The Alternative Press

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – Councilwoman Mary DePaola has been asked to assume the duties of acting Mayor after the final resignation of Nancy Malool earlier this week.  However, this raises questions regarding what will happen to the final six months of the current mayoral term.

According to the bylaws, within 15 days of a mayoral resignation, the Republican Committee has to meet and come up with three names for the position of Mayor.  Bill McClintock, Chairman of the Republican Committee, has announced that at the May 30^th meeting, the Committee will make that selection and those three names will be given to the Council in advance, along with the resumes of each individual.

“The Council’s next meeting is on June 4^th, which is our conference meeting, which is not televised.  I’m hoping that given the way things have been up in the air for a while now, I would like to think that the Council will make a decision on the night of who the Mayor will be.  If they don’t, then it would have to go back to the Republican Committee and an appointment would have to be made within 30 days of the resignation of the Mayor,” said Acting Mayor DePaola.

“For the good of Scotch Plains and the good of the Council, it would be best if the Council made their selection on June 4^th.  If I am selected, the Republican Committee would then have to go through the process to select my replacement on the Council.  We then need to get moving on selecting a City Manager, so we can be ready for budgets in the fall.”