Acceptance of 2005Annual Report

Resolution #060063

Senior Advisory Committee

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution #040302 the Township Committee of the Township of Bernards established the Senior Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS, the Senior Advisory Committee’s mission is to advise the Township Committee on promoting independence, dignity, choice and enthusiasm for township seniors through diverse programs, activities and services; and

WHEREAS, the Senior Advisory Committee has submitted a 2005 Annual Report.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Township Committee of the Township of Bernards that the Senior Advisory Committee’s 2005 Annual Report, is hereby acknowledged, and accepted as submitted.

Agenda and Date Voted:1/10/06

BACKGROUND

The Senior Advisory Committee was established by Township Resolution #040302, on August 24, 2004, and its members were reappointed by the Township Committee, for the 2005 calendar year, during the Reorganization Meeting on January 3, 2005. The goals of SAC were to:

$Develop the frame work and components necessary for the implementation of an active ongoing committee.

$Commit to the enhancement of quality of life issues for senior residents.

$Develop short and long term objectives with time lines.

$Seek input from those approaching the age defined as Aboomers.@

The objectives of the group were more specific and focused on the following:

$Collaborate with existing clubs, organizations and service providers to share information and ideas.

$Collaborate with the Office on Aging.

$Encourage participation of all seniors in planning/ implementation .

$Explore reducing/stabilizing real estate taxes and advise Township Committee.

$Establish incentives for retention of all seniors, including strategy to reduce tax burden.

$Establish strategies for use of school buildings.

$Develop senior discount program.

$Assess ways to keep seniors healthy in mind and body.

$Develop a list of all seniors to ensure contact with them.

$Plan projects with Aboomers@ in mind to enhance their ability to remain.

APPROACH

It was apparent to SAC from the outset that it was unlikely that each objective could be achieved in one year but it was important that all the goals be reached and key objectives be completed within the established time frame. Like any ad hoc committee, SAC had certain start-up handicaps. The various skills of each member were unknown and early on some members decided not to participate or had private agendas. It was soon clear the Committee needed to gain more participation by encouraging Awalk-ons@ or the enormity of the work would sink the project. To incorporate these new participants into SAC without having to obtain official sanction each time a new talent was uncovered, the Task Force (TF) approach was adopted. After much discussion, it was determined a Task Force for each of the following was appropriate:

$Communications

$Data Collection

$SeniorCenter

$Tax Stabilization

Each Task Force was, to a degree, dependant on the others because extensive cross polarization of talent was needed to fill in skill gaps. This turned out to be a positive development because each Task Force participant acquired a working knowledge of how to work through a variety problems.

THE SURVEY

It seemed every one knew what Aseniors@ wanted but no one really knew for sure. Obviously, that was not good enough and more accurate data was needed. The Communications TF decided to conduct a direct mail survey in order to narrow in on what was important to seniors and what was not. All members of SAC assisted the Task Force on the design and value scale development of each question. The questions were designed to conform with the mission, goals and objectives of the advisory committee. The sample of senior citizens to be surveyed, was compiled from a list of registered voters who indicated their date of birth on their voter registration form. Four thousand five hundred (4,500) surveys were mailed to residents age 55 and above. The response rate was 25% which was excellent and allowed SAC to conclude that the error around the sample was very small.

Ninety-one percent (91%) of the respondents to the question on property taxes indicated dissatisfaction. This finding, along with the large number of open ended tax comments was turned over to the Senior Center Task Force for additional investigation.

The survey also determined that seniors had little interest in a Local Bus Service, additional Adult Education Programs or a Senior Contact Person. The SeniorCenter results were influenced by a lot of activity surrounding the expansion of the AY@ so it was decided to explore a little deeper into that recommendation.

THE LIST

One of the by-products of the survey was the identification by name, address and in most cases telephone number those citizens above the age of 55 living in BernardsTownship. This information coupled with other source data, enabled SAC to begin to address new approaches to the property tax problem. The Committee now has a reliable list of citizens segmented by two age groups, 55 to 64 and 65 or older. However, SAC has not as yet found an inexpensive way to keep the list fresh. Currently, it requires a great deal of manual intervention.

Nevertheless, the survey has allowed SAC to meet several important objectives. It also led us into the quagmire of Property Tax Stabilization.

TAX STABILIZATION

A. Committee Actions

It was difficult to know where to begin concerning property taxes. The problem was long in the making on both a state as well as local level and the courts have compounded the issue, but it cannot be ignored any longer. BernardsTownship has several attitude problems and SAC ran into most of them. Some folks don=t feel they should pay any school taxes, others don=t care about costs they want everything now (a state of the art school facility, a hockey rink, lights on all ball fields etc.) and still others just want to get the heck out of town. In that environment, a Tax Stabilization Task Force (TSTF) set out to find a workable paradigm.

The goal of the TSTF was to find a way to stabilize student enrollment and property tax growth without impacting current educational standards. Two plans were proposed and both had as the key element cost avoidance. The Property Tax Credit (PTC) of $2,000 was probably more symbolic than a practical tool to retain seniors. We knew and acknowledge that there were NJ Constitutional issues involved. However, it=s adoption, would have sent a message that the Township Committee recognized the need to change focus. Sending the Asymbolic@ adoption to the State Legislature would have reconfirmed a major state issue.

SAC correctly recognized that property taxes were going to be the primary issue in the race for Governor and BernardsTownship had a role to play. SAC felt by introducing a local player into the debate, the resulting publicity would cast the Township in the role of the mouse that roared.

