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Vernon council elects Higgins as president; Mayor Rossi lays out sewer, Main Street and 'Legends' priorities
Summary
At the Jan. 15 reorganization meeting, Vernon Township Council elected William Higgins as council president and Sandra Ooms as vice president. Mayor Anthony Rossi used his address to prioritize Main Street development, sewer expansion and resolving a long‑running 'Legends' matter while urging fiscal transparency.
The Township of Vernon elected Council Member William Higgins as council president and Sandra Ooms as vice president during its Jan. 15, 2026 reorganization meeting at the Vernon Municipal Center.
Clerk Marcy Gianattasio opened nominations, after which Council Member Patrick Rizzuto nominated Higgins for council president and Ooms for vice president; both nominations carried on roll call votes. The council later approved a slate of committee appointments and routine business.
Mayor Anthony Rossi delivered the annual reorganization address, welcoming residents, municipal staff and elected officials and identifying the administration’s near‑term priorities. Rossi said the township will focus on finally developing Main Street, completing the sewer expansion area and "FINALLY closing the chapter on one of the biggest problems Vernon has endured for over a decade and that is Legends." He urged collaboration and said the administration will provide facts to the council before votes.
"I will give you straight answers, even when they’re not the answers you want to hear," Rossi said, adding, "WE MUST WORK TOGETHER."
Incoming Council Member Sandra Ooms used her remarks to emphasize transparency and financial oversight, saying she wants to expand website information, use work sessions for large items and consider a social‑media code of conduct to improve public trust.
The council’s leadership selections set the governing body’s internal organization for 2026. The meeting proceeded to adopt a broad consent agenda of routine resolutions, introduce a set of ordinances for first reading, and make several municipal appointments.
The council adjourned at 8:07 p.m.; the next regular meeting dates for 2026 were set by resolution and will be posted on the township website.
