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It was interesting to compare Jessica de Koninck and Bob Russo's comments on the council-manager form of Montclair government in the March issue. I'd like to add my comments, also noting that the Mayor speaks for himself and not necessarily for the Council, especially when the Council has not voted on a specific issue.

The League of Women Voters 2003 New Jersey Citizens Guide to Government states that the Council-Manager form of government under the Faulkner Act "places complete responsibility for municipal affairs in the council. The council appoints a municipal manager who is the chief executive with broad authority".

The council has "complete responsibility". Also the responsibility to set the policies that the Manager is empowered to enforce and to evaluate the manager's effectiveness. It is essential that the council provide the necessary leadership and work as a team with the manager and the community to determine what these policies and ordinances should be. I agree that we need to be responsive to the community, but not just to those who speak publicly, but also those who might not have the political experience or, frankly, time or energy to pursue their individual goals. We need to balance needs and think about the entire community; almost always a choice between providing additional services and controlling property taxes.

As we move into a transition period, we must take the opportunity to define where we want to go and how to get there most effectively and efficiently. I look forward to constructive input from the community as we proceed towards the future.

The problems we face are not this form of government. It has worked for Montclair and other New Jersey communities and seems to me to be the most feasible in our current complex society. It is our responsibility to make it work well.

Times

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Montclair's
Form of
Municipal
Government

To the Editor, The Montclair Times

In response to your recent editorial, I want to remind the public that all candidates are required to have a registered campaign fund and to report donations and expenses on a specified time table around an election or, if continued thereafter, quarterly. These reports can be accessed at www.elec.state.nj.us. Funds for my November 2002 election were raised primarily for printing, postage and advertising - something that The Montclair Times could alleviate! These reports guarantee some controls. However, if a voter believes that a candidate is, or could be, overly influenced by a supporter, they should take this into consideration when they cast their vote. Trust is the key. Regulations, unfortunately, can be subverted.

As to variations in our form of government, a referendum can be passed for one of several variations under the Council/Manager form of government. These options are: the holding of regular municipal elections in May (non-partisan) versus at general elections in November; the election of all council members at large versus by wards; the election of all council members for concurrent terms versus staggered; the direct election of the mayor versus his/her selection by the council members; and, the number of council members (3, 5, 7 or 9).

All of these options should be considered in respect to the costs, voter turnout, the qualifications of the candidates, and the resulting make up of the council. I'd be happy to share my own observations with interested citizens.