BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP: Michael Dauber elected to mayoral post

By Amber Cox
   BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — A new mayor and deputy mayor will be presiding over the Township Committee this year.
   Michael Dauber was unanimously appointed as mayor at Saturday’s reorganization meeting and Committeeman Karl Feltes was unanimously appointed as deputy mayor. Both are Republicans. Mr. Feltes was elected to a three-year committee term in November.
   Former Hamilton Mayor Jack Rafferty administered the oath of office to Mr. Feltes.
   Anthony Drollas will continue as Township Solicitor.
   Holman & Frenia, P.C. will serve as the Township Auditor Group and Alaimo Group Consulting Engineers will continue as the primary engineers.
   Mr. Dauber will serve as liaison to the administration along with Mr. Feltes. Committeeman Bruce Hill will serve as liaison to Public Safety and Committeewoman Anita DiMattia was reappointed as liaison to Public Works. Committeeman Jason Medina will serve as liaison to the Environmental Commission.
   Last year Ms. DiMattia had been reassigned to Public Works from Public Safety, which deals with the Police Department, after she was charged with drunken driving in Mansfield Township.
   Mr. Hill is going into his ninth year on the Township Committee and served as mayor in 2010.
   ”Last year as mayor it was a bumpy ride in this township and we made some moves,” he said. “We made some moves in the right direction with the support of this community. We had to do what we had to do to get this township turned around.”
   Mr. Dauber recognized that there are great challenges facing the township in the current “economic climate.” But he made it clear that it is for “everyone’s benefit that we work together as a committee and as a community to address the challenges with creative solutions that will allow the town to flourish.”
   He also encouraged residents to get involved with the township and volunteer in any way they could.
   ”We look forward to the new year with new positive developments in our township,” Mr. Dauber said, referring to a number of major projects in the township including a Holiday Inn Express and the Team Campus site that will bring an out-patient center to the township.
   ”These projects not only add to the services and employment available to our community but also increase the tax revenues we receive,” he said.
   Mr. Dauber said he knows that he set forth an aggressive agenda for the township, including plans for expansions on the Public Works Department with a car impounding lot, recycling center and waste transfer station but looks forward to tackling any and all issues that come up.
   Bordentown City Mayor James Lynch was also in attendance.