New Republican mayor, Louis DeLorenzo, and two new GOP committeemen join the North Hanover Township Council.
By: Eve Collins
NORTH HANOVER A standing-room-only crowd welcomed the new Republican mayor, Louis DeLorenzo, and two new GOP committeemen at the township’s annual reorganization meeting Jan. 1.
Newly elected Republican committee members Michael Moscatiello and William Tilton, took the oath of office Jan. 1, giving the Township Committee its first GOP majority since 1993. Mr. DeLorenzo, 53, the owner of DeLorenzo Fuel Oil, was unanimously selected to be the mayor for 2004 by his colleagues on the Township Committee.
"This is one of the proudest days of my life," Mr. DeLorenzo said. "It is an honor to be your mayor."
Mr. Moscatiello was voted deputy mayor. He and Mr. Tilton defeated former committeemen John Kocubinski and Patrick Kennedy, who had 15 years and 12 years experience, respectively, on the Township Committee.
The mayor is selected each year at the reorganization meeting by the members of the Township Committee.
All committee members vowed at the reorganization meeting to work together for the good of the community during 2004.
"I trust we will be able to work together in the future to do what is best for the township," said Democrat Nancy Morrow.
Albert Dempster, the fifth member of the committee, also is a Democrat.
However, Ms. Morrow questioned the appointments of some professionals to positions in the township, saying that she was not familiar with most of them, and that information about their job histories were not made available to her.
The others countered her argument, saying the information had been available to her for the past three weeks.
"They are all licensed in the state of New Jersey and were all hired at a lower cost than the former professionals," Mr. Tilton said.
Ms. Morrow said she felt the appointments should have been discussed in public session during one of the township’s December meetings.
"I have nothing against these professionals," she said after the meeting. "I just don’t know them."
Mr. Moscatiello said after the meeting that 90 percent of the professionals had been replaced. "We’re looking for some fresh ideas," he said.
The new professionals include Mark Roselli as solicitor; Kevin Frenia as auditor; Salvatore DePinto as prosecutor; and William Sitzler as public defender. Douglas Traver was reappointed the township engineer.
Mayor DeLorenzo said after the meeting that he plans this year to reach out to other townships to talk to them about shared services. "Anything to save the taxpayers money," he said.