WEST WINDSOR: Council seeks replacement for Anklowitz

By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
   WEST WINDSOR — The resignation Monday of Will Anklowitz from the West Windsor Township Council leaves a vacancy that remaining council members must fill within 30 days or leave vacant until the November election.
   Mr. Anklowitz, a Republican, was confirmed Monday by the state Senate as a Superior Court judge and submitted his resignation to the township clerk that afternoon.
   At the Township Council meeting Monday night, three of the remaining council members passed a resolution that set a timeline for selecting his replacement.
   Township Attorney Mike Herbert drafted a resolution that defined the process, within the guidelines for the replacement of a council member as defined by state statute.
   In 2006, council passed a resolution with very rigid guidelines for the controversial replacement of resigning council member Kristine Appelget.
   The procedure needed to be changed, Mr. Herbert said, because two council members, Linda Geevers and George Borek, are planning trips out of state next month. As a result, they would not be able to be present for part of the process as defined in 2006, he said.
   According to the new resolution, interested candidates have until March 26, which is 10 days from the date of the resignation, to submit an application to the township clerk. At a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. March 30, applicants will have the opportunity to make a five-minute public presentation, and they will be interviewed by council.
   After some discussion, council agreed that public comment would be permitted at the meeting and limited to three minutes.
   Council members will then vote for the replacement at a meeting at 7 p.m. April 2. They may make nominations, which do not require a second. Votes will be cast on paper ballots, which will be read aloud by the clerk. A tie would be broken by the mayor.
   The resolution left undecided how many votes would be required to confirm a nominee. Council members debated between requiring a simple majority or three votes. This matter will be settled at the March 30 meeting, according to the resolution.
   If a candidate is appointed, he or she will fill the vacancy until it is on the ballot in the general election in November. The term will expire in June 2011.