Dunellen Starts Off the New Year with Annual Reorganization Meeting Looking Back at a Successful 2024 and Outlining What Lies Ahead in 2025
Dunellen Starts Off the New Year with Annual Reorganization Meeting Looking Back at a Successful 2024 and Outlining What Lies Ahead in 2025
Happy New Year to all of Dunellen’s residents, business owners, and friends! The Borough of Dunellen celebrated the start of the New Year with its annual Reorganization Meeting on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Congratulations and welcome back to Council Members Teresa Albertson and William Scott who were sworn in by Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz and Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis of New Jersey’s 21st Legislative District. Congratulations to Daniel Cole Sigmon who was unanimously chosen to serve as Council President for 2025.
A special thank you to Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz and Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis for administering the oath of office to our Council Members. The Borough of Dunellen is grateful for their ongoing support and we look forward to continuing our collaboration throughout 2025.
The meeting also saw the swearing-in of Patrolman Paul Condit to the Dunellen Borough Police Department, Borough Attorney William Robertson, and our volunteers who will be serving on Dunellen’s many boards and commissions.
Congratulations to Margaret “Peg” Lockwood, who was recognized as Dunellen’s Volunteer Citizen of the Year 2024. Peg is a founding member of both the Dunellen Downtown Management Organization (DDMO) and the Dunellen Arts, Inclusion, & Culture Commission (DAICC), the former of which she has served as the Chair or Acting Chair since 2012.
I would also like to congratulate Kathleen “Kathy” Wilson who was presented with Dunellen’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. Kathy has lived in Dunellen for most of her life and grew up participating in Dunellen Recreation programming before joining Dunellen Recreation as an Associate Member and has now served on the Dunellen Parks & Recreation since 2002.
Finally, during the Reorganization Meeting, Mayor Cilento shared his sixth State of the Borough address, highlighting Dunellen’s accomplishments in 2024 and providing a look into our agenda for 2025.
A Look Back at the Accomplishments of 2024:
● The Borough of Dunellen completed several redevelopment projects including 526 North Avenue, 150 North Avenue, and Dunellen Station while work on “The Gateway” at 745 Bound Brook began construction.
● Dunellen received several awards and recognitions including the 2024 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award for The Nell at Dunellen Station, a feature in Business View Magazine in the October 2024 edition, the “Great Downtown” designation from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association, and will be featured in the January edition of New Jersey Real Estate.
● 1.8 miles of roads were paved, with 10 of our 16 miles of municipal roadways being paved since 2020.
● We have welcomed Comcast as the Borough’s newest broadband service provider, and they have been at work installing fiber lines in anticipation of their services becoming available.
● The Borough implemented key organizational changes in our administrative office allowing us to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency in our operations.
● Communication efforts increased, allowing the Borough to more effectively distribute information to residents.
● Dunellen Parks & Recreation expanded 11 youth programs, added new programming for all ages, and saw record attendance for events throughout the year.
● 4x Olympic Gold Medalist and Dunellen Native Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone returned home to our miracle for a Homecoming Celebration following her incredible performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics where she took home two more gold medals and set her sixth world record.
● Our Municipal Clerk has continued to provide a variety of services for our residents including the processing of pet and marriage licenses, and successfully navigated the 2024 election, ensuring our residents were able to cast their ballots.
● The Dunellen Fire Department celebrated the reopening of the George W. Hodulik Firehouse in December and responded to over 300 calls throughout the year despite not having a permanent home for the majority of the year.
● The Dunellen Borough Police Department celebrated their 100th anniversary, the retirement of several officers, the arrival of a new officer to the department, and Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain promotions. Several officers were also recognized for their outstanding work by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
● The Construction Department issued 275 permits, conducted 93 rental inspections, completed 34 time-of-sale inspections, and processed 104 zoning applications.
● The Municipal Court, led by the Honorable Judge Katherine Howes welcomed new Court Administrator Liz Dabbagh and celebrated the retirement of former Court Administrator Terri Crisafulli. Denise Donato was promoted to Deputy Court Administrator and Dawn Mayer-Doll was hired as the part-time Violations Clerk ensuring the smooth operation of the department during a time of transition.
