LUARC Commission
Notes – June 26, 2008
Flag salute.
Roll Call was read:
Members Present: John H.
Fisher, III (Chair), Joseph V. Doria, Jr., Marvin Reed, Robert F. Casey, Gary
Passanante, Steven M. Cozza, Hannah Shostack (for Treasurer David Rousseau),
Jane Kenny
Sunshine Notice was read by
the Secretary.
Minutes of last meeting
approved unanimously.
Presentation by Bill Dressel, Executive Director, New
Jersey State League of Municipalities
NJSLM founded in 1915 to
represent the interests of New Jersey’s municipalities and protect home rule.
League supports interlocal
services and cooperative agreements.
League champions interlocal services and efficiency.
League not opposed to
regionalization or consolidation. It
should be voluntary and done at the local level. Local residents must have a voice and vote on subject. League opposes penalties for voting “no” on
consolidation.
Cost drivers of municipal
government expenditures: 1) Police and fire arbitration; 2) Cuts in State Aid
to small municipalities.
No certain economies of
scale to consolidation. There are
intangible factors that affect provision of local services – how do you measure
value? There are no standards for
measuring efficiency.
There should be no
mandatory consolidation of municipalities; there should be an “escape clause”
that lets targeted municipalities opt out.
Marvin Reed asked:
1)
Did the League do a
research study of municipal cost figures and determine cost per capita
figures? Bill Dressel will provide
figures.
2)
Does the League have a
list of unfunded State mandates upon municipalities? The League will get a list to the Commission.
3)
Does the League have any
cost information on consultant services?
4)
How many small towns are
complying with COAH?
Hannah
Shostack asked:
What
is the League’s role in pushing “best practices”? League provides advice and counsel to municipalities and
advertises offers to share services.
Robert
Casey asked:
What
is League position on municipalities combining to achieve a particular
population base for Priority Health Act funding? Regional combining of population figures is a viable option to
comply and meet population thresholds.
Presentation by Richard Knight,
Executive Director, New Jersey Conference of Mayors
NJCM
founded in 1963 to represent New Jersey’s mayors.
NJCM
wants to work with the LUARC Commission to achieve economies of scale and lower
taxes.
Stressed
the importance of home rule; there should be no forced consolidations. The Commission must be sensitive to the
financial impact of recommendations and provide a statement of these financial
impacts.
Marvin
Reed asked the same four questions as above of NJCM.
Steven
Cozza asked: Can the LUARC meetings be held around New Jersey?
Gary
Passanante asked: Can NJCM put together a list of unfunded State mandates upon
municipalities?
Marvin
Reed commented that there seems to be a high cost per capita in both small
municipalities and large cities – a cost problem at both the high and low ends
of the population scale. Richard Knight
said that small municipalities are very efficient and that consolidation does
not guarantee lower costs.
Joseph
Doria commented that costs per capita are slippery and deceptive.
Gary
Passanante commented that consolidation affects more HOW services are
delivered.
Presentation by Nick DiRocco,
Legislative Liaison, New Jersey Association of Counties
Founded
in 1921 and has long advocated shared services. NJAC has held conferences and workshops promoting shared
services. NJAC wants to partner with
the LUARC Commission. Shared services
can deliver significant cost savings and enhanced service levels. Unfunded State mandates have worked against
efficient delivery of local services.
Marvin
Reed commented that the county is the least transparent level of government in
New Jersey. How can we assure people
that the county will be more transparent and accessible? Are county efforts duplicative of municipal
services? Is county provision of
services necessarily more cost efficient?
Gary
Passanante asked: How are counties driving idea of breaking down artificial
barriers between counties? Boundaries
are less robust at county level as opposed to the municipal level.
Presentation by the New Jersey Fire
District Association; four presenters: Roger Potts; Richard Braslow, Esq.,
NJFDA Attorney; Jake Genovay, Dr. Harry Carter.
NJFDA
founded in 1969 to promote awareness and compliance with State rules and
regulations. There are now 186 fire
districts; they are most like a public school board. There are 745 fire departments in New Jersey. Fire districts provide important services at
bargain prices.
Richard
Braslow stated that the NJFDA analyzes and proposes legislation, rules and
regulations. Fire districts were
created to guarantee fire companies adequate funding. Fire district commissioners are not political; are interested
only in good, efficient fire service provision. Many fire districts already engage in shared services. Fire districts provide another “intangible”
service.
Gary
Passanante asked about duplication of fire apparatus and fire district’s role
in municipal ISO rating.
Robert
Casey asked how to get fire companies to purchase fire equipment on a
cooperative, regional basis.
Joseph
Doria asked why can’t all fire districts in a municipality be consolidated into
one fire district; what is the logical reason for multiple fire districts? Harry Carter replied that many volunteers
will walk away if the local fire district is merged into one, big municipal
fire district.
Hannah
Shostack asked: Since a fire district election will get a two percent voter
turnout, why should fire districts be continued?
Marvin
Reed asked for a list of fire districts and what municipalities they are in.
Presentation by Maria Sirimis and Thomas
Foley, President, New Jersey Shared Services Association
NJSSA
was founded in March, 2008; 17 counties are active. NJSSA looks to establish long term shared service agreements. Members counties and are recipients of DCA
SHARE program COUNT grants.
Marvin
Reed commented that there are three “big ticket” municipal services: police,
fire, and public works; all tend to be opposed to consolidation and shared
services.
Jack
Fisher made a motion to go into closed session, which was Moved by Commissioner
Doria and Seconded by Ms. Kenny. Passed
unanimously.
Jack
Fisher made a motion to reconvene into open session, which was Moved by
Commissioner Doria and Seconded by Ms. Shostack. Passed unanimously.
Mr.
Fisher asked if there was any other business which the Commission would like to
discuss. Since no other business, the
meeting adjourned.