2026

When the Middlesex Borough Council and Board of Education each reorganize on Tuesday evening, Jan. 6, the names of some taking oaths of office will be familiar, but in the past they served in different capacities.

Two former councilmen – Martin Quinn and Jeremiah Carnes – will be sworn in for school board terms. Later in the evening, Shannon Quinn, a former school board member, will be sworn in for a council seat. Martin and Shannon Quinn are husband and wife. All of those who will be sworn in were elected to their new posts in November’s general election.

Also taking the oath of will be Justine Decker, for a board seat, and new council member Jennifer Clock. Clock is the niece of sitting Councilman Kevin Dotey.

The board reorganization will be held at 6 p.m. in the Middlesex High School media center. The council will hold its first session of 2026 at 7 p.m. at the Ronald S. Dobies municipal building.

Martin Quinn, Carnes and Decker will take the board seats formerly filled by Brenda Perry, Landette Jeffrey and Shannon Quinn who did not seek re-election to the school panel. Shannon Quinn and Clock will fill the council seats formerly held by Carnes and Robert Dessino.

Along with the swearing in of new members, the board meeting will include the election of a president and vice president for 2026.

Otherwise, there will not be much business conducted at the board reorg. The municipal session will see Mayor Jack Mikolajczyk and the council make appointments to various boards and commissions, and contracts awarded to professional firms. Council members will elect a council president for the coming year.

There will not be wholesale changes in the municipal appointments. Most professional firms, boards and commissions will remain the same from 2025 or close to it.

The following are some of the appointments planned by the mayor and/or council, according to the meeting agenda.

Recreation Committee: Cassius Kennick, Christine DiNizo; Environmental Commission: Clare Levourne, Greg Cosentino, Dan Cron, Holly Muller (alternate); Swim Pool Commission: Mark Kranz.

Housing & Community Development Committee: Mike Jones, Bill Coyle, Hardik Shah; Library Board: Susen Edwards; Board of Health: John Ellery, Hamza Choundry (alternate).

Joint Land Use Board: Robert Sherr, Robert Dessino, Joseph DeScenza, Richard Gianchiglia (alternate), Toni Sickle (alternate); Parks Improvement Committee: Mike O’Donnell, Todd Nicolay, Rich Thomasey, Doug Rex (alternate).

Film Commission: Jonathan Beal, Joseph Deimas, Melissa Ziomek, Police Chief Matt Geist, Jeremiah Carnes (alternate), Mayor Jack Mikolajczyk (alternate); Culture & Arts Committee: Leonard Jackson, James Johansen.

Borough Attorney: Chris Corsini; Environmental Engineer: Pennoni; Borough Engineer: Colliers Engineering & Design; Public Defender: Kyle Pirog; Borough Prosecutor: Michael Colacci; Borough Planner: Paul Ricci; Redevelopment Attorney: Savo, Schalk, Corsini, Warner, Gillespie, O’Grodnick & Fisher.

Labor Counsel: Apruzzese, McDermott, Mastro & Murphy; Environmental Counsel: King, Moench & Collins; Bond Attorney: Dilworth Paxson.

Reminder

Subscribe to Inside – Middlesex. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It is absolutely free.