Ward 1 residents finally have someone in their seat again. The Summit Common Council unanimously appointed Andrew Smith to fill the vacancy left by former Councilmember Bob Pawlowski's resignation, and Mayor Fagan swore him in on the spot at the July 7 meeting.

Smith is a local attorney and Army veteran who's called Summit home for years. He's served on multiple city boards, coached youth sports, and led the city's Memorial Day Parade — the kind of resume that suggests he's already been showing up for the community long before this appointment.

Pawlowski stepped down at some point before July, though no public explanation for his departure has surfaced in city records or local reporting. That left Ward 1 without representation until Smith's swearing-in, about 13 minutes into the July 7 session. He'll serve out the remainder of Pawlowski's term, which runs through the end of 2026 — roughly five to six months.

The council meets again July 28 for public hearings on two ordinances introduced at the same meeting: one adding stop signs at several intersections, the other updating the city's AI data center regulations.

Ward 1 residents can call City Hall at 908-277-9400 (512 Springfield Avenue, open weekdays with adjusted summer hours). Council President Claire Toth also holds weekly walk-in office hours Mondays from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Council Conference Room — no appointment needed — or can be reached by email at [email protected].