August 9, 2019  


I.   State Issues
II.  Annual League Conference
III. Also of Interest

Municipal Clerks:  Please forward to your Mayor, Governing Body and Department Heads. 

I. State Issues


a. Bill Authorizing Flexible Multiple Dwelling Inspection Schedule Signed
    Into Law

 
Earlier this week, Acting Governor Sheila Oliver signed into law S-1150, which authorizes the Department of Community Affairs to establish a flexible multiple dwelling inspection schedule. Current law requires the DCA to inspect multiple dwellings at least once every five years. Under the newly signed legislation, inspection schedules will be more frequent or less frequent depending on the history of violation abatement.
 
The new schedule establishes an inspection cycle as often as once every two years for those multiple dwellings that fail to abate all housing violations by the third reinspection; less frequent inspections, once every seven years, for multiple dwelling in which all violations have been abated by the first reinspection; and five-year inspection cycle remain for multiple dwellings that fall in between these categories. P.L. 2019, c. 202 took effect August 5, 2014, and will be applicable to the next new inspection cycle for a hotel or multiple dwelling.
 
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.

b. AG Issues Directive Creating Emotional and Mental Well-Being
    Program for Police

 
Earlier this week NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a Directive seeking to promote emotional and mental well-being of New Jersey law enforcement officers. The Directive creates the New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement (“NJRP-LE”), a training program to be developed by experts in order to “instill a positive culture for law enforcement officers by providing them with the tools to withstand, recover, and grow in the face of stressors, trauma, and the changing demands of their unique work.”
 
The Directive requires all law enforcement agencies to appoint within 60 days at least one Resiliency Program Officer (“RPO”), who will be responsible for implementing the NJRP-LE.  The head of each law enforcement agency is responsible for selecting the RPO based on criteria set forth in the directive.  Once selected the name and contact information of the RPO must be sent to the County Prosecutor within 15 days.
 
The RPO must then attend a two-day Resiliency Training Symposium scheduled for October 10-11, 2019. The symposium will provide RPOs with an overview of the Directive and the NJRP-LE. Once the local RPO receives their training they are then responsible for training all law enforcement officers within their own agencies.  All law enforcement officers must be trained in the NJRP-LE no later than December 31, 2022.
 
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.

c. DCA Issues Public Notice of League’s Rulemaking Petition

 
This week, the Department of Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards issued a Public Notice acknowledging receipt of the Petition for Rulemaking submitted on behalf of the League along with New Jersey’s six professional code official associations.  The Petition comes after the Department made changes to the Uniform Construction Code’s minor work and ordinary maintenance provisions, which took effect last year, that undermine the efforts of local officials to ensure the health and safety of all New Jersey Residents.
 
The issuance of a public notice is a required step in the process of having our petition considered for possible adoption.  The DCA has 60 days from receipt of a petition for rulemaking to deny the request, accept it and place it for public comment, or request additional time for internal review.
 
The League’s efforts on this issue are in large part a result of League Conference Resolution 2018-19.  While a Conference Resolution signifies the importance of an issue for our members, League efforts can be amplified with individual resolutions from municipalities.  To that end, we have prepared a sample resolution supporting the League rulemaking petition, which your municipality may wish to adopt and forward to the DCA if you have not done so already. 
 
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.

d. NJ Blockchain Initiative Task Force

 
On Thursday, Governor Murphy signed legislation establishing the NJ Blockchain Initiative Task Force. The 16 member task force, which includes the Mayors of Newark, Jersey City, and Camden as ex-officio, will study if State, county, and municipal governments can benefit from a transition to a blockchain-based system for recordkeeping and service delivery.
 
The Task Force will study the opportunities and risks associated with using blockchain and distributed ledger technology; different types of blockchains, both public and private, and different consensus algorithms; projects and use cases currently under development in other states and nations, and how those cases could be applied in New Jersey; and how the Legislature can modify current State laws to support secure, paperless recordkeeping.
 
