Conference Courier

New Jersey Conference of Mayors

Conference CourierNews and Updates from The NJCM

June, 2021

410 Riverview Plaza • Trenton, New Jersey 08611 • T: 609-989-9216 F: 609-989-9595 • [email protected] • www.njcm.org

From the NJCM President:

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A Special Thanks to Those Who Find Light in the Darkness...

As we try to pull our towns through this pandemic we see a fuzzy light at the end of the tunnel. None of us really know what to expect. Our com-munities have been turned upside-down. Many residents lost loved

ones or know someone that has been directly affected by this global pandemic. For many people, it was as if a switch was turned off and people’s income dropped, business closed leaving those individuals in a state of despair and overall people’s livehood directly took a hit. As mayors, we witnessed families that struggled to feed their families as well citizens, especially senior citizens, became isolated and depressed. The global pandemic also rapidly increased our drug and alcohol abuse rate creating another epidemic in itself. As if this was not bad enough our town revenues have taken a monumental hit.

So what about the fuzzy light at the end of the tunnel? The light just keeps getting brighter. We have witnessed an outpouring of humanity in this past year. Many have said volunteerism is dead, but this past year has proven this statement wrong. The outpouring of kindness has cleared the light to brighter days ahead. Many of our residents went the extra mile in working with differ-ent agencies and faith-based organizations to help those in need. The American spirit is still strong and thriving. Better days are truly on the horizon. A special thanks to those who always find the light through the darkness.

We are thrilled to announce that the NJCM Annual

Conference has been re-scheduled to

September 13-15, 2021

at the Hard Rock

Hotel & Casino Atlantic City

We will continue to up-date you with information

about the Conference in the months ahead.

NJCM Annual Conference

Rescheduled

Mayor William Chegwidden currently has served as Presi-dent of the New Jersey Con-ference of Mayors since 2019. He has served as the Mayor of the Borough of Wharton since 2001. He is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University where he received both his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts in History.

Page 2 NJCM CONFERENCE COURIER June, 2021

Well certainly the COVID-19 VIRUS adversely impacted us all in so many different ways. in our personal lives and our business lives with an overwhelmingly concern for the health and well being of those dear to us and those directly impacted by the Virus. Hopefully we are now finally very close to being back to somewhat normal.

During the past year and a half while NJCM Officers and Staff operated basically Virtually from their homes or private offices, conducting conference calls etc. to continue operations in an outstanding way and all parties are to be commended on their dedication to getting the job done.

During this past year and a half The New Jersey Conference of Mayors has had to postpone their NJCM Annual Mayors Conference three consecutive times, two times in year 2020 and one time in the Spring of current year 2021 and it is now scheduled for September 13-15 of this year ( 2021) at the Hard Rock Hotel/ Casino in Atlantic City and based on the current significant easing of COVIC restrictions we are planning, finally, on conducting The Mayors Conference at that time and place. (A wonderful opportunity for an in-person gathering of elected officials at all levels, exhibitors, business council members and panelists to participate in our programs, events and network with one another.)Please mark your calendars to attend this 57th Annual Mayors Conference. More information will be forthcoming in the near future regarding the event. (Obviously if there are still any COVID restrictions in place at that time they will be enforced).

Recently the NJCM Executive Board reached out to all NJCM member Mayors advising them of current vacancies existing on the NJCM Board of Directors and providing anyone interested in nominating themselves for consideration to be appointed to the Board of Directors by the current members of the Board of Directors-this being an option as prior to the annual confer-ences elections are normally conducted to fill vacancies. This proactive action resulted in fifteen Mayors being nominated to fill vacancies with all fifteen being appointed to the NJCM Board of Directors. BOD membership is limited to four Mayors per County.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Mayors below on their appointment to the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors.

It is our intention to provide a number of WEBINARS addressing current topics of interest to Mayors during the summer months-look for publicity concerning same in your emails.

Looking forward to more normal times and hope everyone enjoys the summer.

From the Executive Director:

John F. Morrissey, NJCM Executive Director and Former Mayor, 18 years Merchantville.

