Proposed Government Change To Be Adopted In Holmdel

HOLMDEL, N.J. — The Charter Study Commission expects to adopt its recommendations for a new form of municipal government at its next meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, May 12.

"I anticipate that we will formally adopt a written report with our recommendations at this Thursday's meeting," said Kin Gee, chairman of commission.

The commission will put a Council-Manager form of government before voters as a referendum. It will discuss the date for the referendum at the meeting, he said.

"I truly believe this will give more power to the people in terms of Holmdel residents and it will make a new local government more accountable and more responsive to the people," Gee said.

The commission in April, as part of Phase III of the three-phase plan, had discussed and reached a consensus on recommendations for a form of government similar to the current Holmdel form but with reforms that give more power to Holmdel residents, Gee stated in a press release at that time.

The recommendations, which have been circulated in draft form already, include the following:

• Adopt the Council-Manager form of government
• Five Council members (including the Mayor) will be elected at large and not by wards — similar to the current Township Committee
• The Mayor will preside over Council meetings, vote with other Council members - again similar to the current Township Committee - but will be directly elected by voters
• Council members including the Mayor will be elected to serve a four-year term on a staggered basis every two years.
• A professional Manager will be appointed by the Council that will run the day-to-day administration of the town in accordance with the will and intent of the Council — very similar to the Township Administrator. The Manager can be removed by a simple majority (3 votes) of the Council – unlike the current two-thirds requirement or four votes.
• Elections will be held on a nonpartisan basis, similar to current elections for members of the Holmdel Board of Education. If they wish, candidates can campaign and make known their party affiliation.
• Residents will have the opportunity to introduce a local ordinance or to reject an ordinance passed by the Council through a petition process known as Initiative and Referendum.

Gee said in a statement that Dr. Julia Sass Rubin, associate professor from Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Policy, stated that New Jersey is the only state in the United States that uses a ballot design that groups “endorsed” candidates together under what is generally called the line for partisan elections. Conversely, non-endorsed candidates are sometimes put in "political Siberia."

Rubin went on to say that New Jersey voters may exercise their Constitutional right by voting, but they are not the real deciders in New Jersey’s political system under partisan elections, Gee said.

The municipal building is located at 4 Crawfords Corner Road.