Emerson reorganization: Mayor administers oaths; council names Ashley Rice president and approves appointments and temporary budget

Mayor DePaola opened Emerson's Jan. 6 reorganization meeting, administered the oaths of office to newly elected council members Nicole Argenzia and O'Neil Ellis and presided over a series of routine organizational votes and appointments.

The council unanimously approved Resolution 1-26, awarding borough professional-service contracts for a one-year term (01/01/2026–12/31/2026) for legal, engineering, auditing and planning services, and later adopted the governing body bylaws and seating order for 2026. During nominations for council leadership, members nominated Ashley Rice and the council voted to appoint Councilwoman Ashley Rice as council president for the term ending Dec. 31, 2026.

The meeting followed standard reorganization business. Mayor DePaola read a slate of department liaisons and committee assignments—public works, finance, recreation, Board of Health liaison, environmental commission, library trustee liaison and others—and the council confirmed the mayor's appointments and the annual appointment of borough officers (including the sewer operator, zoning official and assessment search officer) by roll call. The council also approved Resolution 08-26 to adopt a temporary 2026 municipal budget.

In his annual remarks, Mayor DePaola recapped 2025 accomplishments and previewed 2026 plans, including migration of the borough website to a .gov domain, completed and planned infrastructure projects and grant-funded work. He noted awards and grants that will fund local projects: a Bergen County Community Development Block Grant award of $85,500 for new ADA doors at the senior center; an $8,000 DEP grant to support a forest-drone study on white-tailed deer populations; a $7,500 Bergen County grant for senior transportation; federal appropriations totaling nearly $2,000,000 for stormwater and drainage projects in several neighborhoods; and a $129,561 Department of Transportation award for road resurfacing tied to drainage work.

Newly sworn Councilwoman Nicole Argenzia thanked residents for their trust and pledged to serve with “integrity, transparency, and responsiveness.” Newly sworn Councilman O'Neil Ellis thanked voters and family and said he will act in the taxpayers' interest. Mayor DePaola introduced the borough's auxiliary police and emergency-services leadership and listed volunteer and commission appointments; council confirmed the Board of Health appointment of Elaine Palumbit by roll call.

The meeting opened for public comment but no members of the public spoke. The council approved a consent agenda covering resolutions 09-26 through 57-27 and then voted to go into a short closed executive session under resolution 58-26. After reconvening the council adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

Council votes on the listed organizational resolutions were unanimous (6–0). The meeting was livestreamed and recorded on the borough's website.