The Livingston Township Council held its annual reorganization on New Year’sDay, Wednesday, January 1. At the start of the meeting A1 Anthony, Ketan Bhuptani, and Michael Vieira were each sworn into four year terms on the Council.
Next, Ed Meinhardt was sworn in as mayor for the third time and Shawn Klein took the oath of office as deputy mayor for the third time.
Meinhardt, who was previously the mayor in 2018 and 2022, was elected unanimously by the Council.
In nominating him, Bhuptani said that “Livingston will be fortunate to have Ed as its mayor for 2025.”
In his first act as mayor, Meinhardt gave Anthony several gifts, including a “Mayor A1 Anthony Road” street sign and a gavel.
“Congratulations for a great year,” Meinhardt told Anthony. He also planted a ring of trees in Israel for Klein, who was the outgoing mayor in 2022 when the reorganization meeting was held virtually.
Klein was nominated by Vieira, who said that he was “a community leader that loves this town... Shawn bleeds Lancer green.”
The spouses of each Council member were each given a bouquet of flowers, as well.
Appointments
All committee appointments were approved by a unanimous Council vote. The committees included the Open Space Trust Committee; Livingston Community Partnership Management Corporation; Ad Hoc Licari and Strahman Tracts Committee; Advisory Committee for Disabilities; Advisory Committee on Transportation; Advisory Committee on Senior Citizens; Livingston for All Ages Committee; Arts Council of Livingston; Camuso Collection Preservation Committee; Committee for Diversity and Inclusion; Consumer Affairs Committee; Fourth of July Celebration Committee; Green Team; Livingston Animal Shelter Committee; Livingston Municipal Alliance; Livingston Public Broadcasting Committee and Executive (Continued on Page A-6) Board; Local Emergency Planning Council; Parade Day Committee; Recycling and Reclamation Committee; Social Justice Advocacy Committee; Technology Committee; Trails and Greenways Committee; Township Golf Tournament Committee; Vision 20/20 Committee; and Welcome to Livingston Committee.
Additionally, Jarrid Kantor was appointed township attorney; Michael Berliner was appointed assistant township attorney; Marc Garfinkle was appointed municipal public defender. Assistant municipal prosecutors and public defenders were also appointed.
For the Planning Board, Ketan Bhuptani, class III member, one year; Stephen Santola, class IV member, four years; Shawn Partin, and Sam Ratner, class IV member, four years, were appointed. Additionally, township manager Barry Lewis was appointed as a class I member, one year, and Craig Dufford as a class II member, one year.
For the Zoning Board, Edward Bier was appointed chairman for a fouryear term. Laurie Kahn and Kalpesh Kenia were each appointed to four year terms and Todd Sherman was appointed as alternate number one.
Council Speeches
The meeting closed, as it always does, with speeches from each of the Council members and township manager Barry Lewis. To hear the full speeches, the entire meeting will be broadcast on LTV. It should also be added to the Livingston Township, NJ YouTube page.
Lewis thanked the community for its support of the township, the town’s employees for keeping Livingston running, and told the Council he looked forward to working with them in 2025.
Lewis said he was proud that the township offered “outstanding services in a challenging economy… we’ve had to think smarter and be more efficient, but I think it’s worked out well.” He also noted that “our financial position is as strong as it’s ever been.”
Bhuptani, in his first reorganization meeting, said he was honored to be an elected member to the Council.
“I’m so glad I raised my hand to serve,” he said, later adding that, “We as a team had a productive year.”
Vieira noted that he has kept his promise to make every vote with the community in mind and lauded all of Livingston’s volunteer organizations. Specifically, he noted that this is the first year that individual names of each volunteer first responder in Livingston was printed in the reorganization meeting’s agenda.
“Thank you all for all you do for this community,” Vieira said, addressing those volunteers directly.
Deputy Mayor Klein said he was honored to represent Livingston.
“Thank you for trusting me,” he said. “We will continue to work hard for you.”
Mayor Meinhardt said that, “I look forward to not just focusing on the present, but the (future), as well.”
Upcoming projects he noted included groundbreaking for DPW, YMCA, the future of the Livingston Mall, deciding on a plan for the community pools, supporting local businesses, collaborating with the Livingston Board of Education, and more.
Anthony, the outgoing mayor, concluded the meeting by saying his three terms as mayor have been “a charm, an honor, and a privilege,” and he looked forward to commencing his fourth term as a Council member.
“If this were a State of the Town address, I’d say it’s strong. In fact, I’d say it’s super strong,” Anthony concluded. “Happy New Year, everyone.”
