Hopewell Township Charter Study Commission gives interim report

Chairman Jim McGuire: "We believe it’s important to find out what problems, if any, we have now before we recommend any changes."

By John Tredrea
   The Charter Study Commission that may recommend a change in Hopewell Township’s form of government presented an interim report at township hall Tuesday night.
   About a dozen residents attended the meeting and raised issues the commission said it will study.
   Among the issues are: whether the township mayor should be elected by the public instead of the Township Committee; whether the committee members should be elected from voting districts instead of the township as a whole, as they are now; and whether the township should switch to nonpartisan elections, which under state law would have to be held in May rather than being part of the November general election, as is the case now.
   Charter Study Commission Chairman Jim McGuire said the commission has been meeting regularly since January and has interviewed 30 present and former township officials, both elected and appointed, in an effort to study the township’s present form of government as thoroughly as possible.
   "We believe it’s important to find out what problems, if any, we have now before we recommend any changes," Mr. McGuire said.
   The commission’s final report is due Aug. 1. If that report recommends a change of government form, that change would have to be approved by the voters before it could it be implemented.
   Currently, the five Township Committee members are elected for three-year terms. At a reorganization meeting in January, the committee elects a mayor and deputy mayor for one-year terms. At Tuesday’s meeting, several residents urged the commission to consider recommending a change in this area.
   "I’m concerned about the continuity of the office of mayor," said longtime township resident Bob Beyer, who for years has been attending at least one township meeting each week. "I’ve seen the frustration of mayors trying to complete their objectives. I think those objectives generally have been well-placed . . . I think it would be better if we had a mayor elected by the people. The mayor could put forth a vision. It would be up to the people to decide if they wanted to embrace that vision."
   Lifelong township resident Sevi DiCocco agreed.
   "Elect a mayor every three or four years," Mr. DiCocco advised. "That way you’d have some continuity. If you have too many changes, nothing gets done."
   Mr. DiCocco also advised instituting voting districts, rather than having all five Township Committee members elected by the township as a whole, as is the case now.
   "I’ve always dreaded the possibility that all five Township Committee members would come from one part of town, from Titusville, Brandon Farms or wherever," he said.
   Mr. McGuire said the township has had 11 mayors during the last 15 years, which he characterized as "frequent turnover." There have been 20 Township Committee members during that same time span, he said.
   Residents Carol Hagar, Norman Goldman and others urged the commission to consider recommending a switch to nonpartisan elections.
   "That might open up the field to independents," said Ms. Hagar, who added that it might also depoliticize, to a significant extent, governmental appointments in the township.
   Kevin Main, chairman of the township Republican organization, said the commission should look into the issues of voter turnout and cost of nonpartisan elections in May.
   Mr. McGuire said that of the 566 municipalities in New Jersey, 145 have the committee form of government now used in Hopewell Township. The township has used this form at least as far back as 1937 and probably much further back, the Charter Commission reported.
   Mr. McGuire said the final phase of the commission’s work, which will begin next week, is to decide whether or not to recommend a change to another form of government.
   "In the final phase, we will deliberate and make a reasoned recommendation," he said.