The Hopewell Township Committee unanimously and enthusiastically re-elected Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning during its annual reorganization meeting on Thursday, January 2. The Committee also unanimously selected David Chait from among its members to serve as Deputy Mayor. Both positions are for the 2025 calendar year.
As the meeting got underway, Hopewell Township Official Town Crier Stanley Saperstein rang in the new year and explained the significance of the act. During annual reorganization meetings, township committees appoint officers and elected officials, as well as community volunteers, to important positions to help craft the current and future direction of the Township.
“Courtney has served our community tirelessly since being elected in 2019. I’m confident we can build on the progress we’ve made thus far with [Peters-Manning] representing us as mayor in 2025,” said Committee member Kevin Kuchinski in his nomination.
After the unanimous vote, Peters-Manning was sworn into the post. She thanked the other elected officials in attendance, her family, Township volunteers, first responders, and committee members for their public service.
“We’ve had the privilege of serving together as this team for three years now, and I am honored to work with all of you. The township is better off for the debates, respectful disagreements, and the work that we’ve done together,” Peters-Manning later said.
“There is so much more that unites us than divides us,” she continued. “We all have friends and neighbors with different beliefs and views, but we all love our country, and our kids, and our families. We want them to be safe and have the opportunity to grow and thrive. We are one community.”
Mayor Peters-Manning outlined exciting progress for the Township in 2025, including:
- Continued movement toward a senior community center
- Resources and recognition for first responders
- Using PILOT funds to support the Hopewell Valley Regional School District
The Committee also voted unanimously to elect David Chait Hopewell Township Deputy Mayor for 2025. He was nominated by Peters-Manning.
“It’s a privilege to serve our wonderful community in this capacity,” Chait said. “There is no better place to live, work, and raise a family than right here.”
New Jersey State Representative Anthony Verrelli swore in both Peters-Manning and Chait.
Uma Purandare was sworn in to a two-year term as a member of the Township Committee. Voters re-elected Pundare in the fall of 2024. She was sworn in by Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson.
The committee also approved areas of responsibility for Committee members:
- David Chait: Public Works, Communication, Economic Development and Tourism, Affordable Housing, Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic River Management, Youth Advisory Board
- Kevin Kuchinski: Finance, Planning Board, Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee, Economic Development and Tourism, Historic Preservation Commission
- Courtney Peters-Manning: Fire District, Police/Public Safety, Deer Management Advisory Committee, Senior Advisory Board, Administration/Legal
- Uma Purandare: Board of Health, Lawrence Hopewell Trail, Environmental Commission/Green Team, Planning Board
- Michael Ruger: Agricultural Advisory Committee, Citizens Equity Advisory Committee, Woolsey Park Advisory Committee, Open Space Advisory Committee, School District
In other business, the Committee:
- Appointed one-year terms expiring on December 31, 2025
- Approved a resolution designating a Public Agency Compliance Officer
- Designated the Township’s official newspapers
- Set the Committee meeting schedule for the year: 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month
- Appointed community volunteers and Committee members to boards, commissions, and committees
- Adopted a temporary budget for 2025 by unanimous vote
- Adopted temporary 2025 water, sewer, sewer utility ELSA, and sewer SBRSA budgets
The next regular meeting of the Hopewell Township Committee will be held on Monday, January 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hopewell Township Municipal Building on Washington Crossing Road and on Zoom.
Feature Photo Credit: Amy Donner Chait
