Thank you everybody and welcome to the regular monthly meeting of the mayor and council Monday January 12th 2026 starting at 6:30 p.m. Missy, could you please call the role? >> Mayor Nuniato >> here. >> Council President McGawan >> present. Councilman >> Kley
>> here. Councilman Erico >> here. here. >> Deborah Con >> here. Mazone >> here. Thank you. If you're willing and able, could you please stand for the salute to the flag to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for it stands one nation. >> Thank you, Missy. Would you please do the provisions? >> In compliance with the open public meetings law, chapter 231, public laws of 1975, notice of this meeting was
transmitted to the record and Herald News and filed with the burough clerk on November 21, 2025, as posted on the bulletin board outside of Bar Hall. >> Thank you. >> Uh we now have a presentation. Uh, Council President,
>> thank you, Mayor. Um although not listed on here this evening, Mayor, um I am honored uh along with you and our council colleagues uh to acknowledge the service
of Michael Tarantino and who's now completely shocked as he just realized we're speaking about him. Um, Mike has been the captain of our ambulance corps for the past 12 years. Um,
I with you actually I think may or I took over EMS after you. Um, and so between the two of us, we we served those 12 years with Mike as captain. Um, and so, uh, when Mike reached out to all
of us to let us know that, um, he was going to be moving on from that post, um, it was a, a beautiful message that was received with mixed emotions. Um, and so as we are now seeing the evolution of the ambulance corps and the
new emergent leadership and and the wonderful camaraderie that happens, um, we thought it just most appropriate to stop um, and acknowledge Mike uh, for his incredible service to us as the captain
of the ambulance corps, but he serves so many different roles for the Burough of Rutherford um, particularly with OEM. Um and so he's still very much in the mix with us, but it was um really a a joint
decision among everyone that we wanted to start this meeting off by acknowledging this incredible public servant, but for everybody who knows him, this just incredible guy who takes the time to mentor people. Um who always
puts everyone before himself. uh those of us that were up here during COVID and certainly all of you that were in the uh that are in the audience that served the ambulance court and emergency services across the burrow um during CO. Mike's
commitment to ensuring the safety and wellness of of everyone was extraordinary and put us in a place um where we knew we were leading with care and and and through a very very frightening time. And then the dust
settled and we've moved on and and we've all watched, Mike, how you work with every one of us. And as new people come on, you take the time to walk them through and really help them understand the the importance of the relationship with the ambulance corp,
but also um we've watched what you've done with all of these incredible members. And so I think it's uh very fitting although maybe if you're watching um on the the feed you may not see how many of his colleagues are in this room tonight but they came here
Mike to acknowledge you to make sure that you understood how important you are to them and and we wanted you to know how important you are to the burough of Rutherford. So with that before we stand up and hand this very um you know we can add this to your wall of
appreciation, Michael, and I I know that you I can't even imagine a wall's big enough for all that you've been acknowledged for throughout your professional career, but mayor, I would like to open it up to our colleagues to say some words of appreciation to Mike.
>> As long as they're not nice words. Sure. >> Uh Councilman, >> thank you very much, Mayor. Um, I'd like to uh, you know, in the words of my uh, council colleague here, the amount of uh, volunteer work that you've
done for this community and so unselfishly, I mean, you you train people just because you love doing it and you want to see everyone move on in such a positive manner and be able to handle whatever tasks may come their
way. Um, it's quite amazing to I mean to to know that you've done this in only 12 years be honest with you. You've been uh as far as I've known you I've known your name around here for very much longer than that. So, um I cannot thank you for your 12 years of service and I know that
you're going to still be sticking around here. So, I'm not going to get all weepy eyed here. But, uh sir, with full respect, thank you very much. >> Thank you, Councilman. Thank you, mayor. Um, my favorite kind
of volunteer is a volunteer that says they're going to stop volunteering and then keeps volunteering, which was sort of how Mike's beautiful message read. Um, so I thank you for your continued commitment. Um, and more seriously, um,
I am often struck when I see someone doing something really difficult and then their children want to follow suit. I don't think that is a given. Um, and I think being in the ambulance corps is understandably really, really difficult.
