Longtime Sayreville councilwoman to serve as council president for 2020

SAYREVILLE – The Borough Council in Sayreville has been joined by two new members in 2020, while a longtime member will serve as council president for the year.

At the council’s annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 1, newcomers Michele Maher and Donna Roberts were sworn into three-year terms on the governing body following their victories in the 2019 municipal election. Victoria Kilpatrick was also sworn in to a four-year term as mayor during the meeting.

After all the members of the governing body were seated, Mary Novak was elected to serve as council president for the year. Novak is the council’s longest-serving member, having first been on the governing body from 1995 to 2000 and rejoining in 2012.

Democrats hold a 5-1 majority on the council and the mayor’s office, with Roberts as the sole Republican member of the governing body. As Kilpatrick was a council member before being elected mayor, her council seat is currently vacant and a member of her Democratic Party will be appointed to hold the seat for a one-year term.

Maher said, “It’s been a long road. I think since March is when I signed on to this and we’re finally here. It’s really, truly unbelievable. I can’t believe I’m sitting here right now with everyone up here, as well.”

“I’ve already got my first bit of advice as councilwoman – press the button when I want to talk, turn it off when I don’t,” Roberts said. “I just want to take a moment to thank the people that really encouraged me and got me to this point. That starts with my family, who is here, and I’ve leaned on you a bit I’m probably going to lean on you a bit more, so be ready for that. It was a wonderful learning adventure and I do hope that I serve all the people of Sayreville well. To everyone in Sayreville, my goal is to make sure that I represent you in the best light, to have the best for the next year, the new year and those to come.”