Good evening. Welcome to June 16th Township Committee meeting 700 PM municipal building in Deleno. Roll call, please. Mr. Bartlett, here. Mrs. Patrick, here. Mr. Fton here. Mr. here. Mus here. Also present, Mr. Schwab,
township administrator. Uh, Mrs. Laura, municipal clerk. Mrs. Russell, deputy. And Mr. Warren, our police chief. Please rise for the flag salute. Pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which
it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Sunshine and live stream statement, please. Please be advised that proper notice of this meeting has been given in compliance with the public meetings act in the following manner. written notice
has been announced to the V County Times and the Courier Post and published in the Van County Times on July on June 11th, 2025 and in the Courier Post on June 13, 2025. Written notice has been posted on the official pulsum board of the township of Delango 48 hours prior
to the meeting. This meeting of the Dela Township Committee may be transmitted via live stream on YouTube video. The streaming of the meeting is not intended to be relied upon as formal public access under the open public meetings act. And if the technology is disrupted for any reason, the township meeting
will proceed in person as an official meeting in accord with the official notice. Thank you. If you could please take a moment to silence your cell phone and uh I'll read the rules governing public comment period. In accordance with and subject to the provisions of the open
public meetings acts NJSA 10 col4-12 at seek. During general public comment periods the delotan committee is permitted to institute reasonable rules and regulations to allow for a smooth process and ensure a reasonable opportunity to be heard. Calling out from the audience outside of one's time at the microphone is disruptive to the
person speaking at the microphone or to the committee members speaking from the deis and will not be permitted. Each speaker will have a maximum of five minutes to speak and should limit comments to the matter at hand. The speaker will be directed to conclude the remarks once the speaker's time has expired. No time may be yielded to a speaker by another speaker. Groups are asked to select a spokesperson to speak
on their behalf. Speakers will address the township committee from the podium and are asked to begin the remarks with their name and address for the record. Township committee members are not obligated to answer impromptu questions or address the remarks from members of the public during the public comment period. Speakers should expect the township committee to refrain from engaging in dialogue except to the
extent necessary to clarify the speaker's comments. The allotted time for speaking from the podium is the method to address the township committee during the public comment period. The township committee will not entertain questions or comments called out from the audience during the public comment or any time. Speakers, members of the public should at all times maintain
proper decorum and should make their comments in a civil manner. Personal attacks, obscinity, derogatory or slanderous remarks will not be tolerated and brief. Meeting is now open to the public for comments and questions on agenda items only. This is session one. Uh if you'd like to make a comment,
please uh come to the podium and state your name and address. Seeing none, I will close this session one to the public and move on to our matter at hand as to why we are here tonight. So, uh, as we all know, Richard
is going to be retiring. He submitted his, uh, letter of resignation, um, as of June 11th. He will be retiring. Well, his letter was submitted on June 11th. He will be retiring at the end of the month. After 15 years of service, um, in Deleno and another 30
years at another municipality. So, we are here tonight to appoint a new administrator uh, Deborah Simmonro to serve as our administrator. effective on June 30th. So, I guess I will read this statement now. Um
Deborah, we are as the committee informed last year by our township administrator, Mr. Schwab, his intention to retire from his position. Obviously, we're grateful for Richard's outstanding service to this community and his managerial leadership. On behalf of the residents, staff, and volunteers in
Deleno, we extend our heartfelt wishes to him and his family for a long and rewarding retirement. To fulfill the township administrator's position, the township committee commenced the search for the right candidate to take over this piv uh pivotal position serving as chief executive and administrative official of this municipality.
