Frelinghuysen Committeeman Kirk Perez was named mayor at the governing body’s reorganization New Year’s Day morning, and Debra Natyzak was elected deputy mayor.
Incoming committee members Brian James and David J. Togno Sr. sworn into office surrounded by family members, and in the case with Tongo, many, many family members.
The election of Perez was not without a bit of the tension that has marked the committee in the past year. Committeewoman Shannon Drylie, the outgoing mayor, voted no on Perez. She didn’t offer a reason publicly at the meeting, but relations between the two have been icy in the past few months. Natyzak, James, and Togno voted for Perez, who abstained from voting for himself.
After the meeting, Perez said he would like to put any disagreements behind him.
“My first steps are to move past any tension that you’re referring to,” Perez told the Ridge View Echo. “My goal is to move forward and think about the future. I believe that this town is a beautiful place, and we really should start letting other communities see what Frelinghuysen offers and what it has and how beautiful the rural character of this township really is.”
Perez also said he wants to improve communication between the committee and town residents, saying he believes there is much misinformation circulating.
“I just want people to understand, you know, that there’s a lot of things that sometimes are out there that are misleading and frighten people and set a bad example,” Perez said. “This township only wants to set the right example, a good example. So don’t always believe what you hear or what you see or what you read, come to our meetings, reach out to the community leaders.”
He said he will always be available to answer residents’ questions.
“Come talk to me personally. I will set the record straight,” Perez said.
“I am not the type of person that will ever misguide or lie,” he concluded.
Residents will have an opportunity to do just that this Thursday, Jan. 8, when the reconstituted committee meets in a special meeting to discuss the township’s affordable housing obligations.
Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
