Voting information for Borough of Middlesex residents

NOVEMBER 3, 2020 GENERAL ELECTION Information

As per Governor Murphy’s Executive Order no. 177, Middlesex County voters have automatically received a vote by mail ballot for the general election. In person polling locations are available for voters requiring special assistance or for the casting of provisional (paper) ballot only. There will be no voting machines for the general public’s use.

All voters can return their ballot via USPS in the postage paid envelope which was provided, drop off at the Board of Elections in East Brunswick before 8pm on 11/3, return the ballot to the secure election drop box behind the municipal building by 8pm on 11/3 or submit your completed and sealed ballot to your assigned polling location in-person on election day (11/3) by 8pm. (You are prohibited from submitting another individuals ballot at the polling location). You can also bring your ballot to any of the 31 secure ballot drop boxes in Middlesex County listed on the Borough website under ‘New Jersey Votes’ by 8pm on 11/3. (www.middlesexboro-nj.gov) and click on the Vote 2020 link to visit the County webpage – secure drop box locations (www.middlesexcountynj.gov/vote2020).

If you wish to vote Provisional (paper ballot that you manually fill out – no voting machines) there are three locations, and we request that you go to your assigned district. These locations are:

• Middlesex High School, 300 Kennedy Drive (High School Gym) (District 1, 2, 3, & 4)

• Hazelwood School, 800 Hazelwood Avenue (Gym) (District 5, 6, & 7)

• Mauger Middle School, Fisher Avenue (Gorman Gym) (District 8, 9, & 10)

• Need to know your District? Select here to view a Community Map (and in the pull-out menu, select the checkbox for “voting wards” to see an overlay of the regular Voting Districts)

• If you are a disabled voter and need access to an ADA device to vote, please call the Board of Elections at 732-745-3471

Voters with any questions, please call the Borough Clerk at 732-356-7400, ext. 238.

Linda Chismar, Borough Clerk

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OCTOBER 19, 2020

​MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – Voter Information Centers (VIC) in three Middlesex County Municipalities – Highland Park, Monroe, and Sayreville – will open to the public on Monday, October 19, and remain open until Election Day, November 3. The VIC will serve the public as information centers, providing voting services including replacement ballots, signature verification, and instructions on how to participate in the 2020 General Election.

• Highland Park Borough Hall - 221 South Fifth Ave, Highland Park

• The Monroe Township Library - 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe Township

• Sayreville Borough Hall - ​167 Main Street, Sayreville

For more information about the Voter Information Centers, download the flyer below or visit the County website here.

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October 1, 2020

Hello Middlesex residents.

It is my responsibility to manage the election process in our borough under the directives of the New Jersey Secretary of State. As you should know by now, due to the pandemic, the General Election this fall will be primarily a Vote-by-Mail election. Here is some important information regarding the election.

1. The Middlesex County Clerk will be mailing ballots out to ALL registered voters.

2. If you are not registered and if you want to vote in the November election:
   * register online through the New Jersey Division of Elections here https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register,
   * or, access voter registration forms from the County here middlesexcountynj.gov/vote2020,
   * or, call the Middlesex County Board of Elections at 732-745-3471.
   The last day to register to vote in the General Election is October 13, 2020.

3. If your Vote by Mail ballot is lost, damaged or you do not believe you received it, you may request a duplicate. Please fill out the replacement ballot form on the County website here middlesexcountynj.gov/vote2020 and submit it to the County Clerk’s office. The deadline to request a replacement ballot to be sent to you via the mail is October 23rd, though voters may request a replacement ballot in-person at the County Clerk’s office through election day.

4. Once you receive your ballot, you have the following options to cast your ballot:
   a. You can mail the ballot back using the US mail in the envelope that comes with your ballot. You do not need to add any postage since envelopes have pre-paid postage. Please remember to sign the ballot where indicated and allow time for the ballot to be received through the mail.
   b. You can drop the ballot in the secure drop box located at the Middlesex Municipal Building just outside the entrance to the Court Office. This area will be video monitored 24 hrs./day and the County Board of Elections will be picking up ballots daily. You can also take the ballot to another drop box location within the County (for locations, see the Vote-2020 page of the County website under “Secure Ballot Drop Box Locations”).
   c. You can bring a completed ballot to your designated polling place on Election Day. Remember at the polling location, you can only drop off your ballot. You cannot drop ballots off for others. You can only vote individually, and you must sign in with the poll workers. The new polling locations are listed below under No. 7.
   d. You can vote in person at a polling place. This will be by a paper ballot that is no different than the one received in the mail. This will be considered a provisional ballot until the Board confirms that you have not already voted by mail. Any voting machine at these locations will only be used for those who have a disability.
   e. You can bring your ballot to the Middlesex County Board of Elections at 11 Kennedy Blvd, East Brunswick, NJ.

5. There will be NO sample ballots sent to your home. If you would like a ballot in English, Spanish or Gujarati, please visit the middlesexcountynj.gov/vote2020 website.

