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Residents press township as committee opposes S-1836 and backs SAVE Act
Summary
Little Egg Harbor passed resolutions opposing state bill S-1836 — which officials said would override local land-use controls — and supporting the SAVE Act requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration; residents voiced mixed reactions about voter access and housing impacts.
The Little Egg Harbor Township Committee on May 14 approved a consent-resolution opposing Senate Bill S-1836 and separately passed a resolution supporting the Safeguard American Vote Eligibility (SAVE) Act, drawing questions and objections from residents about local control, affordable housing and voter access.
Township Attorney Melanie Appleby explained the township’s opposition to S-1836, saying the measure would supersede local ordinances in some circumstances. "This bill would override density requirements, height requirements and allow certain organizations to build however they want," Appleby said, arguing the proposal would diminish municipal home-rule authority under the Municipal Land Use Law.
Resident Art Mooney of Windstar Drive pressed the committee on how S-1836 would affect affordable housing and whether the state already had authority; Mayor Kenneth Laney responded, "we do not want the state to tell us what we can do in our own town," articulating the committee's position on preserving local land-use discretion.
On the SAVE Act — which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration — some residents supported stronger ID checks while others raised concerns about barriers to voting. Ms. Pointsett of West Calabreeze Way told the committee she feared the measure could disproportionately affect women whose documentation does not match current registration records; Ms. Vershak of Country Club Blvd asserted she has experienced issues she described as vote theft in the township in past years. The committee recorded its support for the SAVE Act on the consent agenda; members characterized the resolution as an expression of the governing body's intent rather than a change to local election law.
Township Attorney Appleby and Planning Board Engineer Jim Oris were asked to advise further if additional legal analysis is needed; the committee did not adopt new local regulations during the meeting and did not take legislative action beyond the adopted resolutions.
