Former Morris Freeholder Named Highlands Council Director

Nearly two and-a-half years after joining the Highlands Council as its deputy director, Margaret Nordstrom, of Long Valley, has been approved as the organization’s chief.

By an 11-1 vote of the Highlands Council, Nordstrom was tapped as the organization’s executive director Thursday, according to nj.com.

Nordstrom was hired to the council in May 2012 after losing her seat on the Morris County Board of Freeholders to Montville’s Hank Lyon.

Prior to becoming a Freeholder, Nordstrom served on the Washington Township Committee.

Nordstrom was one of 16 applicants considered for the position, the report said, with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s deputy director Tracy Carluccio the one no vote.

The Long Valley resident’s appointment comes after a few years of tumult at the position, when the council ousted former director Eileen Swan and inserted former Freeholder Gene Feyl.

Then, less than two years on the job, Feyl announced his retirement in March of this year. Nordstrom has been acting director since then.

The Highlands Council oversees the use of more than 800,000 acres of land stretching across northern New Jersey to protect water sources.