And, um, your equally strong daughter follows behind you wanting to do it. And I think that that is, um, 1,000% a testament to your example. Um, and so it's hard to really think of you without
thinking of her. not because um one of you relies on the other, but she is so growing in your likeness in this incredibly important work. So, I think it's a testament to your commitment. I mean, I'll be honest with you, I don't have either of my children saying they're dying to be a lawyer or a
politician. So um that maybe is a reflection of me more than my professions. But um I think that the fact that you have created this family within a very immensely challenging and stressful job both using your literal
family and your extended family that I see here um shows the good that you pour into everything you do. So um I'm glad you're sticking around in other capacities even though Wink wink. You're no longer volunteering. Um, and I really
just thank you for your service, Mike. >> Thank you, Councilman. All I'm going in order, seniority. All right. Uh, Mike, from the very first time we shook hands, I was blown away by the grip and the eye contact, and it was
really a testament, right? First impressions are everything and you have just stood up and lived up to that impression from the jump. I thank you for your service, your kindness. I thank you for being present to everyone who stood in front of you, who has ever stood in front of you and shook their
hands and looked them in the eye. Um, I'm glad you're not disappearing for good. I hope to see you around the hallways and um, again, can't thank you enough for your giving back to this community you hold dear. >> Thank you, Council. Councilman, >> thank you, Mayor. Uh Mike, I I I say
this uh jokingly, but I think it's a reflection of your commitment. I you know, when I've been on the council for uh a year now, and when you get elected, you get an email address um for the bureau, and I think fully a third of my emails are are from you uh alerting me
about various weather events. And uh I think that that uh commitment and dedication um shines through in everything that you've done for for us in the bureau. So, thank you so much for your for your service and your volunteerism. and I hope others uh as my colleagues have said follow in your footsteps and I'm sure I'll be seeing
more of you uh in the future. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman. >> Thank you. I didn't realize at my first council meeting I'd be addressing um probably a 25-y year friend. So, um we go way back, Michael. Uh vision of
criminal justice, HRT, first aid, CPR. You've been a mentor. You've been a leader. Um an extraordinary friend. And uh I'm very grateful for that. Um, I think I MCed your retirement party from CJ. Um, we've had good times and bad and I know you will definitely be missed.
Um, as my colleagues have said, the fact that you're going to be here in this OEM capacity and continuing um, I feel better about it. You've been a tremendous steward of um, whether it was at CJ, at Homeland Security, or here in the burrow. having had the pleasure to
be a member of the squad and the core. Um I I do think it's a little suspect you're leaving the year I became the liaison, but short of that um I um I'm good with all of it. But um I love you like a brother and I wish you nothing but the best. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Councilman. Uh Ike, my former boss, as a as someone who rode like Councilman, uh you've been nothing but phenomenal asset to this community as you will continue to do and you will overwhelm
all our mailboxes. Um I just want to thank you personally for everything you've done. I've witnessed everything you've done. I've I've been on calls with you and your daughter when we were dispatched by your son-in-law, which was always one that always stuck with me.