6. The Middlesex County Board of Elections has advised that it will mail your ballot back if you have made a mistake. The most common errors are: failure to sign the ballot or their signature does not match the one on file with the Board of Elections office. You will be given an opportunity to correct such errors, but it must be returned by the date cited in the letter.

7. Polling place locations in Middlesex Borough are as follows:
   a. Middlesex High School Gymnasium – District: 1, 2, 3, 4
   b. Hazelwood School Gymnasium – District: 5, 6, 7
   c. Von E. Mauger Middle School, Gorman Gymnasium– District: 8, 9, 10

Lastly, if you want to verify that your mail in ballot has been received, you should register at “Track Your Ballot” on the New Jersey Elections website: nj.gov/state/elections

Linda Chismar, RMC
Borough Clerk

Oct. 28: Kids Halloween Art Workshop Event

Join us for an afternoon of fun for all ages with ART-stitution Kids Halloween Art Workshop Canvas Painting & Slime Making!

Children will be guided step-by-step how to paint a festive scarecrow with acrylic paint on stretched canvas. Next, they’ll make a batch of ectoplasm slime! There are no tricks here…just treats! All ages welcome. All supplies included. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult.

Wednesday, October 28 from 3:00-4:30pm at Middlesex Rec, Recreation Center 1400 Mountain Ave Middlesex, NJ 08846

$25/per child. Must pre-register. Spaces are limited. To register, visit the Rec Department’s registration page here.

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UPDATE: 11/2

No tricks…just treats! Participants had a Spooktacular time at our Halloween Slime Making and Canvas Painting Workshop last Wednesday afternoon.

Cook Field Playground: Temporarily Closed

The Cook Field Playground is temporarily closed for short-term landscaping upgrades. The Parks Department is extending the fall zone and is waiting for the playground mulch to be delivered. We hope to reopen in about a week -- we will post more information when the work is complete!

11/7 Rabies Clinic Cancelled

Middlesex Borough Rabies Clinic scheduled for November 7, 2020 has been Cancelled.

Many regional County and Municipal rabies clinics have been suspended due to Covid-19, so Residents should contact your veterinarian for more information on the rabies vaccination.

Weekly Message from Mayor Madden

Illegal Sump Pump Connections

There are very good reasons why municipalities maintain separate discharge service mains, one for sewage and the other for storm, rain and surface water.

Storm water typically doesn’t require treatment to return this water safely back into the environment or flow to the nearest body of water.

However, collected sewage requires expensive treatment which costs residents in higher utility bills and ultimately, higher taxes. Unfortunately, many residents take the easiest connection discharge route and connect directly to the sanitary lateral rather than a storm drain. Discharging storm water, groundwater, roof runoff or surface water will exponentially overload and stress the sanitary laterals during rain events. This added “sewage” may eventually reverse flow back into a basement, toilet, washing machine, etc. In addition, dangerous sewer gases are released into the home. Such damage can never be covered by your home insurance policy due to an illegal hookup.

Infiltration increases cost

This excessive loading in the sanitary lateral (called infiltration) dramatically increases the cost of treatment at the wastewater plant. When this happens, there is no way for the utilities to track and subsequently bill these offenders. This is like receiving an additional “service” for free. Therefore it is grossly unfair for residents who abide by the law to foot the bill for these offenders. My Business Administrator and I will be completely overhauling the sewer ordinance to provide checks and balances. Our goal is to bring these charges into a fair and equitable process for all residents.

Thank you and please be safe.

Mayor John L. Madden

Mayor's Weekly Message

WEEKLY REPORT OF MAYOR JOHN L. MADDEN

In two weeks, it will be Halloween. This year it falls on a Saturday which normally means larger crowds of children, and several of our neighboring towns have already decided to cancel Trick or Treating.  The Borough Council has discussed this twice at Council Meetings and ultimately decided that adults need to make their own decisions for their children and for themselves.  Rather than government, you get decide whether your children can go out for candy; you get to decide whether you are putting your lights on or off as a signal that Trick or Treaters are welcome.  Halloween in Middlesex Borough is on!

However, as we continue to adopt to the realities of Covid-19 in our State and community and in conjunction with guidance from the NJ Department of Health, the governing body does feel compelled to make recommendations for ways to celebrate Halloween safely.  We encourage you to plan early as to how you are going to celebrate and to identify safe alternatives.

If you are planning to host or attend a Halloween Party, please keep in mind public health recommendations of social and physical distancing, wearing masks that cover the nose and mouth, and hand washing.

If your child(ren) are going out Trick or Treating, we recommend limiting your groups to current household members, consider staying local, and limit the number of houses on your route.  If you are not in a group from the same household, social distancing should be practiced.

The Council is recommending that Trick or Treating end by 8 pm on Halloween.

If you are participating by giving out candy, please keep your lights on even during the afternoon so that the little kids know your house has candy.

If you are planning on handing out treats, the Department of Health has provided “Good, Better and Best” options:

• Good Option:  Limit interaction or contact with Trick or Treaters, wear a mask when individuals come to the door, and regularly wash your hands.

