As it traditional in Bernards Township, this year's deputy mayor, Mary Pavlini, is due to move up to a one-year term as township mayor for 2012.

Pavlini, who just this past November was re-elected for a third three-year term on the Township Committee, previously was Bernards Township Mayor in 2007. At that time, she established the "Green Team" to promote changes in municipal operations that were both environmentally and economically conscious. That head start helped bring the township a top "silver certification" in the state's Sustainable Jersey program this year.

During 2012, Pavlini said she also expects to be reviewing the township's preparation for emergencies, following a year in which many residents in town experienced power outages of up to about a week long resulting from two severe storms.

The position of mayor is an appointed one, with the five-member Township Committee voting each year to name a new mayor.

The Township Committee chooses a new mayor — with the usual procedure being to select the previous year's deputy mayor — at its annual reorganization, the first scheduled meeting of the new year.

This year's reorganization meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the municipal township building at 1 Collyer Lane.

Pavlini said she expects that next year's deputy mayor will be Township Committeewoman Carolyn Gaziano. At this point, the Township Committee retains its all-Republican membership.

Pavlini, who said she has lived in the township for 20 years, said that she believes looking at how to handle the catastrophic storms experienced in this region in the second half of 2011 will be an important aspect of her job next year.

Pavlini said the township did not have such prolonged, widespread power outages during the previous years she was a resident.

She said the township took steps by the snowstorm to reach out to residents with reverse 9-1-1 phone messages and by posting power outage updates on the township website.

However, she said the township may want to consider whether the township might want to have backup plans to establish emergency shelters, and how to best keep residents informed, calm and comfortable during emergencies.

Pavlini said at this point she would probably wait and see whether JCP&L continues making improvements in response before deciding whether to ask the state Board of Public Utilities to try to extend the township's franchise to PSE&G instead. Such a move, if it occurred, would have many legal ramifications and would take a long time, she said.

As always, the municipal budget and finances will be an issue facing officials, especially with continuing mandates from the state.