If the ordinance had been adopted, the appointed health board would have had the power to adopt ordinances just as that board does now.
By John Tredrea
A proposed ordinance under which the Hopewell Township Committee no longer would also serve as the township’s Board of Health was killed by the committee Monday night.
After a public hearing on the measure, the committee killed it by tabling it.
There is not enough time to reintroduce and adopt the ordinance before the end of the year, when the terms of committee members Jon Edwards and Marylou Ferrara will end. They will be replaced by Judy Niederer and Mark Iorio at the committee’s annual reorganization meeting in January.
Under the tabled ordinance, the five members of the township Board of Health would have been appointed by the Township Committee. The ordinance would have brought a major change to the structure of the township Board of Health, which for decades has had the same membership as the Township Committee. Under state law, every municipal government must have a board of health.
If the ordinance had been adopted, the appointed health board would have had the power to adopt ordinances just as that board does now.
That did not sit well with Bill Schoelwer and other residents who spoke at the public hearing.
"I think the power to legislate should remain with the governing body, not an appointed board," Mr. Schoelwer said. Ms. Niederer and resident Sheila Beyer made similar comments.
"Thank you for your comments," Mayor Vanessa Sandom said to the residents who spoke. "We do listen to you."
It was only a few weeks ago that the committee voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance.
Under the tabled measure, the five volunteer members of the Board of Health all would have served three-year terms. Their appointments would have been arranged so the terms of no more than two members would expire in any one year.
Also under the tabled ordinance, the Board of Health would annually have elected a chairperson from its own membership. The board would have adopted rules and regulations for its own governing and appoint a secretary annually.

