professionals.