2010 Mayoral Address

Good evening everybody.  And welcome to the 2010 Reorganization Meeting of the Long Hill Township Committee.

Let me begin by saying thank you to Msgr. Brown, not only for his lovely invocation, but also for the important work he does for those most in need in our Township; notably the food pantry at St. Vincent’s and his great work on the Lounsberry Board of Trustees, where he has been serving in excellence for almost twenty years.

Next, I’d like to express my gratitude to my fellow Committee Members for the confidence they have displayed in me by unanimously electing me Mayor of Long Hill Township.  I’m truly honored and humbled by your selection and I consider myself lucky to be leading such a strong committee.

I would like to thank our residents, friends, family, former mayors, Township Committee members and honored guests for the favor of your presence here tonight. 

I would like to acknowledge my family, especially my parents Barb and Lou and Babe and Carol.  And very special acknowledgments to my wife, Tracy and our three children, Amelia, Gerard and Emily for their unending support.  Many of you are responsible for the positions of your elected officials here tonight and for that I’m thankful.  Also, thank you for all of your good advice and counsel.

Thank you to Mayor George Vitureira for his service. We salute his accomplishments and applaud his hard work and dedication.  We look for his continued great work on our budget through his role on our Finance Committee.

Congratulations to Nan Harrington on her new role as Deputy Mayor.  I really look forward to working with Nan in that capacity this year.  Also, we are fortunate to have Nan back as a member of our Negotiations Committee, where she has worked hard to successfully lead the Township Committee in our contractual proposals. 

I want to thank Mead Briggs for all of his time, effort and accomplishments during his time on the Township Committee and while serving as Deputy Mayor.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Guy Piserchia to our committee and look for him to have an immediate and positive impact on our committee. His seven years of land use experience from the Zoning Board of Adjustment will be a great asset to our committee.

W

e can all look for a very strong Finance Committee this year with the addition of Committeeman Mike Mazzucco.  Mike, a CPA with more than twenty years of experience, is the owner of an accounting firm and has expertise in financial controlling, budgeting, consulting and forensic and financial audits.  He will be a great addition to that team.

As you might expect, this should prove to be another difficult budget year.   With the State of New Jersey’s dire financial position largely unknown and expectations of further reduction in aid to municipalities, we must plan for the worst, and continue to work with the Administration in the spirit of cooperation, towards leaner budgets while continuing to deliver the essential services that our residents expect from their local government. 

We will focus on the expense side of the ledger and continue to work towards a pay-as-we-go system.

Our success will be measured by our ability to keep Long Hill a great, affordable place to live, work and play, without changing the quality of life or the character of our great town.

To our many volunteers of boards, committees and emergency responders, on behalf of the entire Township, I want to thank each and every one of you for your generous contribution to the Township.

Thank you and have good evening.

Mayor Jerry Aroneo

January 4, 2010