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January 22, 2021

I. State Issues
II. Federal Issues
III. 2020 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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I. State Issues

a. COVID-19 Weekly Update

This week’s COVID-19 news from Trenton continued to center on vaccinations. U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker announced today that New Jersey’s Department of Health will receive $591 million in federal funding for the vaccination program. $511 million for expanding the state’s testing capacity and $80 million for vaccine distribution. Today the Governor noted that two cases of B117 (UK) strain has been detected in New Jersey. The Governor issued an Executive Order extending the public health emergency by an additional 30 days. Below is more in-depth information on the vaccine, Executive Order, unemployment, and data.

COVID Data

For January 22, 2021:

3,694 new positive cases for a total of 584,291 confirmed cases
118 new confirmed deaths for a total of 18,754 confirmed deaths
The rate of transmission is at 1.04
597 cases linked to 121 school outbreaks since August
490,677 vaccine doses have been administered, including 428,711 first doses and 61,588 second doses. 55% have been Moderna and 45% Pfizer.

Vaccine Information

Earlier in the week, the Governor noted that four of the six vaccine mega sites in Burlington, Gloucester, Middlesex, and Morris counties are open and two more mega sites, Meadowlands and Atlantic City, will be opening shortly.

The state has established a hotline, 855-568-0545, to assist residents in getting information on the COVID-19 vaccine. The interactive voice response platform provides key information on how to register, as well as how to schedule vaccine appointments as people become eligible, in both English and Spanish to New Jersey residents. Beginning Monday, January 25, the phone line will be staffed with 250 live agents from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The state continues to encourage the general public to pre-register online for vaccine eligibility. Individuals will be permitted to input their personal, contact, health insurance, and demographic information. Those who are immediately eligible based on screening questions will be able to schedule an appointment.

Executive Order

Since our last update, Governor Murphy has issued the following COVID-19 related Executive Order:

Executive Order 215, extending the public health emergency due to COVID-19 for an additional 30 days. Executive Order 215 extends all Executive Orders issued under the Governor’s authority under the Emergency Health Powers Act. It also extends all actions taken by any Executive Branch departments and agencies in response to the Public Health Emergency presented by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Unemployment Information

The Department of Labor announced for the week ending January 16 the initial weekly unemployment claims total 16,768, a 23% decrease from the prior week. In addition, the Department noted that they have processed two weeks of payments available under the Continued Assistance to Unemployed Workers Act, covering the first two weeks of eligibility under the new law. Moving forward payments will be made weekly in single installments through the week ending March 13.

Contact: Lori Buckelew, Assistant Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.

b. Assembly Committee to Hear Bill Limiting Appeals of Land Use Decisions

On Monday, the Assembly State and Local Government Committee will review A-4881, a bill which the League supports. A-4881 would prohibit the appeal of land use decisions on grounds attributable to convening the meeting by virtual means, provided that reasonable public notice and provision for public input were made under the circumstance.

A-4881 ensures the due process rights of residents are protected while preventing costly challenges to land use decision made during the COVID-19 public health emergency, thus providing a balanced solution to a bourgeoning issue. The League would like to thank Assemblyman Greenwald for his leadership on this important issue.

Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.

c. Bill Limiting Municipal Regulation of Electric Fences Now Law

Governor Murphy, on Thursday, signed into law S-2419, which prohibits municipal regulation of “perimeter fence intrusion protection systems” (electric fence) and the regulation of locksmith and alarm businesses, among other things. Effective immediately, P.L. 2021, c. 21 prohibits a municipality from:

requiring the licensing or registration of locksmiths or alarm businesses,
requiring a locksmith or alarm business to submit information about the business’s system,
requiring a locksmith or alarm business to pay and alarm registration or licensure fee to a third party person or business,
requiring a permit or fee for the installation of a perimeter fence intrusion protection system in addition to an alarm system permit ,
imposing an installation or operational requirement for perimeter fence intrusion protection systems inconsistent with requirements set by the new law,
impeding the installation or continued operation of a perimeter fence intrusion protection system, or
prohibiting the installation or use of a perimeter fence intrusion protection system.

