Barnegat Township began 2024 with a new mayor as the township committee voted to hand the gavel over to Joseph Marte at the Jan. 1 reorganization meeting. Alfonso Cirulli was named deputy mayor.

The two officials were victorious in the November election as the five-member committee remains all Republican.

Marte, who was deputy mayor last year, replaced Pasquale “Pat” Pipi, who remains on the committee and is up for re-election this year. Marte is beginning his second three-year term.

Prior to retirement, he worked for the Passaic County Superior Court in court administration.