Sayreville council adopts ordinance requiring residency for board and commission appointments with stated exemptions

The borough council adopted Ordinance 19‑25 on final reading, establishing residency requirements for appointments to borough boards, commissions and committees unless otherwise specifically allowed by borough ordinance or New Jersey statute.

During the public hearing, longtime resident Jim Robinson raised concerns that the ordinance might force nonresident appointees on specialized bodies — such as industrial or utility representatives on the local emergency planning committee (LEPC) and certain members of the municipal alliance and hazardous materials response committees — to vacate seats that, he said, are held by people “from DuPont, from Ashland, by the steel mill, by JCP&L” and others. Robinson asked whether the sponsor intended to remove those industry and statutory seats from their current positions.

Council President Roberts responded that the ordinance would be amended over time as needed and that statutory exceptions already exist: “First sentence of the new ordinance, unless otherwise specifically allowed by borough ordinance or New Jersey statute,” and he said that exemptions for planning‑board and certain municipal official seats are recognized. Roberts said the intent is to ensure that voting members represent Sayreville while allowing volunteers to participate in nonvoting roles.

The ordinance passed on roll call vote after council discussion about the need to address out‑of‑town voting members; council members said they will consider targeted amendments for specific committees where nonresident participation was historically permitted. No immediate vacancies were mandated for specialized statutory seats pending further review and amendment.

Council members said that appointments and any future changes to committee bylaws or authorizing statutes would be addressed individually where required.