Lakewood Township officials participated this week in the annual New Jersey League of Municipalities (NJLM) Conference, held Tuesday through Thursday at the Atlantic City Convention Center. The three-day event brings together representatives from all 564 New Jersey municipalities, along with county and state officials, service providers, and vendors working in government operations.
The NJLM Conference serves as a statewide forum for networking, professional development, and the exhibition of municipal services and technology. On the expo floor, vendors displayed public service equipment, vehicles, and tools designed to improve municipal operations.
Once again, Lakewood maintained a strong presence at the event, operating one of the busiest municipal booths. Representatives engaged with vendors and professionals interested in working with Lakewood, currently the fourth-largest and fastest-growing municipality in New Jersey.
Among the officials present were Mayor Ray Coles, Deputy Mayor Menashe Miller, Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein, Committeewoman Debbie Fuentes, Township Manager Pat Donnelly, and COO Trish Komsa, along with other employees and department leaders.
In addition to its conference booth, Lakewood hosted a “Meet and Greet” event Wednesday evening, providing an opportunity for township representatives, vendors, and municipal personnel to further discuss services, exchange ideas, and develop partnerships.
Deputy Mayor Miller noted that several municipal innovations currently in use originated from past NJLM Conferences. These include Lakewood’s roadway brine pre-treatment system for snowstorms and upgraded scheduling systems used by the Inspection Department. He said officials are currently reviewing new products introduced at this year’s conference, particularly in areas such as roadway safety, snow removal, and municipal record systems.
“We are already in the process of following up with [vendors] and will work on incorporating all feasible options to make sure that Lakewood remains at the cutting edge of government-related advancements,” Miller said.
Committeeman Lichtenstein described the conference as an active opportunity to strengthen municipal operations through direct engagement. He thanked township staff for organizing Lakewood’s booth and participation, stating that the delegation “effectively represented Lakewood, enabling our town to continue meeting the needs of our residents in the most optimal manner.”
