Town of Westfield

The meeting commenced with the reading of the Open Public Meetings Act compliance statement. Key discussions included appointments and re-appointments to the Board, the election of officers where Dr. Talmont continued as President and Ms. Donnelly was elected Vice President, and the designation of official news media outlets. Under consent agenda reports, updates on Health Department activities were reviewed, including the temporary closure of 1958 Cuban Cuisine due to sanitation issues and the pending hearing for Peking Garden due to repeated unsatisfactory ratings. Financial reports for November and December, totaling $30,971.22, were approved. Old business involved the distribution of the 2026 meeting schedule. New business centered on the approval of the 2026 Budget and the approval of three resolutions: Resolution 1-2026 for STI services agreement with the City of Elizabeth, Resolution 2-2026 for pest control services with Pest-Gone, and Resolution 3-2026 for Medical Director services with Dr. Jamie Reedy. During the public portion, a resident questioned the Board's policy on feral cats and TNR programs. The meeting adjourned at 5:35 PM.

The reorganization meeting covered the swearing in of new and reappointed members. Following the roll call, officers for 2026 were elected, with Michael Ash as Chair and Michael La Place as Vice-Chair. Maria Rose Breien was appointed as Secretary. Resolutions were passed to appoint Alan Trembulak, Esq. as the Board Attorney for both ordinary and extraordinary services. Committee appointments were established, including the Site Plan Review Subcommittee, which now includes Chairman Ash and Evan Cohen, and the Affordable Housing Committee, continuing with Chairman Ash and Vice-Chair La Place. Ann Freedman was reappointed as the Planning Board member liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission, and Brian Capps agreed to continue as the liaison to the Tree Preservation Committee. Donald Sammet was sworn in as the Town Planner, and the schedule for 2026/2027 meetings was approved.

The meeting involved appointments and re-appointments to the Board, including the selection of a Council Liaison, and the election of Board Officers for 2026, including the President and Vice President. Committee appointments for 2026 were designated based on the elected President. Official news media for the Board were designated. Discussion items included the 2026 Meeting Dates and the 2026 Budget. The agenda also covered several consent reports (Health Department, Vital Statistics, Animal Control) and financial reports for November and December 2025, as well as bills for those months. New business included authorizing resolutions for agreements with the City of Elizabeth for STD services, Pest-Gone for pest control services, and Dr. Jamie Reedy as Medical Director. Other business included a review of the Peking Garden Inspection History.

The meeting commenced with a public hearing and included the swearing-in of the Town Engineer, Michael Bignell. Key discussion points involved an update from the Historic Preservation Commission regarding the county's 250th anniversary, the inclusion of Westfield on the Washington Rochambeau Trail map, and an upcoming historic designation for 625 Westfield Avenue, notable for its Japanese residents around 1910. Furthermore, the Board discussed the importance of establishing more historic districts due to current demolition rates and addressed the ongoing issue regarding the Town's application for Certified Local Government status due to concerns with the Demolition Ordinance.

The Mayor acknowledged Holocaust Remembrance Day and expressed gratitude to the Public Works, Police, Fire Departments, and Volunteer Rescue Squad for their efforts during the recent winter storm, noting that Public Works plowed over 1,600 miles of road surfaces and shoveled 5.9 miles of sidewalks, while the Police Department issued nearly 100 citations for vehicles obstructing plowing. Discussion also covered the Saks Global bankruptcy, where the Town Council plans to hold an executive session with attorneys to discuss the matter and protect the Town's fiscal health. Upcoming events noted included a Senior Fraud Seminar and Valentine's Bingo on February 3, the opening of Summer Playground camp registration on February 2, and the Recreation Department hosting the Me & My Gal Dance on March 8. The formal agenda included two ordinances on second reading concerning the implementation of salary ranges following union negotiations for town employees.