COURT HOUSE – Middle Township Committee discussed how to move forward with a previous agreement to form an advisory committee on the municipality’s form of government. It took place at the Aug. 20 work session.
The governing body agreed to send a press release seeking citizens interested in serving on the committee that would make recommendations to the governing body on potential changes in the form of government.
The current form of government in the township, three committee members elected, one each year, is over 200 years old.
The release and accompanying notice on the township website will solicit letters of interest and qualifications for committee service. The expectation is that it may take a year or more before such a committee would complete its work and submit a formal report to the governing body.
When organized, the advisory committee will review the current form of government, looking at its strengths and weaknesses.
The group will then consider options including forms of government used by county municipalities.
Under state law, there are 12 possible forms of government for municipalities, only some of which would be appropriate for a municipality the size of Middle.
The governing body members hope that a solicitation of potential participation will result in an appropriate cross-section of individuals representative of the various communities in Middle Township.
They explicitly did not limit themselves to select members of the committee from those that applied, reserving the right to encourage participation from others if needed.
The discussion ranged over other issues without closure since the governing body members want to see the results of the solicitation before making commitments to the size of the eventual committee, the nature of representation and the method of appointment.
With respect to potential size, suggestions ranged from nine to 18 members.
Committee member Timothy Donohue suggested a nine-member advisory committee composed of three Republicans, three Democrats and three independents as a way of dealing with party affiliation in the group.
Mayor Michael Clark proposed 18 members with one person selected from each of the township’s 18 voting districts to ensure geographic distribution.
The method to be used to make appointments was not finalized.
Township Solicitor Frank Corrado advised on the method used for advisory committees in the City of Cape May, one in which the mayor makes the appointments with consultation with other members of the council, but not requiring agreement from those other members.
Unlike Middle Township, Cape May is a municipality where the mayor is directly elected to that post.
In Middle Township the mayor is selected by majority vote of the three-member committee and is thus always a member of the political party with the majority of committee seats.
Although the July resolution agreeing to establish the advisory committee on forms of government contained a 30-day deadline for accomplishing the action, it was clear from the discussion that governing body members realized it might take longer.
They agreed to continue to move forward working in good faith and understanding that they may have to give themselves more time.
Deputy Mayor Jeffrey DeVico, who stands for election Nov. 6, suggested that the topic of establishing the committee remain on the work session agenda until the task is accomplished.
One of the difficulties often pointed out by those seeking a change in the form of government is that no two members of the current governing body can meet privately to discuss township business without creating a quorum that requires public notice.
This means that the work sessions become the forum for all discussion among the governing body members on the issue.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