• Better Option:  Leave a treat bowl on a porch or table or in a place where it may be easily accessed while adhering to social distancing requirements.

• Best Option:  Arrange individually packaged candy so that Trick or Treaters can grab and go without accessing a shared bowl.

Whatever your family decides to do, the goal is to make Halloween a safe, fun activity while keeping everyone safe. 

Stay well,

Mayor John L. Madden

Weekly Report from Mayor John L. Madden

Recycling Services

This week’s report is on our recycling services and issues that our partner, Middlesex County Improvement Authority, is having with Borough recycling.  During these turbulent times where municipalities statewide are seeing their recycling disposal costs double or even triple in cost, we are receiving the benefit of a shared service that has kept our recyclable disposal cost lower than many municipalities throughout the state.  Through MCIA’s buying power, we have been fortunate to be able to contract with them.  In 2019, the Borough put out a Request for Proposals for recycling services and the lowest bid that came in was more than $100,000.00 than MCIA’s rate to our town. 

Middlesex County has the highest rate of recycling in the State and, by pooling our resources, MCIA is are able to pass the savings in our recycling disposal costs to our taxpayers.  This benefit exists as long as our residents continue to follow the guidelines on proper recycling and understand what is and is not acceptable to be recycled.  Unfortunately, it has been brought to my attention from MCIA enforcement officers that Middlesex Borough has experienced an increase in recycling “contamination”. 

To better understand recycling guidelines, I encourage everyone to review this guide on the County website.

The 2020 Recycling & Curbside Collection Guide

In the 2020 Recycling & Curbside Collection Guide you will learn valuable information on how to smartly recycle and what can and cannot be accepted.  THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WITH CONTAMINATION IS PLASTIC BAGS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.  Additionally, pizza boxes and shredded paper are not recyclable! I know that that is counter-intuitive – pizza boxes are made of cardboard and shredded paper is paper – but the fact remains that plastic bags, pizza boxes and shredded paper “contaminate” the rest of the recycling and costs MCIA money to have them removed.

The Borough has been put on notice by MCIA, that, if in the coming weeks, your recycling is contaminated, THE HAULER WILL BE UNABLE TO ACCEPT YOUR MATERIALS AND THEY WILL BE LEFT CURBSIDE FOR YOU TO SORT.  

In closing, I wanted to ask all our residents to please take the time to understand how to properly sort and dispose of your recyclable materials.  Everyone must do their part for this program to remain affordable and successful.  We must be vigilant and continue to improve the quality of our recyclables.  Thank you for your time and understanding. 

Be safe and be well,

Mayor John L. Madden

Not sure if it’s recyclable? Download the “Recycle Coach” app!
Visit their website here

Recycling Center - New Hours Eff. 10/5

The Middlesex Borough Recycling Center hours of operation will change effective October 5th.

• Monday (Closed)

• TUESDAY 6:00am - 1:45pm

• Wednesday (Closed)

• THURSDAY 11:00am - 6:45pm

• Friday (Closed)

• SATURDAY 7:00am - 2:45pm

• Sunday (Closed)

The Recycling Center is located behind Borough Hall, at 1200 Mountain Ave. For more information, select here to visit the Department of Public Works page.

Intro to How Our Municipal Corporation Works, Part VII

WEEKLY REPORT BY MAYOR JOHN L. MADDEN

AN INTRODUCTION TO HOW OUR MUNCIPAL CORPORATION WORKS, PART VII

To recap, our borough is an incorporated municipality which operates similarly to any large, public corporation.  You, the residents, are our shareholders.  The Council is the Board of Directors who meet from time to time to vote on various topics that involve policy, budget, and revenue.  As Mayor, I act as Chairman of the Board, run the meetings and am the figurehead of the Board.  Our Municipal Clerk, Linda Chismar, by state statute, serves as Secretary to the Corporation.  As Clerk, she is also the Chief Administrative Officer of all elections held in the Borough, the Chief Registrar of Voters in the Borough, Secretary to the Governing Body, and is also the Administrative Officer.  Middlesex Borough’s Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer is the Borough Business Administrator.  Our CEO/COO is Marcia Karrow who is responsible, by State law and municipal ordinance, for the day-to-day operations of our local government.  She oversees personnel, the budget and all operations.  The Administrator reports directly to the Mayor. 

Our CFO

Every major corporation has a Chief Fiscal Officer.  Our CFO is Caroline Benson, who, prior to becoming our Acting CFO late last year, was our Treasurer.  As CFO, Ms. Benson oversees all things financial in the borough including Custodian of all Public Funds, Assist in Preparation of the Annual Budgets – Operating & Capital, Maintain & Monitor Financial, Develop Fiscal Policy, File Continuing Financial Disclosures, Certify Availability of Funds, Manage Pensions & Benefits, Oversee Payroll, Salary Ordinances, Quarterly Tax Filing, Annual Financial Reporting, Maintain Fixed Asset List, Monitor Adherence to Collective Bargaining Agreements, and Ensure Compliance to all State Purchasing Guidelines.  There is also a “physical plant” to our corporate municipality which includes buildings, parks, roads, a sewer system, recycling facility and sanitation operation.  The physical plant is operated by our Superintendent of the Department of Public Works.  Our “Security Department” is our Police Department headed by the Chief of Police.

