The selection of the council president was a focal point of the meeting, leading to a significant procedural debate. The nomination process began with Councilwoman Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg, the vice president, being nominated first, as stipulated by an ordinance adopted in April 2023. However, the process sparked A discussion among council members. Some members expressed discomfort with the ordinance’s requirement that the vice president be the first nominee to be considered. They argued that all nominations should be presented simultaneously before any voting occurred, citing fairness and transparency concerns. One council member stated, “I’ve never in the history of politics… seen it operate like that. I’ve always seen it where all nominations are put up at the same time and then we vote on each of them one by one.”

Despite this, the city attorney maintained that the ordinance required a vote on the vice president’s nomination first. The council member who raised the initial concern argued that nominating and voting should be separate processes.

The vote on Councilwoman Kettenburg’s nomination resulted in a tie, with three votes in favor and three against, thus failing to secure a majority. Subsequently, the floor was opened for additional nominations. Councilwoman Jennifer Williams was nominated again but failed to receive a second, leading to another failed motion. Ultimately, Councilwoman Gonzalez was nominated, and her nomination was confirmed with unanimous support.

With the new council president elected, the council quickly moved to nominate a vice president. Jasi Mikae Edwards was nominated for the position, and with no further nominations presented, the vote resulted in unanimous approval, confirming her role as vice president.

The meeting also addressed changes in public notification practices due to the imminent cessation of print publication by the Trenton Times. A resolution was discussed to amend the public notification process to include the US1 newspaper as a potential source for public notices. The council deliberated on whether the US1 newspaper met statutory circulation requirements. Concerns were raised about its effectiveness as a means of communication, given the changes in local newspaper circulation. After discussing the compliance of the US1 newspaper with statutory requirements, the resolution was amended to include it, passing with one abstention. The council then voted on the revised resolution, confirming the inclusion of the US1 newspaper for public notifications.

In addition to these topics, the council members expressed gratitude and acknowledged their reelections, reflecting on their achievements and the challenges ahead. Councilman Joseph Harrison, among others, thanked constituents and supporters, highlighting infrastructural improvements and community initiatives in their respective wards. Council members also emphasized the importance of collaboration and continuity in governance, with a focus on transparency and accountability.