Politics & Government

Council Postpones Vote on Acting Mayor [VIDEO]

The three candidates were interviewed during the public meeting, but no decision was made.

The Chatham Borough Council decided to delay a vote on the acting mayor until a special meeting, to be held on Dec. 8.

Douglas Herbert, Nicholas Eck and Marcy Wecker were all interviewed during the public session of the council meeting. However, once the interviews concluded, the council began discussing a separate date for a special meeting where a candidate would be chosen to serve until Jan. 3.

Councilman Len Resto said the council "[needed] to discuss what we've heard this evening and perhaps have a special meeting." Councilman John Holman agreed.

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Joseph Bell, the borough attorney, advised the governing body that as long as the council appointed someone to serve as acting mayor "no later than Dec. 10. If you fail to do that, ... the Democratic Committee then would pick the candidate."

Bell advised the meeting should be public, and any discussion of the matter among the council "I think I would prefer to make that an open [meeting]. ... The public viewing and participation, as you've heard this evening, ensures the transparency."

Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Council President James Lonergan invited the public to speak on the matter. No one came forward.

The council determined Thursday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. would be the best evening for the special meeting. A discussion and vote on an acting mayor will be the only item on the agenda.

Candidates

Eck, Wecker and Herbert said before their interviews they were not sure of what to expect. "There's just not much that they don't know about us," Herbert said.

All three candidates currently serve on various boards and committees in the borough. Wecker and Herbert are married, live on Hillside Avenue with their three children (including one college-aged child) and both work as attorneys. Eck lives on Weston Avenue and runs a credit card processing company.

The candidates gave background on their time in Chatham Borough as residents and volunteers and their various professions. Herbert and Wecker also explained why an acting mayor, one who would serve for 24 days from Dec. 10 to Jan. 3, was necessary. Eck echoed their sentiments.

Ed DiFiglia, the chairman of the Chatham Borough Democrats, said he did not work with the candidates to prepare them for the interviews. "Between the holidays, there just wasn't time," he said.

When asked if he would have liked more time, DiFiglia said "I would have preferred not to be in this situation."


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