UPDATE REPORT:  CONSOLIDATION STUDY — APRIL 25, 2008

The Mayor and Committee of the Township of Wantage have decided to PROCEED WITH A CONSOLIDATION STUDY.  The Mayor and Council of Sussex Borough have also decided to proceed with a study.

The Study will PRODUCE A REPORT, which will explain whether or not it would be appropriate for Wantage Township and Sussex Borough to consolidate into one new municipality.

The Report will be completed by early August of 2009.

If the report concludes that consolidation is recommended, a question will be placed on the ballot for the November 2009 General Election.

 IT WILL BE UP TO THE PUBLIC TO VOTE YES OR NO ON CONSOLIDATION.
All that has happened so far is that both towns have agreed to study the matter.

Wantage Township and Sussex Borough will apply for a State Grant to pay for the study.

At first, Wantage Township invited Montague to participate in a 3-town study.  However, upon consideration, all towns involved believe that this may over-burden the study.  Completing a two-town study will be enough of a challenge.

Wantage Township has invited Montague to be an “Observer” town, so they may listen and learn the process of how to go about a consolidation study, in case they wish to undertake such a study in the future with another town.

There are significant benefits to moving forward with a study commitment at this time, as opposed to placing the question on the ballot first.  State grants are being made available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so there is incentive for moving forward with the study as soon as possible if a town is sure that they wish to do so.  Also, the legal requirements for completing a consolidation study in time for the question to go on the November 2009 ballot would be severely restrictive if the study does not start this year, which may rush the study commission’s efforts.  If we are going to do a study, it would be better to do it right instead of a rush job.

There will be five people chosen from Wantage Township and five people chosen from Sussex Borough.

These ten individuals will be the Consolidation Study Commission.

There will be a representative from the State of New Jersey assigned to help the commission do the study.

The commission members will also hire a professional consultant or consulting firm, to help them prepare the study report.  The cost for this consultant will be paid through the state grant.

The Study Report will answer this.

The Study Report will answer this.

The Study Report will answer this.

WHAT IF I WANT TO BE ON THE COMMISSION?