April 17, 2020
I. State Issues
II. Federal Issues
III. Annual League Conference
IV. Also of Interest
Municipal Clerks: Please forward to your Mayor, Governing Body and Department Heads.
To assist in providing guidance and information we have created a COVID-19 resource page. We will continue to update the page as we get pertinent information and include announcements in our Daily Updates.
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We know that you are taking extraordinary steps to protect your first responders, prioritize the needs of health care workers, support local businesses, and keep your residents healthy and safe. We respect the tough decisions you are making every day. And we thank you all for all you are doing. Your League staff is here and we are ready to help you in any way we can. Please call or e-mail us if you have any questions or concerns. Also, if you’ve found a special way to serve your citizens or your workers, to keep them informed, or to boost their morale, please let us know. We’re always happy to share your innovations and accomplishments with your colleagues, around our State. Again, we thank you.
I. State Issues
a. COVID-19 Update
Yesterday the Governor announced that there were 4,391 additional positive results since the day before, and 362 deaths attributed to COVID-19. That brings the statewide totals to 75,317 positive results and 3,518 COVID-19 related deaths.
The Governor also announced that at the “very least schools will be closed until Friday, May 15, 2020.”
Since last Friday, the Governor has also issued the following Executive Orders:
Executive Order 124 Executive Order to Establish a Process to Grant Temporary Reprieve to Certain At-Risk Inmates.
Executive Order 125 to Implement Additional Mitigation Requirements on NJ TRANSIT, Private Carriers, and Restaurants to Limit the Spread of COVID-19.
Executive Order 126 Prohibiting Cable and Telecommunications Providers from Terminating Internet and Voice Service.
Executive Order 127 postponing deadlines to act on rule proposals and expirations of currently existing rules until 90 days after the current public health emergency has ended.
On Thursday the Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) issued two guidance documents:
Supplemental Emergency Procurement Guidance
Local Operational Guidance- COVID-19: Guidance to Facilitate Continuity of Operations
New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) has suspended rent increases at all eligible properties (36,000 rental units) within the Agency's portfolio until the termination of Executive Order 103. Thereafter, eligible properties, within HMFA, must provide 30 day notice to the residents and HMFA for rent increases of up to 1.4%. Any request in excess of this amount must first be reviewed and approved by NJHMFA staff.
Homeowners and renters whose ability to pay their mortgage or rent has been impacted by COVID-19 can now seek housing counseling to help prevent possible eviction or foreclosure. These services are available at no cost to the consumer. For more details on the program please visit www.njhousing.gov/foreclosure
The League is advised that there be further guidance on the May 12 election forthcoming.
In light of the current pandemic, we remind you NJ Mental Health Cares, the state’s behavioral health information and referral service, offers assistance to people dealing with anxiety and worry related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Residents can call 1-866-202-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support. NJ Mental Health Cares will be answered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week by live trained specialists.
In case you missed it:
See the League COVID-19 page for all our resources and communications.
Contact: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x120.
b. Bills Signed into Law
Earlier this week both Houses of the State Legislature met virtually and sent a number of bills to the Governor. The Governor took action a number of these bills.
Please see the League’s April 17 Town Crier blog post for a breakdown of these new laws.
Contact: Jon Moran, Senior Legislative Analyst, jmoran@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x121.
c. ABC Extends Term of Retail Licenses in Light of COVID-19
Earlier this week, Acting Director James Graziano of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (Division) issued an Order extending the term of the 2019-2020 retail consumption and distribution license. The Order extends both municipally-issued and state issued licenses set to expire in on June 30, to September 30, 2020.
The Order also provides guidelines on the procedures necessary for a licensee to renew their license by the new September 30, 2020 deadline. For municipally-issued retail licenses, in order to renew, every licensee must take the following steps:
1. File a renewal application with the Division;
2. Pay State filing fee;
3. Pay municipal filing fee to the issuing authority; and
4. Obtain an Alcoholic Beverage Retail License Certificate Renewal from
the Division of Taxation.
The municipal issuing authority must then adopt a resolution renewing the license for the 2020-2021 license term. If a licensee is not renewed by municipal resolution on or before September 30, 2020, that licensee must cease the sale and service of alcoholic beverages, unless the licensee obtains an ad interim permit issued by the Division effective October 1, 2020, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:2-2.10.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.
d. League Officers Urge State Leaders to Remember Local Budgets
Yesterday, your League Officers – President Jim Perry, Committeeman, Hardwick; First Vice President Janice Kovach, Mayor, Clinton; Second Vice President Bill Chegwidden, Mayor, Wharton; and Third Vice President Sue Howard, Mayor, Monmouth Beach – delivered a letter to State Leadership explaining the importance of timely action on municipal property tax relief. The letter to Governor Murphy, Senate President Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Coughlin, and State Treasurer Muoio addressed the need to provide local Mayors with favorable and timely consideration of Energy Tax/CMPTRA distributions.
With the extension of the State’s current Fiscal Year through September, a Supplemental Appropriations bill dealing with the August 1 ETR/CMPTRA distribution will need to be enacted.
The letter urged State leaders to …
‘ … consider the impact that any changes to the ETR/CMPTRA distribution schedule could have on municipal cash flow. We appreciate the cash flow problems that face the State. And we hope that funding from Washington will help you to address the impact of those problems on the State’s budget. Please consider the impact that delayed distributions would have on local budgets.
