The meeting began with the ceremonial swearing-in of newly elected and reelected officials, including Mayor Lisa Jiampetti. State Assemblywoman Andrea Catz administered the oaths, with both Mayor Jiampetti and another official pledging their commitment to uphold the U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions. The assemblywoman expressed her appreciation for participating in the democratic process and underscored the vital link between local governance and the community. Following the oaths, the council swiftly moved through a series of appointments and resolutions, with Joseph Kenner Jr. being elected as council president and Carl Timbers as president pro tempore through roll call votes.

However, the meeting became contentious when the discussion turned to the appointment of a temporary part-time Public Works manager. Questions emerged regarding the selection process, particularly the exclusion of certain members from interviews. One council member questioned the legality of excluding finance committee members from the decision-making process. This concern was met with a response that emphasized the urgency of filling the position due to approaching winter weather conditions, which necessitated immediate oversight of public works. Despite the debate, the council proceeded to vote on the appointment, resulting in a majority decision in favor of hiring the manager at an hourly rate of $85.

Beyond the public works manager discussion, the council addressed several other appointments and resolutions. The appointment of a foreclosure attorney saw Damon Tiner receiving unanimous support through a roll call vote, as did Runnington Vernett for city engineer. Similarly, the city planner role was filled with unanimous approval for Mington and Vernett. The council also appointed Brown and Brown as health management consultants after considering competing motions from the Hardenberg Insurance Group.

Resolutions related to grant consultancy and arborist consultancy appointments were passed without opposition. In each case, motions were made and seconded. Additionally, the council tackled the appointment of a risk management consultant, with both the De Austino Agency and Hardenberg Insurance Group being suggested. This appointment did not face the same level of scrutiny as the public works manager position.

Further into the meeting, the council revisited the list of professional appointments, confirming Parker McCay as City Attorney and Blaney, Donovan & Weinberg as the labor attorney, both decisions receiving unanimous support. Parker McCay was also appointed as development attorney and bond counsel, with each resolution confirmed through roll call votes.

The meeting included standard procedural resolutions, such as the adoption of Robert’s Rules of Order, designation of newspapers for city notices, and setting the council meeting schedule for the year. Notably, a resolution regarding the 2025 cash management plan was proposed and passed without dissent. Additionally, resolutions were approved to carry over municipal fees from 2024 unless otherwise changed, and to authorize the city clerk to approve nonprofit bingo and raffle applications.

The meeting concluded with the mayor’s appointments to various committees and boards, including the utility committee and the cemetery board of trustees. These appointments were accepted without controversy, and the council proceeded to a motion to adjourn, which also received unanimous support. Attendees were invited to continue discussions at a social gathering at the Firehouse restaurant, providing an opportunity for informal engagement following the official proceedings.