Weymouth Post New Year 2002
2002 Weymouth Township Reorganization
FOR THE 307th YEAR THE ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE TOWNSHIP OF WEYMOUTH. ...ONCE A CONSTABLE WICK AND TOWNSHIP IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY, WEST JERSEY PROVINCE... NOW THE FOUNDING TOWNSHIP OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, A STATE LOYAL TO THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SENDS GREETINGS TO HER RESIDENTS, THE STATE, AND THE NATION WISHING ALL GOOD CITIZENS AND TRUE A BLESSED HOLY SEASON AND THE HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS, 2002.
AS IS REQUIRED BY LAW, THE GOVERNING COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP
OF WEYMOUTH HAS MET TO CLOSE OUT ALL BUSINESS OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR HAS
REORGANIZED UNDER STATUTE. REFLECTING THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IN REELECTING BOTH
MR. ROBERT BIRCH, INDEPENDENT, AND MR. KENNTH HAESER, DEMOCRAT, LAST NOVEMBER
THE COMMITTEE HAS REORGANIZED WITH COMMITTEEWOMAN AMELIA MESSINA AS MAYOR,
COMMITTEEMAN HAESER AS DEPUTY MAYOR, AND FORMER MAYOR BIRCH AS COMMITTEEMAN FOR
2002. MRS MESSINA IS ONLY THE SECOND COMMITTEEWOMAN ON THE WEYMOUTH TOWNSHIP
GOVERNING BOARD SINCE 1925 AND THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR.
Mayor Amelia Messina receives the gavel of the office of mayor from former Mayor Robert Birch
SHE IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF WEYMOUTH TOWNSHIP AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN ACTIVE IN GOVERNMENT AND CIVIC AFFAIRS. MAYOR JOHN HANSON AND COMMITTEEMEN JACK KELLY AND ROSARIO D'AMORE APPOINTED HER TAX COLLECTOR IN 1962. SHE RETIRED AS TAX COLLECTOR LAST YEAR AND WAS IMMEDIATELY ELECTED TO THE COMMITTEE.
DEPUTY MAYOR HAESER WAS I DRAFTED TO REPLACE THE SEAT ' VACATED WHEN COMMITTEEMAN E. THOMAS BRANT RELOCATED TO ARIZONA. BY LAW IT WAS REQUIRED THAT MR. HAESER RUN IN THE NEXT SCHEDULED ELECTION WHICH HE DID THIS NOVEMBER AND WAS HANDILY ELECTED.
FORMER MAYOR BOB BIRCH WAS REELECTED FOR HIS SECOND THREE YEAR TERM AND HAS SUPPORTED MRS. MESSINA FOR MAYOR. HE THANKED THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWNSHIP FOR THEIR COOPERATION DURING A VERY IMPORTANT AND TRYING TIME IN THE LONG HISTORY OF WEYMOUTH TOWNSHIP AND ALL THE PERSONAL KINDNESSES SHOWN HIM AND HIS FAMILY DURING HIS TERMS AS MAYOR. HE KNOWS THAT OUR TOWNSHIP HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP AND LOOKS FORWARD TO A CONTINUATION OF REFORM AND RENEWAL. HE THANKED HIS STAFF AND WISHED ALL GOOD CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN THE NEW YEAR.
MINUTES OF THE REORGANIZATION ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND A DIRECTORY OF APPOINTMENTS ARE PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE IN THIS EDITION.
Mayor Messina's Acceptance Speech, January 3rd 2002
I would like to thank the other two Committee
Members for allowing me the opportunity to serve as the Mayor of Weymouth
Township for the year 2002. It is not only an honor for me personally, but also
a first for Weymouth Township, that is in having a Female Mayor in this
municipality.
We have a wonderful Township because of the great Residents of which it is comprised. We see many of them serving unselfishly on our Boards, Committees, and in various other capacities. I want to thank every paid employee for the great job they are doing, and look forward to working with them in the future.
We, reside in a very rural community, which for the most part, is situated in The Pinelands. It is my intention to work toward preserving the rural character we now enjoy. Weymouth Township is a great place to raise a family and also in which to retire, and I will strive to make it even better.
I do not expect to be able to please everyone, because I do not believe such an individual lives today. Sometimes Government and the Wheels of Justice move slowly, and create periods of frustration, but I will do whatever is necessary to serve the best interests of the residents of Weymouth Township.