You should review this new law with your municipal attorney to ensure that your ordinances comply with the new limitations.

Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.

II. Federal Issues

a. President Biden Releases COVID-19 Action Plan and Takes Related Executive Action

On Thursday, President Joe Biden released the “National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness” that outlines seven specific goals to combat the pandemic:

Goal 1: Restore trust with the American people
Goal 2: Mount a safe, effective, comprehensive vaccination campaign.
Goal 3: Mitigate spread through expanding masking, testing, treatment, data, workforce, and clear public health standards.
Goal 4: Immediately expand emergency relief and exercise the Defense Production Act.
Goal 5: Safely reopen schools, businesses, and travel, while protecting workers.
Goal 6: Protect those most at risk and advance equity, including across racial, ethnic and rural/urban lines.
Goal 7: Restore U.S. leadership globally and build better preparedness for future threats.

President Biden stated that the national plan “launches a full-scale wartime effort to address the supply shortages by ramping up production and protective equipment, syringes, needles, you name it,” and further “And when I say wartime, people kind of look at me like ‘wartime?’ Well, as I said last night, 400,000 Americans have died. That's more than have died in all of World War II. 400,000. This is a wartime undertaking,”

Later that same day, President Biden signed the following nine COVID-19 related executive orders and a memorandum:

This is in addition to the two COVID-19 related executive orders he signed on the first day of his administration that deal with Organizing and Mobilizing the United States Government to Provide a Unified Effective Response to Combat COVID-19 and to Provide United States Leadership on Global Health and Security and Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing.

We will continue to monitor activity and report as appropriate.

Contact: Paul Penna, Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609 695-3481, x110.

b. President Biden Issued Various Executive Orders

On his first day in office, President Joe Biden signed a total of 17 executive orders on a variety of issues including COVID-19 federal response, environmental, homeland security, immigration, a foreclosure moratorium, and civil rights issues. The item above details the COVID-19 related executive orders. You can view the President’s executive orders at the White House Briefing Room.

Contact: Paul Penna, Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609 695-3481, x110.

III. 2020 Annual League Conference

a. Print Your CEU Certificates from the 2020 NJLM Virtual Conference

The tracking system from the 2020 NJLM Virtual Conference is now open. To print your certificates visit the Tracking System webpage.

The system will be available until May 1, 2021.

b. It’s Not Too Late!

We hope that the NJLM Virtual Conference allowed you to look back and forward on the challenges of the day, be it the COVID-19 pandemic, social and restorative justice or how to balance the competing interests in preparing for your 2021 budget. While we hope to be back in-person in Atlantic City in 2021, the virtual conference offers a unique benefit. The content of the approximately 80 programs and 145 virtual exhibitor booths will be available on-demand through October 31, 2021.

Anyone who is registered can simply log in to the Conference website to view any of the programs or visit any of the exhibitor booths. And for those who did not attend, it’s not too late. We will continue to accept registrations for access to the Conference site. Those who register now will not be able to apply for CEUs but will have full access to all programs and exhibit booths. And please continue to visit the exhibitors who chose to support the 105^th Annual Conference by stopping by their booths. You can contact exhibitors directly with any questions or comments by simply using the “Request Information” button on each booth. This will generate an automatic email to the exhibitor and they will contact you with a reply.

IV. Also of Interest

a. Campaign Contribution Notice

The New Jersey Division of Elections has requested we share the following information on Campaign Contributions for the particular attention of each Municipal Clerk. Questions and inquiries for additional information should be directed to the Division of Elections at 609-292-3760 or reference New Jersey Elections law, P.L. 1975, c. 70.

Please note: “No holder of a public office or position shall demand payment or contribution from another holder of a public office or position for the campaign purposes of any candidate or for the use of any political party.”

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