MAYOR'S NEWSLINE

August 2004

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 New League Executive Board Member Sworn In Sixth Mayors Institute On Community Design Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund Join League Legislative E-Line Innovations In American Government Awards

FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Jo-Anne Schubert, Mayor, South Bound Brook

Governor Signs Tax Reform Bill

On July 6, Governor McGreevey signed A-97, the bill to create a task force to develop recommendations regarding a constitutional convention designed to amend the current property tax system. The signing occurred in Somerdale and was hosted by Gary Passanante, Mayor of Somerdale, League Executive Board member and Chairman, League Property Tax Reform Review Committee.

The signing of this bill is the most significant step towards true and lasting property tax reform in over 30 years. Your League was one of the first statewide organizations to embrace the idea of a constitutional convention for tax reform when it was proposed by former Senator Bill Schluter over four years ago. The League extends thanks to Senator John Adler and Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts for their leadership on this issue.

Our hope is that the task force will work together in a bi-partisan way to suggest some meaningful reforms towards true and lasting property tax relief. We also hope the legislature will listen carefully to task force recommendations and work in a bi-partisan way to enact them. New Jersey is a wonderful place to live, but we need to assure it is also an affordable place to live for everyone.

For more information on the League's effort on advocating the constitutional convention visit www.njslom.com and go to Special Events and Notices, Constitutional Convention. For a copy of A-97, contact Suzanne DeLany at the League office, extension 14.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

NEW JERSEY MAYORS INSTITUTE ON COMMUNITY DESIGN
-Contact Sasha Corchado (732) 828-9945 or www.rpa.org

The Regional Plan Association, in cooperation with the N J Department of Community Affairs, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and NJ League of Municipalities organized the sixth Mayors Institute on Community Design.

The event was held on June 23-25 at the School of Architecture, Princeton University. Mayors from six municipalities learned about ways to solve development issues and build healthy communities.

The participating Mayors were: Joan Boas, Mayor, Mount Holly, League Executive Board; Frank DeBari, Mayor, New Milford; Eugene Feyl, Mayor, Denville, League Executive Board, Brain Gallagher, Mayor, Somerville; Bernadette McPherson, Mayor, Rutherford; Gerald Tarantolo, Mayor, Eatontown.

MUNICIPALITIES RECEIVE HDSRF GRANTS
-Contact Glenn J. Phillips (609) 292-9297

Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF) grants of nearly $600,000 have been approved by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to advance cleanup of environmentally contaminated sites in Bridgeton, Camden, Merchantville, Neptune Township and Trenton. The breakdown of the awards is as follows:

Camden, $334,126 to the Camden Redevelopment Agency to complete a remedial investigation at the former RCA manufacturing facility.

Bridgeton, $84,243 for a site investigation at a former produce packaging facility.

Merchantville, $105,609 for additional site investigation and remedial investigation at a former commercial business site.

Neptune Township, $19,139 for additional remedial investigation work with the former Tides Motel site.

Trenton, $53,693 to perform additional remedial investigation at the former Champale Brewery site.

Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Funding is available to New Jersey municipalities for sites they acquire through foreclosure or purchase or on which they hold tax sale certificates. Municipalities can also apply for grants or low-interest loans to investigate and clean up contaminated properties.

NEW LEAGUE BOARD MEMBER SWORN IN
-Contact Bill Dressel ext. 22

Acting Jersey City Mayor L. Harvey Smith was sworn in as a member of the League's board at the executive board meeting. He replaces the late Mayor Glenn Cunningham, who passed away in May. Contact the League for more information.

MAYORS CONTINUE SUPPORT FIGHTING RARE BONE DISEASE
-Contact Gary Whyte (718) 442-7525

Firbodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (F.O.P.) is a rare disease that turns muscles, tendons and ligaments into bone which leads to immobilization of a person. Heath advocate Gary Whyte of Mountainside helped urge 237 Mayors to adopt a proclamation or resolution to fight the disease. Contact Gary to support F.O.P. initiatives.

