Brennan Volunteers Himself and Siegel for Green Team

Democratic mayoral nominee Bill Brennan volunteered himself and a running mate for service on the town's new green team, during the Town Council meeting Tuesday night.

During his traditional remarks during the public comments portion of the meeting, Brennan took the step of first volunteering his first ward running mate Janice Siegel, a retired federal environmental prosecutor, for the green team and then volunteering himself to serve. The green team was formed by the Council in June as a part of entering the Sustainable Jersey environmental program.

Brennan, who has made environmental issues a centerpiece of his campaign, said that Siegel's background would be a good fit for the group, which will be planning out the town's participation in Sustainable Jersey and taking the lead in setting the town's environmental and energy agenda. The group will be chaired by Town Administrator Jim Gildea. Siegel was a federal prosecutor in Brooklyn before joining the U.S. Justice Department's environmental crimes division. She recently chaired a citizen's committee studying the creation of an environmental commission in town, which has become a central focus of this year's campaign.

Mayor Andy Skibitsky, as has been his custom during Brennan's comments, remained silent from the dais when his opponent made the request. During an interview following the meeting, the mayor said he is still in the process of developing the green team.

"I'm working with our town planner and town administrator to decide where the representatives should come from," he said.

Skibitsky said this process includes deciding which organizations and boards should be represented on the green team. He said these groups include the planning board, the library board and the Board of Education, along with other groups. Once this list is developed, the mayor said he will be deciding how many other residents should be appointed to the team. Then appointments will commence. He did not say what chances Brennan and Siegel have in being appointed to the group.