Township Council getting set for 2005

Township Council kicks off the New Year with a reorganization meeting.

By: Joseph Harvie
   Three Township Council members will be sworn at a special meeting Sunday when the Township Council reorganizes for the new year.
   Township Manager Matt Watkins said the reorganization meeting will be held at the Senior Center at 1:30 p.m.
   Along with the swearing in, contracts will be awarded for township professional staff, and vacant positions on township boards and commissions will be filled, said Mr. Watkins.
   Mr. Watkins said Carol Barrett, Charles Carley and Joe Camarota, all Democrats, will be sworn in to four-year terms as council members at the meeting.
   The Democratic sweep in the November general election left the Democrats holding every seat on the council.
   Incumbent Ms. Barrett received 8,685 votes, Mr. Camarota received 8,322 votes and Mr. Carley received 8,200 votes.
   On the other side of the ballot, Republican incumbent Ted Van Hessen received 5,925 votes, Roger Craig received 5,075 votes and Lynda Woods Cleary received 5,187 votes.
   Ms. Barrett, who has been on the council since 1999, will retain her seat on the council and Mr. Carley and Mr. Camarota will take over seats left open by Ed Luciano, who served on the council for nine years and did not seek another term. Mr. Van Hessen had been on the council for 11 years and was defeated in this year’s election.