By Joanne Degnan, Staff Writer
In Upper Freehold, two newly re-elected Township Committee members will take the oath of office tonight (Thursday) and the entire committee will vote on its choice for mayor in 2011 during the annual reorganization meeting.
Plumsted, Allentown and Millstone also were set to ring in 2011 earlier this week with their annual reorganizations. At these first government meetings of the year, towns also adopt temporary budgets, make key appointments, such as the municipal attorney and clerk, and vote on professional service contracts.
Upper Freehold Township Committee members Stanley Moslowski Jr. and LoriSue H. Mount are scheduled to be sworn in to their second three-year terms at the 7 p.m. reorganization meeting tonight. Mr. Moslowski and Mrs. Mount, who are both Republicans, ran in uncontested races last fall.
In the Township Committee form of government used by Upper Freehold, Millstone and Plumsted, the five members of the committee select one of their colleagues to serve as mayor every January. In Upper Freehold, the job is traditionally rotated and given to a different committee member each year.
Mr. Moslowski served as Upper Freehold’s mayor and Mrs. Mount as deputy mayor in 2010. The three other Township Committee members are Stephen Alexander, Robert Faber and Dr. Robert Frascella. The committee members would not reveal who would be the next mayor prior to the reorganization meeting.
”I really can’t discuss it because any discussions we’ve had on that have been in executive session,” Mrs. Mount said Monday. “It wouldn’t be appropriate to talk about it before a vote occurs in public session.”
The Plumsted Township Committee was expected on Jan. 4 to choose Township Committeeman Ron Dancer to serve as mayor, just as it has every year since 1990. The committee also was planning to return Dave Leutwyler to his position as deputy mayor, Mr. Dancer said on Dec. 30.
”There will be continuity,” said Mr. Dancer, who also has been a state assemblyman for the 30th Legislative District since 2002.
In the township committee form of government, the mayor presides over meetings and has the legal authority to marry people, but he or she has no more individual power than the other four Township Committee members.
”It’s a team effort,” Mr. Dancer said. “I’m just one of five.”
The three winners of the Nov. 2 election for Plumsted Township Committee also were scheduled to take the oath of office at the Jan. 4 reorganization, after The Messenger-Press went to print. Republicans David Leutwyler and Steven Reed were both to be sworn in to a full three-year term, and Republican Jack Trotta to a two-year unexpired term. Mr. Trotta replaces Mike McCue, who resigned last summer.
The Borough of Allentown also was scheduled to reorganize Jan. 4, when three Borough Council members were scheduled to take the oath of office. Republicans Audrey Mount and Jean Hunter were going to be sworn in for full three-year terms and Daniel Zorovich was going to take the oath of office for a one-year unexpired term.
Under the borough’s form of government, there are six council members and a mayor who are all directly elected by voters. Mayor Stuart Fierstein and Councilman Michael Schumacher have terms that end Dec. 31, and Council members Daniel Wimer and Margaret Rose have terms that end Dec. 31, 2012.
In Millstone, Bob Kinsey was to be sworn in to his third three-year term when the Township Committee held its annual reorganization meeting Jan. 5 after The Messenger-Press went to print. Mr. Kinsey, a Republican, has served on the Township Committee since 2005 and been deputy mayor every year since 2006.
Nancy Grbelja, who is serving her third term on Township Committee, was the mayor in 2010. She also was chosen by her colleagues to be mayor in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Ms. Grbelja, whose current term on the Township Committee expires Dec. 31, 2012, did not return a message last week about whether she planned to continue as mayor in 2011 for the sixth straight year.
Mr. Kinsey also did not return a phone call on Monday regarding the reorganization. In addition to Mr. Kinsey, the other Township Committee members are Gary Dorfman, whose term expires Dec. 31, 2012; and Mike Kuczinski and Fiore Masci, whose terms expire at the end of 2011.
Robbinsville holds its annual reorganization on July 1, after its nonpartisan May elections for Township Council and mayor. However, the Township Council still needs to adopt its temporary budget for 2011 at its first council meeting, which will be held tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom trailer.

