is an ice box. >> He's asking me what we should do. >> Hello. Happy New Year. Good to see you. >> Redirect. Where you going? I don't know. Moving up. >> Come on. Good thing I started early. So,
it's started by 7. >> Oh, stop that. to say hello to everybody. I know where I Yeah. >> So now Just order this together. United States of America and to the
republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible and justice for alliance downstairs full official for our social media channel. I ask for those of you who are joining us this evening cell phone
silent speak with somebody outside of council chambers roll please. >> Mr. Benjamin >> here >> Mr. Fitzgerald >> here >> Mr. Mcl >> Mr. >> Mr. Spazza here >> Mr. Woods >> here. >> Thank you very much. Uh and again
welcome to everybody who's here this evening. Uh this is always a special evening here. Reorganize our government to square in uh this year incumbents and the people who have been serving this community for many years. I want to recognize a couple special guests we
have this evening. Senator this evening district some also from the fifth district our legislative leaders here and our commissioner director. So thank you very much for joining us.
for us. Uh the first item on our agenda this evening is the uh swearing in of council elect Raymond Woods. Uh Senator Neil Cruz Press, would you mind coming up and swearing in Mr. Woods and I think he has quite a
hold. >> Now we need the family Bible. It is >> and repeat after me. I say your name. I, Ray Woods, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support >> the Constitution >> the Constitution >> of the United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution
>> and the Constitution >> of the State of New Jersey state >> that I will bear true faith >> bear true >> and the government >> United States >> United States >> and this authority of
and >> perform all the duties >> of the office >> according to the best of my ability to the best of my abilities. So God Next we have the swearing in and
qualification of taking office also has his family Although slightly old stage of Senator Mr. Okay, so
I support the constitution of the United States and constitution of the signatures faith and allegiance to the same >> and to the government establish
and >> under the authority of the people of the people >> and that I will faithfully >> that I will faithfully >> impartially impartially >> and justly perform all the duties of >> all the duties of the council >> according to the best of my ability
>> with the best of my ability >> so be congrat Good. Edmond >> presa >> here >> thank you very much. Uh the next item on the agenda is the election of council
president for 2026. Do I have a nomination? >> We have a first and second. Any other nominations? None. Close the nominations. Roll call vote on Mr. President. >> Mr. Benjamin. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gerald.
>> Yes. Um, would you minding the office? You can borrow your swear. I will support the Constitution. I will support the Constitution of the United States of the United States and the
Constitution and Constitution of the State of New Jersey. State of New Jersey. I will bear true faith. I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. Allegiance to the same to the government established to the government established in the United States and in this state and in this under the authority of the people under the
authority of the people and I will faithfully and I will faithfully partially and partially and justly perform and justly perform all the duties of the office of council president of the office of council president according to liability. Um, so quickly we'll ask for remarks
from our newly elected and sworn in members of council. with you. >> Thank your honor. Well, I was going to thank my brother here, but they decided with me, but I'll still thank them for all the time that they sacrificed with
their husband and their dad to let me do this, and it really is a privilege to serve Merchantville. I want to thank the people of Merchville for putting their faith in me. Uh this is a true honor to serve the community where I live and want to thank all council our our state
legislative leaders our commissioner um mayor Ren thank you for all your support over the years look forward to all the the great things we have ahead of us in thank you very much >> thank you
such And I only was because my son was down into college. Uh I was pushing around in a stroller the first time when he was just born and so me and Johnny were going through the account of life. So I just want to thank my family for
allowing me to do this for this really long time sharing but more importantly just let every day of your lives. I also want to thank the voters here in Merchville who are supporting them once
again and honoring to represent them. Uh it's quite a take on taxes are high a lot of things we're trying to get done and there's never enough money to do it and we're only
always asking. So, uh, we'll do our best to try to spend those dollars the best we can, manage people we can, and be as fiscally responsible as we possibly can. Um this is normally when I would speak
and I don't know uh senator or commission director if any of you want to say any words happy to see the floor to you please. >> Well I just congratulations to all of you. There's a question on actually part of merchand but uh we were here to continue to work
together as a team you we work together from all level from multiple to the county to the state the federal we are one team and I'm happy and blessed to be part of the team to everybody else I want to wish everybody happy healthy and prosper new year and
hopefully God hopefully a peace peaceful one. So, God bless everyone. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay, everyone. Um it's great to be in Mville. It's always a pleasure. Congratulations guys on your This has been a great year for the Democratic
Party. This has been a great year in town. Um, it's been great having a Democratic governor following eight years of a Democratic governor for the first time since 1960. And in the assembly, really great because this is
the first time that either party has gone has increased its majority three straight by so since 1900. So this is because of all your hard work and all the hard work of voters of New Jersey.
