Awards and Accomplishments

Be proud of your community!  Middletown Township and its staff consistently receive local, regional and state and national awards for outstanding programs and service. Take a look at our growing list of awards, and noteworthy accomplishments.

2011
First Aider of the Year Manuel Flores
Police Officer of the Year Lt. Stephen Dollinger and Sgt. Fred Deickmann
OEM Coordinator of the Year Charles W. Rogers
Middletown Elks 2179 First Responder Recognition

2011
Excellence in Programming
NJ Parks and Recreation Association
Program: Camp Jinka

2010
Bronze Certification
Sustainable Jersey

2010
Meritorious Service
2010 FBI National Academy Associates
Police Chief Robert Oches
for his work on the FBI Youth Leadership Program

2010
Innovation in Programming
NJ Parks and Recreation Association
Program: River Rangers

2010
Top 100 Places to Live in the United States
MONEY Magazine ranks Middletown 89th

2010
Sustainable Grant
The township was awarded a $10,000 grant to develop a native garden at the Poricy Park Conservancy.

2010
Monmouth County Open Space Grant
The Township was award a $250,000 matching grant for development of new ballfields and trails at the Conifer Tact Ball Fields.

2009
Best Special/Innovative Program
48th Annual Municipal Public Information Contest
sponsored by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, Rutgers Center for Government Services and NJ Municipal Managers Association
Program: BUY Middletown program.

2009
Achievement in Planning Award
New Jersey Planning Officials
Port of Belford Feasibility Study

2009
Ruth Hughes Innovative Accessible Recreation Facility Award
NJ Commission on Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities
Middletown Arts Center

2009
Community Champion
Monmouth County Arts Council
Arts Center Director Maggie O’Brien

2009
Public Servant of the Year
Northern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce
Deputy Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger

2009
Police Officer of the Year
American Legion 338
Police Officer Patricia Colangelo

2008
Best Integrator Fit Award
Center for Digital Government
Middletown Township earned this award for work on the public website and GIS.

2008
Top 100 Best Places To Live in the United States
MONEY Magazine Ranks Middletown No. 87

2008
Excellence in Design
NJ Parks and Recreation Association
Middletown Arts Center

2007
Best Print Entry
46th Annual Municipal Public Information Contest
New Jersey State League of Municipalities, Rutgers Center for Government Services and NJ Municipal Managers Association.

2007
Special Citation - 2007 Police Officer of the Year
Parade Magazine and the International Association of Chiefs
Cpl. James Roese

2007
Monmouth County Planning Board Merit Awards
Campbell’s Junction Revitalization
Stout Tucker House Restoration

2007
Cool City Designation
Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter

2007
Lowest Tax Increase in Monmouth County since 2000
reported by Newark Star Ledger
The Star Ledger reported Middletown had the overall lowest tax increase when compared to all Monmouth County towns except tiny Roosevelt Borough. We also had the lowest average increase for 2006 when compared to towns of comparable town such as Brick, Dover, Edison, Hamilton, Old Bridge and Woodbridge.

2007
Victor E. Grossinger Award for Innovative Programming
Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners
Program: Paint Your Banner

2007
Charles Pike Award for Parks & Recreation Facilities
Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners
Facility: Middletown Arts Center

2006
Top 100 Places to Live in the United States
MONEY Magazine ranks Middletown 50th

2006
Charles W. Rogers III, OEM Coordinator
Emergency Management Coordinator of the Year
New Jersey Emergency Management Association

2006
Victor E. Grossinger Award for Innovative Programming
Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners
Program: United in Memory: 9/11 Memorial Quilt Exhibit

2006
Local Government Customer Service Excellence Awards
State Department of Personnel
Cultural & Arts Center Director Maggie O’Brien
Patrolman James Roese – Rude Awakening

2006
Best of the Best -- Local Government Customer Service Excellence Awards
State Department of Personnel
Patrolman James Roese

2005
Best Print Entry
Municipal Public Information Contest
New Jersey State League of Municipalities, Rutgers Center for Government Services and NJ Municipal Managers Association

2005
Safest Community of Its Size in Ocean & Monmouth Counties
Designation based on the State Uniform Crime Report

2005
Demonstrated Excellence in Project Management
New Jersey Excellence in Technology Awards Program
Project :Human Resources - Paper to PC

2005
Most Innovative Use of Technology
New Jersey Excellence in Technology Awards Program
Project: Fire & Fire Aid Computer Aided Dispatch

2005
Local Government Customer Service Excellence Awards
State Department of Personnel
Code Enforcement Officer Ralph Gengo
DPW Supervisor Steve Hallgring
For Leaf and Brush Education and Enforcement Program

2005  
Most Effective and Outstanding Recycling Program
Monmouth County Solid Waste Advisory Committee Award
Recycling Coordinator Samuel Posten

2005  
Victor E. Grossinger Award for Innovative Programming
Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners
Project: “Community Connections, collaborative art project,”

2005  
Excellence in Programming in the Arts
New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association
Project: Conestruction 2003, the annual community art project
           
2004  
Public Information Officer Cindy Herrschaft
Information Systems Director Walter Bennett
Local Gov't Customer Service Excellence Awards
State Department of Personnel
for Excellence in Internal and External Communications.

2003  
Best Overall Public Information Program
Municipal Public Information Contest
New Jersey State League of Municipalities, Rutgers Center for Government Services and NJ Municipal Managers Association

2003 
Victor E. Grossinger Award for Innovative Programming
Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners
Program: Duckoration 2002

2002  
Excellence in Programming in the Arts
New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association
for All Aboard the Arts, the first spring arts festival

2001
Environmental Commission Chairman Michael Fedosh
Governor’s Volunteerism Award

2000
Victor E. Grossinger Award for Innovative Programming
Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners
Program Senor Homecoming Dance at Middletown Senior Center