‘While municipalities continue to deliver vital services to the people of New Jersey, it is only a matter of time before the virus has an impact on property tax collection rates. And, as municipal government collects property taxes on behalf of schools and counties, and must provide those entities with 100 percent of their levies, the lack of non-property tax resources and reduced collection rates will only serve to erode local services and could well necessitate staff reductions. Survey data released this week from NLC [National League of Cities] and USCOM [US Conference of Mayors] indicates local leaders in 1,000 municipalities said the reductions probably would affect their local police departments and other public safety agencies.’
Please talk to your State Legislators about this. Urge them to support timely action on the August ETR/CMPTRA distribution.
Contact: Jon Moran, Senior Legislative Analyst, jmoran@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x121.
II. Federal Issues
a. Congress Considers Aid to Hard-Pressed Local Governments
Legislation has been introduced in both Houses of Congress to provide COVID-19 impact assistance to all New Jersey municipalities. League Officers have sent letters and e-mails to all the Members of our New Jersey Congressional Delegation, urging them to assist in our efforts to secure aid for New Jersey municipalities. We appreciate their response.
New Jersey’s Tom Malinowski, along with three colleagues, has introduced H.R. 6467, the ‘Coronavirus Community Relief Act’ (CCRA). This bill will allocate $250 Billion in emergency funding to communities with populations under 500,000. Those communities, which include every New Jersey municipality, were excluded from direct stabilization aid in the ‘Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act’ (the CARES Act). New Jersey Representatives Josh Gottheimer, Mikie Sherrill, and Albio Sires have joined over 100 of their colleagues as cosponsors.
This week, Senator Cory Booker and 11 other Members of the Upper House have introduced a companion bill.
Please take the time to thank Senator Booker and Representatives Malinowski, Gottheimer, Sherrill, and Sires for working on behalf of local officials, local public employees, and local taxpayers in these extraordinary times. And if your Congress Member has not yet agreed to cosponsor the bill, please urge them to do so. In particular, given the need to demonstrate bipartisan support for local governments, if you are represented by Congressman Smith or Congressman VanDrew, please let them know that we need them to sign on to H.R. 6467.
The Members of your League Executive Board have been phoning their Representatives. Please add your voices to theirs.
The bill would divide the $250 Billion among the States, based on each State’s share of total National population. It would, then, subdivide each State’s share among all units of local government, also proportionally, based on population. Any funds that cannot be used, for the purposes set forth in the act by an individual local government, could be transferred to another local government.
The CCRA funding could be used to address extraordinary local costs, incurred in response to COVID-19. These costs would include deploying timely public service announcements to keep your citizens informed, rapidly activating emergency operations, readying employees for telework to keep services running, and more.
Also, leaders in Congress and the Trump Administration are discussing an interim bill. This legislation would provide funding needed for the Payroll Protection Program, which provides forgivable loans to small businesses, increased appropriations for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and additional money for hospitals. Also being discussed is a provision to include, at least, an additional $150 billion to state and local governments. Our partners at the National League of Cities (NLC) are meeting with Congressional Leadership to ensure that at least half of that aid will flow directly to local governments.
Last night, NLC, along with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Association of Counties, delivered a joint letter to the Administration and Congressional Leadership. This union of local government advocates told our federal leaders:
‘’America’s local leaders are asking for $250 billion in robust, dedicated, and flexible funding for local governments in any interim emergency coronavirus relief package. Aid for local governments is key to protecting public health and empowering economic recovery.
“As local partners working hand-in-hand with the federal government, we are ready to continue to ensure our country emerges from this pandemic stronger than we were before. Together our voices can change American communities.”
Crucial decisions will be made over this coming weekend. Please reach out to Senators Menendez and Booker and to your House delegate, expressing your support for direct local funding to aid your efforts in dealing with the impact of COVID-19.
Contact: Jon Moran, Senior Legislative Analyst, jmoran@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x121.
b. COVID-19 Resources from the EPA
The US Environmental Protection Agency is updating its coronavirus website to include new resources for state, local, and tribal agencies and intergovernmental associations. These resources will help EPA and its partners continue to provide the environmental protection the nation depends on without interruption during the coronavirus public health emergency.
Contact: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x120.
III. Annual League Conference
a. Claim Your CEUs from the 2019 League Conference
Attention Municipal Officials! Do Not Forget to Claim Your CEUs from the 2019 NJLM Annual Conference! Visit the Conference Tracking page to claim your credits.
IV. Also of Interest
a. Earn CEU Credits from Home with NJLM Webinars
Preventing Sexual Harassment in Your Municipal Workplace Webinar
Friday, April 17, 2020
11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Location: Your Computer
CEUs: CMFO/CCFO-1.5 Eth;CTC-1.5 Eth;CPWM-1.5 Eth;RMC-1.5 Eth;QPA-1.5 Eth;NJCLE-1.5 Eth; RPPO/RPPS-1.0 Eth; Planning/Zoning Board Secretary-1.0 Admin; Zoning Officier-1.0 Admin; Land Use Administrator-1.0 Admin
Event Details for April 17 Preventing Sexual Harassment Webinar
b. Where Can I Find COVID-19 Related Resources from the League?
The League has created a COVID-19 webpage, which was created as a central source for all resources we are posting. The League is also posting updates of news and new legislation and guidance daily on the Emergency Management & Public Health News Flash. You may sign up to receive email alerts when new items are posted, or visit the League’s COVID-19 resource page to view news flash items. Many of these items are also being posted on the League’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. There have also been several posts published on the League’s Town Crier blog that gives detailed explanations and analysis of the legislation surrounding COVID-19.
c. Governor’s Office Briefing Calls for Mayors
The Governor’s office is hosting Mayor calls throughout the week. They ask Mayors especially make every effort to call in as it’s the most effective way to direct important information to Mayors and receive Mayors input directly.
If you need information about these calls contact Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x120.
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