By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Seeking to fill the Township Council seat formerly held by Councilman Greg Puliti, the Lawrence Township Democratic Municipal Committee is accepting letters of interest from candidates for the unexpired term.
Mr. Puliti resigned from Township Council, effective at midnight Dec. 31. In his letter of resignation, submitted to Municipal Clerk Kathy Norcia on Dec. 26, Mr. Puliti cited “professional time demands” for leaving the council before his four-year term ends in December 2013. He works for the state Department of Banking and Insurance.
Under state law, the Lawrence Township Democratic Municipal Committee must present three names to Township Council by Jan. 15, which is 15 days after Mr. Puliti’s resignation takes effect. The Democratic councilman’s last day in office was Dec. 31, 2012.
Township Council must fill the opening by Jan. 30, which is 30 days after Mr. Puliti’s resignation. It must fill the vacancy by appointing one of the three nominees by a majority vote. But if it does not appoint one of the nominees, the job falls to the Democratic Municipal Committee to name one of the three.
Applicants may submit a letter of interest to Sarah Crowley, who is the chairman of the Lawrence Township Democratic Municipal Committee, at [email protected], by Jan. 9. She may also be reached at 609-203-5297.
The Lawrence Township Democratic Municipal Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 10 to interview the applicants and select three candidates to be presented to Township Council. The committee will meet at American Legion Post 458 at 1438 Brunswick Avenue, at the Brunswick Circle.
Meanwhile, Mr. Puliti was about to enter the final year of his fifth, non-consecutive term on Township Council when he resigned last week. He served from 1996 to 2007, and was re-appointed in January 2009 to fill an unexpired term created when former Councilman Mark Holmes resigned. He was elected to a full four-year term in November 2009.
Mr. Puliti held the honorary post of mayor in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2007 and 2011.

