Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Hopewell Township Committeewoman Vanessa Sandom has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Senior Advisory Board, despite concerns from Committeeman John Hart and former Committeeman Harvey Lester.
Sandom was named Monday night to fill out an unexpired term that ends in December 2018. Sandom, whose term on the township committee expires in four months, is not seeking re-election to the governing body.
Township officials voted 3-1 to appoint Sandom to the Senior Advisory Board. Mayor Kevin Kuchinski, Deputy Mayor Julie Blake and Committeewoman Kristin McLaughlin voted “yes.” Committeeman John Hart voted “no.” Sandom recused herself from voting.
Lester questioned the move to appoint Sandom to the advisory board while she is still serving on the committee. Typically, a member of the governing body serves as a liaison to an advisory board or committee.
Sandom’s appointment “sets a terrible precedent” and “waters down” volunteering on an advisory board, Lester said. He added that he was concerned that she might exert “undue influence” on the board.
But Municipal Attorney Linda Galella did not take issue with the appointment of a sitting committee member to the advisory board. Sandom will leave the governing body when her term ends in December 2017.
Deputy Mayor Julie Blake said she understands why appointing a sitting committee member to an advisory board could be an issue of concern, but there will be only a few months of “cross over” until Sandom’s term ends.
McLaughlin said that no one had stepped forward to volunteer to serve on the Senior Advisory Board. She added that she is “thrilled” that Sandom, who is a former liaison to the advisory board, has agreed to serve.
Sandom know the issues and she is not afraid to advocate for the things that she feels strongly about, McLaughlin said. She agreed that naming a sitting committee member to an advisory board is unusual, but the municipal attorney did not raise objections to it.
