ASSEMBLY, No. 338

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

 

 

By Assemblymen PASCRELL and ARNONE

 

 

An Act concerning the regionalization and merger of functions and services in municipalities, supplementing chapter 48 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes and making an appropriation.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. a. A municipal governing body may adopt an ordinance to establish a citizens' advisory committee to consider whether the regionalization of functions or merger of services with adjacent municipalities would result in greater efficiency or economy in the expenditure of public funds.

    b. Upon adoption of an ordinance pursuant to subsection a. of this section the municipal clerk shall submit a copy of the ordinance to the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs. The municipal governing body shall appoint members to the citizen's advisory committee as follows: one person who is a member of the municipal governing body, one person who is a member of the local business community, and three persons who are non-office holding residents of the municipality. The advisory committee shall forthwith meet with appropriate officials of adjacent municipalities for the purpose of discussing and making such recommendations as are deemed appropriate to regionalize functions and merge services with those municipalities in accordance with the "Interlocal Services Act," P.L.1973, c.208 (C.40:8A-1 et al.), the "Consolidated Municipal Service Act," P.L.1952, c.72 (C.40:48B-1 et seq.), or in any other form authorized by law, or pursuant to the "Municipal Consolidation Act," P.L.1977, c.435 (C.40:43-66.35 et seq.).

    c. The advisory committee, no later than one year after its appointment, shall adopt a report stating its findings and recommendations with respect to the following items:

    (1) Are there any governmental functions presently being accomplished by the municipality without the cooperation of other municipalities that could be provided more effectively or efficiently in combination with another municipality or municipalities?

    (2) Are there any governmental services presently being accomplished by the municipality without the cooperation of other municipalities that could be provided more effectively or efficiently in combination with another municipality or municipalities?

    (3) Shall the municipality adopt an ordinance pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1977, c.435 (C.40:43-66.39) providing for the formation of a joint municipal consolidation study commission?

    Prior to adopting its report the advisory committee shall conduct at least one public hearing. Notice of the hearing shall be advertised at least once in the newspaper in which notices of municipal ordinances are published at least seven days prior to the hearing.

    d. The Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs shall provide technical assistance to municipalities that have established a citizens' advisory committee pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill).

 

    2. There is appropriated from the General Fund the sum of $45,000 to the Department of Community Affairs to effectuate the purposes of this act.

 

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill would permit municipalities to adopt ordinances creating a citizens' committee to consider whether the regionalization of functions or merger of services with adjacent municipalities would result in greater efficiency or economy in the expenditure of public funds. Such municipal citizens' advisory committees would meet with neighboring advisory committees to discuss and make recommendations concerning regionalization of functions and merger of services. A citizens' advisory committee would be required to adopt a report stating its findings and recommendations no later than one year after its appointment. Prior to adopting its report, the citizens' advisory committee would be required to conduct at least one public hearing. The Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs would be required to provide technical assistance to municipalities adopting an ordinance to establish a citizens' advisory committee. The bill appropriates $45,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Community Affairs for the purpose of this assistance.


 

Permits establishment of municipal citizens' advisory committees on regionalization and merger of services and functions; appropriates $45,000.