Um, I appreciate you very much. I appreciate your friendship. Um, and I know that you'll continue to serve this community with honor and distinction. Mayor, before uh we ask everybody to come up, um I'm addressing this because
Jen asked this question of us um Saturday night at their um party, she said, "I don't understand what happened, Stephanie. Why aren't you the liaison?" And so, um I shared with her, Frank, what you and I both knew, which was Mike had said, um a few years ago, I was
supposed to move off being the liaison to EMS. And and so the three of us had this conversation and we had a handshake deal that as long as Mike was the captain that I would continue to do this um in in stewardship with you. And so it
just seemed very apppropo that on came this new councilman with this beautiful background and had such a fundamental understanding far more than I could ever wish to um ascertain. And so what what incredible timing Mike for that to happen. So I'm I'm honored to pass this
on to Dennis and I know that he's going to have you all in such good hands. So, mayor, with that, um, can we have everyone come up? >> Yep. Can everybody join us in front of Dis? Can we bring up the Tarantino brood? All
right. Now we'll have the engineers report. >> Thank you, mayor. Start off. We have the an update to the 2025 roadway improvements program. We had a pre-construction meeting on Thursday, December 11th. Uh we met with
the contractor basically just to discuss an anticipated uh construction schedule. We anticipate start of construction this upcoming spring. Uh we're we're going to have an up uh another meeting with them sometime in
February, maybe early March, just to walk the roads planned and uh mark out any areas of sidewalk that may need to be replaced, areas of um uh road corners that need ADA updates, areas of catch
basins that need replacement. uh for the 2024 roadway improvements program. Beach Street has been uh fully completed. That's new sidewalk and pavement resurfacing. We are coordinating with PSENG.
Uh for also for this upcoming spring, we have Clark Avenue and Ensley that is scheduled to be paved. Lincoln Gazebo is currently being
constructed. Uh Zebo has been delivered and it's currently being assembled. Our office uh has submitted the NJDP MS4 infrastructure mapping as well as the NJDP watershed inventory report.
Uh both of those have been submitted prior to the January 1st deadline. The burrow was recently been awarded 664 100 sorry 664,000 under the 2025
transportation alternative set aside program this for the Union Avenue safety and streetscape improvements. So uh we hope to get this u that program under design later towards the end of
this year that is for uh new streetscape and pedestrian safety improvements along Union A. We're also working along for the Tamblin playground improvements for the proposed uh new playground facility at Tamblin Field.
Burrow was awarded 536,000 through the green acres program. The uh preliminary assessment report was recently finished and was forwarded to D for their review and we look to move
into design over the spring for that project as well. The bur was also recently reward awarded 220,000 through D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do D do DOT transit village program for the brother station square phase two post installation of
wayfinding signage and bicycle infrastructure for the memorial park improvements next phase uh look to be in construction for this upcoming summer for the new multi-purpose field in the northern
section of the park. Uh at this time we are working through some final steps towards design towards the getting to bid. Uh just some minor coordination efforts
with Safe Valley Sewer. That's all I have as an update. >> Anybody have any questions? Bob, >> thank you, mayor. I just want to clarify one thing that, uh, Mr. Matarazzo mentioned, we were talking about the the Union Avenue streetscape grant. U, that
is a federal grant. So uh while Negley will be assisting us with that I believe the uh you know to benefit or maximize the benefit of that grant you using uh a predetermined uh engineering list uh provided by the state and federal
government uh we can have the design completed uh by that firm at no additional cost to the burrow be in addition to the 664,000 uh and then we will you know seek Negley's you know vast experience in guiding us through construction phase of
that. Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you. Anybody else from the council? Seeing none, uh the only I asked, Bob, is if we could put something together to get out to the public regarding the gazebo as to where we are as well as the uh area in front of the
um um band shell uh just because we're getting a lot of inquiries. Other than that, thank you for your time, sir. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> We now have a close session. Uh Missy, >> the reviewer changes. >> I'm sorry. Review changes. My bad. Um, under consent agenda, we'll be adding item C, authorization for designating March youth arts month with reinstating
the youth banner program. >> You consent on that? >> I ask for a motion. Motion by council president. I have a second. >> Second. >> Second by councilman Guzman. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, may I have a roll call, please?
>> Council president McGowan. >> Yes. >> Councilman Kley. Yes. >> Councilman Eric Co. >> Yes. >> Cman Guzman. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Delic. >> Yes. >> Councilman Lazone. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Now, seeing that we have no nothing on ordinances on first or second read, we're going to be going into a
close session. Missy, >> whereas an open public meetings act requires that a public body adopt a resolution at an open meeting before going into a closed session to discuss a matter which excludes the public as permitted under section 7B. Now, therefore, it be resolved that the mayor and council will hold a closed meeting
at 6:52 p.m. on January 12, 2026, 176 Park Avenue to discuss the following matter. Public safety security for World Cup event. >> Thank you folks. We're going to go into the blue room, be out shortly. >> We need a motion.
