Board backs Jennifer Baldesari for Washington School
Kate Diskin paired a moment of silence for Philip Mistretta with a recommendation to name Jennifer Baldesari principal starting July 1, 2026.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — superintendent report, town opens hearing and adopts 2026, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
After honoring a teacher who spent 35 years in the district, Kate Diskin turned to a leadership change at Washington School still awaiting the Board’s vote.
One school year closed with remembrance and a pending appointment. Kate Diskin asked for a moment of silence for Philip Mistretta, a fifth grade teacher at Millburn Middle School who worked in the district for 35 years and died on April 4. She opened by thanking the wellness presenters, then told the Board that the agenda included action on a new Washington School principal.
Kate Diskin said the Board was recommending Jennifer Baldesari for the job, effective July 1, 2026. She thanked those who joined the interview process and described Jennifer Baldesari as an educator with 20 years of experience across teaching, curriculum writing and development, and administration. She said Jennifer Baldesari has built a reputation for collaborative leadership and for building relationships, with attention to students’ academic and social-emotional needs.
Kate Diskin said Jennifer Baldesari now serves as assistant principal for Washington and Glenwood. She described that work as part of a broader record of building inclusive, supportive, high-achieving school communities. The appointment was not final at the moment of her remarks. Kate Diskin said congratulations were a little premature until the Board acted, and noted that pictures would come later if the vote went through.
Town opens hearing and adopts 2026 budget
The budget hearing opened, and the vote followed. The Township Committee first authorized the 2026 municipal budget to be read by title, then opened the public hearing before taking final action.
After the hearing and remarks from staff and committee members, the committee adopted the budget under Resolution 26-140. The summary does not list a dollar total, but it makes clear the formal hearing and adoption happened in the same meeting.
That sequence matters because it closes the local budget process for the year at the committee level. With the budget now adopted, the township can proceed under the spending plan approved in Resolution 26-140.
Explore speakers question minutes and governance
Public comment at Explore focused on how the board records meetings, describes litigation, and communicates with merchants. One speaker tied those concerns to Bear Properties cases, consent-order questions, and what they described as a lack of professionalism.
Accurate records and clear governance affect public trust, legal exposure, and how downtown businesses are represented.
Schools mark losses, thanks, and spring events
Kate Diskin opened another report with a moment of silence for two former employees, then recognized Teacher Appreciation Week and School Nurse Appreciation Day. She highlighted a Paper Mill Playhouse event tied to Millburn’s 250th celebration, introduced recommended athletic director appointee Peter Kaine, announced upcoming strawberry festivals, and reminded the Board about a special meeting on attorney RFPs.
memorial
Explore presses Bear Properties court fights
Explore’s counsel updated the board on several Bear Properties matters, including motions to dismiss, oral-argument dates, and possible sanctions-related filings. The board also approved hiring Bear Cooper LLC for representation in Bear Properties 3, while counsel said an attorney-fee request could reach about $66,000.
Legal fees and court rulings could affect downtown assessment dollars and Explore's ability to focus on routine business promotion.
Committee member gives pool and downtown updates
A Township Committee member said work on the Town Pool resurfacing, ADA ramp, and insulation project was complete, with the pool set to open May 23. The same report covered recreation events, a June 4 downtown Girls Night Out, Steve Grillo resignation, student-athlete signings, an art exhibit at the library, and an open space tax plan item.
leadership change
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Millburn had 473 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
SUNDAYS IS SUPPORTED BY · Stephanie Mallios/Compass REExperience is Key →
- GOVERNANCEApplication hearing and approval: retaining walls and steep slope disturbance; technical variance to memorialize prior setback condition (Calendar 408626). The board heard an application involving four retaining walls to stabilize steep slopes after storm-related erosion at a recently constructed corner-lot home. The applicant sought variances for steep slope disturbance (about 2,000 sq ft over the threshold), retaining wall height (about 1 ft over the limit), and a technical variance to address a previously granted front-yard setback condition. The board approved unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEResidents press officials on taxes, flooding, and event politics. Residents used public comment to question tax appeal settlements, flood-mitigation reporting, a July 4 date typo, the Taylor Park gateway project, and political campaigning at an Explore event. Officials responded on litigation reserves, communications practices, and election-related concerns.
- GOVERNANCEPublic Comment (Round 2) — MEA Statement on John Connelly’s Departure. A representative of the Millburn Education Association offered congratulations and best wishes to Assistant Superintendent John Connelly on becoming superintendent in Madison, citing his leadership, dedication to students, and support for staff, while noting there were times of challenge and disagreement.
- GOVERNANCEExplore handles two resignations and interim transition. Explore accepted the resignations of its executive director and marketing/events director, returned $33,342.16 in unused township salary support, and changed bank signers after the executive director's departure. The board said interim staffing would be discussed in closed session, while the chair publicly thanked the departing marketing director.
- GOVERNANCETownship Committee update on potential SID restructuring, staffing model, assessments, and litigation/legal fees. The Mayor presented the Township Committee’s plans to restructure the SID, including possible tiered assessments, boundary expansion, staffing changes (potential Township employee role), board composition changes, a business survey, and changes to legal-fee handling and operational responsibilities.
- GOVERNANCETownship advances and approves 368 Essex Street purchase. The Township Committee first introduced financing for acquiring 368 Essex Street, then later adopted both the bond ordinance and the purchase-and-sale agreement with Polymer Enterprises. Officials said the property could serve municipal purposes, while a resident asked that the record reflect appraisal and price-fairness concerns.
- GOVERNANCETown leaders condemn sign vandalism and discuss proclamation policy. Committee members and the mayor condemned vandalism of political signs and discussed the township's handling of Gun Violence Awareness Day proclamations. Their remarks also touched on Juneteenth, flood mitigation, pedestrian safety, community programs, and other upcoming events.
- GOVERNANCESuperintendent Report: School Community Events, Panels, Scholarships, Memorial Day, and Upcoming Events. The superintendent highlighted school community events and upcoming activities, including multiple strawberry festivals, a young alumni college-life panel, art scholarship award winners and an exhibit at the public library, the Memorial Day parade and ceremony, a cereal box domino donation, and a list of upcoming concerts and shows.
- GOVERNANCEPublic Comment Period (Closing): Train Station Stairs Request; Support for Flood-Related Redevelopment Action and Palm Salon Acquisition; Pedestrian Safety Ordinance Support; County Road Runoff Process Question. In the closing public comment period, residents reiterated a request for NJ Transit stairs at the Short Hills station to use an existing crosswalk, praised Township actions on the flood-related building/redevelopment step and Palm Salon acquisition, supported pedestrian safety measures near schools, and asked how to address county-road runoff issues (East/Old Short Hills area) through Township vs. Essex County.
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