Mendham Mayor Reflects On Past, Shares Goals For 2023

MENDHAM, NJ — Now that the year 2022 has come to an end, Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Glassner reflected on her proudest accomplishments in the borough and discussed what residents can expect in the coming year.

Glassner, the first female mayor elected in Mendham Borough, was first elected to the Mendham Borough Council in November 2016 and served on the council until she was sworn in as mayor in 2019.

Glassner was challenged by democrat Melissa Rawley Payne in November but ultimately won with 1,528 votes to Payne's 957.

"The last four years have been full of excitement and making great progress here in Mendham Borough. As mayor, I came into a simple administrative system that required a total overhaul," Glassner said.

Glassner shared with Patch a list of things she is most proud of accomplishing on the town council since her first term.

Here's what she said:

With our team we have revamped the following:

• Borough website and communication systems financial management system which includes installing new financial software and bringing all of our departments up to date
• At our DPW we built a new large equipment facility, a seasonal small equipment storage facility and purchased new equipment like a brush chipper, asphalt hot patcher, and replaced mason dump trucks and a pickup truck, and we are engaged in a review of the functionality of our DPW offices and work building.

• Tennis Courts were completely rebuilt and swings in the toddler playground were replaced
• Increased our street paving program through both Borough funding and we have increased our applications for local aid grants to pave more roads
• Received a state grant for our police to upgrade their security using body cameras
• Worked with PSE&G to implement an energy savings program by upgrading lighting
• For our open space and historic preservation program we received grants to stabilize the Phoenix House, study and design the historic town barn on Mountainside Road, and purchased the property from the Methodist church to expand our town park.

What will the future bring in my next term as Mendham Borough Mayor?

Some of what we have planned for this coming year include:

• Apply for a trail grant for Methodist property.
• Apply for grant funds for the Phoenix House exterior.
• Apply for State DOT funds for road paving.
• Review current recreation facilities and parks with an eye toward future expansion and or improvement.
• Establish OEM office in Bowers Building.
• Revamping Construction Department staffing and process.
• Expanding our SDL offerings to include additional existing permits and applications.
• Economic Development Committee to work with our Town Historian and Recreation Committee to expand our current events and include Mendham Borough’s Historic story.
• The same Committees to work with Mansion in May to highlight Mendham Borough as a local shopping, dining, and personal service destination.
• Capitalizing on the Borough’s history through a new historic site marker program.
• Enter the third phase of Public Works improvements to their facilities.
• Continue with our Water Reclamation Department upgrades.