Most corporations either provide goods or services (like a large accounting firm, a department store or Amazon) or manufacture goods (such as General Motors). When a service or good is provided, there is a cost associated with that, and upon its sale, money collected to cover those costs.

In the case of local government, all services provided by our municipality also have a cost. Those services include Recreation, Senior Services, Department of Public Works, Police, Clerks Office and all the other services provided by the town. Costs include employees’ salaries and benefits, utilities, vehicles, gasoline, and materials such as grass seed or macadam for the DPW or paper and ink for the day to day operations. Long-term debt (capital expenses), like a home mortgage, is paid over time. That debt is also part of the calculated costs and includes large DPW vehicles or the acquisition of land.

Like your accountant or doctor’s office sending you a bill, the bill you receive from our corporation is your tax bill. The services provided by Middlesex Borough are divided equitably, based on property value, among all properties, whether residential, commercial or industrial, in the town. The assessment on the value of the properties is made by our Tax Assessor, Tom Reilly, who works under strict state laws. Properties that are worth a higher value, such as a very large home, industrial building or supermarket, pay a higher amount of tax, but based on the exact same tax formula. New Jersey’s 1947 Constitution requires that all properties in New Jersey are taxed at the same rate. I know some of you request that Seniors, for instance, should not pay the same taxes as people with children in school; or that an industry should be taxed at a higher rate than a house. Our New Jersey Constitution does not allow properties to be taxed differently. The work around this constitutional requirement is thru the NJ legislature, which has provided laws for Senior Property Tax Freezes, Homestead Rebates, or Veterans Tax Deductions or Tax Exemptions.

Once our Tax Assessor has assessed the value of a building and the land on which it sits, this provides the basis of your tax bill being calculated and then generated. Our Tax Collector, Darcy DelVecchio, is certified by the State of New Jersey and is responsible for collecting the funds which make government work. In a big corporation, she would be our “Accounts Receivable” staff member. Taxes are paid and deposited which then funds local public service. Without these funds, there would be no snow removal, no road repairs, no law and order (police protection and our courts), no marriage licenses, no oversight on construction and zoning, no management of rabies licenses and so forth.

Next week, in Part VIII of the series, I will be covering the “fun stuff” – Recreation, Senior Services, and the Swim and Library Commissions.

One Reminder: Recycling Center Hours

Beginning Monday, October 5th: the Recycling Center will be open three days a week:

• Tuesdays from 6 am to 1:45 pm

• Thursdays from 111 am to 6:45 pm

• Saturdays from 7 am to 2:45 pm

• It will be closed to the public on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays (and closed on Sundays).

Keep Safe and Be Well,
Mayor John L. Madden

Register to vote by Oct. 13

Register to vote, and check your registration online!

To participate in the general election, you must be registered to vote in Middlesex County NJ by Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all active registered Middlesex County voters will automatically receive a Vote By Mail ballot for November’s general election, as per Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 177​. .

Find more info about ways to vote, how to register, secure ballot drop box locations, and more at www.middlesexcountynj.gov/vote2020.

Mayor's Weekly Message

Election

The Middlesex County Clerk has been mailing out all ballots for the General Election in November to ALL registered voters.  Once completed, you can either drop the ballot in the mail, take it to the Board of Elections, bring it to your designated polling location on Election Day, take it to the drop box behind Borough Hall, or take the ballot to another drop box location within the County (for locations, see the Vote-2020 page of the County website under “Secure Ballot Drop Box Locations”).

Our Borough Website has more in depth voting information regarding this election process (www.Middlesexboro-nj.gov) or please feel free to contact the Borough Clerk at 732-356-7400, Ext. 238 with any question you may have.

Halloween

At the September 22, 2020 Council Meeting, the Governing Body discussed Halloween.  The Borough is awaiting any update or Executive Order from the Governor’s Office regarding this matter, and has tabled further discussion until the October 13, 2020 Regular Council Meeting.

Mayor Madden's Weekly Report

Introducing Joe Costa and Ashley White

The Borough is pleased to announce the hiring of two new department heads

Joe Costa was hired two weeks ago as our new Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer. He is responsible for the oversight of the Construction Office and Property Maintenance. Joe works five days a week for the Borough, part-time. He is the full-time Director of Code Enforcement in Bound Brook. Joe is available by appointment every day. He prides himself on returning ALL phone calls and emails the same day they are received. He firmly believes in Customer Service. Joe is a former Human Resources Manager for a major NJ corporation and a former Customer Service Center Manager for a national corporation. He has been doing zoning work for almost a decade. Joe is certified with the State as a Zoning Officer, Planning Board/Zoning Board Secretary, Inspector of Hotels & Multiple Dwellings; Housing Code Official, Qualified Purchasing Agent, and Council on Affordable Housing Professional.

