Consolidation Forum Set in Washington Twp. For June 1

A public forum will be held at the Washington Township Library on Wednesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. to discuss the benefits of municipal consolidation and how it can provide tax relief.

Gina Genovese, former mayor of Long Hill Township and executive director of Courage to Connect New Jersey, a non-partisan, non-profit organization, will conduct the presentation to help educate the community about the need for more efficient municipal structure for New Jersey, according to a press release from Jaffe Communications.

Long Valley resident Harlin Parker reached out to Genovese and asked that she make a presentation to Washington Township residents, but the forum will be open to anyone from Washington Township, the Chesters and Mendhams, as those are the five municipalities being discussed for possible consolidation.

“It just makes sense,” Parker said of consolidation. “(Consolidation) is doable, whereas mergers aren’t really proven. If it makes sense for schools to do it, it makes sense for towns as well.”

The Washington Township Committee to explore the possibility of one super-regional K-12 system. On June 14, the .

“There are plenty of people in the Chesters and Mendhams who are for this idea,” Parker said. “If Chris Christie truly wants to advocate for smaller government, he should support the idea to have his hometown join the effort.”

“The truth is that communities don’t disappear simply because they share a local government with others,” Genovese said in the press release.

The forum will be free and open to the public. No registration is required.