Within 180 days of their initial meeting the Task Force must issue a report and present its findings to the Legislature. The report must include a general description of the costs and benefits of State and local government agencies utilizing blockchain technology; recommendations concerning the feasibility of implementing blockchain technology in the State and the best approach to finance the cost of implementation; any draft legislation the task force deems appropriate to implement blockchain technology; and any other information relevant to the subject of the report. P.L. 2019, c. 213 took effect on August 8, 2019. 
 
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.

e. Innovation District Designation Program Now Law

 
On Thursday, Governor Murphy signed P.L. 2019, c. 214 establishing the “Innovation District Designation Program” to promote the development and redevelopment of an area in a manner that facilitates collaboration between government, higher education institutions and private enterprise. Municipalities will be able to apply to the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology to designate all or part of the municipality as an innovation district. The law, which took effect August 8, 2019, also permits two or more municipalities to apply jointly to designate an area.
 
The Commission in consultation with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of Community Affairs, and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority must first establish the criteria for the designation of innovation districts. Once developed the Commission and Department of Community Affairs will provide links on their website to the application form and procedure.  The Commission will have 60 calendar days from the receipt of a completed application to approve, conditionally approve or deny the application. 
 
In addition, the Commission in consultation with the Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority must adopt guidance and standards for municipalities to promote innovation districts as places for businesses to locate.  A municipality may advertise or otherwise use innovation district designation in accordance with the adopted guidance or standards.
 
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.

f. Expansion of Peddler’s License

 
On Monday, Acting Governor Oliver signed P.L. 2019, c. 211 which expands veterans eligible to obtain a peddler’s license. Before the expansion, only honorably discharged veterans could get a peddler’s license. This new law now allows those both honorably discharged veterans and veterans discharged under honorable conditions to obtain a peddler’s license. P.L. 2019, c.211 took effect on August 5, 2019.
 
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.

g. U.S. Semiquincentennial Listening Session

 
Last year the New Jersey State Legislature charged the New Jersey Historical Commission with preparing for the observance of the U.S. Semiquincentennial in 2026. As they embark on this initiative, they would like to hear from local officials.
 
Please see the invitation to join a listening session on September 10 at East Jersey Old Town Village in Piscataway regarding plans for the Semiquincentennial. We are eager to gather a group of county representatives and local elected officials to hear your thoughts and needs as planning for this anniversary gets underway.
 
Please contact Madeleine Rosenberg, Chief Public Historian, New Jersey Historical Commission, at madeleine.rosenberg@sos.nj.gov or 609-633-0776 with any questions.

II. Annual League Conference


a. 104th Annual League Conference Pre-Registration Opened Aug. 1

 
Pre-Registration for the 104th Annual League Conference has begun! Costs for pre-registration are $55 for government officials and $ 105 for non-government officials. Pre-registration runs through October 1. After the pre-registration period has ended, attendees must pay for their registration onsite at the Atlantic City Convention Center. On-site registration rates are $65 for Government Officials and $125 for non-government officials.
 
For more information on pre-registration, please visit the Conference website.
 
Contact: Johnnifer Harris, Assistant Financial Administrator, jharris@njlm.org  x119.

b.  NJLM Annual Conference Exhibit Booth Registration is Open!

 
Invite your vendors to exhibit at the 2019 NJLM Annual Conference and showcase their product or service to other municipalities. Exhibit space is over 80% sold out so contact your vendors today – or send us a note and we’ll reach out to them!  The 2019 Exhibitor and Sponsorship Prospectus (PDF), Interactive Floor Plan and other exhibit information can be downloaded on the League web site.
 
Contact: Kristin Lawrence, Director of Exhibition and Sponsorships, 609-695-3481 x125, klawrence@njlm.org.

c.  Reserve Your Hotel for the Annual League Conference 

 
Preparations for the Annual League Conference November 19-21 are underway and the hotel reservations system is open for attendees and exhibitors at the League Conference Web Page. There you will also see a preliminary schedule of conference sessions.

Staying in Atlantic City for the Conference is a great way to get the most from your attendance at the Conference.  Staying over will maximize your time and opportunities to participate in the educational, informational, and networking opportunities offered throughout the Annual League Conference. 

d. Unauthorized Hotel Reservation Services

 
Every year there are unauthorized firms soliciting housing and hotel reservations from attendees at the Annual League Conference.  We assure you that the only firm authorized to handle our conference housing reservations is AC Central Reservations. This information is on the top of the official conference housing form sent to all municipal clerks and posted on the League web site.
 
