Health Committee to be Established Wednesday

Hopatcong is expected to implement a new health advisory committee, charged with with community outreach but with no governing powers, at Wednesday's council meeting at the .

The committee, which will be filled via an application process, won't replace the board of health. However, it will advise the council on health issues affecting Hopatcong and could suggest legislation.

State law says municipalities must have a board of health.

Recently, Hopatcong filled a pair of board of health spots with council members John Young and Mike Francis. The council expects to continue to fill expired board positions until it becomes a council-run entity, borough attorney John Ursin said.

That didn't sit well with councilwoman Estelle Klein and board of health vice president Thomas Forbes, who voiced opposition to the committee at a .

Forbes has since announced his candidacy, alongside board of health president Mariano Gianni, for one of the borough's two open council spots in the November elections. Incumbents Marie Galate and Richard Bunce are running for re-election.

The Hopatcong's council and Mayor Sylvia Petillo for wrongfully usurped the board's duties of appointing, supervising and compensating health department workers, according to a 15-page lawsuit.

Those interested in applying for the health advisory committee should email borough administrator Bob Elia at relia@hopatcong.org, Petillo said.