Pam Lamberton picked as charter study chair
Next meetings to be held Dec. 17, 18 at 7 p.m. in City Hall
Pam Lamberton was selected as charter study commission [CSC] chairperson at the group’s first official meeting, held Monday, Oct. 29.
Lamberton [pictured above, far right] told CSC members she’d like to be chair because she’s wanted to implement a CSC in town for years. Lamberton even worked to have a public question placed on the ballot in 2005, but the CSC was shot down at that election.
“I have experience with the zoning board and I’m familiar with the way city meetings run,” she said of her experience. “I feel the most important of the chairman’s duties would be to make sure everybody is heard, whether they’re in the commission or in the public. I’d make sure it would happen.”
Randy Thompson also said he wanted to be chair, citing his bachelors in political science and his familiarity with Robert’s Rules of Order from overseeing a multi-million budget while he was in student government at Montclair University.
City clerk Steve Kay asked commission members for their official nominations, and CSC member Michelle Maguire nominated Lamberton. Rita Marano seconded the nomination. Lamberton, Maguire and Marano voted yes for Lamberton, while Duanne Small voted no and Randy Thompson abstained.
Small said he felt Lamberton’s membership on the zoning board created a conflict of interest because members of the council appoint the zoning board, and the council could be removed from office as a result of the CSC’s work. After some discussion, Lamberton agreed and said she would resign from the zoning board.
Michelle Maguire was voted vice chairman, receiving yes votes from Lamberton, Marano and herself. Small voted no and Thompson abstained.
The group discussed hiring an outside secretary, who would be responsible for recording meetings and communications, as well as changes in schedule and elections. Small suggested Earl Young, who is secretary of the Democratic Party in Asbury Park, to fill that position, but the group did not decide who they would hire as secretary.
The CSC also discussed its budget. The CSC is entitled to an operational budget under state statute. Group members were assigned different numbers to research — stationary costs, the cost of a secretary, and more — so that they could come back at their next meeting to formulate a budget.
CSCs elsewhere in the state have historically hired consultants to aid them, said Dr. Ernest Reock, of the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers University. Reock is considered to be an expert in the field of CSCs. Reock attended Monday’s meeting and said he would be available at some meetings and by telephone to answer CSC questions at no cost to the commission.
The CSC has not yet nailed down a full meeting schedule, but will hold its next two meetings in council chambers on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
In the future, they anticipate they will also hold public hearings where the public can address them. They will also have a brief public portion at their regular meetings. Meetings may be held at the Springwood Center and West Side Community Center in addition to City Hall.
The charter study commissioner [CSC] was approved with 74 percent of city votes on Election Day. Five city residents established candidacy, and all were elected to the commission.
The CSC is charged with scrutinizing the city’s charter and possibly making recommendations. They have nine months to study the form of government, city attorney Fred Raffetto has said. They are permitted by statute to appoint consultants, as well as clerical or other assistants, Raffetto said.
If they do recommend changes or the adoption of a different form of government, the proposed changes will be put to a vote of either the city council or the electorate, depending on the nature of the changes. As long as the commission’s work is done no less than 60 days before the next general election if a citywide vote is required, the question can be placed on that ballot. If not, a special election can be held.
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[Commission members are pictured above, from left: Randy Thompson, Michelle Maguire, Duanne Small, Rita Marano and Pam Lamberton.]
