Millburn Mayor Annette Romano Announces Re-Election Plans

Millburn, NJ: (Feb. 11, ’25): Annette Romano, ranking member of the 5-member Township Committee, today announced plans to run for re-election in 2025.

Romano, a lifelong township resident who currently serves as Township Mayor, cited a list of accomplishments as well as goals for a second 3-year term.

Among her first term accomplishments, Mayor Romano cited the Main Street closure and the Town Hall Plaza as an alternative, a very successful placemaking choice for the Township and Special Improvement District. Additional accomplishments include:

• Hired additional police officers, improved communication on incidents of home burglary, supported a staffing study and the continued implementation of crime fighting technology.
• The “Mayor’s Message” became the “Millburn Message”, an opportunity for all Committee members to impart Township related information to the public.
• Changed Mayoral Appointments to Township Boards and Commissions to appointment by consensus of the Governing Body.
• Employee spotlight on social media.
• Fostered communication and civility with the Township Committee to ensure productive business meetings.

• The importance of the Special Improvement District and what it provides to the businesses and property owners.
• Successfully brought Animal Control back in house providing a better service to our residents.
• Building and fostering important relationships for the implementation of the Orange Reservoir bypass, a critical flood mitigation effort by the Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee and Township.
• Worked with Congresswoman Sherrill’s office to seek Community Projects funding for Gilbert Place pump station upgrades in the amount of $1.1M.
• Pushed for transparency in the designation process of Historical landmarks and homes, which included a modification of the ordinance.
• Approximately $2.9M received in grants since 2023

• Supported and decided on the following positive steps by the governing body:
  • Purchase of 22 E. Willow – temporary Town Hall and future community center/senior center.
  • Contribution to Paper Mill Playhouse capital campaign that includes improvements to township owned property.
  • Open Space referendum.
  • Bauer Community Center renovation
  • Road Reconstruction program – $4M invested in our streets
  • Main Street program application and award –Township now eligible for additional grant dollars and programs to improve commercial success and support our local businesses.
  • Update of the Township’s “Open Space Element of the Master Plan” and “Historic Element of the Master Plan” – both long overdue and helps guide the community.
  • Town Hall Renovation and Addition –talked about for over a decade, now coming to fruition.

“I have always cared deeply about our township, and I would like to continue to move Millburn forward in a positive, responsible way. I have proven that I can lead in a bi-partisan manner”, she said.

Passionate about the Millburn/Short Hills community, Mayor Romano continues to give back to it in many ways.  A community volunteer for the past 30 years, she began to contribute in our schools and for the schools PTO.

Romano chaired the school districts community outreach efforts including organized food, and toy drives, and was involved with the Millburn/Short Hills chapter of the American Red Cross. She served as a volunteer and later became a staff member serving as the Director of Health & Safety. She worked with the district’s teachers and faculty to make sure everyone was certified annually in CPR and first aid.

Finally, with the townships’ help, she founded the food pantry and still manages it, a valuable resource in our community.

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