Carneys Point installs Patrick Bomba as mayor, approves appointments and temporary budget; Sewerage Authority pick passes 3–2

Carneys Point Township installed Patrick Bomba as mayor and Charlyn Martin as deputy mayor at its Jan. 7, 2026 reorganization meeting, then moved quickly through a series of administrative appointments and budget actions that opened the township’s new municipal year.

Municipal Clerk June Proffitt called the meeting to order, read the Open Public Meeting Act and introduced Father Cruz of Saint Gabriel Parish for the invocation. Mayor Marty Small of Atlantic City and 3rd District Assemblyman Dave Bailey Jr. and Hon. Jason Witcher administered oaths for newly elected committee members and township officers. Bomba was nominated by Mr. Brown and seconded by Dr. Almeda Johnson; Charlyn Martin was later nominated and confirmed as deputy mayor.

The committee approved numerous professional and administrative appointments for 2026, including Bowman & Company LLP as township accountant; John A. Moustkas as municipal prosecutor and Jessica Sparks as alternate prosecutor; Michael A. Smolensky as public defender; Philip Norcross as bond counsel; Stephen Cosaboon as township engineer; Phoenix Advisors as financial advisor; Candace Kanaplue as township planner; and others. The committee also accepted a temporary 2026 budget with appropriations of $4,577,720.41 and an additional $766,550.00 for debt service, capital improvements and public assistance. The minutes record roll-call votes for these items.

One contested appointment drew sharper debate. The committee considered appointing Larry Basille to a five-year term on the Carneys Point Sewerage Authority (term to Jan. 31, 2031). Mr. Brown moved the appointment; Mr. Martin said he had expressed interest in the opening and urged more communication about vacancies. Mayor Bomba cited Basille’s financial experience. The motion carried on a 3–2 roll-call vote: yes — Mr. Brown, Dr. Johnson and Mayor Bomba; no — Gregory Martin and Charlyn Martin.

Several other appointment and committee-assignment motions were approved with dissent recorded from the newly sworn-in Martin members. The minutes show that motions accepting the mayor’s slate of Planning Board, Recreation Committee and Industrial Commission appointments passed with Mr. Brown, Dr. Johnson and Mayor Bomba voting yes and Gregory and Charlyn Martin voting no; at least one subsequent vote approving audited vouchers for $2,024,341.02 was recorded with Mr. Martin voting no.

During the public comment period, residents Amy Tighe (Harding Highway) and Amy Screto (Pine Street) asked how mayoral appointments are chosen and whether the full committee should be more involved; Mayor Bomba replied that committee members “got together and decided” the assignments. Committee members then offered closing remarks: Dr. Johnson said she had been the target of behind-the-scenes criticism and denied ‘‘verbally trashing’’ neighboring Penns Grove; Gregory Martin pledged to serve the whole community and emphasized his desire for better communication; Charlyn Martin thanked voters for their support.

The meeting concluded with the committee approving audited vouchers totaling $2,024,341.02 and adjourning at 7:12 p.m. The minutes record board action on multiple appointments and administrative items that set township governance and operational roles for 2026; one appointment (the Planning Board Class III) was tabled. Where the minutes contain inconsistent phrasing about 'unanimous' votes alongside recorded no votes, the roll-call tallies recorded in the minutes are reported here rather than the contradictory phrasing.

What’s next: the committee’s appointments and the temporary budget establish administrative authority for the year; the Sewage Authority and Planning Board seats will be active items to watch if further vacancies or challenges arise.