The Full Text of Township Mayor Nicole Hagner's Beginning of the Year Message

Township Mayor Nicole Hagner delivered a beginning-of-the-year speech at the township's reorganization meeting Thursday, as is the tradition for mayors at such meetings.

The full text appears below.

"I would like to welcome everyone to our 2010 reorganization meeting. I would like to recognize a few guests: Father Mahoney, Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, Freeholder Jim Murray, and Chatham Borough Councilman Joe Marts.

"Thank you for attending our meeting and for your support. 

"I would like to first congratulate Kevin Tubbs on his re-election. We are very lucky to have you back. I want to also recognize Kevin for his outstanding leadership as mayor over the past three years. Kevin devoted countless hours to serve as Mayor and you did a great job. As Mayor Tubbs expressed last year, it is very much a team effort among the five of us, and it has been a pleasure serving with Kevin and my fellow committeemen, the killer B's, Bailey Brower, Bob Gallop, and Bill O'Connor, who are all extremely dedicated to doing what is best for our town. 

"It is an honor to be selected as Mayor of Chatham for 2010, and I am proud to be able to serve the residents of Chatham. I need to thank my family; my parents, Jim and Joanne, my brother and sister, and my fiancé, Jim, for all of their support.

"Before we look forward to 2010, I would like highlight some of the accomplishments from 2009. On the economic front, our 2009 municipal budget was passed with less than a ½ cent increase, which speaks to the prudent fiscal management by the township committee and our town administrator, Tom Ciccarone.

"Township meetings are now being televised live to residents who subscribe to Verizon FIOS on Channel 26, and we expect to broadcast live to Comcast subscribers this year. We launched a Township Bulletin Board on our channel which allows us to post Township news so our residents can keep informed from the comfort of their homes. Tom Salvas, a resident volunteer, deserves to be recognized for single handedly helping to get this done. Thanks to the efforts of Bob Gallop, we have also updated our Chatham Township Web site to make it easier to navigate and more informative for our residents.

"We completed the senior center renovations to bring it up to modern standards. We completed the renovations in the gym area of this building by converting unused space into an auxiliary room, which has allowed us to offer more recreational opportunities. We purchased a new fire pumper truck, and construction is underway on the new volunteer firehouse on Southern Blvd. 

"Thanks to the resident volunteers on the Green Team and Bill O'Connor, Chatham received Sustainable Jersey certification, and as a result of the wonderful partnership with Chatham Borough we also received the Sustainable Collaboration Award.

"2009 also brought several changes with our township employees: Our Recreation Director Tom Denning retired after 30 years; Joy Wiley, township clerk, retired after 10 years; Robert "Bobby" Lanner, shop foreman, retired after 38 years; Sgt. Vinny Zvolensky retired after 25 years; and Police Chief Betty Goeckel retired after more than 25 years.  Additionally, John Paton was named as our new police chief.

"Looking ahead to 2010, the economic climate continues to be particularly challenging. Despite these challenges, Chatham Township has been able to maintain and enhance our facilities, services and environment while keeping taxes stable, and this committee will continue work hard with Tom Ciccarone to try to keep our town operating within this 'sweet spot.' We currently share services with Chatham Borough, and we will continue to look to willing neighbors and to Morris County for other sharing opportunities. Two such services that are currently being considered are our police dispatch system and the court system. Additionally, we recently participated in a county-wide survey to explore other opportunities to share services. Given the recent departure of our recreation director, we are taking steps with Chatham Borough to more closely integrate our recreation departments.  The much anticipated Shunpike Field turf project will begin in the spring. This is a joint project with Chatham Borough and the Chatham Athletic Foundation.    

"The municipal building will undergo some energy efficiency upgrades starting with the light fixtures early this year. These upgrades are partially funded by the state due to our participation in the energy audit program. We have been successful in obtaining [Department of Transportation] grants for road and bike path projects, and other grant opportunities will be pursued. We need to construct a new club house at Colony Pool, and we will be looking into other potential improvements to our pool facility. There are two major projects from 2009 that still need to be resolved. The work being done by the U.S. [Environmental Protection Agency] at the Rolling Knolls Landfill is ongoing and we continue to monitor the status of this project. The wastewater treatment facilities at Chatham Glen and Tanglewood are both being evaluated to determine what actions are needed to upgrade and resolve permit issues.    

"This list only touches on a small portion of all that goes on in a year in Chatham Township. It is our wonderful township employees, police department and public works, and our professionals that we count on to keep it all running smoothly. I would like to thank all our volunteers, whether it be in recreation, on our township committees, or on the fire department and emergency squads,  your commitment to our community is simply amazing. I encourage everyone to get involved and volunteer.

"Small yet strong. Strong and friendly. Neighborly. We are Chatham. Let's continue together to shape the town we call home.

"I wish everyone a very Happy New Year."