BELLEVILLE POST ESSEXNEWSDAILY.COM
MARCH 2025
VOL. 36 NO. 24
BPD Officer There’s a new clerk in town of the Month
— See Page 3
Meet BHS’ star bowler
— See Page 15
St. Patrick’s Parade Guide
— See Inside
BELLEVILLE — The township clerk’s office in Belleville is a bustling place, where a resident might need help with liquor license one minute, then another is submitting an Open Public Records Act request, while a third is applying for a raffle license. For new Municipal Clerk Jacky Guaman, being at the nexus of activity in Belleville is precisely how she likes it. Guaman says the fast-paced and multifaceted nature of her work helping with the day-to-day operations of Belleville allows her to assist many more people each day at town hall. “I enjoy it so much,” said Guaman, who was appointed to the role by a 6-0 vote at recent meeting of the mayor and Township Council. “I enjoy helping everyone, getting my hands involved in everything here. I know it’s a lot of work, but it's a different type of work because I’m not just concentrating on one role. I deal with multiple things.” Mayor Michael Melham said that Guaman has often gone above and beyond the call of duty, and there is probably no greater example of that than how she often helps Spanish-speaking residents. “For instance, she has helped many residents navigate the application process to obtain state-funded, zero-interest loans through the Home Improvement Program,” Guaman said. “The fact that Jacky is bilingual – not to mention Bellevilleproud – is a huge asset for our town.” It was a series of seemingly unrelated events that led to Guaman becoming the township clerk. She originally worked in the medical field as a sonographer, before taking a job with the township as an aide. Construction in Town Hall forced her to vacate her work space and take up temporary residence in the clerk’s office. The move allowed her to have a closeup view as then-clerk Kelly Cavanagh went about serving township officials, departments and residents.
Photo Courtesy of Belleville Twp.
New Township Clerk Jacky Guaman says she enjoys the fast-paced nature of helping with the day-to-day operations of the township. “I got along with Kelly very well and I was intrigued by her job, everything that she did,” Guaman said. “I wanted to learn more about the municipality, so I started taking the municipal clerk classes. I wanted to know the ins and outs of an ordinance, what the job of a clerk entails, all those things.”
Matthew De Fede
The Knowledge & Experience You Can Trust.
After passing the requisite state classes, she went to work as the deputy clerk under Cavanagh. Guaman approached her duties, which included serving as the secretary to Melham and the Township Council, with such energy and enthusiasm that Cavanagh would tell Guaman that See GUAMAN, Page 2
elite homes
O: 973-846-0065