Meeting The Municipalities

Riverkeeper Exhibits at Annual League of Municipalities Convention

 in Atlantic City

 

By Hugh M. Carola

 

Atlantic City, NJ - Here in this city by the sea, the staff of Hackensack Riverkeeper is participating for the second year in a row at the annual conference of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Taking place at the world-famous Atlantic City Convention Center, the conference offers delegates the opportunity to learn from and ask questions of a vast array of exhibitors representing a myriad of products and services available to local governments. Last year, more than 20,000 delegates, participants and guests attended the conference.

“We’re here in support of the Phase Two Stormwater Regulations, the expansion of Category One protections to all drinking water resources, and we’re here to explain to everyone who will listen that it’s in every town’s best interest to protect the environment,” explained Captain Bill Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper’s executive director.

There are 566 municipalities and over 13,000 elected and appointed officials whose job it is to govern them. The demands on their time can be incredible. There is tremendous competition among municipalities for tax ratables and income. Often, this “ratables chase” leads to sprawl development - the loss of open space and other public trust resources resulting not in gains but in net losses for municipalities. Ratable chases often lead towns around and around in a vicious circle that never ends.

Basically what happens is this: “Jerseyville” needs more property tax revenues to keep pace with rising municipal costs so it makes a 30-acre tract of woods available to a developer who builds 100 townhouses on it. Once completed and sold, the units house 200 children (less than the current U.S. average of 2.1 children per household). This influx of school-age children is equal to nearly seven new 30-pupil classrooms, which means more teachers, which means either a property tax hike or a cut in school services. Sooner or later, Jerseyville is going to need to raise revenues again to keep pace with rising municipal costs so…

“One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned working in the Meadowlands is that towns can have it both ways,” said Capt. Bill. “Every municipality has opportunities for redevelopment if they take the time to look. “There’s no need for them to sacrifice what little open space they have in order to chase ratables - that’s what the new Meadowlands Master Plan is all about.”

Attending the Conference with Hackensack Riverkeeper are staffers from NY/NJ Baykeeper who joined with Hackensack Riverkeeper in unveiling the successful Passaic River Patrol (see Hackensack Tidelines, Summer 2004) to the rest of New Jersey. The Patrol recently finished its inaugural season and in addition to drawing attention to that much-maligned waterway, it is also serving as an example of a public/private partnership that can be emulated around the state.

“Not only are we glad to be here,” said Capt. Bill, “we’re happy to be a resource for any municipality that’s seeking better ways to serve its citizens and their environment.”