Mikulewicz Touts Creation of Farmers Market, Says He Stayed True to Principles

Outgoing Borough Councilman Joseph Mikulewicz had humble intentions when he chose to run for council. His home was near Lum Avenue Field, which was on the brink of being revamped with artificial turf.

Mikulewicz, along with some of his other neighbors, opposed the idea. He started coming to council meetings to voice his opinion during 2006, when the issue was up for debate.

During the process, he said, members of the borough council approved an item that allowed them to hire a consultant for the project. Mikulewicz said the item had not been on the agenda and had never been discussed.

"That gave me a platform to run on," Mikulewicz said in an interview last week. "Not to vote on items without public commment, and not voting on things not on the agenda unless there was an emergency or fiscal need that would impact the borough in a negative way."

And even though Lum Avenue Field was, in the end, artificially turfed, Mikulewicz won a seat on the borough council in the 2006 elections. On Monday, he will officially leave the council after his three year term expires. When he steps aside, he will also vacate the council president position—one he held this year.

He and fellow councilman Neal Collins—both Democrats—were defeated by newcomer Republicans John Holman and Len Resto in November's elections.

Even though he lost, Mikulewicz said he tried to hold strong to his principles throughout his term.

"I tried to do that in my three years on council—not to vote on items that were not emergency or necessary," he said.

While he was on the council, Mikulewicz said he was able to get several significant things done. One of the most important, he said, was the creation of a borough-administered farmer's market, which runs throughout the summer on Saturdays.

Mikulewicz and Collins campaigned on the issue, and were able to establish the market during the summer of 2007.

"It really created a nice community gathering place on Saturdays," Mikulewicz said. "A lot of residents look forward to coming down to the farmers market, not just to buy produce, but to meet people."

He also said he has worked with Madison, New Providence and other surrounding municipalities to look at ways they can share services. Thanks to his efforts, he said the borough may soon participate in a debt forgiveness program that will allow it to save money on a sewer project. It shares the sewer with Madison, and the work would allow it to make the sewer area more green.

He has also been a member of the Planning Board and hopes to continue in that role after he is off the council.

Going forward, he said, "the council will have to continue to grapple with the loss of state aid." But he does not plan to ignore borough government.

He reasons that as a resident, he will pay taxes at whatever rate the board sets, and said he wants to be involved in the process.

"I'll go to council meetings, I guess—I'll still watch," Mikulewicz said.

On Monday: Read about what newcomers John Holman and Len Resto are planning to do once they become council members.