In January, 2006 Council Member Fertel was appointed by the City Council to fill the vacancy created by the appointment of former Council Member Noam Bramson as mayor. In November, 2006, he was overwhelmingly elected, winning over 87% of the vote and was re-elected without opposition in November, 2007.

Fertel has lived in the Bayberry section of New Rochelle for 25 years. He has been a committed public servant in New Rochelle, having served on the New Rochelle Board of Education for over fourteen years, having been elected and re-elected twice citywide. Fertel served as the Board's Vice-President and President. During his tenure, the number of students attending New Rochelle's public schools grew from less than 8,000 to over 11,000. As a School Board member, Fertel oversaw the development of numerous outstanding programs in the School District, including magnet programs at the Barnard Early Childhood Center, Columbus Elementary School and Trinity Elementary School; the Alternative High School Program at the Campus School; and several Blue Ribbons from the U.S. Department of Education. Fertel was first elected to the Board of Education citywide in 1991 and was overwhelmingly re-elected in 1996 and 2001. In addition to his service on the School Board, Fertel has been active in community affairs in New Rochelle for years. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bayberry Association of New Rochelle.