• Economic Development & Competitiveness

  • Hire an experienced economic development leader to recruit/retain businesses and grow the ratable base; explore grants and bonds to fund the role.
  
  
  • Be pragmatic on incentives (e.g., abatements) so Millville competes with neighboring towns; ensure deals measurably benefit taxpayers over time.
  
  
  • Focus on visible first impressions that influence investors and families (clean corridors, storefronts, and gateways from Route 55).



• City Cleanliness, Panhandling & Homelessness

  • Daily cart retrieval and business accountability for shopping carts; address litter and debris along sidewalks/wooded areas.
  
  
  • Coordinate with peers/nearby municipalities on best practices; consider a halfway house model and a designated point person to lead efforts.
  
  
  • Recruit volunteers while acknowledging current staffing shortfalls; use grants/bonds to add capacity where needed.



• Roads & Infrastructure

  • Increase street paving and upgrades; clarify how street-opening funds are tracked and reinvested in restoration.
  
  
  • Systematically plan corridor repairs to improve safety and curb appeal.



• ATVs, Dirt Bikes & Traffic Safety

  • Acknowledge current no-chase constraints; organize a regional strategy by networking with other municipalities and state legislators.
  
  
  • Set local standards while pursuing broader policy fixes through NJAC/League of Municipalities–style collaboration.



• Code Enforcement & Blight

  • Target abandoned/vacant properties, broken vehicles, and yard debris; be more proactive with citations and follow-up.
  
  
  • Explore abandoned-property sales to move assets to rehab-minded buyers and restore single-family occupancy.



• Parks, Youth Activities & Culture

  • Invest in youth outlets (e.g., roller-rink-style activities) to keep kids engaged and out of trouble.
  
  
  • Underscore parental expectations and cultural norms as part of community safety and opportunity.



• Staffing, Equipment & Grants

  • Address short-staffed departments and non-competitive salaries that drive attrition.
  
  
  • Acquire needed equipment (e.g., an additional street sweeper) and make sweeping city-wide.
  
  
  • Pursue funding (e.g., Clean Communities grant) to support operations.



• Resident Communication & Transparency

  • Create a resident suggestion email/box for those who cannot attend or are uncomfortable speaking at meetings.
  
  
  • Provide plain-English explanations of policy changes (e.g., solid-waste billing), and publicly follow up on meeting questions.
  
  
  • Use multiple channels (not just social media) to reach residents.



• Utilities & Hardship

  • Question water shut-offs for struggling families; prefer other enforcement options (e.g., tax sale) and payment plans.

Daniel Gregoire is French-Canadian and originally from the Chicago area. He attended Catholic high school, has some college, and then worked as a welder before moving into water and wastewater management—his field for the last 41 years. He’s handled equipment builds, quality control, and product specialization, with extensive time on the road. He says that whole-system view prepared him for the coordination and accountability of city work, and notes that he helped replace city water/wastewater equipment in Millville following a walkthrough years ago. He’s also held leadership roles across levels in the Knights of Columbus, which he describes as a governance-like organization with transferable leadership lessons. A Millville resident since 2012, he characterizes himself as driven and diligent—pursuing problems until the job is done—and wants Millville’s government and workforce aligned with residents to deliver visible results.

Organizations

• Knights of Columbus

  Held roles at all levels; credits the organization with leadership training similar to running a civic entity.

Professional and Work Background

• Welding

  Early career work prior to moving into utilities.


• Water & Wastewater (41+ years)

  Equipment building, quality control, product specialization, and systems operations; experience includes assisting Millville with equipment replacement following a city walkthrough.