Month: April 2016

Council on Local Mandates Strikes Down Police Camera Mandate

Council on Local Mandates Strikes Down Police Camera Mandate

The Council on Local Mandates has deemed New Jersey’s police camera mandate unconstitutional. In response to a legal challenge by Deptford Township, the Council held that P.L. 2014, c. 54 does not provide adequate funding for equipping police vehicles and/or officers with video recording systems.  New Jersey Police Camera Mandate

NJ Appeals Court Decision Highlights Importance of Drafting Clear Zoning Ordinances

NJ Appeals Court Decision Highlights Importance of Drafting Clear Zoning Ordinances

A recent appellate decision reinforces that New Jersey municipalities must exercise care when drafting and amending zoning ordinances. In Nelson’s Corner Assoc. LLC v. Twp. of Hillsborough, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court held that a dialysis center was permitted under the Township of Hillsborough’s local zoning

DLGS Issues Guidance Regarding Financial Disclosure Statements

DLGS Issues Guidance Regarding Financial Disclosure Statements

The Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) recently published guidance regarding the filing of the 2016 financial disclosure statements. The deadline to file is on or before April 30, 2016. Under New Jersey law, local government officers have a statutory obligation to file an annual financial disclosure statement (FDS). N.J.S.A. 40A:

Assembly Advances Municipal Funding Restitution Bill

Assembly Advances Municipal Aid Restitution Bill

The New Jersey Assembly recently advanced legislation that would increase distributions from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund to local municipalities over a period of five years. The goal of the bill (AB 302) is to restore $331 million in municipal aid reductions that took place in Fiscal

U.S. Supreme Court Issues Key Redistricting Decision

U.S. Supreme Court Issues Key Redistricting Decision

In Evenwel v. Abbott, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that a state or locality may draw its legislative districts based on total population. The landmark redistricting case is the first to define the Constitutional principle of “one person, one vote,” which requires jurisdictions to design legislative districts with equal

Proposed Federal Bill Would Preempt Local Drone Oversight

Federal Bill Would Preempt Local Drone Oversight

Drones are increasingly common in the skies over New Jersey. Technically called unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones are being used by hobbyists, businesses, and law enforcement, among others. More than 2.5 million drones will be in U.S. airspace by the end of this year, and the number will increase to

Ocean County Judge Rules Municipalities Responsible for Affordable Housing “Gap Period”

Ocean County Judge Rules Municipalities Responsible for Affordable Housing “Gap Period”

An Ocean County Superior Court Judge recently considered whether the court has the authority to impose an obligation upon municipalities to satisfy the affordable housing need which arose from the end of the second round housing cycle in 1999 to the present. In his opinion, Judge Mark Troncone held that