CENTRAL JERSEY: Municipalities schedule reorganizations

By Birgitta Wolfe, Managing Editor
   As the new year approaches, local municipalities are preparing to reorganize by selecting their mayors and swearing in the winners of November’s election.
   Bordentown Township has set its reorganization for Saturday, Jan. 7, at 1 p.m. Jim Cann and incumbent Jill Popko, both Democrats, will be sworn to three-year terms on the Township Committee.
   The Chesterfield Township Committee reorganizes Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 7:30 p.m.
   Republican Jeremy Liedtka joins the committee for a three-year term.
   Mayor Lawrence Durr did not run for re-election. He said traditionally after three years of service a committeeman is chosen as mayor. That would make Deputy Mayor Michael Hlubik the mayoral choice for 2012, Mayor Durr said.
   In Fieldsboro, with its 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, reorganization, things are a little more complicated.
   Council President David Hansell was sworn in as mayor Dec. 12 to fill out the term of the late Mayor Buddy Tyler until the next general election. Mayor Tyler died Nov. 13.
   However, Mr. Hansell had just won another three-year council seat in November and was to start that term in January.
   So, at the reorganization meeting, Mayor Hansell plans to announce he cannot assume his council seat, thereby creating a vacancy, said Fieldsboro Clerk Patricia Hansell.
   The Democratic Municipal Committee then will have 15 days to submit up to three nominees for the seat. The council has 30 days to make the selection.
   The selection is likely to be made in February, Ms. Hansell said.
   Democrat Diana Ayala will be sworn in to a three-year term on the Fieldsboro Council.
   Florence Township’s Council reorganizes Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m. when newly elected Republican Craig Wilkie will be sworn to a four-year term as mayor.
   Republicans Ted Lovendusk and Paul Ostrander will be sworn to four-year terms on the council.
   In Mansfield Township, Republicans Art Puglia and Janice DeGiuseppe will be sworn to three-year Township Committee seats at the 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, reorganization meeting.
   Mayor Puglia said he expects to be named mayor again as he has been since 2003.
   The New Hanover Township Committee reorganizes Sunday, Jan. 1, at 10 a.m. Republicans George Ivins and Paul Peterla will be sworn to three-year terms.
   The North Hanover Township Committee reorganizes Sunday, Jan. 1, at 12 p.m. when Republican incumbent Louis DeLorenzo will be sworn to another three-year term.
   For the Springfield Township Committee, there will be no changes because it holds elections every two years, and this was a nonelection year.
   However, the committee will held a reorganization meeting Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 7:30 p.m. to make professional appointments.
   The Bordentown City Commissioners also will make only professional appointments at the regular meeting Monday, Jan. 9.
   They had no elections this year, and their reorganization comes in May 2013.