Young, Minniti Sworn in as Mayor, Deputy Mayor
The township's 153rd reorganization ceremony took place Monday night in front of hundreds.
Photos
Ben Young was officially sworn in as Cinnaminson’s newest mayor in the township’s 153rd reorganization Monday night.
Committeeman John McCarthy was also sworn in as the township’s newest committee member. Don Brauckmann was sworn into his second term. And Anthony Minniti was once again named the township’s deputy mayor.
“I look forward to working closely with each member of committee,” McCarthy said during committee remarks.
He also promised to always “vote my conscience.”
Richard Strobel swore in McCarthy while his wife Liz Anne, daughter Elizabeth and sons Patrick and John stood by him.
McCarthy won the November general election along with Brauckmann, who was sworn in for a second term. Strobel also read his oath as Brauckmann stood with his wife Michelle, son Dalton and daughter Alyssa.
Burlington County Freeholder Director Joseph Donnelly swore in Minniti as the deputy mayor’s triplets—Claire, John and Christian—held the Bible.
Young took the oath of mayor from Brad Smith while his wife Connie and grandson Blake stood by him.
Committeewoman Kathy Fitzpatrick has one more year left on her three-year term therefore she did not need to be sworn in. However, she called the other members of township committee and all township employees “a solid team.”
And in 2013, she said the biggest issues facing Cinnaminson are trying to maintain a low tax rate, find more shared services and combat the number of reassessments the township faced this year.
Minniti said township committee is also going to be more aggressive with redevelopment—this time delving into Cinnaminson’s industrial area.
Stay tuned for a story on that this week.
Young—whom Minniti called his mentor—said that was a goal of his as well for 2013.
“I’m right there with him,” Young said. “Trust me. I’m right there with him.”
All committee members will retain their 2012 appointments, with McCarthy serving as liaison to the public safety department, which his predecessor John Rooney oversaw from township committee.
Rooney, who was also in attendance, received a special plaque as outgoing committeeman. Brauckmann, the outgoing mayor, called Rooney an “integral part of our team.”
The department of health and senior services—once part of the administration committee—will now be part of parks and recreation under Brauckmann.
Fitzpatrick will head up the administration department, while Minniti keeps economic development, and Young, public works.
All public works employees were at the reorganization meeting and shook hands with the new mayor after he was sworn in.
FbS
6:42 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
We were there. Wow, what an event. Made us very proud to be a resident in Cinnaminson. When everyone sang "God Bless America", it was beautiful to see so many residents all celebrating together.
Lise
11:03 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
same circle,same faces. No changes happening here.
John
11:35 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Well, 2013 will be the same old stuff in a new year.....From what the experts tell us change is hard to do b/c people do not want change....According to the article the township is going to fight reassessments, how can they when they are supposed to be based on market value....nothing in the market place on homes has changed they have dropped in value but the assessor keeps those numbers high, oh well thats life...lets have a good year.....smile alot and watch the traffic speed on the side streets....
John
11:59 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
I just got done reading the highlighted section on the township going to fight the reassessments and the comments made were amazing....I hope people that read this go to that article about our assessor going to fight the 600,000 dollars with the cost to the taxpayers of an additional 200,000 for the work he does....I would like to know who put our assessor in office and why he is only part time....He is also assessor to other communities which I believe is a conflict of interest but I am not a lawyer....From what I get out of the article is that the assessed value is anywhere from 35,000 dollars to 55,000 dollars off the market value....I do not know the answers but something smells rotten in denmark....
noyb
1:31 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
they will be fighting a lot of people. I decided to appeal my assesment. I tried to refi and got my appraisal back its 60,000 less than my assesed value. even if its off by 20% I believe I would still win that battle.
They have to reassess the entire township its the only way the township can get their tax revnue back. othewise they will lose 75% of the ones they try to fight.
Jenn
1:31 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Wow the local liberals allowed you to sing God Bless America? Im impressed.
Roger Hare
2:46 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
This what I don't get. Doesn't anybody understand the idea of a reassessment???? Reassessment in of its self doesn't raise taxes. Its meant to equalize them. If you are paying to much someone else is paying to little. If before they reassessed the total amount of taxes billed to homeowners was 15 Million it will still be 15 Million after the reassessment. In this case if your home value dropped more than the township average then you should see your taxes decrease with a reassessment that is being proposed. If your home value didn't drop as much as the average in town then you will pay more. Its all about being fair to everybody.
Bull Pitt
3:03 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
True Roger. I had my property re-assessed and my taxes dropped significantly. If everyone re-assessed, mine would go back up. So, I'm hoping they don't re-assess. If you don't file, you can't complain. It's not hard. Leave the lazy and ignorant people to pay the higher taxes. (ignorant as in not knowing).
John
3:53 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Then someone better stop spending money that they do not have....people are not ignorant nor are they lazy but someone should control there spending, this is not a free lunch....We do not print money, but everyone thinks we need new schools, more stuff etc the list is endless where do U stop it....
Brian Scalise
7:19 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Not many people know this, but that Mr. Brauckmann was a pretty good hitter in softball. As Larry David would say "Pretty, Pretty, Pretty good!" Good Luck this year Don!
John
10:45 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
The last time I did some checking, the meaning of a balanced budget is income and expenses are equal....This does not mean we can have a deficit.....Our government has the right to print money and can carry a deficit.....I also think that there should have been a capital section in the budget for replacement costs of items that will be worn out with use, I guess over the years people have forgotten how to budget.....oh well thats life I guess....