By:John Patten
Township Committeeman Tony Gwiazdowski reiterated his opposition to Democratic appointments to commissions and boards repeatedly during the committee’s Dec. 18 meeting.
In fact, Mr. Gwiazdowski, a Republican, voiced his opposition three times, and voted against three appointments, before the committee advanced in its agenda, each time asking the other committee members to let the incoming Republican majority fill the vacancies.
Committee members voted to appoint Charlene Walker to the Agricultural Advisory Board, Dale Gordon to the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Joan Frietag to the Cultural and Arts Commission, all by a 4-1 vote, and all after Mr. Gwiazdowski objected to the year-end appointments.
"This should have been the last meeting of the year and the Agricultural Advisory Board isn’t meeting again this year," Mr. Gwiazdowski said regarding Ms. Walker’s appointment. "My recommendation is that, since the board isn’t meeting again, let’s not fill this appointment now."
When Mr. Gwiazdowski said the committee "should allow the new Township Committee … fill these positions" following the nomination of Mr. Gordon, Mayor Joseph Tricarico responded by noting Mr. Gordon’s community activities.
"The resident is a qualified resident, not a qualified Democrat or a qualified Republican, but a qualified Hillsborough resident," Dr. Tricarico said.
Before Second Deputy Mayor Sonya Martin nominated Ms. Freitag to the Cultural and Arts Commission, she noted five members of the group have tendered resignations in the last few weeks, jeopardizing the ability of the commission to move forward with any projects. Two of the commission’s departing members are John Souren and Steven Sireci, who were elected to the Township Committee in November.
"Right now, its lost half its members," Ms. Martin said, then encouraged all residents interested in the arts to contact the township if they’d like to be nominated to the group.
So Mr. Gwiazdowski got at least part of what he asked for concerning appointments the new Township Committee will have four positions to fill on the Cultural and Arts Commission next month.

