By: Dick Brinster
EAST WINDSOR Incumbents Becky Anthony, John Pagliarulo and Rob Moore will return to their seats on the board of directors of the Twin Rivers Homeowners Association after easily winning re-election.
They each won three-year terms in balloting concluded Dec. 14 at the association’s annual meeting. Steve Commer finished fourth, followed by Al Wally and Deepa Shulka.
In Twin Rivers, a planned unit development that is home to 10,000 of East Windsor’s 25,000 people, each household may cast one vote. The development contains single-family detached homes, townhouses, condominiums and apartments.
Ms. Anthony, of Jamestown Road, led the way with $15.7 million in voting weighed by property value. Mr. Moore and Mr. Pagliarulo, both of Bennington Drive, followed closely behind with $14.7 million and $14.5 million, respectively. Mr. Commer of Robertson Road, compiled $6.6. million; Mr. Wally of Overton Road, $6 million, and Ms. Shulka, of Livingston Drive, $5.4 million.
"I’m glad I have the opportunity to continue contributing to the community," said Mr. Moore, who like Ms. Anthony was appointed to a board vacancy in 2003 before winning a seat later that year. "We’ve come a long way in the last three years with a lot of the renovations and improvements that we’ve made. I just look forward to continuing all the good work that we’ve done."
Mr. Wally, a 65-year-old retiree and frequent critic of the board, lost for the fifth time. As he did three years ago, he contended that Mr. Moore should not have been allowed to be a candidate because he’s not a "member in good standing" of the community by virtue of his wife being the owner of their home.
Board President Scott Pohl said the original bylaws of the association from the late 1960s state that a member of the board does not even have to be a resident, although only the deed-holder is eligible to vote.
Mr. Moore, 43, a distribution manager for a publication company, did not comment on Mr. Wally’s claim.
Mr. Wally also criticized the procedure for tabulating the votes.
"Our governing documents do not allow for mail-in ballots, yet the ballots are mailed to the board accountant’s office for them to tally," he said.
They are not ballots, they’re proxies, Mr. Pohl responded.
"If you wish to vote by secret ballot, it can be done at the annual meeting," Mr. Pohl said, adding that the legitimacy of proxies the method by which an overwhelming number of people vote must be verified by the community’s accounting firm, Wilkin and Guttenplan of East Brunswick.
Mr. Pagliarulo a 42-year-old toll collection audit manager for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority who joined the board when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2002 said he is happy to be able to continue serving the community.
"I enjoy sitting on the board trying to help people," he said. "It’s just something that’s always been instilled in me. I just like to volunteer."
Ms. Anthony, 46, who work’s for Wegman’s in West Windsor, declined comment other than saying she was happy to be serving another three years.
Mr. Commer, 62, said he appreciated the support he received and is hoping to be on some of the major committees next year. They are open to residents who do not have to be members of the board of directors.
"I want to be on the budget committee and the sanitation committee because I have a background working for one of the biggest sanitation companies in Westchester County (New York)," he said.
Ms. Shulka said she plans to stay involved in the election process.
"It was a really good experience and I’d like to run again next year," she said. "Maybe I’ll get involved in volunteer work in the community and I’ll probably just put my foot in the door like that."

