New Mayor, Other Appointments to Highlight Bernards Reorganization

The Bernards Township Committee has set the 2014 reorganization date for the governing body at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, according to township officials.

Township Committeewoman Carol Bianchi, who won a three-way election for a full-three year seat, would be sworn in on that day. The all Republican Committee also will nominate and selected a new mayor for the year.

Traditionally, each year's mayor is the Township Committee member who served as the previous year's deputy mayor. John Carpenter, who has served previously as mayor and has been a member of the Township Committee since 2006, was township deputy mayor in 2013.

The meeting is scheduled as being held in the combined courtroom and main meeting room at the municipal building at 1 Collyer Lane, according to the township clerk's office.

Since the end of the summer, the room has been closed and undergoing renovations for a variety of updates and improvements, including additional wiring so it can be used as a command center and public charging facility during emergencies such as the prolonged power outage generated by Sandy.

Construction on the renovated room is finished, with the last remaining work to complete setting up the Information Technology and technology communications, Mayor Carolyn Gaziano said on Friday. She confirmed the Township Committee will return to the municipal building for the Jan. 2 reorganization meeting.

Officials initially predicted the work would be completed by Thanksgiving. However, municipal meetings have continued through December at the alternate meeting location at the Bernards Township Library while work continues.

The reorganization meeting also is the date on which the governing body makes appointments to volunteer boards and committees filled by members of the public.
 
Annual party to follow

Township Committeeman John Malay said the reorganization meeting again will be followed by the annual township New Year party at the Liberty Corner firehouse, 95 Church St., in Liberty Corner Village. The public is invited.