City Council approved a dozen appointments to various city boards and commissions, including the Redevelopment Agency.

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The mayoral appointments were confirmed via resolution (AR-3-24) during the governing body’s reorganization meeting on Jan. 2.

Redevelopment Agency

John Samsel of Stone Street was appointed to a five-year term (through 2028) to the seven-member agency and Ebony Parham of East Milton Avenue was reappointed to a full term after serving the remaining 15 months of an unexpired term that ended at the end of 2023.

Samsel is a Realtor with Clark-based Samsel & Associates Real Estate Services. Parham is a broker-associate with Newmark Associates and business development manager for the Commercial Real Estate Supplier Diversity Alliance (CRESDA).

UPDATE, Jan. 10: While Parham is a reappointment to the agency, Samsel will replace Tim Nash, the last remaining original commissioner from when the agency was created in 2001. He was the longest-serving commissioner on the Redevelopment Agency, surviving a near-complete overhaul of the agency by former Mayor Samson Steinman in 2014.

Nash said via email that he received a phone call from the city clerk on Monday informing him that he was not reappointed to the agency. In response to an inquiry as to why Nash was not reappointed, City Public Relations Coordinator William George said simply that Nash’s term ended, which also was the case with Parham’s term so further clarification is being sought.

The Redevelopment Agency meets monthly, usually on the third Wednesday. The next scheduled meeting is Jan. 17 24. Commissioners are unpaid and serve five-year terms, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by City Council.

SID Ad Hoc Arts & Culture Committee

• Armani Saahd-Tann, owner of Rahway Dance Theatre on Irving Street
• Joann Gemenden, a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment
• Deanna Hunt, executive director of the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
• Pedro De Paz, a local artist

SID Ad Hoc Business Committee

• Jeff Spelman, owner of The Coffee Box at East Cherry Street and Irving Street
• Michelle McTamney, financial advisor at Edward Jones on Irving Street
• Dawn White, general manager of Liberty Harley-Davidson on West Milton Avenue
• Laura Lopez of Millie and Joy Boutique on Franklin Street

In July 2021, City Council established the two five-member ad hoc committees during the process to dissolve the Rahway Arts and Business Partnership but last week’s resolution appointed only four members to each committee for one-year terms.

Planning Board

• Karla Timmons, who won election to the remaining year of the term she was appointed to as 2nd Ward councilwoman, (2024)

Housing Authority

• Javier Gonzalez of Murray Street (2028)

Environmental Commission

• Eric Hausker of Ludlow Street (2025)
• Leslie Rippon (2024)

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