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Montgomery Rolls Out “Age-Friendly” Survey and New Website to Boost Civic Engagement

October 7, 2025

Nicholas Mistretta

MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Montgomery officials are pairing a listening campaign focused on older residents with the launch of a redesigned municipal website, betting that better data and better digital tools will make local government more responsive and accessible.

On Sept. 16, 2025, the Montgomery Health Department unveiled Age-Friendly Montgomery, an initiative aimed at improving community livability with a particular focus on residents 55 and older. As its first step, the department is asking the public to complete a needs-assessment survey covering housing affordability, health care offerings, transportation access, recreation, social connections, and other quality-of-life measures.

The survey is available online at bit.ly/AgeFriendlyMontgomery. Paper copies—and secure drop boxes for completed forms—are located at the Montgomery Senior/Community Center (356 Skillman Road), the Montgomery Public Library (100 Community Drive), and the Montgomery Township Health Department (100 Community Drive). Residents who need assistance can contact Emily Schreiner at eschreiner@montgomerynj.gov or 908-359-8211 ext. 2400.

Township health officials say the survey is organized around the AARP Eight Domains of Livability—Outdoor Spaces and Buildings; Transportation; Communication and Information; Civic Participation and Employment; Respect and Social Inclusion; Health Services and Community Supports; Social Participation; and Housing—so that responses can feed directly into a formal action plan. That plan is expected to guide local programs and partnerships and will support the township’s application to join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. The work is backed by an Age-Friendly Communities Grant from the New Jersey Division of Aging Services within the state Department of Human Services.

“This initiative is a great opportunity for older residents to help shape improvements that matter to them,” the Health Department said in announcing the survey, noting that all community members are encouraged to participate so that “everyone feels valued and experiences tangible, supportive, and meaningful connections in Montgomery.”

Just over two weeks later, the township announced another step toward improved accessibility: a new municipal website that went live on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the same address, montgomerynj.gov. The redesign—developed by township IT staff in collaboration with CivicPlus, a widely used government website provider—introduces a cleaner layout, more intuitive navigation, and several tools intended to make it easier for residents to get information or complete tasks online.

“We are pleased to bring our residents and businesses this ‘value added’ means of getting what they need directly and quickly online, whether reporting a concern, paying a bill, filling a form, or finding info on a project of interest,” Mayor Neena Singh said, speaking on behalf of the Township Committee.

The site’s new NotifyMe subscription system allows users to create an account and opt in to updates on the topics they care about, while an Alert Center gives officials a way to push out time-sensitive notices across the homepage, social media, and email. Enhanced calendars consolidate public meetings, classes, activities, and community events—with a dedicated schedule for government meetings—and an upgraded search and simplified menus are designed to help visitors quickly find permitting instructions, council meeting videos, and staff contact information.

Together, the survey and the website represent parallel tracks in the township’s push to modernize services and strengthen two-way communication. The survey aims to capture how residents experience Montgomery’s parks, streets, services, and social life—particularly older adults who may face barriers to participation—while the website provides new channels for staying informed and engaging with local government.

Officials emphasized that the age-friendly effort will not end with data collection. After the survey closes, the Health Department will synthesize findings into a needs assessment and draft an action plan in collaboration with residents and partner organizations. That plan will guide municipal programming intended to foster a community “where older members are active participants in shaping features affecting them and available to them,” the announcement said.

Residents can follow updates on both efforts at montgomerynj.gov and via the township’s social media—Facebook: “Montgomery Township, NJ” and Instagram: @inmontgomerynj—or by signing up for email notifications through the new site.

How to Participate

As the township gathers feedback and As the township gathers feedback and rolls out digital upgrades, officials say the goal is clear: a more livable, connected, and age-friendly Montgomery for everyone.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com