At the outset of the meeting the mayor told the council that 2025 had been "a year of transition" for the Borough of Northvale and named four longtime community members who died that year.

The mayor said the borough lost John Bernie, described in the meeting as the borough’s longest-serving mayor at 24 years; Roger Hauser, described as the longest-serving municipal judge in Bergen County at 54 years; Charlie Amoroso, who served 38 years on the planning board and 58 years in the fire department; and Jerry Menehan, who sang and served at borough functions such as memorial services. The mayor asked the council and the public to remember those residents as the borough moves into 2026.

Council members offered brief year-end remarks praising teamwork, thanking borough staff and wishing residents a happy new year. The mayor and council reminded listeners that an awards and proclamation ceremony will be held at the borough’s reorganization meeting next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

No formal actions related to memorials were recorded; the remarks were delivered as opening comments and were followed by routine business.