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Mayor Dave Fried and members of the new Washington town
council were sworn in at a reorganization meeting July 1.
WASHINGTON — The township's new government, less than a week
old, swept into existence last week with the promise of positive
changes, open communication and cooperation in a historic day
that hopeful speakers said would mark a new era for the town.
More than 200 people came to watch the new mayor and council
take their oaths of office on Friday at the reorganization held
at Robbinsville High School. It was one of the first
communitywide events held at the new school.
Mayor Dave Fried, who won nearly 60 percent of the votes in
May's election, started his four-year term with a standing
ovation from the audience. Some in attendance indicated they are
looking to Mayor Fried to turn around Washington's problems,
like rising taxes, and make good on his campaign promises to
bring more businesses to Washington and be accountable for what
happens in town.
The mayor responded by pledging to usher in a new era that
will feature cooperation with the county and state and a better
life for Washington residents.
"We have a bold agenda and a long list of promises to keep...
We have so much work to do," Mayor Fried said, promising to
return Washington to "the families, seniors and to the single
professionals that make up our wonderful community."
The five new council members also assumed their positions.
Based on drawing lots from a box, Sonja Walter and Bill Lesniak
will serve full four-year terms, while Ronda Hyams, Larry
Schneider and David Boyne will each have two-year terms. The
terms need to vary in order to hold staggered elections. Every
councilperson elected from now on will receive a four-year term.
The council got right down to business, appointing Ms. Walter
to serve as president for one year. She will conduct council
meetings. Mr. Schneider, selected as vice president, will take
over in her absence.
Council members have spent months preparing for their new
responsibilities by learning procedures and rules, plus
familiarizing themselves with ongoing projects. Stumbling
procedurally in only a few places at the reorganization, the
council's first actions were largely administrative. The body
appointed people to township positions, adopted a meeting
schedule and introduced an ordinance setting salaries for some
employees. The ordinance established salaries for the mayor
($7,500), council ($4,500 each), business administrator
($85,000), clerk ($69,448), police chief ($107,640) and other
positions.
But what Friday meant for the town and for the six people who
will now lead it was not buried by the relatively tedious
administrative tasks that needed to be completed. New Jersey's
U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, who swore in Mayor Fried, praised
the members of the new government for promising to not use their
offices for personal gain, a pledge that he said most
officeholders around the state do not take.
"I think on days like this where people are sworn into
office, and especially with a new form of government, it
provides both them and all of you who are residents and
taxpayers of this town, with hope," Mr. Christie said. "It's the
hope that with new beginnings, like anything we do in life, we
have the chance to write a new chapter."
County Executive Brian Hughes also was on hand to offer his
best wishes to the new government. He advised them to work
honestly and honorably and remember that public service is a
privilege. Mayor Fried said earlier that Mr. Hughes' presence
was indication that Washington, a largely Republican town, is
prepared to work in alliance with the Democrat-run county and
state.
Partnership was the buzzword on Friday and the sentiment did
not just come from politicians. Several residents offered their
services to the new government — and warned they would be
keeping an eye on things.
Greg Zalenski, one of the five people who led the campaign to
get a nonpartisan government in Washington, recalled how he put
his life on hold to convince voters that the new government was
needed. The end result was worth the effort, he said, adding
that he will be watching the council and mayor closely to make
sure they uphold campaign promises of positive changes in
Washington.
"I do want to put a challenge out there for you. The
challenge is that we've got to get the whole town together, the
whole town working together," said Mr. Zalenski, who is also a
fire commissioner. "The council, mayor, school board, fire
commissioners, our county executive — we all have to get
together for one common goal. I think we can do it."
Now that the new government is in place, the council and
mayor will start working on different matters, like reviewing
past ordinances and setting the future course. The council's big
project this summer will be forming an administrative code that
will guide protocol and set rules for the town. It must be
adopted within 90 days of the reorganization.
The council adopted a meeting schedule that keeps municipal
meetings on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 7:30
p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for July 28.
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