Using unauthorized reservation services creates real problems for you and the conference as a whole. You cannot be assured your credit card information is secure and your room reservation may not actually be made. Using unauthorized services means your room will not be part of the official conference housing block and you will not get emergency housing information (which happened in both 2011 and 2012), nor will there be adequate shuttle bus services to your hotel.
 
As always, the League is available to answer your questions on any aspect of the annual conference and we strive to make your participation both enjoyable and highly productive.
 
Contact: Michael J. Darcy, CAE, Executive Director, mdarcy@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x116.

III. Also of Interest


a. The League is Now Accepting Applications for the Innovation in
    Governance Program!

 
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the New Jersey State League of Municipalities will again acknowledge and promote Innovation in Governance through our annual recognition program. This is a great opportunity to showcase innovative solutions to any problems that have cropped up – either suddenly or overtime – in your municipality. It can also be an opportunity to let your peers in on innovations that prevented problems from even arising.
 
Visit our awards page to see previous years of impressive ideas created by our winning municipalities as well as the full invitation and application to this year’s program.
 
Contact: Ciara Bradley, Legislative Administrator, CBradley@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x128.


b. New 2019 Edition! Salary Report of Municipal Positions Available Now

 
The latest edition of the New Jersey Municipal Salary Report is now available, including salaries for over 40 municipal positions. This is a digital report that includes data for 244 municipalities in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. The data was gathered from a recent survey conducted by the League. View the full list of positions and municipalities included in this report on the League’s website. 
 
The cost to purchase is $90 for members and $180 for non-members. After ordering, the report will be emailed to the address provided on the order form. Visit the League’s Publication web page to order.
 
Contact: Suzanne Allen, sallen@njlm.org or 609-695-3481 x129.


c. Let Your Vendors Know About NJ Municipalities Magazine!

 
Do you work with vendors that you would recommend to other municipalities? Let these vendors know about the League’s magazine; placing advertisements in the magazine helps to increase the reach of their marketing message and supports the League as an organization in the process.

Contact Taran Samhammer at tsamhammer@njlm.org with your vendor’s mailing address and we will send them a sample issue!


d. 17th Annual Michael A. Pane Award Nominations Are Now Being
    Accepted


In honor of the memory of Michael A. Pane, the 17th annual award will be presented to a professional (attorney, engineer, or planner) that personifies outstanding ability, integrity, and a high standard of ethics in his or her dealings with local government. This award includes a $500 honorarium.
 
Mr. Pane personified and promoted integrity in local government, and it is the purpose of this award to recognize an individual who has over a period of years demonstrated the same professional commitment to service and, who by so doing, has set high standards that all involved in local government should strive to match.
 
The award ceremony will be held during the League’s Annual Conference in Atlantic City, on Thursday, November 21, during a session of the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys.  Nominations for this award will be accepted through September 15, 2019.  Please mail, fax, or email your nomination to:

 
Johnnifer Harris
c/o NJLM Educational Foundation, Inc.
222 West State Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08608
Fax: 609-695-5156, Email: jharris@njlm.org

 
“The League thanks the NJLM Educational Foundation for making this possible and is honored to participate in the promotion of the Michael A. Pane Award,” said League Executive Director Michael J. Darcy.  A list of past award winners can be found on the League Website.
 
For additional information, call John Gillespie 856-985-4083.

e. New Jersey Clean Energy Program

 
The Board of Public Utilities’ (BPU) will be awarding its first Community Energy Plan grants in 2019. These grants are designed to encourage communities to bring together all the stakeholders (residents, businesses, non-profits and government) to benchmark energy use and other environmental impacts (waste production, water protection, land conservation), to create a plan to reduce the communities’ energy consumption  in accordance with the 2019 New Jersey Energy Master Plan and implement the short and long term goals. 

222 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608 Phone: 609-695-3481 Web: www.njlm.org

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