Purdy Remains Mayor, Coppola Remains Deputy Mayor After Galloway Reorg

Now, it’s just mayor.

After having the title bestowed upon him at the Nov. 9 council meeting, Don Purdy had the interim tag dropped unanimously at Galloway Township’s Reorganization meeting Tuesday night, Jan. 3.

Tony Coppola also had the interim tag dropped from his title of deputy mayor, a title he has also held since Nov. 9. Coppola nominated Purdy to continue as mayor, a nomination seconded by Councilman Dennis Kleiner. Kleiner then nominated Coppola for deputy mayor, and Councilman Tom Bassford seconded the motion.

Both were unanimously approved, and immediately sworn in.

Councilman Brian Tyrrell, who was elected Nov. 8 and took over as a councilman on an interim basis on Nov. 9, was also sworn in Tuesday night.

Councilman Jim Gorman, the council’s lone Democrat who was re-elected Nov. 8, was sworn in to his second consecutive four-year term.

“These have been tough times for a lot of families,” Purdy said in his State of the Township address that followed the swearings in. “We’ve had a lot of tragedies over the past year, but there has also been a lot of positive stuff. This council is moving forward.  … We have great people on this council and we take the politics out of it when we’re up here on this dais.”

Purdy said he looks forward to a positive year for Galloway, including economic growth throughout the township.

“There’s a lot of negative stuff in the papers,” Purdy said. “The positive stuff doesn’t come out on top, but we need to think positively. That’s what Galloway was built on. We’re a large town, but we’re small at heart.”

Notable contracts awarded were to solicitor Michael Blee, to keep him in his position for another year, and to engineer Kevin Dixon of Dixon Associates. Christopher Lipari remains as township prosecutor.

Councilwoman Whitney Ullman was the only member of council not present at Tuesday’s meeting. She intended to participate via telephone, but she would need to be able to hear everything that was said in the room, and there was concern she wouldn’t be able to, Blee said.

“She made every effort she could to participate,” Blee said.

The council meeting schedule for the next year was also set. Because there is no municipal election scheduled for this year, there will only be one meeting in December 2012.

There’s a lot of time between now and the final month of this year, and council is looking forward to everything in between.

“This council has been through a lot this past year,” Coppola said. “We’ve overcome a lot. … I’m optimistic.”

“We don’t always agree on everything on this council, but when things pop up, we know how to deal with them and get through them and that makes us stronger,” Purdy said. “This council is very strong. We went through everything at this meeting and we agreed on everything.

“2012 is going to be a strong year for Galloway. We’re moving forward like a freight train. We’re looking forward; we’re not looking back.”