Fostering Transparency, Collaboration and Civic Dialogue by Mayor Stephen M. Dalina
My family and I have been active members of the Monroe Township community for more than two decades. I have been honored to serve as at-large councilman beginning in 2011 and council president from 2017 through 2019. It is now my distinct honor to serve as Mayor of the town I love. Taking the oath of office during the council’s January 20 meeting was a moment I will always treasure.
Taking on the responsibilities of Mayor during a national pandemic certainly presents unique challenges and I am fighting every day to get increased quantities of the coronavirus vaccine to Monroe as soon as possible. I take this very seriously and I will make sure our voice is heard. I am extremely thankful to our municipal staff, as well as the township’s emergency responders and volunteers, who continue to assist residents during the lingering pandemic.
Beyond the pandemic, transparency, collaboration and civic dialogue in my administration are paramount. One of my top priorities, and a way to aid transparency, is to engage with more community members and get them involved in their local government. It is imperative that we all work together toward the betterment of Monroe Township regardless of political affiliation. The Township Council and I want to see as many active participants in township government as possible.
What better way to get involved than to join one of our various boards and commissions? Our residents have a wide variety of valuable skills and experiences that would greatly benefit us all. And, of course, we are thankful to those who give of their time in service to these important groups. Participation on the Council and on various boards has brought me many valuable experiences and we wish to share those opportunities with more residents and business owners.
Interested parties are invited to visit https://www.monroetwp.com/index.php/boards-commissions and select from a list of boards and commissions to review full descriptions of each group. They then can send the downloadable form located at the bottom of the boards and commissions page of the Township website for their area of interest. Submissions may be sent to the Municipal Clerk by mail at the Administrative Offices, by email at
Another means for fostering transparency is through the reopening and examination of the Township Master Plan. We will soon launch a full public engagement and community-wide program to obtain valuable input from all of our residents, stake-holders and constituents regarding the future of our Township. The pandemic has caused some necessary delays but we are committed to this process that will set a vision for future open space acquisitions, as well as new parks and recreation planning.
Bottom line, I want to foster an administration that promotes civic dialogue while working across party lines to maximize our current potential and build a bright future for Monroe. I’ve enjoyed the many interesting and insightful conversations I’ve had with a variety of residents and business owners thus far and I look forward to many more to come.