FROM TIME TO TIME – A Quarterly Report on the Activities
Of the New Jersey League of Municipalities

October - December, 2006     

We have advocated for municipalities in Trenton by …

We have advocated for municipalities in Washington by …

We have strengthened local leadership capacity by …

We have provided municipal officials with resources for problem solving by …

We have promoted municipal government by …

FROM TIME TO TIME – A Quarterly Report on the Activities Of the New Jersey League of Municipalities October - December, 2006      We have advocated for municipalities in Trenton by … Closely monitoring the hearings of the four special Joint Legislative Committees for Property Tax Reform. Coordinating the work of our Affiliate Groups in assisting the four special Joint Legislative Committees for Property Tax Reform. Presenting League positions on various options recommended by the four special Joint Committees for Property Tax Reform, including: Forced consolidations; Public employee pension and benefit reform; New property tax caps; Local option taxes; Inflationary adjustments to municipal property tax relief funding; The office of the state comptroller; Impact fees; A ban on dual office holding; County assumption of core municipal functions; and A citizens’ convention for property tax reform. Urging reasonable and workable reforms to the use of eminent domain. Supporting a sales tax exemption on local parking and other municipally provided services. Promoting reasonable and modest reforms to the current cap law. Working with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and other stakeholders to promulgate proposed large truck access rules to keep large trucks off local roads whenever possible. Promoting legislative changes to the State Health Benefits Program that would allow municipalities to bring health benefit issues to the bargaining table. We have advocated for municipalities in Washington by … Working to prevent the imposition of new Federal Mandates related to immigration reform. Continuing to work with our State Delegation to protect the Community Development Block Grant program, the Section 8 Housing Voucher program and other programs vital to our constituents and to community and economic development. Cooperating with the National League of Cities (NLC) and other New Jersey and National Associations to educate Members of Congress on the importance of local governments’ authority to manage and collect revenue for the use of their local rights-of-way and the problems that would be created by Federal preemption of those rights in the Telecommunications Act under consideration.   Working with NLC and our Delegation to protect our authority to exercise eminent domain for economic development and to minimize new federal restrictions on the use of eminent domain. Supporting reforms to eliminate the loophole, under the federal railroad act, which allows solid waste facilities to gain exemptions from local and state regulation. We have strengthened local leadership capacity by … Conducting a seminar on Pay-to-Play and other ethics issues on September 19. Conducting a policy summit on The Special Legislative Session for Property Tax Reform on December 12. Publishing and distributing the second edition of “Local Property Taxes and State Government: What Residents and Businesses Should Know.” Cosponsoring and participating in the “2nd Transit Village Symposium,” at Rutgers University, to promote and encourage the fostering of Smart Growth principles. Initiating, with the State’s Department of Health and Senior Services, the “Mayors’ Wellness Campaign,” to combat obesity and promote local opportunities for a more active and healthier lifestyle. Producing the Annual League Conference, the country’s largest conference and gathering of municipal officials including educational sessions, meetings, and exhibits. We have provided municipal officials with resources for problem solving by … Publishing the results of our 2006 Police and Fire Contract Provisions Questionnaires, administered to all 566 municipalities.  Results were published in the form of four informational booklets, and include the 2006 Selected Police Officers Contract Provisions and 2006 Selected Firefighters Contract Provisions booklets, which contain selected contract provisions and salary scales. Publishing the fourteenth edition of the Arbitration Reporter, in December . Renewing our Grant Consultation relationship with Bohse & Associates, Inc. This relationship will include free curb-side consulting to members in 2007.  We will also work with Pat Bohse in obtaining 11-12 new featured articles for the main Grant Resource Center page, and look into providing tele-seminars on grant writing in addition to the half-day educational seminar that we provided in conjunction with Pat last year which we will once again be providing in 2007.  As we have recently obtained the contact information for those working within the State Departments who administer grants, as well as the contact information for many local grant writers from within the municipalities, we will be contacting these people to write the site’s featured articles for 2007.  We will also use these individuals as resources for improving the resource center’s services. Hosting and administering year-round education seminars to help local officials deal with and solve issues and problems at the municipal level. Establishing the Gang Prevention and Youth Violence Task Force, chaired by Mayor Bob Bowser of East Orange, to develop and promote a comprehensive and compassionate approach to the large and growing gang epidemic infecting New Jersey. Mayor Bowser has represented the League at a Press Conference and at a seminar at Princeton University on the problem; and he has led the Task Force in discussions with the Administration that led to Governor Corzine’s new anti-gang initiatives. Made available audio recordings of dozens of educational sessions from the Annual Conference Provided State-wide distribution of copies of  League’s COPE Report which provides comprehensive review of impact of pension and health benefits on local government. Conducted three (3) series seminar on Gang Deterrence as an outgrowth to favorable responses to League’s previous efforts. We have promoted municipal government by … We authorized several op-ed pieces defending the principles of home rule, self-determination and the need for property tax reform.   Multiple pieces ran in the Newark Star-Ledger, the Trenton Times, the Asbury Park Press, the Bergen Record and across the State. Regular Media Alerts to the press, covering every aspect of the tax reform debate in Trenton. Providing the latest updates on the special Property Tax Session on our web site.  Over 1000 pages of testimony, editorials, league letters and position statements on the deliberations of the four committee offers members “One Stop Shopping” convenience on keeping relevant on this timely issue. Posting almost daily updates on the League web site issues ranging from civil unions, holiday displays, guidance on marriage fees and ceremonies for mayors and updates on grants and administrative rules and directives on such mandates as court security.  Represent the league on policy forums conducted by such state wide groups such as New Jersey Future, NJ Chemical Council, New Jersey Business and Industry, Rutgers University, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Association of Counties and The regional Planning Partnership.  During the past quarter the League Director and staff participated in over 30 meetings of this nature. Speaking at 7 county League of Municipalities and Mayors Associations and three League Affiliate Associations, the League Director and staff gave timely updates on abroad range of policy and legislative matters.