Initially, the township committee endeavored on its own search for an assistant township administrator, which would learn from Richard in a full-time role of township administrator prior to Richard's departure. The township solicited resumes through the New New Jersey League of Municipalities. In response to this posting, we received 19
resumes and after initial screening, five individuals were granted interviews by the subcommittee. After further review and with time running out on Richard's well-deserved retirement, we knew this needed some professional assistance in recruiting the right individual for this highly important position. Uh to assist in this
venture, the township committee engaged in the services of Jersey Professional Management, also known as JPM, a firm that specializes in executive um recruitment for municipal leadership positions, so that he could seek qualified candidates for the position. Advertisements were placed on the job
advertisement board of the League of Municipalities. Additionally, following one-on-one interviews with the township committee members and municipal department heads, JPM then distributed a job posting through its internal digital marketing database, which reached about 200 municipal professionals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. In response, 11
rsumés from interested candidates were received. From the initial list, four experienced individuals were then granted preliminary screening interviews, all with impressive credentials and experience. This resulted in the identification of two finalists who were then interviewed in
person by the by the subcommittee and then ultimately the township committee. Through the course of this process, it became clear that one candidate stood out from the rest. Obviously, Mrs. Deborah Simmona, who is here with us tonight along with her husband, Dean, Mrs. Simona is an accomplished
professional public administrator and holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration and accounting and is also licensed by the state of New Jersey as a certified municipal finance officer. Earlier in her career, Mrs. Smina worked for an accounting firm of Bowman and Company for nine years. Her
work as a senior auditor focused mainly on auditing municipalities, school districts, and nonprofit organizations. Mrs. Seminara comes to Deleno Town from the Canon County Improvement Authority where she has served as the chief financial officer and treasurer since 2017. Prior to that, she was the acting
administrator/ CFO in the bureau of Berlin and also worked as the human resources director and deputy CFO for the township of Bourhees. I would like uh a motion to appoint Miss Simona as the next township administrator for Deleno Township. So move second. And
this is resolution 2025-94. Can I get a roll call, please? Who has the second on that? Mac. Kate Mac. Mr. Bartlett. Yes. Mrs. Patrick. Yes. Mr. Yes. Mr. Yes.
Yes. Thank you. Congratulations, Deborah. Welcome. Um, did you want to do the oath of office now, Janice? Sure. Um would would you um please uh meet Janice up in front of the day? She'll give you your oath of office.
So raise your right hand. I seminary do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the saints and to the governments established in the United States and in
this state under the authority of the people and that I will faithfully and partially and justly perform all the duties of the office of township administrator according to the best of my ability. So help me God. Congratulations.
[Applause] Thank you Deborah. Again, welcome aboard. I'd also like to take this time to thank our subcommittee of consisting of Matt and Kate um who've worked uh tirelessly since last fall to uh fulfill this
position. Uh I know it was hours and hours of time reviewing resumeumés, uh doing preliminary interviews, and I'd just like to thank you both for your time and efforts really paid off. So, thank you. Okay. Now,
um, with regrets, we must accept Richard's resignation. I thought we were going to lock him in the back for the rest of his life. Richard, did you want me to read your letter for the record? Sure, if you want to. Or do you want to read it? No, you. Okay.
Uh, letter dated June 11th, 2025 to Deleno Township Committee. As you know, I've been planning to step away from the position of Delanco Township administrator when the township is able to fill the responsibilities of this position. Now that you have found someone, I can formally submit this letter of resignation effective June 29,
2025. It's been a tremendous 15 years working to fulfill the responsibility of the administrator position after retiring 30 years in another South Jersey municipality where where I started as a temporary one-year stint on a part-time basis resulted in a second career. At this point, I feel that
Delano needs someone full-time with more energy and commitment now that I have reached 75 years of age and almost 50 years in municipal management. My wife and I have a lot of traveling to do and grandchildren to visit. So, I finally need to take the time for myself. It's been an honor and privilege to work with
the quality of people that make up Delanco's organization, the administrative staff, employees of all departments, the professionals, and the volunteers. I could not have been able to function properly without each and every one of them. Just as important important has been the commitment and support by the members of the township
committee over the years. You have all been remarkable, something I truly appreciate and know that Deleno's citizens and township employees have benefited from. I have confidence that everyone will move forward successfully without me, which makes me very happy. Always know that I will finally remember Deleno and his people. I wish everyone
the best for the future. Very truly yours, Richard Schwab. Now, can I please uh have a motion uh resolution 2025-95 to accept a resignation of Richard Schwab as our township administrator effective June uh June 29th, right? This
says June 30th. June 29th whenever he walks out the building. If we don't want anyone anybody Nobody wants to do it. Sorry, Richard. Okay, I'll make the motion. Can't have two. That's right. I'll regretfully second it.
Okay. Can I get a a roll call, please? Mr. Bartlett. Yes, with regret, but immense joy that Richard can finally take that around the world cruise and uh thank you for your service, Richard. Mrs. Patrick. Um yes, also with regret.
Um, Richard has just done a phenomenal job for Delightville and I'm just I just feel very privileged and honored that I had the privilege of working with him for the last 15 years and I wish you well, Richard. So, yes, Mr.
Unfortunately, yes. I really don't want to, Richard, because you worked with us through recreation and now through township committee. You're going to be deeply missed. Trust me. Thank you, Mr.
