Special Meeting

December 5, 2005

 

A Special Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Wanaque was held on Monday, December 5, 2005 at 8:30 P.M. in the Wanaque Municipal Building.

 

The Acting Mayor called the meeting to order with the flag salute.

 

ROLL CALL:

 

On roll call, the following Council Members responded: Balunis, Mahler, O’Connell, Pasquariello, Pettet and Theoharous.  The Borough Attorney was also present.  The Borough Engineer was absent.  The Acting Mayor declared a quorum.

 

The Acting read the following Sunshine Statement:  Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the Governing Body  by e-mailing notice of this meeting to the Suburban Trends and the Herald News newspapers on November 21, 2005 stating therein that this meeting would be held on Monday, December 5, 2005 at the time of 8:30 P.M., in the Wanaque Municipal Building, 579 Ringwood Avenue, Wanaque, New Jersey, and a copy of this notice was posted on the bulletin board in the Wanaque Municipal Building on November 21, 2005, and a copy is on file in the office of the Municipal Clerk.

 

            On entertainment of the Acting Mayor, Councilmen Mahler and Balunis moved a motion to appoint Councilman Edward O’Connell as Chairman of the Road Department.

            On roll call, all voted yes, and the Acting Mayor declared the motion carried. 

 

Appointment of Mayor:

 

            The Municipal Clerk read the letter from the Wanaque Republican Municipal Committee.

 

Katherine Falone, Boro Clerk

Boro of Wanaque

579 Ringwood Avenue

Wanaque, New Jersey  07465

 

Dear Ms. Falone:

 

In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:16-5 and N.J.S.A. 40A:16-11, please be advised that the aforementioned Committee met on Friday, November 18, 2005 in the Boro of Wanaque and hereby submits the following names of three nominees to fill the vacancy of the Office of Mayor of Wanaque Boro for the remainder of the term of the late Warren Hagstrom.  The term expires December 31, 2006.

 

 

Nominees:                    Thomas F. Balunis

                                    Andrew R. Bolduc

                                    Gregory Gavazzi

 

            On entertainment of the Acting Mayor, Councilmen Theoharous and Pettet moved a motion to appoint Thomas Balunis as Mayor to fill the unexpired term.

            On roll call, all voted yes, except Councilman Balunis who abstained, and the Acting Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

            Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole came forward and administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Thomas Balunis.

 

Resolution #150-0-05:

     Re:  Appointment of Mayor

 

            On entertainment of the Acting Mayor, Councilmen Theoharous and Mahler moved that,

 

            BE IT RESOLVED that Thomas Balunis be and he is hereby appointed as Mayor of the Borough of Wanaque to fill the unexpired term expiring December 31, 2006 of Warren Hagstrom due to his death.

 

            On roll call, all voted yes, except Councilman Balunis who abstained, and the Acting Mayor declared the motion carried.

                                   

            The Mayor read the following:

 

“First and foremost, I would like to thank the Council for their vote of confidence in me.  I truly wish; this had come under far different circumstances.  It is indeed, a great honor and privilege to serve the people of Wanaque as their Mayor.  In assuming the role of Mayor, I do so with a heavy heart.  Mayor Hagstrom’s passing has left a huge void; in our town, and in our hearts.

 

But I am extremely confident the progress and vision for Wanaque that Mayor Hagstrom and this Council have embarked on will continue. 

 

My optimism lies in the unabashed faith and confidence I have in these dedicated men serving along side me.  I think I speak for all of us when I say, serving the people of Wanaque as a member of this governing body is not just a job we were elected to do; it is our passion. 

 

Along with our dedicated team of professionals and borough employees; we are committed to pressing forward with the goal of making Wanaque a better place to live in.  This will take nothing short of a total team effort, but I am 100% certain that we have what it takes to accomplish that goal.

 

I would like to thank my family, friends and everyone else for being here today.  My fellow Council members and I are extremely grateful for your continued support and you can rest assured, we will work very hard to reward your faith in us. 

 

Thank You.”

 

PUBLIC DISCUSSION:

 

            The Mayor opened the Public Discussion.

            No one came forward.

            The Mayor closed the Public Discussion.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

On entertainment of the Mayor, Councilmen Mahler and O’Connell moved a motion to adjourn; meeting adjourned at 8:40 P.M.

            On roll call, all voted yes, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

                                                                             

 

 

Katherine J. Falone, RMC, CMC

Municipal Clerk