Council Reorganization Meeting

REORGANIZATION MEETING: 1 January 6, 2026 MINUTES FOR THE REORGANIZATION MEETING OF THE MAYOR & COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF WALDWICK HELD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026 AT 7:00 PM Mayor Giordano called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm and welcomed everyone to the Reorganization Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Waldwick. This meeting is being held in conformance with the Sunshine law. Notice of time, date and place has been furnished to The Bergen Record and The Ridgewood News. Notice has also been posted on the bulletin board of the Administration Building. Mayor Giordano requested the Clerk read the results of the November 4, 2025 General Election results as certified by the Bergen County Clerk on November 19, 2025: Angela A. Smith 2,352 (Challenged) Alyson Courtney Wingate 2,301 (Challenged) At this time, we will have the oath of office for Council-Elect Angela A. Smith and family come up and our Municipal Clerk Kelley Halewicz, will administer the Oath of Office. The next order of business is for Council-Elect Alyson Courtney Wingate and family come up and our Municipal Clerk Kelley Halewicz, will administer the Oath of Office. Mayor Giordano asked everyone to rise for the Pledge of Allegiance, Moment of Silence Honoring Veterans and prayer. Mayor Giordano asked the Clerk to call the roll. Present on roll call: Mayor Giordano, Mr. Brennecke, Ms. Cericola-Drake, Mr. Martinello, Mr. Ritchie, Ms. Smith and Ms. Wingate. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS - Subject to Council confirmation Mayor Giordano asked the Clerk to read the Mayor’s Appointments subject to Council Confirmation: a) Board of Health Members Kathy Hillringhouse - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028 Donna Palladino - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028 Greg Hazley - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028 Allison Larro, Alternate #1 - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2027 b) Library Board of Trustees Donald Sciolaro - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2030 Dave Fytelson - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2030 Councilman Joe Martinello, Mayor’s Alternate - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026 Heather Del Piano, Superintendent’s Alternate - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026 c) Board of Adjustment Nadia Luppino - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2029 Bruce Mitchell - Alternate #2 - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2027 REORGANIZATION MEETING: 2 January 6, 2026 d) Environmental Advisory Committee Thomas McCormick, Executive Director - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028 Mohammad Quamrul Ahsan, Ph.D. - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028 Dan Montella - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028 Michele Weber to fill an unexpired term - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2027 e) Waldwick Access For All Cristina Colacci - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028 Jim Laughlin - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028 Michele Weber - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2028 f) Office of Emergency Management Lt. David Passaretti - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026 Anthony Paras - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026 Loucas Nestoros - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026 Council Member Motion Second Ayes Nays Abstain Absent Brennecke X X Cericola-Drake X Martinello X X Ritchie X Smith X Wingate X Mayor Giordano Mr. Ritchie recused himself from Part C, Board of Adjustment, Nadia Luppino. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS - Not subject to Council confirmation a) Planning Board Mark Ramundo, Class IV Member to fill unexpired term - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026 Joe Mysliwiec, Class II Member - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026 James Schultz, Alternate # 2 Member - January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2027 ELECTION OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT Mr. Brennecke made a motion to nominate Mr. Martinello as Council President for 2026. On roll call the motion carried. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES - Not subject to Council confirmation a) Financial & Administrative Committee: Mr. Martinello (Chair), Mr. Ritchie, Mr. Brennecke b) Fire & Police Protection Committee: Mr. Brennecke (Chair), Ms. Wingate, Mr. Martinello c) Public Safety Committee (Ambulance Corps): Ms. Wingate (Chair), Mr. Brennecke, Mr. Ritchie d) Recreation & Health Committee: Ms. Smith (Chair), Mr. Martinello, Ms. Cericola-Drake e) Public Works Committee: Mr. Ritchie (Chair), Mr. Brennecke, Ms. Cericola-Drake f) Buildings & Grounds Committee: Ms. Cericola-Drake (Chair), Ms. Wingate, Ms. Smith REORGANIZATION MEETING: 3 January 6, 2026 MAYOR’S APPOINTMENT OF LIAISON REPRESENTATIVES a) Board of Education - Councilwoman Courtney Wingate b) Emergency “911” Coordinator/OEM Team - Councilman Andy Brennecke c) NWBCUA - Councilman Michael Ritchie d) Environmental Advisory Committee, Green Team & Beautification Committee - Mayor Tom Giordano