A member of the Township Committee, she must resign prior to the Sept. 10 meeting in order to take the job as recreation director
By John Tredrea
Judy Abbott Niederer is expected to be appointed Hopewell Township recreation director on Sept. 10.
The appointment would be made by the Township Committee, of which Ms. Niederer is a member.
The committeewoman said Monday night that she will resign from the committee prior to the Sept. 10 meeting in order to be able to take the job as recreation director.
"It will be an honor to serve in that capacity, as it has been an honor to serve on the committee," she said.
Her four Township Committee colleagues indicated they were strongly in favor of her impending appointment. That appointment was termed a "great" move by Mayor Vanessa Sandom.
Deputy Mayor David Sandahl and committee members John Murphy and Mark Iorio made similar comments.
Ms. Niederer would replace Michael Hritz, who recently resigned as Hopewell Valley recreation director. At Monday’s meeting, Mr. Murphy, committee member in charge of recreation, said it has been decided to make the recreation director a township position rather than a Valley position.
The director’s office is in the township municipal complex, and the director’s salary, expected to be $61,000, is paid by the township.
However, a key aspect of Ms. Niederer’s job "would be to work closely with the two boroughs," Mr. Murphy said.
A lifelong Hopewell Township resident, Ms. Niederer is in the final months of her first three-year term on the committee. Her term ends Dec. 31. Under state law, the committee will appoint her replacement from a list of up to three candidates submitted by the township Republican organization.
Ms. Niederer, a Titusville area resident, attended Hopewell Valley schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. She is the mother of two daughters, Jennifer and Laura, and is married to Robert C. Niederer.
Ms. Niederer received her bachelor’s degree from Trenton State College, where she majored in recreation administration. She was on the Dean’s List, was a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society, was president of Recreation Majors Club, played varsity field hockey and served as co-captain for three years. She also was a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference All State team.
At one time, she worked at her father’s business, Abbott’s Marine Center, Titusville, as a sales representative. She later served as senior administrative analyst for the Mercer County Park Commission. Her work there included responsibilities for park management, advertising, ordering suppliers, maintaining ticket offices for the county’s revenue-producing facilities (including various county golf courses), operating the Belle Mountain office when it still was open and administering tennis programs, leagues and tournaments.
Ms. Niederer is the recipient of the James E. Cryan Achievement Award for contributing to the life and growth of tennis in Mercer County. She also is the recipient of the Trenton State College Athletics Distinguished Alumni Award.
Ms. Niederer also was involved in the creation of the Hopewell Valley Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000 and has served on the Hall of Fame Committee.