>> I'd ask for a motion. >> Motion. >> Motion by council president. I have a second. >> Second. >> Second by council del. Council President McGowan, >> yes. >> Councilman Kley, >> yes. >> Councilman Ero, >> yes. Cuz >> yes.
>> Council Del Cohen, >> yes. >> Cone, >> yes. >> Thank you. I think we're going into the red rooms. Hasn't been that long. Thank you very much. We'll take a roll call to go back and
open Miss >> at 7:59. Mayor Niato >> here. >> Council President McGawan. >> Councilman Kley >> here. Council >> Eric here. Cuz >> here del
hearing of citizens. Mr. Bruno, anything now? Going to close it to the public and open for council comment. Anybody council? Close it to the council. No resolution separate from consent. So, council president, whenever you're
ready. >> This evening's consent agenda, all items will be authorized by consent of the council will be enacted in one motion. Motion. >> I have a motion by the council president. I have a second. >> Second. >> Second by councilman Guzman. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, I
may have a roll call, please. Council President McGawan, >> yes. >> Councilman Kley, >> yes. >> Counc, >> yes. >> Cuz >> yes. >> Del, >> yes. >> Cuz >> yes to all but the minutes for the adjourned meeting minutes of January
2nd. Abstain on that. >> Thank you. New business, short-term rentals discussion. Council President, >> thank you, mayor. Um so there has been some discussion about whether or not um
there was an appetite uh by the governing body to move forward with um suspending our current ban on short-term rentals uh during
uh a specific period of time that was concurrent to the World Cup activities taking place. And so I I am going to defer to my colleagues who initially had introduced this and to allow them to um
share their thoughts behind its uh uh purpose for discussion. >> Councilman, >> uh thank you mayor. So I think to refresh our memory on this, this actually I think predates uh even my uh
involvement in the council, but we had a discussion item about this I think um early last year regarding if we wanted to consider as council president said um lifting our ban on short-term rentals
for June and July of uh this year. Um we at that time had discussed the idea that residents might be um of their own accord renting out their homes uh obviously in contravention of our ordinances. Um and if that were the
case, it might make sense to create a licensing regime or other enforcement mechanisms to um both permit that legally but also to have more control over what's occurring if it were to occur uh illicitly. So, in the interim,
um I have had at least personally a number of residents reach out and suggest that they have an interest in doing this in their in their homes. And I had worked uh with our burough attorneys to draft um or really adopt an
existing short-term rental ordinance that I believe the council had considered years back prior to us banning it. um that has some uh contours about how such a regime would work in terms of who would be permitted, when it
would be permitted, how long, registration, etc., etc. Um, I get the sense that that might be um that level of detail might not be appropriate at this moment and perhaps we should rather have a discussion on whether we would want to do this
conceptually at all particularly in light of uh our recent close session on similar topics. Um so maybe that is the more realistic point to start with before we would discuss possible details of implementing something like this.
Anybody else? Council President, >> I uh thank you, Councilman Eko, for um reviewing the matter with us. Um I I do think the the the question really at hand first is whether or not there's an
appetite for us to move forward with um having a discussion of putting a moratorum on the ban uh that is currently in place. Um, and so, uh, it seems I I think I that would be the
question I would want to have us discuss whether or not there is a consensus or a willingness or if there is someone that is prepared to move that rather than debate whether or not we should do it. If there's not an interest in moving it forward, it may not require debate. Um,
and if uh, so I I suppose mayor, that's what I'm asking, whether or not we have any council members who are prepared to move this forward for consideration. And then if in fact there is, then I would imagine there would be more discussion. And if not, perhaps there's nothing more to discuss at this point.