Page 3NJCM CONFERENCE COURIER June, 2021

Atlantic County Mayor Erland Chau

Mayor Nick Russo

Northfield

Long Port

Bergen County

Bergen County

Bergen County

Mayor Kristine Moairko

Mayor Richard Bolan

Mayor Chris Chung

Glen Rock

Maywood

Palisades Park

Hunterdon County Mayor Michelle Lee

Mayor Brad Myhre

High Bridge

Frenchtown

Monmouth County Mayor Charles Cocuzza Union Beach

Morris County Mayor Mark Taylor Florham Park

Passaic County Mayor Richard Goldberg

Mayor Keith Kazmark

Mayor Mike Serra

Hawthorne

Woodland Park

Pompton Lakes

Sussex County Mayor Brian Kaminski Hardyston Twp

Salem County

Salem County

Mayor Ken Brown

Mayor Don Asay

Carneys Point

Mannington Twp.

4/19/2021

APPOINTMENTS TO NJCM BOARD OF DIRECTORS(nominations did not exceed vacancies in any County)


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New Jersey is in the midst of a significant energy transition, with the goal of reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.

This transition will mean the energy relied on by millions of families and businesses throughout the state will be cleaner, more sustainable and better aligned with long-term clean energy goals.

As a leading energy company headquartered in New Jersey that keeps homes warm and businesses running for over half a mil-lion customers, including many along the Jersey Shore, New Jersey Resources (NJR) is embracing this transition and leading the way on sustainability priorities that impact our state.

For us, it’s personal. The Jersey Shore is our company’s home. It’s where our employees and customers live and work. It’s our communities that are on the front lines of many climate impacts.

We understand that we all have a role to play in this fight, and we recognize the importance of operating our business sustain-ably, protecting the environment and stepping up to be a part of the solution.

It’s a responsibility we take seriously.

That’s why NJR has rolled out a far-reaching sustainability agenda that touches every part of our business. This agenda builds on our strong track record of environmental stewardship, while ensuring safe, reliable energy for our customers.

With a focus on innovation, conservation, emissions reductions and expanding energy-efficiency opportunities for homes and businesses, we’re putting this agenda into action and getting results for New Jersey and the communities we serve – at the Jersey Shore and beyond.

New Jersey Resources Leading in the Climate Fight from the Jersey ShoreBy Steve Westhoven, President and CEO of New Jersey Resources

Steve Westhoven is the President and CEO of New Jersey Resources, parent company of New Jersey Natural Gas, serving customers in Ocean, Monmouth, Morris and Burlington counties.


Across our New Jersey operations, we’ve already made tremendous progress reducing our emissions and building the clean energy economy of tomorrow.

At New Jersey Natural Gas, our principal subsidiary, we’ve invested nearly $2 billion to upgrade our infrastructure over the last decade. During that time, we became the first natural gas utility in the state to eliminate all leak-prone cast iron from our distribution system, and later this year will become the first to replace all unprotected steel as well.

Prioritizing these investments has made our natural gas distribution system the most environmentally sound in the entire state – and among the best in the entire country, as measured by leaks per mile.

The strong environmental profile of NJNG’s natural gas distribution system, along with other sustainability efforts at NJR, translates directly into emissions reductions for our state and the communities we serve.

We were proud to recently announce we reached our voluntary goal of cutting emissions from our New Jersey operations by over 50% from 2006 levels. Not stopping there, we set a new, higher goal for a 60% reduction by 2030.

On the clean energy front, NJR is already the largest owner-operator of solar assets in New Jersey, with over $1 billion invested over the last decade. These solar assets produce enough clean energy to power nearly 56,000 homes every year.

Moving forward, we’re committed to making investments that grow our business and prioritize sustainability. Over the next four years, more than 50% of our capital expenditures will be made in sustainability investments.

Solar and renewables will continue to be a big part of the energy transition and a priority for our company. What is less widely known are the exciting changes taking place in other parts of the energy economy that will be critical to reaching the clean energy future.

Natural gas – relied on by 82% of homes and businesses in NJNG’s service territory – is no exception.