Ashley White will start with us this coming Monday as our New Director of Recreation. Ashley is leaving a Shared Service arrangement serving the Borough of Chester and Chester Township in Morris County. Ashley will be overseeing all Borough recreational activities, sports programs, special events and programming. She has been a recreational professional for more than 15 years. She recently won the NJ Recreation and Parks Association’s William D. Foelsch Rising Professional of the Year award! Ashley is certified in CPR, First Aid and AED, and she is a Certified Pool Operator. She is a member of both the National Recreation and Parks Association and the NJ Recreation and Parks Association. Ashley comes with a wealth of experience, a bucketload of ideas for programs and events, and a tremendous amount of energy to achieve both her and the Borough’s recreation goals. We believe that Ashley is going to bring Middlesex Borough’s recreation program to a whole new level of programming excellence, and we are excited to have her.

I hope you get the chance to meet our two new professionals! In addition to Joe and Ashley, Karen Wick, our former part-time Construction Office Administrative Assistant and Zoning Board Secretary, is returning full-time. Kelsey Meixner, our former part-time Recreation Administrative Assistant has been promoted to the fulltime position of Confidential Assistant to the Clerk, Finance and Administration, and part-time Recreation Committee Secretary, Linda Chicarelli, has been promoted to part-time Recreation Administrative Assistant.

September is National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month, and the Middlesex County Office of Health Services would like help residents embrace this year’s slogan of “Disasters Don’t Wait, Make Your Plan Today.”

Start by taking one or all of the following (socially distanced) steps:

• Get a Kit

• Make a Plan

• Be Informed

• Get Involved

These simple measures as well as more detailed guidance are listed on the County website.

Take a moment to register to win a 3-day “Grab and Go” Emergency Kit by visiting the County contest link here before September 30th. (Only one entry per valid email address, contest open to Middlesex County residents ages 18 and up. Winners will be announced on Monday, October 5th).

Help spread the word by posting or sharing this attached flyer, too!

Weekly Report from Mayor John L. Madden

This week, I am suspending my “government to corporation” analogy to honor those who were lost on September 11, 2001.  Today marks the 19th anniversary of that dark day in American history when both the brave and the innocent were murdered by horrific acts of terrorism.

Hundreds of firefighters, almost two dozen police officers, and thousands of innocent men, women and children lost their lives when two planes were purposefully crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City.  Hundreds of additional lives were lost when a third plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.  And we will never forget the acts of tremendous heroism when brave passengers from New Jersey forced a fourth plane to crash into a farm field in Pennsylvania that was targeted to hit the Capital.

We lost one of our own that day. Tom Gorman, a 41-year-old NYNJ Port Authority Police Officer was killed while attempting to rescue the victims trapped in the World Trade Center. He left behind a wife and three children.  He was a true hero.

All of us who were alive that day know exactly where we were when we heard the news of the first plane slamming into the North Tower.  The realization that this was terrorism hit us all when the second plane penetrated the South Tower.  The idea that any person, group or nation could intentionally cause such death, destruction and fear to Americans was foreign to most of us until that day.  We now have a generation that has grown up knowing that there are those who wish to do us harm.

Following the days of bewilderment, sadness and anger over the murderous acts that occurred on 9-11, Americans rose up in a tremendous sense of patriotism.  American flags became a commodity – hard to find like CoVid’s scarcity of bleach and toilet paper.  Newspapers were printing American flags on their back pages so that people could tape them to their windows.  Entire streets were festooned in red, white, and blue.  Flags hung from cranes, on window boxes, poles, bridges, overpasses, everywhere one looked at for months.  Following these heinous criminal acts, Americans were united in those three colors and a symbol of freedom and spirit.

While September 11th has become an annual day to remember the events of that day, America itself has been splintering politically for years.  The division between political parties, the fighting in Congress, and the nastiness during election cycles has become more apparent every year.  On September 11th we remember that we are all Americans; that we are a united people who believe in freedom; that our country, with all its problems and issues, is still the greatest on this planet.  And we know that, together, we can overcome any adversary with conviction, resolve and the resiliency.

Stay safe,

John L. Madden

Mosquito ULV Spray Mission: Wed. 9/9

Weather conditions permitting, the Middlesex County Mosquito Extermination Commission will be conducting a truck ULV spray mission for nuisance adult mosquitoes and/or vector control.

Municipality: Middlesex
Date and Time: Wednesday, September 9, 2020, 6:30 PM to 11:59 PM.

Rain Date: Thursday, September 10, 2020
Location: B/t Bound Brook border, NJ-28, Mountain Ave, and Lincoln Blvd
A map of the spray zone can be viewed here.

