Emerson mayor swears in two councilwomen; council elects president and approves annual appointments and temporary budget

Mayor DePauw opened the Borough of Emerson’s Jan. 7 reorganization meeting and administered the oaths of office to two newly elected council members, Councilwoman Ashley Sayers and Councilwoman Megan Cellino. The council then moved through routine reorganizational business, including the appointment of professional service contracts and board and commission members, and approved a temporary municipal budget.

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and moments of silence for longtime resident Colleen Gerhold and former President Jimmy Carter. Acting Borough Clerk Michelle Ryan read the county certification of the Nov. 20, 2024 general election and identified Ashley Sayers and Megan Cellino as the winners of the two open three-year council seats. Mayor DePauw invited each to the dais, administered the oath and welcomed them to the council.

In brief remarks after the oath, Councilwoman Ashley Sayers thanked residents and family for their support and said she looked forward to working with borough staff and colleagues “to build a stronger, more vibrant Emerson.” Councilwoman Megan Cellino, who noted family ties to previous local service, promised to listen to residents and “work tirelessly to ensure that Emerson remains a place we can all be proud to call home.”

Council business proceeded by roll call. The council approved Resolution 01-25 appointing Michelle Ryan as acting borough clerk for 2025 and passed Resolution 02-25 confirming one-year professional service contracts (including borough attorney, labor counsel, borough engineer, auditor and other professionals) awarded through the fair-and-open process. The council adopted governing body bylaws and the dais seating order for 2025, and elected Councilwoman Nicole Argenzia as council president for the year.

The council approved a slate of mayoral appointments to boards and commissions, including library board, land use board members and alternates, recreation and environmental commission members, the Shade Tree Commission and Board of Health appointments. Appointees present were sworn at the meeting and asked to sign and leave copies of their oaths with the clerk’s office.

Mayor DePauw used his annual reorganization remarks to recap 2024 municipal programs and infrastructure work and to preview 2025 priorities. He highlighted community events supported by the borough, the expansion of recreation programming and investments that yielded measurable savings, including installation of LED lights at Bankovic Field that he said saved $14,500 in 2024. The borough reported an $84,000 Bergen County open-space grant awarded for playground improvements at Rosengart/Sunset Park.

On infrastructure and drainage, the mayor said the borough obtained two federal appropriations totaling nearly $2,000,000 to mitigate stormwater and drainage problems in areas including Forest Avenue and Jordan Road, Vivian Avenue and Dorchester Road, and said those projects are expected to commence in 2026. He also updated the council on the Block 419 redevelopment litigation: on the eve of trial Judge Ostuni referred the matter to the implementation monitor, retired Judge Harry Carroll, to work toward resolution; the mayor said workers are back on site and the borough awaits further guidance from the monitor.

The council approved a temporary municipal budget (Resolution 09-25) by roll call vote and passed a consent agenda covering multiple routine resolutions (Resolutions 10-25 through 61-25). With no public commenters at the open-comment period, the mayor adjourned the meeting at about 8:26 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 01-25 (appoint acting borough clerk Michelle Ryan) — approved by roll call; Resolution 02-25 (borough professional appointments) — approved by roll call; Resolution 03-25 (adopt bylaws) — approved by roll call; Resolution 06-25 (meeting dates) — approved; Resolution 07-25 (council appointments) — approved; Resolution 08-25 (annual appointments of officers/employees) — approved; Resolution 09-25 (temporary municipal budget) — approved; Consent agenda Resolutions 10-25 through 61-25 — approved.

What’s next: the mayor said multiple capital and drainage projects are planned to begin in 2026 pending required approvals; the council left no business pending and adjourned to meet again on the published schedule.