FANWOOD — Democrats formally retained their unanimous control of the borough council on Monday with the swearing in of two recently- re-elected members, and Mayor Colleen Mahr spoke about some of the major issues facing the governing body in the early weeks of the new year.

At the start of the council’s reorganization meeting, the mayor swore in Erin McElroy-Barker to a fourth term on the governing body and Patricia Walsh to a third term. Ms. Walsh was also selected to serve as council president for 2025. It was later noted by Councilwoman Kathy Mitchell that the council has a female majority— Ms. Mitchell, Ms. Walsh, Mrs. McElroy-Barker, Gina Berry and Mayor Mahr—which Ms. Mitchell said was “significant.”

Mayor Mahr, beginning her 22nd year as mayor, thanked those residents “who take time to serve on boards and commissions,” saying that “our community is vibrant because of them.” She said the governing body tries “to give you the best government we possibly can. We always put our best foot forward because we call this place home as well.”

The mayor spoke at length about the upcoming $44.7-million bond referendum to purchase the First Children School building at 330 South Avenue and finance HVAC, fire alarms and electrical upgrades to all school buildings. Calling it “an important moment in time” for the school district, the mayor said that if the bond is not approved on Tuesday, January 28, the issue of classroom space and capacity “is not going to go away.” She said the board of education will then have “very difficult decisions to make,” and noted that the school property is a large and valuable one that residential developers “are looking at.”

Mayor Mahr also said the borough council will soon begin to discuss the latest round of affordable-housing obligations that were announced last October, with Fanwood possibly on the hook to provide another 109 such units.

Asw. Linda Carter spoke briefly at the meeting, saying she looks forward to working with the council from her post in Trenton. The mayor then thanked her for helping to secure a $1-million grant that was used for construction of the new library that opened last summer.

A number of appointments were announced on Monday, including Daniel Antonelli as municipal prosecutor and Jill Lazare as public defender. Russell Huegel will continue as borough attorney. The mayor also swore in new members of the fire department and rescue squad. Mayor Mahr reappointed Amy Hamill, Leslie Krone-Speck, Adam Matty and Whitney Chelnik to new four-year terms on the planning board and also appointed Tom Rozycki to the board. Councilman Anthony Carter will be the council’s representative to the board for 2025.

The council’s standing committees for 2025 were also announced, with Mr. Carter chairing the administration and finance committee, Mrs. McElroy-Barker heading up the public safety committee, Ms.Walsh chairing the public works committee, Ms. Berry leading the land use and historic preservation committee, Councilman Jeffrey Banks chairing the recreation committee and Ms. Mitchell heading the health and community outreach committee.