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Commissioner Ross Licitra outlines priorities, highlights parks and emergency readiness
Summary
Monmouth County Commissioner Ross Licitra used a "Commissioner Corner" address to introduce his background and describe his oversight roles for county parks, the Belford Ferry contract and the Office of Emergency Management, emphasizing preparedness and preservation.
Commissioner Ross Licitra spoke in a "Commissioner Corner" address to introduce himself, describe his public-safety background and outline priorities for Monmouth County.
Licitra, who identified himself as born in 1963 and raised in Eatontown, said he became a police officer at 18 and later served in the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office before joining the Monmouth County SPCA in 2015 as chief of its Humane Law Enforcement Division. "I was actually the youngest police officer in the state of New Jersey for a couple of years," he said, describing a long career in law enforcement that he said informs his county work.
The commissioner said the county parks system drew him into county government and remains a priority. He praised park staff for preserving historic structures and maintaining trails and programs, saying the parks "have developed into one of the happiest places on the planet." Licitra said he serves as a liaison for the Belford Ferry and that the county oversees how ferry services "are impacting our community." He described the ferry as a contracted service that provides commuter service to New York City.
Licitra also said he is the liaison to the Office of Emergency Management, tying that responsibility to his law-enforcement background and stressing training and readiness. "It is worth investing in because you hope you never need it," he said, adding, "We're ready here in Monmouth County to keep our people, our families, our friends, our infrastructure safe."
On governance, Licitra described the role of a commissioner as one of listening and incremental improvement rather than wholesale change. He noted the board works with mayors of the county's 53 municipalities and that the board makes decisions "collectively" and in a "comprehensive methodical way." He closed by saying most elected officials "are there for the right reasons" and expressing confidence in the public.
No formal motions or votes were recorded in the remarks; the address functioned as a personal introduction and overview of Licitra's liaison responsibilities and values.
