By AUBRIE GEORGE | The Moorestown Sun
At last week’s reorganization meeting, Council made no major changes in professional appointments but did make a decision that changes the way executive sessions are held.
Thomas J. Coleman, III was reappointed as township solicitor and Council also approved the reappointment of Holman & Frenia, P.C. Certified Public Accountants as township auditor and the Alaimo Group for township engineering services, among other professional reappointments.
In addition, John Button was reappointed as deputy mayor at last week’s meeting by a unanimous Council vote.
Council also approved dozens of appointments to various township boards and committees. However, several boards and committees still have spots open.
Council members said they would like to see new faces volunteer for the township’s various boards and committees. Mayor Dan Roccato said the township would like to see some turnover so they “constantly have a fresh supply of ideas, thought and energy.”
Anyone interested in serving on a board of committee is asked to contact Township Clerk, Patricia Hunt at 235–0912 or through e-mail at phunt@moorestown.nj.us.
In addition to approving the 2010 regular meeting schedule, Council made the decision to begin holding separate, monthly executive session meetings.
Township Manager Chris Schultz said the public is allowed to attend executive session meetings because the meetings begin in public and include a public portion after Council meets in private session.
The measure, officials said, is being done because of the many late nights Council had in 2009 due to discussion of lengthy and important issues.
Mayor Dan Roccato said Council hopes to increase public input through this new measure because members won’t have to watch the clock as closely to make sure meetings with scheduled executive sessions don’t run too late.
Members said there would be no official action taken at any of the separate executive session meetings. If Council reaches a decision that requires official action, that action would not be taken until Council’s next regular meeting.
Council said it would try out this new method of monthly private sessions and see how it goes.
Council is scheduled hold its first separate executive session on Monday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. at the Moorestown Library.
In other news:
• Schultz reminded residents that South Church Street would be closed for three months due to a county water main project that began recently. The road will be closed between Route 38 and West Main Street to allow for the installation of a new 12-inch water main as well as 94 lateral pipes to residences and businesses. Motorists can expect a detour to Route 38 to Lenola Road to Kings Highway, as the project continues.
The project was initially set to begin last year, Schultz said, but officials held off for fear that it would affect holiday business traffic.
Schultz said the township would not do any projects in the downtown/Lenola area between Thanksgiving and New Years Day if that project is going to affect business traffic.
At the same time, he said, the township has projects it needs to get done and often needs to coordinate schedules with the county to do so.
The water main project on South Church Street has a scheduled end date of April 9.
• Council began discussion of whether or not to continue the township’s Council Connect program, which requires a member of Council, or Schultz, to dedicate an hour every Friday to sit in the library in order to address residents who have questions or concerns about township issues as well as receive feedback and discuss those issues.
While members said the program has been a successful tool, they also noted it has been a drain on time and resources.
Council said it would begin looking at alternative options for continuation of the program in a manner that is less demanding.
Button suggested holding the program on a monthly basis and possibly extending the program’s designated time to about an hour and a half.
Council said it would welcome suggestions and ideas about how to continue running the program.
Council is scheduled to meet again for its next regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the William Allen Middle School.
