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Millburn study commissioners defend interview process, promise improved outreach
Summary
Commissioners described phase-one interviews with current officials and municipal staff, pledged anonymized reporting of responses and improved website/FAQ outreach, and addressed public concerns about rushed timing and transparency raised by two public commenters.
Millburn Township’s Charter Study Commission spent much of its Dec. 18 meeting outlining the interview phase of its charter review, discussing outreach plans and responding to public questions about transparency and timing.
Public commenter Jay Morali, speaking for the Short Hills Association, praised the commission’s outreach plan and the selection of outside counsel, asked whether the commission would hire a municipal government expert, and urged the commission not to rush the study. "We suggest the commission take all the time needed within the constraints of the Faulner Act to reach its conclusions," Morali said. (Speaker list: Jay Morali; affiliation: Short Hills Association.)
Commissioners described their current approach as phased and methodical. Chair Jerry and Commissioner Joanna said the commission has completed or scheduled interviews with current Township Committee members and is arranging department-head interviews next week. Commissioner Chris Ducker and others said interviews typically last an hour to 90 minutes and that interview responses will be summarized, aggregated and reported without linking answers to individual municipal employees.
"We will not provide individual names or…individual answers," Joanna said, emphasizing confidentiality; commissioners said they may include anonymized summaries or aggregated findings as part of a report appendix to inform the public while protecting sources. Commissioners also said they will consider publishing the interview questions in the final report rather than releasing them in advance, to avoid incentivizing prepared answers by interviewees.
Public commenter Jeff (Mr. Feld) urged the commission to publish a clear contact link on its website for public questions, to post an organizational chart to guide interviews, and to use students to help compile comparative municipal research. Commissioners agreed to improve the website, produce an FAQ, and to consider low-cost outreach tactics such as two-sided business cards with a QR code linking to the commission’s FAQ and contact page.
On the question of handling allegations of improper interactions between elected officials and municipal employees, commissioners framed their role narrowly. "We're here to address systemic issues," one commissioner said, not to act as a watchdog for individual misconduct; commissioners added that systemic problems uncovered in interviews would inform recommendations about whether the form of government should change.
The commission asked the public to submit suggested questions and said it would take public input into account while guarding interview confidentiality. Commissioners also said they would revisit interview questions and follow up with interviewees as necessary once additional public questions are received. The meeting concluded after approving the commission counsel contract and agreeing to continue interviews and outreach work in early 2026.
