Moorestown has a new woman on town council for 2016.
Lisa Petriello was unanimously approved as the newest member of council during the Dec. 23 special meeting. She will fill the unexpired term of Greg Newcomer, who resigned on Nov. 30 due to health reasons.
“I wanted to say thanks for this opportunity, for me to be able to continue to serve this community. I will work my hardest to help this council find good solutions, build bridges and be a responsible steward of all that is Moorestown,” Petriello said.
The Moorestown Democratic Committee selected three names for submission to council for consideration in filling the vacancy. Those individuals were Michael Babcock, Amy Leis and Petriello.
Each council member had the opportunity to speak to the three individuals either over the phone or in person, to see whom they felt was the best fit for the role.
Only one name was nominated and approved upon that day, and it was Petriello.
“I had the chance to have a phone conversation with all three, and they were really great conversations, but I think there was one person who, to me, showed an understanding of all of the topics … I think Lisa will be a very good addition to our council and serve Moorestown,” Deputy Mayor Phil Garwood said.
Petriello’s approval was met with a large round of applause, and after being tearfully sworn in with her husband and son at her side, council gave her a standing ovation and voiced their congratulations.
“You have big shoes to fill,” Councilwoman Stacey Jordan said to Petriello. “Greg had a big heart for Moorestown.”
“I felt you would be the best person to fill those shoes. I know you’ll continue the tradition of putting Moorestown first,” Mayor Victoria Napolitano said.
Petriello is the lone Democrat on the five-member council. She will fulfill the rest of Newcomer’s term, which expires next year.
Petriello has been a Moorestown resident for 10 years. She is active in the community in numerous volunteer roles, including the Sustainable Moorestown Advisory Committee and the Moorestown Home and School Association.
In a previous release, she said she will “advocate and work toward a sustainable municipal budget, increased transparency, and restoring our water infrastructure and quality.” She will “work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure Moorestown’s prosperous and sustainable growth into the future.”
“We all want what is best for Moorestown,” Petriello said.
The next council meeting will be Wednesday, Jan. 6 for its annual reorganization meeting at town hall beginning at 7 p.m.
