I. State Issues
a. Governor Announces Plan for Lead Contamination
In a speech at Thomas Edison State University, Governor Murphy announced the first steps in his plan to address lead contamination both in public water systems and remaining lead paint in homes. The Governor called upon the Legislature to place on the November 2020 ballot a $500 million bond referendum to fund the necessary replacement and remediation. The Governor’s plan received initial support from both Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Coughlin, both of whom expressed support for the objectives of the plan.
Simultaneously, Jersey Water Works released a report including a series of recommendations to “…eliminate lead in all drinking water in 10 years.”
The League is currently reviewing both proposals and will provide analysis in the upcoming days and weeks.
Contact: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x120.
b. DEP Launches Campaign Aimed at Assisting Municipalities Address “Dirty Dirt”
This week the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the launch of the “Guard Your Backyard” campaign. The goal of the new DEP initiative is to help municipalities and communities manage fill material. To help achieve this goal the DEP has set up a website with local guidance and a model ordinance that municipalities can download and modify to suit their local needs.
In addition to the model ordinance, the website provides information on what is and isn’t considered solid waste under state law; specific actions that can be taken to enforce soil regulations or report illegal dumping; and examples of municipal law regulating soil.
For more information visit the DEP’s Guard Your Backyard campaign website at guardyourbackyard.nj.gov.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.
c. CY 2019/SFY 2020 Best Practices Inventory Deadline October 30
As a reminder, the deadline for the CY2019/SFY2020 Best Practice Inventory is October 30 for all municipalities. For more on the Inventory, the process and changes please read our September 13 blog post.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, ext. 112.
d. PFRS Board Hires Executive Director & Begins Search for Chief Investment Officer
At their October 7 meeting the Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS) Board of Trustees appointed Gregory Petzold as their new Executive Director at an annual salary of $225,000. Mr. Petzold is currently the Deputy Chief of Staff of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Murphy Administration. We are concerned with the process to hire the Executive Director as the Personnel Committee conducted a round of interviews and put forth one recommendation but did not afford the Board with the opportunity to interview the top candidates.
In contrast to the process to hire the Executive Director, the Board has unanimously agreed to retain Michael Kennedy of Korn Ferry to conduct a national search for the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) for a fee not to exceed $120,000. Korn Ferry will advertise and recruit possible candidates. Mr. Kennedy along with the Investment Committee will interview 5-8 candidates in the first round. Then the top 2-3 candidates will move to the second round in which they will have a “homework” assignment and will be required to give a presentation to the committee.
The Board also appointed former Deputy Attorney General Nels Lauritzen as a Senior Attorney/Attorney 2 at an annual salary of $150,000; Division of Investments provided an update on the transition along with presentation on two investments; and approved an agreement to transfer a “fair and manageable” caseload of pension cases from the Attorney General’s office to the PFRS General Counsel.
The next meeting of the PFRS Board of Trustees is November 4.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, ext. 112.
e. Looking Ahead to Lame Duck: Marijuana Legalization Back Again?
Based on news accounts and word-of-mouth conjecture, we want to let you know that the bill to legalize adult use of recreational marijuana may again see action in the “lame duck,” which is the period after the election and before the end of this legislative term in January. So you can re-familiarize with its provisions, we have reposted the content of our March 2019 blog post which summarizes areas of interest to municipalities in the legislation
Contact: Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x120.