Part of the underpinnings of any town is its government. Vernon is operating under the Mayor/Council form of government as defined within the Faulkner Act of New Jersey.
Currently the elected officials of Vernon include 5 council members and a mayor. They serve staggered terms of 4 years. One council member is chosen by the council at their reorganization meeting to serve as the council president.
The current members of Vernons government are as follows:
Mayor – Victor Marotta (4 yr term – expires 12/1215)
Council President – Patrick Rizzuto (4 yr term – expires 12/1217)
Council Member – Brian Lynch (4 yr term – expires 12/1215)
Council Member – Jean Murphy (4 yr term – expires 12/1217)
Council Member – Dan Kadish (4 yr term – expires 12/1215)
Council Member – Dick Wetzel (4 yr term – expires 12/1217)
Township council meetings occur on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. Special Worksessions may be scheduled as determined needed by the town council. These meetings normally are recorded by a local cable provider and shown on their cable network (SECTV/Ch10) as allowed by their schedule. As a public service these are converted to an internet friendly format and hosted here by the Lars & Sven Foundation for residents (anyone) to view. Likewise as a public service the VTA (Vernon Taxpayers Association) has procurred and provided these tapes to the Lars & Sven Foundation for conversion and hosting on this site. *Starting in 2015 the VTA began directly hosting meetings on YouTube with the township providing links to them on its website.
Select meetings to view from one of links shown below:
Currently available Meetings: 2015
Currently available Meetings: 2014
Currently available Meetings: 2013
Currently available Meetings: 2012
Prior to adopting the Mayor / Council form of government the township was using a Town Manager / Council form of government as allowed under the Faulkner Act. A recent listing (12 yrs) of positions held under it is as follows:
2010: Sally Rinker (Mayor), Harry Shortway (Deputy Mayor), Richard Caron, Valerie Seufert, and Mike Pier who resigned and was replaced with Brian Lynch.
2009: Austin Carew (Mayor), Richard Carson, Valerie Seufert, Gary Gray and Glenn McLaughlin who resigned and was originally replaced by Paul Emilius then after a challenge was mounted by Vic Marotta he was replaced by Sally Rinker via popular vote.
2008: Austin Carew (Mayor), Glenn McLaughlin (Deputy Mayor), Richard Carson and James Oroho and Neil Desmond who both resigned and were replaces with Valerie Seufert and Gary Gray.
2007: Janet Morrison (Mayor), Neil Desmond, Austin Carew, Glenn McLaughlin and James Oroho, no Deputy Mayor was appointed that year.
2006: Ira Weiner (Mayor resigned), Janet Morrison (Deputy Mayor), Neil Desmond, Austin Carew, and Philip Weiler who resigned and was replaced with Glenn McLaughlin along with James Oroho who filled Weiner’s vacant seat.
2005: Ira Weiner (Mayor), Janet Morrison (Deputy Mayor), Neil Desmond, Philip Weiler and Jeff Patterson who resigned and was replaced with Austin Carew.
2004: Ira Weiner (Mayor), Janet Morrison (deputy Mayor), Neil Desmond, Jeff Patterson and Philip Weiler.
2003: John Logan (Mayor), Janet Morrison (Deputy Mayor), Ira Weiner, Neil Desmond and Gregory Haines who resigned and was replaced with Jeff Patterson.
2002: John Logan (Mayor), Janet Morrison (Deputy Mayor), Ira Weiner, Gregory Haines and Neil Desmond.
2001: John Logan (Mayor), Janet Morrison (Deputy Mayor), James Kilby, Ira Weiner and Francine Vince who was appointed when Burrell resigned.
2000: James Kilby (Mayor), Janet Morrison (Deputy Mayor), Ira Weiner, John Logan, and Howard Burrell.
1998/1999: James Kilby (Mayor), Daniel Kadish (Deputy Mayor), Howard Burrell, Myrtle Hanke & John O’Connor.
Vernon Township MUA
Vernon Township now also has its own Muncipal Utilities Athority commonly known as the MUA. It is an autonomous body and does not report to the township council or mayor. The members of it however are appointed by the mayor to serve on it. Currently while it is autonomous it was unable to procure it own initial funding since it had no history nor funds. A bond and subsequent loan to it were made by the township to allow it to begin operation. More information on it can be found on its website www.vernonmua.com
Currently available M.U.A. Meetings: 2013
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Currently available M.U.A. Meetings: 2012
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