Cutting-edge innovations like Green Hydrogen and Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) can be integrated directly into existing natural gas delivery systems serving customers today, making the energy we deliver to our customers even cleaner, and lower-ing emissions across the board.

Green hydrogen is energy with zero carbon footprint, made by using electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind to create hydrogen, which can be blended directly into gas distribution systems. Renewable Natural Gas is biogas occurring in landfills, food waste streams and wastewater treatment plants, that can be captured and processed into pipeline quality for use in natural gas systems, rather than being burned off or released into the atmosphere.

Our company is working to develop these technologies today, right here in our own backyard, bringing their environmental and economic benefits to our customers, communities and state as quickly as possible.

At NJR, we are committed to doing our part to reduce emissions, build the clean energy economy and showing leadership in the fight against climate change.

And we’re doing it from right here at the Jersey shore.

Learn more about our efforts at www.NJRSustainability.com

New Jersey Resources continued from previous page


Now more than ever, Atlantic City Electric appreciates its customers’ difficulties and challenges, especially since the coronavirus pandemic has turned jobs and lives upside down.

“We understand many of our customers are facing challenges paying their electric bills, particularly due to COVID-19 and the economic impact,” says Alita Corbett, senior community relations specialist. “The most important thing to know is that you have options.”

The most important step for those who are past due on their Atlantic City Electric bill is to call 800-642-3780 or visit atlantic-cityelectric.com/help. Don’t wait until you’re in crisis to contact them. Millions of dollars in energy assistance are available for customers.

Atlantic City Electric works closely with its community partners to connect customers with grants and programs such as LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. LIHEAP provides grants up to $1,000 based on a household’s income size, type of fuel, and type of dwelling, with no repayment required. Customers can apply for LIHEAP energy as-sistance through the Department of Community Affairs website, by contacting their local LIHEAP Agency, or by calling 800-510-3102. Residents also can access the Department of Community Affairs self-screening tool to help determine what energy assistance benefits they may qualify for.

When you connect with Atlantic City Electric, a representative will work with you to overcome difficulties you have paying your energy bill.

“Our goal is to keep every customer connected and we want you to know we’re here to help,” says Michelle Aldridge, customer care manager.

Some of the key solutions include:• Flexible payment arrangements that offer tailored payment plans• Elimination of down payment and/or security deposit requirements

Energy Assistance Options Available to Atlantic City Electric Customers



• Extending payment periods for balances, giving you more time pay• Connecting you with energy-assistance funds that can help financially with your electric bills

Atlantic City Electric also offers Budget Billing, which averages payments over 12-months to make it easier for your energy bill to fit your budget and prevent seasonal peaks. Customers who have the financial ability, can help support those in need by contributing to the New Jersey SHARES Good Neighbor Energy Fund or the Gift of Energy program. Learn how at atlantic-cityelectric.com/help.

Other programs supporting Atlantic City Electric customers include:• The Universal Service Fund (USF) helps ensure energy bills are more affordable for eligible customers. Call 800-510-3102

or visit energyassistance.nj.gov for information.• New Jersey SHARES is a nonprofit corporation that provides assistance to income eligible customers. Visit njsharesgreen.

org or call 866-657-4273.• The Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric (PAGE) program provides relief on natural gas and electric bills for low- and

moderate-income customers experiencing a temporary financial crisis. Customers can call 732-982-8710 or visit njpow-eron.org.

• Lifeline is a utility assistance program that offers $225 to persons who meet certain income guidelines. Utility customers as well as tenants whose utility bills are included in their rent can call 800-792-9745 for details.

The pandemic has impacted the lives of so many in ways that most would not have imagined. Atlantic City Electric is here to make sure you know that you are not alone. They are here to help and are committed to each customer’s energy needs. Power on with Atlantic City Electric.

Energy Assistancecontinued from previous page


Spending time outdoors is innate within us and improves both mental and physical health. When we spend time outside, we just feel better. But it’s more than a feeling –

science backs us up. Spending time outside is beneficial to all aspects of health and has some interesting outcomes, includ-ing stress reduction and increased overall well-being. Outdoor spaces became increasingly important – and we were remind-ed of their importance – during the last year. Our communities sought places to move, to roam, adventure, exercise, play and be together while distanced. The last year also revealed that when we’re all outside, we need more parks, playgrounds and recreation areas to accommodate everyone and allow people of all ages and abilities to experience the benefits of outdoor play.