e) Waldwick Access For All Advisory Committee - Councilwoman Angela Smith f) Waldwick Library Board Mayor’s Liaison - Councilman Joe Martinello CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION NO. 2026-01 2026-01 Approval of Consent Agenda 2026-02 Establish Cash Management Plan 2026-03 Designation of Depositories for the Borough 2026-04 Designation of Depository - Dog Account 2026-05 Designation of Depository - Court Accounts 2026-06 Fixing Interest Rate on Delinquent Taxes 2026-07 Fixing Interest Rate on Delinquent Water Rents 2026-08 Fixing Interest Rate on Delinquent Sewer Charges 2026-09 Year End Penalty of 6% on All Outstanding Balances 2026-10 Authorize the Cancellation of Tax Overpayments or Delinquent Amounts Less than $10.00 2026-11 Authorize CFO to Clear All Inter-funds 2026-12 Authorize the Colleen Ennis, CFO to Maintain a Petty Cash Fund in the Amount of $400.00 2026-13 Designation of Meeting Dates, Times & Locations for 2026 2026-14 Adoption of Regular Meeting Agenda Format 2026-15 Designating Official Newspaper 2026-16 Authorize Hiring of Emergency Temporary Help 2026-17 Designation of Municipal Agent for Initiation, Settlement and Defense of Tax Appeals - Angela Mattiace 2026-18 Appointment of Tax Searcher - Colleen Ennis 2026-19 Appointment of Assessment Searcher - Kelley Halewicz 2026-20 Appointment of Subdivision Searcher - Boswell Engineering 2026-21 Appointment of Prosecutor - Joseph DeMarco 2026-22 Appointment of Appointing Authority - Tatiana Marquis 2026-23 Appointment of Public Agency Compliance Officer - Tatiana Marquis 2026-24 Appointment of Municipal Housing Liaison - Tatiana Marquis 2026-25 Appointment of Designated Employee Representatives 2026-26 Appointment of Deputy OEM Coordinator - Anthony Paras 2026-27 Appointment of 2026 C.E.R.T. Members 2026-28 Appointment - Class III Member, Planning Board - Councilwoman Katie Cericola-Drake 2026-29 Appointment of the JIF Commissioner & Alternate JIF Commissioner to the Bergen County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund 2026 2026-30 Approval of Take-Home Vehicles for 2026 2026-31 Adopt Interlocal Agreement for a Mutual Aid Plan and Rapid Deployment Force 2026-32 Adoption of Form Required to be Used for the Filing of Notices of Tort Claims Against the Borough of Waldwick in Accordance with the Provisions of the New Jersey Tort Claims Act, N.J.S.A. 59:8-6 REORGANIZATION MEETING: 4 January 6, 2026 2026-33 Governing Body Certification of Compliance with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s “Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decisions Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964” 2026-34 Resolution to Affirm the Borough of Waldwick’s Civil Rights Policy with Respect to All Officials, Appointees, Employees, Prospective Employees, Volunteers, Independent Contractors, and Members of the Public that Come into Contact with Municipal Employees, Officials and Volunteers 2026-35 Award Non-Fair & Open Professional Services Contract for Borough Attorney - Craig Bossong of Florio, Perrucci, Steinhardt, Cappelli & Tipton LLC 2026-36 Award Non-Fair & Open Professional Services Contract for Borough Labor Attorney - Mark Ruderman of Ruderman & Roth, P.C. 2026-37 Award Non-Fair & Open Professional Services Contract Borough Engineer - Kevin J. Boswell of Boswell Engineering 2026-38 Award Non-Fair & Open Professional Services Contract Borough Auditor - Gary Vinci of Lerch, Vinci & Higgins LLP 2026-39 Award Professional Services Contract Bond Counsel - Steven Rogut 2026-40 Award Professional Services Contract for Public Defender - William Quirk, Esq. 2026-41 Award Professional Services Contract Borough Planner - Paul Phillips of Phillips, Preiss, Shapiro Associates, Inc. 2026-42 Award Non- Fair & Open Professional Service Contract for Affordable Housing Administrative Agent to TKLD Consulting LLC 2026-43 Certify WALVAC as Provider of Basic Life Support Services to the Borough of Waldwick for 2026 2026-44 Execute Agreement with BCUA to Act as the Borough’s Certified Recycling Professional and Submit Annual Recycling Tonnage Report to NJDEP Discussion. None. Council Member Motion Second Ayes Nays Abstain Absent Brennecke X Cericola-Drake X Martinello X X Ritchie X Smith X X Wingate X Mayor Giordano APPROVAL OF THE 2026 TEMPORARY BUDGET Mayor Giordano asked the Clerk to read the 2026 Temporary Budget RESOLUTION NO. 2026-45 APPROVAL OF THE 2026 TEMPORARY BUDGET WHEREAS, Section 40a: 4-19 of Revised Statutes of the Local Budget Law provides that where any contracts, commitments or payments are to be made prior to the adoption of the current year budget, REORGANIZATION MEETING: 5 January 6, 2026 temporary appropriations be made for the purpose and amounts required in the manner and time therein provided; and, WHEREAS, the date of this resolution is within (30) days of January 1, 2026; and, WHEREAS, the total appropriations in the 2025 Current Fund budget exclusive of any appropriations made for interest and principal of debt, Capital Improvement Fund and for Public Assistance in said budget is the sum $15,493,363; and, WHEREAS, 35% of the total appropriations of the 2025 budget exclusive of any improvements made for Debt Service, Capital Improvement Fund and for Public Assistance is the sum of $ 5,422,677; and, WHEREAS, the total appropriations in the Water Utility Budget exclusive of any appropriations made for interest and principal of debt and Capital Improvement Fund in the 2025 budget is the sum of $ 1,907,953; and, WHEREAS, 35% of the total appropriations of the 2025 Water Utility Budget exclusive of any appropriation for the Debt Service and Capital Improvement Fund is the sum of $ 667,784; and, WHEREAS, the 2026 Temporary Budget has been distributed to the Governing body and is satisfactory to the Council. