November 10, 2022

We look forward to seeing you next week at the Annual League of Municipalities’ conference. For up to date information or to plan your schedule please visit the conference website or download the conference app. Don't forget new for this year, at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 17, League Immediate Past President and Clinton Town Mayor Janice Kovach will be hosting a live taping  of a group conversation with Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette on funding opportunities, infrastructure, and resiliency. To participate in the live taping come to the exhibit floor near the Mayor’s Information Booth and the food trucks. 

We will not be issuing a weekly briefer on November 18 or November 25. The next weekly briefer will be on December 2. We will keep you up to date through our daily updates or legislative alerts.

State Issues

State Health Benefits Commission Meets – No New Action on SHBP 2023 Increase

 
Earlier this week, the State Health Benefits Commission (SHBC) met to consider regular business and appeal requests. During the meeting, SHBC Committee member Dudley Burge asked for an update on and solutions to the 22% cost increase in local government health benefits and the failure of the Third-Party Administrator to meet financial benchmarks. The Chair stated that these matters would be discussed in closed session.

The dramatic State Health Benefits Plan increases will be in effect in under two months with no relief in sight. Please continue to reach out to the Administration and your legislative representatives for support of such relief.

Contacts:

• Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.
• Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

Governor Supports Legislation to Combat Auto Theft

 
On Monday, along with Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Governor Murphy announced his support for proposed legislation to combat auto theft in New Jersey. Among the proposals highlighted:

• Establishing a persistent auto theft offender statute, which would give state and local prosecutors the option to seek more serious criminal consequences for those who have been repeatedly found guilty of stealing vehicles.

• Making possession and distribution of certain auto theft tools a crime.

• Imposing criminal penalties for the failure to comply with certain guidelines in the sale and purchase of catalytic convertors.

• Investing in enhanced pretrial services, which will reduce the risk from individuals who are awaiting trial, including pretrial monitoring by law enforcement, expansion of the use of house arrest paired with location monitoring, and additional resources related to substance abuse, mental health, and housing insecurity.
  
  

The Governor also announced that the Motor Vehicle Commission will start work to add an opt-in feature to vehicle registration paperwork that permits law enforcement to track that vehicle if it is stolen.
 
The League will monitor legislation as it is introduced and proceeds through the legislative process and report as necessary.
 
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.

Best Practice Inventory Due Today

 
As a reminder, today is the deadline to submit the 56-question 2022 Best Practice Inventory  For more information on the process and requirements please review Local Finance Notices 2022-17.
 
In addition, please remember to share your submitted State Health Benefits Program Practices Survey form with Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, at ppenna@njlm.org  as they will assist in our discussions on the increases to the State Health Benefits, please share.
 
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.

2022 Annual League Conference

 
Online registration for the 107th Annual League Conference is open.

League Events at the Annual Conference 

 
Don’t miss your opportunity to attend League Events at the Annual Conference. To purchase tickets on site, please visit the 2nd-floor Registration Desk at the Atlantic City Convention Center right of Hall C and ask for Marie Kizer or Johnnifer Harris. 

Mayors’ Lunch Briefing

Wednesday, November 16, 12 Noon, Crown Ballroom, Sheraton
Join mayors from around the state. Honor your peers for their achievements in the League’s Hall of Fame and the Innovation in Governance awards and build a dialogue with the directors of State agencies. Lively discussions during the event provide information not only from the speakers, but from the audience. Featured speakers include Lieutenant Governor/DCA Commissioner Sheila Oliver and DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. ($30 per person. Mayors Lunch Briefing tickets are limited to the Mayor and two (2) guests of the Mayors choosing).

Women in Municipal Government Networking & Awards Event

Wednesday, November 16, 5:15 PM, Crown Ballroom, Sheraton
After Annual Conference sessions have concluded, gather with other elected and appointed officials as well as local government supporters to celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding women in New Jersey municipal government. Honorees include Sheena Collum, Village President, South Orange Village and Olga Garcia, City Engineer, Hoboken, and President, NJSME. ($35 per person).

League Delegates Luncheon

Thursday, November 17, 12 Noon, Crown Ballroom, Sheraton
Gather for this sit-down lunch which puts you in the room with League and State leadership and starts 2023 on the right foot. The League Delegates Luncheon is a gathering of local government officials and those who support their work. Whether a longtime member or newly elected, it’s an inspiring way to wrap up your Conference week. The League will honor David Grubb, Executive Director of the Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund, and Edward J. McManimon III, League Counsel and Of Counsel at McManimon Scotland and Baumann, with the Distinguished Public Service Award. Governor Phil Murphy is the keynote speaker. ($45 per person).

View the Conference Session Schedule Conveniently on Your Devices! 

 
All Conference information is at your fingertips in a highly searchable format. 

• View session schedule

• Search by CEUs

• View exhibit booths

• View speaker bios

• Filter sessions by Affiliate group

• Create a personalized schedule (available to registered attendees only)

• View other attendees and network (available to registered attendees only)

• View participating Consultants and schedule meetings for next week

 
Download the app now to get your plans finalized. 
 
Added Benefits for Registered Attendees
If you are a registered attendee, take advantage of the added benefits of logging in. Set your login information up now so that you are ready to go next. There is a lot going on during Conference week – plan out your personalized schedule in the app to make the most of your time!
 
Logging in also allows you to view and connect with other attendees in the Attendee module.
 
How to Login
Use the email address that you used when you registered, and choose the reset your password option to setup your password the first-time logging in.
 
Don’t want to login? No problem, view the app as a guest.
 
Download in Your App Store
Visit your device’s app store to download.
 
Download the app before next week to make sure that you have the best WiFi/data connection.
 
The 2022 Conference App is Exclusively Sponsored by AT&T.

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