(TRENTON) — Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee Chairman John F. McKeon today issued a multimedia package on his committee’s Monday discussion on making it easier for municipalities in New Jersey to share services.
The multimedia package consists of a video of comments from McKeon (D-Essex) and audio and a transcript of same.
The video can be accessed directly via our website — www.assemblydems.com — or by clicking here.
The audio file is available upon request.
A transcript of McKeon’s comments is appended below:
“What we’re looking to, as a part of the overall review for systemic reform, is consolidation. You know, can there really be cost savings by allowing certain services and municipalities to be consolidated with others — what I refer to as ‘public to public’ agreements.
“And I think we’ll be quite productive in determining what the challenges are to those kind of agreements happening and how, legislatively, we might make things easier for communities that have the will to do so — to get together and save money.
“The end game is hopefully to save money.
“If you allow their [municipal] local officials, who they [residents] have the wisdom to put into place, the ability to consolidate, then that’s what the Legislature is supposed to do.
“I don’t think we should force our will on municipalities to merge, or ‘You should do this together or that together.’
“But we should make the rules such that if they have the will to do so and all of the issues — the local issues — that go with that, that they’re enabled.”