● The Department of Public Works swept 310 miles of road, collected 380 tons of debris, restored 10 catch basins, installed new planters at Washington Memorial Park and Columbia Park, planted 45 new trees in Downtown Dunellen, and played an integral role in the maintenance of the Bandalong Bandit Litter Trap in the Green Brook.
● We had 167 volunteers between our Recreation programs and Volunteer Organizations.
● The Dunellen Downtown Management Organization hosted its 11th Annual HarvestFest, celebrated the grand openings of several new businesses, commemorated milestone anniversaries for longtime local businesses, and offered their Small Business Saturday promotion to help drive traffic to our many unique businesses.
● The Dunellen Arts, Inclusion, and Culture Commission facilitated the completion of the Madison Avenue Mural and the approval of the Prospect Avenue Mural.
● The Dunellen Municipal Alliance has remained committed to its mission of educating our students and community about Substance Abuse Disorders.
● The Dunellen Office of Emergency Management secured a $10,000 Emergency Management Assistance Grant and welcomed a second Deputy, Joe Cummins, who was recognized with the Outstand Service Award from the New Jersey Emergency Management Association.
● The Dunellen Rescue Squad bid farewell to their old building on North Avenue and have continued to focus on providing high-quality EMS services as they prepare for their eventual move to a new building at 635 Bound Brook Road.
● The Dunellen Parking Authority transitioned to a monthly meeting schedule, added a new Superintendent position to manage day-to-day operations, worked with the Borough to amend and adopt an ordinance improving downtown parking, and celebrated the holiday season by offering free parking downtown throughout the month of December.
Agenda Items for 2025:
● The development of new properties including 120-126 North Avenue, the North Hamilton Project at 405 North Avenue, 431-441 North Avenue, 337 Front Street, 440 North Avenue, and continued negotiations on the potential redevelopment of 501 North Avenue.
● Wayfinding signage through a NJDOT Transit Village Grant which includes guides to key locations such as Borough Hall and public parking areas, signage detailing the history of Dunellen, and QR codes for digital maps and a directory of Dunellen businesses.
● We will continue our assessment of a Special Improvement District for our downtown with INK Creative Strategies.
● The Borough will continue to advocate for the modernization of the Dunellen Train Station alongside our state representatives from Legislative District 21.
● Second Street Phase 1 will begin in the spring, which spans from Schwartz Place to Madison Avenue and will include the removal and replacement of severely damaged curbs and sidewalks, the installation of new ADA-accessible sidewalk ramps at the intersections, the replacement of any damaged castings, and the installation of two-speed check radar systems, push-button beacon lights, enhanced traffic safety strips, and markings, concluding with the milling and paving of the road.
● The Washington Avenue Streetlighting Project will see the installation of decorative LED lights along Washington Avenue between First Street & Dunellen Avenue and between North Avenue & the Railroad Tracks.
● Further pedestrian safety improvements include the installation of ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps along Route 28, the installation of push-button flashing beacons at the intersections of Sanford Avenue & Bound Brook Road, Lincoln Avenue & North Avenue, Prospect Avenue & North Avenue, and Jackson Avenue & North Avenue.
● Push-button flashing beacons will also be installed on Madison Avenue at Dunellen Avenue & First Street, and North Washington Avenue at Dunellen Avenue & First Street.
● The traffic lights at Washington Avenue and Madison Avenue will receive updated pedestrian crossing signals.
● The Borough will continue working with the Dunellen Parking Authority for a Downtown Parking Assessment to determine locations for future parking and how we can make our current lots more accessible for parking and bicycling.
It is a true honor to serve as the Mayor of our Miracle Mile and I am excited for all that 2025 has in store for us. The Borough of Dunellen is a truly special place thanks to our residents, businesses, and volunteers and there is a bright future ahead as we continue to work together. I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year filled with success, growth, and opportunity.
To read Mayor Cilento’s full State of the Borough address, visit www.Dunellen-NJ.gov/2025Reorganization
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