Cascio Picked As New Washington Township Council President

The Washington Township Council elected Dr. Steve Cascio as its president and Fred Goetz as its vice president for 2013 during their annual reorganization meeting Wednesday.

Council members and Mayor Janet Sobkowicz said they believed they had made progress last year toward making the township's government run more smoothly.

"This year, I think we've layed the groundwork in establishing good communication," Councilman Richard Hrbek said.

They were also positive about the upcoming year, saying that they hoped to continue to build on what they accomplished last year.

"I hope this is going to be a productive year for us," Councilman Joseph D'Urso said. "I hope we can work together. I know we're not always on the same page."

Council members also thanked Sobkowicz for reappointing Catherine Navarro-Steinel as the township administrator for 2013.

"This is what our town has needed for a long time: a professional who knows government," D'Urso said.

Some issues did come up at the meeting, including questions regarding the status of Kenneth Poller, the township attorney, and whether he counts as a regular employee or a contractor. Officials said they were still waiting for a ruling from the IRS to determine the matter. Poller was also reappointed at the meeting.

Some councilmen also said they hoped to discuss and possibly change their hiring practices for 2014. Several of the township's professional positions were not put out to bid.

In the upcoming year, Sobkowicz said she also expects to tackle issues like the future cell tower and new generator at the Municipal Complex, Memorial Field and the annual budget.

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