1. The adult mosquito control treatment being conducted is in compliance with section 9.10 and 9.15 of the New Jersey Pesticide Control Code (N.J.A.C. Title 7, Chapter 30). The mosquito control products used will be those recommended by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES), Rutgers University for the control of adult mosquitoes which include: Malathion (Fyfanon ULV®, Atrapa®, or MicroFloMalathion® EPA# 67760-34); Etofenprox (Zenivex®E20, requiring dilution or Zenivex ®E4, RTU, EPA# 2724-807); Prallethrin - Sumithrin (Duet™ EPA# 1021-1795-8329); Deltamethrin (DeltaGard® EPA# 432-1534). All applications will be according to product labeling. For additional information on mosquitoes and adulticiding, contact Dr. Deepak Matadha, Superintendent (NJDEP CPA License #50245B), Middlesex County Mosquito Extermination Commission at 200 Parsonage Rd Edison NJ 08837 at 732-549-0665.

2. For routine pesticide-related health inquiries, please contact the National Pesticide Information Center, at 1-800-858-7378. For information on pesticide regulations, pesticide complaints and health referrals, contact the New Jersey Pesticide Control Program at 1-609-984-6507. In the case of any pesticide emergency, please contact the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System at 1-800-222-1222. Upon request, the pesticide applicator or applicator business shall provide a resident with notification at least 12 hours prior to the application, except for Quarantine and Disease Vector Control only, when conditions necessitate pesticide applications sooner than that time. The Commission's website, http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Government/Departments/PSH/Pages/MCMosquito.aspx provides updated information on time and location of application(s).

3. Residents can take following precautions to reduce exposure: (1) Pay attention to notices about mosquito insecticide treatments found through newspapers, websites, automated telephone messages or notices distributed by municipal, county or state agencies, (2) Plan your activities to limit time spent outside during times of possible insecticide treatments. Move your pets, their food, and water dishes inside during ULV applications. Also bring clothing and children’s toys inside. Stay back from application equipment, whether in use or not, (3) Whenever possible, remain indoors with windows closed and with window air conditioners on non-vent (closed to the outside air) and window fans turned off during spraying, (4) Avoid direct contact with surfaces that are still wet from pesticide spraying. Do not allow children to play in areas that have been sprayed until they have completely dried (approximately one hour), (5) If you must remain outdoors, avoid eye and skin contact with the spray. If you get spray in your eyes or on your skin, immediately flush and rinse with water, (6) Consult your doctor if you think you are experiencing health effects from the spraying. People who suffer from chemical sensitivities or feel spraying may aggravate a preexisting health condition may consult their physician or local health department.

Intro to How Our Municipal Corporation Works, Part VI

WEEKLY REPORT BY MAYOR JOHN L. MADDEN

AN INTRODUCTION TO HOW OUR MUNCIPAL CORPORATION WORKS, PART VI 

This is the fifth report on a series of reports on how our local form of government works and some of our key municipal employees. 

To recap, our borough is an incorporated municipality which operates similarly to any large, public corporation.  You, the residents, are our shareholders.  The Council is the Board of Directors who meet from time to time to vote on various topics that involve policy, budget, and revenue.  As Mayor, I act as Chairman of the Board, run the meetings and am the figurehead of the Board.  Our Municipal Clerk, Linda Chismar, by state statute, serves as Secretary to the Corporation.  As Clerk, she is also the Chief Administrative Officer of all elections held in the Borough, the Chief Registrar of Voters in the Borough, Secretary to the Governing Body, and is also the Administrative Officer.  Middlesex Borough’s Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer is the Borough Business Administrator.  Our CEO/COO is Marcia Karrow who is responsible, by State law and municipal ordinance, for the day-to-day operations of our local government.  She oversees personnel, the budget and all operations.  The Administrator reports directly to the Mayor.  Every major corporation has a Chief Fiscal Officer.  Our CFO is Caroline Benson, who, prior to becoming our Acting CFO late last year, was our Treasurer.  As CFO, Ms. Benson oversees all things financial in the borough including Custodian of all Public Funds, Assist in Preparation of the Annual Budgets – Operating & Capital, Maintain & Monitor Financial, Develop Fiscal Policy, File Continuing Financial Disclosures, Certify Availability of Funds, Manage Pensions & Benefits, Oversee Payroll, Salary Ordinances, Quarterly Tax Filing, Annual Financial Reporting, Maintain Fixed Asset List, Monitor Adherence to Collective Bargaining Agreements, and Ensure Compliance to all State Purchasing Guidelines.  There is also a “physical plant” to our corporate municipality which includes buildings, parks, roads, a sewer system, recycling facility and sanitation operation.  The physical plant is operated by our Superintendent of the Department of Public Works.

Our municipality, like a large corporation, has a security force – the Middlesex Borough Police Department.  The head of “security” is Chief Mathew Geist.  Chief Geist is the department head for police operations which include patrols, enforcement and investigations among others.  The Police Department’s duties and responsibilities include preserving the peace, protecting life and property, public safety, detecting, arresting and prosecuting offenders of the laws of New Jersey and the ordinances of the Borough, directing and controlling traffic, and providing attendance and protection during emergencies.  Our police go thru extensive and continuous training and education.  Chief Geist has fostered a strong public relationship thru public outreach and a major Community Policing effort is in our neighborhoods and on the streets.

