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Happy New year.
I am Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning, here with your video update for January.
We welcomed two new Township Committee members this month. Ms. Uma Purandare was elected in November and sworn in at our January 4th reorganization meeting. Her areas of responsibility will be the Health Department, Environmental Commission, the LHT, and the Senior Advisory Board.
When our former Mayor and Committeewoman Kristin McLaughlin was sworn in as a Mercer County Commissioner, this left us an open seat on the Hopewell Township Committee. At our regular meeting on Monday, January 10th, we appointed Mr. David Chait to fill the seat for the remainder of the term, which ends this December. Mr. Chait is an entrepreneur and business owner who formerly worked in the Small Business Administration. He and his wife Amanda have two kids, the older of whom is a student at Bear Tavern Elementary. His areas of responsibility will be Public Works, Communication, Economic Development, and the Affordable Housing Committee.
Both Ms. Purandare and Mr. Chait are welcome additions to the Township Committee, and we look forward to working with both of them this year.
Coming up this month we have Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 17th. Township offices will be closed. Please check out Hopewell Gives Back on Facebook for volunteer opportunities to honor Dr. King’s life of service to others.
Due to the ongoing omicron surge, our Health Officer has advised that all Township boards, commissions, and the Township Committee should continue to meet virtually on Zoom at least for now. Please continue to wear a mask indoors and get vaccinated and boosted if you have not already. Check the Township or Mercer County website for several free, walk-in vaccine clinic opportunities.
Budget meetings continue this month on Tuesday the 18th and Monday the 24th at 5:30, and the next regular Township Committee Meeting is the 24th at 6:30pm. Also please be on the lookout for a public forum on retail cannabis. Details will be announced as soon as they are available.
Please stay safe and healthy and reach out to me any time with questions or concerns. My contact information can be found on the Township website.