Carpenter Moving Up To Mayor, New Year Celebration Set For Thursday

Two Bernards Township traditions are set for this Thursday night — the day after New Year's — starting with the anticipated move up of this year's deputy mayor, John Carpenter, to the position of township Mayor for 2014.

Carpenter, who grew up in Basking Ridge, is expected to be sworn in as Township Mayor at the meeting to begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Carpenter, who will replace 2013's mayor, Carolyn Gaziano, previously served as township mayor in 2008. 

The all-Republican Township Committee also is scheduled to select a new deputy mayor on Thursday night.

The meeting is scheduled to be once again held in the combined courtroom and main meeting room at the municipal building at 1 Collyer Lane. Meetings had been moved to the Bernards Township Library since late summer, while the  municipal meeting and courtroom was closed and undergoing renovations for a variety of updates and improvements, including potential use as a command center and public charging facility during emergencies such as the prolonged power outage after Sandy.

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. Bianchi was appointed to the committee early this year to replace Township Committeeman Scott Spitzer, who moved out of the township.

The year's appointments to volunteer boards, committees and commissions also take place at the reorganization meeting that begins the year. Information is on the agenda for the meeting that is one the Bernards Township website.

Public reception to follow meeting

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 to the annual event, officially hosted by the year's new mayor.