Stockton Borough Council reorganizes, adopts 2025 rules and routine resolutions

Stockton Borough Council met by Zoom on Jan. 6, 2025, for its annual reorganization. Mayor Aaron Lipsen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., Attorney Lisa Maddox administered oaths to newly sworn Councilmembers Matthew Fisher and Kate Meltzer, and the council completed a roll call of members and municipal staff.

Peter Folz nominated Michael (Mike) Mann to serve as Council President for a one-year term through Dec. 31, 2025; Thomas Hunt seconded the nomination and the appointment was approved unanimously. The council then adopted a consent agenda of routine resolutions covering 2025 meeting schedules, rules of order, depositories, professional appointments, administrative fees and other housekeeping items. Thomas Hunt asked that Resolution 2025-05 (designation of official newspapers) be considered separately for discussion; the remaining consent items were approved by roll call vote (Ayes: Brown, Fisher, Folz, Hunt, Meltzer, Mann).

After brief discussion, the council approved Resolution 2025-05 designating The Hunterdon County Democrat and The Trenton Times as the Borough’s official newspapers under N.J.S.A. 40:53-1; that resolution passed unanimously when brought back for a separate vote. Other actions approved by resolution included the 2025 meeting schedule (meetings at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom on the listed dates), adoption of Robert's Rules of Order as the body’s parliamentary authority, designation of Northfield Community Bank as an official depository, and authorization for the Chief Financial Officer to invest available Borough funds.

Resolution 2025-06 established committee rosters and a slate of professional and staff appointments for 2025, including Borough Attorney Lisa Maddox, Bond Counsel Meghan Bennett Clark, Borough Auditor Robert Swisher, Borough Engineer Adam Wisniewski, and a range of municipal officers and contractors named in the resolution package. The council also adopted administrative finance measures including a $20 returned-check fee, authority to accept online tax payments (with provider fees borne by the payer), authorization to conduct the annual tax sale, and temporary budget appropriations under N.J.S.A. 40A:4-19. The temporary-appropriation resolution notes 2025 totals (exclusive of debt, capital and public assistance) of $846,770 for the Current Fund and $372,019 for Water/Sewer, with the 26.25% temporary allocation figures cited in the minutes.

Votes at a glance • Motion to approve consent agenda (except Res. 2025-05): Passed, roll call Ayes: Brown, Fisher, Folz, Hunt, Meltzer, Mann. • Resolution 2025-05 (Official newspapers): Passed, unanimous. • Nomination of Michael Mann as Council President: Passed, unanimous. • Motion to adjourn: Passed, unanimous.

Why it matters: The actions taken are routine annual business but set leadership, staffing and administrative procedures for Stockton’s municipal government for 2025, including meeting dates, how notices will be published, committee assignments and short-term budget authority. The adopted temporary appropriations and debt-service resolution allow the borough to meet obligations before final adoption of the municipal budget.

The council announced the next meeting for Jan. 22, 2025, and adjourned at 7:30 p.m.