Sayreville held its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 1, 2025, where the council swore in officials, confirmed borough professionals and adopted resolutions moving the borough's administrative and redevelopment agenda forward.

Mayor Kennedy O'Brien opened the meeting, led a review of accomplishments and outlined projects the borough expects in 2025: walking paths and renovated restrooms at Kennedy Park; parking and lighting improvements at Veterans Park; two new athletic fields at the borough recreation complex (to be put out to bid); and a large-scale revitalization effort for Bailey Park for which grant applications are being finalized. The mayor also said three large LED message signs have been placed around town (one is installed on Ernston Road, two more are planned) and reported that work has begun at the Riverton redevelopment site, including foundation work and a key lease the mayor said supports a $2,500,000,000 redevelopment plan.

The council administered oaths of office to returning and newly elected council members and volunteer emergency-service officers. The meeting included formal votes to appoint the borough's professional service providers for 2025 and to fill a long list of board and commission seats. Council members also approved a package of resolutions numbered 1 through 31 as part of the reorganization process.

During the public comment period, Charlie Cradaville, editor of New Brunswick Today, asked whether the borough's recently appointed municipal judge, Spencer B. Robbins, was the same person referenced in press coverage of a 2014 voter-fraud charge and asked who vetted the appointment. Borough officials said the judge had been vetted and said staff would follow up with the reporter. Cradaville also asked the council to restore remote public comment; the mayor said the borough removed remote comment as a post-COVID change and described the chamber as the venue for in-person business.

Votes at a glance

- Appointment of borough attorney: DeFrancesco (firm) — approved by roll call.
- Appointment of borough engineer: CME Associates and Morgan Municipal (individuals Dave Samuels and Mark Kohlmeier) — approved by roll call.
- Labor counsel: Rothstein, Mordell, Strom, Holm & Cipriani — approved by roll call.
- Borough auditor: Suppli, Cluny & Company — approved by roll call.
- Bond counsel: Archer & Greiner — approved by roll call.
- Accounting services: PFK O'Connor Davies — approved by roll call.
- Municipal prosecutors: Robert Scott LaMountain and John Krenzel — approved by roll call.
- Financial advisor: Northwest Financial Group — approved by roll call.
- Public defender: Roselli & Roselli — approved by roll call.
- Special counsel (tax matters and rent-leveling): Nolan & Lang — approved by roll call.
- Special counsel (other matters): Habinsky Law and Jordan Rickards — approved by roll call.
- Municipal planner: Acuity Consulting Services — approved by roll call.
- COAH/affordable-housing counsel: DeFrancesco, Bateman & Kuzmin and Acuity Consulting Services (administrative/planning) — approved by roll call.
- Architect: USA Architects — approved by roll call.
- Public agency compliance officer: Glenn Skarsinski — approved by roll call.
- Council president (2025): Donna Roberts — approved by roll call.
- Appointments to boards and commissions (multiple 1- to 5-year terms) — adopted in a single motion by roll call; one abstention noted on one specific board appointment.
- Adoption of resolutions nos. 131 (reorganization package) — approved by roll call.

Each motion above was moved and seconded during the meeting and adopted by roll call votes recorded on the record. Where a specific roll-call variation was recorded (for example, a single abstention recorded during the slate of board and commission appointments), the minutes show that abstention; for all other listed appointments the roll call recorded all present council members voting yes.

Why it matters

The reorganization meeting sets the borough's legal and administrative structure for the year: it confirms who will represent Sayreville in legal and financial matters, names board and commission members who shape land use and public programs, and establishes administrative continuity for pending projects. The council's confirmations also affect how quickly capital projects (parks and the Riverton redevelopment) can proceed because approved vendors and counsel are needed to move bids, contracts and planning matters forward.

What council members said and next steps

In his remarks, the mayor framed the Riverton work as a milestone and said a spring ceremony is planned to mark the development's vertical construction. He reiterated a pledge to seek outside funding to limit the local tax burden and credited volunteers and staff for recent progress. Council members welcomed returning and newly sworn officials and emphasized volunteer recruitment, public safety staffing and community service as priorities.

Staff said the borough will go to bid shortly for the new athletic fields at the recreation complex. The administration also said it would follow up with the reporter about the municipal judge question he raised during public comment.

Ending

The council closed its public-comment period after the reporter's questions and adjourned following a closing prayer. The appointments and resolutions approved at the meeting take effect in 2025 as the borough begins its regular agenda and project work.