>> I'll now entertain a motion. Does anybody want to move this forward? being none. >> I I think to to perhaps that point uh Councilwoman, I I I I would be curious, I suppose, to uh given that it is a
discussion item and and um we're approaching from that perspective. Um at least anecdotally, I've probably received a dozen texts or phone calls from residents um expressing an interest in in doing this. Um and so I suppose if
there absolutely is no interest among the council to uh to move it forward then we don't need to entertain further discussion. But um I suppose the way that we've treated discussion items in the past has been we discuss you know collectively as a body our thoughts and
perspective. So perhaps even just for the purposes of uh those dozen residents that have reached out to me, it might be worthwhile to have a more u wholesome discussion of the topic even if we already know where we might land on it. Um and I'd be curious in that respect to
hear other other members uh comments on that. >> Anyone? >> Thank you. Um, I have to I will side with Councilman Ero on the whether we go forward this evening or not. Um, I was hoping to be able to read through his
preliminary research and work. Um, I think making the full blanketed decision this evening just after the closed door session and a lot of those issues and and precautions that were raised there, um, it doesn't make sense for us to move through without any additional information on how that would affect um,
the request that our OEM professionals just made. Um, I am one of the people that would like to move it forward. I also have had the phone calls and text messages, you know, from a dozen plus residents. I myself looking at my home and comparing it on the market. The the money is quite attractive to rent out
your place for a short period of time. Um, not saying that's something I would move forward with. My wife has objected vehemently to it, so that's where we're going with it. But from a business perspective, um, it it seems legitimate. However, right now it's just a discussion item. I would hate to kill it
in the moment without more information. Again, myself being a lay person, not a a legal professional uh mind. We'd like to just read through exactly what it entails. Um where we can actually curb enthusiasm or help our our resources.
Right. Again, um Councilman Mone coming Mazone coming out of the closed door was single sentence was like we just have to do everything to protect our volunteer resources and that end of the day is where we are. Um, I'm not ready to kind of walk past it just yet. Uh, but I feel
like in this particular juncture, uh, we're just a little too short on information to, uh, shut it down right away. That's my two cents. >> Council, >> thank you, Mayor. Um, I think for me, there's not much information at this point that I think I would receive that
would make me um, in favor of it. I you know I I I I did feel an openness to the financial benefit that our residents were seeking to gain. Um but you know in a I think someone said earlier there are sort of 5100
single and dual family households you know out of 5100 a dozen phone calls doesn't a critical mass make? And um I'm sure other people would certainly come forward, but for me it's a weighing of financial benefit to
the few that decide to do it as against what we now understand to be a very taxing and I and I don't think we can overstate it. I don't think we could talk about enough what we've just learned that our how stressed our emergency services are already feeling
about the two-month period of June and July. So, from my perspective, um I'm not sure what we could build into an ordinance that would protect against those increased stressors. Um I would
love to say that we could have our residents make all this extra money and it would be at no cost to anyone else. Um but the one incident that happens may be just too costly in in itself if it happens. So, um I was open to
understanding I think when we originally had the discussion I was I was open to getting some data about how many folks um really were interested. I you know whether it be through a survey or I know we've had luck with doing some rec desk research get asking residents for
feedback. I don't think that's happened here, but um I I do have some serious concerns that the potential uh detriments far outweigh any potential benefits to a few. >> Do you want to bring the discussion back
up after the World Cup or do you want to continue? >> It looks like there's some other comments. >> Thank you very much, Mayor. Um I At current, we have a ban on exactly what we're looking to lift for
30 days. There's a reason we have a ban on it and the people wanted it and we moved it forward years ago. I understand that the opportunity knocks sometimes and some people want to take advantage of this to possibly make a few
dollars. I get it. But for me, number one, safety is everything to this public. And that's what we're responsible for, making sure that this community is safe. We have a lot of people coming into the area,
some of which will stretch our resources. I don't think, in my opinion, that the majority of the residents would be looking to sacrifice their safety for a few bucks being made. So, I could tell you right now that this comes across to
