Council - Regular Meeting

I'm not tell you. Did he say okay?

Banging the gavl yet again. Like to welcome Judge Chickalleti here who will be beginning the process of swearing some new c new people into office. Begin by mayor elect Frank Pronto. Frank, do you want to come forward? You have family members with you that would like to hold a Bible. Can I have them come forward? Same to you. Okay. Do you have a Bible or you want to use this one? It's old enough.

You have every button in place. Okay. We're going to begin the swearing in ceremony. Be quiet the audience, please. Please place your right hand on the Bible and left hand in the air. I, Frank W. Pran, Steve, do solemnly swear that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth and I do further affirm that I'll perform the duties of my office as mayor of the Burial Bristol with white.

Thank you and congratulations. Thank you. [applause] There's a photo op. Anybody wants to take some pictures? Now's the time. Not with my picture in it, though. [laughter]

Did you escape from Warrington? I'll be there next week. Oh, really?

The solicitor? Yeah.

Yeah,

sure. There's the microphone there if you want to say a few words. First of all, uh I want to tell you it is is truly an honor for me to be up here this morning as as mayor. I was sworn in here twice before, once as a rookie police officer back in 1973, then again in December of 1991 as chief of police. Uh I probably swore just about every person that took office over the last 23 years uh I did their oath of office as my position as judge. So I come here today and I campaigned on being the candidate for the people and I want to reinforce that to you that I am for the people. I will be a working mayor. I you will be able to reach out to me. I will have regular hours to meet with people and I will be there for you. I came here today with two separate speeches to make. One was a unity speech and the other one was this is what I am confronted with. I'm here for unity, but there's one thing that I must so that you know what I'm going to be dealing with. Back in November, I asked the chief of police if he could do me a favor and show his his professionalism by wearing his white shirt like chief of police normally does. He said he would give it some thought. He's here today in a blue shirt. I hope that this isn't a signal of what I'm going to have to deal with to try to work with the police department. I'm here to work with everybody on council. I have no hidden agendas contrary to what people have said. I am here for the people. My success as mayor will be your success as the burrow of Bristol. Thank you. [applause]

Of course, I could say now that I joined the DA's office in 1972 before the mayor became a patrolman. I taught him everything he knew. Anna, do you have family would like to come up? Okay, here's the biblio as they call it. [laughter]

Commissioner Por. Okay. Are we ready? Okay. So, this is the official oath of office for Annabon Lararsy, tax collector. I I anony do solemnly swear do solemnly swear or affirm affirm that I will support I will support obey and defend obey and defend the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth and the Constitution of the Commonwealth and that I will discharge and I will discharge the duties of my office the duties of my office with fidelity

with fidelity. CONGRATULATIONS. [applause] [applause] Time for a photo op. If you need a photo, any photo ops, there we go. something, right?

Maria next. [applause]

Maria, you're next. Okay. Anybody else? Maria. Okay. They'd rather not. Okay. Okay. Maria, praise your writing on the Bible. Okay. This is the official oath of office for council member Maria Figareroa. Okay, Maria, repeat after me. I I, Maria Figurella, do solemnly swear

do solemnly swear or affirm or affirm that I will support that I will support obey obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth and the Constitution of the Commonwealth and that I will discharge and that I will discharge the duties [clears throat] of my office with fidelity. the duties of my office with my

That's congratulations. [applause] [applause] What's

Betty? Did you charter a bus? Okay,

we're good. Thank you, Rob. Okay, so this is the official oath of office for Betty Rodriguez, Councilwoman. Okay. So, I I Betty Rodriguez do solemnly swear do solemnly solemnly swear that I will support that I will support obey and defend obey and defend the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth and the Constitution of this Commonwealth and that I will discharge and I will discharge the duties of my office the duties of my office with fidelity with fidelity. [applause]

Congratulations. ANY photo ops [snorts]

[applause]

The rain. Here we go. Give that [clears throat] Okay, hold for there. Good job. Okay, this is the swearing in official oath of office for council member Lorraine Cullen. I I Lorine Cullen do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support

that I will support obey and defend obey and defend the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth and the Constitution of the Commonwealth and that I will discharge and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity the duties of my office with fidelity. CONGRATULATIONS. [applause]

She must have been born late in life. Good job. Good job. Now you're safe. You're safe.

Pictures. Ralph. [snorts] Monica. Okay. Right hand on the left.

