MANSFIELD: Local leaders take on many roles

By Charley Falkenburg, Special Writer<    MANSFIELD — The Township Committee is barely two weeks into 2013 and its members are already diving into their many roles and responsibilities in Mansfield.    Just last week, Mayor Arthur Puglia and Deputy Mayor Robert Higgins were re-elected to their familiar positions and Alfred Clark, who ran with Mr. Higgins unopposed last year, resumed his seat on the far left of the dais.    Each committee member was also appointed to multiple mandated liaison roles in various township departments.    Janice DiGiuseppe will serve alongside Mayor Puglia as the liaisons for the Clerk’s Office and Administration, Vital Statistics and Board of Health.    Ms. DiGiuseppe and Deputy Mayor Higgins will be the liaisons for the Finance Office, Tax Collector Office, Human Resources and the Court Office.    Mayor Puglia and Mr. Clark will be the liaisons for Land Use, Construction and Sanitation and Streets and Roads. Deputy Mayor Higgins and Committeeman Sean Gable will take on Buildings and Grounds and Mr. Gable will serve with Mayor Puglia as the liaisons for the Tax Assessor Office and Zoning Official.    The mayor will also take on the Police Department.    In addition to the township departments, each committee members assumed roles on various volunteer committees.    Mayor Puglia will be the liaison for Engineering Services, the nonprofit Fire Department and the Special Events Committee with Mr. Clark, the liaison for Emergency Management and the Recreation Committee with Mr. Gable, the liaison for the Environmental Commission and the Community Forestry Committee with Deputy Mayor Higgins and the liaison for the Police Commissioner by himself.    Mr. Gable will also serve as the liaison for Insurance and Safety with Ms. DiGiuseppe and the liaison for the Emergency Squad alongside Deputy Mayor Higgins.    The Township Committee will next meet on Jan. 23 as it continues to tackle the responsibilities and challenges it faces in 2013.