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Gary Haman sworn in as Riverside mayor; committee approves slate of 2025 appointments
Summary
At a virtual reorganization meeting Jan. 6, 2025 held under an emergency declaration for a snowstorm, Riverside Township sworn in Gary Haman as mayor, appointed Christopher Marter deputy mayor and approved a package of professional and administrative appointments and organizational resolutions, with most votes unanimous and one recorded abstention.
Gary Haman was sworn in and appointed mayor of Riverside Township at the committee’s reorganization meeting on Jan. 6, 2025, which was held virtually after the governor declared a snow-related state of emergency.
The meeting opened with Municipal Clerk Susan M. Dydek reading public notice procedures and the roll call. Senator Troy Singleton administered the Oath of Office to newly sworn Committeeman Gary Haman and Committeewoman Mary Leith. After nominations, the committee appointed Haman as mayor and Christopher Marter as deputy mayor; Assemblywoman Carol Murphy administered the mayoral oath.
Why it matters: the committee’s reorganization sets the township’s leadership, departmental liaisons and the roster of outside professionals who will advise Riverside on legal, engineering, planning, auditing and other matters for 2025. Those appointments determine who the township may contract with and the rates the township has authorized for professional services.
The committee approved a slate of professional appointments and organizational resolutions on roll call votes. Notable approvals and terms recorded in the meeting minutes include: - Municipal attorney and redevelopment counsel: Marmero Law (Albert Marmero) for a one-year term at $150 per hour. - Municipal engineer: Pennoni Engineering for a one-year term at $156 per hour; Mayor Haman is recorded as abstaining on this appointment (Ayes: Leith, Marter, Peditto; Abstain: Haman; Absent: Kimble). - Auditor: Mercadien, P.C., annual fee not to exceed $37,000. - Accountant: Bowman & Co., annual fee not to exceed $29,000. - Labor counsel: Damon G. Tyner, LLC at $175 per hour. - Bond counsel: Parker McCay at $335 per hour. - Municipal prosecutor: Kimberly Greig, Law Offices of Greig & Moles LLP, at up to $600 per court session. - Planner: Environmental Resolutions, Inc., at $190 per hour. - Public defender: Christopher St. John at up to $16,000 per year. - Financial advisor services: Phoenix Advisors, LLC, fee capped at $10,000.
The committee also confirmed internal roles and committee assignments for 2025 (for example, Peditto as chair of Revenue & Finance; Haman as chair of Public Safety) and approved the Cash Management Plan, designation of TD Bank as a depository, temporary budget authority for the first quarter of 2025 ($1,983,105.34), and an interest-policy for delinquent taxes consistent with N.J. statutes. The meeting record shows the emergency Resolution 2025‑E authorizing the virtual reorganization under N.J.S.A. 10:4‑9(b).
Votes at a glance: most organizational resolutions and appointments passed on unanimous roll call votes with Committeeperson Kimble listed as absent. The engineer appointment (Resolution 2025‑#3) recorded Haman as abstaining (resulting in 3 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain, 1 absent); other professional appointments and routine organizational resolutions were recorded as carried (Ayes: Haman, Leith, Marter, Peditto; Absent: Kimble) where listed.
Public portion and closing: during public comments several officials congratulated the newly sworn officials, including Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, Richard Horton, Mount Laurel Deputy Mayor Stephen Steglik, County Commissioner Balvir Singh and resident Jared Ainsworth. Mayor Haman closed by thanking residents and saying he looks forward to working with committee members.
The meeting minutes record a handful of transcription and listing inconsistencies (noted below) that the committee clerk or official minutes should clarify; otherwise, the reorganization actions in the minutes were adopted and are recorded as effective immediately.
