Mayor to form planning board subcommittee under state statute; board cannot self-create panels, members will be advisory

The mayor told the Township of Washington Planning Board that state statute authorizes the mayor to appoint planning-board subcommittees and citizen advisory committees, and that he intends to form one within the next week.

The planning board debated whether it had authority to form subcommittees on its own. Several board members said they did not recall any planning-board subcommittees in their combined roughly 15 years of service. The mayor read the relevant language from the state statute during the meeting and said the statute allows him, as the appointing authority for planning-board members, to create and appoint subcommittees.

Board members and staff clarified two practical consequences of that statutory arrangement: appointed subcommittees are advisory ("shall have no power to vote or take other action"), and their members serve at the pleasure of the mayor. The mayor said the subcommittee will report to the planning board and that he expects to have the committee “up and running within a week.” The mayor also said there is no board resolution or formal action required for him to appoint the committee; the planning board’s role will be to consider advice the committee produces.

A planning board member asked whether the statute permitting citizen advisory committees and environmental commissions applied to the board’s inquiry; another board member (identified as Lou in the meeting) concurred with the mayor’s reading of the statute. The mayor said he has already discussed the forthcoming committee with staff and consultant Burgess Associates and that the committee’s formation will be administrative rather than a planning-board-led action.

No formal vote or resolution was taken. The board asked to be included in the subcommittee’s work and to receive reports; the mayor said the committee will report to the board and that he will appoint the members directly.