Jandoli Picked as East Hanover Council President

Carolyn Jandoli's third term is off to a promising start.

After Jandoli was sworn in, she was swiftly appointed as the East Hanover Council President for 2013.

Jandoli was re-elected in November by a margin of 510 votes, according to official tallies on Election Day. She served as council president in 2012 and 2011.

The council also approved a resolution naming Vincent A. Pirone as the municipal judge.

Pirone has served as the Land Use Planning Board for several years. He fills an unexpired term left vacant by William J. Rush, who served as municipal judge in 2011 and 2012. The term expires in December 2014.

According to Township Administrator Joseph Tempesta, Rush had business conflicts that prevented him from completing his term.

In their addresses to the residents, both Jandoli and Mayor Joseph Pannullo thanked the voters for their support. They also cited the difficult economic times and pledged to do their best to support residents.

Pannullo said he would "continue to try to keep our property taxes as low as possible when managing our community," despite "what seems to be reoccuring storms" and the economy.

Pannullo and other councilmen also thanked municipal volunteers, including the volunteers of the East Hanover Fire Department, along with the First Aid Squad, the Community Emergency Response Team. He also thanked full- and part-time employees for their efforts in 2012.

"These continue to be difficult economic times, but ... East Hanover has been very fortunate because of all its citizens, volunteers and employees working together," Pannullo said. "We continue to be an affordable and stable community [in which] to live, work and raise a family."

Former Gov. Richard Codey and Assembleyman John McKeon were present at the reorganization meeting and addressed the council and those gathered. Both lauded Pannullo's advocacy for the town during Hurricane Sandy, in which all of East Hanover lost power and many remained without power more than a week.

"No one worked harder than you, Mayor," Codey said.

After the meeting adjourned, Pannullo, Jandoli and Councilmen Michael Martorelli, Joe Peluso and Frank DeMaio, Jr. invited those present to enjoy food and drinks at the East Hanover Fire Department, where Pannullo and Jandoli toasted to a successful and happy 2013 for the township. Codey was among those who attended the gathering.

East Hanover-Florham Park Patch will post the full text of Pannullo's remarks Thursday.