September 14, 2018

I. State Issues
II. Federal Issue
III. League Conference
IV. Also of Interest

Municipal Clerks: Please forward to Mayor, Governing Body and Department Heads.

I. State Issues

a. Cannabis/Marijuana Legalization and the Local Option Tax

Please see the important alert and update on the status of legislation to legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana: League's September 12 Alert.

Contacts: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njslom.org, 609-695-3481 x120.

b. State AG Creates New Unit; Seeking to Strengthen Public Confidence
in Government and Justice System

On Monday, NJ Attorney General Grewal announced the creation of a special unit within the Office of Attorney General to combat corruption and strengthen public confidence in government institutions. The new unit, called the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (“OPIA”) will be led by Thomas J. Eicher, a longtime federal prosecutor who has experience with complex corruption investigations and has obtained numerous convictions of unscrupulous public officials.

According to the AG’s press release, “OPIA will investigate and prosecute criminal abuses of the public trust and handle other sensitive matters that implicate the public’s confidence in both governments and the criminal justices system….” This includes matters involving federal, state, or local officials, allegations of civil rights violations involving law enforcement officers and agencies, internal affairs investigations, and wrongful conviction claims. To ensure the independence of the investigations, the OPIA will report directly to the AG, outside the normal reporting chain of the Division of Criminal Justice.

Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, FMarshall@njslom.org, 609-695-3481 x137.

II. Federal Issue

a. Federal Lawmakers Seek to Make SALT Deduction Cap Permanent

Earlier this week, Federal lawmakers introduced a series of bills which seek to make permanent certain revisions made last year to the tax code. Among those provisions sought to be made permanent is the controversial, $10,000 cap placed on the deduction of state and local taxes (“SALT”). Without the proposed legislation, the cap would expire in 2025.

The move to make the SALT cap permanent comes only weeks after the IRS issued proposed regulations limiting the effectiveness of workarounds many states, including New Jersey, have created to reduce the negative impact of the SALT cap.

The League is monitoring the progress of the Federal bills and other issues regarding the SALT cap, and will update our members on any progress.

Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, FMarshall@njslom.org, 609-695-3481 x137.

III. League Conference

a. Unauthorized Hospitality Functions

The 103^rd Annual League Conference will soon be upon us and we know you are looking forward to a productive and educational week.

Numerous exhibitors and groups have scheduled receptions and hospitality functions during the evening hours in Atlantic City. However each year there are a few commercial entities that schedule hospitality function such as brunches and lunches which conflict with the Conference programming. These unauthorized functions should not be confused with legitimate business luncheons sponsored by our affiliated associations and their members. The League urges you not to attend daytime hospitality functions offered by commercial firms.

Instead, plan your daytime activities so you can derive the greatest educational benefit from attending the League Conference. League Education sessions begin at 9:00 AM, break at noon when there are informative Exhibitor Learning Sessions, resume at 2:00 and finally adjourn at 5:15.

As always, the League is available to answer your questions on any aspect of the annual conference and we strive to make your participation both enjoyable and highly productive.

Contact: Michael J. Darcy, CAE, Executive Director, mdarcy@njslom.org, 609-695-3481 x116.

b. Exhibits at the Annual Conference

Do you know a vendor that would be a good fit for the Annual Conference? If so, ask them about being an exhibitor or have them contact Kristin Lawrence, Exhibit Manager at 609-695-3481 x125 or klawrence@njslom.org. Information is also available on our website.

c. Don’t Forget! CEU Tracking System Procedures for 103^rd Annual NJLM
Conference

Badge Scanners will be used to track CEU Credits and Attendance at the NJLM 103^rd Annual Conference.

For Sessions that Have CEU credit Available

• All Attendees looking to earn credit must scan-in and scan-out of these qualifying sessions* to earn their CEU credits.
• Attendees will claim their certificates after the conference via the League website www.njslom.org/confceu/

For more information or for a complete list of procedures please visit the Conference Website.

* Please note, the procedures described above only apply to educational sessions. Business Meetings and Exhibitor Learning Sessions are not included in the scanning system.

