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Clark Township Council re-elects William Smith as president, confirms appointments and adds special counsel

Clark Township Council · January 6, 2026

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Summary

At its Jan. 5 reorganization meeting, Clark Township Council elected William Smith president and Frank Mazzarella vice president, confirmed several mayoral appointments including Albert Cruz as director of law, and approved adding special counsel Robert F. Verdi to the agenda (passed with one abstention).

William Smith was sworn in as council president at Clark Township’s Jan. 5 reorganization meeting after a council nomination and unanimous roll-call confirmation. Frank Mazzarella was confirmed and sworn in as vice president the same night.

The reorganization session included mayoral appointments. Mayor Angel Albanese announced Albert Cruz as director of law and named Cynthia Sang to the library board of trustees (five-year term) with Jessica Hoff and Carla Wagner designated as alternates for one-year terms. The council moved and approved a slate of mayoral appointments that also included planning-board, emergency-management and county-board liaisons.

Mayor Albanese praised local volunteers and staff and said the administration is focusing on finishing work on the 2026 budget. "It's an honor to serve the citizens of Clark as your mayor," Albanese said.

Council adopted the consent agenda for routine resolutions (items 3 through 47) after pulling one item for separate consideration. The council then moved to add resolution 15 as a separate, special-counsel appointment naming Robert F. Verdi of LaCourte, Bundy, Verdi & Consella; the roll-call to add the resolution recorded one abstention from Council member Jessica Hoff and the remaining members in favor.

Council president and committee leadership for 2026 were announced, including Finance, Legislative, Public Safety, Parks and Recreation and Public Works committees and council liaisons to the Board of Education, emergency services and other local boards. Public hearings were set for ordinances introduced later in the meeting.

The meeting ended after brief departmental remarks and expressions of thanks to staff and volunteers; the council adjourned to meet again in two weeks.