1. There
is hereby established in, but not of, the Department of Community
Affairs, a State Agency Coordinating Council on Local Partnerships
(Council) which shall be composed of fifteen members including
representatives of State agencies which have substantial involvement
with units of local government, local authorities and representatives
of municipalities and county governments.
2. The Commissioners
of the Departments of Community Affairs, Environmental Protection
and Energy, Health, Transportation, Personnel, Treasury, Education
and the Office of State Planning shall each appoint a representative
to the Council. The Attorney General shall appoint a representative
from the Department of Law and Public Safety. The Governor shall
also appoint one additional State representative. The Governor
shall also appoint five representatives of municipalities and
county government. The Council may recommend to the Governor the
addition of other State agency or local representatives. The chair
and vice-chair of the Council shall be designated by the Governor
from among the Council members.
3. The Council
is established for the purpose of:
a. Increasing
responsiveness to initiatives for the provision of joint local
services;
b. Developing
outreach to identify and publicize opportunities for the joint
provision of local services;
c. Creating
a data base consisting of fiscal, economic, operational and
other relevant data to be shared with local governments and
to provide a basis for evaluating joint service opportunities;
d. Compiling
and maintaining an inventory of case studies on local partnerships
which would serve as a basis for comparing the experience of
local joint service arrangements in New Jersey and other states;
and
e. Providing
other "clearinghouse" and reference services.
4. The Council
shall extend technical assistance to units of local government
on interlocal and regional concerns, including, but not limited
to: local police services, local health services, county environmental
health; public works; fire services; public education services;
code enforcement; planning and land use; cooperative purchasing;
joint insurance fund; and joint municipal courts.
5. The Council
shall arrange for studies of regional approaches to the provision
of joint services; develop guidelines for pilot projects as well
as full implementation of interlocal services; and sponsor the
development, through the State colleges, State universities and
the private sector, of models for various local partnerships and
privatization options.
6. The Council
shall cooperate with Statewide local government organizations
in conducting or sponsoring seminars and workshops on interlocal
services and attendant concerns.
7. The Council
shall evaluate requests for State funds, as are presently or in
the future made available, to carry out the objectives of this
Order, and recommend actions and priorities to the appropriate
administrative agencies.
8. The Division
of Local Government Services (Division) in the Department of Community
Affairs shall request from all local governments as part of the
annual local budget process, a report on any joint service opportunities
considered in the previous year and any prospects for the following
year. The Division shall provide such Report to the Council to
serve as a basis for its outreach, research and follow-up activities.
9. The Council
is authorized to call upon any department, office, division or
agency of this State to supply it with data and any other information,
personnel or assistance it deems necessary to discharge its duties
under this Order. Each department, office, division or agency
of this State is hereby required, to the extent not inconsistent
with the law, to cooperate with the Council and furnish it with
such information, personnel and assistance as is necessary to
accomplish the purpose of this Order. The Attorney General shall
act as legal counsel to the Council.
10. This
Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal this
6th day of August in the Year of Our
Lord, one thousand nine hundred and
ninety-two, and of the Independence
of the United States, the two hundred
and seventeenth.
/s/
James J. Florio
GOVERNOR