By Charley Falkenburg, Special Writer
BORDENTOWN CITY — The City Commission did a little housekeeping on Jan. 14 when it reappointed a slew of familiar faces to their designated positions in a routine reorganization session.
With approximately 20 people in attendance, Mayor James Lynch Jr., Deputy Mayor Heather Cheesman and Commissioner Zigmont Targonski each appointed individuals in their corresponding departments. All appointments went uncontested and were unanimously approved.
Mayor Lynch, the director of public safety and affairs, began by appointing Peter Sedor, Gary Rutherford and Carol Gaynor as Class I Special Law Enforcement Officers. Grace I. Archer was appointed as Deputy Municipal Clerk, Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics and Secretary of the Board of Health. Jennifer Smith was appointed the Tax and Assessment Search Clerk. Patricia D. Ryan was appointed Registrar of Vital Statistics as well as the Public Agency Compliance Officer.
The Parker McCay P.A. firm will continue as the city attorney, James E. Lynch Jr. will serve a three-year term as Emergency Management Coordinator, Brian A. Maugeri will be the Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator and Ralph Biscardi will continue as the Housing Inspector with Glenn McMahon his assistant.
Mayor Lynch also appointed three people to the Environmental Commission: Joel Dowshen and Andrew Richardson will serve a three-year term and Donald Stein will serve for one.
Under the revenue and finance department, headed by Deputy Mayor Cheesman, John J. Maley Jr. was appointed the city’s auditor and the law firm of Capehart Scatchard will serve as the city’s bond counsel.
In Public Property, Streets and Water, directed by Mr. Targonski, Edward A. Kondracki, LLC will serve as Utilities Counsel and Cardno BCM Engineers will serve as the city’s engineer. Richard Alaimo Association of Engineers was also appointed as the alternate engineer for special projects.
In other news, Mr. Targonski deemed Bordentown City’s third annual holiday train display a success. Mr. Targonski was one of the sponsors for the display, which took place at the Old City Hall over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The commissioner said the display had a good turnout and that many folks ended up downtown to shop and eat — a primary objective of his and former Assemblyman Joe Malone, the other sponsor.
”We’re already planning the display for next year, which will be a much more exciting event than the last three years put together,” Mr. Targonski added.
Mayor Lynch also took the opportunity to denounce negative rumors about the incoming affordable housing for seniors on Spring Street — a critical project for the city in which more than $10 million is invested.
A building at 1 Spring Street is slated to be rehabilitated to provide 48 units of affordable housing for seniors and members of the community with special needs.
”It’s not a soup kitchen as you might have heard,” he told the audience. “We have one shot to make this work and everyone is on board. It’s going to be a good redevelopment area for the city.”
Mayor Lynch added that Ocean Spray is very close to turning over the ball field at the end of Spring Street to the city for recreational use.
”The city is very pleased with the results, but the ink isn’t dry so we don’t want to count our blessings yet,” Mayor Lynch said. “But we are confident Ocean Spray is going to bring that field back over to Bordentown.”

