Mayor nominates Frederick Morton to Newark Caribbean Commission; council records sponsorship

The mayor submitted Frederick Morton’s name for appointment to the Newark Caribbean Commission during the Newark Municipal Council meeting on Aug. 5. Morton introduced himself, described his media business and ties to Newark and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and invited council members to a Caribbean festival he said will be held in Harriet Tubman Square on Aug. 16.

Morton said he is the founder and CEO of Tempo Networks and that the company is celebrating its 20th anniversary. “My name is Frederick Morton. I am the founder and CEO of a television network and media company that is very popular throughout The Caribbean. It’s called Tempo Networks,” Morton said during his brief remarks. He also said he is a lawyer who does not currently practice and that he owns property in Newark and has been a Rutgers–Newark student and long-term resident.

Council members recorded sponsorship and a second for the appointment. Councilor McKellie was recorded as the sponsor and Councilwoman Scott Rountree as the seconder; the council president congratulated Morton on the nomination.

The record does not show a roll-call vote in the provided transcript excerpt. The council president announced the nomination and offered congratulations after the sponsor and seconder were recorded.

Morton’s brief remarks and the sponsorship were made during the council’s early agenda review; council members did not raise questions about the nominee in the excerpt provided.

If the council subsequently votes on the nomination or takes other formal action, that vote and any written materials were not included in the transcript excerpt provided here.