JACKSON, N.J. – A weekend “Meet and Greet” event at Jackson Town Hall has sparked backlash after two sitting councilmen said they were never notified or invited.
The Sunday morning gathering, organized by Mayor Jennifer L. Kuhn and Council President Mordechai Burnstein, drew criticism from both residents and officials for being held during typical church hours and for leaving opposition members off the guest list.
Councilman Chris Pollak said he learned of the event only through word of mouth, not from any official communication.
“I was not told about this or invited, but I’ll be there,” Pollak wrote in a public post ahead of the event. “Feel free to stop by, say hello, or grill your local representatives.”
He noted that fellow Councilman Nino Borrelli would not attend, citing both lack of notice and a prior church commitment.
Residents voiced frustration on social media, questioning the timing and transparency of the mayor’s event.
“On a Sunday? 10–12 people are in church,” one commenter wrote. Another resident suggested scheduling future sessions “on a Friday night or Saturday morning” to avoid conflicts with church attendance.
Several residents echoed that sentiment, arguing that the decision to hold a municipal outreach event during Sunday services excluded a significant portion of the community.
“It would be nice to have meetings on different days and times so people have opportunities to attend,” wrote one local. Others questioned why all council members weren’t notified, calling for more open communication from town leadership.
Neither Mayor Kuhn nor Council President Burnstein responded publicly to the criticism as of Monday. The town has not yet announced whether additional meet-and-greet sessions will be scheduled to include the full council or to accommodate broader community participation.
