Neylan Appointed Acting Mayor

(R-2nd Ward) was appointed acting mayor of the Town Council, the biggest announcement of a series of changes Mayor Andy Skibitsky revealed at Tuesday night's meeting. 

The changes became necessary after former Councilman Mark Ciarrocca resigned from the Council earlier this summer to become a state judge. Ciarrocca had been serving as both acting mayor and chair of the finance policy committee prior to his resignation. He was recently .

Neylan had been serving as interim acting mayor during the period between Ciarrocca's resignation and Skibitsky's announcement. Under the town charter, the acting mayor holds all of the mayor's powers in Skibitsky's absence. This includes presiding over Town Council meeting, being able to sign ordinances, handling ceremonial functions, setting meeting agendas, performing weddings and civil unions and overseeing municipal operations. Skibitsky's travel schedule for his full time post in the pharmaceutical industry had made Ciarrocca a frequent presiding officer of the Town Council over the past few years.

Councilman Jim Foerst (R-4th Ward) was appointed alternate acting mayor. Councilman Sam Della Fera (R-1st Ward) will chair the Finance Policy Committee. 

The following are Tuesday night's appointments in their entirety:

Mayoral Appointments

Acting Mayor - Jo Ann Neylan

Alternate Acting Mayor - Jim Foerst 

Finance Policy Committee 

Sam Della Fera - Chair

Mark LoGrippo - Vice Chair

JoAnn Neylan

David Haas

Public Safety, Transportation & Parking Committee

JoAnn Neylan - Chair

Keith Loughlin - Vice Chair

Jim Foerst 

Mark LoGrippo

Downtown Westfield Corporation Liaison 

Sam Della Fera

Board of Education Liaison

JoAnn Neylan

Planning Board

Bob Centrella - Mayor's Designee

Mayoral Appointment with Council Consent to Architectural Review Board

William Taylor

Council Appointment to Board of Adjustment

Andrew Wasserman