Ho-Ho-Kus September 28, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Intent of educational requirement ordinance clarified by Jennifer Crusco A letter from a concerned resident led the Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Council to clarify its intent in introducing an ordinance that would officially require local elected government officials to attend educational courses. The letter, which was dated Sept. 15, was written by resident Anne O’Neill. The citizen questioned why it was necessary to enact the ordinance, who would pay for the courses, and whether it would be enough for an official to attend the course, without necessarily demonstrating mastery of the course material. She urged the council not to pass the ordinance. “We’re not doing this to check a box on the survey,” Councilman Kevin Shea said at last week’s work session. Mayor Thomas Randall pointed out that the borough’s officials, including council members and those who serve on the zoning and planning boards, already take educational classes. The question on the Best Practices survey, which inspired Ordinance 996, asks if the borough has an ordinance that requires local officials to take classes. Council President John Mongelli said that, during his first six months on the council, he had to ask his colleagues a lot of questions so he could keep up with his peers. He said that exposing new council members to classes about the workings of municipal government makes them assets to the governing body sooner. There is something to be gained by taking the courses, Mayor Randall added, particularly since municipal government has become more complex. As an example, he mentioned the dos and don’ts associated with correspondence – particularly e-mail. Randall noted that council members must be aware of situations in which they might jeopardize attorney/client privilege. The mayor pointed out that education protects the borough and the council members and could keep officials from inadvertently divulging confidential information. Ordinance 996, which would formalize the requirement for educational courses for local government officials, was introduced in August and will be considered for final passage at the governing body’s Sept. 27 session. If approved as introduced, this ordinance would require all of the borough’s elected officials to annually attend at least one basic course concerning the responsibilities and obligations of local government. Appropriate courses would cover budgeting, policy setting, local government contracting, risk management, ethics, compliance with the Open Public Records Act and the Open Public Meetings Act, and other relevant topics. The ordinance states that it is in the borough’s interest to have its elected officials attend basic courses on local government responsibilities and obligations so those officials will be properly informed. In addition, the language of the ordinance acknowledges that the state’s Best Practices questionnaire recommends that municipalities require elected officials to attend such courses. Mayor Randall said that everyone is invited to attend the council’s meetings and is welcome to express any concerns or comments in person. O’Neill’s letter was not listed on the work session agenda, and Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Administrator Don Cirulli explained that the resident’s communiqué had been sent directly to him. In his written response to O’Neill, Cirulli thanked the resident for her letter regarding the Best Practices questionnaire. He noted that the results of the survey determine the amount of state aid provided to Ho-Ho-Kus, and added that the state aid the municipality receives directly affects the real estate taxes residents pay. “To formalize by ordinance, which is a requirement set forth by the state, something that has been done for many years anyway, does not constitute a problem of any kind,” Cirulli wrote. “Government is much more complicated that one realizes. When elected to public office, the average individual, even an experienced business executive or professional has little or no knowledge of: government finance and budgeting, risk management, policy setting, compliance with OPRA, COAH or PEOSHA regulations, the bidding process, government ethics, government contracting, and a myriad of other laws and regulations that must be adhered to on a daily basis. When appointed to a planning board or a zoning board of adjustment, each member is required to become certified through classes and tests in order to make knowledgeable judgments regarding the land use laws of New Jersey. As stated in the ordinance, it is in the best interest of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus to have its elected officials attend basic courses on local government responsibilities and obligations to as to be properly informed. “Most local elected positions throughout the state (and the nation) are part-time and the individuals holding these positions have full-time jobs, so many of these courses are fulfilled in a single day including testing at little or no charge to the attendees.”