Kenilworth council approves minutes, consent agenda; proclaims January Human Trafficking Prevention Month, honors long-serving staff and volunteers

The Borough of Kenilworth Council approved previous meeting minutes, adopted a consent agenda of resolutions and presented a proclamation naming January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

At the start of the meeting a speaker read the statutory Open Public Meetings Act notice (Chapter 231, P.L. 1975) and confirmed that the clerk posted the 2026 meeting schedule. The council then completed roll call; Councilman Piper was recorded as excused.

Mayor Linda Carlovich read a proclamation recognizing January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month and cited state designations and the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking. "I, Linda Carlovich, mayor of the Borough Of Kenilworth," the mayor said as she presented the proclamation and called for community vigilance and survivor-centered responses.

The mayor and council honored long-serving Department of Public Works employee Richard (Richie) Locksley for nearly four decades of service and presented a volunteer of the year award to Mary Anne Gasper for work with scouting, the public library board and local charitable efforts. Locksley thanked the council; Gasper was recognized for sustained community service.

On financial matters, the finance office reported that bond counsel and auditors are preparing a public bond sale intended to permanently finance existing debt and smooth debt-service payments; staff noted related resolutions on the consent agenda and that a resolution addressing minimum-wage updates (Resolution 26 59) and a resolution ensuring construction-code coverage for inspections (Resolution 26 66) were among items listed.

The clerk described an Eagle Scout project to assemble and install benches along the new walking path at DeMario Park; the consent agenda including that approval was moved, seconded and passed by roll call with the excused member noted.

The council also opened the floor to public comment; no members of the public spoke. Later in the meeting, members voted to enter executive session; the mayor stated no formal action would be taken following executive session and the council would reconvene only to adjourn.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes and executive-session minutes (12/03/2025; special meeting 12/10/2025): motion made by Councilwoman Giordano Pacerno, seconded by Councilman Boyle; roll call recorded affirmative votes with Councilman Piper excused.
- Consent agenda (Resolutions 26-49 through 26-66, including Eagle Scout project and items previewed by finance): motion moved and seconded; roll call passed, Councilman Piper excused.
- Motion to enter executive session: moved and seconded; passed by voice/roll call.

What happens next: Resolutions listed on the consent agenda will be processed as adopted items in the meeting packet; the finance office will return documents on the bond sale as audits and bond counsel finalize details. The council moved into executive session and indicated it would not take formal action after the closed session.