Stockton Borough Council swears in mayor, names council president and adopts 2023 consent agenda

Stockton Borough Council held its 2023 reorganization meeting on Jan. 4 at the Stockton Fire Company. Aaron Lipsen was sworn in as mayor and took control of the meeting; the council named Michael Mann council president and adopted a broad consent agenda covering schedules, appointments and routine administrative resolutions.

The council convened at 6:15 p.m., when Borough Attorney Michael Butler called the meeting to order, read the Open Public Meetings Act compliance statement and led the salute to the flag. Butler administered oaths of office, and Borough Clerk Monica Orlando read the certification of election results naming Aaron Lipsen as mayor and Peter Folz and Thomas M. Hunt as newly elected councilmembers.

Mayor Lipsen was administered the oath by Wharton Mayor William J. Chegwidden and then requested a motion to appoint a council president. Rebecca Hendricks nominated Michael Mann, Kenneth Kozuhowski seconded, and the council approved the nomination by roll-call vote, with all members present voting yes. Lipsen spoke briefly about his new role and thanked the Fire Company and community for their support.

During the public-comment period, Elaine Johnson of 3 Ferry Street thanked Michael Mann for organizing protection of park trees. Eileen Foley of 11 Bridge Street thanked the council for its service and expressed optimism for the year. Peter Folz moved to close public comment; Kenneth Kozuhowski seconded.

Council President Mann offered Resolution 23-01, a consent agenda that bundled a set of routine resolutions (23-02 through 23-31) to be adopted in one vote to increase efficiency. The motion was seconded and adopted by roll call; all councilmembers present voted yes. The consent agenda included the annual meeting schedule (Res. 23-02), adoption of Robert's Rules of Order as the body's rules (Res. 23-03), designation of Northfield Community Bank as the official depository (Res. 23-04), and designation of The Hunterdon County Democrat and The Trenton Times as official newspapers for legal notices (Res. 23-05).

The consent package also confirmed committee assignments and planning-board representatives (Res. 23-06); reappointed or confirmed professional and staff contracts including Borough Attorney Michael Butler (Res. 23-18), bond counsel (Res. 23-19), borough engineer Ferriero Engineering, Inc. (Res. 23-20), borough auditor Suplee, Clooney & Company (Res. 23-22) and others; and recognized tenure and reappointment for Diane McDaniel as Chief Financial Officer and Tax Collector (Res. 23-25, 23-26).

Other administrative measures adopted under the consent agenda included a temporary budget appropriation to allow payments before final adoption of the 2023 budget (Res. 23-07); tax interest and penalty rates for delinquent taxes (Res. 23-08), which set 8% per annum on the first $1,500 overdue, 18% on amounts above $1,500 and an additional 6% on delinquencies over $10,000 left unpaid after Dec. 31, and established a 10-day grace period for quarterly cash/check payments effective Jan. 1, 2023; an annual tax sale authorization (Res. 23-13); a $20 fee for returned checks (Res. 23-14); investment and wire-transfer authority for the CFO (Res. 23-15); appointment of a risk management consultant (Res. 23-16) and designation of fund commissioners for the Statewide Insurance Fund (Res. 23-17).

The council also authorized legal and administrative actions—authorizing the assessor and borough counsel to prosecute tax appeals and file rollback petitions (Res. 23-09 and 23-10); appointed deputy records custodians for departmental records requests (Res. 23-30); and authorized the Tax Office to accept online credit/debit card payments and e-checks with fees paid to the payment provider (Res. 23-31).

Council members offered brief closing remarks thanking supporters and welcoming new members. Mayor Lipsen announced the next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m. on a motion by Thomas M. Hunt, seconded by Michael Mann; the motion carried unanimously.

Authorities and specific resolutions adopted at the meeting are on file in the Stockton Borough Clerk’s office and were transmitted or posted as required by law.