By Joanne Degnan, Managing Editor
ROBBINSVILLE — Christine Ciaccio was named president and Sheree McGowan was chosen as vice president at the Robbinsville Township Council’s annual reorganization meeting on Friday.
The event at Robbinsville High School, which featured a Girl Scout color guard and the RHS brass quartet performing the national anthem, was also the swearing-in ceremony for the three winners of the May 10 municipal election. Taking the oath of office for new four-year terms were: Ms. Ciaccio, incumbent Councilman Rich Levesque, and newcomer Ron Witt Jr.
This is the second time that Ms. Ciaccio has been selected by her colleagues to lead the five-member council. Ms. Ciaccio previously served one year as council president from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 during her first term in office.
Ms. McGowan, who is in her third year on the council, was the president during 2010-2011 and will now be the vice president.
”The women are in power this year,” Ms. Ciaccio joked, evoking laughter from her male council colleagues, family, friends and elected officials from Mercer County and neighboring Hamilton Township who attended the event.
Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, a Democrat who represents the 14th District, administered the oath of office to Mr. Levesque, the Robbinsville GOP municipal chairman who was the council’s vice president in 2010-2011.
Mayor Dave Fried, a Republican running for one of the two District 14 Assembly seats, administered the oath of office to both Mr. Witt and Ms. Ciaccio.
In his brief remarks, Mr. Fried thanked the council members for the time they give to their community.
”Everyone credits the mayor for everything, but our council really does do a lot of work,” Mr. Fried said. “They work very, very hard and are involved in a lot of things and I really want to thank them for being willing to serve.”
Ms. Ciaccio, who has lived in the Windsor section of the township for 29 years, is the owner of Tony’s Farm and Garden Center on Route 130. Prior to being elected to the Township Council in 2007, she served on the zoning board for 14 years and founded the Washington Township Business Association.
”I really love Robbinsville Township and I think we’re going to do a lot of good things this year,” Ms. Ciaccio said after being selected council president. Ms. Ciaccio urged members of the public to attend council meetings, held at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, and “give us your input.”
The council also approved a number of appointments and no-bid professional service contracts during its July 1 reorganization meeting.
Mark Roselli, of Roselli Griegel Lozier and Lazzaro PC, was hired as township attorney at a rate of $144,000 a year. According to the resolution approved by the council, the township will also pay Mr. Roselli up to $14,400 for legal services related to affordable housing issues, for a maximum contract of $158,400.
A one-year maximum $20,000 contract with Brian Kowalski, of Capehart & Scatchard, for bond counsel services was also approved.
Annual professional service contracts were also approved with Remington, Vernick & Arango for general engineering services not to exceed $50,500; ACT engineers for general engineering, capital improvement engineering and sewer utility engineering not to exceed $42,500; and T&M Associates for sewer utility engineering not to exceed $48,000.
Numerous appointments were made at the July 1 meeting as well. Mr. Levesque was appointed to a one-year term on the Planning Board, replacing former Councilman Dave Boyne, who lost his re-election bid in May to Mr. Witt. Mr. Levesque was also appointed as the council’s liaison to the Municipal Alliance Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.
Ms. McGowan was appointed as the council’s liaison to the Citizens Energy Conservation Committee, the Economic Development Advisory Committee, and the Rent Leveling Board. Ms. Ciaccio was appointed liaison to the Historic Preservation Committee and the Open Space Advisory Committee.
Councilman Vince Calcagno was appointed as the liaison to the Library Advisory Committee and the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee.
Mr. Witt was appointed to the Recreation Advisory Committee.
Numerous citizens were also appointed to serve on the various township boards and committees. Dennis Kirkpatrick and Michael Caputo were reappointed to four-year terms on the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Kristen Appleget and DL Daniel were appointed as zoning board alternates one and two, respectively, with terms that expire June 30, 2012.
The following mayoral appointments to the Municipal Alliance Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse were also approved: Police Chief Marty Masseroni and Assistant Township Business Administrator Joy Tozzi, both for one-year terms; and Susan Kratz, Betty Alfano and Shaina Basile for three-year terms.
The council also approved the following one-year mayoral appointments to the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee: Renee Burns, Dave Williams, Thomas J. Acton, Carolyn Jaquinto, Peggy Boni, Jack Oszvart, and Mary Thederahn.
The mayor’s appointments to the Economic Development Advisory Committee approved by council include Mary Caffrey and John Gardner to one-year terms. Rich Young and Michael Silvestrov were reappointed to three-year terms.
The council also confirmed the mayor’s appointments to the Library Advisory Committee, including librarian Ann Marie Ehrenberg, Phyllis Heller, Marianne Canavesio, Christina Bergin, Clara Schlottman, Jane Hutchison, Carla Schwartz and Rosemarie McGlew, all for one-year terms.
Chris Adamo was reappointed to a three-year term on the Open Space Advisory Committee.
The council also confirmed the mayor’s one-year appointments to the Recreation Advisory Committee: Eleanor Calcagno, Betty O’Donnell, Michael Langford, Joe Consiglio, Deborah Alexander and Ray Bruker.
