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Commission debates transparency of interviews and plans community outreach for charter study
Summary
Public commenter Tom Hilder urged the commission to publish interview questions and hold public interviews for former officials; commissioners defended private, note-based interviews for candid responses and outlined a phased outreach plan including Google forms, FAQs, and possible public forums.
A Millburn resident urged the Charter Study Commission to publish interview questions and conduct some interviews publicly, but commissioners said they prefer private, note-based interviews for most employees to encourage candid answers and will summarize findings publicly at phase milestones.
Tom Hilder, speaking for the Short Hills Association during public comment, asked whether Dec. 18 meeting videos had been posted, applauded the hiring of legal counsel, and urged the commission to publish the questions it plans to ask interviewees — as other municipalities have done — and to make interim interview results available. Hilder argued that former township committee members and former administrators pose less risk from being on the record and that public interviews could help voters evaluate the form of government.
Commissioners replied that they have already interviewed current township committee members, department heads and several employees and are taking detailed notes rather than recordings. Joanna said the interview sessions often run 1.5 to nearly three hours and that private interviews have produced “honest and forthright answers” and candid anecdotes. The commission said answers will be incorporated into the final report and that the commission will consider public comment on questions and hold public sessions or a phase-one wrap-up presentation for broader input.
On outreach logistics, commissioners discussed options including Google Forms for question collection, an FAQ on the commission website, targeted outreach through civic associations, and occasional in-person community forums (with attention to scheduling for residents who work or have family obligations). They confirmed the Bower Center has Zoom/recording capability and agreed to post meeting dates, packet pages and outreach materials online.
The commission invited civic association members and residents to submit suggested questions and said two commissioners will work on an outreach FAQ and distribution strategy before the next meeting.
