August 24, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Ramsey Ramsey Borough Administrator Ed Sandve and CFO Denise Bartalotta are currently at work on the state’s 2011 Best Practices survey. The questionnaire requests information regarding the borough’s general and financial management, public safety, public works, health, energy, and utilities. The scoring of the Best Practices checklist will determine how much of the municipality’s final five percent of aid payment will be disbursed. This year, the criteria will allow for withholdings based on a sliding scale up to the maximum statutorily permitted amount, as appropriate. “We will score very high on the Best Practices survey,” Sandve predicted last week. He said the borough currently follows most of the recommendations that appear on the state’s survey. Ramsey, which operates on a calendar year, as opposed to a fiscal year, is required to submit the document to the state by Sept. Administrator, CFO work on ‘Best Practices’ survey 1. Municipalities that operate on a fiscal year have a submission deadline of April 2, 2012. Last year, the survey included 88 questions. This year, the questionnaire includes 50 questions, which may be answered online. This year’s questions are similar to last year’s, but the state is now allowing municipalities to provide more extensive answers, not just a simple “yes” or “no.” Credit will be given for all “yes” answers and for “not applicable” answers if appropriate explanations are provided. Credit will also be given for “prospective implementation” answers. However, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities recently cautioned that “prospective implementation” should only be given as an answer to a survey question if good faith efforts are under consideration. The state intends to conduct spot checks for compliance. The Best Practices survey was implemented in 2010 as part of Governor Chris Christie’s efforts to make government operate more efficiently, strengthen its accountability, and better manage scarce taxpayers’ resources, the state league noted. In 2010, Best Practices survey questions included: Do you have a personnel manual and/or employee handbook? Has your municipality implemented cost sharing for health benefits of at least 1.5 percent of salary for all employees? Did you adopt your budget without a waiver from the Local Finance Board? Does your municipality have a shared service agreement for firearms range utilization or use of county facilities? Did you evaluate your solid waste removal and recycling costs in the last three years or when contracts expire? Have you conducted energy audits at all municipal facilities to evaluate heating, lighting, ventilation, and air conditioning systems updates that may reduce energy consumption? Amanda provides donation Amanda Garofalo, 6, of Ramsey recently donated her hair to Locks of Love. the organization uses the donations to make wigs and hairpieces for children who have lost their hair due to medical treatments.