January 16, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Mahwah Council reorganizes with change of leadership by Frank J. McMahon This month, the Mahwah Township Council held its annual reorganization meeting, during which Mayor William Laforet was sworn in to his first full four-term in that office. He previously served the final year of the unexpired term of former Mayor Richard J Martel. Council Members H. Lisa DiGiulio, John Roth, and Steven Sbarra were also sworn in to their terms on the township’s governing body. Laforet was sworn in by District 39 Republican Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi. DiGiulio, Roth, and Sbarra were sworn in by Mahwah Municipal Court Judge Anthony J Gianni Jr. Laforet thanked his neighbor James Batelli, who is the township’s chief of police, for “showing me strength when I needed it,” his campaign manager, Louis Rizzo, and his wife Maureen and his family for their support during the campaign. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Laforet said as he handed his wife a bouquet of flowers. Laforet also thanked John Spiech for his service as the council president during the past year and Brian Campion for his work as the township administrator. “I’m looking forward to the next four years,” he said. DiGiulio, Roth, and Sbarra thanked Judge Gianni, their families, and the voters who supported them in the recent election. They all voiced a desire to work together for the welfare of the public. “Now that the election is over, we should have peace,” DiGiulio said. “We’ve been divided too long. I hope we will have peace and respect each other’s opinions and work everything out.” Roth requested that his name be withdrawn from nomination for council president. The newly-seated council then voted unanimously to select Councilman Harry Williams as its president and DiGiulio as its vice president for the coming year. Both were sworn in by Judge Gianni. Williams thanked the council for its confidence is selecting him as president and he said he looked forward to increasing the communication between the council and the mayor and the administration and to keeping council debates informative and any disagreements civil. “I’m very hopeful that these goals will be achieved very successfully,” he said. The council then passed many resolutions that included the appointment of Councilman Charles Jandris as liaison to the planning board, and the reappointment of Joe Larson and John Royal to the zoning board of adjustment. Larson will become a regular member, filling the unexpired term of former member Nicholas Savino. Royle will serve as an Alternate I member, while Ward Straffin was appointed to the zoning board as an Alternate II. The council also reappointed Williams as liaison to the board of education, Roth as the council’s representative on the Community Cable Television Committee, and DiGiulio as the council’s representative on the Community Development Committee. (continued on page 17)