The township has openings on a range of advisory boards and committees. The deadline to apply is Dec. 7.
By:Lea Kahn Staff Writer
Facing the expiration of the terms of some members of its advisory boards and committees on Dec. 31, Township Council is seeking volunteers adults and high school students to fill those slots.
There are openings on a range of advisory boards and committees, such as the Affordable Housing Board, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Senior Executive Committee.
The deadline for applying is Dec. 7, said Municipal Clerk Kathy Norcia. Applications are available at the Municipal Clerk’s Office at the Municipal Building. The office is open weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The telephone number is (609) 844-7000.
Township Council is expected to make appointments to fill the 52 vacancies on the 18 advisory boards and committees in January.
Mayor Pam Mount said she would like high school students to apply for a seat on one of the advisory boards and committees, adding that there is precedent for it. She cited Lawrence High School senior Maddie Emde, who was appointed to the Open Space Advisory Committee last year.
"I think (serving on an advisory board) is a nice way to get young people involved in the town," Mayor Mount said. "They can get some experience and see what involvement in town government is all about. They would bring a lot of energy to a committee."
Councilman Greg Puliti said residents should apply to serve on the advisory boards and committees to help make Lawrence a better community and to become a part of local government.
It is important to have a cross-section of residents serving on the boards and committees, because it helps Township Council gauge what people are thinking, Mr. Puliti said. The boards advise the council on issues that come before them, he said.
Township Council reviews the applications in a closed-door meeting and then decides on the appointments, Mr. Puliti said. The council votes on the appointments at one of its two regular meetings in January.
The applicants for the two statutory boards the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Adjustment are interviewed in person, Mr. Puliti said. The interviews are not required, but it is traditional in Lawrence, he said. Those appointments are made in January.
Among the 52 vacancies that must be filled by Township Council are three openings on the Planning Board. The four-year terms of regular members Michael Horan and James Kownacki are expiring. The two-year term of alternate member Dennis Waters is expiring.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment has two openings. The four-year term of regular member Leona Maffei is expiring, and the two-year term of alternate member Peter Rand is expiring.
The Affordable Housing Board is seeking to fill five vacancies. Three members’ terms are expiring those of members-at-large Paul Bannwart, Pamela Conover and Dennis Waters. There are two openings for persons who live in low- or moderate-income housing units. The terms are for three years.
The Cable Telecommunications Advisory Committee has two vacancies, because the terms of Victor Gutierrez and Lawrence Tractenberg are expiring. The terms are for four years.
At the Construction Board of Appeals, there are three vacancies for electricians and one vacancy for someone who is familiar with fire codes. The terms of electricians Richard Aicher, Albert Frascella and James Kownacki are expiring. The fire code seat is vacant. The terms are for four years.
There are five vacancies on the Environmental Resources Committee. The four-year terms of Christine Altomari, Brian Hammer, John Moyle, Kenneth Najjar and Philip McIndoo are expiring.
The Greenway Committee has three vacancies because the three-year terms of James Cordingley, Anne Demarais and Gail Harrje are expiring.
At the Growth and Redevelopment Committee, there are four openings because the terms of Cami Granahan, Michael Pratico Jr., Karl Thomas and Kathleen O’Neal are expiring. The terms are for three years.
The Health Advisory Board has four vacancies. The terms of Diane Armington, Anthony Brickman, Mary Beth Smith and Dr. Kevin McGuigan are expiring. One member must be a physician or nurse. The terms are for three years.
The Historic Preservation Advisory Committee is seeking one volunteer to fill an unexpired term that ends in December 2006.
The Human Relations Committee has three vacancies because the three-year term of Rich McLaughlin is expiring. There are vacancies for two unexpired terms ending in 2006 and 2007.
The Municipal Alliance on Drug and Alcohol Abuse has three vacancies one is because the two-year term of Bernadette Gur is expiring. The other two vacancies are for unexpired terms that end this year and in 2006.
The Open Space Advisory Committee has two vacancies because the terms of Laurie Emde and John Emmons are expiring. The terms are for three years.
The Public Safety Advisory Committee has three vacancies caused by the expiration of the terms of Brian Ciuffreda, William Holmes and Paul Palombi. The terms are for two years.
There are three vacancies on the Recreation Advisory Committee because the three-year terms of George Ferenchick, Jill Posluszny and Sigmund Zegarski are expiring.
The Route 1 Redevelopment Committee has two openings. The three-year terms of John Conroy and Janet Manfredi-Flannery are expiring.
At the Senior Executive Committee, there are three vacancies. The terms of Lorraine Colavita, Harriet Levine and Veronica Pickering are expiring. The terms are for four years.
The Shade Tree Advisory Committee has one opening because the term of Edward Sproles is expiring. The term is for three years.

