Donna J. Gariglia was sworn in and reappointed mayor and Jeff Graysell was nominated and sworn in as deputy mayor at the Morris Township Committee reorganization meeting on Jan. 2, 2025. Committee members also swore in Mark Jorphy to a three-year term and approved 14 organizational resolutions establishing appointments, committee assignments and administrative procedures for the year.

The reorganizational meeting — held at the Morris Township Municipal Building, 50 Woodland Avenue — was ceremonial in nature and the committee did not take public comment. The governing body read and approved a block of organizational resolutions covering standing committees, statutory appointments, professional contracts, the 2025 meeting schedule, cash-management and a temporary operating budget. One resolution appointing volunteer fire officers was pulled briefly for a member’s stated recusal and then approved.

Why it matters: Reorganization meetings set municipal leadership, committee assignments and the administrative rules the township will use through the year. Approvals at this session put those appointments and operating rules into effect as the township begins the 2025 calendar year.

The meeting opened with an invocation by Reverend Father Thomas Fallon and a pledge of allegiance led by Township Administrator Tim Quinn. Township Attorney Jared Kanter administered oaths of office to incoming and returning committee members. In addition to Gariglia and Graysell, the committee present for the roll calls included Mark Jorphy, Steve Giannada and Bud Ravitz.

Votes at a glance

- O1-25: Establishing 13 standing committees and appointing members for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025 — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O2-25: Appointing construction official and subcode officials for three-year terms through 12/31/2027 — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O3-25: Appointing positions created by statute or ordinance — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O4-25: Appointing special police officer (class 3), police matron and school crossing guard for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025 — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O5-25: Appointing volunteer officers for the fire department for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025 — pulled for a member’s stated recusal and then approved by roll call (5–0).
- O6-25: Appointing deputy coordinators of the Office of Emergency Management for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025 — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O7-25: Appointing municipal professionals for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025 — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O8-25: Establishing the 2025 Township Committee meeting schedule and the 2026 reorganization meeting (regular meetings at 7 p.m.; closed sessions at 5:00/5:30 p.m. as indicated) — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O9-25: Authorizing certain public officials to conduct township banking matters — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O10-25: Authorizing the cash-management plan as submitted by the municipal financial officer — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O11-25: Adopting a temporary operating budget — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O12-25: Establishing interest rates and penalties on delinquent taxes and sewer fees, tax sale costs, and cancellation of small balances — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O13-25: Authorizing claimant signature requirements policy — approved by roll call (5–0).
- O14-25: Authorizing the qualified purchasing agent to award contracts above a stated small-purchase threshold and below the formal bid threshold — approved by roll call (5–0). The transcript record of the exact dollar thresholds in O14-25 was unclear.

Meeting context and next steps

The committee noted community events and goals for 2025 during brief committee remarks, including continued attention to affordable housing, stormwater management and infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks and multiuse pathways. Several elected and municipal dignitaries attended and were recognized during the ceremony. The committee scheduled its next regular meeting for Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, at 7 p.m., with closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m.; an in‑person meeting with a courtesy Zoom link was announced.

The session closed with a benediction by Rabbi Adam Gilman and a brief reception for attendees. No formal policy debates or public-comment items were on the reorganization agenda.