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October 29, 2021

I. State Issues
II. Federal Issues
III. COVID-19 Weekly Update
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. Division of Local Government Services Announces LEAP Applications are Now Being Accepted

On Wednesday October 27, The Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) in assistance with New Jersey’s Shared Services Czars announced that the applications for the Local Efficiency Achievement Program (LEAP) are now being accepted for FY 2022 LEAP program.

The LEAP grant program is comprised of three components. The Challenge Grant, the Implementation Grant, and the County Coordinator Fellowship Grant. Municipalities are eligible for The Challenge Grant and the Implementation Grant.

The Challenge Grant allocates funds to the most compelling projects in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties. LEAP Challenge Grants provide reimbursement for qualifying expenses incurred in the development of approved programs and services authorized under the Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act (N.J.S.A. 40:65-1 et seq.). Municipalities if accepted would receive up to $150,000 in funds with in each county. For more information please see the Challenge Grant Guidelines and the Challenge Grant Application . The application deadline is January 15, 2022.

The Implementation Grant will allocate funds to help over costs associated with shared services implementation such as one time reimbursable cots for projects completion or transition support and also provides for funds for reimbursement of costs associated with school consolidation and countywide school district studies that support the creation of meaningful and implementable regionalization plans. For more information please visit the Implementation Grant Guidelines and the Implementation Grant Application. The application should be summited before June 30, 2022

Contact: Andrew LaFevre, Legislative Analyst, alafevre@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x116.

b. Governor Signs Legislation Permitting the Transmittal of Certain Proposed County Ordinances by Email

This week, Governor Phil Murphy signed S-818/A-2284. This new law amends P.L.1972, c.154 to permit certain proposed county ordinances to be sent to the clerk of each municipality in the county by regular mail or by electronic mail.

Previously, the law required that a copy of a proposed county ordinance issued by the board of county commissioners in an optional county charter county be sent by regular mail to the clerk of each municipality in the county.

We encourage you to review the new law with your clerk and municipal manager as well as to reach out to your county to determine how they plan to share information.

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

c. Lame Duck Preview: 5G/Small Cell Wireless Facilities

After Election Day we are entering into the “lame duck” period, which is the end of the 219th legislative session and the end of the Governor’s four-year term. During this time legislation moves very quickly. In an effort to prepare for “lame duck” we would like to highlight issues that could be front and center during this time.

One such issue is legislation that would restrict the ability of local governments to regulate the placement of small cell wireless facilities on public infrastructure. For more information please see our recent blog post.

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

II. Federal Issues

a. Build Back Better Act Activity

After months of negotiations between the Biden Administration, Congressional Leadership, Senate moderates and House progressives, President Joe Biden announced a 10 year, $1.75 trillion human infrastructure framework on Thursday. The Build Back Better Act, along with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, are expected to be considered by Congress next week. For more detailed information, please see the League’s recent blog post.

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

III. COVID-19 Weekly Update

Earlier this week, Governor Phil Murphy noted that with the FDA and CDC actions last week, the fully vaccinated who received either Moderna or J&J are now eligible for a booster shot. Commissioner Persichilli noted that earlier this week the FDA voted to support Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The CDC will examine the same data and make their recommendations next week. With 760,000 children ages 5-11, New Jersey has pre-ordered 205,000 doses of pediatric Pfizer. Sites will be receiving the vaccine to start immunizing children as soon as the approval is granted. All 21 counties will have sites prepared to vaccinate children with the lower dose pediatric Pfizer vaccine. In addition, 65 primary care sites, 35 acute care hospital sites, 40 independent pharmacies, eight chain pharmacies, 27 FQHCs, seven local and county health department sites, six urgent care sites, and right now one megasite will be receiving pediatric vaccine as well.

COVID Data for Friday, October 29, 2021:

349 new positive cases for a total of 1,040,126 confirmed cases
12 new confirmed deaths for a total of 25,147 confirmed deaths
The rate of transmission is at 0.85
11 new outbreaks bringing the total statewide number of outbreaks directly related to in-school activity since mid-August to 137 cumulative outbreaks with 715 cumulative cases
12,405,966 vaccine doses have been administered, including 7,019,233 who have received at least one dose and 5,844,785 who are fully vaccinated. 58% are Pfizer, 38% Moderna, and 4% J&J. In addition, 370,421 have received an additional dose of Pfizer, 136,075 have received an additional dose of Moderna, and 2,789 have received an additional dose of J&J.

Vaccine Information

Individuals who received either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine are eligible to receive a booster six months after they received their second dose. These boosters are currently for anyone age 65 years and older and for all adults 18 and up who live – are in one of these categories. You live in a long-term care setting, you have underlying medical conditions which may put you at higher risk for contracting the coronavirus, or you work in a high-risk setting.

Individuals who received a J&J vaccine are eligible to receive a booster two months after your initial shot. Everyone ages 18 and up who has received the J&J vaccine is eligible.
Individuals are approved to get a booster dose different to the original vaccine.

As a reminder, the Department of Health is providing access to individuals' COVID vaccination records through NJ Docket, a secure and free smartphone app, which is CDC-approved.

Homebound residents who have not yet connected with their local health department or a home health agency, and who need an in-home vaccination should visit www.covid19.nj.gov/homeboundvax or contact the call center at 855-568-0545.

To find a vaccine site, visit www.covid19.nj.gov/vaccine.

Mental Health Resources

As a reminder, the Department of Children and Families has put together a new page on their COVID information hub with a wealth of mental health support resources for youth, for parents, and for educators. This all can be found at that at www.covid19.nj.gov/youthhelp.

Contacts:

Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120.
Lori Buckelew, Assistant Executive Director, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.

IV. Also of Interest

a. 27th Annual Mayors’ Hall of Fame

We need your help to identify some very special mayors for the Mayors Hall of Fame.

Once again, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Executive Board wants to pay tribute to you at the Annual League Conference in November if you are currently a mayor who has served a total of 10 years as mayor. Mayors who rotate into office are eligible for this recognition.

In a special ceremony at the Mayors’ Box Luncheon during the Annual Conference, we will make a special presentation to those mayors who meet the following criteria:

You must currently be serving as mayor.
You must currently be serving in at least your 10^th cumulative year as mayor for the silver level.
You must currently be serving in at least your 20^th cumulative year as mayor for the gold level.
You must currently be serving in at least your 30^th cumulative year as mayor for the white level.
You must not be a current member of the League’s Mayors Hall of Fame (this does not apply to silver level mayors now eligible for the gold level; or gold who are eligible for white).

These recipients will then be inducted into the New Jersey League of Municipalities Mayors’ Hall of Fame and their picture will appear in the January 2022 issue of New Jersey Municipalities magazine.

With your help we can identify and recognize all mayors currently serving in their 10^th, 20^th or 30^th year as mayor. Please use this nomination form if you or any currently serving mayor you know of fit the above criteria. A list of current members of the Mayors’ Hall of Fame may be reviewed at the League “Award Programs” page.

Complete this form and mail it to the League office by Friday, November 5, 2021. For further details, contact the League’s Executive Director, Mike Cerra at either mcerra@njlm.org or 609-695-3481 x120.

Thank you very much for your help in identifying these mayors for special recognition.

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