Plumsted reorganizes: Hagelstein elected mayor; temporary 2026 budget adopted

The Plumsted Township Committee reorganized on Jan. 7, swearing in two newly elected members, choosing James Hagelstein as mayor and Thomas Potter as deputy mayor, and approving a temporary budget to carry the township until the final 2026 budget is adopted.

Municipal Clerk Jennifer Witham opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and read the required public-notice statement: "This meeting is being held in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act." Witham then administered the Oath of Office to Robert Bowen and Michael Hammerstone. On a motion by Committeeman Sebastian D'Amico, seconded by Committeeman Robert Bowen, the committee nominated and unanimously elected James Hagelstein to serve as mayor; Witham administered the oath. Committeeman Michael Hammerstone nominated Thomas Potter for deputy mayor, Bowen seconded the nomination, and the committee voted unanimously to elect Potter.

The committee took several early votes on administrative resolutions. A temporary 2026 budget (Resolution No. 2026-01) was adopted by roll call; the budget materials filed with the meeting show the temporary appropriations for 2026 as Salaries & Wages $1,572,570.54 and Other Expenses $1,080,626.18, based on the statutory temporary-appropriation provisions. The motion to adopt the temporary budget passed with all present voting yes except Committeeman Hammerstone, who recorded an abstention.

A broad consent agenda of routine appointments, contracts and administrative measures (Resolutions 2026-04 through 2026-59) was presented and approved in one block after an amendment to Resolution 2026-52 (the insurance opt-out schedule) to add a missing name. Committeeman D'Amico asked that Resolution 2026-03 (designating various municipal appointments and assignments) be pulled for separate consideration; after discussion the committee voted to table Resolution 2026-03 for later review. Resolution 2026-60, authorizing various committee appointments, was discussed briefly and then approved by roll call.

Committee business also included approval of the January 7 bill list by roll call. In new-business discussion, Committeeman D'Amico asked the committee to review the Plumsted Municipal Utilities Authority's recent $75,000 contract for a security system; Mayor Hagelstein asked that D'Amico and PMUA liaison Thomas Potter confer with the authority and report back to the committee.

During public comment, resident Al Mancuso congratulated the newly seated committee and asked how recent property reassessments will affect taxpayers. Mayor Hagelstein said the committee will try to prepare an approximate formula or explanation to help residents compare reassessed values between years.

The committee adjourned later in the evening. Meeting minutes and the verbatim audio recording are available from the Plumsted Township Clerk's Office under the Open Public Meetings Act.