MANCHESTER – Township residents and officials were saddened to learn of the recent passing of former Mayor Michael Fressola who many described as a dedicated public servant who gave many years of service to the community he loved.
Fressola died on July 24 at the age of 98. In 1989, he and his wife, Irene, retired and moved to Manchester and like many other residents, he was hoping to retire but that didn’t happen. His new neighbors weren’t happy with the administration, and said there were stories of widespread corruption.
He had served on the planning board in Staten Island and was appointed to the planning board in Manchester.
The political unrest led the municipality to change from a partisan to nonpartisan form of government. That along with the ouster of the administration that many had suspected of corruption led to the need for a fresh slate and change.
Fressola once remarked that he had seen an advertisement in a newspaper by a citizens group wanting to rid the town of improper governing and he sent them a small donation but within a few days he received a visit by two residents at this doorstop and he became involved with their effort of change.
Following a full investigation that revealed members of the administration, especially Business Administrator Joseph Portash, had been paying themselves with township checks, inventing vendors, and removing all evidence of their crimes, Fressola became part of the new government that overthrew the old regime.
Manchester changed its form of government from partisan to nonpartisan in 1990, and elected a new mayor, Jane Cordo Cameron. Councilman Sam Fusaro was elected around that time as well. Fressola joined the council in 1992 after a council member passed away. He was appointed to fill the remainder of the term and he rose to serve as mayor from 1998 until 2014.
During that period, Fressola and the council faced many issues some that were similar to other Ocean County towns at that time and that remain today: development, seeking commercial ratables and keeping taxes down.
One focus at that time was the Heritage Minerals site which still remains undeveloped and based on its size could accommodate 1,200 homes or more. The Pinelands Preservation Alliance and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection restricted that down to fewer than 1,000 and following a lawsuit, it increased to 2,200 homes, and the developer wanted 6,000.
As a former U.S. Naval Reservist, Fressola was a strong supporter of the nation’s veterans and was active with the township’s Veterans Advisory Committee.
Throughout the years, he was honored for his public service with awards including the Jersey Shore Council, BSA Whispering Pine Outstanding Service Award; Kimball Medical Center Humanitarian Award; Ocean County ARC Chapter Humanitarian Award; and Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation of the Navy Yard and Philadelphia’s Legion of Honor Service Award.
The former mayor proudly served Save the Lakehurst Naval Base and The Friends of Navy Lakehurst and was a Trustee of Community Medical Center; and an Executive Board Member of the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
His passing was noted during the latest council meeting by Councilman Craig Wallis. Council President Michele Zolezi had also noted his long association with the municipal government.
Mayor Joseph Hankins and the Township Council extended their heartfelt condolences to Fressola’s family and friends expressing that they were grateful for his years of dedicated service to the community.