me, I'm a firm no on this. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, I would echo what uh my council colleagues have said regarding this. I I do appreciate uh Councilman Erico's efforts to, you know, raise this issue up and the community concerns that have come to him. Um I I think that, you
know, as Councilman Guzman has said, you know, the um balancing of equities here, safety has got to come up um especially in this short term event. Um, I think if the burrow is going to ever entertain this, I think one of the things we have to seriously consider is building the
appropriate infrastructure for the inspections. Um, the, you know, everything that would go to support it if it were to ever come up again at some point in the future for consideration. And I think, um, given what we're learning through this experience, there may even be carveouts where the burrow
has the opportunity to block out when you can and can't rent. Um, because we're only one event this year. Who knows what the future may bring. >> Thank you, Council President. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I remember when
this uh was quite the debate for quite some time. Um, and we had residents on both ends of this continuum that came to this body sharing their concerns. We had residents who were dependent on the revenue that was generated from
subleting or utilizing their property in this capacity. Um, and they shared often very heartbreaking situations of what would happen without that revenue. Um, additionally, we had residents who
unfortunately were um next door or directly impacted by bad actors, who utilized this process. Um, where people's homes were rented out,
where they were not occupied, where they used instead of doing traditional rentals were using it in this capacity. and and we had several situations that were incredibly unfortunate. Um the part that we're we're really not talking
about was in that docel time we were we struggled with coming up with an amicable way to enforce regulations. Um and so in in the advent of not being able to determine how to do that
equitably, the answer became if we couldn't determine that, then the answer was that we had to move forward with the ban and that was ultimately the decision. Um, and I I do understand what uh both councilmen are saying, right?
There is there is a a a huge profitable concept to this that makes it incredibly attractive and and our community is not the only one having that discussion. Others are having it all around us. Um, but I just think we would be remiss
in in this time with uh understanding and and to what Councilman Guzman just said about understanding the importance of security and public safety um that it I don't know that the risk uh the reward outweighs the risk and um I
think when we look at our how taxed our burough resources are and and will exponentially during this time period in question. I just think that um you know uh our focus needs to be on the the
bureau as a whole and so um I don't know that I would be in favor particularly at this time uh with all that we know regarding public safety and and just trying to look at the greater good of of protecting our interest of all residents. Um so that would be my
position on this at this time. Uh, thank you everyone for your comments and I I I appreciate the ability that we're able to talk about this publicly because I I do think this is very helpful to residents who uh might otherwise be wanting to do this so that our concerns are all understood. Um, one
comment I would have is that my inclination is that this uh, ordinance was originally or concept was originally put forward almost as a um, uh, a means of a different means of enforcement. And I wonder if we are if the consensus is
that we're not moving forward with this, if instead we should revisit our existing ordinance regarding its enforcability and our ability to uh oversee that because my inclination uh again from speaking to residents about this is that this is going to
occur um regardless of what what we do or don't do. Um and I've been told that literally by number of people. Uh if we would to to echo the concerns that we've all expressed, um I think
there is still work to do here in terms of whether that's an ordinance or coordination with our um professionals, our staff to determine how we might enforce our current restrictions on this. Um, and to the extent that we're
going to do that, I think we should do that perhaps to uh points that we heard in our close session, we should do that sooner rather than later. So perhaps this topic is not entirely um dead in the sense of uh uh we're not going to
revisit it. But again, um, because residents, I think, are going to be doing this, uh, we might need to consider a different approach or a more comprehensive approach to enforcing our our laws. >> Thank you, Councilman. Anyone else have
any So, at this point, we'll leave it. Uh, >> I I think what I would like to do is perhaps revisit not the exact topic of permitting short-term rentals, but the topic of uh enforcing our short-term rental ordinances and seeing if there
needs to be um revisions to that or, you know, procedural things that we can do. Uh maybe that's a discussion item. I'm not sure, but I'm happy to spearhead that. >> Council, >> thank you, mayor. Um Councilman Arco, thank you for your comments. I
