Twp. Committee to Choose Interim Member

The Committee will open their regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, rather than at the usual time of 7:30 p.m., in order to decide on a candidate to serve the remainder of Kevin Tubbs' term.

Tubbs, a former mayor and twice-elected committee member, on Friday, May 4. The resignation was effective Tuesday, May 8.

Tubbs' resignation was expected. The committee member from the township committee, as his family planned to move out of state. .

The Chatham Township Republican Committee met Monday and chose three candidates—Karen Swartz, Laura Ali Nonnenmacher and Joseph Contorno—to fill Tubbs' seat. According to Republican Committee Chairman Thomas Basta, three other individuals also asked to be considered. Basta declined to name them.

According to the agenda for Thursday's township committee meeting, which may be found in the Photos and Documents section of this article, the committee will vote on whether to approve the agenda once the adequate notice is given, the flag is soluted and roll call is done. Then, if the agenda is approved in its current form, the committee will go into executive session to decide on a candidate.

Two of the candidates, Contorno and Nonnenmacher, appear on the GOP ballot for the June primary election this year. Both filed to run for a full term on the committee, though or seek the full term.

Nonnenmacher and Contorno also both sit on the Chatham Township Republican Committee.

Swartz is a local businesswoman and volunteer. This is her first time  trying for a seat on a local governing board. According to Basta, "she was incredibly impressive" in her appearance before the Republican Committee. "Her commitment to the township really comes through within two seconds of meeting her."

Township Mayor Nicole Hagner said the selected candidate may be sworn in immediately, but will have to abstain from any vote Thursday since "the person would not have received the meeting materials prior to the meeting."

The selected candidate can participate in the discussion as a member of the committee.

Other items on Thursday's agenda include:

• A resolution awarding a lease for a temporary cellular tower near Colony Pool,
• A resolution amending the for a Clean Communities Grant,
• A discussion and possible ordinance or resolution on a sewer treatment upgrade plan,
• A report on JCP&L's power outage investigations and communications enhancement, and
• A report by Chief John Paton on community policing.

The ongoing issue of for the does not appear on the agenda.

Hagner said a contract for the telephone system may be added to the agenda, "but we will only add if we received answers to a few additional follow-up questions for the vendors."