Medford council approves appointments at meeting

In a ceremonial council change, Frank Czekay took over the role of mayor from James “Randy” Pace, leading the Tuesday, Jan. 8 meeting.

Several appointments and reappointments were authorized at the meeting for members of the planning and zoning boards.

According to the resolution regarding the planning board, Erin Herman was appointed to an unexpired term to expire Dec. 31, 2014. Jack Hartwig was appointed to a four-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2016. Victoria Wells was also appointed to a four-year term to expire Dec. 31, 2016.

Mayor Czekay will serve a one-year term expiring Dec. 31. George Snyder, Charles Watson, Rick Ferrara and Robert Shafer will serve for one-year terms as well.

Ferrara and Shafer are alternates one and two, respectively.

Three zoning board members were also appointed or reappointed, along with two alternates.

Brett Wartenberg, Donna Symons and Salvatore Cocivera will all serve four-year terms that expire Dec. 31, 2016.

Alternates Martin Hamilton and Lorraine Gallagher will serve two-year terms that expire Dec. 31, 2014.

The Local Government Institute was discussed at the meeting.

“I don’t know if the institute will change other than in some minor ways based on feedback from the first participants. The overall objectives will remain,” said Township Manager Christopher Schultz.

The institute, which began last year, aims to help residents learn more about their government.

Make sure to check with The Sun for more information as it becomes available.

In his manager’s report, Schultz spoke about the sanitation implementation, giving an update about the transition to a new trash vendor.

The vendor, he said, started on Monday, Jan. 7.

Council is evaluating the impact of other services, including the restoration of any yard hours or the change of the brush schedule, he said, and if they will be able to address them.

That information, he said, is still being reviewed.

Speaking to The Sun, Czekay said that the hope is to continue objectives set forth last year on council.

“We’re hoping to continue what we started as a team,” he said. “The person running the meeting has changed. That’s all.”

Chris Buoni is the new deputy mayor. Pace is still a member of council.

“I look forward to serving as deputy mayor with Frank,” said Buoni. “I want to encourage people to come out and hold us accountable.”

The next meeting of town council is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Public Safety Building.

Reporter Shannon Caulfield contributed to this report