Bill Tilton named North Hanover mayor at reorganization meeting
By: William Wichert
NORTH HANOVER As township mayor, Bill Tilton said he is going to get the job done.
The job, of course, includes creating a redevelopment zone to attract new businesses, finalizing several township contracts, and reforming the municipality’s administrative procedures, but Mr. Tilton said he thinks he can handle it.
"I think I can do it. I’m going to do it," he said. "It’s not rocket science. It’s common sense."
Starting his third year on the Republican-led Township Committee, Mr. Tilton was named North Hanover mayor at the Jan. 1 reorganization meeting. Mr. Tilton, who served as deputy mayor last year, replaces Mike Moscatiello and Township Committeeman Lou DeLorenzo is now his second-in-command. Mr. DeLorenzo was sworn in on Sunday to his second three-year term on the governing body.
As Mr. Tilton begins his new position, he said the biggest issue facing the municipality in 2006 is the creation of a redevelopment zone out of a 389-acre area surrounding Sykesville Road, Georgetown Road and McGuire Access Road.
Many businesses have left this area in recent years, and county officials are working with municipal planners to develop a plan that would rejuvenate that neighborhood.
"You’ll start to see some changes in that area in the way of plans from professionals," said Mr. Tilton, adding that the township Joint Land Use Board is expected to review some potential plans within the next few weeks. "I’m looking forward to that area having some life breathed back into it."
More work is in store for Mr. Tilton and the other Township Committee members as they prepare to develop new waste and police contracts, while also making sure municipal employees are meeting all state regulations. He said the municipality needs to revise its record-keeping practices, among other changes.
"My goal is to get the township on the right track administratively," said Mr. Tilton. "It’s about getting the job done, not whose job it is. That’s the attitude to have, because you’re serving the taxpayers."
These will be the responsibilities charged to Mr. Tilton in his new role as the Township Committee’s administrative liaison. He will also serve as recreation commissioner and as liaison to the county land use office and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
Mr. DeLorenzo will serve as commissioner of Public Works and recycling/landfill, while Mr. Moscatiello takes on the position of police commissioner and substandard housing commissioner.
Of the remaining two committee members, Paul Bruni will serve as liaison to the Jacobstown Fire Company, and Nancy Morrow will be mobile home commissioner.
The reorganization meeting also brought some changes to the township’s hired professionals and employees.
Mazer Engineering of Logan Township replaced Mount Holly-based Alaimo Engineering as the municipal engineers, and Veronica Gitto replaced Chief Financial Officer Barbara Sprowl, who retired.
Another retiree, Larry Nixon, was replaced by Jeffrey Jones as the township’s construction code officer and building subcode inspector. Ben Palombi is the new zoning officer, and Harry Case is the electrical subcode inspector.
The Township Committee has yet to fill the vacant police clerk position, and other open inspector positions in the Plumbing and Fire departments.