The Alternative Press

On November 8^th, voters in South Orange will be asked to weigh in on three municipal questions which are proposing what are purported to be “minor” amendments to the Village Charter.  I fail to see how these changes are minor and, in fact, see two of the three as significant decisions that local residents should attend to: 

1. Should we remove “Township” for the Village name?
2. Should we change the following titles?  Village President, Village Trustee, and Board of Trustees to Mayor, Council Member, and Town Council.
3. Should we grant annual stipends to the Village President and Village Trustees?

Here is how I weigh in:

Circa 1869 South Orange Township included both Maplewood and South Orange.  By 1872, the founders and builders of what we now think of as South Orange established this Village under what is called a “Special Charter”.  The Special Charter is a unique form of Government in New Jersey that differs from more traditional forms of government (See the New Jersey League of Municipalities for a complete definition of the various forms of government in NJ: http://www.njslom.org/types.html.) Today, South Orange is one of only eleven municipalities in a total of 566 in the state of New Jersey that is governed by Special Charter.  Our Special Charter is based on the Village form of government and is non-partisan in nature.  In 1977, it appears that the main reason the Village adopted Township as a part of its official name was in order to qualify for federal funds that were not otherwise available to various types of municipalities including boroughs, cities, towns, or villages.  Today, this “name qualification” no longer pertains to federal funding and appears unnecessary.  As such, I have little objection to dropping Township from the Village’s title. 

I do, however, strongly object to changing the titles of Village President, Village Trustee, and Board of Trustees.  Contrary to what Village President Torpey noted in his last week’s opinion piece in the News Record, there is little confusion as to who has governed South Orange for the last 140 years. Furthermore, a change to mayor and council might also be utilized in the future to move toward a partisan election system which clearly was not the intent of the founders and builders of South Orange.

For over 140 years our Village has followed its Special Charter, as amended from time to time, identifying its governing body as a Board of Trustees with a Village President and Village Trustees.  Changing those titles would be changing an important and unique part of Village history and the intent of its founders and builders.   I urge South Orange residents to vote “no” on Question 2.

As for instituting a stipend for our governing body, in this era of fiscal responsibility, I must say that I am opposed.  Serving as Village President and Village Trustee is an honor that has a tradition in volunteerism.  I therefore urge South Orange residents to vote “no” on Question 3.

Sincerely,

Amy Dahn

Sixteen year resident of South Orange

Past President of the Montrose Park Historic District Association