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Oldmans Township Committee elects William Ferrell mayor; Jeffrey Newman named deputy mayor
Summary
At its Jan. 7 reorganization, the Oldmans Township Committee selected William Ferrell as mayor and Jeffrey Newman as deputy mayor, approved a slate of professional and administrative appointments and confirmed committees and board liaisons. One solicitor appointment drew a 4–1 vote; the emergency management coordinator appointment saw one abstention.
The Oldmans Township Committee convened for its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, where members selected William Ferrell as mayor and Jeffrey Newman as deputy mayor and approved a series of professional and staffing appointments.
At the start of the meeting Municipal Clerk Melinda Taylor called the session to order at 6:30 p.m., administered the oath of office to Jeffrey Newman, John Pomponi Jr. and Brian Porch, and recorded the committee members present: William Ferrell, Jeffrey Newman, John Pomponi, Brian Porch and Dean Sparks.
In a roll-call vote on Resolution 2025-01, Brian Porch nominated William Ferrell for mayor and John Pomponi seconded; the committee voted unanimously to designate William Ferrell mayor.
Resolution 2025-02, the designation of deputy mayor, drew competing nominations. Brian Porch nominated Jeffrey Newman and William Ferrell nominated Dean Sparks. After roll-call voting with members casting votes for different nominees, Jeffrey Newman received a sufficient number of votes and was designated deputy mayor.
The committee then approved the schedule of regular meetings for 2025 and moved through a series of professional appointments. Most professional services were approved unanimously, including Bowman & Company as township auditor, Clarke Caton Hintz as special planner, Fralinger Engineering as engineer, Tom Tedesco as conflict engineer, Blauer Associates as grant manager, Statewide Insurance for a three‑year insurance contract and The Barclay Group as risk management consultant.
The appointment of Joseph DiNicola Jr. as township solicitor generated the only substantive recorded opposition. A motion by Dean Sparks to appoint DiNicola as interim solicitor and direct staff to seek an RFP before a February reconsideration received no second. A follow-up motion by Brian Porch to appoint Joseph DiNicola Jr. to a full one‑year term, seconded by Jeffrey Newman, passed on a 4–1 roll-call vote with Dean Sparks dissenting.
Administrative and finance appointments were adopted by motion, including designating Pennsville National Bank and Fulton Bank as official depositories, naming Diane Elwell as township treasurer and Kathy Diorio as Auburn Water Collector, and approving a $20 NSF fee and a cash management plan. Resolutions related to tax office duties, municipal search and compliance officers, and coordinators for recycling and clean communities were also approved.
Mayor Ferrell announced his one‑year staffing appointments and committee liaisons, assigning internal roles such as assistant construction officials, crossing guards and various departmental and liaison responsibilities to existing staff and committee members. He also named David Murphy as mayoral designee to the Planning Board, John Pomponi as the Township Committee member on the Planning Board, Theresa DeSanto as a four‑year Planning Board member and alternates for other seats; one alternate seat remained listed as open.
In administrative nominations, the committee approved Basilio “Jimmy” Robinson as deputy emergency management coordinator for a one‑year term and named Jeff Newman as Emergency Management Coordinator for a three‑year term; Newman abstained from the vote on the three‑year Emergency Management Coordinator appointment.
No members of the public offered comment during the public-comment period. With no further business, the committee adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 2025-01 (Mayor: William Ferrell) — approved, unanimous; Resolution 2025-02 (Deputy Mayor) — Jeffrey Newman designated (sufficient votes as recorded); Resolution 2025-04 (Township Solicitor: Joseph DiNicola Jr.) — approved 4 yes, 1 no; Resolution 2025-38 (Emergency Management Coordinator: Jeff Newman three-year term) — approved with one abstention by Jeffrey Newman.
The committee published the schedule of regular meetings for 2025 (second Wednesday of each month) to be advertised in the South Jersey Times and listed numerous mayoral appointments, board liaisons and working-subcommittee assignments to operate through 2025.
