| Current Form of Government | Proposed Form of Government | Benefits of the Proposed System |
| The Mayor is elected by the committee | The Mayor is DIRECTLY elected by the residents | A majority of Holmdel voters passed a referendum to explore directly electing the Mayor. Provides more power to the people. |
| Salaries: Committee Members (approximate) - $4,600 per year Mayor - $6,000 per year | Salaries: SAME as in the current form of government | NO INCREASES in salaries Any change can be opposed by the residents |
| The committee is elected to serve staggered 3-year terms, each with a primary and general election | The Mayor and the committee are elected to serve staggered 4-year terms, with only the general election (no primary) | REDUCES township election cycles. Allows the Mayor and the Council to focus more on township affairs than on election campaigns Moves from two election cycles (primary & general) every year to one (general) every two years. |
| Referendum: 15% of the voters from the most recent election can petition for a referendum against a bond ordinance ONLY. 5% of the voters from the most recent election can petition for a referendum ONLY against salary increases proposed by the committee | Initiative & Referendum: 15% of the voters from the most recent election can petition for a referendum opposing ANY ordinance adopted by the committee. 10% of the voters from the most recent election can petition the committee to adopt any NEW initiative | In 2016, 15% of the voters signed a petition to block an improper bond ordinance for a Turf Field at Cross Farm. In the proposed form, people can block ANY ordinance. The Mayor and supporting committee members cannot sneak in resolutions when other members are not present. The threat of a petition challenge will improve due diligence by the committee on all matters. The system will result in more cooperation between the committee and various resident interest groups. |
| Appointments to the Zoning Board and the Planning Board are made at the discretion of the Mayor and his/her supporters. Only the names of the candidates pre-determined to get the votes of the Mayor and his/her supporters appear on the appointment ordinance | Appointments to the Zoning and Planning Boards can be made based on a PUBLIC vote by the committee. The committee or the residents can enact a law to list the names of ALL the candidates publicly prior to voting. | A huge step forward in preventing backroom deals |
| Zoning Board: 7 - regular members 2- alternates Planning Board: 10 - members (including the mayor and the designee) 2 - alternates | On Jan 1, 2023 an INTERIM resolution can be adopted by the new government to continue with the current members serving on the Zoning and the Planning Boards before adopting an ordinance to organize the new government by April 1, 2023. | Interim resolution allows for CONTINUITY of government, boards and committees The elected members will vote on appointments to the Zoning and Planning Boards, providing transparency |
| Removal of the Administrator needs a 2/3rds majority of the committee | Appointment or removal of the town Manager is done by a SIMPLE majority | The current form allows a town to be stuck with a BAD manager that is protected by the minority. In the proposed form, the manager serves at the pleasure of the governing body and can be removed by a simple majority when they no longer have confidence in the manager. |
| Partisan elections | Non-partisan elections like the Board of Education | END the Partisan infighting that has plagued the town for the last 5 years Partisan values have no relevance to normal township affairs |
Prakash Santhana
Deputy Mayor
Holmdel Township
