Township of Monroe News

Councilman Serves as Mayor Until Special Election in November

MONROE TOWNSHIP – January 21, 2021 – Councilman Stephen Dalina has been appointed as mayor of Monroe Township. 

Dalina and his family have been active members of the Monroe Township community for more than two decades.  He was elected councilman at-large in 2011 and served as council president from 2017 through 2019.

A special election will be held in November to elect the candidate who will fill the unexpired term of the late Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro, who passed away on December 30. 

The Monroe Township Democratic Committee submitted three candidates and the Township Council selected Dalina.

Dalina took the oath of office during the council’s January 20 meeting, pledging to continue to fulfill the objectives that Tamburro established when he was re-elected in November 2019.

 VACCINATION CENTER COORDINATED BY COUNTY; APPOINTMENTS ALLOCATED THROUGH STATE SYSTEM 

Middlesex County Office of Health Services will begin administering vaccines (only to those who have received vaccine appointments through the NJ Vaccine Scheduling System) at the Monroe Township Senior Center tomorrow morning.  The Monroe Senior Center was designated as one of five regional vaccination centers operating through the County vaccination program.     

YOU MUST REGISTER ON THE STATE WEBSITE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

While Administration, Senior Center staff and Library staff are happy to help residents register on the state site, please note that they cannot schedule appointments.  Scheduling is generated from the state system.  Municipal staff do not have access to this system.  You must register on the state system to receive an appointment. 

HOW DO I REGISTER ON THE STATE WEBSITE?

Register on the NJ State Website at https://covidvaccine.nj.gov.  Once registered, you will receive a scheduling email that CONFIRMS your registration. When an opening becomes available at one of the state vaccination sites, you will receive an email that lets you schedule an appointment through the NJ Vaccination Scheduling System.

Monroe Township OEM officials received word today that the Senior Center has been designated as one of five future regional vaccination centers operating through the Middlesex County Board of Health. 

The site is not yet open. The county cannot open this location for vaccinations until vaccine shots are allocated to the site. 

Township officials are allocating all necessary resources so the site can open as soon as vaccines become available.  Information will be shared as it is received.   

WHO IS ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE RIGHT NOW?

Healthcare workers, sworn first responders (police & fire), Long Term Care residents and staff.

Individuals at High Risk –

• Individuals aged 65 and older
• Individuals ages 16-64 with medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus. These conditions include Cancer, Chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Down Syndrome, Heart conditions, Obesity, Severe Obesity, Sickle cell disease, Smoking, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, immunosuppressed and solid organ transplants.

HOW DO I REGISTER ON THE STATE WEBSITE?

Register on the NJ State Website https://covidvaccine.nj.gov. You will receive a return email that CONFIRMS your registration. When an opening becomes available at one of the state vaccination sites, you will receive an email that lets you schedule an appointment at one of these locations.

Gov. Phil Murphy has just announced a move to expand vaccinations beginning tomorrow – meaning that COVID 19 shots can now be administered to people age 65 and over and individuals ages 16-64 with certain medical conditions.  I expect to announce a vaccination center in Monroe soon.

I am pleased the state has finally moved to expand vaccinations to these vulnerable groups. I have been reaching out to state and county officials advocating for this roll-out and am pleased it is finally moving forward.  But I am disappointed – as many of you are – at the slow speed the federal government has moved to provide this vaccine. I hope that rate will dramatically increase in the coming weeks with more sites and more doses available.