HARRINGTON PARK — The Borough Council appointed Lynn Lander to replace Barbara Budinich, the longtime council member who died Jan. 6 shortly after being sworn in for a sixth term.

At the Jan. 21 council meeting, the ruling party nominated three Independents to fill the vacancy: Robert Shortal, Lori Ramil and Lander. Within minutes, the council voted 4-1 for Lander, who has six years of experience as a Borough Council member and eight years on the Board of Education.

"We recognize the importance of the day and would like again to welcome Lander back to the Council," said Mayor Paul Hoelscher.

Budinich, who died two weeks ago at her home, devoted years of service to the Borough, the volunteer ambulance corps and the community church. Lander acknowledged that he had "some large shoes I will aspire to fill."

New Jersey law mandates that the party has 15 days to list three nominees and a total of 30 days after the vacancy to appoint an interim Borough Council member.

In order to meet the 30-day deadline, Borough Deputy Clerk Susan Nelson said that the council opted to make the nominations and appointment the same day instead of organizing a special meeting. The next regular council meeting is set for Feb. 11.

After a brief ceremony, Lander took his seat between council members Michelle Ryan and Glenn Luciano.

Lander served two consecutive council terms up until 2001. The retired director of research with Unilever currently manages his own business consulting firm and teaches as an adjunct professor at Columbia University.

"I assume the mayor contacted me because he was satisfied with the six years I had served," Lander said.

He then said that he had been approached numerous times over the years to run again for council, choosing not to run because of work and family responsibilities. "It will be somewhat of a time burden, [but] under Barbara’s untimely death this time I said I would serve," he added.

Lander estimates he will occupy the position until elections in November 2008, when voters will select a candidate for a one-year un-expired term and the other two expiring council member positions.

For the moment, Lander said he plans to use his broad business background and experience with performance appraisals to advance the goals of the council

"I would hope that I can hit the ground running," he said.