TOMS RIVER – After nearly three decades, longtime township employee Jim Pine is retiring. Pine was honored for his 29 years of service recently by the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders with a resolution.
Pine began his career with Ocean County back in 1990 as a laborer in the Road Department. By 2000, he was promoted to Roads Supervisor and, in 2002, Director of Transportation and Vehicle Services.
He was named Director of Vehicle Service in 2008.
“I congratulate Jim Pine on his outstanding and diligent work in the county,” said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, liaison to the Vehicle Services Department. “Jim and his staff have done an outstanding job in keeping our fleet of vehicles and pieces of heavy equipment on the road and operational.”
Before taking up his position with the County Road Department, Pine served as the mayor of Eagleswood Township.
Little reminisced on his relationship with Pine, reaching back all those years. As the former Chief of Staff in the 9th District Legislative, Little said he had frequent dealings with Pine, whom he called “a dedicated and honorable public official.”
Freeholder Deputy Director John P. Kelly also knew Pine during his mayoral duty, serving with him on the Eagleswood Township Committee.
“I wish him well on his well-deserved retirement, but I do miss the days we spent together serving the people of Eagleswood and all of the people of Ocean County,” said Kelly.
Outside of his everyday work with the County, Pine was an active community member, serving as a Great Bay Regional First Aid Trustee, a Great Pay Police Athletic League Trustee and as president of the Pinelands Regional Board of Education.
Freeholder Director Virginia E. Haines said Pine’s position in the county was critical, but seldom in the spotlight.
“When a snowplow broke down in the middle of a blizzard Jim and his staff were there to fix it and get it back on the road to keep our residents safe,” she said.
Pine was honored at the meeting by not only the Freeholders but also several members of his professional staff.
