Frank Catanese

The meeting commenced with the administration of oaths of office to newly elected or reelected committee members Michael Cohen and James Cerudo. A significant portion of the meeting involved multiple roll call votes to elect the Mayor for 2026, ultimately resulting in the election of Frank Sakamandi. Following the mayoral election, David Cosgrove was nominated and elected as Deputy Mayor. The Mayor subsequently offered remarks regarding collaboration, transparent governance, and focusing on responsible development and fiscal responsibility. The meeting concluded with discussions about mayoral appointments after a brief recess.

The meeting featured the presentation of a proclamation and the introduction of a probationary firefighter recruit, Emily, who has a background in the U.S. Navy and prior experience as a volunteer firefighter and 911 dispatcher. The committee approved her appointment. Committee reports highlighted the success of the Santa's Mailbox Receipt promotion, yielding approximately $46,000 in revenue. Updates were provided on upcoming promotions like the Super Bowl event and a World Cup viewing festival. Financial reports celebrated the township securing a AAA bond rating and saving approximately $400,000 through strategic timing of bond anticipation notes. Discussions covered flood mitigation advocacy, wastewater status, and the initiation of plans for a joint project with the board of education to increase athletic fields without new tax increases. The Deputy Mayor mentioned an upcoming Historic Preservation Committee meeting regarding the Woodfield Estates historic district designation. The Mayor emphasized strong public safety metrics, noting crime is at its lowest reported levels since 2021, and praised the police and fire departments for their service, including a recent rescue of a person stuck in mud. Fiscal responsibility was noted, with the municipal tax rate increase significantly lagging behind inflation. Finally, the committee confirmed ongoing work on affordable housing plans to maintain local control over development.

The meeting included administrative tasks such as approving the agenda and approving the minutes of the January 6, 2026 Organization Meeting. Departmental reports covered several topics: the Recreation Committee skate club is running well; explore Milburn Shore Hills encouraged residents to shop local for the Super Bowl; the Board of Education liaison provided updates on the strategic planning process and the near completion of the MHS auditorium; and a joint facilities update noted the finalization of the shared services agreement for fields. A key discussion involved concerns raised with New Jersey Transit regarding upcoming service shutdowns into Penn Station and the state of repair of local station platforms. Council reports highlighted the election of a new library board president, a successful fundraiser at the arboretum, and the initial meeting of the zoning code subcommittee concerning ordinances for Fair Share housing agreements. The Historic Preservation Commission unanimously voted to move forward with the Woodfield Estates matter. Reports also touched on the Shade Tree Advisory Board, joint dispatch communications, and an upcoming review of water treatment and sewage facilities. The Mayor's address recognized February as Black History Month and noted that the Environmental Commission is planning for Earth Day and rolling out the first web-based Environmental Resource Inventory in 12 years. Reports from committee members detailed work on drafting amendments to sidewalk ordinances near construction sites, consulting on Special Area of Assessment standards, and preparing several ordinances related to the fourth round Fair Share housing compliance, including changes to zoning codes for site-specific density increases and the Upton pad site development. Finally, the Charter Study Commission presented its preliminary findings from interviews, emphasizing the critical role of the strong Business Administrator (BA) structure, noting that the current governmental effectiveness heavily depends on personalities, and confirming the vital importance of the BA reform from the early 1980s.

The meeting focused on procedural matters and engagement with newly introduced legal counsel. Key discussions included the posting of the agenda, the process for interviewing municipal employees (recommended to be private) versus elected officials (at the Commission's discretion), and the structure for reporting interview findings. Public comments addressed agenda posting frequency, transparency of interviews, and potential safeguards against anecdotal evidence skewing the final report. The Commission confirmed interview findings would be shared after Phase 1 completion. Furthermore, logistics for future meetings were established, noting a transition to in-person meetings with hybrid attendance starting January 15, 2026, at 8:00 PM.

The agenda for this meeting included the approval of the agenda, followed by committee reports and a presentation providing an update from the Charter Study Commission. The session involved several consent agenda items, such as approving the bills list, authorizing a tax appeal credit, and making appointments to the Citizen Advisory Committee on Affordable Housing and the Advisory Committee on Culture, Engagement, Diversity and Arts (CEDA). Additional resolutions authorized the execution of stipulations of settlement for multiple tax appeals, and a Shared Services Agreement between the Township and the Millburn Board of Education regarding the construction, maintenance, and use of turf fields at Millburn High School. The Committee also introduced ordinances regarding the designation of "The Woodfield Short Hills Estates" as a historic district and amendments to establish the Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee and adjust resident requirements for advisory committees. Old Business included updates on Taylor Park Gateway and a proposed Long Term Strategic Plan Advisory Committee. New Business covered downtown parking/sidewalk improvements and community holiday decorations/lighting.