Newcomer Sullivan Starts First Term on Twp. Committee

Chatham Township Clerk Greg LaConte will administer the oath of office to Kevin Sullivan when at the Chatham Township Committee's 2013 reorganization meeting Thursday.

Sullivan, a Republican, defeated Democratic challenger Richard E. Templin in the November election. This is Sullivan's first term on the committee after several years on the township's Planning Board. He fills the seat vacated by former mayor Kevin Tubbs, who relocated from New Jersey last year.

After Sullivan takes his oath, he and the other members of the committee—Nicole Hagner, Robert Gallop, Bailey Brower, Jr. and Kathy Abbott—will nominate and vote on members to serve as mayor and deputy mayor for 2013.

Hagner has served as the township's mayor for the past three years. She grew up in Chatham Township and currently works for Novartis in East Hanover. She is currently expecting her first child.

Brower is the longest-serving member of the committee. He is a former deputy mayor but has never served as mayor.

Gallop has served as deputy mayor for the last two years. He will face re-election in November, along with Hagner. Like Brower, he has never served as mayor.

Abbott is now in the second year of her first three-year term on the committee.

The committee will also vote on 29 resolutions that will govern township business throughout the year, including:

• various board member and liaison appointments,
• depositories for township funds,
• interest rates for delinquent taxes and sewer fees,
• the meeting schedule,
• official newspapers,
• the township attorney and engineer,
• fulltime employee appointments,
• the health insurance opt-out policy for employees
• and a temporary budget to fund the township until the official 2013 budget is approved.

The Chatham Township Committee meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Chatham Township Municipal Building. A full copy of the agenda can be found attached to this article.