Moorestown Council Names New Mayor During Reorganization Meeting

Moorestown, NJ -- Moorestown Council unexpectedly named a new mayor Wednesday night.

Victoria Napolitano resigned from her position as mayor with a year left on her term during Wednesday night’s reorganization meeting at town hall.

“The position is mostly ceremonial and more people should have the chance to be mayor,” said Napolitano, who cited former Mayor Stacey Jordan’s decision to step down in 2013 as a factor in her decision. “I really liked that idea.”

Napolitano resigned at the beginning of the meeting before nominating Phil Garwood, who served as deputy mayor for the last year, to the position. Council voted 4-0-1 to approve Garwood as mayor.

New councilwoman Lisa Petriello, the only Democrat on the five-member council, abstained.

“I’m surprised,” Petriello said. “Only people here know this is happening and this is something that should be advertised and made known ahead of time.”

Had Petriello voted against adding the resolution to the agenda, the resignation would not have taken effect, as the resolution needed the unanimous approval from council to move forward.

Moorestown’s council is elected directly by the people of the township, with elected council members typically selecting a new mayor ever two years at the township’s reorganization meeting.

Garwood will fill the rest of the unexpired term, meaning council will still select a new mayor next year. In fact, the last Moorestown Mayor to serve a term longer than one year was John Button, who served from 2009-13.

Following Garwood’s nomination and approval, Jordan nominated Napolitano to the position of deputy mayor. That vote was also 4-0-1, with Petriello abstaining.

“Thank you for making me mayor,” Garwood said. It’s an honor.”

Napolitano said resigning as mayor was something she considered for a while, but only made her final decision in the last few days. Garwood said she approached him with the idea over the weekend, and that this would be a seamless transition.

“We’re a close-knit group, and we work well together,” Garwood said.

Garwood and Napolitano are both up for re-election this year.

Garwood said the township is on a “very good course,” with the new recreation center and new library, the upcoming demolition of the old library building, and goals of improving the Lenola section of the township and “making Main Street stronger than ever.”

He also said making sure Moorestown has the highest quality drinking water is a “top priority.”

“Brown low quality water is unacceptable,” Garwood said of the recent problems Moorestown has had with its water.

Petriello was sworn in as the newest member of council by Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-7). She is filling former Councilman Greg Newcomer’s term, so there will be an election for that seat as well.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Kevin Aberant was the last mayor to serve more than one year, but John Button was actually the last, serving from 2009-13. Patch apologizes for the error.