County Commissioners Outline Plan For Middlesex At Reorganization Meet

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — The Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners hosted its annual Reorganization Meeting on Jan. 5, at the Performing Arts Center on the Middlesex College campus.

County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios, who was selected to serve another term as director. Recently reelected County Commissioners Claribel A. Azcona-Barber, Charles Kenny, and Chanelle Scott McCullum, as well as Sheriff Mildred S. Scott all took the oath of office during Thursday’s meeting.

Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin were also present during the meeting.

“Over the past year, my colleagues and I have been proud to see our community overcome challenges and fulfill the promise of a brighter future – for our residents, for our businesses, and for our families,” Rios said.

“We’ve been able to do this by building public and private partnerships at the local, state, and federal level. These collaborations make a brighter future possible.”

Rios thanked County employees for their hard work and dedication, acknowledging the vital role they play in serving residents.

“Our County employees are the lifeblood of what we do. You are the heart and soul of our operation. My fellow commissioners and I are continually in awe of your commitment to residents and businesses,” Rios said.

Murphy said he was proud to revisit Middlesex College’s campus. He visited the campus in November 2022, to announce various improvement plans for Middlesex College as part of Middlesex County’s Destination 2040 Strategic Plan. More: Cricket Field, Multipurpose Venue Coming To Edison's Middlesex College

“With each step forward, it becomes increasingly clearer: Middlesex County priorities and New Jersey priorities are one in the same. From its upgrades to pivotal transit facilities to its transformation of leading educational institutions, the County has served – and will continue to serve – as a microcosm of the stronger, fairer Garden State we are building,” Murphy said.

The Board also shared its vision for infrastructure, education, and quality of life.

Under Destination 2040, the County plans long-term economic success spearheaded by the Department of Transportation under the leadership of County Commissioner Kenny.

Some of the projects undertaken by the County include a core partner in the New Jersey Innovation Hub. The Hub will serve as the future command center for DataCity, the County’s living laboratory for autonomous technology.

Additionally, Middlesex County has invested $25 million in the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, that hopes to transform cancer care through a combination of research, education, and patient care. The Cancer Center will provide world-class cancer treatment for residents, while also providing academic and hands-on training opportunities for Middlesex College and Middlesex County Magnet Schools students.

“Both the Hub and the Cancer Center are designed to attract opportunity, business, and talent from throughout the County, the state, and the region,” Rios said.

Other key projects include investments in transportation infrastructure, including the modernization of the New Brunswick Train Station. Under the project the 120-year-old station will be updated with new amenities and technologies and the construction. The Board also highlighted the construction of the North Brunswick Train Station, which is nearing the completion of the concept design phase.

The Board’s focus on education includes the Middlesex County Magnet Schools and Middlesex College that have undergone a transformation.

Middlesex College has seen enrollment up by 3 percent in 2022 which according to County officials is far above the state and national average for two-year colleges. This is expected to continue as the County’s Community, Innovation, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan, which was unveiled last year.

The Board will also focus on state-of-the-art facilities and regional attractions in Middlesex County, for families and individuals who live here.

“Through our investments in talent, infrastructure, and our residents, we are building an even brighter future that is unique only to Middlesex County,” Rios said.

These investments include the County’s telehealth and community health programs, which was first introduced in 2021 in direct response to issues brought to light by the COVID-19 pandemic. The County expanded these initiatives in 2022.

The County has also supported the State’s ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program, to ensure eligible Middlesex County homeowners and renters have access to the program.

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