By John Tredrea, Special Writer
Expected to be filled at a special Pennington Borough Council meeting slated for 3 p.m. Wednesday (May 28) afternoon is a vacancy council vacancy created by the recent resignation of Councilwoman Eileen Heinzel.
Ms. Heinzel, an attorney, had been a member of the council for 10 years. She resigned to become borough administrator. That position was left vacant by the recent resignation of Tim Matheny.
Because Ms. Heinzel is a Democrat, state law requires that council appoint a Democrat to replace her. The appointee must be chosen from a list of up to three names given to council by the local Democratic organization.
All five current members of the Council are Democrats, as is Mayor Anthony Persichilli. Council members are: Glen Griffiths, Charles Marciante, Weed Tucker, Jim Davy and Deborah Gnatt.
The appointment of Ms. Heinzel’s replacement would bring the council back to its full complement of six members.
Ms. Heinzel was council’s liaison to the borough library and Planning Board. Her annual salary as administrator is $34,325. She works four days a week for a total of 18 hours.
Mr. Davy, who chairs the council’s Personnel Committee, said there were 22 applicants for the borough administrator position, five of whom were interviewed by himself and the other borough council members of the personnel committee, Mr. Marciante and Mr. Tucker.
"We came to the conclusion that, based on her local experience and legal background, she was the strongest candidate," Mr. Davy said.
"She has 10 years on our Borough Council," Mr. Tucker said. "She knows our government and our community very well."
