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Plainfield proclaims recognition for Deputy Chief Selka Damon and declares Girl Scout Week
Summary
Mayor Adrian O'Mapp and the city council presented a proclamation to Deputy Chief Selka Damon recognizing her career and milestone promotion, and the council designated March 12, 2025, as Girl Scouts Day and declared March 2025 Girl Scout Week in Plainfield.
Mayor Adrian O’Mapp and the Plainfield City Council presented a proclamation recognizing Deputy Chief Selka Damon for her long service in the Plainfield Fire Department and her recent promotion. The council also adopted a councilmatic resolution recognizing Girl Scouts of the Heart of New Jersey and declaring March 12, 2025, as Girl Scouts Day and March 2025 as Girl Scout Week in the city.
What was said about Deputy Chief Selka Damon
The proclamation read into the record noted that Damon joined the Plainfield Fire Department in July 2007 as the department’s first female firefighter, rose to lieutenant in 2016 and battalion chief in 2020, and has served in operations, training and fire prevention roles. The proclamation also noted Damon’s prior military service and mobilizations in support of state emergency responses. Damon accepted the proclamation and said she hopes her visibility will encourage young women to consider public-safety careers.
What was said about Girl Scouts
Council remarks and a councilmatic resolution recognized Girl Scouts of the Heart of New Jersey, highlighted a partnership the council said was launched in September 2023 with the Plainfield Board of Education, and declared March 12, 2025, as Girl Scouts Day and March 2025 as Girl Scout Week in Plainfield. Natasha Hemmings, president and CEO for Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey, told the council she has been involved in Girl Scouting for 25 years and that membership in Plainfield has grown from roughly 73 scouts seven years ago to nearly 300. Assemblywoman Linda Carter, who serves on the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey board, joined council members in presenting leaders and troops in the chamber.
Why it matters: the proclamations highlight local recognition of public-safety leadership and youth-development organizations and were framed during Women’s History Month and Girl Scout Week events that city officials said support youth engagement and civic education.
Additional notes: council members invited Girl Scout troops to return to the municipal chambers for future civic-engagement events and urged residents to look up local cookie-sale sites and troop activities online.
