MAYOR'S NEWSLINE

August 2006

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 Conference Highlights Join League Legislative E-Line COAH seminars League Membership Plaque League Certificates for Dedicated Service

FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Herbert Stiles, Mayor, Elmer

For years, the League has been a proponent of educating and assisting municipal officials with their local concerns, issues and problems. A main charge of the League is to help elected and appointed officials do a better job of governing at the local level. We continue to strive to do just that with our various informational seminars, summits, and conference sessions. These important programs target current and key topics and get up-to-date information out to officials to help them better understand issues and solve problems.

Recently, the League teamed with the NJ State Police, State Parole Board, NJ School Boards and Education Associations, State Association of Chiefs of Police to find ways to address the ongoing and increasing menace of local street gangs. These gangs are not just limited to urban and city areas, but can be found throughout New Jersey today. Out of state gangs are now known to be recruiting members here and are forming affiliate gangs in New Jersey. These gangs have become more sophisticated in organized crime and violence. Criminal gang activities affect our communities, strain law enforcement resources, and are a danger to our citizens, schools, and especially our youth.

The League is sponsoring seminars to address this issue at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville. The first session on September 13 will focus on law enforcement, while the second program on October 4 will address the human and community factors. Please make plans to attend both sessions for tools and programs to deter gangs. Please visit www.njslom.org to register.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

91st ANNUAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
-Contact www.njslom.org

The League web site has housing and session schedule information available to view and download.

Click on www.njslom.org and go to the link for 91st Annual Conference to get housing forms and a preliminary schedule of topics that will be covered in League sessions. You can also view an early list of exhibitors. Prepare a "must visit" list of vendors.

When scheduling your time at the Annual Conference, don't forget to attend the Consulting Period on Thursday, November 16, from 2-4 p.m. where you can speak one-on-one with hundreds of consultants and State agency representatives. Also, be sure to schedule the League Business Meeting on Friday at 8:30 a.m. in the Sheraton Hotel.

JOIN LEAGUE LEGISLATIVE E-LINE
-Contact Mike Cerra ext.20

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.

LEAGUE SEEKS TO RECOGNIZE LOCAL OFFICALS FOR LONG TERM DEDICATED SERVICE
-Contact Bill Dressel ext. 22

The League of Municipalities would like the opportunity to honor municipal officials who are retiring and those with outstanding and dedicated service. The League will provide a certificate of appreciation in person or give it to your mayor or another official for presentation to the honoree. Please let us know who these individuals are so the League can recognize officials with exceptional records of service to local government.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT WEBMASTERS CONFERENCE
-Contact www.nagw.org

Join this growing network of web professionals September 27-29, 2006 in Reno, Nevada. Visit the above web site for more details on the Conference.

DISPLAY YOUR LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP PLAQUE
-Contact Becky Wright ext. 10

Every member municipality receives a League membership plaque for display in your municipal building. The plaque may have been lost, damaged or broken over time. If yours is missing, the League will gladly replace it. The blue and white member plaque shows that you are a member of the oldest and largest organization dedicated to serving the interests of New Jersey's municipal governing bodies. Let your fellow municipal officials and employees know that your town is not alone in the fight for good government. Just send a note to the League office and we will rush a replacement to your municipal building. Let everyone know your municipality is a member of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.

ALARM FEES AND FALSE ALARM PENALTIES PUBLICATION
-Contact Becky Wright ext. 10

The League recently published this updated booklet for 2006. The publication lists alarm fees and false alarm penalties for over 314 of New Jersey's municipalities, and provides statewide averages and medians. The cost is only $16 to local officials. Get a copy for your municipality today by contacting the League office!

TECHNICAL SEMINARS ON COAH THIRD ROUND RULES
-Contact Larissa DeGraw (609) 633-9575

COAH will be hosting three technical seminars throughout New Jersey to educate municipal officials, professional planners and attorneys responsible for preparing third round Housing Elements and Fair Share Plans. Topics to be covered include: growth share methodology; projecting municipal growth share obligation; developing a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan; and required elements of a petition for substantive certification. The seminars will be held on August 24 in Lyndhurst, September 14 in Flemington and September 19 in Mount Holly. There is no cost to attend, but all registrations must be received by August 16. Contact COAH for more details and to register.

HARVARD INNOVATIONS AWARD
-Contact www.innovationsaward.harvard.edu

Harvard University invites applicants for an Innovations in American Government Award. Applications are due by September 12.