Resignation Of Summit Councilwoman Was Due To 'Personal Circumstances'

SUMMIT, NJ — In light the announcement that Councilwoman Beth Little is stepping down from her position on Council, President Marjorie Fox read a statement from Little at Tuesday night's Summit City Hall meeting.

Little said in the statement that at this time her "personal circumstances" are preventing her from focusing fully on her council position, which led her to make the decision to step down before the end of her term.

Since Little announced her resignation in the middle of her third term, the Council will need to appoint a successor to serve the rest of the term until a candidate is elected in the Nov. 2023 General Election.

Read more: Councilwoman Beth Little Resigns From Summit Council

"I have been honored by your support and privileged to represent the diversity that is Summit," Little wrote in her statement. "Serving the residents of Summit has truly been my pleasure and one of the most rewarding experiences of my career."

Little said she is also incredibly proud of the work the council has done together during "unprecedented times" in the city's history.

She highlighted several initiatives she is proud that the city achieved, such as:

• Improving conditions in the city's public housing with the hiring of a new director and affordable housing administrator
• Keeping city services running smoothly during the pandemic and working with Summit Downtown Inc. and business owners to keep the downtown alive and thriving (even winning the 2021 Great Places award by the American Planning Association)
• Overseeing numerous initiatives to improve pedestrian safety and walkability such as the sidewalk master plan, four way stop signs and the installation of speed humps
• Establishing a permanent dog park and the planting of over a thousand trees in the city.

"At times, especially in recent days, it is difficult to focus on these (and many other) accomplishments in the face of the vocal minority of constant criticism at council meetings and on social media," Little stated. "However, I believe that most residents know that everyone on council and in City Hall only wants the best for Summit and its people."

"Every day for the last five years I have focused on doing everything possible to improve the lives of the people who live and work in Summit and I leave my position confident that my colleagues will carry that goal forward. I wish you all the best," Little concluded.

You can watch the entirety of Tuesday's Summit Common Council meeting on YouTube below:

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