New Committeewoman Julie DeLaurentis was also sworn in at the Jan. 2 meeting.
The Harrison Township Municipal Court was filled with friends, family, colleagues and dignitaries for the 2018 reorganization meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 2, as newcomer Julie DeLaurentis was sworn into office, alongside Mayor Louis Manzo and newly-appointed Deputy Mayor Don Heim.
DeLaurentis enters her first three-year term as a committeewoman, taking the open seat of former Deputy Mayor Dennis Clowney who did not run for re-election after 12 years of public service in the 2017 general election. DeLaurentis was sworn in surrounded by family with her son, an attorney, Dominic DeLaurentis III reading the Oath of Office and her husband Dominic DeLaurentis Jr. and her daughter Mary DeLaurentis Fehleison holding the Bible.
“I am honored and humbled to have been elected to be a part of this, and I’m excited,” DeLaurentis said. “I’m excited to be working with my fellow committee members, the township employees and professionals and all of the many volunteers that make this community so great.”
DeLaurentis said as a member of the committee, she will be looking at the “past, present and future” to best serve the people of Harrison Township.
“We’re serving the people and we’re going to be working to keep our township strong and prosperous for many years to come,” DeLaurentis said.
Committee members unanimously appointed Manzo as mayor of Harrison Township for the 11th consecutive year, after winning the 2017 election for the unexpired, one-year term in November. Manzo was joined by state Sen. Stephen Sweeney who read the Oath of Office, while Township Clerk Diane Malloy held the Bible.
“It’s the tenure that you set as leaders in this town that creates the atmosphere and hometown feeling we have, and that’s the most important thing,” Manzo said. “We want to continue and do our part to make this the best place to live, work and raise a family in the state of New Jersey.”
After almost 10 years of public service on the Harrison Township Committee, Heim was also unanimously appointed as deputy mayor. Heim was joined by his son Tommy while he was sworn in by Sweeney.
“Every year is a bit humbling, but none more than this because I’ve been asked to step into shoes that are extremely hard to fill,” Heim said. “Dennis Clowney may be one of the greatest public servants this town has ever seen and to be asked to step into his shoes is a tall task. I’m humbled by the opportunity to do that and I look forward to the challenge of doing that.”
Among Sweeney in the audience at the reorganization meeting were fellow state and local politicians such as Assemblywoman Patricia Egan Jones from the state’s fifth legislative district and Gloucester County Freeholder Dan Christy, to name a few.
Members of the committee shared comments on their outlook for the new year, many suggesting 2018 to be one of growth and prosperity in Harrison Township.
“This is an important time for Harrison Township; these next three to five years especially are going to determine what Harrison Township looks like for the next 50 years,” Manzo said. “We look to ensure the types of growth and complementary use of our town are the ones best suited for this town.”
In other news:
Committee voted unanimously to award a contract to Township Solicitor Brian Duffield as municipal attorney. Additionally, contracts were awarded to Bowman & Co. as municipal auditor, Remington & Vernick as municipal engineer and Parker McCay as municipal bond counsel. The committee also contracted with Kevin Vanhise as an attorney specializing in litigation, affordable housing and sewer treatment plant facilities. James Maley will serve as an attorney specializing in redevelopment for the municipality, as well. Committee members also awarded a contract with Gary Lomanno, esq., as the municipal prosecutor, while Michael Aimino, esq., will serve as municipal public defender.
Township Administrator Mark Gravinese was unanimously appointed for a one-year term, alongside Deputy Township Administrator Dennis Chambers, who will also serve as the Harrison Township safety coordinator for a one-year term.
To view a full list of awarded contracts and appointments, visit www.harrisontwp.us.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for Jan. 16, at 7 p.m.
