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Perno elected council president as Merchantville adopts 2025 budget, appointments
Summary
At its Jan. 6 reorganization meeting, Merchantville sworn in two councilors, elected Anthony Perno council president, adopted a temporary 2025 budget and approved a slate of appointments and professional contracts; Mayor Edward Brennan announced a downtown bank restoration and $850,000 in federal funds for a multi-use path.
Mayor Edward Brennan presided over the Borough of Merchantville's annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 6, 2025, where councilors took oaths of office, Anthony Perno was elected council president, the governing body approved a temporary 2025 budget and a package of appointments and professional contracts, and the mayor outlined local projects including $850,000 in federal funds for a multi-use path.
The meeting opened at 7:30 p.m.; the council took the Pledge of Allegiance and observed a silent prayer before Roll Call. Council-Elect Daniel Sperrazza and Council-Elect Eric Benjamin each took the oath of office. On a motion by Councilman Sean Fitzgerald and a second by Councilman Daniel Sperrazza, the council nominated and elected Anthony Perno as Council President by unanimous roll call.
Councilman Daniel Sperrazza said, "This is my fifth term; I didn’t think I would stay on council this long," and expressed support for the mayor's vision. Councilman Eric Benjamin said he was "honored and humbled to be on council," recalled moving to Merchantville as a young man and described the borough as "out of a Hallmark movie." Councilman Anthony Perno thanked supporters and noted it is his seventh term. Mayor Edward Brennan welcomed the newly sworn members and said the borough will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2025; he also said a downtown bank restoration project has started and that the borough expects to receive $850,000 in federal funding toward a multi-use path and infrastructure improvements in 2025.
The council approved a package of housekeeping and annual resolutions by consent (designating by-laws, official newspapers, depositories, meeting schedule and other annual matters). Two items were pulled from the consent agenda for separate votes: R25-05, appointing Conner, Strong & Buckelew Companies, Inc. as insurance agent and broker of record, and R25-10, authorizing appointments of borough professionals. The insurance-agent resolution (R25-05) was adopted on a motion by Councilman Raymond Woods, seconded by Councilman Daniel Sperrazza; the roll call vote was unanimous except Councilman Anthony Perno abstained. The professionals resolution (R25-10) was adopted and authorizes the mayor and clerk to execute agreements with named firms and individuals including Bowman & Company (registered municipal accountants), Pennoni Associates (borough engineer), Timothy Higgins, Esq. (borough solicitor), Madden & Madden (land use board attorney), Environmental Resolutions, Inc. (planner/land use board engineer) and others.
Council also adopted the 2025 temporary budget. The resolution lists total general appropriations for municipal purposes at $1,382,207.12 and a total 2025 temporary budget of $2,282,588.12. The sewer utility operating temporary appropriation is listed at $104,283.01 and the total sewer utility temporary budget at $255,291.39.
Other appointments announced or adopted included Joseph T. Brickley as Principal Public Works Manager (term to Dec. 31, 2025), Denise L. Brouse as Public Agency Compliance Officer (P.A.C.O.), Maureen Finnegan as Certified Municipal Court Administrator and Amber Rossi as Deputy Court Administrator, John Queen as Municipal Humane Law Enforcement Officer and Rebecca Callaway as Municipal Housing Liaison to administer the borough's affordable housing program under P.L. 2024, c.2. The council also published its 2025 meeting calendar and holiday schedule.
On the motions recorded, the council adjourned at 8:04 p.m. The borough clerk signed the minutes. The next regular and caucus meeting dates for 2025 were included in the adopted calendar.
Votes at a glance: Council President election — Anthony Perno elected (motion: Sean Fitzgerald; second: Daniel Sperrazza) — unanimous roll call. Consent agenda (annual housekeeping resolutions) — adopted by unanimous roll call. R25-05 (insurance agent) — adopted (motion: Raymond Woods; second: Daniel Sperrazza) — roll call vote unanimous except Anthony Perno abstained. R25-10 (borough professionals) — adopted (motion and publication as required) — roll call vote adopted.
