New Council Person to be Appointed in January

With Republican Dan Hayes moving to his new position as mayor in 2012, the council will appoint his replacement on the dais in January.

According to Matthew Moench, who was elected Tuesday for another three-year term on the township council, said the Republican Municipal Committee selects three candidates for the vacant spot, and then the council must vote for one.

That person will then run in the 2012 election to maintain the seat.

"We don't know the exact timing of that, but expect we will want to have the person appointed as soon as we can," Moench said.

At that point, the council will work to help the new person get into the swing of things in the administration, according to Christine Henderson Rose, who won her first full three-year term in Tuesday's election after completing a year finishing a term vacated by current freeholder Patrick Scaglione.

As the new mayor and council members-elect prepare for the upcoming year, they are beginning to wrap up these previous terms and any other outstanding projects.

"We will look to wrap up issues we can resolve so we start with a fresh slate," Moench said.

Hayes said he is ready to move into his new role.

"I will spend time preparing with hand-offs from the current administration and getting ready for the swearing-in," he said.

"Over the next few months, there are terms ending, and we will prep for the beginning of new ones," Rose added.

Hayes said he imagines his focus for now will be on taxes and infrastrucutre, two of the issues he heard many concerns about during the campaign.

"We will be assessing best practices, and there will probably be no action taken until next year," he said. "We will make plans for our campaign promises."

"And we are continuing our sound long-term planning," Moench added.