appreciate uh uh you surround uh circling back to the original ordinance and how it's going to how it's being handled currently. Um I'd be I'd be very interested to to look into that as well. I'd like to look at the current fines
structure that's uh in place. Um, and I'd also much very very important I'd love to get some of our in-house professional opinions on and if there's any revisions going to be made what the impact may be. >> So the recommendation I guess would be
for you to sit with professionals and then see where we we can go from there. Right, Jonathan? Okay, we'll move on now to the uh reporting. Council President,
>> thank you, Mayor. I just would like to uh wish everybody a happy new year and thank everyone for their support as we begin our reorganization. Um and uh we were able to um since our reorganization, we had the privilege of
swearing in uh the fire department and celebrating our emergency services this past weekend. And um and so in in lie of this evening's uh close session and and and really working so closely uh with OEM and and our police chief, I just
want to take a moment and thank all of our emergency service our police department and our volunteer fire department and our volunteer ambulance corp. Um it is very humbling when you know we go to all these parties
as we prepare to celebrate all of the folks who are chiefs and and and whatnot. Um and to celebrate the new andcoming uh crews that we're just incredibly fortunate and mindful that um people across this burrow continue to
raise their hand. They are amazing. uh amazing um servant leaders. So, thank you all for your good wishes and I look forward to sharing more in uh at our next meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Kok.
>> Thank you, sir. Um to council president's uh acknowledgement of the u several events we've attended the last couple of days I would like to congratulate um chief of the department Chris Brona on his appointment and swearing in as well as the um company chiefs and all the new captains and
lieutenants. I as always thank you all for your service and look forward to working with you closely uh as the fire commissioner for 2026. Um, as noted in the changes to uh the agenda this evening, the youth art banner program will be re resurrected. Um, we are
looking to turn that around um and have them posted and up before the veterans banners go up for the summer, which is Memorial Day to Labor Day, I believe. And so, um, get your, uh, crayon boxes and charcoals and paints out and, um, get those kids working on a piece of
paper that we can, uh, plug into the template and display for the beautiful spring months. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Erica. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, happy new year to everyone and I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Uh, the board of adjustments, which is our zoning
board, is having its reconization meeting next week on Tuesday the 20th at 7 p.m. right here in Burough Hall. Uh, this is uh open to the public as are all of its meetings and the decisions of the board are significant uh particularly to
to neighbors of properties that are before the board. So, I encourage all residents to attend that meeting. I also want to sincerely thank the burrow and its employees for our council chambers which have been uh renovated obviously as we're sitting in them right now and they're I think fantastic. Um we had a
great reorganization meeting earlier in the month and I want to sincerely congratulate uh again Councilwoman Delray Con and her new colleague Councilwoman Dennis Mazone on their re-election and election. Um, Councilwoman Del Ray Conn's remarks at our reorganization meeting were, I
think, uh, fantastic and a reflection on her approach to service, uh, which is thoughtful, authentic, and deeply rooted in her passion for the community and for doing what she believes is right. And Councilman Maison's election to me feels uh more like less like a beginning of
his service and more like a continuation of his many years of commitment to the bureau, the board of education, nearly every committee uh volunteer organization that we have. U his commitment for me in my mind has never been about titles. It's always been about showing up and volunteering and
I'm confident he'll continue that in this role. Um, at its core, for me, public service is not about ambition or recognition or performance. A healthy republic depends on not anyone office holder, but on citizens who are willing to serve, sometimes visibly, often very
quietly, and always with care for the common good. When people step forward year after year to do that work, they give life to our institutions and meaning to our government. It's how our institutions endure and our communities thrive. And I'm proud, very proud that we're sitting on this day and part of that evolving journey. And I thank you
again to Councilman Done and Councilman Mone for volunteering and being part of that journey. >> Thank you, Councilman. Counciloman Done. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to echo congratulations um to our new fire chiefs and officers.