JOIN LEAGUE LEGISLATIVE E-LINE
-Contact Mike Cerra ext.20 or
www.njslom.org

Often times, items move fast in Trenton and the traditional methods of disseminating information to our members, such as mail and fax alerts are not enough. The Legislative E-Line will be simple: in addition to our mail and fax correspondence, we will email individuals committed to contacting their State Legislators immediately. Any current elected or appointed municipal official can register to join.

INNOVATIONS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AWARDS
-Contact Christina Marchand (617) 495-0557

The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University invites applications for the awards. The Innovations Award is heralded as the premier public-sector award in the nation and is given annually to programs that serve as examples of creative and effective government at its best. Winners will receive grant funds. Applications are due by September 15, 2004. For more information, contact the Ash Institute or go to www.ashinstitute.harvard.edu.

ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS
-Contact Marybeth Brenner (609) 292-2885

The DEP, League and NJCAT are sponsoring the fifth year of this award program. Applications are due by September 17. Award s will be presented on November 16 during the League Conference. Contact the DEP for more information and an application.

• Budgets and Financial Administration
• Economic Development
• Grant/Loan Programs
• Environmental Protection/Brownfields
• Emergency Management/Disaster Preparedness
• And much more……….

Implementing the New Business Registration Requirements
And
Changes to the Municipal Cap Law

Tuesday, September 28, 2004
8:30a.m. -1:00p.m.
Freehold Gardens Hotel
Route 537 and Gibson Place
Freehold, New Jersey

Registration Fee:
Member: $55
Non-Member $110

Implementing the New Business Registration Requirements: This new State law is intended to help state government ensure that all businesses doing business in New Jersey pay, collect and forward sales and use taxes to the State. The law requires local governments to collect a state business registration form from most vendors with whom they do business. This requirement affects finance and purchasing activities, and requires new internal procedures to ensure that routine purchasing and bidding practices meet the requirements of the law and instructions from the Division of Taxation. Representatives from the State Divisions of Taxation and Local Government Services and the Government Purchasing Association of New Jersey will review the requirements of business registration, document filing with municipalities, and implementation strategies.

Changes to the Municipal Cap Law As part of Governor McGreevey's Fair and Immediate Relief program for property taxes, the municipal and county government budget cap law was amended. Changes in how the allowable increase in spending affects governments, and changes to exceptions were also made. In this session, Division of Local Government Services staff will explain the changes, and experienced municipal financial leaders will talk about how to manage the impact of the changes.

The program agenda and registration form will be mailed to every municipality and will also be available at www.njslom.org in the near future. Mark your calendar and make