The benefits of creating more spaces outdoors are vast and range from child development and intergenerational engage-ment to better community health and increased home values. We know children develop through play and that when they play, their development is child-directed and based in fun. Through play children learn social, emotional, cognitive

and communication skills while developing physically and learning to solve problems creatively. These are all impor-tant skills that they will learn now and build on for the fu-ture. Adults and children can develop together through play too. Intergenerational engagement strengthens communities and brings generations together for healthy and meaningful activities. Outdoor fitness is a great way to engage people of all ages in a healthy and fun activity. Obstacle courses cre-ate a fun way for kids, families and communities to exercise and play at the same time and the best ones are designed with different levels of fitness in mind to get everyone a workout they are comfortable with and still challenge them to do more. Obstacle courses speak to our desire to compete against our-selves and others and have worked their way into popular culture with television programs and events that tap into that popularity. Everyone from fitness beginners to fitness mature can exercise at their level on the same equipment using simple modifications and/or different approaches. For example, plyo-metric jumps are a more difficult exercise than toe touches or step-ups, yet all three can be accomplished using a simple

Play and Recreation Spaces are Crucial to Healthy Communities By Sarah Lisiecki – Marketing, Communications & Education Specialist – BCI Burke


As a Marketing, Communications & Education Specialist with BCI Burke, Sarah combines a passion for play, the outdoors and movement with years of marketing and speaking experience. She studied Communications and Political Science at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, holds numerous fitness instructor certifications and obtained her Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification. As an advocate for play as a critical part of development, she serves on the Steering Committee of the US Play Coalition and presents at a variety of conferences, Lunch and Learns and events. She spends her spare time hiking, run-ning, biking and climbing with loved ones and of course, her three rescue dogs.


plyometric block that is part of an obstacle course. Adding push-ups or burpees before or after an event is another way to increase the difficulty and add cardiovascular and strength challenges. Part of what is so endearing about these courses is that people can be creative and tailor a workout that chal-lenges them!

The health and wellness of a community is impacted by the amount of recreation spaces within. Research says that active communities just do better. Obesity rates are 10% lower, peo-ple smoke less, 18% fewer residents have high blood pressure and even graduation rates are higher. The communities with increased scores spend $20 or more per resident on parks and recreation areas and see the benefit of higher property values. They also attract tourists, businesses, festivals, conventions and other events to the area while giving their residents an increased quality of life and making their communities better places to live and work.

Creating spaces outdoors also brings equity to our communi-ties. Having places to exercise that don’t require childcare or membership fees make it more accessible to people from vari-ous socio-economic backgrounds. Placing outdoor musical instruments in open spaces or as part of a play environment offers all people the social, cognitive and language benefits derived from musical exploration. When all our community members have access to healthy, educational opportunities, it elevates the entire community.

Sometimes it takes a new approach to see what we can im-prove upon and what we need. Spending time outside is what’s always there even when things are uncertain and changing – especially when things are uncertain and changing. Play, play-grounds and recreation areas remain crucial to both personal and community development and we need more of them.

If you’re seeking to upgrade or add to your community’s out-door spaces, contact Ben Shaffer Recreation at 973-663-2021 or visit benshaffer.com for more information.

Play & Recreation continued from previous page

Burke Sustainability: Being ISO 14001:2015 certified means we have strict environmental controls built into our manufacturing process. We get 100% of our energy from wind and other renewable resources. This helped us earn the Green Power Partner designation from the US Environmental Protection Agency – the only playground manufacturer to achieve this!


Federal, state and local government continue to take action regulating compounds in our drinking water to help protect public health. As these actions continue, it is crucial that water utilities evaluate their options for achieving compliance by taking a long, hard look at what best suits their operations and the communities they serve.

Providing safe and reliable water service is New Jersey American Water’s business and the basis of customer trust. We are recognized as an industry leader and work cooperatively with the USEPA and the NJDEP so that implementation of existing drinking water standards and development of new regulations will produce benefits for our customers.

