Allendale council reorganizes: municipal judge sworn in, new council president chosen and meetings set for 7 p.m.

At its Jan. 6, 2025 reorganization meeting, the Borough of Allendale mayor and council approved a package of routine appointments and procedural changes, including the appointment and swearing in of municipal judge Christopher Bada, the naming of Greg Anderson as fire chief and Kevin Todd as fire official, and the election of Councilwoman Coleman as council president. The council also set its regular 2025 meeting time to 7:00 p.m., changed from 7:30 p.m.

The meeting opened with Linda reading the Open Public Meetings Act notice and a roll call. Mayor Wiesenski led ceremonial swearing-in for council members and then moved through a series of resolutions covering professional appointments, committee assignments and public-safety leadership.

Resolution 25-64 appointed Christopher Bada as municipal court judge. The council recorded the motion, a second and a roll-call vote in favor; Christopher Bada then repeated the oath to “support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State” and to “faithfully” perform the duties of municipal court judge for the Borough of Allendale.

On leadership, the council considered Resolution 25-02 to elect a council president. A nomination was made to put forth Councilwoman Coleman; the nomination was seconded and approved by roll call.

Council members approved Resolution 25-03 setting the time and place of regular mayor-and-council meetings for 2025. Mayor Wiesenski told the body that, “for, I guess, first time ever, we’re gonna start our council meetings at 07:00 now instead of 07:30,” a scheduling change the council adopted as part of the motion.

Other routine reorganization items passed by voice/roll call under the consent agenda and individual motions: Resolution 25-05 (appointment of borough professionals), Resolution 25-07 (appointment of standing committees, with reported committee assignments and several personnel swaps), Resolution 25-08 (appointment of Greg Anderson as fire chief; the mayor said Anderson could be sworn in at the firehouse or at the next meeting), and Resolution 25-09 (appointment of Kevin Todd as fire official; the mayor noted Todd has served previously).

The consent agenda, which included professionals and other routine matters, was moved, seconded and approved. No staff reports were offered during the meeting, and when the mayor opened the floor for public comment none was received. The council moved to adjourn following the procedural business.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 25-64 (appointment of municipal judge Christopher Bada): approved by roll call. - Resolution 25-02 (election of council president): nomination of Councilwoman Coleman approved by roll call. - Resolution 25-03 (time and place of meetings for 2025): approved; meeting start time set to 7:00 p.m. - Resolution 25-05 (appointment of borough professionals): approved via roll call/consent. - Resolution 25-07 (standing committee assignments): approved; committee membership and second assignments noted. - Resolution 25-08 (appointment of fire chief Greg Anderson): approved; swearing-in deferred. - Resolution 25-09 (appointment of fire official Kevin Todd): approved by roll call.

What this means: The reorganization meeting mostly completed customary annual housekeeping — staffing the bench, naming council leadership, reorganizing committees and adjusting the meeting schedule. There were no substantive policy debates or public objections recorded; next steps noted by the council included swearing in the new fire chief at a later date and carrying committee work carried forward into 2025.