Panel's charge: Help Howell save money
Finance Review Committee serves as advisory body to Township Council
BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer
AHowell official believes the Finance Review Committee has helped to establish more financial accountability in the municipality. The committee is an ad hoc committee whose members are appointed by the Township Council.

According to Howell's Internet Web site, the purpose of the committee is "to assist and advise the Township Council and township manager in making recommendations to assure the fiscal health and stability of the township and simultaneously recommend cost savings in the expenditures of tax dollars."

Councilman Robert Walsh, who is the council's liaison to the committee, said, "Progress has been made because of this committee in the last 15 months. The recommendations made by the committee have asked for more accountability to the taxpayers. There has been a tremendous improvement. Although it is not yet perfect, government in this town is now a lot different" because of this committee.

The Finance Review Committee makes recommendations to the council and administration on a monthly basis. Some of its recommendations have been implemented.

In November 2007, the committee members compiled many more suggestions in a long-range strategic plan. The strategic plan aimed to answer the following questions: Where is Howell today? Where does the township want to be in the future? What should the council and manager be focused on today to ensure that the township will achieve its goals?

One recommendation made by the Finance Review Committee to help generate revenue is for officials to review township-held liens and foreclosed properties. Nonconforming lots could be sold to adjoining property owners and returned to the tax rolls, according to the committee.

In April, the council authorized Township Manager Helene Schlegel to auction the foreclosed properties Howell owns. The value of these properties is estimated at $12 million. The sale of the properties would produce revenue for the municipality.

Another recommendation that has been implemented is the acquisition of a Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities Grant funded by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

According to information provided by the committee, this will help to "determine if a source of revenue exists to (fund) recreational programs provided by the Board of Education's Special Education department, as well as programs for older disabled persons."

According to Suzanne Veitengruber, who chairs the Finance Review Committee, "The Parks and Recreation Department has received funding through the Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities Grant. The money has been used to fund their Teen Adventure program that serves disabled teenagers."

The Finance Review Committee has also recommended that all permit applications be placed on Howell's Internet Web site to the extent possible. To date, additional permit applications and public information have been added to the Web site.

In addition, the Finance Review Committee recommended that the assignment of maintenance workers on a seasonal basis be left to the township manager to address workflow needs.

This was also a recommendation of an efficiency study conducted by a consultant two years ago. As a result, park workers are assigned to the Department of Public Works during leaf and brush pickup and during snow emergencies, according to Veitengruber.

Finally, in an effort to find places in the municipal budget where additional reductions could be made, or savings realized, the Finance Review Committee made a recommendation to charge some of the costs of snow removal for the latter part of the year to the Snow Removal Trust Fund.

According to Veitengruber, "Councilman Walsh took the suggestion of the committee concerning snow removal and presented it. The chief financial officer and the township manager did state during the budget meeting that they had cut back on the appropriation in the current budget and would be charging some of the costs of snow removal for the latter part of the year to the Snow Removal Trust Fund.

"Snow Removal Trust funds were authorized for local governments by the state in the mid-1990s in response to several bad years of snow storms. Snow Removal Trust funds allow a municipality to budget additional funds in its current budget which are then transferred to the trust fund.

"Municipalities can charge the costs of equipment and supplies (sand, salt, etc.) as well as the cost of overtime for snow removal to the trust fund. The trust fund is the snowy- (rainy-) day fund and the contingency plan," Veitengruber said.

"The balance in the Snow Removal Trust Fund according to the general ledger was $722,000 as of March 31. The amount left in the trust fund after a snow storm is dependent on the cost of the snow removal for that storm.

"A number of other Finance Review Committee suggestions are being evaluated and reviewed. Some suggestions such as computer hardware replacement have been postponed due to the township's current budget problems," Veitengruber said.

Walsh praised the committee for its efforts but added, "We now need to focus on generating revenue by finding things that can help."

The Finance Review Committee meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month in Howell's main administration building, back conference room, at 7:30 p.m. Veitengruber said the committee meetings are open to the public and anyone may attend.