In the face of emerging compounds and newly regulated ones like PFAS, New Jersey American Water combines the dedication of water quality experts, cutting-edge research, and advanced technology to recognize potential issues, optimize treatment, and engineer sustainable solutions. We can’t always control what is found in source water, but we can monitor, test and treat to continue to deliver high quality water to customers’ taps.

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of manufactured organic chemicals that are used in a variety of products, such as Scotchgard, for their nonstick properties, as well as in industrial applications such as firefighting. Due to the manner in which they are used, PFAS can make their way into drinking water supplies. There are thousands of PFAS compounds, which have most commonly been detected in groundwater but have also been detected at elevated concentrations in surface waters.

PFAS are not to be taken lightly. They have been linked to various toxicological issues and are highly persistent in the environ-ment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set minimum PFAS standards and New Jersey was the first state to set a maximum contaminant level of PFAS.

New Jersey American Water has proactively worked to address PFAS and ensure that our communities have safe drinking wa-ter. We installed a cutting-edge temporary treatment system that uses anion exchange resins to remove PFAS from the source water at our Short Hills Well Station. These resins are specifically designed to remove PFAS with less maintenance over time. This new technology not only removes PFAS contaminants that are already regulated, but also has shown the ability to remove shorter-chain PFAS more effectively than other methods. New Jersey American Water was awarded the 2020 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award for pioneering the use of this technology at our Short Hills Station.

New Regulations Mean New Thinking On Water TreatmentBy Denise Venuti Free, Director of Communications & External Affairs, New Jersey American Water



Similarly, we constructed a new treatment system for PFAS removal at our Springfield Station that also used anion exchange resin. This proactive and innovative approach earned New Jersey American Water the New Jersey Alliance for Action’s Leading Infrastructure Project Award in February 2021.

In other instances, we determined the most appropriate course of action was to remove the PFAS presence was to remove ground water sources from service. When confronted with PFAS at our Green Brook and Charles Street Stations, our solution was to convert these facilities to booster stations, bringing treated surface water from our Canal Road and Raritan - Millstone Water Treatment Plants into service areas that previously received only ground water. This is an example where we leveraged our size and capabilities within our large network of water treatment facilities to solve an issue in an efficient, cost effective manner.

Recently, we were also able to leverage our capabilities to assist a community outside of our service area. To remain compliant with new PFAS standards, the City of Camden recently entered into a 10-year bulk water agreement with New Jersey American Water. This will enable the city to supplement its water supply and continue to provide safe, clean drinking water to residents, as well as adequate quantity and pressure for essential services, while the City installs improvements to its current system.

As NJDEP and USEPA continue to establish new drinking water standards, we will continue to leverage our size and expertise to meet them while also offering solutions to other communities that need assistance. We will continue to look for new, in-novative and cost-effective ways to continue to provide drinking water for the millions of New Jersey residents we serve that is clean, safe and readily available.

New Regulations continued from previous page


During this past year, no emergency affected every New Jersey city and town more than the COVID-19 public health cri-sis. The pandemic illustrated why all of us, from first responders to online students, need to stay connected. Thanks to AT&T’s public-private partnership with the federal First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority), FirstNet

answered the call – ensuring first responders had a high-speed wireless broadband network every step of the way.

Before FirstNet, first responders struggled to reliably communicate and coordinate across agencies and jurisdictions. The tragic events of 9/11 underscored this, making it clear that public safety needed a better way to communicate. So, Congress acted on the 9/11 Commission Report’s recommendation to create a dedicated network for public safety. FirstNet was born to improve public safety communications in New Jersey and nationwide.

FirstNet is designed to serve every first responder in the Garden State. Now more than ever, the FirstNet connectivity for medi-cal and other emergency response personnel – including nurses and physicians – is essential to responding to the pandemic, administering the vaccine and helping get our communities back to normal.

