Municipal court staff saluted for efficiency
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

Michael Nicoletti

JACKSON - Municipal court staff members known what they are doing and what they are doing is being done right.

"Annually thousands of cases pass through the Jackson court system including traffic violations, criminal charges and recently the state requested that the court address certain security concerns," Councilman Jason Gudaitis said at a recent meeting of the Township Council. "The court, together with the council and the police department, devised additional strategies to better secure our court system here in Jackson."

In October 2007, the Jacksonmunicipal court ranked first in Ocean County with the lowest backlog of cases, Gudaitis said.

In a letter to Mayor Mark Seda and Business Administrator Phil Del Turco, Jackson Municipal Court Judge Daniel F. Sahin wrote, "I am pleased to advise [you] that last month's statistical reports revealed that Jackson ranked first in the entire county for the lowest backlog of all cases for the month of October. You may recall that I had written to you some time ago when Jackson ranked second in the county."

Sahin said that is an accomplishment that demonstrates the hard work and dedication of the court staff, municipal prosecutor and public defenders.

Municipal court staff members who received certificates of achievement from the township include Judge Daniel F. Sahin; Joseph Coronato, the municipal prosecutor; Erin J. DiCristina, the court administrator; Heidi Parise, deputy court administrator; Michael Nicoletti, deputy court administrator; Cheri Borzek, violations clerk; Dina Vicari, the municipal public defender; Barbara Gagliardi, violations clerk; and Steve Millette, violations clerk.

Sahin noted that Nicoletti was the recipient of an award from the New Jersey Superior Court system.

"Mike was the only employee in the entire county to have received this award out of [all] the municipal courts," Sahin wrote. "The remaining awards were given to individuals who are employed in the New Jersey court system."

Nicoletti is a Jackson Memorial High School graduate who has five years of experience in the court system, Gudaitis said. He said Nicoletti was promoted to the position of deputy court administrator in April 2007 and said he is nearing completion of his municipal court certification work.

"In particular, Mike is the only employee from the municipal courts to receive the award," Gudaitis said. "All others were from the state court system."

After the presentation of certificates to the municipal court staff members, Sahin said he was very fortunate to have stepped into a very well functioning court a couple of years ago.

"From the bottom of my heart I thank you for everything you do," the judge told the court staff. "I love being around here and look forward to work every Thursday and now every other Tuesday. I appreciate that."