MAYOR'S NEWSLINE August 2004 Offices: 407 West State St. Trenton, New Jersey 08618 609-695-3481 Fax 695-0151 E-Mail mdarcy@njslom.com www.njslom.com   IMPORTANT EVENTS - PAST AND FUTURE And staff contacts for more information Also consult the calendar For Seminar details, contact David Harkness ext. 18. Sept. 6 Labor Day Sept. 8 League Seminar "ABC Update on Liquor License Issues" at Holmdel Sept. 28 League Seminar "Contractor Business Registration/CAP Law Update" at Freehold Sept. 29 League Seminar "Brownfield Funding Available to Municipalities" at Jamesburg Oct. 6 League Seminar "Imaging Records" at Freehold Oct. 8 League Seminar "Imaging Records" at Cherry Hill Oct. 14 League Seminar "Labor Relations" at Holmdel INSIDE THIS ISSUE New League Executive Board Member Sworn In Sixth Mayors Institute On Community Design Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund Join League Legislative E-Line Innovations In American Government Awards FROM THE PRESIDENT By Jo-Anne Schubert, Mayor, South Bound Brook Governor Signs Tax Reform Bill On July 6, Governor McGreevey signed A-97, the bill to create a task force to develop recommendations regarding a constitutional convention designed to amend the current property tax system. The signing occurred in Somerdale and was hosted by Gary Passanante, Mayor of Somerdale, League Executive Board member and Chairman, League Property Tax Reform Review Committee. The signing of this bill is the most significant step towards true and lasting property tax reform in over 30 years. Your League was one of the first statewide organizations to embrace the idea of a constitutional convention for tax reform when it was proposed by former Senator Bill Schluter over four years ago. The League extends thanks to Senator John Adler and Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts for their leadership on this issue. Our hope is that the task force will work together in a bi-partisan way to suggest some meaningful reforms towards true and lasting property tax relief. We also hope the legislature will listen carefully to task force recommendations and work in a bi-partisan way to enact them. New Jersey is a wonderful place to live, but we need to assure it is also an affordable place to live for everyone. For more information on the League's effort on advocating the constitutional convention visit www.njslom.com and go to Special Events and Notices, Constitutional Convention. For a copy of A-97, contact Suzanne DeLany at the League office, extension 14. EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICERS JO-ANNE B. SCHUBERT, President;   Mayor, South Bound Brook PETER A. CANTU, 1st Vice President   Mayor, Plainsboro HERBERT D. STILES, JR., 2nd Vice President   Mayor, Elmer DAVID M. DEL VECCHIO, 3rd Vice President   Mayor, Lambertville MEMBERS JAMES ANZALDI   Mayor, Clifton WILLIAM W. BAIN, JR.   Mayor, Deptford J. CHRISTIAN BOLLWAGE   Mayor, Elizabeth JOAN BOAS   Deputy Mayor, Mount Holly ROBERT BOWSER   Mayor, East Orange THOMAS J. BYRNE III   Mayor, Spring Lake LAWRENCE G. CHIARAVALLO   Mayor, South Belmar CHUCK CHIARELLO    Mayor, Buena Vista DANIEL N. CORANOTO   Deputy Mayor, Hampton Twp. SUZANNE C. DAPKINS    Mayor, Long Hill JOHN DEAN DERIENZO    Mayor, Haworth GENE FEYL   Mayor, Denville MALCOLM C. FRASER   Mayor, Cape May Point GLEN D. GILMORE   Mayor, Hamilton Twp. (Mercer) SHARPE JAMES   Mayor, Newark (Ex-Officio) TIMOTHY MCDONOUGH   Mayor, Hope GARY PASSANANTE   Mayor, Somerdale DOUGLAS M. RAINEAR    Deputy Mayor, Upper Deerfield   Twp. L. HARVEY SMITH    Acting Mayor, Jersey City JOSEPH TEMPESTA   Mayor, West Caldwell DANIEL VAN PELT   Mayor, Ocean Twp. (Ocean) RUDOLPH J. WENZEL, JR.   Mayor, Washington Twp. (Bergen) Executive Staff William G. Dressel, Jr.   Executive Director Michael J. Darcy, CAE   Assistant Executive Director       NEW JERSEY MAYORS INSTITUTE ON COMMUNITY DESIGN -Contact Sasha Corchado (732) 828-9945 or www.rpa.org The Regional Plan Association, in cooperation with the N J Department of Community Affairs, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and NJ League of Municipalities organized the sixth Mayors Institute on Community Design. The event was held on June 23-25 at the School of Architecture, Princeton University. Mayors from six municipalities learned about ways to solve development issues and build healthy communities. The participating Mayors were: Joan Boas, Mayor, Mount Holly, League Executive Board; Frank DeBari, Mayor, New Milford; Eugene Feyl, Mayor, Denville, League Executive Board, Brain Gallagher, Mayor, Somerville; Bernadette McPherson, Mayor, Rutherford; Gerald Tarantolo, Mayor, Eatontown. MUNICIPALITIES RECEIVE HDSRF GRANTS -Contact Glenn J. Phillips (609) 292-9297 Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF) grants of nearly $600,000 have been approved by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to advance cleanup of environmentally contaminated sites in Bridgeton, Camden, Merchantville, Neptune Township and Trenton. The breakdown of the awards is as follows: Camden, $334,126 to the Camden Redevelopment Agency to complete a remedial investigation at the former RCA manufacturing facility. Bridgeton, $84,243 for a site investigation at a former produce packaging facility. Merchantville, $105,609 for additional site investigation and remedial investigation at a former commercial business site. Neptune Township, $19,139 for additional remedial investigation work with the former Tides Motel site. Trenton, $53,693 to perform additional remedial investigation at the former Champale Brewery site. Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Funding is available to New Jersey municipalities for sites they acquire through foreclosure or purchase or on which they hold tax sale certificates. Municipalities can also apply for grants or low-interest loans to investigate and clean up contaminated properties. NEW LEAGUE BOARD MEMBER SWORN IN -Contact Bill Dressel ext. 22 Acting Jersey City Mayor L. Harvey Smith was sworn in as a member of the League's board at the executive board meeting. He replaces the late Mayor Glenn Cunningham, who passed away in May. Contact the League for more information. MAYORS CONTINUE SUPPORT FIGHTING RARE BONE DISEASE -Contact Gary Whyte (718) 442-7525 Firbodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (F.O.P.) is a rare disease that turns muscles, tendons and ligaments into bone which leads to immobilization of a person. Heath advocate Gary Whyte of Mountainside helped urge 237 Mayors to adopt a proclamation or resolution to fight the disease. Contact Gary to support F.O.P. initiatives. JOIN LEAGUE LEGISLATIVE E-LINE -Contact Mike Cerra ext.20 or www.njslom.org Often times, items move fast in Trenton and the traditional methods of disseminating information to our members, such as mail and fax alerts are not enough. The Legislative E-Line will be simple: in addition to our mail and fax correspondence, we will email individuals committed to contacting their State Legislators immediately. Any current elected or appointed municipal official can register to join. INNOVATIONS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AWARDS -Contact Christina Marchand (617) 495-0557 The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University invites applications for the awards. The Innovations Award is heralded as the premier public-sector award in the nation and is given annually to programs that serve as examples of creative and effective government at its best. Winners will receive grant funds. Applications are due by September 15, 2004. For more information, contact the Ash Institute or go to www.ashinstitute.harvard.edu. ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS -Contact Marybeth Brenner (609) 292-2885 The DEP, League and NJCAT are sponsoring the fifth year of this award program. Applications are due by September 17. Award s will be presented on November 16 during the League Conference. Contact the DEP for more information and an application. Attention Municipal Officials! Make plans to attend the League's consulting period on general municipal topics at the 89th Annual Conference. Thursday, November 18, 2004 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Hall A Atlantic City Convention Center Atlantic City, New Jersey The consulting period provides conference delegates with a chance to get up-to-date information on over 100 topics relevant to municipal administration. Last year, experts answered questions on the following important issues: Budgets and Financial Administration Economic Development Grant/Loan Programs Environmental Protection/Brownfields Emergency Management/Disaster Preparedness And much more………. The consulting forum also gives local officials the convenience of meeting consultants from Trenton and Washington, without having to schedule personal appointments during the year. Take advantage of this long time League service and get new and useful information to help your municipality. League Seminar Implementing the New Business Registration Requirements And Changes to the Municipal Cap Law Tuesday, September 28, 2004 8:30a.m. -1:00p.m. Freehold Gardens Hotel Route 537 and Gibson Place Freehold, New Jersey Registration Fee: Member: $55 Non-Member $110 Implementing the New Business Registration Requirements: This new State law is intended to help state government ensure that all businesses doing business in New Jersey pay, collect and forward sales and use taxes to the State. The law requires local governments to collect a state business registration form from most vendors with whom they do business. This requirement affects finance and purchasing activities, and requires new internal procedures to ensure that routine purchasing and bidding practices meet the requirements of the law and instructions from the Division of Taxation. Representatives from the State Divisions of Taxation and Local Government Services and the Government Purchasing Association of New Jersey will review the requirements of business registration, document filing with municipalities, and implementation strategies. Changes to the Municipal Cap Law As part of Governor McGreevey's Fair and Immediate Relief program for property taxes, the municipal and county government budget cap law was amended. Changes in how the allowable increase in spending affects governments, and changes to exceptions were also made. In this session, Division of Local Government Services staff will explain the changes, and experienced municipal financial leaders will talk about how to manage the impact of the changes. The program agenda and registration form will be mailed to every municipality and will also be available at www.njslom.org in the near future. Mark your calendar and make sure to attend this timely and informative seminar!