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Politics & Government

Courage to Re-connect to Hold Public Hearing on Consolidating SPF

Voice your opinion on merging SPF at the July 10th public hearing discussing a potential municipal consolidation study.

Residents of Fanwood and Scotch Plains are urged to attend a public hearing on Tuesday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. The hearing will be held at 200 Forest Road in Fanwood to discuss a proposed municipal consolidation study for the two towns.

The hearing will include Fred Lange, organizer of Courage to Reconnect
Scotch Plains and Fanwood, which is seeking the study, and Gina
Genovese, executive director of Courage to Connect New Jersey, a non-profit, non-partisan group that helps citizens through the process.  In addition, Princeton Mayor Chad Goerner, who is coordinating the municipal consolidation of Princeton Township and Princeton Borough will be available to answer questions.

The hearing will be moderated by officials with the state Department
of Community Affairs (DCA).

This is the second of three public hearings the state has mandated, as
part of Local Option Municipal Consolidation Law of 2007. The third public
hearing for residents of Fanwood and Scotch Plains will be 7:30 p.m.
on July 16 at the Scotch Plains municipal building.

The July 10 hearing is geared for Fanwood residents, although all are
encouraged to attend and voice their questions about the proposed
study.

“There is a misperception among some that these hearings are for the consolidation of the two towns,” Lange said. “Although we believe that would ultimately save taxpayer dollars, the focus now is simply a
study. We are gaining feedback about a potential study. That’s it.”

Genovese noted that Scotch Plains and Fanwood would not consolidate unless a proposal is set forth on a ballot, and the majority of voters from both towns support it. “This is the first ever citizen driven consolidation study application in the history of New Jersey,” she said.

The process was initiated for Scotch Plains and Fanwood when Courage
to Reconnect Scotch Plains and Fanwood generated a signed petition and
submitted an application this spring to the Local Finance Board, a DCA
division.

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