Reorganization Brings Changes to the Township

The new year brought several changes as the Township Committee gathered for its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 2 at town hall.

As newcomers Andis Kalnins and Lisa Adubato Nesi took their oaths of office as township commissioners, the balance of power on the dias changed to a 3-2 Republican majority, with a member of the GOP at the helm.

In his first official act as a township commissioner, Kalnins nominated Commissioner David Robinson to serve as mayor in 2012. The nomination was approved unanimously. Kalnins then earned bipartisan support as he was appointed deputy mayor for the coming year.

The wind of change continued to breeze through council chambers as the Republican majority ousted Township Attorney Daniel McCarthy, instead appointing Philip J. Morin III to serve as counsel for the township. The decision to hire Morin as the township attorney for a one-year term was not unanimous, however. Commissioners Ed O'Malley and Kevin Campbell - the two remaining Democrats on the five-member governing body - voted against the motion.

O'Malley cited a lack of "due process" in selecting who would serve as the 2012 township attorney. Campbell, however, used the ongoing legal battle over the , and Mccrthy's experience in dealing with the sitaution as his reason for rejecting Morin's appointment.

"In the ordinary course of time, I would have voted for Mr. Morin, but this is not an ordinary time," Campbell said, adding that he believes the township would be better served by allowing McCarthy to continue as township attorney due to his experience and time spent dealing with the Birchwood case.

Both Kalnins and Adubato Nesi indicated that Morin's level of legal experience warrants his appointment as the township attorney. Morin said he looks forward to working with Campbell and O'Malley "in the best interest of the township."

In addition to the appointment of the township attorney, officials votes unanimously to appoint Mark J. Cassidy, Esq. as municipal court judge for a three-year term. he was sworn in by NJ Superior Court Judge Karen M. Cassidy.

Although outgoing Mayor Daniel Aschenbach and outgoing Commissioner Mark Dugan were not present at the reorganization meeting, each commissioner commended them for their years of service to the township. Aschenbach lost his bid for re-election in November. as well as acting Township Administrator/ also recognized and thanked the officials for their accomplishments.

Kalnins called Dugan "the conservative voice on the Township Committee" and commended Aschenbach to "seeing the town through one of its darkest hours," as he referred to the flooding that following . The new deputy mayor said the township will continue to work toward the prevention of development on Birchwood Avenue. he called the project "an inappropriate project in an inappropriate location."

Mayor Robinson added that in the coming week, paperwork will be submitted to the NJ Department of Environmental protection opposing permits that the Hekemeian Group - the developer of the Birchwood Avenue site - has requested. Hundreds of letters have been written by residents asking the DEP to deny the permits, which would allow the owner to construct apartment units in a floon-prone area. Two weeks ago, in Trenton and hand-delivered a signed by more than 700 residents, opposing the proposed project.

The newly-apointed mayor added that there are many challenger the township will work to overcome this year.

"This year," Robinson said, "the Township Committee will be about action, not talk."