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Upper Saddle River council swears in officers, approves broad consent agenda and introduces two ordinances
Summary
At its Jan. 8 reorganization meeting the Upper Saddle River Mayor and Council administered oaths for council and public-safety officers, unanimously approved a large consent agenda of routine resolutions and appointments, and introduced two ordinances addressing flood-hazard maps and a tax-revaluation emergency appropriation.
The Upper Saddle River Mayor and Council met Jan. 8 for its 2026 reorganization meeting, swearing in elected and public-safety officers, approving a package of routine resolutions and appointments, and introducing two ordinances for later consideration.
Borough Administrator Theodore Preusch called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m., led the Pledge of Allegiance and read the public-notice statement required by the Open Sunshine Act. Mayor Fardanesh administered the oath of office to newly elected Council Member Mark Abaid and re-elected Council Member Sarah Drennan, and later administered the oath to Patrol Officer Patrick Gray. "At this time, Mayor Fardanesh thanked the public for attending the 2026 Reorganization Meeting and congratulated all of the officers sworn in," the minutes state.
Why it matters: Reorganization meetings set municipal leadership, staffing and routine administrative authorizations for the year. Council approved numerous appointments and professional-service agreements that determine who carries out planning, legal, financial and public-safety responsibilities for the borough in 2026.
What the council did: Council Member Lyons moved, and Council Member Friedlander seconded, approval of a consent agenda that listed more than 40 routine resolutions covering items such as the schedule of 2026 council meetings; temporary 2026 budget authority; appointments of professional-service firms (including borough attorney, auditor, planner and engineers); petty-cash and treasury authorizations; transfer of funds of $11,500; and authorizations for police and emergency-services programs. The roll-call vote on the full consent agenda was unanimous.
The council also introduced two ordinances for later hearings and votes. Ordinance #01-26 would repeal Chapter 59 (Flood Damage Prevention), adopt updated flood-hazard maps and designate a floodplain administrator; the motion to introduce was offered by Council Member Lyons and seconded by Council Member Friedlander and carried unanimously. Ordinance #02-26 would authorize a special emergency appropriation under N.J.S.A. 40A:4-53(b) to fund a borough-wide tax revaluation; Council Member Masi offered the motion, seconded by Council Member Abaid, and the introduction passed unanimously.
Appointments and committee memberships confirmed at the reorganization meeting included fire-department leadership (Chief Nicholas Brusco and other officers), USR Ambulance Corps officers for 2026, fire-prevention official Darryl DeMott, municipal and police physician Dr. Yair Kissin, and representatives to boards and committees including library, shade-tree, recreation and historic preservation. The mayor also named the Safety Committee (which includes the mayor, Police Chief Rotella, Borough Administrator Preusch, Fire Chief Brusco and Ambulance Capt. Amy Lauren).
Council selected Council Member Sarah Drennan to serve as Council President for 2026 and to serve as the Class III member on the Upper Saddle River Planning Board; both motions passed unanimously. No members of the public spoke during the public-comment portion of the meeting.
Next steps: The introduced ordinances will return for formal hearings and votes on subsequent agendas per standard municipal procedures. The minutes record that the reorganization meeting then adjourned by unanimous vote.
