WEST WINDSOR The West Windsor government will be increasing its transparency and communication efforts, thanks to an initiative petition ordinance that was signed by more than 500 residents.
The Township Council unanimously adopted the ordinance, which requires the mayor to respond faster and more directly to requests for information regarding township matters.
The mayor now has a 30-day time limit to provide a written response, either in writing or by email, to council members seeking information. The intent of the time limit is to ensure council members have all the necessary reports to make more informed decisions and votes. Council members have the ability to grant extensions upon request.
Both parties must provide copies of their communication to the other council members and the township clerk.
The ordinance serves to clarify mayoral and council responsibilities in a current state law, which does not define a time frame or a method of conveyance regarding the exchange of information.
The amendment went into immediate effect after the adoption, eliminating the need for a voter referendum in November.
Township Attorney Michael Herbert said the resolution contains erroneous language that implies the initiative would still be on the November election ballot, but would be amended Aug. 6 to accurately reflect the council’s decision.
The petition was submitted to the township clerk on July 3 and slated for a public hearing and mandatory council action at the July 23 meeting.
During the public hearing, several residents stepped up to the podium to voice their support of the amendment. A few brought up disputes between former council member Charles Morgan and Mayor Shing Fu-Hsueh, which is thought to have sparked the initiative petition.
Mr. Morgan filed two separate lawsuits beginning in 2010, both alleging the mayor did not promptly provide him with written information he had requested while he served on the council. After Mr. Morgan’s first lawsuit was dismissed, he filed two appeals which the state Supreme Court dismissed.
Mr. Morgan’s latest litigation was recently dismissed by the Superior Court on grounds that it had no legal basis and that he was abusing the system by filing a separate lawsuit that alleged the same complaints in the first litigation.
”I expect its passage will reduce the chances of subpoenas and lawsuits that drain resources from the mayor and council alike,” said resident Jim Solloway, who was one of the petitioners.
Resident Virginia Manzari thought that clarifying the law was “just plain common sense.”
”It makes sense to people that if the council members need to do their job, the mayor should provide enough time to let them do their job,” said Ms. Manzari. “In this day and age, there is no excuse not to deliver information in 30 days.”
Resident Al Lerner suggested adding a time space between information requests to prevent the administration from being bombarded.
”You can’t have all five council members dumping questions on the mayor at the same time,” said Mr. Lerner. “There should be time spacing written in the language so the administration’s efforts won’t be frozen by time consumption and the expense of overtime.”
The council appeared to need no convincing, with all members in favor of the ordinance and its intent to create more transparency.
Mayor Hsueh also agreed with the ordinance and emphasized his availability to both the council and the public whether by phone or personal visits to the town hall.

