Charter study report filed for public review

The document includes summaries of nearly nine months of interviews, discussions and arguments.

By: Audrey Levine
   Residents can learn more about the Charter Study Commission’s recommendation for a mayor-council form of government, after commissioners filed a final report with the township clerk’s office Friday.
   The report, which can be viewed online at www.hillsborough-charterstudy.com, includes summaries of the almost nine months of interviews, discussions — and at times, heated arguments — held by the commission.
   "There are differing opinions that are still being worked on," said Chris Jensen, chairman of the commission. "We took time to come to a common ground."
   The commission began its work in November, after voters approved a ballot question placed by the Township Committee after a 2005 ballot initiative failed to directly change to a mayor-council form of government with wards.
   The commission members interviewed experts in New Jersey municipal government, such as Dr. Ernest Reock of Rutgers University’s Center for Government Studies, as well as elected officials from Hillsborough and other towns.
   The commission members voted last month to recommend a mayor-council government, which would include a mayor elected at-large, five elected council members and a full-time business administrator. According to the report, the new government gives the council legislative power and the mayor strong executive power.
   In addition, the report outlines suggestions for ways in which the commission believes the township can cut costs for residents and improve Hillsborough overall. According to the report, such measures as eliminating health, medical and pension benefits for part-time and contract employees could help the township.
   "We were charged with looking at the way the overall government is run," Mr. Jensen said. "These are ways we think the township can cut taxes and be more accountable to the people."
   The report also suggests the elimination of engineering consultants by hiring a full-time township engineer and staff.
   The recommendation will be placed on the ballot in November. If approved, the new government would replace the current five-member township committee form of government on Jan. 1, 2009.
   The report provides a detailed account of the process the commissioners followed in order to outline their reasons for suggesting the new form of government and its benefits for the community over the current township committee.
   Mr. Jensen said the commission met with representatives from other local towns to discuss their forms of government and how they have performed in other communities.
   "It took longer to schedule those meetings than we thought it would," he said. "But from them, we were very impressed with the West Windsor mayor-council form of government."
   Mr. Jensen said that, although the final report has been turned in, there are still minor amendments that will be made before the election in November. He said Commissioner Gloria McCauley, who voted to recommend a special charter for the township instead of one of the established forms of government, filed a separate report that could become a subset of the main piece.
   In addition to any amendments, Mr. Jensen said the commission is planning to release an informational newsletter to the public, explaining the decisions made throughout the months since the commission was appointed. He said education is a large part of the commission’s job, and the newsletter will explain the differences in the forms of government, as well as other ideas, in order to allow the voters to be informed for the elections.
   Mr. Jensen said many rumors have been circulating throughout the town, based on what people believe they know about the current government.
   "People have been unaware and confused about certain topics," he said. For example, he said one rumor he’s heard claims all municipal employees would be fired if the charter recommendation is passed, which in not true.
   Mr. Jensen said he is unsure whether the commission will choose to make the newsletter a more condensed version of the final report, or if it will instead provide explanations about certain decisions and recommendations. Overall, though, he said he hopes it can clear up any misconceptions.
   "The newsletter will be designed to explain the decisions we made and our reasons for them," he said.
   The report can be accessed by the public at the municipal building or online at www.hillsborough-charterstudy.com.