LACEY – The Lacey Township Committee swore in a new mayor and deputy mayor, and assigned professional duties during its re-organization meeting on New Year’s Day.
Lacey has a five-member committee, and they choose which of them becomes mayor for a one-year term. Committeeman Peter Curatolo will perform his first year as mayor.
“It’s a great honor and I’m humbled,” he said.
Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-3rd) was on hand to swear in the new mayor. He also swore in Committeeman Nicholas Juliano as deputy mayor. Curatolo and Committeeman Steven Kennis were sworn into their three-year terms as committee members, after winning last year’s election. The committee members thanked MacArthur for taking time out of his schedule to be in Lacey on New Year’s.
Curatolo, 47, works as the director of the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center for the Ocean County Health Department. He thanked his wife and family for their support.
In response to being mayor, “It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly,” he told the few dozen people gathered for the meeting. “If you have a question or concern, call 609-693-1100 and I’ll return the call.”
He then dispersed credit to the volunteers and families in town for doing the real work. “You are the reason Lacey is the place it is.”
The committee members thanked Kennis for his year as mayor, and he thanked the committee and his friends and family for support.
Juliano, after being sworn in as deputy mayor, said it had been a great year for the committee. “People say ‘make America great,’ well, we’re going to make Lacey Township greater.”
Committeeman Gary Quinn, who has been on the committee the longest, thanked the rest of the politicians in attendance but also took time to single out Township Clerk Veronica Laureigh and Township Attorney Lauren Staiger. They do the day-to-day heavy work of making the town run. Additionally, he thanked the volunteers that will be appointed to various boards to do projects in town.
The committee also appointed several professionals during the meeting.
Township attorney: Gilmore and Monahan
Special legal counsel, when Gilmore’s firm has a conflict: Dasti, Murphy, McGuckin, Ulaky, Koutsouris & Connors
Engineer: O’Donnell Stanton and Associates
Prosecutor: Steven Zabarsky
Conflict prosecutor: Dasti, Murphy, McGuckin, Ulaky, Koutsouris & Connors; and Steven Smith
Auditor: Rodney Haines from Holman Frenia Allison P.C.
Public defender: Brian Rumpf
Labor counsel: James Holzapfel
Bond counsel: Meghan Bennett Clark
Tax map maintenance engineer: East Coast Engineering
Township planner: John Hess of CME Engineering
Director of Community Development: Chris Reid
Recreation director: James Wioland
Municipal Alliance Coordinator: Heather Scanlon
Public agency affirmative action officer: Veronica Laureigh
Laureigh noted that they are currently seeking more volunteers to fill some positions. They are looking for members for the Senior Citizen Recreation Committee. The Senior Citizen Advisory Committee needs a representative from Bamber and one from Lanoka Harbor.
