By Joanne Degnan, Managing Editor
ROBBINSVILLE — The four remaining members of the Township Council have selected former zoning board chief Dennis Shennard to temporarily fill a vacancy on the council caused by the recent resignation of Rich Levesque.
Mr. Shennard, 42, of Voelbel Road, was nominated by Councilwoman Chris Ciaccio and approved 4-0 by the council at the Aug. 23 council meeting. He took his seat on the council dais immediately after Township Attorney Mark Roselli administered the oath of office.
Councilwoman Sheree McGowan said she has known Mr. Shennard for many years and is confident he will be an asset to the council.
”He’s a very fair and impartial person,” Ms. McGowan said.
Mr. Shennard, a landscaping contractor whose business is based in Hightstown, will serve on the council until voters in the general election decide who will serve the remainder of Mr. Levesque’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2015. Mr. Shennard said he intends to file the paperwork to run Nov. 6 for the seat.
A 15-year resident of Robbinsville who originally hails from South Brunswick, Mr. Shennard said his priority on council is to work on attracting more business ratables to the growing town to curb “skyrocketing property taxes.”
Under the township’s nonpartisan form of government, residents who would like to run for office first must collect the signatures of 79 registered township voters on nominating petitions. Candidates also must be registered voters and have lived in town at least one year in order to be eligible to run for municipal public office.
Candidate nominating petitions and associated paperwork for residents interested in running for municipal office can be obtained by calling Municipal Clerk Michele Seigfried at 609-918-0002. Petitions must be returned by 4 p.m. Sept. 4.
Mr. Shennard had served on the Zoning Board of Adjustment for five years, including a term as chairman, until stepping down to take the interim council seat. The council is reviewing volunteer applications for the zoning board vacancy and is expected to make an appointment at the Sept. 13 council meeting.
IN OTHER NEWS, the council voted 4-0 Aug. 23 to authorize spending $3 million to acquire condominium space for new municipal offices in a commercial building being constructed by Roma Bank on Route 33.
Mr. Shennard abstained from the vote.
The resolution specifically authorizes the issuance of $2.85 million in general improvement bonds or notes to finance the project as well as an appropriation of $150,000 in cash for the down payment. The township leases office space in the Sharbell building at 1 Washington Blvd., and the mayor has said it would be more cost-effective over the long run to own office space instead of leasing it.
The township is in negotiations with Roma to buy 8,930 square feet of condominium space on the third floor of the 30,000-square-foot building, which is expected to be ready by 2014. Roma Bank officials have said they intend to lease the first two floors of the building to commercial/retail tenants.
During the public hearing on the bond ordinance, Walden Circle resident Regina Acuri pointed out parking is difficult in Town Center and asked whether there would be enough parking for residents who need to visit municipal offices. Mr. Roselli said parking issues would be addressed in the final contract.
Sonja Walter, of Patriot Drive, said she was concerned about how the borrowing for the project would impact her property taxes.
IN OTHER ACTION, the council voted 5-0 Aug. 23 to appoint Council President Ron Witt to the Planning Board.
Mr. Witt replaces Mr. Levesque, who had been the council’s appointee on the Planning Board prior to his resignation. State law requires municipal planning boards include a “Class II” member who is also a member of the Township Council.

