By Vita Duva, Correspondent
David Cook was appointed and sworn in as the new mayor during Cranbury Township Committee’s reorganization meeting Jan. 3,, “Cranbury is truly a unique and special place for all of us who live here. I am proud to have had the support of the Township Committee to elect me as mayor for 2017,” Mayor Cook said of his new role., “The mayor is only as strong as the committee that he/she works with, all of whom deserve special recognition. I am honored to have had Susan Goetz, Glenn Johnson and Jay Taylor on board to continue their outstanding service. I want to thank Dan Mulligan who has done an outstanding job as the previous mayor and has left Cranbury in a very strong and healthy state,” said Mayor Cook., Susan Goetz was appointed deputy mayor. The committee then went on to approve the mayoral appointments of members to various boards, committees and commissions., Mayoral appointments for the year of 2017 are as follows:, Edward Sekelsky was appointed member of the Board of Recreation Commissioners. His term will expire on Dec. 31, 2021., Barbara Walters was appointed chairwoman of the Environmental Commission, and Paul Mullen was appointed member. Both Ms. Walter and Mr. Mullen’s terms will expire on Dec. 31, 2019., David Szabo was appointed member of the Historic Preservation Commission. His term will expire on Dec. 31, 2017. Marty Coffey was appointed member and second alternate. His term will expire on Dec. 31, 2020., Township Clerk, Kathleen R. Cunningham was named mayor’s representative of the Housing and Community Development Committee. Her term will expire on Dec. 31, 2017., Dan Mulligan was named mayor’s representative of the Library Board of Trustees. His term will expire on Dec. 31, 2017. Nancy Whitcraft was appointed member of the Library Board of Trustees, and Michelle Gittings was appointed member and first alternate. Ms. Whitcraft’s term will expire on Dec. 31, 2021 and Ms. Gittings’ term will expire on Dec. 31, 2018., Joan Smith was appointed member and first alternative of the Parks Commission. Her term will expire on Dec. 31, 2017. Lisa Rue, Thomas Weidner and Julie Hardaker were appointed members of the Parks Commission. Each of the three’s terms will expire on Dec. 31, 2019., Mayor Cook and Brian Schilling were appointed members of the Planning Board. Mayor Cook’s term will expire on Dec. 31, 2017 and Mr. Schiling’s term will expire on Dec. 31, 2020., Marilee Nissen was appointed member of the Shade Tree Commission. Her term will expire on Dec. 31, 2021., The Committee also went on to approve township committee appointments of positions to various boards, committees and alliances., Township Committee appointments for the year of 2017 are as follows:, Kevin Van Hise, Esq., was appointed attorney of the Board of Health. Beshoy Rafla, DVMD, was appointed Township veterinarian, and Michael Lupovici, MD, was appointed Township physician. All of their terms will expire on Dec. 31, 2017. Sudipta Roychowdhury, MD, was appointed to the Board of Health, with term ending on Dec. 31, 2019., Cheryl Buonavolonta, Joseph Buonavolonta, Craig Stier, Donna Stier, Richard Kallan, Paul Mullen, Anita O’Meara, Robert O’Meara, George Arpajian, Rob McMahon, James Fahey and Robert Rogers were appointed members of the Clock Winding Committee. Timothy Norland was appointed member and leader/alternate. Each member’s term will expire on Dec. 31, 2017., Audrey Smith was appointed township historian of the Cultural and Heritage Committee. Her term will expire on Dec. 31, 2017., Jean Golisano was appointed deputy clerk of the Housing and Community Development Committee. Her term will expire on Dec. 31, 2017., Chief of Police Rickey Varga and Phyllis Smith were appointed members of the Municipal Alliance. Both of their terms will expire on Dec. 31, 2019. Marilyn J. Kulpa was appointed member and first alternate, and Fay Kobland was appointed member and second alternate. Wayne Jordan was also appointed to the Municipal Alliance. All three of their terms will expire on Dec. 31, 2017., Committee representative, Glenn Johnson was appointed member of the Planning Board. His term will expire on Dec. 31, 2017., Marilee Meacock and Sean Deverin were appointed members of the Zoning Board. Ms. Meacock and Mr. Deverin’s terms will expire on Dec. 31, 2020. Francis McGovern was appointed member and first alternate, and Ronald Witt, Sr. was appointed member and second alternate. Mr. McGovern’s term will expire on Dec. 31, 2018, and Mr. Witt, Sr.’s term will expire on Dec. 31, 2017., In a follow-up conversation, Mayor Cook thanked Township Administrator, Denise Marabello; Ms. Cunningham; Chief Varga; Fire Chief Mike Kervan and Charlie Smith of the Rescue Squad and all of their members for making Cranbury a special and safe place every day., “Most of all, I want to thank the residents of Cranbury for continuing to allow me and the members of the Township Committee to represent their interests in keeping Cranbury great,” he said.
