Municipal Building Re-Named to Honor Pete Biondi

The  will now be called the Peter J. Biondi building, in honor of .

The Township Committee unanimously approved a motion to rename the building, after Committeeman Anthony Ferrera moved to renaming it during the committee’s Tuesday meeting.

“All of us had talked up here individually, and I had the opportunity to speak with Joan Biondi, the assemblyman’s wife, and we were unanimously looking at renaming the municipal building here the Peter J. Biondi building,” he said. “I couldn’t think of a better person to name the building after.”

The Township Committee only needed a motion and resolution in order to change the building name, Township Attorney Albert Cruz said. Since the Township Committee will not meet again until its reorganization meeting on Jan. 3, it will accept the formal resolution then.

Building the complex, which opened in the early 1990s, was among Biondi’s achievements during his tenure on the Township Committee. The building incorporated most of the township offices, the library and the Board of Education offices—something the prior location did not do. The set-up allows the offices and departments to better collaborate, according to Township Administrator Mike Merdinger.

Biondi served as Hillsborough Township Committeeman, Mayor, Somerset County Freeholder and State Assemblyman for District 16 when .

The committee has not yet decided how it will handle the signs in front of and on the side of the building, though they’ve been considering renaming it for a few weeks, Ferrera said.

For Ferrera, who credits Biondi for introducing him to township politics, introducing was among his last actions as a member of the township committee—he did not run for reelection to his committee seat and his term expires on Dec. 31.

“One of the most important things to Pete was this municipal building,” Ferrera said. “He loved it, helped create it, and it was always important to him.”