New Mayor To Be Chosen In Chatham Township Thursday

CHATHAM, NJ — When the Chatham Township Committee meets on Thursday night, they plan to choose a new mayor and deputy mayor, plus appoint a new Township Committee member.

The resignation of former Mayor Tracey Ness on June 11 started the shuffle of committee seats.

Ness resigned because her family is relocating to Basking Ridge in mid-July, she said, specifically noting her departure any later might disrupt an affordable housing project application the Planning Board will look at soon.

Ness was also part of the Planning Board, with another member of the township committee needing to be assigned to her seat on the board.

A Township Committee Member must be appointed, among one of three candidates through the Democratic Party, with Ness a Democrat. Should a successor not be selected among the three, the party will choose her replacement in July.

The mayor and deputy mayor seats are expected to be picked among the committee members on Thursday.

Ness announced in April she would not run again in the June primary and she instead endorsed Kathy Abbott, who ran as the sole Democrat in the primary. Republican Daniel R. Bevere, the only one from his party in the primary, is planning to run against Abbott for the seat in November.

Other items up for adoption and introduction at Thursday’s meeting include the amendment of the township’s Stormwater Control Ordinance, up for a public hearing and final adoption; and the prohibition of cannabis business operations within Chatham Township, which is being introduced.

Questions or comments about this story? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com