So thank you so much. Happy new year. Thanks for everything you do. Thank you, mayor. Just briefly, I want to congratulate right hand um and thank their families for allowing them to serve the way they do. I know it takes its toll. It's a lot of time
serving in the government. Happy New Year to everybody. We the county, I speak on behalf of all my colleagues. Look, look forward to working with you all. truly partner partners in government and there's anything we can do to help you. One request from you may next time you have a meeting Charlotte
should be. >> Absolutely. Thank you very much. And again, thank you all for being here. It's very important. Uh you're echoing the same sentiment that I generally echo every year. Our partners in government are the ones that help us to be successful, the people sitting around
this table. Um, and I can't thank you all enough for uh the resources you provide to us, the funding opportunities that you provide and offer to us, the council that you uh offer and provide to us on an annual basis. Just going through a list of programs and and this
is from the federal government all the way down through. In 2025, we were awarded uh a HUD grant uh of almost a million dollars for the re replacement of our multi-use path and lighting features there. Uh we received open
space and rec grants from camp county. uh forestry grants uh the state at the state level for municipal aid allows our road program every year uh and this year we were able to do phase two of Somerset uh at Merchantville the county did a
major project in coordination with the project actually that the sixth district originally got funding for us way back when um >> um but uh the county helped us and and did a project on Park Avenue after the
streetscape and redid the runway there which is phase one of that project which we completed this year construction did in the spring. So um if not for our partners um we wouldn't look nearly as
good as I think we do at times. And I what I up this evening is just it, you know, we get a lot of credit or we sometimes get some criticism for things that we do here, but um it's my staff uh and the staff in our burrow and some of
those folks are sitting in the back of the room here. Some sit here to my left, your right. Um they're here every day and they're the ones who are working for our community. Uh they catch a lot more grief, I think, than we do at times. Uh, but they are some of the hardest working
people that I've ever been able to work with. It's been an honor for me to continue to work with them. I trust every day that they're the ones who are carrying our message and our efforts forward. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank them. Thank you all
for being here. All three of you. Uh, but you are here and Denise. um you're the primary reason why I think we get a lot of credit and I think that burrow uh looks as good as it does. So, thank you very much. Um and I'm looking forward to
a great 2026. I think we have a lot of great opportunities here uh to continue to move the burrow forward. Uh I'm very excited that you know the gold medal winning academy across the street here and that's going to be opening any day.
that's going to be a major economic to our community bringing people from all over not just the country but all over the world coming um and it's very exciting and an opportunity to meet with George Burrows a couple times uh it's something that was a great reuse of an
old CVS if there are any CVS still exist so uh we're looking forward to that opening and and being a place where Camden County and Merch can honor one of Cam County's greatest uh athletes So that's going to be great. That's going to open the day here some great
some other really important critical infrastructure things that are happen in 2026. So thank you council. Thank you for everything you um do for this bureau the time you spend uh and of course to our staff, family members, our partners in government. So thank you very much.
All right. Please, if you want to leave now to go, guys want to move up. Okay. So, uh here's how I'm going to do this since we have no shame in our council duties and responsibility.
Uh I am not going to read them folks. We have the same duties we had last year. I don't think that I need to read that the record. uh on the annual appointments. Um I don't know if you have any
revisions to that I can okay sound reporter. So I'm going to read through the 2026 annual appointment very quickly. They're not council duties and stuff, but we're all familiar with what
you're doing and what you've done. 26 annual appointments, director public works Kevin Patty, fire official Kevin Patty, fire inspector Kevin Patty. Uh, additional fire inspectors Tom Connelly and Stephanie L. Code enforcement
official Kevin Patty def deputy code enforcement officials Tom Connelly and Stephanie Bark. Zoning official Rebecca Callaway construction Official Phil S. Chief financial officer interr
officer Kevin Patty. Uh police and fire certain physical centric. Uh chief municipal public defenders Charles Wington. Spanish interpreters Gerald. Porttown reporter is Susan Charlie control was Camden County remains the
same council and myself municipal housing lector drug alliance and chief Richard statistics deputy regist uh boards and commission
Um I would submit to council that we had number of individuals who were um being reappointed for no significant changes for those individuals who were already
last year. So, um I'm not going to read that into the record. Those individuals will be sworn in at the time. I don't see any. Um, next we have a number of resolutions
by send >> Mr. Benjamin. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald. Yes. >> Mr. Mr. >> Mr. I do feel like I'm not sure why resolution to be read by consent agenda by consent agenda resolution 2601 rules
of council for 2026 resolution 2602 reorganization for 2027 regular meetings for 2026 resolution 2603 designating resolution 26 264 designation official newspapers and newspapers for those official meetings. Resolution 2605
appointment. Resolution 2606 traing rate interest delinquency. Resolution 2607 establishment cash funds. Resolution 2608, appointment of CPG advisory board appointments. Resolution 2609, adoption of cash
management. Resolution 2610, appointment professionals for the burrow. Now resolution 2611 appoint certified public works manager. Resolution 2612 appointment public agency compliance officer. Resolution 2613 municipal court
administrator deputy court administrator just municipal court administrator. Excuse me. Resolution. Resolution 2614. Resolution 2615 offices
resolution 2616 regist statistics. Resolution 2617 appointment of human law enforcement officer. Resolution 2618 appointment housing leaison and resolution 2619 adopting 2026.
Do I second? >> Mr. Benjamin. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Hi. >> Mr. Mcccl. >> Yes. >> Mr. Miza. >> Yes. >> Mr. Woods. >> Yes. >> All right. So, we're going to give the
oath of office official 76 for you guys to shine. All right, we ready? >> I state your name. >> I do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States. >> I will support the Constitution of the
United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. No, >> to the governments established >> to the government established >> the United States and in this state >> the United States and this
>> under the authority of the people >> authority >> that I will faithfully >> I will faithfully >> and justly >> perform all the duties of >> performance >> according to the best of my abilities >> to the best of my ability. >> So help me God.
>> Congratulations Kevin. Did you announce all of the positions? Um, thank you very much. >> Uh, schedule 246 for holidays is in your packets. There's no addition
as we've had for quite some time now. Um, remarks by audience. No person here. There's two people. So, one is our educator, the other is my son. Anything you guys want to say by the audience?
>> Thank you, council. It's the mayor. Assuming I got reappointed, >> you were in the budget. Okay. Uh so, uh that's it. Uh, I'll entertain a motion to mature.