The Republican Party has control of the governing body for the first time in over a decade.

Raymond Eppinger

The South River Borough Council, now made up of five Republicans and one Democrat, named its fifth GOP member after the party finished its selection process to fill the seat vacated by Republican Raymond Eppinger, who was sworn in as mayor at the Jan. 1 reorganization meeting.

Republican Suzanne Buffalino was appointed to the seat and had her first meeting as a council member this week.

Eppinger offered a description of what the GOP was looking for in a candidate before selecting Buffalino.

"We [were] looking for someone who wants to put South River first, who is willing to put the time and the effort into the position and, obviously one of the most important things, is willing to run for office in November with [incumbent Republican Councilman] John Krenzel."

The Jan. 1 meeting was the first in many years without Democrats Robert Szegeti as mayor and David Sliker as council president. The two, along with Democratic Councilwoman Joanne Dembinski, were unsuccessful in their bids for re-election in November.

John Krenzel

At the meeting, Eppinger was sworn in as mayor, Republicans Michael Trenga and Jim Hutchison took the oath for their first terms on the council, and the governing body voted to elect Krenzel as council president for the year.

The council's sole Democrat, Anthony Razzano, told Greater Media Newspapers that he would support the GOP's choice of a new council member, which would ultimately be Buffalino.

"I'll certainly support whoever it is, because it is their choice," Razzano said. "There are a lot of qualified people in the Republican Party, and I'm sure they will make a good choice."

The council did not reappoint Frederick Roselli as borough attorney, instead giving the position to Gary M. Schwartz, of East Brunswick, who also serves as the Spotswood borough attorney and East Brunswick Zoning Board of Adjustment attorney, among other roles.

"We said when we were running that we were going to make a change," Eppinger said. "I certainly don't want anyone to think it's a reflection on our borough attorney."

Razzano agreed that the appointment of Schwartz was not a reflection on Roselli.

"I think Mr. Roselli did a fine job," Razzano said. "He did a great job for the borough."

Razzano said both Democrats and Republicans had been talking about appointing new labor counsel since last year, and they appointed the law firm of Apruzzese, McDermott, Mastro & Murphy.

"The change is advantageous for the borough," Razzano said.

Eppinger appointed Krenzel, Razzano and Republican Councilman John Trzeciak to the council's finance committee, which will form the 2008 budget.

"He has given me an important assignment," Razzano said of Eppinger. "I think it is reaching across party lines to do what is best for the town. … He also did it because I have experience on the financial committee."

Eppinger thanked Borough Clerk Albert Seaman for finishing the meeting agenda with its 84 resolutions well in advance of the reorganization meeting Jan. 1. Seaman will retire from his position on Jan. 31.

"The meeting took 50 minutes," Eppinger said. "We were all on the same page. One of the things that I had ensured was that everybody had the agendas ahead of time."

Business meetings of the mayor and council will now be held on the same nights as regular meetings of the mayor and council, Eppinger said. Business meetings begin at 7 p.m. and regular meetings start at 8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays every month. If that Monday is a holiday, the meeting will be held Tuesday of that same week