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Mayor Cilento’s State of the Borough Address | January 2021

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Reorganization Day Speech
Mayor Jason F. Cilento
January 1, 2021

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, members of the Dunellen Borough Council, and Borough staff. I first wish to extend to you and yours a happy and healthy New Year! Thankfully, we all have the good fortune of continuing to be connected with the great Borough of Dunellen, and I look forward to continuing to work with the following members of the Borough Council into 2021: Jessica Dunne, who is now serving her second term; April Burke; Stacy Narvesen; Daniel Cole Sigmon; and Trina Rios. I also welcome our newest Councilperson, Tremayne Reid, who serves as Dunellen’s first African-American representative elected to the Borough Council. Additionally, congratulations to the newly appointed Council President, Jessica Dunne; I know you will serve the position with honor. Continue Reading →

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Mayor’s Message | March, 2020

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First, I would like to take note of our volunteer Dunellen Defender Fire Company #1 and Dunellen Rescue Squad and call to volunteers to join their perspective organizations. Our men and women show great courage and valor, and we are better off as a community for their service. I implore you as a member of our community to contact the Dunellen Fire Department and/or the Dunellen Rescue Squad and ask how you may get involved. Dunellen has a rich history of volunteerism and it is truly the backbone of our community. In addition to last month’s student athlete highlights, I would like to extend congratulations to another student athlete’s accomplishment and that is of Chloe Cassidy who achieved her 1,000 career points in basketball in February. Continue Reading →

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Dunellen begins decade with new mayor, 2 new council members

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January 1 was not only the start of a new decade; it also was the day that Dunellen got its first new mayor of the millennium. The Dunellen Borough Reorganization Meeting was started as tradition dictates, at noon. The municipal courtroom was filled to capacity. The adjournment of the outgoing council was called by 2019 Council President Jason F. Cilento. Moments later, Cilento changed his title to Mayor, as he was sworn into office by Municipal Judge Katherine Howes. Continue Reading →

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Mayor Cilento’s First Annual Address

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Reorganization Day Speech
Mayor Jason F. Cilento
January 1, 2020

Good afternoon everyone. I wish to extend to you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year! We are blessed to live and do business in Dunellen and I am honored and grateful to be able to serve you as Dunellen’s 22nd Mayor. I look forward to working with the other members of the Borough Council: Kenneth Bayer, Jessica Dunne, April Burke and Stacy Narvesen, and I wish to welcome new Councilpersons Trina Rios and Daniel Cole Sigmon. I think it is important we recognize that with the swearing-in of Trina Rios, the Council is now not only a majority female, but the Council is now more diverse with Trina being the first Hispanic representative elected to the Borough Council, to my knowledge. Continue Reading →

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Cilento, Rios, Sigmon win Dunellen election

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The Republican Party swept the local race in Dunellen. It did not come as a surprise that current Dunellen council president Jason Cilento (R) won the mayoral position as he was running unopposed. Longtime mayor Robert Seader had chosen not to run for reelection. Cilento’s running mates, Trina Rios (R) and Daniel Cole Sigmon (R) won against Christina Haftmann (D) and Richard Pinder (D). All four borough council candidates had not previously run for Dunellen political office. Continue Reading →

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Mayoral Candidate Jason F. Cilento’s Personal Statement

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President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “The middle of the road is all of the usable surface; the extremes, right and left, are in the gutters.”

I agree with President Eisenhower – and though our nation remains politically divided, my philosophies and values remain intact as a public servant who cares more about serving his constituents than he does partisan politics. I also believe that those in Washington D.C. could learn from a town like Dunellen. We as neighbors, friends and families have so much more in common than we do what separates us, and in my opinion, coming together to accomplish great things regardless of our differences is what uniquely defines us as a community. We care about making this borough a great place to live, work, create and raise a family, and that is what makes our square mile the “miracle mile!”

As a lifelong resident of Dunellen, I have dedicated my time to making Dunellen a better place and a town my fiancée Lindsay and I are proud to call home. I attended Dunellen’s public schools K-12, graduated from Kean University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in theatre studies, and, while working in risk management for a New York/New Jersey regional bank, completed this year my master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University. Continue Reading →

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Dunellen Borough Council Candidates – 2019

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Below are the personal statements from the four Dunellen Borough council candidates. Listing is in alphabetical order. Click on the candidate’s name to go directly to their statement: Christina Haftmann, Richard Pinder, Trina Rios, Daniel Cole Sigmon

Christina Haftmann (D)

I was raised in Dunellen when our town still had open fields and everyone knew each other. After attending Livingston College, I moved to Boston where over the years I worked for Harvard, USTrust and Fidelity Investments. I also lived in California for thirteen years but the high cost of living made me return to New Jersey. Continue Reading →

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2019 Dunellen Borough Council Meeting Schedule

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The Dunellen Borough Council meets on Mondays in the Municipal Council Chambers, 355 North Avenue Dunellen and begin at 7:00 PM, unless otherwise noted. Agendas are posted on the borough website. Members of the public are able to address the council at the end of the meeting. January 1 (Tuesday, Noon: Reorganization) & 14
February 4 & 19 (Tuesday)
March 4 & 18
April 1 & 15
May 6 & 20
June 3 & 17
July 1
August 5
September 3 & 16
October 7 & 21
November 4 & 18
December 2 & 16
Wednesday, January 1, 2020 (Wednesday, Noon: Reorganization)
Continue Reading →

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Dunellen Council Holds Reorganization Meeting

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April Burke surrounded by family, sworn in as Councilperson in Dunellen, NJ

The Dunellen Borough Council held its annual government reorganization meeting on January 1. Mayor Bob Seader began the meeting with his municipal address, covering the accomplishments in the past year and plans for the new year. He thanked former council members Kenneth Baudendistel and Jeremy Lowder for their service to the Dunellen community. Baudendistel, who had been a councilperson for nearly two decades, many of those years as council president, had not sought reelection. Lowder, who had been seeking his second term, did not win reelection. Continue Reading →

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Borough Council Candidates – 2018

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There are four candidates vying for two Dunellen Borough Council positions. Because current Council President Kenneth Baudendistel (R) is not seeking re-election, there is only one incumbent candidate, Jeremy Lowder (R), who was initially elected in 2015. The other three candidates, April Burke (D), David DeNapoli (R), and Stacy Narvesen (D) are running for the first time as council candidates. For more information regarding the candidates, check out their Facebook pages. DemocratRepublican
Stacy Narvesen and April Burke for Dunellen Borough CouncilONE Dunellen: DeNapoli & Lowder for Dunellen Borough Council

SAMPLE BALLOT: http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Government/Departments/CS/Documents/Elections/2018%20General/Dunellen.pdf

Both parties are offering free rides to the polls this Tuesday. Continue Reading →

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