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Gaechter to take over as Wantage mayor

| 12 Jan 2015 | 04:08
    Photos by Vera Olinski Former Wantage Mayor Bill DeBoer receives a plaque recognizing his service on the committee.
    Photos by Vera Olinski Former Wantage Mayor Bill DeBoer receives a plaque recognizing his service on the committee.
    Township Administrator James Doherty administers the Oath of Allegience to Township Attorney Glenn Kienz.
    Township Administrator James Doherty administers the Oath of Allegience to Township Attorney Glenn Kienz.
    Commiteeman Jon Morris is sworn in by Township Administrator James Doherty as his family looks on.
    Commiteeman Jon Morris is sworn in by Township Administrator James Doherty as his family looks on.

WANTAGE — Committeeman Bill Gaechter was unanimously voted to be the next 2015 Mayor, and Committeeman Ron Bassani was elected to be the 2015 deputy mayor at the Wantage Township meeting on Jan. 8

Gaechter said the township had come in $270,00 under the 2014 budget.

His priorities for 2015 are to be fiscally responsible without hurting township services, develop a cost effective plan for Lake Neepaulin, re-establish an Economic Advisory Committee for Wantage Township, and communicate more with Sussex Borough. Because Wantage Township completely surrounds the Borough, he would like to look into working together more.

Committeeman-elect Jon Morris was sworn in with his family accompanying him. Morris will take former Mayor Bill DeBoer's seat on the committee.

Town Attorney Glenn Kienz was unanimously voted to continue with Wantage in 2015.

Bassani also spoke of being fiscally responsible, minimizing the budget, and keeping taxes in check.

He said Lake Neepaulin is “near and dear to my heart” and encouraged the full room of residents to come to the Wantage meetings a few times during the year. The Committee is “always looking for creative information and thoughts,” he said.

During public comment, Kathy Gorman said that it was an “excellent determination to bring back Glenn Kienz as town attorney.”

Other business
After returning from executive session, the committee unanimously appointed Glen Gavan as the new Municipal Court Judge.

The Committee also unanimously supported a resolution encouraging the the state government to use money from concession stands in state parks and historic sites to repair and improve the parks and sites.

Next, the committee unanimously approved the 911 dispatch contract renewal with Vernon Township. The contract is locked in for five years at $55,000. The amount is lower than the previous contract of $70,000.

The committee also unanimously amended a bond ordinance from last year. The expenses for the Volcanic Hill Road project were raised from $115,000 to $134,000.

Administrator Jim Doherty said nine property owners would pay back the amount over 10 years. The amendment was a mechanism needed to send bills to the property owners.