Peter Buchsbaum, who was mayor last year, was sworn to office after being reelected in November.
By: Linda Seida
WEST AMWELL The township’s reorganization meeting New Year’s Day resulted in the appointment of Republican Gary Bleacher to the office of mayor, a position he held once before in 2001.
Also sworn to office was committee member Peter Buchsbaum, a Democrat, who was elected in November to his second three-year term. Mr. Buchsbaum served as mayor in 2003.
Nance Palladino, a Republican, a three-term committee member, will serve as deputy mayor. She was mayor in 2002.
Ms. Palladino also won election in November to a seat on the Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Mr. Bleacher said one of the main goals for the township in the coming year is to "continue with our farm preservation program, to try to get as much acreage into it as we can."
He helped initiate the program about four years ago, and since that time the township has preserved about 3,000 acres.
"We’ve been pretty successful with it," Mr. Bleacher said.
Another main goal for officials will be to revamp ordinances to align with the township’s new Master Plan.
"The Master Plan didn’t satisfy everybody," Mr. Bleacher said, noting some residents were unhappy with the idea of downsizing the zoning. "But with careful work, we can come up with ordinances that can be acceptable to everybody."
In addition to operating his own farm in the township, Mr. Bleacher, 52, is the operations manager for Fort Dodge Animal Health, a division of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals that manufactures and distributes animal pharmaceuticals.
Also during its reorganization meeting, the committee made appointments to the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
On the Planning Board, Hal Shute was appointed to a four-year term. Reappointed to four-year terms were Bernie Meader and Jeff Ent. Carmen Perri was reappointed as alternate number one for two years. Mayor Bleacher will serve for one year.
Ms. Palladino will serve as alternate number three for one year. Township Clerk Betty Jane Hunt also was reappointed, for one year.
On the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Richard Anderson was reappointed to a four-year term. Ruth Hall will finish out the three remaining years of the term begun by Mr. Shute, who was appointed to the Planning Board. Brian Fitting will serve a two-year term.