Council honors 13 departing volunteers and bids farewell to Mayor Patrick

In a brief adjourned session ahead of the borough's swearing-in ceremony, the Mayor and Council passed a series of commendation resolutions unanimously (6-0 each) thanking outgoing volunteers for their service: Christopher Valerian (13 years, Board of Health), Rick Mason (8 years, Planning Board), and William Seeman (14 years, Board of Adjustment); Arthur Dawson (6 years, Planning Board), Harry Rush (10 years, Library Board), and Carol Harpster (20 years, Library Board); and Richard Waters (20-plus years, Glen Ridge TV Committee), Megan Blank (3 years, Environmental Advisory Committee), and Carolee Bol (4 years, Environmental Advisory Committee).

The centerpiece of the meeting was Resolution 187-23, a lengthy tribute to outgoing Mayor Stuart K. Patrick, recounting his path from the Civic Conference Committee to eight years as mayor, his tenure as finance chair and police commissioner on the council, and his leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution passed unanimously, 6-0, with council members and department heads offering congratulations on his years of service as both councilman and mayor.

With no further business, the council voted unanimously to adjourn sine die, with Mayor Patrick announcing the council would reconvene immediately for the swearing-in ceremony of the incoming 2024 mayor and council members.

What to watch

• Council reconvened the same evening for the swearing-in ceremony and 2024 organizational meeting