Roebling ushers in township’s new year

Roebling Township Council will hold its annual reorganization meeting in the Fireman’s Hall of the Roebling Volunteer Fire Co. building.

By: Scott Morgan
   ROEBLING — Centennial celebrations usually cause quite a stir. After all, they only happen once and it takes 100 years just to get there.
   But in Roebling, the push to celebrate the 100th birthday of the founding of the village is coming along swimmingly. In fact, the spirit of festivity has even reached the Township Council at its most formal time of year. On Jan. 5, the Township Council will hold its annual reorganization meeting in the Fireman’s Hall of the Roebling Volunteer Fire Co. building on Seventh Avenue and Main Street in an official nod to this historic year.
   Typically, the reorganization meeting is held at the township Municipal Complex. But as 2005 is not a typical year in the township, council President Betsie Ryan listened to a flash of inspiration and suggested the meeting be held in Roebling. It won’t be the first time a Township Council meeting will be held in the village, but it will be the first time it has happened in almost 25 years.
   Back in the 1970s, a fire destroyed the township municipal building, forcing the council to hold its meetings at the Roebling Library on Hornberger Avenue, among other areas. But since the new municipal complex opened in 1982, all council meetings — even the annual reorganizations — have been held in the township building.
   As a native of Roebling, Ms. Ryan said holding the meeting in the fire company auditorium just seemed like a good idea this year.
   "I was born and raised in Roebling," Ms. Ryan said. "I know how many people are excited about the centennial."
   Assistant Township Administrator Tom Sahol said hosting the "reorg" in Roebling would be "a fitting tribute to recognize the history of the village." And unlike the ’70s, when Roebling-based meetings were a matter of necessity, "this time it’s a nicety," Mr. Sahol said.
   It’s nice for the Roebling Centennial Committee too.
   "It’s going to be great," said Centennial Committee member Loretta Varga, who added that other committee members are "calling everybody" to tell them to come to the meeting.
   The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will be followed with, as Mr. Sahol said, "light refreshments and conversation." Ms. Ryan said that if all goes well, the council may consider holding its reorganization meetings in Roebling every year.