Citizens and elected officials learned how they can begin consolidation efforts in their communities during the recent forum in East Brunswick. EAST BRUNSWICK — Citizens and elected officials from all over the state attended a forum here on March 28 to discuss ways to make local government more efficient through municipal consolidation.
The event updated participants on the growing number of citizens forming municipal consolidation committees following the 2007 Municipal Consolidation Law. Gina Genovese and attorney Andrew Bruck, leaders of Courage to Connect New Jersey, a nonprofit organization that promotes consolidation, led the discussion.
A portion of the four-hour program focused on what is happening in Merchantville and Cherry Hill, where the towns are working to come together. A second panel focused on the consolidation of the Princetons, now under way.
“Courage to Connect New Jersey is already in its third year, and has met with so many fabulous people from all over the state who want more efficient municipal government,” Genovese said. “Municipal consolidation is a unifying issue, with Republicans, Democrats and others coming together, willing to do what it takes to make New Jersey a more affordable place for us all to live.”
A key speaker was Thomas Neff, director of the state Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Local Government Services. He said the state agency had 120 staff members at one point, but now the work is being done by only 40 people. That is why, he said, it is so important for citizens to get involved in iden- tifying cost savings at the local government level.
“It is important to have groups like this willing to step up to the plate to help educate people about what they can do to bring local efficiencies to government,” said Neff, adding that the state can serve as a resource with experts in local government administration. However, he said, the state does not have the funds at the moment to pay for municipal consolidation studies.
Neff said his office is about to unveil a user-friendly website that includes the municipal budgets of all towns in the state. There will also be summaries in which residents can compare how much neighboring towns spend for specific services and identify cost-saving ways to share services or consolidate.
The panel focusing on the potential merger of Cherry Hill and Merchantville highlighted the many reasons why Merchantville initiated the discussion. The group talked about how the Merchantvillemunicipal budget is consumed by police services in the half-mile town, while such work could easily be done through the Cherry Hill Police Department. The panel also shared stories about inefficiencies in small towns, such as when a tree fell in the road after the October storm, but there was no Department of Public Works crew available to remove it for five days.
The Princeton panel offered a perspective about residents from both communities getting together and launching an education campaign. Sixty public meetings were scheduled in the months before Election Day 2011, as well as numerous other tactics, to encourage people to vote for consolidation. The campaign was successful; 85 percent of the voters in the township and 63 percent on the voters in the borough approved a ballot question.
The event included technical assistance to help residents begin consolidation efforts in their communities. For more information, visit the website www.CouragetoConnectNJ. org.