Planning Board Reorganizes; Board Professionals Appointed

Galloway Township Planning Board held their annual Reorganization Meeting Thursday Night. Election of Officers, Appointment of Professional Staff and Appointment of Committees filled the agenda. New Planning Board Members were sworn in which included Don Purdy (Mayor), Anthony Coppola (Deputy Mayor), Robert Bruno, Jim Cox and Charles Wimberg. Chief Patrick Moran who was also due to be sworn in was absent.

The Board voted Ken Sooy Sr. as Chairman, Jim Cox as Vice-Chairman and Pamela Alleyne as the Board Secretary. Tiffany Cuviello who is the Township's salaried Planner also maintains her position on the Board as their appointed Planner.

Professionals appointed this year is Engineer Andrew Previti from Maser Consultants. Vince Polistina who served previously as the Board's Engineer was appointed as the Conflict Engineer. Both Polistina and Previti were appointed by Council the night before to serve as Township Engineer and Alternate Township Engineer, respectively.

Mayor Don Purdy requested the Boards permission to have the Board Secretary advertise for a conflict solicitor as the original RFP in November 2012 did not list that position. The Board agreed and will now be seeking to fill an additional position at an upcoming meeting.

The Planning Board also set the 2013 Meeting Schedule. The Board meets every first and third Thursday.

MEETING SCHEDULE:

Januray 3, 2013 - Reorganization 
January 17, 2013

February 7, 2013
February 21, 2013

March 7, 2013
March 21, 2013

April 4, 2013
April 18, 2013

May 2, 2013
May 16, 2013

June 6, 2013
June 20, 2013

**Meeting on 4th of July is cancelled due to the Holiday**
July 18, 2013

August 1, 2013
August 15, 2013

**Meeting on September 5th is cancelled due to Rosh Hashanah
September 19, 2013

October 3, 2013
October 17, 2013

November 7, 2013

December 5, 2013
December 19, 2013

Professional Appointments Highlight of Reorganization Meeting; New Township Engineer Appointed

Vincent J. Polistina

Galloway Township held their reorganization meeting Wednesday night which clearly showed a new majority of council emerging. Every year Professional appointments become the forefront of every reorganization meeting, more so than the election of a Mayor or Deputy Mayor. Councilman Tony Coppola was re-appointed as the Deputy Mayor despite speculation that another member of council was vying for the seat.

As members of council may not always agree on every professional appointment, this year was a clear example that decisions were still being made during the actual vote. For everyone who believes in Deja vu, tonight was a night to witness it. Council voted in the same format as the 2010 Reorganization Meeting of the Planning Board that removed Kevin Dixon from Dixon Associates as Planning Board Engineer and replaced him with Vince Polistina of Polistina & Associates. A vote on the Planning Board which left Mayor Don Purdy voting for Polistina and former councilman Dennis Kleiner voting for Dixon.

Now two years later, Republican Councilman Thomas Bassford who voted with Democrat Councilman Jim Gorman and Jim McElwee, still couldn't save Dixon's position as Township Engineer. In a vote of 4-3, Vince Polistina from Polistina & Associates replaced Kevin Dixon who held the position since 2004. A deciding vote which came down to Mayor Don Purdy voting once again for Polistina. Dixon was not chosen as Alternate Township Engineer as he did not submit a proposal seeking that position. 

Polistina's firms has held various positions in the Township over the past decade more so than Dixon's which included Planning Board Planner, Zoning Board Planner, Planning Board Engineer, Alternate Township Engineer and now Township Engineer. Craig Hurless who is a Galloway resident and an Associate has represented the firm in conjunction with Polistina at all levels within the Township.

Polistina wasn't the only one with a tie-breaker vote by the Mayor. Labor Counsel also came to 4-3 vote, giving the contract to Blaney & Donohue. Michael Donohue who is partner in the lawfirm, is the the Republican Chairman for Cape May County. William Blaney was already appointed by Council in 2010 as required by JIF to train employees. Training which included Managerial Supervision and Discipline Procedures and Harassment.

Michael Fitzgerald remains as the Township's Solicitor even though Democrat councilman Gorman and McElwee voted for Randy Lafferty. Andrew Previti from Maser Consulting was appointed as the Alternate Township Engineer. 

Township Council also voted on the Mayor's selections to Boards and Committees. As most of the appointments remained the same, a new addition to the Planning Board acting as the Township's Class II position which is held by an employee, is the Chief of Police Patrick Moran. That position was previously held by Construction Technical Assistant Beth McCann, former Manager Stephen Bonanni and former Clerk Lisa Tilton.

In the end, Deputy Mayor Tony Coppola read a committee report on the controversial Invocation Policy. Coppola with the committee recommended a pre-approved prayer to be lead by a member of council at the start of each council meeting. Township Solicitor Michael Fitzgerald recommended the committee's suggestions be voted upon through Resolution or Ordinance at the next Council Meeting.  Council agreed with Fitzgerald's recommendation and a vote is set for the next council meeting.

Galloway ShopRite Recalls Store Made Ground Meat Sold on Wednesday

Via GallowayPatch.com

Polistina Replaces Dixon as Engineer Following 4-3 Vote at Galloway Reorganization Meeting

Via GallowayPatch.com

Publisher Seeks Input from Public on Galloway Township; Reveal of New Publisher Upcoming

New Publisher of GallowayTwpNews.com is seeking information from the Public as to what Information about Galloway Township piques the public's interest. As the new Publisher, I can rely upon statistics from traffic, but I would rather hear from you, the resident, the public, the community and business owners.

GallowayTwpNews.com under former Publisher Harry B. Scheeler, Jr. was innovative reporting on transparency and open government. That investigative style reporting and demanding of open government will continue under my operation. 

As the new Publisher, I intend to start 2013 with hard core reporting of transparency, open government, accountability and pressuring the elected officials not only at our Local Level, but also at our State Level to do what is right for Galloway Township residents and community. 

Many question and wonder when the reveal of the New Publisher of GallowayTwpNews.com will be announced. I can assure everyone, the announcement is coming and will most likely happen in the month of January.

In the interim, I am requesting all of our readers, business owners and residents of Galloway Township to submit either through email at gallowaytwpnews@gmail.com or by leaving a comment at the bottom of this story with what you would like to see investigated and published.  

We will review and investigate anything from Galloway's Budget, Commercial Developments, Residential Developments, Planning and Zoning Board Decisions and Applications, Council Appointments, new and existing Laws and Ordinances, Revenue Ideas. You name it, we will research it.

You can remain anonymous or you can provide your information. Any information you provide directly to this Publisher and not in the public's view will remain under the NJ Shield Law, unless you the individual direct this Publisher otherwise to use your information.

As Publisher, I intend to research everything provided. I will only report on facts and documentation. If you give me a tip and I can verify and prove what you have is credible and reliable; the story and investigation will be published. 

I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy 2013.