Burchette Sworn In to First Term on Township Committee

There will be one new face on the Township Committee in 2013.

Greg Burchette, who won election to a three-year term with his running mate, veteran Committeeman Carl Suraci, was sworn into office at the township’s annual reorganization meeting on Thursday.

Burchette was sworn into office by State Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, a township resident.

Suraci, beginning his fourth term, was given the oath of office by State. Sen. Kip Bateman.

“Joining this Township Committee is an honor and it gives me another avenue to help the people of Hillsborough,” Burchette said.

Burchette has served on the Planning Board since 2004 and also served on the Hillsborough Municipal Utilities Authority and the Environmental Commission. He has also been a member of the Hillsborough Rotary Club  for 10 years and is a volunteer pilot for the Angel Flight organization, providing free transportation to people who need to be flown for medical treatment.

Burchette owns Bridgewater Motorworks and manages Central Jersey Airport.

Suraci, who served as mayor in 2012, will serve as chairman of the committee’s Finance Committee and will be responsible for the development of the municipal budget. Suraci said that the township will not use “loopholes” to keep the municipal budget within the state-mandate 2 percent cap.

He pledged that the township will continue its “business-like philosophy” and will concentrate on reducing debt and maintaining its “pay-as-you-go” practice of funding capital expenditures.

Suraci noted many of the changes in the township over the previous nine years, including the creation of a senior center at the municipal building, starting construction of the Route 206 bypass, removal of mercury from the Veteran’s Administration Depot and stabilization of the municipal tax rate.

“We’ve definitely come a long way in the last nine years,” he said.