more accessibility to everyone.” COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EVENTS Montvale prioritizes open communication and community engagement through regular town hall meetings, newsletters, coffee hours, and “Walk with the Mayor” opportunities. Ghassali also takes a personal approach. He illustrates, “People send me an email when they have a question, and I go there and knock on the door. They’re surprised for about two seconds, and then we’re having coffee inside their home.”The borough also brings people together through events like “A Day in the Park” featuring food, family-friendly activities, and fireworks.“The council and myself are there just interacting,” he adds. Montvale’s cultural diversity is another key aspect, with residents hailing from 57 different countries and speaking 27 languages. “This is all within four square miles,” touts the mayor. “Every week something is happening in those communities. Sometimes they use their facilities, sometimes they use the parks, sometimes they use their backyards. A PARTNER WITH MONTVALE. DEVELOPING THE FUTURE IN ONE OF NEW JERSEY’S MOST DYNAMIC COMMUNITIES. making a difference together 177 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 09 MONTVALE, NJ
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx