Fairfield reorganizes leadership, confirms contracts and board appointments at Jan. 5 meeting

Fairfield Mayor Gallese opened the townshipreorganizational meeting at 6:03 p.m. on Jan. 5 and delivered an address highlighting infrastructure projects, public-safety staffing and municipal finances.

In his remarks, Mayor Gallese noted recent capital and service improvements and said the township "secured over $600,000 in grants for various projects to relieve the burden on the taxpayers." He also cited a Moody's "double A" bond rating and reported that 22,606 people used the library in the past year.

The meeting's first formal business was the certification of election results and the administration of oaths to newly elected officials. The clerk announced the Essex County Board of Canvassers' certification of the elections of Michael McGlynn and Joseph Caffelli to three-year council terms. Both were administered the oath of office; Councilman Michael McGlynn then thanked residents for his 18 years of service and pledged to continue serving the township.

Council membership was reorganized for 2026. A motion to nominate Councilman McGlynn as council president passed by roll call. Mayor Gallese announced liaison assignments for the year: the mayor will take the police department and the library board; Council President McGlynn will be liaison to the fire department and public works; Councilman Cicelli will take finance and emergency management; Councilman Campisi will take the municipal alliance and environmental commission duties; and Councilman LaForge will take Planning Board and Recreation Department liaison responsibilities.

The council considered and approved a slate of professional service contracts for 2026, including the nomination of Inglisino & Taylor as township attorney, Gibbons, PC as bond counsel, Samuel Klein & Company as auditors, Burgess Associates as township planner and Hendricks Appraisal Company for appraisal services. A representative from Inglisino & Taylor thanked the mayor and council for the appointment during public comment.

The mayor also announced reappointments for township legal positions: Joseph Catanaro Jr. was listed for reappointment as township prosecutor and Robert A. Warmington as public defender; both took the oath and addressed the council. (Note: the meeting transcript contains inconsistent name renderings in the oath administration for the prosecutor; the nomination and the public thanks identify Joseph Catanaro Jr. as the reappointed prosecutor.)

The council moved the consent agenda, which included designation of official newspapers, adoption of a 2026 temporary budget, various purchasing authorizations under state and regional cooperatives, interest-and-penalty resolutions for delinquent taxes, and multiple municipal representative appointments (assessment search officer; community development block grant representatives; joint insurance fund representative; municipal housing liaison; certified recycling coordinator; solid waste advisory council members). The consent agenda passed by roll call vote with ayes recorded by members present.

Mayor Gallese also reappointed and named a number of volunteers and board members across planning, recreation, the library, the historic committee, the board of adjustment and municipal alliances, and he thanked all volunteers for donating their time.

In the public-comment portion, a John representing the law firm Inglisino & Taylor spoke to thank the council for the township-attorney appointment. With no further business, the council moved, seconded and adopted a motion to adjourn; the meeting ended with seasonal well-wishes from the mayor.

Votes at a glance

- Election of Michael McGlynn as council president: approved by roll call (ayes recorded). - Consent agenda (contracts, temporary budget, routine authorizations, appointments): approved by roll call (ayes recorded). - Adjournment: approved by roll call (ayes recorded).

What this means

The meeting completed standard reorganizational business for the township: seating newly elected council members, electing leadership for 2026, approving municipal contracts and reappointing officials and volunteers. There were no substantive policy debates or contested votes recorded during the session; most items were routine confirmations and ceremonial oaths.

Next steps

Items confirmed tonight—professional contracts, appointments and the temporary budget—give the administration authority to execute contracts and continue operating through 2026. No further hearings or contested matters were scheduled during the meeting.