Regretfully. Yes. Uh I wish Richard and his family much happiness on during his retirement and his next career uh with grandchildren and uh really appreciated Richard when he came
on board uh to fill our township needs. and over the years uh his guidance with our budgets and his knowledge uh of getting us out of uh some deep debt at
one point and uh so thank you very very much for your services Richard you'll be missed sir miss yes and obviously I echo what everyone has said I'm kind of sad I've only had two and a half years to work with you but I know I've learned a lot from you and thank you for mentoring me
um always taking the time to explain the finance the financial aspects of it and uh we wish you all the best in your travels. You travel as much as I do almost so that's hard to beat. So um thank you again for all your years of
service and commitment to our town. Thank you for your kind words. Appreciate it. Of course. Okay. Now meeting is uh going to be open to the public for comments and questions. This is uh general session two. If you'd like to state uh like to say anything, you come up to the podium,
state your name and address for the record. Mike Keelin, 621 Delaware. It's a sad day for some people. Richard was doing a dance earlier. Sad day in two weeks. Yeah.
Threatened him for five 10 years. Yeah. No, this town's been very fortunate to have you in that seat for so long through all the trails that we've been through. Uh good days and down days and so forth. U but personally
u but thank you for excuse me here. Um, shake it off. all the time that you gave me and talking to me and putting aside the stack of papers that was this high
on Bob Cratchet's desk to spend time to explain something to me uh once, twice, three times over at various times through the the time we spent together. and uh you've been a great uh counselor
and mentor and uh just um keeping me on the right track during the my time on committee and my time as mayor. Um and uh especially the the the day after the Tuesdays after the
Monday meetings and uh a little uh little review of the uh goings on and how things may have gone a little different way or things could have been handled on my part a little bit differently. So heartfelt appreciation for
all that. Thanks for your support for listening. Thanks, Mike. Thank you. Thank you, Mike. Thanks, Mike. Richard, did you want to uh say anything? Uh that's what I I wrote there. And uh I you know, it's it's a difficult thing
because it's not a retirement. It's uh as I said, I shouldn't be here. I should have uh left after the second year, but I was here as a temporary just to fill a temporary role. But this place uh kind of gets on you. It's a It's a wonderful
place and um wonderful people and I I'm glad that uh it ended up working out the way it did. Kept saying, you know, I could leave any time and never did. But uh when I turned 75, I figured got to make sure that I got enough time for
things I want to do. I did go on a lot of travels while I was working. I missed a lot of time here and I can even do more. But uh you know, I appreciate that. And as I said, the Deleno needs the time that I was not able to provide. And if it wasn't for what you guys all
did and the skill of all the people that we have working here, it couldn't have got done in the time that we had. So uh the important thing is keep supporting uh Deborah and everybody else. Make sure everybody keeps working as a team as they have from day one. And uh enjoy.
Well, I'm glad to know it's your age and your travel and not us because we were absolutely trying to, you know, traveling you out of here. We can be a lot sometimes. Not even Mike. I missed him. He was I mean, seriously,
there was more time. We learned more about things that I never expected to learn in in uh going rooting through his suitcase full of stuff. And uh we we we got there. That's what counted. We got there. Thank you all very much for your
support. Thanks, Rich. Anyone else? Public comment on this one. Oh, no. Hi, Tom. 1501 Second Street, Deleno, speaking as chairman of the sewage authority. Richard, I can't believe it's been 15 years since we met. Yeah. uh you are a
straight shooter and uh always done good things by everybody in this community and uh good luck to you and your family. Thank you. And safe travels and thank you. Keep in the middle of the road. Thank you. Good to see you up and around being strong what you're doing. Thank
you Tom. Thanks Tom. Mr. Jazz for McKay Richard. Thank you very much. I've followed you since moving to Delano. You've got us
through some really tough places. I can remember you once did a budget thing for several years and we shown it on the wall for everyone to see, but we were up against them how things were going to improve. Thank you very much. The other
thing I would like to thank the committee for finding some professional help in getting applicants and it works out really well for you. It does. And good luck to you.
Thanks. Thank you. So the takeaway is you have big shoes to fill Deborah. No pressure. Anyone else? I'll close this session to the public and um our next meeting is the 23rd. That'll be a
full uh agenda. So, can I get a um actually there's no need for executive. So, can I get a motion to adjurnn, please? So moved. Second. All in favor? I I thank you. Good night everyone and congratulations again. Yes. And welcome
aboard. Absolutely. I