The year 2025 in Mantua Township will include leadership changes and the opening of a major fossil museum, among other highlights.
As Mayor Robert Zimmerman puts it, the township is entering “a new chapter.”
Two new members of its government are part of that chapter. John “Jack” Steen was sworn as a committeeman in December and will serve the remainder of former Deputy Mayor Peter Scirrotto’s term, which will end on Dec. 31, 2025. And the committee appointed John Legge as its new deputy mayor at a reorganization session on Jan. 6. The 5 p.m. meeting also included the swearing in of Jason Snyder, who won a three-year term in the November election.
“We will continue our proactive initiatives by way of effective visionary leadership, and we will strive for nothing but betterment in 2025,” Zimmerman promised.
The long-awaited opening of the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University will take place in March and is expected to be a major moment in Mantua’s history. The site contains archaeological evidence of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.
“The museum will put Mantua Township on the map worldwide and is expected to attract an estimated 200,000 guests annually,” Zimmerman said. “This will boost our economy, provide educational opportunities and create jobs in our community.”
Going into effect this year is a new township code that will implement landlord registration fees on rental properties and limit short-term rentals to terms of no less than 30 days.
“This proactive initiative by the township committee will eliminate one-night rentals and make ‘pop-up parties’ prohibitive,” Zimmerman explained, “and will prohibit short-term rentals to anyone younger than 21 years of age. This initiative will also prohibit the lease or rental of amenities within a residential dwelling, such as prohibiting residential pool rentals, etc.”
The township website is expected to become more user friendly by improving functionality and payment capabilities, engaging the community and enabling residents and business to easily fill out and submit documents.
After his election to another three-year term, Zimmerman offered residents insight into his own plans for the year ahead.
“I will continue to be a transformational leader who prioritizes fiscal responsibility,” he noted. “Communication and transparency will always be paramount. We are a tight-knit community of family, friends and neighbors.
“Let’s continue to work together for the betterment of our Mantua Township family, while maintaining our vision of moving Mantua forward with positivity and responsibility in 2025.”
