NORTH JERSEY NIGP CHAPTER #7 - MINUTES

PAST MINUTES ARE POSTED BELOW

North Jersey NIGP Chapter #7
Chartered October 26, 1977
President:                                                                                           Treasurer/Membership:
James Jorgensen                                                                                 Jane Foti        
Vice President:                                                                                  Secretary:                  
Cindy Lea Weber                                                                               Paula S. Ferreira
Minutes
Regular Meeting
September 14, 2011
The Imperia Conference Center
Somerset, New Jersey

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 am by President Jim Jorgensen
After the flag salute, self introductions were made.
Minutes from June’s meeting were approved.

Elizabeth McKay Senior advisor to Lieutenant Governor Guadagno
In NJ from 2006-09 we lost 1 million jobs.  Forbes ranked NJ #45 as best in business.  In 2010 NJ moved up to 45.  Administrations thought was if we could not cut taxes lets at least make NJ more favorable for companies. 
There were 19 meetings during this transition.  .  Executive order was to freeze regulations for 90 days. Executive order was reviewed by Governor Chris Christie.  Executive order made 3 recommendations to the governor. 
Time of decision; the rules that are in effect the day you apply for a permit. There must be an advance notice of rule making.  Let’s just preclude passage of bad rules.  What are unintended consequences? 

Charities rule was mandated to require that donors direct to a specific program.  Need more folks to make sure the money was directed to wherever they wanted.  Consumer affairs decided not to go forward with this. 

NJ Dept of Labor has changed their labor rules.  Must clearly define what a waiver is and if you are a candidate for a waiver.   Performance based outcomes.  We are trying to expedite mediation process.  Recommendations were made from the review group.  This is a permanent red tape commission that is led by Lieutenant Governor Guadagno. 

Bipartisan panel and the public is also involved.  There are 9 people.  The accomplishments by red tape review group are legislative.  It is much more of more of a streamlined process.  A2853 requires all departments to review permits.  We are really using technology. 

Proposed changes to public access rules. NJ could join the other 47 states in the union.  We are meeting to discuss licensing and permits.  All renewals are now done online.  Within the next 2 months we will have the status of applications online.  This used to take 8 weeks to get home contractors permit now it takes one week.  Medical assistant and health services must apply online.  Time will be reduced by 20 days.  Now going forward there will be better deployment of technology.  It will be one stop shopping.  Lt Governor is very big on this.  Also at upcoming meeting will be LLC legislation.  LLC is the most popular form of business legislature.  It will now be easier to apply in NJ.  We are trying to extend length of license.  We are trying to eliminate regulations.  There are too many unnecessary regulations.  The regulations for each department clearly posted on their pages.  NJ register at the end of 2010 was 3086 pages long.  2009 it was 4008 pages.  Maybe we are starting to see red tape review mindset.  The red tape review pages on their site.  You can email or call at that address or call her.  Help with micro problems.  We will not intervene to force an answer.  609-984-7145. 

Mary Lou Stanton, Purchasing Agent, Somerset County.   
Thank you so much for coming.  Good to hear that we really have someone to help us.  Mary Lou is the President of NJAC and also, past president of this association.  Before any legislation that is proposed to the Local Public Contracts Law, please let the Public Purchasing Agents know.  We really need to eyeball legislation.  Access to all licenses is great. But not all licenses are online.  We are not anti business we are for business.  This has cost taxpayers.  Legislatures are on the red tape web site.
 
Gerri Popkin. Purchasing Agent, Monmouth County
Has been doing this for 25 years.  In the last 5 years we have been inundated with new laws.  How can we stop it?  .
Let her know if there is a problem with a bill and she will reach out before bill is signed. 

Marlena Schmid, Administrator, Township of Cranford
Will we get updates?  You’ve heard us now what action will be taken?  Dialogues are great but we need an action plan.
She will definitely discuss at next meeting.  If there is a specific bill call and she will speak to Council regarding it.

Gordon Ball, Dept of Community Affairs
Law that would allow all local units to post RFP’s and bids to the Dept of Community Affairs website was not funded.  Hope to have it up in the spring.  It will allow us to advertise bids. 
Will there be a fee to post on website?   Not now but possibly in the future.
Dr. Lyons from Rutgers is working on Green Purchasing courses.  It will be given as an online course.  Vendors are saying that they have a National Coop Contract.  This has not been signed into law yet.  Number of problems with the way it is worded.     
Why are we dealing with companies in other states when we have companies here who are good enough?  What about the BRC?
S2999-Competitive contracting for health insurance. 
QPA exam status-reviewing test questions and should be done by the end of September and a sub- committee is working on CEU’s.

John Donnadio
Update on pension and health benefits reform. 
Oct 14th contribution PERS rate will go up from 5 ½ percent to 6 ½.
Will phase out to 17 ½ percent in 2018.   See Local Finance Notice.
A3285- certified cost estimates was conditionally vetoed. 

Old business
Nomination of new officers:
Jim Jorgensen President
Cindy Belanger Vice President
Jane Foti Treasurer
Paula Ferreira Secretary
Jim closed with “We have never been heard at the Executive level of the State Department.  Perhaps after this meeting we got it”     

Next summer, July or August, an outdoor event being planned with Southern NIGP and our association.

With no more business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 pm. 

Networking and lunch were enjoyed by all.

Respectfully submitted,
Paula S. Ferreira, Secretary