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Woodstown Borough Council elects Glenn Merkle president, confirms resolutions and appointments
Summary
At its Jan. 5 reorganization meeting, the Woodstown Borough Council elected Glenn Merkle as council president, adopted a consent agenda of routine resolutions including professional-service appointments, confirmed multiple one-year and term appointments, and adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
The Woodstown Borough Council held its reorganization meeting at Borough Hall on Jan. 5, 2026. Mayor Joseph Hiles called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., and oaths of office were administered to Bertha Hyman and Jaclyn Morris, whose terms run through Dec. 31, 2028.
Council President Glenn Merkle was elected by unanimous roll call. The motion to elect Merkle was made by Council member Heather Bobbitt and seconded by Council member Bertha Hyman.
The council adopted its consent agenda by unanimous vote, approving Resolutions 2026-1 through 2026-19. The consent package included routine municipal housekeeping (meeting dates and official newspaper), a temporary budget (by title), designation of depositories, and professional-service appointments under Resolution 2026-6 naming Bowman & Co. (auditor), Joseph DiNicola Sr. (solicitor), Erik Biermann of Sickels Associates (engineer), Christopher Ross, Esq. (prosecutor), Mark Kargman, Esq. (public defender), Larry Maltman (tax-map maintenance), Mark Blauer of Blauer Associates (grant administrator) and Tom Narolewski of Barclay Insurance (JIF risk management), among others. Resolution 2026-14 designated Voorhees Animal Shelter for animal-sheltering services.
Mayor-appointed one-year positions were presented and confirmed, including Patricia Bohren as Claims Coordinator and Dog and Cat Registrar, Edmund Shimp as Dog Warden, Erin Maurer as Zoning Officer, and several crossing guards and alternates. The council also confirmed multiple term appointments across municipal boards and commissions: Planning Board members (including Shane Godshall and Lawrence Haines), Shade Tree Committee members, Joint Environmental Commission members, and Historic Preservation Commission appointments. Lawrence Haines was appointed to the Municipal Utility Authority for a five-year term ending Jan. 31, 2031. All listed appointments were approved by unanimous votes.
The meeting included ceremonial items — a flag salute, the National Anthem performed by the Woodstown High School Chamber Choir, and an invocation by Diera Shaw-Mendez — and a brief public-comment period during which no members of the public spoke. The meeting was adjourned at 7:26 p.m. on a motion by Council member Jesse Stemberger, seconded by Council President Glenn Merkle.
Notably, the meeting record contains an unexplained line of percentages (“W-24%, M-19%, E-27%, Q-12%, O-18%”) without contextual detail in the minutes; the council record did not specify what those percentages refer to.
The minutes are certified by Borough Clerk Patricia Bohren.
