Jersey City Minutes

Meeting record

Municipal Council, January 15, 2026

Body: Municipal Council
Date: January 15, 2026 (reorganization meeting)
Video: city recording, 2h 31m
Called to order: 1:01:02 (4:04 p.m.)
Adjourned: 2:30:44 (5:32 p.m.)
Agenda: CivicWeb
Votes: 0 confirmed, 11 awaiting confirmation against the minutes

Votes on 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, motion-nominate-council-president, 10.1, motion-nominate-president-pro-tempore, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 were recorded from the video but have not yet been confirmed against the written minutes, so they are not shown by member (see the vote rule).

Attendance

Denise Ridley: present awaiting confirmation
Eleana Little: present awaiting confirmation
Frank E. Gilmore: present awaiting confirmation
Jake Ephros: present awaiting confirmation^‡ (from the count announced at 1:01:43; no answer heard)
Joel A. Brooks: present awaiting confirmation^‡ (from the count announced at 1:01:43; no answer heard)
Mamta Singh: present awaiting confirmation^‡ (from the count announced at 1:01:43; no answer heard)
Michael O. Griffin: present awaiting confirmation
Rolando R. Lavarro, Jr.: present awaiting confirmation
Thomas Zuppa, Jr.: present awaiting confirmation

Items

5 public comment

Public request for hearing

1:04:42 to 1:54:34 · Heard

Public request for hearing (agenda items 5.1 to 5.35). The clerk said there were no first or second readings and moved to the public speakers (1:04:02), calling each by number and first name from 1:04:42. Speakers are not listed here; the minutes name them. Council members asked speakers clarifying questions (1:11:55, 1:47:14); a council member not identified by the clerk made remarks at 1:43:24, and another from 1:52:33 to 1:54:34, before petitions and communications.

6 other

Petitions and communications (items 6.1 to 6.30)

1:54:45 to 1:55:20 · No action

The clerk explained the petitions and communications to the new members (1:54:45), ran through items 6.1 to 6.30 and asked for questions or comments (1:55:20 segment); none were heard. The clerk said there were no officer communications. The items are not listed individually.

8.1 other

Letter dated January 6, 2026 from Steven M. Fulop, Mayor to Council President Watterman and Members of the Municipal Council re: Kyle Greaves will serve as the Acting Chief Finance Officer (CFO), effective Monday, January 5, 2026.

1:55:20 to 1:55:20 · No action

Report of director: the clerk said 'We have one report of director. Any questions or comments on that? Hearing none.' (1:55:20 segment).

9.1 claims

Meeting Claims List

1:55:20 to 1:58:59 · Approved · document

Vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

The clerk said addendums 1 to 3 were added during the swearing-in (1:55:20 segment).

9.2 claims

Meeting Claims Addendum #1

1:55:20 to 1:58:59 · Approved · document

Vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

9.3 claims

Meeting Claims Addendum #2

1:55:20 to 1:58:59 · Approved · document

Vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

9.4 claims

Meeting Claims Addendum #3

1:55:20 to 1:58:59 · Approved · document

Vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

motion-nominate-council-president motion

Motion to nominate Councilperson Ridley as Council President

1:59:09 to 2:01:19 · Approved

Vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

The clerk asked for a motion to nominate a council member as council president before the resolution (1:59:09). No result was announced for this roll call.

10.1 Res. 26-004 resolution

A Resolution appointing Council Member _____________________________________ as Council President.

2:01:19 to 2:04:41 · Approved · document

Vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

The agenda title leaves the name blank; the clerk read it as 'a resolution appointing Councilperson Denise Ridley as Council President' (2:02:03). Council President Ridley then changed seats (2:03:22 to 2:04:41).

motion-nominate-president-pro-tempore motion

Motion to nominate Councilperson Gilmore as Council President Pro Tempore

2:04:47 to 2:05:54 · Approved

Vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

Gilmore was nominated as 'Frank Educational Gilmore' in the transcript (2:05:06), read as Frank E. Gilmore.

10.2 Res. 26-005 resolution

A Resolution appointing Council Member _____________________________as Council President Pro Tempore.

2:05:54 to 2:07:44 · Approved · document

Vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

The agenda title leaves the name blank; the clerk read it as 'a resolution appointing Frank Educational Gilmore as Council President Pro Temp' (2:05:54), read as Frank E. Gilmore.

10.3 Res. 26-006 resolution

A Resolution adopting the Calendar Year 2026 Temporary Budget.

2:08:26 to 2:29:38 · Approved · document

Vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

2:09:14 Rolando R. Lavarro, Jr.: Asked what council office staffing the temporary budget funded and whether the temporary budget could be amended at the meeting.
2:11:20 Staff: Said the temporary budget was about $10 million under the cap and described increasing it by a floor amendment or by an emergency temporary appropriation, which needs a two-thirds vote.
2:13:28 Unidentified: Asked whether the council could amend the temporary budget that night, given that no caucus had been held before the meeting.
2:16:59 Staff: Described the payments and department contracts that depend on a temporary budget being in place.
2:21:00 Staff: A finance department official described building the temporary budget from each department's first-quarter requests, personnel costs and debt service due in the first months of the year.

The clerk suggested adopting the temporary budget as presented and taking up any amendment at the regular meeting of January 28 after the caucus of January 26 (2:14:19). A staff member said the temporary budget totalled $220 million (2:18:18 segment).

10.4 Res. 26-007 resolution

A Resolution of the Municipal Council of the City of Jersey City awarding Community Development Block Grant - Public Facilities (CDBG-PF) Program Year 2022 funds and authorizing the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Recreation and Youth Development for an improvement project at Pershing Field Park, 201 Central Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07307, A/K/A Block 4802, Lot 2 (Ward C).

2:08:26 to 2:29:38 · Approved · document

Vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

2:22:39 Unidentified: Asked what work the grant funded at Pershing Field.
2:23:00 Staff: Said the grant funded HVAC repairs serving the Pershing Field pool and internal facilities, with no cost to the city budget.
2:24:43 Unidentified: Asked how the $165,000 amount was checked against the cost of the repair.
2:25:02 Staff: Said the department had obtained quotes before the grant approval was sought and described how departments obtain and review quotes.

10.5 Res. 26-008 resolution

A Resolution designating Official Signatories of the City of Jersey City.

2:08:26 to 2:29:38 · Approved · document

Vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

motion-adjourn motion

Motion to adjourn

2:30:05 to 2:30:55 · Approved

Voice vote recorded on the video; awaiting confirmation against the minutes

The clerk said the motion to adjourn at 5:32 p.m. was made by Councilperson Gilmore (2:30:05), asked who made the second first and said 'Michael did. I heard Michael's voice. Griffin' (2:30:28). The question was put by acclamation (2:30:37), with no roll call, so no member's answer is recorded. The clerk said 'We are out of here at 5.32 p.m.' (2:30:44). Voice vote, no roll call.

Record drafted 2026-10-19, checked 2026-10-19, reviewed by Adam Hanford (review pending).