Next week, in Part VII of the series, I will be covering the job of the head of the major revenue source of our corporation – property taxes and the roles of the Tax Assessor and Tax Collectors security.

Keep Safe and Be Well,

Mayor John L. Madden

Intro to How Our Municipal Corporation Works, Part V

WEEKLY REPORT BY MAYOR JOHN L. MADDEN

AN INTRODUCTION TO HOW OUR MUNCIPAL CORPORATION WORKS, PART V

This is the fifth report in a series of reports on how our local form of government works and some of our key municipal employees. 

To recap, our borough is an incorporated municipality which operates similarly to any large, public corporation.  You, the residents, are our shareholders.  The Council is the Board of Directors who meet from time to time to vote on various topics that involve policy, budget, and revenue.  As Mayor, I act as Chairman of the Board, run the meetings and am the figurehead of the Board.  Our Municipal Clerk, Linda Chismar, by state statute, serves as Secretary to the Corporation.  As Clerk, she is also the Chief Administrative Officer of all elections held in the Borough, the Chief Registrar of Voters in the Borough, Secretary to the Governing Body, and is also the Administrative Officer.  Middlesex Borough’s Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer is the Borough Business Administrator.  Our CEO/COO is Marcia Karrow who is responsible, by State law and municipal ordinance, for the day-to-day operations of our local government.  She oversees personnel, the budget and all operations.  The Administrator reports directly to the Mayor.  Every major corporation has a Chief Fiscal Officer.  Our CFO is Caroline Benson, who, prior to becoming our Acting CFO late last year, was our Treasurer.  As CFO, Ms. Benson oversees all things financial in the borough including Custodian of all Public Funds, Assist in Preparation of the Annual Budgets – Operating & Capital, Maintain & Monitor Financial, Develop Fiscal Policy, File Continuing Financial Disclosures, Certify Availability of Funds, Manage Pensions & Benefits, Oversee Payroll, Salary Ordinances, Quarterly Tax Filing, Annual Financial Reporting, Maintain Fixed Asset List, Monitor Adherence to Collective Bargaining Agreements, and Ensure Compliance to all State Purchasing Guidelines. 

Every corporation which occupies corporate facilities has a physical plant and staff that oversee it.  In the case of a local government, facilities include not only municipal buildings, but also all publicly owned property.  Our physical plant is staffed by our Department of Public Works (DPW).  Our corporation has a series of public buildings including the Municipal Building, the Police Department Building, the DPW, the recycling center, the Public Library and the Recreation/Senior Center.  We rent the Rec/Senior Center from the Rescue Squad and maintain our rental space.  Although the Library is a Commission – “in but not of” our local government -- the Borough owns the library building and our DPW maintains it.  Further, our DPW is responsible to maintain all Borough-owned parks, playgrounds and playing fields.  It is also responsible for an enormous network of public streets and public easements, as well as publicly owned trees within public rights-of-way.  Finally, our DPW runs our sewer system and Recycling Center and is responsible for trash and bulk removal from residences.  All these jobs fall under the responsibility of the Superintendent of Public Works, Robert Teutsch.  Mr. Teutsch has been with Middlesex Borough for more than25 years. His second in command is the DPW Foreman, who has several managers that supervise specific areas: parks, sewers, roads, and sanitation.  Our DPW makes sure all critical infrastructure remains open and safe during storms and snow, ensures public health safety with sanitation removal and sewer operation, and keeps our parks and fields manicured and clean. 

Next week, in Part VI of the series, I will be covering the job of the head of our corporation’s security, the Chief of Police.

Keep Safe and Be Well,

Mayor John L. Madden

Intro to How Our Municipal Corporation Works, Part IV

WEEKLY REPORT BY MAYOR JOHN L. MADDEN

AN INTRODUCTION TO HOW OUR MUNCIPAL CORPORATION WORKS, PART IV: 

This is the fourth report on a series of reports on how our local form of government works and some of our key municipal employees. 

To recap, our borough is an incorporated municipality which operates similarly to any large, public corporation.  You, the residents, are our shareholders.  The Council is the Board of Directors who meet from time to time to vote on various topics that involve policy, budget, and revenue.  As Mayor, I act as Chairman of the Board, run the meetings and am the figurehead of the Board.  Our Municipal Clerk, Linda Chismar, by state statute, serves as Secretary to the Corporation.  As Clerk, she is also the Chief Administrative Officer of all elections held in the Borough, the Chief Registrar of Voters in the Borough, Secretary to the Governing Body, and is also the Administrative Officer.  Middlesex Borough’s Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer is the Borough Business Administrator.  Our CEO/COO is Marcia Karrow who is responsible, by State law and municipal ordinance, for the day-to-day operations of our local government.  She oversees personnel, the budget and all operations.  The Administrator reports directly to the Mayor. 

