Turnover is theme in Rocky Hill

Borough Council reorganizes

By: Kara Fitzpatrick
   ROCKY HILL — Change was the order of the day at the annual Borough Council reorganization meeting Monday.
   George Morren was unanimously chosen as the new council president. He will replace Peggy Harris, who nominated him.
   "He’s a good guy," said Ms. Harris, adding that Mr. Morren’s experience will be useful to the council. She said she had not been anticipating another year as council president.
   Mr. Morren served as council president in 2002. He said he was happy to again take on the responsibility.
   Newcomer Jared Witt was sworn in to the six-member council, replacing Martin Engelbrecht, who had served for six years and was defeated in the November election. Mayor Brian Nolan thanked Mr. Engelbrecht for his service to the community.
   Richard Batchelder was again sworn in to begin his 12th year as a council member.
   Albert Cruz was appointed as the new borough attorney to take the place of John Rankin.
   Instead of highlighting the events and accomplishments of 2004, Mayor Nolan chose instead to encourage the community to extend support to the victims of the earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck several South and Southeast Asian countries on Dec. 26.
   "Each day the news organizations have provided us very startling and detailed accounts of the devastation and now the recovery efforts (are) under way, which will likely stretch on for many years," said the mayor as he read from a letter he addressed to Rocky Hill residents dated Jan. 1.
   "I am sure that some of you have already reached out in response to provide financial or other support to those impacted. Others, including myself, have thought about it, but with the recent holidays did not act, until today," continued Mayor Nolan.
   He urged residents with the financial means to donate to the relief efforts and supplied a number of agencies to contact in order to help. Mayor Nolan said the listed organizations were included in a statement issued by Somerset County Freeholder Director Denise Coyle.
   The mayor also added his wishes for a "happy and peaceful New Year 2005."
   In addition to the mayor’s words, the Rev. William Schutter, pastor of the First Reformed Church of Rocky Hill, gave an invocation, asking council members and residents to enter the new year with improved communications and relations.
   Mayor Nolan said he is hopeful that the council will "come together with myself in establishing our goals and initiatives for this year."
   Mr. Witt said, as a first-year member, he hopes to assist the council in continuing the "positive work" achieved thus far. He said he hopes to make the processes of the council "more transparent."
   He added, "I want people to feel more comfortable with the council. … I want people to feel it’s more open."
   Last year was a sometimes contentious one for the council with an independent slate running for election charging partisanship and divisiveness in borough affairs and residents not being treated respectfully before council. There were also incidents of council members squabbling over seemingly minor matters such as the placement of American flags on Washington Street and a lighting plan for the Borough Hall parking lot.
   In other action Monday, the council approved a temporary budget of approximately $223,000 for the borough and $44,600 for the Rocky Hill water and sewer utility for 2005. These funds will sustain the municipality until a formal budget is passed. The figure represents approximately 25 percent of the 2004 budget.