Good evening and Happy New Year. I am sure we are all happy to leave 2020 in our rearview mirrors. To say it was a tough year is an understatement.

I first want to congratulate Councilperson Amy Dietrich on starting her second term and to Councilperson Donald Lemma for his return to the Council after taking 3 years off. All of us on the Council welcome you and we look forward to working with you in the coming year.

A special thanks to now former Councilperson Royal (Roy) Smith on his service. Roy did a great job and his contributions to the Borough Council will truly be misses. All the best for your next chapter.

The Borough does not function without the hard work of the employees. Thank you to all of the full time and part time employees who make this town a safe and great place to live.

The same goes to all of the volunteers. Many “work” countless hours as a labor of love to help support our wonderful town. Our Country is built on volunteerism and there is no way any town could survive without the dedication you provide.

A special thanks is necessary to our Borough’s First Responders, both career and volunteer. Members of the Police Department, Fire Department, First Aid Squad, Public Works and Emergency Management have had a very tough year dealing with all the normal things they deal with coupled with having to worry about the pandemic caused by COVID-19. All of you do amazing things day in and day out. Peapack & Gladstone is the model for interagency cooperation.

We will get thorough these trying times and with the vaccine on the horizon for the public hopefully things will get back to a more normal routine. I wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy new year.