Egg Harbor Township committee completes reorganization, approves appointments and introduces five ordinances

Egg Harbor Township Committee members on Monday completed their annual reorganization and approved a series of routine appointments, personnel actions and first-reading ordinances as the body set its calendar for 2025.

The committee appointed Laura Frommer as mayor and Ray Ellis as deputy mayor, swore in several elected and volunteer officials, and approved hiring actions for police and fire personnel. The committee also introduced five ordinances related to the municipal budget and employee salary schedules and approved a consent calendar that included routine resolutions and the December payroll.

The mayoral appointment was approved after a nomination and second and followed by an oath of office for Frommer. The committee then conducted roll call and a series of recorded votes on personnel and volunteer appointments. Resolution 3, appointing two new police officers, passed on a roll call in which Joseph Cafaro, Ray Ellis, Paul Hudson, William Pauls and Laura Frommer voted yes. The committee also approved multiple volunteer fire company leadership appointments and other board assignments presented under resolutions 4 through 16 and a larger consent calendar (resolutions 17–82). The committee approved the December payroll of $1,772,376.50.

Ordinances 1 through 5 were introduced on first reading. Ordinance 1 was described as “an ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank under New Jersey statute 48:4-45.14.” Ordinances 2–5 set 2025 salary ranges for several bargaining units and specific employee groups; public hearings for those ordinances were scheduled for Feb. 5, 2025 at 5 p.m.

Committee discussion and public comment were brief or procedural for most items. Several votes were taken by roll call; others were approved by general “aye” voice vote when the meeting record shows no individual roll-call responses. Where the meeting record lists a roll call, the article reports the names and recorded votes; where the transcript shows only “all in favor” the article reports that the item passed by voice vote.

Other routine business included swearing in volunteer fire chiefs and officers and recognizing outgoing or deceased community members. The governing body also opened a separate public hearing later in the meeting on a Green Acres grant application for Veterans Memorial Park (see separate article).

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 1 — Appointment of mayor (Laura Frommer). Outcome: adopted after nomination and oath of office. Vote method: voice vote (“Aye” on record). Motion/second: nomination recorded; second recorded. Notes: term beginning 01/01/2025 as stated in the resolution.

- Deputy mayor appointment — Ray Ellis. Outcome: adopted by voice vote and subsequent oath. Vote method: voice vote.

- Resolution 3 — Appointment of police officers Giovanni Bridal and Chad Frazier. Outcome: adopted. Roll call: Joseph Cafaro — Yes; Ray Ellis — Yes; Paul Hudson — Yes; William Pauls — Yes; Laura Frommer — Yes.

- Resolutions 4–16 — Appointments to municipal boards and commissions (economic development commission; emergency management council; green team advisory committee; planning board; recreation board; zoning board; veterans advisory board; MUA members; municipal alliance; police chaplains; and others). Outcome: adopted. Vote method: recorded roll call indicated in meeting minutes with “Yes” votes recorded for the committee members present.

- Volunteer fire company leadership approvals (multiple volunteer fire company chiefs, assistant chiefs and fire police appointments). Outcome: adopted; oath administered to volunteer chiefs on the record.

- Consent calendar (resolutions 17–82). Outcome: adopted by motion and roll call.

- Resolution 83 — Authorizing payment of bills. Outcome: adopted by motion and roll call.

- Payroll approval — December payroll of $1,772,376.50. Outcome: adopted by motion and voice vote.

- Ordinances 1–5 — Introduced on first reading; public hearings set for Feb. 5, 2025, at 5 p.m. Ordinance 1’s stated purpose: to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank under New Jersey statute 48:4-45.14. Ordinances 2–5 set 2025 salaries for bargaining units including CWA, Teamsters Local 331 and PBA members. Outcome: introduction approved; first-reading votes recorded as shown in the meeting record.

The committee closed the meeting after a benediction and the singing of “God Bless America.”