Council Votes 5-2 on Housing Authority Appointment as Mayor Exercises Separate Authority
Common Council · Meeting of January 20, 2026
NJ SUMMIT — Summit Common Council splits 5-2 on Housing Authority member appointment in power-balance dispute. Council President Claire Toth presided as Councilmembers Crisafulli, Landman, Lasaracina, Kalmanson, and Toth voted to appoint Kelli Montgomery to a 5-year term, while Boyer and Pawlowski opposed, advocating instead for Georgette Barnes. Mayor Elizabeth Fagan subsequently appointed Barnes using her separate mayoral authority, effective January 21.
The council also authorized $65,000 for City Forester Services and up to $500,000 in consultant engineering contracts, awarded a $374,057.25 bid for Doremus Street improvements, and approved $62,629.88 for vehicle and equipment purchases. Residents offered extensive public comment on Round 4 affordable housing concerns regarding a proposed Shunpike Road development.
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Source: the Common Council meeting of January 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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