Another Warren County town dealing with elected officials' resignations (original) (raw)
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Alpha has become the latest Warren County municipality to go through the process of replacing elected officials midterm.
Two borough council members, Jack Preiss and Kathleen Ronan, resigned last month, both after less than a year in office.
When a councilperson resigns, their local political party committee nominates three people to take the seat. The governing body then can select or reject the nominees.
There have been at least three other municipalities in the county that have dealt with resignations this year, following a couple other notable cases from recent years. Each occurred for a variety of stated reasons, from a change of residence to political disagreements -- one even involving criminal charges.
ALPHA
Who left: Jack Preiss on Sept. 14 and Kathleen Ronan on Sept. 23. Preiss felt he could not devote the time necessary to his appointed role as the public works director, according to his letter to the borough. Ronan in her letter accused Mayor Craig Dunwell's administration of "a total lack of respect for the will of council along with an inability to effectively communicate with members of the governing body." Dunwell has denied Ronan's allegations that he tried to get her to resign and said that a council position requires more than coming to meetings.
The result: Louis Cartabona, who lost re-election last year, is back on council in place of the Republican Preiss, and is on the November ballot as a write-in for a full three-year term. Democrats are meeting this week and will submit nominations by Friday, county committee chairman Tom Palmieri said.
MANSFIELD TWP.
Who left: Committeewoman Cindy Korczukowski, who was facing criminal charges, resigned effective Sept. 6 because she was moving out of Mansfield. Authorities alleged she stole almost $2,500 from a youth sports league. Korczukowski had missed several meetings, and her resignation was submitted the day she entered a court program that will eventually drop the charges.
The result: So far, no one has been appointed to replace her, according to the township clerk's office.
HACKETTSTOWN
Who left: Councilman William Conforti resigned from the municipal government Aug. 5 because he was moving out of town.
The result: Council appointed James Lambo to fill the slot. His name is to be put on November ballot to fill the the remainder of the term, which expires at the end of 2018, town Clerk/Administrator William Kuster said.
LOPATCONG TWP.
Who left: Donna Schneider stepped down in June, six months before the end of her term. A supporter of Mayor Tom McKay, Schneider in her letter accused current and former elected officials of acting against McKay, and urged residents to "vote the old regime out next election."
The result: Yvonne Reitemeyer was selected to replace Schneider, and will serve through the end of the year. Disputes between council and the mayor have continued.
GREENWICH TWP. (2015)
Who left: The separate resignations last September of Tom Callari, Angelo Faillace and Joe Tauriello left the five-person township committee short a majority. Elaine Emiliani also stepped down the following month.
The result: As required, the governor's office stepped in to fill the majority last October, tapping William A. Spencer, Robert M. Barsony and William D. Kanyuck to fill the vacancies. The committee later selected former Mayor Frank Marchetta to the remaining spot. The panel reversed course from their predecessors on some issues, including rehiring police Chief Richard Hummer.
OXFORD TWP. (2014)
Who left: The township was left without a governing body for about a month when the three committee members -- Jade White, Keith Gibbons and James White -- all resigned.
The result: The governor's office appointed a temporary committee, and a full slate of candidates went on the ballot that November.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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