January 19th Reorganization and Regular Meeting

The following is a summary of the Verona Town Council biennial reorganization meeting on January 19th, 2026.

Congratulations to my colleagues - Cynthia Holland, Jack McEvoy, and Christopher Tamburro, who won re-election and were (re) sworn in at our Reorganization Meeting.

After they were sworn in, we voted on who will assume the title of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. With a vote of 3-2, (Councilwoman Holland and I were the dissenting votes), Chris Tamburro was re-elected Mayor and Jack McEvoy re-elected Deputy Mayor. I wish them lots of luck as they continue on in their leadership positions.

After the re-organization meeting, we had a regular meeting of the Verona Town Council. We introduced two ordinances. The first is the Comcast franchise agreement. The franchise fee is 3.5%. This agreement includes a contribution to the Township of $75,000 for new AV equipment that we already installed in Council Chambers. In addition, Comcast agreed to provide courtesy service to Township and Board of Education properties. The second reading and final vote on this ordinance will be at our next meeting. Comments should be sent to the entire Council here: https://www.veronanj.org/councilcontactform.

The second ordinance on introduction is a Redevelopment Plan for 320 Bloomfield Avenue/11 Church Street. This re-development plan will go to the Planning Board for review. The time to make public comment will be at that meeting. If you are interested in this potential re-development, I encourage you to watch carefully the Planning Board meetings and agendas here: https://www.veronanj.org/planningboard.

Under resolutions, we approved many of our standard resolutions that are required at the start of the financial year. We approved the municipal prosecutor and public defender with our shared court with Essex Fells and North Caldwell. We authorized the Planning Board to look at 251 1/2 Grove Avenue as an Area in Need of Redevelopment. We authorized Boswell Engineering to develop concept plans to make the open space at 25 Commerce Court more accessible to the public. We filed our DEP Green Acres Open Space Land Acquisition request. We finalized our change order for the Everett Field project (the capital was increased a few meetings ago). Finally we approved a walk-on resolution to apply to the NJ DEP for a Treatment Works Approval for our sewer plant.

Finally, we voted on the Council liaison appointments for the next two years. I voted against the package of appointments, as I continue to have concerns on who from the Council is appointed to the Planning Board. The appointments did pass 4-1. My assignments will be the Open Space Committee, Neighborhood Traffic and Safety Advisory Committee, and Shade Tree Commission. I will be very happy to serve on all three Boards.

Our next meeting is on Monday, February 9th. All comments should be sent to all Council members using the following link: https://www.veronanj.org/councilcontactform.