Eighth grade students from the Buena Regional Middle School formed an Honorary Township Committee along with Honorary Department Heads on Monday, April 18th.
The students spent the day at Buena Vista touring our Municipal Building and most of our facilities including Michael Debbi Park, Public Works Department and the King Center. The students then appeared at our televised Township Committee meeting on Monday, April 25th where they were sworn into office for the day and participated along with the Township Committee during that evening.
The Honorary Township Committee Program was started many years ago at the Cleary Middle School and was handled by Mr. Abate. The program ran successfully for many years but was not continued after Mr. Abate retired. Mayor Chuck Chiarello requested that the program be restarted through the new Buena Regional Middle School when it was first opened, but to no avail.
In 2015, Committeeman John Armato became the Municipal Liaison to the school district and was able to get the program restarted with this year’s 8th Grade Class through the help of the Superintendent, School Board and the Principal of the Middle School.
This year’s program was a true success. Thanks to all the students that participated. The honorary student members were: TJ Cheli, Mayor; Aliyah White, Deputy Mayor; Victoria DeRossi, Township Committee/Reporter; Louis Flannery, Township Committee; Travis Welsford, Township Committee; Sierra Gonzalez, CMFO/Administrator; Hannah Lawless, Township Clerk; Franchesca Hansen, Tax Collector; Antonina Benson, Tax Assessor; Byron Spellman, Director of Public Works.