CLARK — Mayor Sal Bonaccorso was sworn into his seventh term in office on New Year’s Day as part of Clark’s annual reorganization proceedings.

Mayor Bonaccorso, who was first elected to the township council 24 years ago, thanked his “friends, running mates and the good, solid people” of the community for their continued support.

“I took a lot of rocks in the last couple of years, and they were right with me. They stood behind me,” the mayor said.

Mr. Bonaccorso, who is expected to appear in court this month to defend himself against allegations of forgery and fraud related to his landscaping business, was not, however, reinstated as the acting director of public works (DPW). He said last week that he has held the position “in title only” since 2021 and has never accepted any kind of payment in exchange for filling the role.

“The other day, my failed opponent, Michael Shulman, decided to file an injunction in Union County Superior Court to stop me from [resuming the role with the DPW],” Mayor Bonaccorso said. “There was some theory that I may step down as mayor and take that as a lucrative job. That would never happen.”

The injunction will be heard in court on Friday, January 17.

“This is just a waste of taxpayer money,” Mr. Bonaccorso said, adding that the injunction was a “trivial” matter of little consequence.

The position of acting director of public works is currently vacant.

“The department is running fine, so we’ll just leave [the acting director] position blank for now. Or maybe I should do what a Democrat would do and [hire someone]. It would be about a $200,000 hit to the taxpayers of Clark, but instead I’d rather continue to run the town in the same fiscally sound way that I always have,” the mayor said, adding that he is “an old-school guy” who would have preferred not to have to address the matter during the township’s first meeting of the year.

Mr. Shulman, an attorney who told Union County HAWK that he plans to continue to fight against “racism, corruption and hatred in Clark” after losing his bid for mayor in November, said he did not believe that the mayor had the legal authority to appoint himself to such a position.

“Sal indicated he isn’t going to oppose [the injunction], but we shall see,” Mr. Shulman said, speaking with the HAWK last week.

The mayor went on to note during his annual State of the Township address that the community at large continues to thrive.

“So much has been accomplished over the course of the past 24 years, thanks to the hard work and dedication not only from this administration and council but from the great citizens of Clark,” he said.

The township council also unanimously voted Wednesday to reappoint CouncilwomanAngelAlbanese as this year’s council president. Ms. Albanese, who was recently reelected to a new, four-year term alongside running mates James Minniti and William Smith, said she continues to be grateful for the opportunity to serve the township.

“Do we disagree on things from time to time? Yes. But we compromise, and we continue to move forward, and that has been a very important part of what has happened here in Clark,” Ms. Albanese said.

The next regular meeting of the Clark Township mayor and council will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21.