In personnel matters, Mayor Timothy McDonald and council members expressed their appreciation for Veronica Lay, who retired after a notable 32-year tenure as the municipal clerk. Her dedication to the township was highlighted by Mayor McDonald, who proposed her new role as deputy historian. Council member Mark Dykoff commended her resourcefulness and leadership, while Deputy Mayor Steven Kennis acknowledged her extensive knowledge. Council members Peggy Sue Juliano and Peter Curatolo also expressed gratitude for Lay’s support and work ethic.

Salary adjustments for Teamsters Union employees were also on the agenda, with ordinance 2023 determining a 3% raise across the board for the years 2024-2028. The council approved this ordinance unanimously following a period for public commentary.

The council further demonstrated its attention to the operational needs of the township by unanimously passing several resolutions related to township services. Resolution 2023-348 authorized a contract with the Community Energy Aggregation Program for consulting services to implement the township’s energy aggregation program, which aims to secure more favorable energy rates for residents. Additionally, the council approved contracts for seasonal turf fertilization and weed control, awarded to Turf Lawn Care and South Jersey Weed Control Incorporated, respectively, committing to a five-year period for each service with a cumulative cost of $225,000.

Resolution 2023-351, which concerned the employment of a snow season contractor, was also approved, although the transcript lacked detailed information about this resolution. Mayor McDonald highlighted concerns over retaining contractors, given the competition with private industry offering higher pay. The approval of snow season laborers for the Department of Public Works was seen as a move to maintain essential services during the winter months by bringing back young workers from the summer maintenance team.

In administrative actions, the council authorized a leave of absence for Matthew Deaney under the Family Medical Leave Act, with intermittent leave permitted through March 11th. The appointment of Christiana Court to a full-time clerk position in the municipal court office was confirmed in response to an increased workload that a previous part-time staffing trial failed to address.

The meeting also included the ratification of terms of a memorandum of agreement with Teamsters Local 97, effective from January 1st, 2024, to December 31st, 2028, and the cancellation of reserve fund balances for unspent grant funds from previous years. Additionally, the council authorized the refunding of deposit monies held for the use of municipal facilities and approved the payment of Township bills totaling $876,030.

To streamline the meeting process, the council adopted consent agendas for various matters, including past meeting minutes, as explained by Mr. Connors, the Township attorney. This was aimed at expediting the adoption of minutes, particularly those involving former governing body members. The consent agenda was divided into three parts and was approved without separate discussion.

An add-on resolution was introduced and passed, authorizing an amendment to the contract with Earl Asphalt Company for the Northwest Barnegat Pines phase three Road Improvement project, resulting in a decrease in the contract amount by $27,886.94, which implies a cost-saving adjustment for the township.

During the public comments segment, community members expressed their appreciation for Deputy Mayor Veronica and Amy, acknowledging their contributions to the community. The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn and a reminder of the next scheduled meeting on January 1st at 12 noon.