By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN — Longtime leader Councilman Larry Quattrone, a Democrat, was elected council president by his peers to fill the vacant position left by Councilwoman Isabel McGinty weeks earlier.
Before voting at Monday’s council meeting, Councilwoman McGinty, a Democrat, said it would be nice to see a council president involved in the meetings. She also stressed the importance of having a council president working to be highly effective.
”And with that I support Mr. Quattrone,” Councilwoman McGinty said.
The Council voted 6-0 in favor of Council President Quattrone’s new appointment.
After the appointment, Council President Quattrone addressed some of council member McGinty’s concerns.
”I appreciate your comments,” he said. “It’s a different situation this year. Mayor and myself get a long very fine…we have no problems communicating with each other, we work things out, we hash things out. I think that it’s going to be for the better.”
He also stressed the importance of working together.
”There’s a lot more done with honey than with vinegar,” Mr. Quattrone explained.
Council President Quattrone is currently serving his second year of a three-year term, which ends December 2012.
In closing, Mr. Quattrone noted, “I’ll stay in communication with the council and with the mayor at all times, and hopefully with the administrator.”
The borough is currently looking to hire a new borough administrator, with efforts to find someone currently underway as previously reported in the Herald.
In other news, Councilman Quattrone has become the Borough Council liaison to the police department while Councilwoman Selena Bibens, a Republican, has been named liaison to the fire department. Council President Quattrone had previously held that role between the council and fire department.
”It’s a great organization to be a part of,” said Council President Quattrone, speaking in reference to Councilwoman Bibens appointment with the fire department.

