November 15, 2019

I. State Issues
II. Federal Issue
III. Annual League Conference

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

Most of the League staff will be in Atlantic City for our Conference set up day. There will be no Friday Round-Up next Friday, November 22 or on Friday, November 29. Any urgent or timely alerts will be sent via a Daily Update. The next Friday Round-Up will go out on Friday, December 6.

I. State Issues

a. League Provides Testimony to Legislature Regarding Small Cell Wireless Bill

Earlier this week the League was invited to provide testimony to the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee regarding A-5560, a bill which seeks to provide uniform regulation of small wireless facility development across the State.

The League supports the broad deployment of 5G and small cell wireless technology and we recognize its importance as the foundation for smart-city initiatives and as a tool to help bridge the digital divide. However, we respectfully oppose A-5560 in its current form as it fails to provide the balanced regulations needed to meet New Jersey specific concerns.

The League has been working with other stakeholders and is engaging with the sponsors of this bill to address our concerns and work towards creating the balanced regulations needed to thoughtfully deploy this nascent technology. We would like to thank the chair of the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee, Assemblyman DeAngelo, for inviting us to speak on this bill, and we would also like to thank Assemblywoman Murphy who sponsors the bill for including the League in future dialogue as this bill advances.

Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.

b. Senate Committee Approves Three Bills Aimed at Addressing the Replacement of Lead Service Lines

On Thursday, the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee advanced three bills aimed at addressing the replacement of lead service lines. S-4110, which the League supports, would give municipalities the authority to allow public water systems to access private property for the purposes of replacing lead service lines. The second, S-3990, which the League also supports, would require residential real estate transactions to include a question about lead plumbing. Both of these bills reflect good policy and help advance efforts to address lead service lines.

The third bill, S-4177, would require all public water systems to develop a lead service line inventory within 18 months of the bill’s passage and would also require the water systems to replace all lead service lines within a ten year period after the inventory is developed.

While the League supports efforts to remediate the lead service lines throughout the state we have concerns over the costs to be borne by public water systems and the availability of funding. The remediation of lead service lines is an expensive but critically necessary endeavor that requires financial support from the State and federal government. We expressed these concerns to the bill’s sponsors and the bill was second referenced to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Once a fiscal note is prepared by the Office of Legislative Services (OLS), we are hopeful that the Committee will appropriate the needed funding so that this mandate is fully-funded.

Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., League Staff Attorney, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x137.

c. Governor Creates Public Bank Implementation Board

On Wednesday, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 91 creating a Public Bank Implementation Board tasked with developing an implementation plan for a public bank within one year. The 14 member board, chaired by Banking and Insurance Commissioner Caride, is charged with assessing capital needs for New Jersey’s small businesses, students and local infrastructure and affordable housing projects; identify how a public bank can strengthen the capacity of local financial institutions and non-profit entities; develop a business plan for a public bank that determines capitalization needs and outlines a governance and operation structure; and consulting with experts or other knowledgeable individuals in the field of public banking. In addition, the Board will conduct at least three public meetings to better understand how the State can reduce communities and residents’ unmet capital needs, with a special emphasis on supporting low-income and minority populations. The Board will have one year to publicly release its implementation plan.

Contact: Lori Buckelew, Senior Legislative Analyst, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x112.

II. Federal Issue

a. No Agreement on Federal Spending Likely as Deadline Looms

With the November 21 federal funding deadline less than a week away, it appears that Congress will opt to avoid a shutdown by passing another Continuing Resolution. While top House and Senate budgeteers continue discussions, it seems unlikely that agreements will be reached on the so-called ‘top-line’ figures, which would set the spending limits for the 12 appropriations bills, as well as on issues like the border fence.

Media sources are reporting that the next extension should carry the Federal Government to December 20.

We will continue to follow this issue.

Contact: Jon Moran, Senior Legislative Analyst, jmoran@njlm.org, 609-695-3481 x121.

III. Annual League Conference

a. Communicate With State Leaders at Annual League Conference

The Annual League Conference is the best opportunity for State leaders, both elected and appointed, to directly communicate with local officials about their priorities and objectives in this “lame duck” and into 2020. Highlights will include Governor Phil Murphy, who will be the keynote speaker at the Delegates Luncheon on Thursday, November 21. There we expect to hear the Governor articulate his vision for remainder of his first term and how local officials will factor into his plans. Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Assembly Speaker Coughlin, and Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick will be part of the Legislative Leaders panel on Wednesday, November 20, where we expect to hear what issues they will prioritize in lame duck and into 2020 and how that aligns with the Governor’s priorities to ultimately get legislation passed that will benefit the residents of New Jersey.

Full conference details are available at the Conference Home Page and the Conference App

b. View the NJLM Annual Conference List of Exhibitors

The exhibit hall at the conference is sold out with 700 exhibitors displaying their products and services in over 1,000 booths. Review the full list on the Interactive Floor Plan and on the conference app to make your schedule and save a list of the exhibitors you would like to visit.

The exhibitors are eager to provide education and solutions to your challenges!

Contact: Kristin Lawrence, Director of Exhibition and Sponsorships, 609-695-3481 x125, klawrence@njlm.org.

c. Unauthorized Hotel Reservation Services

Every year unauthorized firms solicit 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 website.

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.