B. Township Committee Evasive Actions

The School Tax Freeze (STF) required a little more understanding and, like the PTC, it paid for itself after three years through cost avoidance. It was a method employed by other states and municipalities on a less restricted basis than the SAC proposal, but it was quickly labeled unworkable in Bernards by three members of the Township Committee seeking to retain the status quo. The three member majority of the Township Committee seemed unable or unwilling to grasp that the proposals were constitutional as long as they benefited all residents in the long term.

Even after the Township Attorney acknowledged the State legislature has the authority to pass enabling legislation granting the relief sought, the three member majority of the Township Committee continued to hide behind the constitutional question. They employed a series of delaying tactics requiring the SAC to keep responding to each challenge. It was obvious they did not want their anti-tax reform vote recorded. However, in the end the three member majority was forced to defeat the reform measure three times.

The School Enrollment and Tax Stabilization Plans consumed a lot of SAC resources: three appearances before the Township Committee, two presentations, two written reports, a revised proposal and a written response to a series of questions. These Tax Proposals allow SAC to claim it reached a few more objectives outlined in Resolution #040302, but the true measure of any endeavor is approval. This was denied, not once but three times.

SENIORCENTER

While all the Tax Proposals were attracting considerable attention, work continued on a more in depth look at the need for a SeniorCenter. SAC prepared AAn Assessment@ of the issue and released it to the Township Committee on October 5, 2005. Although the overview did not alter the original SAC recommendation that a stand alone center would be too costly, it did suggest an alternative approach. Stepping back from a dedicated SeniorCenter was not easy for some members of the Senior Center TF, but it became clear that even retrofitting an existing structure was not the proper solution.

A recurring problem in addressing Aseniors@ needs is that lumping together seniors in the 30 year span 55 to 85 is just as naive as lumping together Achildren from birth to 30 years of age.

A Acookie cutter@ approach is not the answer. The various organizations that provide senior services and even some that do not, need to join in a collaborative effort to rethink the issue. This thinking has already started but the leadership is being provided by the AY@, not the Township Committee, and although this approach may work in the short term, down the road it might be difficult to influence changes or regain control.

KNOWLEDGE GAINED

SAC has acquired a broad based view of the needs of seniors through its liaison with the Somerset Hills Chapter II, a senior group implemented in Bernardsville. This flow of information has reinforced SAC=s perception of the physical, financial and emotional importance of seniors’ ability to Aage in place@. Supporters of SAC have established professional affiliations with the VNA, Somerset County Office on Aging, the New Jersey AARP Health Advocacy Task Force, and the New Jersey AARP Long Term Care Task Force. These relationships have helped the committee to focus on the A needs@ versus the@ wants@ of seniors and reinforced our determination to address the property tax issue. This networking, also helped develop the framework of standards by which the committee conducted its work. Namely, research the data, analyze the facts, look for opportunities, develop an approach and prepare an action plan.

OTHER LIAISONS

Since SAC was authorized in August 2004, the need to acquire information required the Committee to reach beyond the Township in order to carry out the mission. LongValley, North Plainfield, Bernardsville, Bedminster, Trenton, and even Rhode Island have all helped SAC obtain or confirm information. Each TF made extensive use of the telephone and e-mail as new avenues of information were sought, but more often than not, they were more interested in SAC=s proposals than they were providers of new data. This was not the case, however, with the New Jersey Coalition of Property Tax Reform. The Coalition is well lead and appears to have traction in Trenton. Currently, they have pending before the State Assembly and Senate a bill that would go a long way in providing needed property tax relief without impacting the quality of education. Sadly, it is one of many tax bills buried in committee by Assembly Leader Sires until a new Governor takes office.

CONCLUSION

The Senior Advisory Committee held twenty-six (26) committee, sub-committee or task force meetings since it was formed. In addition, numerous one on one gathering took place to critique data, proof read reports, or just plain argue a point. The Task Force concept worked well, but since this technique employed Awalk on@ contributors, it required a lot of patience on the part of all because frequent up dating was required.

Wanting or willing to serve on a committee is not a sufficient reason for appointment by the Township Committee. Part of the problem is that some people try to do too much and others lose interest once they realize it is a real Aworking@ committee. It would be helpful, if in the future, the chairperson had some input into who might be a valuable resource to place on the committee.

In general, the Committee feels it accomplished much even though it fell short on the property tax question. When SAC started, the members did not anticipate the project would require writing three reports, making two presentations to the Township Committee or meeting with various State representatives and the School Board, but in the end it all helped to make the journey a little more interesting.

CONCERNS

Although the Committee completes its term with a great deal of satisfaction, several areas of disappointment must be mentioned.

1. SAC took greats pains to stay out of the political arena despite the fact many of its members had strong party affiliations. This decision was based on the fact the members were appointed by the Township Committee and thus were quasi officials of the Township.

2. This neutrality was totally ignored by those who opposed the various recommendations of SAC. The Committee was accused of plotting to destroy the school system, over throw the current township administration, providing false data, and other sinister plots involving everything except witch-craft.

3. The actions of representatives of the Board of Education were particularly disturbing to many on the Tax Task Force. Prior to the vote on the school expansion bond, SAC met with School Board representatives and were lead to believe they were interested in participating in the proposed School Enrollment and Tax Stabilization Task Force. The Ainterest@ faded quickly once the bond issue passed.

4. It obviously was important to some one or some group that SAC not succeed. The inability of certain elements in BernardsTownship to put aside their private agenda and work to address problems will hurt, in the long run, the progressive image this Town has enjoyed in the past. This is not fair and open government, it is government by slight of hand.