08/03/2022
[This is an abridged version of the summary read at the March 3, 2022 meeting. To hear the full version, please watch the video recording of the meeting on our website https://www.holmdelchartercomm.org/videos ]
Summary of Phase I
Since the beginning of our process, we indicated that our charge is a simple one – to study our current form of local government and to consider improvements in the present charter or, possibly, a new charter. We also indicated that it is possible to believe the current government is working well but there may be improvements to make it even better.
Our plan is divided into three phases. The first phase is the study of our current form of local government. The second phase is to explore alternative forms of local government. The third and final phase is to deliberate and make decisions for any recommendations.
We spent most of our time in January and February gathering input as part of the phase to study the current form of government and we are near the end of Phase I. Thus far, the Commission has interviewed seven elected officials that have served, on a collective basis, for more than 60 years on a Township Committee, including more than 20 years as mayor.
They include current Holmdel Mayor Greg Buontempo, former Holmdel Mayor Eric Hinds and Larry Fink, former Holmdel Deputy Mayor Mike Nikolis, former Colts Neck Mayor Rose Ann Scotti, former Millstone Mayor Nancy Grbelja, and former Hazlet Committeeman Scott Broschart. Six of those elected officials are Republicans and one is Democrat.
We also spoke with former Holmdel Township Administrator Cherron Rountree. In addition, we invited the respective Chairperson of the Holmdel Republican County Committee and Holmdel Democrat County Committee. Only Barbara Singer, the Chairperson of the Holmdel Democrat County committee, accepted our invitation and we spoke with her as well.
Those discussions were guided by a series of detailed and comprehensive questions that cover various characteristics of the Township Committee form of government. In addition, the Commission held a public hearing on Feb. 3, 2022 to receive comments from the public.
As we transition to our second phase, it is worthwhile to summarize what we have heard from those discussions with elected officials and comments received at the public hearing.
It should be made clear that this is a summary of what we heard in Phase I of our work. It is not the Commission’s recommendations, which we will deliberate and decide later on in Phase III.
There was consensus on some of the characteristics of our current form of government. Where appropriate, we have included a few specific comments or quotes from guest speakers. The comments are not intended to be comprehensive but just to give some color to the subject.
Election of Mayor
Under our current form of government, the five members of the Township Committee choose the mayor at the reorganization meeting in January of each year. The mayor then serves a one-year term and the process is repeated in the following year.
The comments we received indicated strong support for the mayor to be elected directly by Holmdel residents, rather than by the members of the Township Committee. As an example, Mayor Greg Buontempo said “our current system has led to chaos and confusion in Holmdel. Especially when an individual gets re-elected to the Township Committee, but then is not re-elected as Mayor. That exact controversy happened during my first selection as Mayor in 2017.” He went on to say that “the TC system also means that the mayor is picked in a closed process. When the Township Committee is all one political party, the mayor is often picked at a political caucus, where the political party makes the decision – not the people. I don’t see how this is good for democracy.”
Former Deputy Mayor Michael Nikolis said that “we should let the people vote on who the mayor is, who the figurehead is. It shouldn't be done behind closed doors. I think that really is disenfranchising the entire town of Holmdel. The residents should say who's in charge. It shouldn't be done in some political caucus or meeting.”
Annual Local Elections
Under the current form of government, elections are held every year, with a primary in the spring and a general election in November. Elections are on a staggered basis with no more than two Committeeperson running each year.
On the frequency of election cycles, most of the comments we received were in support of not more frequently than every two years and on a staggered basis to keep the local governing body “fresh” and to have more public engagement.
Number of Committee Members
Under the current form of government, the number of Committee members is fixed at 5. On the subject of the number of members on the governing body, there was no strong consensus, but most thought that 5 or 7 appears to be the right number.
Partisan Elections
Under the current form of government, elections are held on a partisan basis, meaning candidates run under party affiliations. The Commission heard many comments in support of nonpartisan elections similar to Board of Ed elections.
Current Holmdel Mayor Greg Buontempo said that he is a long-time Republican but that there are no issues that are made at the local level that has anything to do with the federal level. Locally, residents are concerned about the quality of life in Holmdel. Therefore, local elections should be about who is getting things done for the town and not about party affiliations.
Former Holmdel Deputy Mayor Michael Nikolis said that “all politics are local, but the divisiveness and partisanship in this town have been out of control.” He doesn’t believe that at the local level tying oneself to national politics helps the town in any way and that a nonpartisan election is about the people of Holmdel dictating their own destiny and their own future.”
Former Millstone Mayor Nancy Grbelja said that too often, voters rely on the “line” and that allows party bosses from outside the local town to favor their candidate rather than candidates that might be supported by the local committee and that is hurting a lot of our communities in Monmouth County.
Former Colts Neck Mayor Rose Ann Scotti said that “the county chair has a lot of power to do what they want with those ballot positions” and that she thinks “it was unconscionable that the county chair didn’t take the candidate that the municipal committee endorsed.”
Minority opinion - Former Holmdel Mayor Eric Hinds thinks it’s comforting for a lot of voters to know that they could count on the party to elect a candidate in line with their line of thinking and he would not be in favor of nonpartisan elections.
Elections: At-Large vs. Wards
Under the current form of government, Committee members are voted on an at-large basis. On the subject of at-large elections versus elections by wards, most comments were in support of at-large elections and not by wards.
Initiative and Referendum By petition
Under the current form of government, initiative and referendum by petition generally are not allowed. On this subject, most of those interviewed thought that initiative and referendum by petition would be valuable.
Former Holmdel Deputy Mayor Michael Nikolis said that “the more the voters and residents have a say in issues, the better. I think that the people are ultimately the elected officials’ bosses and the more power and the more say that they have in any initiative, in any issue in town, the better.”
Feb. 3rd Public Hearing
Almost all of the comments received at the public hearing on Feb. 3, 2022 echoed the above sentiment.
Our meetings are public. You can watch the video recordings of our meetings on this page or on Holmdel's YouTube channel page.
