Mayor Jack

Pledging to “do my best” and be “as fiscally conservative as possible,” Jack Mikolajczyk was sworn-in as Middlesex Borough mayor on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Mikolajczyk, a Republican, was given the oath of office by state Superior Court Judge Michael Cresitello as family members and supporters looked on. Also sworn-in were Borough Council members Michael Conahan and Kevin Dotey, who were Mikolajczyk’s 2023 running mates. All three ran unopposed in the most recent general election.

Mikolajczyk thanked family members for their sacrifices while he serves as an elected official. The former three-term councilman and Board of Education president said he feels Middlesex “is on a good path.”

During recent years, the council has addressed a once-depleted municipal surplus, increased police department staffing and completed the property revaluation.

A remedy to the flooding that plagues the borough and solution to environmental issues at Lake Creighton “will definitely remain a priority,” he added, but acknowledged they could take years to achieve.

Mikolajczyk noted the governing body will return to a councilmanic form of operations, that will see three-member committees again formed for topics such as finance, police and others. Each committee will have a council member liaison who will serve as chair and report back to the entire governing body.

The council previously operated in that manner until four years ago. At that time, then-Mayor John Madden wished to move away from the committee structure. Mikolajczyk said re-instituting it will increase transparency and allow the chairs to report back on respective committee goals and progress.

Mikolajczyk called for borough residents to volunteer for functions such as Emergency Management and the fire department. Volunteerism, he said, is the “backbone of what makes our borough tick,” but added it had “taken a hit” in recent years.

“Middlesex residents need to take notice of this and get involved,” Mikolajczyk said. The mayor said he intends to appoint a committee to work on the issue.

Conahan was picked by colleagues to serve as council president in 2024. He thanked family and supporters and noted the council has already worked to fully staff the police department, moved to re-establish the Environmental Commission, and made improvements to Mountain View Park.

The council’s to-do list includes a solar energy program for municipal facilities, working jointly with Piscataway Township to extend William Street to the west and discussing the possibility of more senior housing with redevelopers.

Conahan said the council needs to be “laser focused” on finding new revenue sources. Selling off vacant borough-owned parcels, he said, is one possibility.

Dotey also thanked family and supporters. He previously served as a Democratic councilman, was off the governing body for four years, but won his new council term with the GOP.

Middlesex Republican Chairman Steve Greco encouraged him “to do this again,” Dotey said.

Dotey added that he wants to “keep the ball rolling and make this town better for all of us.”

Referring to his past as a Democrat, Dotey acknowledged there was “a little tension there” in running as a Republican. “I did come from the other side,” he said.

“I’m for Middlesex,” Dotey concluded.

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