GUEST COLUMN
By the Charter Commission
Voters of Hopewell Township face a historic choice next week. Voters must decide whether to change the township’s 200-year-old committee form of government to the mayor-council-administrator form.
Last year, township voters decisively voted in favor of a charter study commission which was charged by law to study the current form of government in Hopewell Township, compare it with other available forms under New Jersey law, and determine whether the municipal government could be strengthened, made more clearly responsive or accountable to the people, or whether its operation could be more economical or efficient under a changed form of government.
The voters also elected the five of us: Bill Cane, Janet Crum, Jon Edwards, Jim McGuire, and Patricia Tieman to serve on the charter study commission and report back to the voters. After nearly a year of hard work, the charter study commission unanimously recommended the mayor-council-administrator form to replace the township’s 200-year-old committee form of government. That recommendation was recently endorsed by 10 former mayors of Hopewell Township. (See HVN, Oct. 27 letters to editor.)
We five elected charter study commissioners agree that the mayor-council-administrator form is the best fit for Hopewell Township for the following reasons:
1. Voters will be able to elect their mayor. Under the current committee form, the mayor is elected by a majority vote of three members of township committee. The more than 11,000 registered voters have no say as to who will serve as mayor. We believe that enfranchising 11,000 voters with the right to elect their mayor will make township government more responsive to the voters. There is nothing radical or risky in empowering voters to elect their local officials. As one citizen commented at the charter commission’s public forum last week: "I can vote for the president of the United States for a four-year term, the governor of the state of New Jersey for a four-year term, the county executive of Mercer County for a four year term, but cannot vote for mayor of Hopewell Township." This change gives voters the fundamental right to elect their mayor and hold that person accountable.
2. The mayor-council-administrator form will strengthen township government and provide important checks and balances. The mayor will serve as the chief executive officer, the administrator will serve as chief operating officer, and together they would represent the executive branch of government. The council will function as the board of directors and have legislative powers. There are important checks and balances:
The mayor nominates key appointed officials and department heads but the council must confirm.
The mayor presides at council meetings but does not vote except to break a tie.
The mayor has veto power but the council can override with a two-thirds vote.
The council, working together with the administrator and treasurer, prepares the budget.
The administrator is appointed by the mayor, but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of council. Accordingly, the administrator must be accountable to both mayor and council.
The mayor-council-administrator form is designed to maximize cooperation.
3. The mayor-council-administrator form will increase economy and efficiency of township government.
This form limits the number of departments to six. Accordingly, the township’s current 14 departments must be reorganized and consolidated into six departments, thereby creating an opportunity for savings and more efficient operations.
The four-year term for mayor provides for continuity and enables the mayor to plan a four-year agenda instead of a one-year agenda. This four-year term will enable the township to avoid the cost of annual change whereby each incoming mayor can, and often does, appoint a different set of professionals such as attorney and administrator. There have been 11 different mayors in the past 15 years, eight in the last 10, more than any municipality in Mercer County. This "mayor-for-a-year" approach imposes significant costs and lost productivity by having a transition every year.
4. The charter commission’s unanimous recommendation is endorsed by 10 former township mayors spanning more than 20 years of service. According to Professor Ernest Reock of Rutgers University, incumbent governing bodies universally oppose charter change. The reason is simple, they have a vested interest in the status quo and charter change will require them to run again. We are pleased that Deputy Mayor Mark Iorio has joined with the 10 former township mayors in supporting the recommended charter change.
We five elected charter study commissioners believe that the mayor-council-administrator is the right fit for Hopewell Township. It will make township government more responsive and accountable. It is designed to minimize conflict and maximize cooperation. It will avoid the cost of annual change and provide the opportunity for more efficient and cost-effective operations. We urge township voters to support the charter commission’s unanimous recommendation and vote yes for the mayor-council-administrator form.
Bill Cane, Janet Crum, Jon Edwards, Jim McGuire and Patricia Tieman are members of the Hopewell Township Charter Study Commission.

