Brielle council elects Shaak council president, confirms appointments and approves temporary 2026 budget

At a January 5, 2026 organization meeting at Brielle Borough Hall, Mayor Frank A. Garruzzo and the Borough Council elected Councilmember Timothy A. Shaak as Council‑President, confirmed a slate of professional and annual municipal appointments, adopted a consent package of reorganization resolutions and approved a temporary 2026 budget.

Councilmember Gianforte nominated Timothy A. Shaak for Council‑President; Councilmember Laufer seconded the nomination. "There being no further nominations, nominations were closed," the minutes record. The motion to elect Shaak was moved by Councilmember Gianforte, seconded by Councilmember Laufer and adopted with the minutes noting "all ayes; none opposed."

The meeting formalized the borough's 2026 professional appointments, naming firms and individuals for roles including borough attorney (Montenegro, Thompson, Montenegro & Genz), borough engineer (Alan P. Hilla & H2M Engineering), borough auditor (John R. Swisher & Suplee, Clooney & Co. LLC), bond counsel (Meghan Clark & Dilworth‑Paxson, LLC) and others. The council confirmed those appointments by motion and recorded unanimous approval.

On personnel matters the council confirmed tenured and non‑annual employee appointments held by borough staff and approved the membership rosters for Brielle First Aid Squad and Brielle Fire Company No. 1. The council also announced and confirmed annual municipal appointments — including Borough Administrator Thomas F. Nolan, Municipal Clerk Carol Baran and other departmental leads — and directed the Clerk to insert committee rosters into the minutes.

The council considered and adopted a consent agenda of reorganization resolutions (Resolutions 26‑04 through 26‑23) intended to set policy for 2026, including internal accounting controls, bank depositories, petty cash procedures, participation in the LESO 1033 program, and rules authorizing the chief financial officer to pre‑pay certain recurring bills. The minutes record that the consent agenda resolutions were introduced and passed by recorded unanimous votes where taken.

The council adopted Resolution 26‑11 to establish a temporary municipal budget for 2026. The minutes state that one quarter of the 2025 budget appropriations (excluding certain exceptions) was used as the basis and that temporary appropriations totaling $3,176,291.00 were made to permit payments before the adoption of the full 2026 budget.

During the public comment portion, resident James Bond asked whether Resolution 26‑21 would change the procedure for addressing council at meetings; Mayor Garruzzo replied, "no," saying the resolution keeps the same procedure. With no further public comment, the council adjourned at 7:19 p.m.

Votes at a glance

- Election of Council‑President (timed nomination and motion): Mover: Councilmember Gianforte; Second: Councilmember Laufer; Outcome: adopted (minutes record "all ayes; none opposed").

- Resolution 26‑01 (appoint Chief Gary Olsen as Emergency Management Coordinator): Outcome: adopted (minutes record Councilmembers Gianforte, Laufer & Shaak voting 'aye').

- Resolution 26‑03 (confirm annual appointments): Outcome: adopted (minutes record unanimous approval).

- Consent resolutions 26‑04 through 26‑23 (various administrative and procedural rules): Outcome: introduced and adopted as a consent agenda; minutes record unanimous passage on those called for vote.

- Resolution 26‑11 (2026 temporary budget; temporary appropriations $3,176,291.00): Outcome: adopted (minutes record the motion passed with recorded ayes).

What this means

The actions set Brielle's leadership and administrative framework for 2026, confirmed professional and volunteer rosters, and ensured the borough can fund operations under a temporary budget while the full municipal budget is prepared. Several procedural resolutions (including internal accounting controls and rules on public comment and pre‑payment of bills) are now in effect for 2026.

Sources and attribution

All direct quotations and vote descriptions are taken from the official meeting minutes recorded by Municipal Clerk Carol Baran during the Jan. 5, 2026 organization meeting of the Borough of Brielle Mayor & Council.