A s municipal officials looked forward to 2013 during the 169th annual reorganization meeting of Jackson’s governing body, the same key word kept popping up: teamwork.
During the afternoon meeting on Jan. 1, the members of the Jackson Township Council made note of the challenges ahead.
“We have to move forward — it’s tough times and it’s going to be rough for the next couple of years,” Councilman Kenneth Bressi said. “We have to work as a team [on the council] and accomplish what needs to be [accomplished] for Jackson.”
Bressi, Barry Calogero and Robert Nixon were sworn in to begin serving fouryear terms on the council following their victory in the Nov. 6 election.
Calogero and Nixon briefly outlined their goals.
“To the 12,000 residents who voted for Ken, Rob and myself, I again thank and commit to you that we will not let you down,” Calogero said. “For those who did not, I look forward to spending the next four years [working] toward gaining your trust, your support, but more importantly, your respect.”
Nixon said, “I believe that when you get elected to a position like this, you win two things: a responsibility and an opportunity. I see this as an opportunity to do wonderful things for a wonderful community.”
During the reorganization meeting, Councilwoman Ann Updegrave was chosen by the members of the council to serve as the governing body’s president for 2013. Bressi held that position in 2012.
Councilman Scott Martin was chosen by the members of the council to serve as the governing body’s vice president for 2013.
“Today is a day of new beginnings,” Martin said. “No one person is more important than the group and if we work together, Jackson’s best days are ahead of us.”
The council members reappointed Bressi as a Class III member of the Planning Board, and Mayor Mike Reina reap- pointed Township Engineer Daniel Burke to a Class II position on the Planning Board. The council members reappointed Jean Cipriani of Gilmore & Monahan as Jackson’s township attorney and affordable housing attorney.
Other council appointments included Albert Yodakis of T&M Associates as township engineer; John Maczuga of T&M Associates as Jackson’s affordable housing planner; the firm of Remington, Vernick and Vena as the township planner; Holman and Frenia as township auditor; Robert Shea, of R.C. Shea and Associates, as municipal public defender; and Joseph Coronado, of Coronado, Brady and Kunz, as municipal prosecutor. Three vacancies on the Zoning Board of Adjustment were filled by council appointments.
Calogero, who was on the zoning board, had to give up his seat in order to join the council. Alternate member Joseph Schulman was tapped to serve the remainder of Calogero’s term on the zoning board through June 30, 2015.
Alternate member John Burrows will fill the remainder of Schulman’s term through June 30, 2013.
Kathryn McIlhinney was appointed as an alternate member of the zoning board for a term that will run through June 30, 2014.