Every major corporation has a Chief Fiscal Officer.  Our CFO is Caroline Benson, who, prior to becoming our Acting CFO last year, was our Treasurer.  Ms. Benson is currently finishing up coursework and will sit for the CFO state exam for certification.  As CFO, Ms. Benson oversees all things financial in the borough.  Generally, CFO’s manage all finance personnel including the Tax Collector, Tax Assessor, Purchasing Agent and Payroll Clerk.  Her duties, by law, include Custodian of all Public Funds, Assist in Preparation of the Annual Budgets – Operating & Capital, Maintain & Monitor Financial Software i.e General Ledger, Sub-Ledgers & Trial Balances, Develop Fiscal Policy i.e. Cash Management Plan, Debt Service Plan, Internal Controls, File Continuing Financial Disclosures, Certify Availability of Funds, Manage Pensions & Benefits, Oversee Payroll, Salary Ordinances, Quarterly Tax Filing, Annual Financial Reporting ie. Annual Financial Statement, Annual Debt Statement, Supplemental Debt Statements, Maintain Fixed Asset List, Monitor Adherence to Collective Bargaining Agreements, and Ensure Compliance to all State Purchasing Guidelines. 

Additionally, because Acting CFO Benson is also the Treasurer, commonplace in small towns such as ours, she also has the following duties: Reconcile Monthly Bank Statements for all Accounts, Verify Daily Deposits for all Departments (including Swim Pool) and Take Deposits to Financial Institution, Verify Available Funds in Budget Lines to Issue Purchase Orders, Ensure Timely Payment To All Vendors for Services/Purchases, File Monthly/Quarterly Pension Reports, Prepare Monthly Swim Pool Financial Report, and provides Budget Reports for Department Heads and the Mayor/Council.

Next week, in Part V of the series, I will be covering the job of the head of our corporation’s physical plant, the Superintendent of the Department of Public Works.

Keep Safe and Be Well,
Mayor John L. Madden

Intro to How Our Municipal Corporation Works, Part III

WEEKLY REPORT BY MAYOR JOHN L. MADDEN

AN INTRODUCTION TO HOW OUR MUNCIPAL CORPORATION WORKS, PART III 

This is the third report on a series of reports on how our local form of government works and some of our key municipal employees. 

To recap, our borough is an incorporated municipality which operates similarly to any large, public corporation.  You, the residents, are our shareholders.  The Council is the Board of Directors who meet from time to time to vote on various topics that involve policy, budget, and revenue.  As Mayor, I act as Chairman of the Board, run the meetings and am the figurehead of the Board.  Our Municipal Clerk, Linda Chismar, by state statute, serves as Secretary to the Corporation.  As Clerk, she is also the Chief Administrative Officer of all elections held in the Borough, the Chief Registrar of Voters in the Borough, Secretary to the Governing Body, and is also the Administrative Officer. 

As any major corporation, ours has a Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer, the Borough Business Administrator.  Our CEO/COO is Marcia Karrow.  State law provides the ability for municipal corporations to have Business Administrators to take care of the day-to-day operations of their local governments and other duties as outlined in both state statute and an enabling ordinance.  She reports directly to the Mayor as Chairman of the Board, but takes on projects as directed by Council – the Board of Directors.  Our Business Administrator runs the daily operation of the Borough including all personnel matters.  She is in charge of all facilities and has the fiscal responsibility to ensure that our government is running efficiently and effectively.  By the language of our ordinance, our Business Administrator constructs our annual budget, manages and directs all personnel and provides an annual report to the Mayor and Council.  She is responsible to ensure that all complaints from our constituents are answered.  She is also responsible for our insurance and as such, serves as Commissioner to our Joint Insurance Fund on behalf of the governing body.  It is important for our residents to understand that the role of the Business Administrator, by state law, is to run the operation of our local government and that the Mayor and Council provide oversight. 

Next week, in Part IV of this series, I will be discussing the very important role of the Chief Fiscal Officer.

VICTOR CROWELL PARK UPDATE

As some of you are aware, all of our aerators failed a few weeks ago, leaving our beautiful reservoir stagnant.  Help is on the way!  Four new aerators and a bubbler system were spec’d out, bid and ordered for the green bridge area.  We are hoping for installation soon which will make the water healthy again and are so aesthetically pleasing to see and hear for our residents who love to walk or relax at the park.  Meanwhile, did you know that this small reservoir which is commonly known as the “Duck Pond” is actually named “Lake Creighton”?  I have been asking around to see if anyone knows the history of the naming of this lake, and for whom it was named.  If you do, please let me know!

Keep Safe and Be Well,

Mayor John L. Madden

A Message from the Mayor: Righting the Wrongs of Previous Leadership

A Message from Mayor John L. Madden: August 12, 2020

"My goal is to right the wrongs of the previous leadership of our wonderful town. I know many of you are wary of even trusting your local government. I was elected, in part, to bring back some measure of financial security and stability. I am confident that this goal, although not by overnight remedy, can be effectively achieved."

Watch the full video below.