Paramus Youth Get Taste of Local Government

Sixteen middle school students got a real hands-on lesson in local government Tuesday night.

The Paramus Elks once again sponsored the students in government program which is in its 21st year.

Eight students from East Brook and West Brook middle schools are chosen to take part in the program where they get to take on the roles of borough officials or department heads, explained Chip Morgan of the Elks.

The students conducted their own borough business appointing fellow student government members to roles of police chief, tax collector, borough attorney and other roles in front of an audience of proud parents and members of the community as the official Paramus governing body stood behind. 

The follow students took part in the student government program:

• Mayor - Liam Coohill of West Brook
• Borough Clerk - William Frasco of East Brook
• Council members: Jenna Gallager, Alyssa Romanos and Rebecca Corrado of East Brook and Jennifer Jeon, Michael Gianella and Aviv Liani of West Brook.
• Police Chief - Alyssa Bogosian of East Brook
• Fire Chief - Danielle Minervini - West Brook
• Borough Attorney - Eric Waxman - East Brook
• Tax Collector - Conor Donnelly of West Brook
• Health Officer - Monet Shinohara of East Brook
• Building Inspector - Alexa Maria of West Brook
• Recreation Commissioner - Spencer Lubash of East Brook
• Borough Administrator - Rafael Yeganeh of West Brook.

Mayor Richard LaBarbiera congratulated the students for a job well done and reminded them that they could be on their way to becoming future leaders. 

"Many of the people now on the council walked in the same hallways you walk in so there is a distinct possibility that one day these chairs could be yours," the mayor said.  "I'd like to encourage you to stay active in public service, not just today but well into the future."

Morgan told Patch that some of the students who have taken part in the junior government program have gone on to serve in public roles in Paramus.