Um it's always a wonderful ceremony to be there with them. I'm I'm still so humbled by the fact that they are volunteers. Um, I was unable to attend the EMS uh celebration this weekend as I was out of the country, but um I trust that it was a worthy celebration of
their hard work. Um, the other thing I plan to do was simply to thank the community for the support that Dennis and I received um both here in the ceremony and at our uh celebration after. Um it is it is always um
pretty awe inspiring when folks that you don't really know personally um want to celebrate your achievements. And I think that Dennis and I have been uniquely positioned um throughout last year where folks who we did not know um repeatedly
showed us showed up for us and for what we are trying we're trying to do then in uh securing my seat and attaining one for Dennis but also what we're trying to do now for the community. And um it was over the weekend I was out of town with
my aunt who is one of my lifetime mentors and um I shared with her how truly excited I am about the council that we have this year. Um and I meant it sincerely. Um I think we are in for a really productive and collaborative uh
um year ahead for all of us. So, I thank you all for your support and uh particularly the community that filled this room uh for us on January 2nd. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Me. >> Thank you. Um so, I would like to also
start by wishing everyone a happy new year. Um and my sincere thanks to Mayor and Council for all of your support. Um the welcome, the well wishes. Um, I feel like I've been a um a long-standing member um of this group, knowing many of you for quite some time. Um, I would
also echo the councilwoman's remarks. Councilwoman Del Ray Conn, as you said, you know, there was a huge outpouring of support for both yourself for your re-election and my election. Um, this is a a position and an honor, you know, that to be sitting here with all of you.
So, um, again, um, tremendous thanks. Um, I'd also like to just report out I've tried to ground running, making uh contact with all of my council liaison assignments. Um I probably texted or emailed a few of you along the way asking for some guidance and I appreciate that continued guidance and
support. Um it was probably um one of the biggest honors to be handed the keys to the ambulance as that liaison assignment. Um I do appreciate that. Um I look forward to working with Casper, with Mark, and with Jennifer going forward. And um last but not least um
the green team had a great event on uh Saturday um recycling extraordinaires of styrofoam. Um they filled a whole truck. I got acquainted with Kenny Wooten. Um Wendy Armacost made some great cookies. Um so um it was a it was a great time and um that's all I have. Mayor, thank
you. >> Thank you. And now the most riveting and best part of the evening, Councilman Ray Guzman. >> Thank you for the acknowledgement, Mayor. much appreciated. Uh, I'm going to keep it short. I just want to wish everybody a very happy 2026 and I look
forward as always to working with my esteemed council colleagues and mayor on uh, projects for 2026. That's all I got. Thank you. >> That was the most heartfelt and beautiful statement I've heard up here in a long time. Thank you, council.
Uh we're going to move now to my committee reports and I do apologize for skipping here again. Um first I have the Dominic Ferry C3 licensed water well wastewater operator for 2026 at the annual rate of $4,500.
I'd ask for council consent. >> Motion. >> Motion by council president. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by council del. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, may have a roll call, please. Council President McGawan, >> yes. >> Councilman Kley, >> yes. >> Councman,
>> yes. >> Con, >> yes. >> Cas, >> yes. >> Next, I have Michelle Duca, subsuit bus driver, $25 per hour. Ask for council consent. >> Motion. >> Motion by council president. >> Second by
>> I'm sorry, council myself. Uh, any questions, comments? Seeing none, may I have a roll call, please? President McGawan, >> yes. >> Catherine Kley, >> yes. >> Councman, >> yes. >> Del, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Next, I have the boards and commissions
with the attached list. I'd ask for council consent. >> Motion. >> Motion by council president. We have a second. >> Second. >> Second by Councilman Guzman. Any questions or comments? Seeing a roll call, please. >> Council President McGowan. >> Yes. >> Councilman Kley. Yes. >> Councilman Ero. >> Yes. >> Cuz Guzman, >> yes.
>> Council Deone, >> yes. >> Cone, >> yes. And next I have the committees with the attached list uh with the addition to the World Cup committee of Mike McCarthy, Spencer Ross, and Rosemary Jordan.
Thank you. Um I'll now accept a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion. >> Motion by council president. All in favor? I. >> Thank you everybody. Have a great night.