Peter Buchsbaum first Democrat in nearly a decade
By: Cynthia Williamson
WEST AMWELL Newcomer Peter Buchsbaum was sworn in for a three-year term when the Township Committee held its reorganization meeting Monday.
Gary Bleacher will serve as mayor, and Nance Palladino will serve as deputy mayor of the three-member committee this year.
Mr. Bleacher anticipates a "good year ahead," saying a "lot of good things happened" in 2000 and is hopeful "they will continue."
Improving communications among various groups in the township is a goal Mr. Bleacher has set for himself. He plans to schedule a series of meetings in the near future with boards and commissions to discuss ways communications can be improved.
Mr. Bleacher strayed from tradition and appointed Ms. Palladino to serve on the Planning Board so he could focus on the township’s Open Space Committee, which he chairs. Mr. Buchsbaum will serve as a Class III member of the board. The mayor and deputy mayor customarily serve as the committee’s liaison to the Planning Board, Township Clerk Betty Jane Hunt explained.
Ms. Palladino said she hoped to "accomplish things in 2001" and was encouraged with the turnout at the New Year’s Day meeting, which was about 20 people.
"That’s a lot for us," Mrs. Hunt noted.
Mr. Buchsbaum, an attorney specializing in land-use law, is the first Democrat to be elected to the committee in nearly a decade.
Saying it "means a lot" to serve as an elected official, he spoke about the importance of local government and serving the "small-town needs" of residents.
He expressed regret his parents weren’t alive to see him serve in public office. His mother died recently, and his father died several years ago.
He mentioned Mrs. Hunt’s late husband, Larry, and how he would "miss his little tidbits" of advice. Mr. Hunt, who worked part time for the township Public Works Department, was killed instantly in November when a pickup truck crashed head on into a school bus van he was driving for South Hunterdon Regional High School.
The following appointments were made by Mr. Bleacher and unanimously endorsed by committee members (terms are for one year unless otherwise noted):
- In addition to municipal clerk, Mrs. Hunt will serve as assessment search officer, Board of Health deputy secretary, registrar of vital statistics, fair housing officer, affirmative action officer, PAIC commissioner and administrative secretary/clerk typist.
- Deputy Clerk Lora Olsen will serve as assistant tax collector, assistant treasurer, Board of Health secretary, deputy registrar of vital statistics, purchasing agent and administrative secretary/clerk typist.
- Catherine Park was appointed tax search officer.
- In the construction office, William White was reappointed to a four-year term as building subcode and fire subcode official. Serving as deputy official is Drake Rizzo.
Also appointed were Michael Abrams as uniform fire safety official/inspector and Eugene Venettone to zoning officer. Linda Dellevalle will serve as secretary to the construction and zoning officers. - In the Public Works Department, Randy Hoagland is the road supervisor, and Frank DeFazio is the road foreman.
- Lolly Hoagland was appointed court administrator and Sharon Hartpence deputy administrator in the municipal court office. Jeff Weinstein was appointed public defender.
- In the Police Department, Donna Griffiths will serve as secretary, and Mary Hoagland will serve as dog warden, dog registrar and police/emergency building custodian. Mrs. Griffiths and Mrs. Hoagland will both serve as police matrons.
- Mrs. Hoagland also is waste security officer, and Robert Kerr is assistant waste security officer and grounds custodian.
- Ken Hart was appointed recycling coordinator. Mr. Hart, Ms. Palladino and Mr. DeFazio will serve on the Recycling Committee, and Randy Hoagland will serve a two-year term on the committee. The second two-year term will be filled at a later date.
- Mr. DeFazio will serve as the township’s representative on the Hunterdon County Solid Waste Committee. Mr. Hart was appointed deputy representative.
- In addition to Mrs. Palladino and Mr. Buchsbaum, Mrs. Hunt was appointed as a Class II member of the Planning Board. Alex Greenwood was appointed to an alternate two-year term.
- Ali Meehan and Robert Fulper were appointed to four-year terms on the Board of Adjustment, and Hal Shute was appointed to an alternate two-year term.
- Appointed to four three-year terms on the Environmental Commission were Ridgeley Hutchinson, Uli Zimmer, Pierce Backus and Ron Shapella.
- Irma Fuhr, Tom Molnar and Marvin Hartpence were appointed to two-year terms on the Parks and Recreation Committee, and Sam Jefferis, Leonard Piscetelli and Jeff Ent were appointed to three-year terms. Betty Mae Emery will serve a one-year term on the board.
- Patricia Masterson will serve on the Local Public Assistance Board, and Mrs. Hunt will serve a two-year term.
Ms. Palladino and Mary A. Hartman were appointed to serve on the Historic Preservation Committee. Rob Tomenchok and Carolyn Deal were appointed to two-year terms. - Harry Heller is the 911 coordinator but appointments to the Emergency Management Committee were tabled.
- In other appointments, David Gill is assessment inspection officer, and Gloria Mangan is senior citizen coordinator.