July 1 Start For Red Bank's New Council, Nonpartisan Government

RED BANK, NJ — Change is coming to Red Bank.

This Saturday, the newly elected officials under the nonpartisan Council/Manager form of government will be sworn into office at a ceremony to be held in front of Borough Hall, 90 Monmouth St., at noon.

The entire Red Bank's Ready team of current Mayor Billy Portman, current Councilmember Kate Triggiano and newly elected Councilmembers Kristina Bonatakis, David Cassidy, Nancy Facey-Blackwood, Ben Forest and Laura Jannone will take the oath of office.

If weather doesn't allow an outdoor event, the installation will be moved to Council Chambers on the first floor of Borough Hall.

There will be a reception at The Vogel at the Basie Center for the Arts across the street after the ceremonies.

The final Borough Council meeting of the previous government was Wednesday night. Outgoing councilmembers Michael Ballard, Angela Mirandi, Jacqueline Sturdivant and John Jackson were all given a round of applause and gave their thanks and appreciation to a number of people - fellow councilmembers, borough staff and residents.

Mayor Portman thanked his colleagues too, and said while they may not have seen eye-to-eye on all issues, he never doubted their motivation and dedication to service.

"On behalf of the borough, your service is much appreciated and I hope it doesn't end here," Portman said.

By a wide margin, voters in November 2022 chose to change the form of government.

And the new Borough Council will begin the business of transitioning to a new form of government once the ceremonies are over - but not on Saturday, which should be a long meeting with the formalities alone.

There will be no appointments to boards and commissions in the borough made that day, Portman said.

But a special meeting date will be set to reorganize, including making appointments. Portman said he is working with the borough clerk to set up an agenda for that.

"There's no shortage of 'do-right-now' things," Portman added. "Just be a little patient with us as we put the new government together."

And Councilmember Triggiano said the installation of seven new Borough Council members means there will be a big crowd at the event - if only with family members, let alone attendance by the public and other officials.

Another major change will come with the retirement July 31 of Police Chief and Acting Borough Administrator Darren McConnell, who is ending his tenure in both positions.

McConnell said he is looking forward to taking some time off and will then "explore some opportunities."

"I will most likely seek a borough administrator position, but where that will be remains to be seen. I have no definite plans at this point," he said.

One major action item for the new council will be the selection of a Borough Manager under the new form of government. With a new council installed, a search for that position can begin, Triggiano noted.

Another ripple effect of the election is that longtime Board of Education member Ben Forest will be resigning from that position effective Friday, June 30, so he can be sworn in to the Borough Council the next day. Forest served on the school board for 19 years and was president for three one-year terms, he said.