New Milford swears in councilwoman, names Seymour council president and confirms appointments

The New Milford Mayor and Council convened a 2026 reorganization meeting that included the swearing-in of a council member, leadership nominations, committee reappointments and a package of resolutions.

Councilwoman Randy Duffy was sworn in after the clerk certified the 2025 general election results for Duffy and Councilwoman Sanders. "I just want to say thank you to the people of New Milford for having the confidence in me in electing me to another term," Duffy said after taking the oath, adding that her service on PTO, recreation and scouts shaped her approach to community service.

The nut graf: the council moved quickly through ceremonial duties and routine housekeeping, then turned to leadership and committee business — naming a council president, reestablishing standing committees and confirming dozens of appointments that staff said are necessary for municipal operations in 2026.

Mayor (presiding official) nominated Councilman Matt Seymour to serve as council president; the council approved the nomination with one member voicing opposition during the roll call. The mayor then read liaison assignments for council members across boards and commissions, including environmental and energy, public works, fire, police, planning, education and senior-services-related committees.

Officials also announced recent fire-department leadership changes. The mayor and clerk recognized former Fire Chief Ralph Leonardi for his service and named Chief Thomas Ryan as the new fire chief, with an assistant chief, deputy chief, captains and lieutenants listed by the clerk. Municipal staff read a longer list of professional appointments, including the borough attorney; borough engineer; municipal auditor; bond counsel; planner; municipal judge; prosecutor; and public defender, among others.

Council took a series of voice votes to confirm committee and commission appointments. The clerk presented slates for the Arts Committee, Historic Preservation Commission, library board, planning board class designations, the Recreation Advisory Board, the Rent Leveling Board (tenant/homeowner/landlord representatives and alternates), the senior center advisory board and several ad hoc and standing committees. The finance committee, budget committee and mayor's wellness committee were reestablished with named membership.

The public-comment period was opened and closed without members of the public stepping forward. The meeting concluded with the council adopting a packet of 2026 resolutions (listed in the record as 2026:01 through 2026:64) by voice vote and brief closing remarks.

What happened procedurally: the council approved prior meeting minutes, adopted Resolution 2025:277 (budget transfers for the 2025 municipal budget), moved to formally close the 2025 calendar year matters, swore in council members, voted on leadership and committee appointments, and adopted the 2026 resolutions packet. Where the transcript records only a voice vote or "all in favor," the record does not list a roll-call tally in the transcript for most items.

Authorities and legal context: the presiding official read a statement that the meeting was held in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law, which the clerk said was satisfied by publishing and posting notice of the meeting.

Looking ahead: no new substantive policy votes or contested ordinances were recorded during the reorganization; the council's actions were primarily ceremonial and administrative to place appointed bodies and municipal officers in their roles for 2026.

Quotes used in this article come from the meeting transcript and are attributed to the speakers who made them in the record.