Switch right hand and left. You haven't done it enough, Tom. This is the official oath of office for Council Member Ralph Dy Jazeppi. I I do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support that I will support obey and defend obey and defend the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth and the Constitution and that I will discharge I will discharge the duties of my office the duties of my office with fidelity with fidelity. [applause]

THANK YOU, JUDGE. Thank you. [laughter]

[applause]

We have other business to conduct. So, I'm going to recall the meeting to order if you could. First thing would be to do to stand for the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. I understand that Father Mooney is here for an invocation. [laughter]

All be silent, please. Good evening everyone. We're in this new year of 2026, a time of transition here in Bristol. So, let us now join in prayer together for this time of change and transition. Almighty God, bless our newly elected officials of Bristol Burough that they may do their work in the spirit of wisdom, kindness, and justice. Help them use their authority to serve faithfully and promote the general good. We commend our town to your care that may live securely in peace and harmony. Help them to remember that they are called to serve people in truth and in justice. In the Lord's name we pray. May God bless you. The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen. Amen. Thank you, Father. Thank you. Now, normally I think Ralph would say we should also remember the people that have passed away since the last council meeting. So, we can have a moment of silence. Thank you very much. Mr. Dylan, would you call the role, please? Mr. Peasant here. Miss Cohen here. Miss Rodriguez here. Mr. Cousins here. Mr. Guerrero here. Mr. Johnson here. Mr. Katrochi here.

Mr. Deppi here. All council members are present. Correct, Mr. Dylan? Correct. Okay. The next order of business is my solicitation from council for a nomination for the election of council president. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to nominate to renominate Burough Council President Ralph. Is there a second? Are there any other nominations? I see none. All in favor, please say I. I.

Motion carries. Congratulations. So you have the SOFT [applause] that hard seat over there. Yeah.

Okay. At this time, I need a nomination for vice president council. Mr. President, I would like to nominate and renominate uh for election for Vice President Betty Rodriguez. Any other nominations? Nominations are closed. All those in favor. [applause]

Okay. Number seven on the agenda. Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion for the appointment of the burough solicitor and set compensation per letter dated January 2nd, 2026 from Jeffrey Gart, Begley, Carlin, and Mandy. Second by Mr. Katrochi. Questions or comments? All those in favor? Opposed? Number eight. Mr. President, I'd like to uh make a motion for the appointment of Burough Engineer and set compensation for Gilmore proposal dated December 9th, 2025. Second by Mr. Katroi. Questions or comments? All those in favor? I

oppose. Number nine. Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to for the appointment of the special burrow solicitor and set compensation per letter dated December 5th of 2025 from Eric Brown, Esquire of Siana Law. Second by Mrs. Rodriguez. Questions or comments? All [snorts] those in favor? Opposed? Number 10. Mr. President, I'd like to appoint Joseph Lar as Secretary Treasury. Second by Mr. Katroichi. Questions or comments? All those in favor? I oppose number 11. [laughter]

Number 11. Mr. President, like me. Okay. Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to the appointment of the assistant secretary, uh, Jim Dylan. Second by Mr. Cousin. Excuse me. Questions or comments? All in favor? I oppose. This is Merl, isn't it? Merl Winslow. Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion for the appointment of the vacancy board chairman chairperson Merurl Winslow. Second by Mr. Katrochi. Questions or comments? All those in favor? I oppose. Number 13.

Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to establish the monthly meeting dates and times for 2026. Question. Second by Lee. Just for the record, there will be the first and second Monday of every month at 7 pm. All those in favorose. Can I get a motion to make a motion? What? I'm sorry.

I would just like to make a comment tonight about Lower Bucks Hospital. Uh they had a grand opening ribbon cutting tonight for the new ICU unit there on the second floor and it is a uh it's beautiful. But more important is all that the hospital did last uh well on December 23rd during that explosion. The hospital had most of those people housed in their emergency rooms in their any vacant area they had. They had residents, nurses working around the clock taking care of people. Some nurses even who are retired came in and offered their assistance during this this tragedy. So, I just think it's it's a very I just want to take my hat off to all the people there at the hospital and all the volunteers, of course, all the firemen and first responders that that we that we uh were involved with this. But again, thank you to the hospital. I want to thank uh uh Brian Fitzpatrick who also was there tonight because he was able to get the uh a grant for the hospital that helped them do this new uh ICU unit and we need a community hospital and it last week it showed us how important it was to have one.

Thank you. Thanks Louis. Okay, so there was a motion by to Mrs. Collins, second by Mr. Pez. All those in favor. Meeting adjourned.