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the following 2026 Temporary Budget is hereby authorized and adopted and that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Chief Financial Officer for the Borough’s records. 2026 Temporary Budget 2025 Current Fund General Appropriations Budget - Sheet 29 $17,283,001 (-) Bond Principal Budget - Sheet 27 -$1,145,000 (-) Payment of BANS Budget - Sheet 27 -$125,200 (-) Interest on Bonds Budget - Sheet 27 -$88,635 (-) Interest on Notes Budget - Sheet 27 -$318,240 (-) Infrastructure - P&I Budget - Sheet 27 -$11,463 (-) Capital Improvement Fund Budget - Sheet 26 -$101,000 (-) Public Assistance Budget - Sheet 15b -$100 $15,493,363 35.00% 2026 Temporary Budget-Current $5,422,677 REORGANIZATION MEETING: 6 January 6, 2026 2025 Water Utility Utility Appropriations Budget - Sheet 33 $2,495,286 (-) Bond Principal Budget - Sheet 32b -$160,000 (-) Payment of BANS Budget - Sheet 32b -$14,500 (-) Interest on Bonds Budget - Sheet 32b -$13,107 (-) Interest on Notes Budget - Sheet 32b -$77,770 (-) Infrastructure - P&I Budget - Sheet 32b -$243,956 (-) Capital Improvement Fund Budget - Sheet 32b -$78,000 $1,907,953 35.00% 2026 Temporary Budget-Water $667,784 Council Member Motion Second Ayes Nays Abstain Absent Brennecke X X Cericola-Drake X Martinello X Ritchie X Smith X Wingate X X Mayor Giordano MAYOR’S MESSAGE Before I deliver my Mayors Message, I would ask everyone to turn to your left, right, in front of you behind you and say hello and introduce yourselves to each other. Good evening, Happy New Year and thank you for attending our 2026 Reorganization meeting of the Borough of Waldwick. I would like to thank Councilwoman Michele Weber and Councilman Mark Ramundo for their service on the Town Council. Thank you for your hard work, tireless efforts and genuine love for Waldwick. We will miss you. To our newly elected Councilwomen, Angela Smith and Courtney Wingate, congratulations on your election and welcome to this Council, whose sole focus is to serve the residents of Waldwick and to strive to make this community a wonderful place to live and raise a family. REORGANIZATION MEETING: 7 January 6, 2026 To Council Members Katie Cericola-Drake, Mike Ritchie, Andy Brennecke and Joe Martinello, thank you for your hard work and unselfish dedication this past year in moving Waldwick forward. To my wife Marion and all the council members’ spouses, thank you for all the support, love and understanding you give us as we work together for Waldwick. I want to welcome our new Borough Administrator, Tatiana Marquis, and our new Police Chief, Troy Seifert, and wish them great success in their new roles. I look forward to working with both of you as we strengthen Waldwick even further. To our Borough Clerk Kelley Halewicz, CFO Colleen Ennis, Assistant Clerk Melissa Librizzi, Waldwick Police Dept, Fire Dept, Ambulance Corp, DPW, CERT and all our Borough Employees, you are the backbone of our community and without your dedication to your jobs we would not be able to function as a borough. I would like to thank our appointed professionals and consultants for your diligence in providing guidance throughout the year. To all our residents who volunteer and put in many hours on different town committees, clubs and other organizations in Waldwick. I have always said there is a spirit of service here in Waldwick that is at the very heart of our community that holds us together. Without you, we could not accomplish all that we have and be the borough that we are. I would like to thank our businesses and welcome the new businesses that have made Waldwick their home this past year. Please support all our Waldwick businesses by shopping locally – your patronage is so important to their success! This past year we have had many accomplishments and improvements throughout the Borough, we continued with our goals and projects for our residents and community. Here is some of the work we have done. Please look on our website for a complete list of projects that have been set in motion. The Borough added two Special Law Enforcements Officers to the PD roster in support of our relationship with the Board of Education. These SLEO’s provide added security at all the schools and traffic support during drop-off and pick-up times. The program has been a tremendous success. The Police Department is also under new leadership with Chief Seifert. We wish him Lt. Passaretti, and newly sworn-in Lt. Moore, and the entire Department safety and success in 2026. The Borough replaced all the playground equipment at Lions Park in Borough Park. We are excited for a ribbon cutting in the Spring to officially open the new playground which we know will be a busy community meeting location for many of our families in town. The Borough invested in new servers, firewalls, security cameras and computer hardware increasing added efficiency, productivity, scalability, and