Garfield installs 2026 volunteer fire chief; council honors outgoing chief and confirms routine appointments

Garfield swore in its 2026 volunteer fire chief and held its annual firemen's reorganization on Jan. 2, where Mayor Everett E. Garntel Jr. and council members praised outgoing Chief Michael Colon and confirmed several personnel appointments and routine resolutions.

The ceremony, presided over by Fire Official James Kovacs, included the reading of Resolution R-01-26, which formally commended Michael Colon for his service as fire chief in 2025. A motion to adopt the resolution was made and approved by roll call; the mayor and council voted in the affirmative and the motion carried. "You're one of a kind, Mike," Councilman Delaney said during remarks thanking the outgoing chief.

Also on the ceremonial agenda, the council adopted Resolution R-02-26 to reappoint Pastor John Chupkowski (Praise Church, 145 Main St.) as the volunteer fire department chaplain, for a term ending Dec. 31, 2026. Pastor Chupkowski led the invocation and the Fireman's Prayer during the event.

City Manager Aaron Delaney announced the city's 2026 assistant chief appointments: Will Larkin (fourth assistant chief), Christopher Polonky (third assistant chief), Steven Symantec (second assistant chief) and Edward J. Marrano (first assistant chief). The new officers and company members from Engine Companies 1, 2 and 5, Rescue/Engine Company 3 and Truck Company 4 were administered the oath of office during the ceremony.

Mayor Garntel administered the oath to the new chief, referred to in the record as Chief Collado, who told attendees he was "humbled to stand before you" and pledged to lead with integrity, prioritize firefighter safety and invest in training and teamwork. "No chief succeeds alone," the chief said, asking for cooperation between officers, firefighters and city leaders.

During the business portion after a short recess, the council approved minutes from the Dec. 9, 2025 meeting and adopted the consent agenda. Two agenda changes were noted in advance: the contract amount for Social Strategies (Resolution R-17-26) was reduced from $60,000 to $40,000, and the state'mandated qualified purchasing-agent threshold (Resolution R-21-26) was corrected to $53,000 to reflect a July 2025 change in state law. The council also adopted the county mutual-aid plan as part of the consent items.

The mayor and council unanimously approved Resolution R-03-26 reappointing Mayor Everett E. Garntel Jr. as the city's representative to the redevelopment agency for a one-year term ending Dec. 31, 2026, and reappointed Deputy Mayor Kevin Kane Jr. as the city's Class 3 planning-board member for a one-year term (term ending Dec. 31, 2026). For each formal resolution read into the record, a motion was made, seconded and carried by roll call.

Council members used the occasion to thank the Garfield Volunteer Fire Department for its service to the community, with multiple speakers noting that Garfield relies on volunteer firefighters to protect a population the meeting referenced as roughly 40,000 residents. Assembly representatives in attendance were acknowledged for their presence; council members asked Trenton representatives to consider apparatus funding for the department.

The ceremonial portion concluded with a benediction and an invitation to refreshments at the Royal Manor on Midland Avenue. The public-comment period was opened and no members of the public came forward. The mayor adjourned the meeting following the routine business vote.

Votes at a glance

- R-01-26 (Commendation for outgoing Chief Michael Colon): motion carried by roll call (affirmative votes by council present).
- R-02-26 (Reappointment of Pastor John Chupkowski as fire chaplain, term to 12/31/2026): motion carried by roll call.
- R-03-26 (Reappoint Mayor Everett E. Garntel Jr. to redevelopment agency, term to 12/31/2026): motion carried by roll call.
- Planning board appointment (Deputy Mayor Kevin Kane Jr., class 3 member, term to 12/31/2026): motion carried by roll call.

Next steps

The ceremony invited attendees to a post-ceremony reception; council business will continue at subsequent scheduled meetings. No public hearings were held or continued items scheduled during this meeting.