MOUNTAINSIDE — A vacancy on the governing body was revealed during Tuesday evening’s meeting, with the announcement that Councilwoman Rachel Pater has stepped down from her position for personal reasons.

By state law, the party of the elected official, which in this case is the Republican Party, has 15 days from the time of resignation to present a list of three nominations to the governing body. The council will then choose a replacement from that list.

At the beginning of the meeting, Police Officer Cesar Reyesperez was sworn in as a member of the borough’s police force.

With his mother, father and brother by his side, Officer Reyesperez was sworn in on a probationary period, which will last until next fall.

According to Police Chief Joseph Giannuzzi, Officer Reyesperez served as a Class 2 Officer in Passaic County and has already earned two lifesaving awards. It also was stated that he served in the United States Army, enlisting when he was just 18.

In other business, two ordinances were unanimously passed upon their second reading and public hearing.

The first is to appropriate the sum of $168,500 for the resurfacing of Short Drive and $277,352 for the resurfacing of Friar Lane, King’s Court, Justin Place and Queen’s Lane.

The second is to appropriate $490,000 for phase two of the construction of the Department of Public Works garage at 1329 Route 22 in Mountainside.

In addition, senior bus driver Thomas Cassidy was approved at Tuesday’s meeting.

Separately, it was reported that a very successful tree lighting ceremony was held on December 2.AMenorahlighting ceremony was held inside Borough Hall because of the inclement weather.

The next meeting of the governing body will be its reorganization meeting on Tuesday, January 2, at 7:30 p.m.