Members of the Township Committee were given a presentation of how re-codifying township ordinances can allow for residences readily access local regulations.
by James McEvoy, Managing Editor
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — Members of the Township Committee were given a presentation of how re-codifying township ordinances can allow for residences readily access local regulations.
The demonstration was led by Earl Babb of General Code, the company retained by the township, during the Oct. 28 meeting.
Mr. Babb demonstrated several sites, which are hosted by General Code and linked to municipality’s websites.
He told the committee the system, which he described as a “huge time saving tool,” is being utilized by several Garden State communities including Burlington Township, Lacey Township and Patterson.
According a September resolution authorizing a contract with General Code to provide the re-codification services at the cost of $17,900, ordinances have not been codified in Bordentown Township since 2002.
Mr. Babb said there will also be annual costs for online maintenance.
William Kearns, borough attorney, will alsobe paid a $3,500 legal review fee to provide supervision of the codification.
In addition, to providing a municipality’s ordinances, Mr. Babb said the site could be set up to include resolutions, budget documents and agendas and meeting minutes for the committee and land use boards.
In the instances where a local regulation involves applications, such as for a raffle license, the necessary documents can be linked to the legislation they correspond with, he said.
One benefit of the system is that it enables residents to search code by word or phrase, reducing the need to submit Open Public Record requests with the clerk’s office.
Members of the committee were impressed by the system’s applications, but were also a bit taken back when Mr. Babb told them it could take up to two years, depending on the amount of legislation, to implement it due to production schedules and necessary lead-in time.
Part of the process would involve incorporating 12 years of township code into a manuscript, which Mr. Babb said would have to be reviewed by township counsel.
The review process can take up to 120 working days, he added.
Officials noted ordinances could be scanned and placed online in the meantime for residents’ convenience.