Garfield council elects E Garto Jr. as mayor, names deputy mayors and reappoints city manager

Garfield’s Mayor and Council convened a reorganization meeting on Jan. 1, 2025, certified the Nov. 5, 2024 municipal election results and elected E Garto Jr. as mayor by ballot of the council.

City Clerk Erin Nora Delini read and certified the election totals before the council took oaths of office for newly elected members. "I, Erin Nora Delini, city clerk of the city of Garfield, Bergen County, New Jersey, hereby certify that at the municipal election held ... the following candidates were elected," Delini said, listing vote totals and turnout figures.

Following roll call, council members cast ballots under the applicable New Jersey statute governing selection of a mayor by council. Council member Delany, Council member Kane, Council member Raymond, Council member Garto and Council member Roso each cast ballots for E Garto Jr.; with five affirmative ballots E Garto Jr. was declared mayor and subsequently sworn in before family by the presiding judge.

The council then moved through a series of organizational resolutions. Resolution R-125 establishing the order of roll call was adopted after a motion by Richard Roso and a second by Raymond. Resolution R-022, the selection of deputy mayors, was adopted next; the resolution as transcribed names "Gana M. Santa Raymond" and "pev K Jr" as deputy mayors through Dec. 31, 2028 (transcription of appointee names is as recorded in the meeting text). The council also adopted R-3 appointing the mayor as the redevelopment agency representative and R-425 appointing Deputy Mayor Kevin K. Jr. as a Class 3 planning board member for a specified term.

By Resolution R-525 the council reappointed the city manager to a one-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2025 and continuing to Jan. 1, 2026. The resolution directs that the city manager execute a contract outlining salary, benefits and employment terms and references duties under N.J.S.A. and the city code, including filing the tentative municipal budget and supervising department heads. The reappointed manager then took the oath to "support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey" and to faithfully perform the duties of the office.

The council approved a consent agenda (R-332) covering routine items and mayoral appointments to various boards and commissions. Public comment was opened (speakers were invited to state their name and address and allowed five minutes) but no substantive public testimony changed the agenda.

In remarks after the formal business, Mayor E Garto Jr. thanked voters and colleagues and pledged to lead with integrity and a commitment to service. "I pledge to lead with Integrity, fairness and steadfast commitment to serving each and every one," he said in his remarks. Council members similarly thanked families and campaign teams and emphasized transparency and community engagement as priorities for the new term.

What’s next: the council completed its organizational votes and oaths at the Jan. 1 meeting and moved on to routine business. Any follow-up tasks (contract execution for the city manager, formal documentation of appointee names and term dates) will be completed by the appropriate municipal offices as part of standard post-reorganization procedures.