Five Things That Happened at the Cranford Township Meeting

Committee approved several resolutions authorizing repairs to the municipal building, including air conditioning and fire alarm system installations.

Cranford's Township Committee met Jan. 15 for its second official meeting of 2013. Commissioners discussed ongoing repairs to the municipal building and heard comments from the public. Here's what you missed:    1.  Township attorney Daniel J. McCarthy gave an update on the affordable housing lawsuit, otherwise known as the Birchwood litigation.  He said he spoke with former township attorney Phil Morin and announced that Cranford's objections to the Birchwood site plan were received by the court. The objections addressed recommendations approved by Special Hearing Officer Douglas Wolfson. There will be a hearing on Feb. 4 at the Union County Courthouse. McCarthy said he doesn't believe final judgement on the matter will be made at the …

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Camilo H. Smith

11:05 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013

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Flood Prevention, Tree Removal Will Top Township Committee Agenda Tonight

The Township Committee workshop meeting will be held in the conference room at 7:30 p.m.

Members of the Township Committee will discuss several items during their workshop meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. in town hall. The agenda will include a discussion regarding a request for funding for legal services in connection with the proposed construction of a detention basin at South Mountain Reservation. The creation of the basin has been proposed by members of the Mayors Council on Rahway River Watershed Flood Control - a group that was formed several months ago to explore flood remediation on a regional basis along the Rahway River Watershed. In addition, Township Engineer Richard Marsden will update the commissioners and members of the public on Rahway River cleanup and tree removal efforts. Officials will also discuss a proposed …

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Township Committee Hires Firm To Handle CFO Duties

A New Providence-based company will provide financial services for Cranford.

After trying in vain to hire a chief financial officer to handle the township's finances, local officials have opted to hire a firm, instead of an individual, to handle the duties. Last week, the Township Committee passed a resolution to hire Government Strategy Group of New Providence for financial management services. "It's an outside consulting firm," Commissioner Kevin Campbell said during the meeting. "I don't believe that everyone on the Township Committee necessarily thought this was a great idea, but unfortunately, we had no choice. We were unable to find an individual CFO." The decision to hire the firm was unanimous among members of the governing body. On May 10, 2011, the Township Committee voted to lay off Chief Financial …

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Reorganization Brings Changes to the Township

Officials appointed a new mayor, deputy mayor and township attorney as the balance of power shifted to the GOP.

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 …

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Local Election Guide 2011

What you need to know for the Nov. 8 municipal election.

Cranford voters will be asked to head to the polls tomorrow and cast their votes for the two available seats on the Township Committee. This year's race will see Mayor Dan Aschenbach and fellow Democrat Tom Hannen face opposition from former candidate Andis Kalnins and his Republican running mate Lisa Adubato Nesi. Kalnins is making his second bid for Township Committee, having finished third in a four-way race in 2010. He is a member of the Cranford Zoning Board of Adjustment. This is Adubato Nesi’s first race for a seat on the governing body. The local attorney is a member of the school advisory board at St. Michael’s School and has been active in a variety of township civic affairs. Aschenbach, a veteran of over a quarter century in …

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Election Guide 2011

Candidates To Face Off At Debate at Town Hall Tonight

The four candidates for the two available Township Committee seats will tackle questions from audience members at 8 p.m.

Property taxes and flood mitigation efforts are at least two of the issues that candiates seeking seats on the Township Committee can expect to address during tonight's debate, which will be moderated by the League of Women Voters at the municipal building, beginning at 8 p.m. Last year, a state-imposed 2 percent property tax cap, changes in the sewer bill  and an affordable housing lawsuit at 555 South Ave. dominated the debate among candidates. However, with the devastation of Hurricane Irene still fresh in the minds of residents, the township's efforts to prevent future flooding will likely top the list of questions. This year's race will see Mayor Dan Aschenbach and fellow Democrat Tom Hannen face opposition from former candidate Andis…

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