Melissa Muilenburg, Mayor of the Borough, gave this address at the January 2026 Council Reorganization Meeting
As we gather to welcome a new year, I want to begin by wishing each of you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Father Parisis, thank you for your invocation. It was a beautiful and meaningful way to begin our meeting and to set the tone for our service to the community in the year ahead.
It is truly an honor to serve alongside my fellow Council members: Lauren Barnett, Chris Cannon, Josh Howley, Tom Menard, Khizar Sheikh, and Angela Tsai. I am grateful for your partnership and your commitment to Mountain Lakes.
I would also like to recognize several distinguished guests with us this evening. I see Police Chief Shawn Bennett, Deputy Chief and Administrative Officer Joe Mullaney, former Chief Steve Castellucci and Planning Board Chair Mary Kane. Thank you all for being here and for the work you do in service of our community.
Thank you as well to our friends, family members, and neighbors for joining us tonight for our annual reorganization meeting. There is something especially meaningful about gathering during the 250th year of our nation. It gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on what government is truly about. At its heart, it is neighbors stepping forward to serve one another, working together to strengthen the place we call home. Local government is where democracy feels most personal—through listening, problem-solving, and showing up each day on behalf of the people we serve. As we begin this new year, we do so with gratitude for the trust you have placed in us and a deep appreciation for the values that have guided our country for 250 years.
The start of a new year is also a time to reflect with gratitude on what we have accomplished together. Over the course of 2025, our town achieved a great deal. We maintained our Triple-A bond rating and secured over $900,000 in State, County, and Highlands Council grants, including funding towards our Lakes Management Study. We completed important road improvements and the second phase of grant-funded upgrades to the Boulevard Trolley Path. We adopted updated land use ordinances to improve consistency, clarity and efficiency, enacted an ordinance conforming with the Highlands Council Regional Master Plan, endorsed the Borough’s 2025–2035 Fair Share Housing Plan, and approved the conveyance of Borough-owned property to the Board of Education to support its turf field project. We also negotiated a multi-year solid waste contract that will save the Borough more than $1.3 million and the Board of Education over $400,000 over the next five years.
We also provided enhanced Recreation programming for Lakers of all ages, and supported traditional and new community events These programs and events celebrate not only the natural beauty of our lakes and woodlands, but also the people who make Mountain Lakes such a special place. They reflect the strong sense of community, connection, and pride that truly define our town.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication and hard work of so many. We want to thank our Borough Manager, Mitchell Stern, and his outstanding administrative, finance, and recreation teams; our Borough Clerk Cara Fox, our Department of Public Works, whose work keeps our town running every day; and our Mountain Lakes Police Department and Mountain Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, whose commitment and service keep our community safe.
We are also grateful for the expertise of our borough professionals, the strong partnerships we share at the federal, state, and county levels, and the collaboration of our neighboring towns. And we are deeply thankful for our community organizations and institutions that enrich life in Mountain Lakes, including the Mountain Lakes School District and the Mountain Lakes Library, along with the more than 150 residents who volunteer their time and talents on behalf of our Borough. Your generosity of spirit is one of our greatest strengths.
As we look ahead, we will continue working together in a thoughtful and collaborative way. The work is ongoing, and new challenges always arise. Like many small communities, we must balance meeting important responsibilities with preserving what makes Mountain Lakes so special and being mindful of the impact on our taxpayers. In the year ahead, we have important work before us—planning for the repair and upgrade of the Birchwood Lake dam, completing required state-mandated water infrastructure projects, implementing ordinances tied to our affordable housing obligations, and continuing to care for the things that truly define our community: our lakes and woodlands, our historic character, and our strong sense of connection.
As we move into the year ahead, I encourage our residents to stay engaged—keep asking questions, sharing your perspectives, and working with us. When we show up for one another and work together, we strengthen the place we all love and help ensure that Mountain Lakes continues to be the best place to call home.
Before I close, I would like to take a moment, on behalf of the entire Council, to offer our deepest thanks to Lauren Barnett for her service as Mayor and for the steady, thoughtful leadership she has brought to our community. Lauren leads with a genuine love for Mountain Lakes and a deep sense of care for the people who call it home. She takes the time to truly understand issues from every perspective, approaches even the most difficult challenges with clarity and steadiness, and treats everyone with respect. She is never too busy to listen, and her ability to bring people together and build consensus strengthened this Council and our community.
Lauren, you leave behind a legacy to be proud of. Mountain Lakes is a better place because of your leadership. It has truly been a privilege and an honor to work so closely with you this past year, and I am grateful for our partnership. I look forward to continuing to work together on the Council as we serve the residents of our community.
Please join me in offering our heartfelt thanks to our former Mayor and Councilperson, Lauren Barnett. In recognition of your leadership and service, we are honored to present you with the traditional gift of a gavel.