Since the onset of COVID-19, FirstNet has been nimble, adaptable and ready to scale. We are providing fast and prioritized connectivity at testing, quarantine and vaccination sites and deploying assets and adding capacity to the network. More than 15,000 agencies and organizations across the country – ranging from the Atlantic City and Cranford Police Departments to FEMA, FBI and the U.S. Coast Guard to name a few – are using over two million FirstNet connections to respond to emergen-cies and disasters every day.

FirstNet: Answering the Call in New Jersey During COVID-19By: Joseph Divis, Interim President, AT&T New Jersey

A network built for managing the unexpectedFirstNet is here.

Learn more at FirstNet.com

©2021 AT&T Intellectual Property. FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Day-in and day-out, you support the community – sometimes in the face of natural disasters, critical emergencies, and communication challenges. Here’s why more than 14,000 agencies, accounting for over 1.7 million devices receiving First Priority®, have already joined FirstNet:

For more information about FirstNet in New Jersey, contact Rick Koehler at 732-216-4972 or [email protected].

• Priority and Preemption always-on for first responders• Interoperability when you need it most• Increased Coverage in rural areas

• Dedicated customer support• No Throttling anywhere in the U.S.



First responders on FirstNet can request portable network assets to boost connectivity during planned and emergency events. The FirstNet Response Operations Group – managed by a team of former first responders – have responded to requests to augment the network at quarantine locations, testing sites and field hospitals across the country. Here at home, we supported drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites in Paramus and Weequahic Park in Newark. We also worked to ensure connectivity for the USNS Comfort in New York and the USNS Mercy in Los Angeles. These naval medical treatment facilities were utilized to alleviate the overcrowding in local hospitals.

FirstNet provided connectivity to support field hospitals at the Atlantic City Convention Center, the Meadowlands and the Edison Convention Center.

On the vaccine front, Capital Health is using FirstNet on tablets and smartphones to check in patients at its Trenton and Hopewell inoculation sites in Mercer County, while Inspira Health Network in Mullica Hill, Gloucester County, is using FirstNet for stand-alone hotspots and smartphones with hotspot capability at its vaccination site.

In addition to supporting frontline first responders, FirstNet is also available to the extended emergency response community. These users are called on to help support first responders during times of emergency and in its aftermath. These extended pri-mary users include essential government services, public health, education, transportation and utilities.

We’ve been continually investing in our network in New Jersey to help keep FirstNet subscribers – and all our customers – con-nected. AT&T customers as well as FirstNet subscribers in New Jersey received a major boost in wireless connectivity with the launch of new cell sites in more than a dozen counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Essex, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, and Sussex.

These investments in New Jersey’s cities and towns will help our residents, businesses, and first responders by filling coverage gaps and providing fast and reliable service. These additions not only improve service for all customers, but they also offer first responders a dedicated lane of connectivity on public safety’s Band 14 spectrum.

Band 14 is nationwide, high-quality spectrum set aside by the U.S. government specifically for FirstNet. We look at Band 14 as public safety’s VIP lane.

During an emergency, this band – or lane – becomes cleared for FirstNet subscribers. That means those on FirstNet have dedi-cated access to Band 14 spectrum when needed, further elevating their connected experience and emergency response. That priority and preemption is unique in the industry and something public safety won’t get anywhere but on the FirstNet network. When there is extra capacity available, commercial AT&T customers, not just FirstNet subscribers, can take advantage of the incredible benefits that Band 14 brings to AT&T’s network.

From 2017 to 2019, we invested more than $1.3 billion in our wireless and wired networks in New Jersey. These investments boost reliability, coverage, speed and overall performance for residents, first responders and businesses.

The physical infrastructure being built will continue to play a pivotal role in serving our communities. Investment in macro sites and small cells across the state by AT&T will continue to provide the necessary network density and capacity. Think of macro facilities and spectrum as the highways; and small cells as the offramps.

AT&T is proud of its strong relationship with the State of New Jersey, and most importantly, the people we serve on a daily ba-sis. Whether it be connecting people in the Garden State for online learning, working from home, connecting with loved ones, telehealth, or supporting the first responders on the front lines, AT&T is committed to providing the best network possible. And with the great strides we’ve made with FirstNet, we cannot wait to see what we can do for New Jersey in the months, years and decades to come.

First Netcontinued from previous page

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