Jeffrey Martin sworn in as Hamilton Township mayor as council reorganizes; consent agenda approved 5-0

Jeffrey Martin was sworn in as mayor of Hamilton Township during the council’s reorganization meeting, where members also elected leadership and approved a five-item consent agenda.

At the ceremony, County Commissioner John Cimino administered the oath to Martin, who told the assembled crowd he stands “Hamilton proud” and thanked local and county officials and township employees for their support. “I stand before you today with the same words I stood before you 4 years ago,” Martin said, adding that partnerships across government and the community are central to his agenda.

The reorganization portion of the meeting confirmed leadership for the council. Anthony Carabelli was nominated for council president and elected by roll call. Nancy Phillips nominated Rick Tighe for vice president; that nomination was seconded and approved. The roll call for leadership and subsequent votes on the consent agenda recorded the five regular members voting in the affirmative.

The township clerk announced certified election results from Nov. 7, 2023, saying Hamilton has 68,301 registered voters and that 22,393 cast ballots in the general election. The clerk named the successful candidates as Jeffrey Martin for mayor (12,784 votes), Pascual Papapero Jr. for township council (12,235 votes) and Nancy Phillips for township council (11,837 votes).

The clerk presented five consent agenda resolutions (CA-1 through CA-5): designating 2024 public meeting dates, listing official holidays for township employees, designating official newspapers for the township, and authorizing temporary budget appropriations for the 2024 general municipal and sewer utility budgets. After a motion to adopt the consent agenda and no public comment, the council approved the package by a 5-0 roll call vote.

In his remarks, Mayor Martin highlighted public-safety accomplishments — including the consolidated fire department’s response to recent major incidents — and described efforts such as “Operation Santa,” outreach adaptations for residents with sensory sensitivities and new communication tools. Martin cited the township’s animal-shelter live-release rate as having improved from roughly 75% (2015–2017) to over 90% since 2020.

Martin also addressed water-service oversight, saying the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection had taken direct control of a public water utility “for the first time in New Jersey’s history,” and credited intergovernmental work and grants that, he said, have funded local projects. He listed local funding examples referenced during the ceremony, including a $1 million grant for a ladder truck, $750,000 for a nonprofit center improvement, $350,000 for improvements at Seine Gardens and roughly $450,000 to support the Miracle League of Mercer County.

The mayor previewed priorities that include redevelopment, a proposed new municipal building, continued support for local businesses and a four-year agreement to provide school resource officers at Hamilton Township schools, which he said is funded in part by the school district to increase police presence in schools.

The program included an invocation by Reverend Barry Ratzinger, a benediction by Deacon Tharpe and student participation in the Pledge of Allegiance. The council president noted the next regularly scheduled council meeting will occur in two weeks at the Greenwood Avenue location.

Actions at the meeting were procedural and organizational; no policy ordinances were introduced or adopted beyond the consent resolutions. The reorganization meeting adjourned after the swearing-in and remarks.