Middle Names Members to Review Municipality’s Form of Government

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township Committee formally appointed the advisory committee that will review the township’s “form and structure of government.” The resolution, adopted Oct. 15, appointed the committee which is to file its final report by May 1, 2019.
Incorporated over 200 years ago, the township has always operated under the township form of government with a three-member governing body. The township is the second largest in the county in terms of population and the largest in land area. Some residents have raised the question of whether the township has outgrown its form of government.
Public comments at meetings of the governing body have focused on the possibility of greater geographic representation on the township committee, direct election of the mayor, greater flexibility for discussion among governing body members without immediately constituting a quorum, ending the cycle of yearly elections that always have the potential of shift control on the governing body, and even moving to one of the forms of government that is non-partisan in its structure.
State statutes provide for a variety of structures for municipal government, a number of which are available to the municipality.
The advisory committee is charged with making a non-binding recommendation to the governing body. The resolution appointed 18 individuals to the committee.
Chair, Members
Michael Butterfield, of Court House, was named chair of the advisory committee.
Other members include: Robert Matthews and Michelle Salfi, both of Rio Grande, Mark Logan, William Schenck, Florence O’Donnell, John Lauricella, Chris Collet, Ed Taylor, Sandy Novick, Josh McCarty, Robert Springer, Sue Copson, Shannon Feltwell, Lisa Mericle, Anthony Donofrio, Robert Fineberg and Barbara Cresse Fulford, all listed in the resolution have Court House mailing addresses. The appointments took effect immediately. 
Committee member Timothy Donohue said that one of the first tasks for the committee would be to better understand the structure of the current form of government including its strengths and weaknesses. 
He suggested meetings with the professional staff as a way to begin that process.
Mayor Michael Clark urged the committee to visit other area municipalities that operate under other forms of government. He specifically mentioned Cape May City which uses a non-partisan Council/Manager form. 
The various forms used by Cape May County municipalities vary in the size of the governing body and in the location of executive and legislative authority.
The committee is to report periodically to the Township Committee on the review’s status.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.