an increased cyber security footprint. The Borough completed paving on the following roads in 2025 – Rustic Dr, Ackerman Dr, a portion of Grove St, Richard Dr, Charles Terr, Albert Pl, Herbert Dr, a portion of Floral Ln and Schuler Ave. We also completed work on Hudson Ave in preparation for future paving. REORGANIZATION MEETING: 8 January 6, 2026 A major HVAC & roofing renovation is underway at the pistol range and is expected to be completed in early 2025. This valuable facility allows our Police Department to meet rigorous training requirements without leaving Waldwick and serves as a training facility for other local agencies. Creation of a Water Quality Subcommittee - led by our professional water consultants. We addressed traffic safety concerns, especially around the schools. New Blinking Crosswalks were installed on Crescent Ave near the school and near the library. 2026 will be an opportunity for the Borough to continue providing the high-quality services that residents have come to expect. From the exceptional services provided by our first responders to garbage and recycling collection to snow and leaf removal to the road paving program to easily accessible and accommodating Borough employees, we strive to help all residents to the best of our ability by providing vital information on programs aimed at helping seniors, veterans and homeowners. While inflationary pressures and increased cost of goods and services continue to affect all municipalities, the same way our residents are dealing with the same challenges at home, we are forced to make difficult budgetary decisions. The Waldwick Water Department will be our primary focus. Together with our professionals, we will lay out a road map to continue addressing the issues that our residents have dealt with firsthand. We will use all resources available to the Borough to better understand our water system’s challenges and make improvements. These are just some of the items we are working on with much more that will come up. There will be challenges in 2026 and we will respond to them with diligence, determination, hard work and bold decisions. In Waldwick, we do not look backwards for a very long time. We keep on moving forward, opening new doors with new ideas. We are curious and curiosity will lead us down new paths that will lead to success. Albert Einstein said, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” Our destiny is ours to determine. How we go is ours to control. Let us continue our destiny to lead Waldwick forward never looking back but always looking to our future. Let us never let the light of Waldwick burn out, rather let the light of Waldwick light the way to our future. As we enter 2026, may we find inspiration all around us and motivation within us to be the very best version of ourselves. May we heal from the past, live fully in the present and dream boldly for the future. Let all our dreams turn into reality and all your efforts into great achievements. May 2026 bring all of you good health, joy, peace, prosperity and happiness. May God continue to bless all of you, our country and the place we all call home Waldwick. Happy New Year. OATH OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED TO WALDWICK VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS OFFICERS Mayor Giordano asked the officers of WALVAC to come forward to have their Oath of Office administered by the Clerk. REORGANIZATION MEETING: 9 January 6, 2026 OATH OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED TO WALDWICK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS Mayor Giordano asked the officers of Waldwick Volunteer Fire Department to come forward to have their Oath of Office administered by the Clerk. COUNCIL COMMENT Ms. Smith spoke to civic responsibilities. She vowed to be a voice for all of Waldwick. Mrs. Wingate thanked everyone for their support along the way. She has always considered herself to stand up for what she believes in and do what is right. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Giordano asked if any member of the public wished to come forward and to discuss anything and if so, please state your name for the record. Mary Amoroso, Bergen County Commissioner congratulated and presented commendations to the new councilwomen in honor and recognition of their swearing in as members of the Waldwick Council on behalf of the nearly 1 million residents of Bergen County, we thank you for your public service. Jared Lautz, Deputy Chief of Staff to Bergen County Executive James Tedesco, congratulated the new councilwomen and thanked them and the entire council for the sacrifices that they have made to serve the residents of Waldwick. He invited the new councilwomen to accept certificates from the County Executive. Mr. Brennecke congratulated Angela and Courtney and looking forward to working with them on any issue with new ways to look at things. He thanked Mark and Michele for the opportunity to work with them, and they are an asset to the Borough of Waldwick. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Mayor and Council at its Regular Meeting on MOTION by Ms. Smith, seconded by Mrs. Wingate and on roll call carried the meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm. Adopted: January 27, 2026 __________________________________ KELLEY HALEWICZ, RMC/CMC MUNICIPAL CLERK