Ramsey council reorganizes for 2025, confirms officers and committee appointments; introduces two ordinances

Mayor Deirdre Dillon presided over Ramsey's 2025 reorganization meeting on Jan. 6, when the borough council elected a council president, approved volunteer emergency-services officers and municipal appointments, adopted routine governing resolutions and gave first readings to two ordinances.

The council elected Council President Peter Kilman in a roll-call vote after nominations; the motion to elect Kilman passed with five yes votes and one abstention. Council members then adopted a set of organizational resolutions including bylaws for the year, the calendar of regular meetings, and the borough's policy and procedures manual for 2025.

Councilwoman Judy Cusick reported on board and commission activity and on water-supply items raised during the meeting. “PFAS … are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water,” Cusick said as part of her update on water-quality work. She also reported that the borough's lead service line replacement project continues and said the meeting record lists a compliance date as “02/1931” (not specified in the meeting record).

The council approved lists of officers for the volunteer fire department, volunteer rescue squad and volunteer ambulance corps for 2025 by resolution, and confirmed a large number of municipal appointments and committee liaisons displayed on the agenda. Those approvals were handled largely in grouped roll-call votes with no substantive debate on the floor.

Two ordinances were introduced by first reading and scheduled for final consideration at a later meeting: an amendment to Chapter 19 of the borough code concerning fees for water usage (ordinance O-1-2025), and an ordinance to appropriate $165,000 for the purchase of vehicles and equipment for the Ramsey Police Department (first reading; capital appropriation). Both were introduced by title and set for final passage at the council's next regular meeting in January 2025.

The meeting included a brief administrative item noting a resolution to confirm new sewer rates approved by the Board of Public Works; the transcript identifies a sewer-rate resolution but does not list the resolution number or provide the adopted rate figures in the public record for this meeting (not specified). The council also moved a group of agenda resolutions (resolutions 12–22 and 27–31 were moved and approved together) that covered a broad set of routine appointments and confirmations.

Council President Peter Kilman used his remarks after the election to thank voters and his family. “I'm deeply honored. Serving on this council is a privilege,” Kilman said.

Mayor Dillon closed the meeting by thanking volunteers across the borough's emergency and civic organizations and noting the importance of volunteer service to Ramsey. “Without the volunteers, Ramsey would not be Ramsey,” Dillon said.

The meeting adjourned after the council completed the reorganizational votes and the first readings; final action on the introduced ordinances will occur at a later meeting as noticed by the borough clerk.