By Amber Cox
BORDENTOWN CITY About 20 people showed up at Monday’s City Commission meeting to support outgoing Environmental Commission Chairman Mike Hunninghake, who was not reappointed by the mayor.
Mr. Hunnighake’s latest three-year term expired May 1, as did that of Ralph Tolomeo, who was reappointed. Both have served nine years.
The term of Daniel Kennedy, who has served three years, also expired and he was not reappointed.
Mayor James Lynch last week said he has elected to appoint some new people to the Environmental Commission.
”It’s a new direction we’re trying to go into,” he said. “This is the first time we’ve had any controversy over the mayor reappointments. It’s nothing about Mike’s (Mr. Hunninghake) work.”
The commission has seven members and two alternates.
Mayor Lynch appointed newcomers Brooke McMinn and Leah Ingalsbe, along with the reappointment of Mr. Tolomeo, for three-year terms that will expire May 1, 2014.
Mayor Lynch said he wanted new people to get involved in the city. He said it is hard to get others involved when the same people are reappointed each year.
The new chairman is tentatively Mr. Tolomeo, Mayor Lynch said.
Deputy Mayor Heather Cheesman said she respectfully disagreed with the mayor’s appointments at Monday’s meeting.
”I can respect the mayor to make decisions,” she said. “However, he is an elected official by the people.”
Ms. Cheesman said the city fully believes in all of the work that Mr. Hunninghake has put into the commission over the years, especially his efforts to gain open space funding for the city.
”This is Mike’s passion, it’s his personal passion,” she said. “He has created a passion in Bordentown City that has put us on the map in the county and the state.”
Ms. Cheesman said she is “kind of confused” by Mayor Lynch’s reasoning but does not mean any disrespect to him.
”I don’t think he (Mr. Hunninghake) really understands the why (about not being reappointed),” she said. “Here’s someone who has done the job and has produced. There’s no reason really, that I think.”

