By Richard D. Smith | Posted Jan. 9 2025
Rocky Hill Borough Council held its 2025 reorganizational meeting Monday, Jan. 6, with the public seating filled to near capacity with citizens and guests.
New council members Andrew Jacobson and Sharlene M. Laud were sworn in by Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Robinson, with Deputy Director Melonie Marano and Surrogate Bernice “Tina” Jalloh in attendance.
Richard Novak was elected council president by unanimous vote. Proclamations acknowledging outgoing members Edgar "Trey" Delaney and Denise Varga for their commitment to the borough also passed unanimously.
From left: Borough Councilman Andrew Jacobson, Mayor Bob Uhrik, and Borough Councilwoman Sharlene M. Laud. Photo by Richard D. Smith.
After a moment of silence for recently-deceased U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Mayor Bob Uhrik gave his annual comments. He thanked the visiting Somerset County officials for the county’s close work with the borough on many issues, such as traffic-calming measures employed on heavily traveled residential streets and the speed limit reduction to 25 mph on Washington Street (Route 518) through downtown Rocky Hill.
Mayor Uhrik also noted the success of the borough water system’s PFOS treatment; the replacement of aging water system piping on Crescent Avenue; the ongoing repaving of the municipal tennis court behind borough hall; and the holding of four quarterly open “town hall” events.
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Work continues in Rocky Hill on stormwater classification and permit requirements, plus fine-tuning of the new water/sewer billing system and the utility rate structure. Mayor Uhrik also said he hopes for establishment soon of a direct walking path connection from Crescent Avenue to nearby Van Horne Park.
Then he said, “Let’s get to the business of the borough!”
A number of consent agenda resolutions were passed, and emergency response and professional appointments were reconfirmed for the new year.
