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City Manager Terence Reidy attended his final Asbury Park City Council meeting Tuesday.

Reidy has held the position for the past 10 years. He was previously the city manager in Montclair.

During the council meeting, Reidy read a poem he titled “Farewell and Gratitude.” “It’s meant to be a thank you to this city and an acknowledgement to who we are as a community,” he said.

In the poem, he thanked the employees, the governing body, residents and others who are dedicated to the city he is so passionate about.

“To all of the employees who have served this city standing shoulder to shoulder with me…they have served with dignity, competence and grit and I am proud to call you brother and sister; to the governing body that served with me these past ten years, I am grateful for your honesty, integrity and courage and most of all for your unwavering support and belief in the vision we shared,” he said.

Members of the community that “have lived here for generations” and those who “stayed and strengthened this city” or went to serve as a member of the armed forces and came back he called “the bedrock of this city.”

He concluded the poem thanking all those he mentioned “for the honor of serving this city for the past ten years.”

During the meeting, Councilwoman Henderson expressed her gratitude for Reidy’s “tireless passion and dedication to the city.”

“I, certainly, would say that I learned a lot from you – especially about municipal government and management,” she said. “I just want to thank you because I don’t think you can be replaced. I don’t know that we are going to find anyone without your expertise and your knowledge. As you know, I’m not in favor of getting rid of you at this point,” said Henderson.

City Attorney Frederick Raffetto has served the city alongside Reidy for the past ten years. During the meeting, he expressed his appreciation for Reidy’s service on behalf of himself and his firm.

“During the course of my 20-plus year career serving municipal governments I find it is extremely difficult to find someone with Terry’s expertise, talent, professionalism, dedication, enthusiasm and most of all, his passion for his job, for the city, and for the city’s residents,” he said.

Reidy has “been my colleague, my mentor, and most importantly, my friend, and I value that relationship most of all,” Raffetto said.

Residents also expressed their gratitude for Reidy’s decade of service to the still-growing city.

“Thank you for your 10 years of service, God bless you and best of luck to you in all of your future endeavors,” said city resident Daniel Harris.

“I just wish him well in whatever he is going to do,” said resident and Charter Study Team member Pam Lamberton.

Reidy is still looking in to his options for future employment, but would “definitely” like to continue to work in a public service position, he said. In his time serving the city, there is no single project or accomplishment Reidy would say he is most proud of.

“It’s really about the journey,” he said.

The decision to replace Reidy came shortly before Mayor Mrya Campbell, Councilman John Moor and Councilwoman Amy Quinn, who ran on the One Asbury ticket, were sworn in July 1. The council firmed up the separation agreement the first week of August. Reidy’s ends his employment with the city Oct. 31.

Councilwoman Sue Henderson did not vote in favor of the decision to end Reidy’s tenure. Councilman Loffredo was not in attendance when the vote to enter into a separation agreement between the city and Reidy took place.

“We feel that you are taking all of the knowledge you have of the development that is occurring in the city, of the investments occurring in the city,” Henderson said. “I just hope that we, as a council working together, can keep that going.”

Members of the city council began to interview prospective candidates to replace Reidy in late September. Over 100 candidates submitted resumes in consideration for the position.

“We’re currently scheduling the second round of interviews and are looking into the possibility of hiring an interim city manager,” said Councilwoman Quinn.

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