New Jersey Public Power Authority adopts 2025 budget and elects officers at reorganization meeting

The New Jersey Public Power Authority adopted its Annual and Capital Budget for the fiscal year beginning Feb. 1, 2025 and ending Jan. 31, 2026 and elected officers at its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 16 in South River.

Authority President Jim Borowski opened the meeting at 10:30 a.m. and read the required notice: "Notice of this meeting was originally published in the Star-Ledger on February 7, 2024 and displayed by Authority members in their municipal offices or on their websites." The meeting proceeded with a roll call of municipal representatives; the Borough of Milltown and the City of Vineland were recorded as not present.

Commissioner Joe Zanga moved to approve minutes of the Oct. 10 and Nov. 6, 2024 meetings; the motion was seconded by Paul Longo and approved by voice vote. Claims for the period ending Jan. 31, 2024 totaling $46,767.82 were approved on a motion by Longo with a second by Jim Lampmann. The Treasurer's Report showed year-to-date net income of $37,640.58, revenues of $160,197.11 and expenses of $122,556.53; cash balances were $256,974.93 at Lakeland Bank and $109,836.64 in the New Jersey Cash Management fund, with accounts payable of $2,872.63. Lampmann moved to accept the Treasurer's Report and the motion passed.

Executive Director Brian Vayda had distributed his 2024/2025 annual report and gave a summary of issues facing members in the PJM market, including capacity concerns; the executive director's reports were accepted following a motion by Zanga and a second by Christopher Vaz.

Members cast a unanimous ballot for commissioners for 2025: Jim Lampmann (Butler), Jim Borowski (Lavallette), Jim Burnet (Madison), Fred Carr (Milltown), Paul Longo (Park Ridge), Kathy Smick (Pemberton), Christopher Vaz (Seaside Heights), Joe Zanga (South River) and John Lillie (Vineland). The Administrative Committee's recommended slate of officers was also approved: Jim Borowski as President, Joe Zanga as Vice-President, Fred Carr as Secretary and Jim Lampmann as Treasurer; a roll call vote recorded the approvals.

The board populated its standing committees for 2025, with those who served in 2024 agreeing to continue. In Old Business, Resolution 2025-1 to adopt the Annual Budget and Capital Budget for the 2025 fiscal year was moved by Jim Lampmann and seconded by Joe Zanga; a roll call vote adopted the resolution.

Under New Business, President Borowski proposed a consent agenda combining Resolutions 2025-2 through 2025-6 (designation of newspapers; appointment of auditor; appointment of power attorney; designation of depositories; and fixing the schedule of meetings). Jim Lampmann moved to approve the consent agenda and Christopher Vaz seconded; the voice vote was unanimous. Borowski moved to defer discussion of the executive director's 2024 performance to the PPANJ agenda and to open an executive session; Lampmann seconded and the vote was unanimous. The meeting was adjourned at 10:48 a.m. on a motion by Borowski and second by Vaz.

The meeting record lists municipal representatives and guests in attendance, including Jim Lampmann (Butler), Jim Trimble (Madison), Kathy Smick (Pemberton), Paul Longo (Park Ridge), Christopher Vaz (Seaside Heights), Joe Zanga (South River), Executive Director Brian Vayda, Mike Osbourne (Sussex Rural Electric Coop.) and Chrissy Mahler (Madison). The Borough of Milltown and the City of Vineland were not present.