BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell presented her first “state of the township” address earlier this week, speaking about issues such as finance, development, infrastructure and civic engagement.
Mundell – the town’s first female mayor – reflected on her administration’s achievements during its first six months in office, also outlining some upcoming challenges that Bloomfield will be facing in the coming year.
Watch the full speech below, or view it online here.
“This is the first time in recent memory that Bloomfield has held a State of the Township, and I am enormously proud to be restoring this important platform for communicating with you about what is happening in our town today and our plans for the future,” Mundell said.
“Although we have some difficult decisions and times ahead of us, I am confident that Bloomfield will come out stronger because that is what we do, that is who we are,” she continued. “We are a compassionate community of doers and fighters. And we will succeed because we will work together and accept nothing less.”
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Some of the topics that Mundell discussed include:
FINANCE
Mundell said that 93 percent of the township’s municipal budget is tied to fixed costs, leaving limited flexibility amid rising expenses and decreased federal funding.
“In today’s economic climate, with rising costs and shifting funding at the federal and state levels, we know residents are counting on us to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars,” she said.
Township officials gave a public presentation on municipal budgeting on April 17, which can be seen online here. Watch video footage of the workshop here.
MASTER PLAN
Mundell also touted the recent finalization of a new master plan in the township.
The Bloomfield Planning Board voted unanimously to adopt the 2025 Master Plan in April. It provides an overall blueprint for development in the township, providing guidelines for things like real estate projects, open space and stormwater regulations. View the full document and see supporting materials here.
Mundell called it an “exciting moment for Bloomfield.”
“I’m incredibly proud of the dedicated team behind this effort and the residents whose engagement and vision have shaped the plan,” Mundell said. “This plan will help us preserve what makes Bloomfield special, while ensuring we’re ready for the future.”
The vote came on the heels of a two-year planning process, which included workshops, surveys, meetings and a public hearing, town officials said.
Some residents have since claimed that the plan was unnecessarily rushed through the approval process, however, arguing that it deserved more public feedback before crossing the finish line.
INFRASTRUTURE
The mayor also brought up the demolition of the long-abandoned Grove Street DPW site, also pointing to the acquisition of the Royal Garage as a move that will “boost downtown mobility.” Read More: Bloomfield Begins Demolition At Old Public Works Building
Mundell touted infrastructure upgrades such as stormwater drainage, bike-friendly improvements, and the planting of more than 40 new trees – with plans for 100 more.
Mundell also said the town has made progress on lead service line replacements, a massive effort that all water systems in New Jersey will be undertaking over the next decade.
Other recent achievements have included the relaunch of the Clean & Strong Bloomfield citizen complaint system through the upgraded Spatial Data Logic (SDL) Portal, enhanced roadway improvements, and the launch of an AI-powered infrastructure assessment tool.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Mundell also stressed the importance of civic engagement, noting the appointment of 90 new advisory committee members and pointing to the township’s “expanding efforts around inclusion, accessibility and multilingual communication.”
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