New West Deptford Committee Brings Change, Calls for Bipartisanship

The only sure thing in life–and this year’s reorganization–is change.

And that change came in droves Thursday night, from large-scale moves to subtle tweaks.

In the course of about three minutes, newly sworn-in Republican committeeman Ray Chintall became newly sworn-in Mayor Ray Chintall, and Sean Kilpatrick was voted in as deputy mayor.

Along with new committeeman Sam Cianfarini, the GOP became the new majority, taking control of West Deptford government for the first time since the 1980s.

“Your voices have been heard by all of us up here,” Chintall said in his address to the public. “The clear message is that the status quo is no longer acceptable.”

Larger-scale changes came with and some shifts in both nominated and mayoral appointments, but amid all the changes came calls from both sides of the committee for a bipartisan effort to better West Deptford.

“It’s not Republicans against Democrats,” said Kilpatrick, who emphasized coalition-building and compromise in a brief speech.

He also said the solutions to West Deptford’s problems are out there.

“It is our duty to find that solution together,” Kilpatrick said.

Democrat Denice DiCarlo referenced the township committee debate back in October, which she said didn’t just serve to highlight differences.

“There were also many common goals,” she said, referencing the need to grow ratables and keep the tax rate stable.

She and Chintall both emphasized the need to keep the needs of locals at the forefront.

“Let’s pledge here and now that we will always be mindful of the will of our residents,” Chintall said.

With that will in mind, some of the smaller changes were evident even before the meeting started, as department heads and township professionals, who had previously been seated facing the dais, their backs to the public, instead were set up to look out at the packed meeting hall.

And the much-maligned sound system took a turn for the better, with the addition of a few new microphones on the dais.