Parker Appointed Bedminster Mayor

Steve Parker was officially chosen as the newest Bedminster Township mayor after being sworn in for his newest term at Wednesday's reorganization meeting at Trump National Golf Club.

"This year, we are making continued progress," he said. "I thank everyone for coming, and I thank my family."

Parker said there are three main points of focus for the coming year, the first of which being the team the administration has put together.

"We have dedicated people who work very hard, and we have a very good team," he said.

Secondly, Parker said, Bedminster itself is a great town with its prime directive to continue its great traditions and keep the value of the township intact.

Finally Parker said, the township does have lower property taxes than other towns, and they are continuing to look for ways to minimize the burden on taxpayers.

"Costs continue to rise and rateables decrease," he said. "We have to change the way we operate."

"We have a lot of redundancies and we need to share more of the burden with neighboring towns," he added. "We are close to being built out now."

Also at the meeting, Lawrence Jacobs was sworn in for his first term on the committee.

"I am honored you have given me the opportunity to represent your best interests," he said. "I make a promise that I will do my best to uphold your standards."

Township Committeeman Bernie Pane was designated as the replacement if, for some reason, Parker is unable to fill duties as mayor.

"2012 was a year of reflection and contemplation," Pane said. "It is a year that mercifully ended, but will not be forgotten."

"We must ask when the next major challenge affects us, does Bedminster have the resolve to carry on and resiliency to come back?" he added. "We do."

Also at the reorganization meeting, Parker appointed residents to committees in all boards in the township, and honored all volunteers, acknowledging the public service of employees and volunteers in 2012.

The meeting also included the reading of a resolution to honor former Mayor Robert Holtaway, who opted not to run for office this year after 37 years of public service, and eight years as mayor of Bedminster.

Among his memories and work with the township, Holtaway said, were adding 200 acres of open space to Bedminster, ending the River Road Park lawsuit, moving into the new municipal building and working on police negotiations.

Holtaway said he remembers dealing with a sudden loss of $700,000 in state aid several years ago, as well as being named the best town in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly in 2010. And of course, he said, he remembers the struggle of Hurricane Irene and the Halloween snowstorm in 2011, followed by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

"And I had the pleasure of sharing the dais with a number of people," he said.

Holtaway offered advice to the new township committee and the residents themselves.

"If someone really really wants to be mayor," he said, "they probably shouldn't be."

Among the rest of his advice was not to let tax appeals linger and to take opportunities to eliminate positions only when they become vacant.

"The Little League wants to improve Burnt Mills Park, get them while they're anxious," he said. "And don't lose the list of issues we learned during Sandy, or you will have to learn them again."

Holtaway choked up as he thanked everyone for allowing him to serve the community for so long, and received a standing ovation at the end of his speech.

"So ends 37 years of an appointed elected official," he said.