BY LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK
WEST MILFORD — There will be no move to secede from Passaic County, at least not this year.
The township council agreed there is too much legwork still to be done before putting a non-binding referendum on the ballot for voters to weigh in on whether to move forward with secession from Passaic County and a move to Morris County. Also, this year’s voter turnout isn’t expected to be heavy even though it is a mayoral election. Next year is the presidential election which brings out many more voters.
Councilwoman Marilyn Lichtenberg started the discussion Wednesday night in response to the Economic Development Commission’s suggestion to put the question to voters this November. Lichtenberg attended the special EDC meeting on June 29 where the commission agreed to bring the idea to the council. She wants a larger turnout from township voters and more information.
“This November is a smaller election. There’s not a big turnout,” said Lichtenberg. “Next year is a presidential election. And we need to get all of the information out to people. A lot of legwork needs to be done. I would be against it being on the ballot this November.”
Her council colleagues agreed.
“We have to give the public a well-prepared plan,” said Councilwoman Vivienne Erk.
Councilwoman Michele Dale suggested collecting the data and, before putting the question on the ballot next year, do a poll via an online petition on the township’s website.
“Collect the data and get a read from the township and then decide whether to go to referendum,” said Dale Wednesday night.
The council sent it back to the EDC to do the legwork. They want to know specifics so the public knows exactly what they are voting on.
A different approachAt the EDC special meeting, the consensus of the commission was just the opposite - to see if the people of West Milford are even interested before doing more homework.
“Should the township spend time and effort on something people don't want?” asked EDC member Michael Gerst at the special meeting. “Let’s just ask the question on the ballot.” After the question is answered, then the township would approach Morris County with concrete ideas.
EDC member Dave Ofshinsky said the move is strictly economic, nothing political is involved.
EDC Chairman Steve Drew had said that Morris County, being more rural than Passaic County, could provide guidance to the township with the Highlands Act compliance and more. Morris County can provide needed guidance that Passaic County simply has not.
“Morris County has more experience living within the Highlands rules,” Drew told the Messenger before the special meeting. “Morris County can give us more support than Passaic County."
“Simple nonsense”In contrast to those who spoke at the EDC special meeting, the few residents who addressed the council Wednesday were not in favor of moving forward with secession.
Resident Renee Allessio said she would love to pay less in taxes but doesn’t think moving the township to Morris County is “the panacea we envision.” To refute the point that Morris is handling the Highlands better than Passaic and could offer guidance, Allessio pointed out that Passaic County was the first county to come into conformance with the Highlands Act and whoseplan has gotten approval from the Highlands Commission. Neither Morris, Sussex nor Hunterdon counties have gotten their final approval.
Talking economics, she also questioned how much it would cost to move on with this plan, a plan that all agree is a long shot at best.
“We shouldn’t be wasting our time on false hopes of tax reduction through secession,” said Allessio, who works for the county Health Department.
Resident Bob Pawlo said he called the Morris County administrator, who knew nothing of West Milford’s plan. He also said if West Milford is successful in its bid to secede, they would be taking with it its share of Passaic County’s debt.
Plus, he said, Millburn and Montclair spent millions of dollars in legal fees in an attempt to secede from Essex County more than a decade ago and went nowhere.
“The possibility of seceding is nearly impossible,” said Pawlo. “Any tax relief would be simple nonsense.”
It’s a long shot for sureOfshinsky told the council he was pleased they want the EDC to continue the research into this issue. He said the EDC did do its homework, speaking with state legislators. And he stressed that the impetus here is mostly economic.
“Passaic County has the highest tax rate in the entire country,” said Ofshinski. “The EDC is willing to do its homework.”
“I like the fact the EDC is thinking outside the box,” said Councilman Lou Signorino. “Maybe by making noise the county will treat us better.”
No municipality has seeded from one county and moved to another in New Jersey since 1931 when Washington Township in Gloucester County merged with Gloucester Township in Camden County. Other towns have tried and failed since then including Secaucus, Mount Olive and a group of five Essex County towns that wanted to leave because of carrying a high tax burden. None was successful.
What do you think? Should the council get the details first or find out if people are even interested in seceding? Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and let us know.