DANCER SPONSORED LEGISLATION PASSES ASSEMBLY HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Ronald Dancer that will permit mayors of all townships and villages to hear oaths, affirmations, and affidavits recently passed through the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee by unanimous vote.  In the past, some of these officials were excluded from the permitted list, because in some cases, the mayor in a township form of government could be selected from the governing committee on a rotating basis, and in the format of a village, no mayor is selected, rather the town is governed by a board of trustees, that includes a president and treasurer.

“I am pleased at the overwhelming support of the committee,” stated Dancer (R – Burlington, Monmouth, Ocean, and Mercer).  “Currently, over 25% of the elected officials running towns in New Jersey are in a township form of government, but do not have the same opportunity afforded to the other 75% who can legally hear oaths and affidavits.  This legislation will finally recognize the powers given to them in 1989.”

Dancer was referring to the major revision in the Optional Municipal Charter Law that allowed for the direct election of a mayor in townships and delineated specific powers to that office, and the modification in village law which established that the president of the board of trustees does function like the mayor of a municipality using the township form of government.

“This bill levels the playing field for mayors of all towns, regardless of how they were chosen,” continued Dancer.  “The equality created by this proposal is long overdue.  I urge my colleagues in the General Assembly to support A-559.”

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