May was a big month in Belleville.
One of the biggest fires in township history destroyed a city block drawing national attention to Belleville, which also saw two-term Mayor Michael Melham lose his reelection bid to 24-year-old Councilman Frank Velez.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill paid a visit to the township to survey the damage wrought by the 12-alarm fire that reduced a city block to rubble and ash. A somber mood and the acrid odor of smoldering debris filled the air as Sherrill comforted Belleville’s first responders who were still weary from battling the blaze and spoke to heartbroken entrepreneurs who watched their businesses go up in flames…