IV. Also of Interest

a. The League is Now Accepting Applications for the Innovation in
Governance Program!

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the New Jersey League of Municipalities will again acknowledge and promote Innovation in Governance through our annual recognition program. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase innovative solutions to any problems that have cropped up – either suddenly or over time – in your municipality. It can also be an opportunity to let your peers in on innovations that prevented problems from even arising.

Visit our awards page to see previous years of impressive ideas created by our winning municipalities as well as the full invitation and application to this year’s program.

Contact: Ciara Bradley, Legislative Administrator, CBradley@njslom.org, 609-695-3481 x128.

b. NJ Watershed Institute Hosting Free Stormwater Utilities Conference

On June 21, 2018, the New Jersey Senate approved legislation authorizing the creation of Stormwater Utilities. This fall, the Assembly will consider the bill and, if approved, will send it to the governor for his signature. New Jersey would then become the 42nd state in the nation to permit this important tool for addressing flooding and polluted runoff. But what does this all mean?

Join the Watershed Institute with NJSpotlight for a free Stormwater Utility Conference on September 26, 2018, to learn the nuts-and-bolts. Panelists include Stormwater Utility Operators from the Philadelphia Water Department and the Public Works and Water Resources Department, City of Newark DE, along with consultants that help communities set up stormwater utilities.

While the event is free, registration is required. For registration, and more information, please see the Watershed Institute’s website.

c. Attorney General 21/21 Community Policing Project

The Attorney General has asked the 21 County Prosecutors to organize quarterly public events to discuss issues relevant to community policing in the 21st century (the “21/21 Community Policing Project”). The goal of the project is to strengthen relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve – and to address areas of concern before conflicts arise. Starting in spring 2018, each of the County Prosecutors will be responsible for organizing one meeting each on the following topics:

Spring 2018 (Apr-Jun) – Investigations of Officer-Involved Shootings
Summer 2018 (Jun-Aug) – Opioids
Fall 2018 (Sep-Nov) – Immigration Enforcement
Winter 2018-19 (Dec-Feb) – Bias Crimes

The events will include presentations and/or discussions on the quarterly topic. For a listing of scheduled public events contact your county prosecutor or visit the 21/21 Community Policing Project site.

d. Application for 2018 Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards
Available

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is accepting applications for the 2018 Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards (GEEA). The Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards Program is New Jersey's premier awards program for recognizing outstanding environmental performance, programs, and projects throughout the state. These awards recognize individuals, businesses, institutions, communities, organizations, educators, youth and others who have made significant contributions to environmental protection in New Jersey. Since the awards program was established in 2000, 170 winners have been recognized. Nominations can be submitted for seven different categories. In addition, the category for "Environmental Education" has been divided into two awards: one for adult-led educational initiatives and one for projects that are student-led or have succeeded due to a high level of student involvement.

The GEEA Program is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust and the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology, in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Award winners will be honored at a ceremony in December, to be held in Trenton. The 2018 application and other awards information is available at the DEP website. Completed applications must be received at DEP by October 5.

Questions – Contact Tanya Oznowich at DEP (609) 984-9802 or Tanya.Oznowich@dep.nj.gov

e. Brownfields Reuse Workshop

The NJ Brownfields Interagency Working Group is hosting an “Accelerate Land Reuse for Community Revitalization” workshop to address questions around legal liability, regulatory issues, funding resources, assessment/remediation, and community engagement to spur redevelopment of these properties.

Panels will feature NJEDA, IBank, NJDEP and USEPA. There will also be an opportunity to meet individually with panelists and over a dozen additional state and federal agencies during Office Hour Consultations. Lunch will be served.

The workshop is free but registration is required. Attend October 9th at the Middlesex Fire Academy in Sayreville OR October 18th at the Kroc Center in Camden. Come meet with the experts you need to move your redevelopment projects. Register today at the center for creative land recycling website.

Register for the Sayreville workshop.

Register for the Camden workshop.

For questions contact the center for creative land recycling 646-712-0535.