MAYOR'S NEWSLINE

March 2005

IMPORTANT EVENTS - PAST AND FUTURE
And staff contacts for more information
Also consult the calendar
For Seminar details, contact David Harkness ext. 18.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Scholarship Deadlines Seeking Mayoral Conference Suggestions 2005 Mayors' Hall of Fame Nominations COAH Seminars Pensions/Retirement Seminars

FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Peter Cantu, Mayor, Plainsboro

The League has joined a coalition of local government organizations, including the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials in an effort to save the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. President Bush has proposed a major change that would consolidate 18 direct grant programs, including the CDBG into two programs and move them into the Department of Commerce. Funding for the President's entire "Strengthening American Communities Initiative" is set at $3.71 billion - nearly $1 billion less than the $4.7 billion in total CDBG funding for FY 2005.

CDBG grants helped create or retain over 90,000 jobs in 2004 alone. Over its 30-year history, CDBG has leveraged nearly $324 billion in new private investment, a three-to-one return. CDBG helped more than 11,000 households become new homeowners in 2004. It also helped rehabilitate nearly 19,000 rental housing units and more than 112,000 owner-occupied single family homes adding to the stock of clean, decent and affordable housing in America and supporting the President's call for an ownership society. Last year, the CDBG's 38,550 projects served more than 9 million people by helping to build new or reconstruct existing public facilities, roads, fire stations, libraries, and water and sewer systems. The League will work with our congressional delegation to maintain the CDBG as a separate and distinct program that provides a direct and flexible source of funding to local governments.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

SEEKING MAYORAL CONFERENCE SUGGESTIONS
-Contact Bill Dressel ext. 22
bdressel@njslom.com, or fax 609-695-0151

Your League staff will shortly begin preparing the schedule of educational sessions for the 90th Annual League Conference. To make sure this schedule accurately reflects your needs, we need your input. Please fax or e-mail your suggested topics and speakers so we may coordinate your ideas into an informative and thought provoking conference. Most conference sessions developed are based on the input and responses from mayors and elected officials.

UNITED STATES FLAG CODE
AND PROTOCOL
-Contact White House and US Flag Code web sites

The President of the United States or Governor of New Jersey are authorized to order flags lowered to half-staff. To be sure your municipality is displaying its flags properly; see the US Flag Code at http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title4/chapter1_.html. Also, check with the White House web site www.whitehouse.gov and the New Jersey web site http://www.state.nj.us/

DIVISION OF PENSIONS RETIREMENT SEMINARS
-Contact the Division of Pensions

It is 2005 and many baby boomers may be thinking about retirement. Whether you are a baby boomer getting close to retirement or someone who is planning ahead, the Division of Pensions and Benefits has a seminar to fit your needs.

Local municipal employees can attend any of the Division's seminars free of charge. If you are planning ahead, consider "The EDGE" seminar, for newer employees. If you are closer to retirement, you can choose from one-day or two-day pre-retirement seminars, or retirement workshops. The Division has seminars for both Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) members and Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) members. Staff can come to your location and present a seminar custom-tailored to meet your employees' needs.

To find out more about our seminar opportunities or to register for a seminar, please visit the Internet site, at www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/seminars.htm or call (609) 777-2111

MAYORS' HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS
-Contact Michael Darcy ext. 16 or mdarcy@njslom.com

Nomination forms for the 2005 Mayors' Hall of Fame were recently mailed to all Mayors. This special recognition is given to Mayors who have served at least 10 years for the silver level, or 20 years for the gold level. Please review the full list of current Hall of Fame Mayors at the League web site. If any mayors are missing that should be included, please nominate them on the official 2005 Mayors' Hall of Fame nomination form.

FUTURE MUNICIPAL LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE
-Contact Michael Darcy ext. 16 or mdarcy@njslom.com

In January, all mayors received information on the scholarship competition. At this time, you should have your judging panel in place and some entries from constituent high school students. By March 15, you should have all your entries ready to be judged. And by April 1, you should be submitting your local winner to the League office along with a complete list of your local entries. Thank you for making this important opportunity possible for your high school juniors and seniors.

COAH THIRD ROUND RULES SEMINARS
-Contact Ellen E. Ritchie at 609-984-4584
or eritchie@dca.state.nj.us.

On December 20, 2004, COAH adopted its new third round rules introducing a methodology known as growth share. This formula requires that as a municipality grows and attracts new housing and jobs over time, it will have an affordable housing obligation that reflects that growth, rather than an assigned number. Because this is a new approach, the League and the NJ American Planning Association are cosponsoring a series of workshops with COAH to explain how municipalities can develop their growth share plans. The workshops will also cover a variety of planning options that a municipality may chose from when planning to meet its affordable housing obligation. These workshops are appropriate for municipal officials, professionals, and anyone interested in affordable housing and municipal planning. Log on to www.state.nj.us/dca/coah for more information.