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Perth Amboy Adopts Citizen Service Act

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May 18, 2009
by Aliyah Shahid

Perth Amboy's looking to increase citizen participation

In an effort to increase citizen participation, the Perth Amboy City
Council has adopted a Citizen Service Act.
Under the ordinance, which was unanimously approved last week, residents
can sign up to be on a directory maintained by the clerk. The resident
fills out an official application, including contact information, any
special skills they may have, and type of position the resident is
seeking. In turn, the clerk will notify citizens of term expiration
dates and vacancies.

''It's going to help open up government," said Councilman Kenneth Balut,
who said under the past administration, the same people were rotating on
different boards.

''They'd move around in circles," said Balut. "They kept everything
quiet because it was the same people. They controlled the citizens."

The effort is part of a statewide call to increase participation, led by
the Citizens' Campaign, a Metuchen-based, non-profit. The group was
working with the Perth Amboy Alliance for Community, an initiative of
the Jewish Renaissance Foundation a year ago, and the idea for Perth
Amboy to adopt the act came up, said Luis Vargas, the program's director.

''Residents didn't necessarily know or have easy access to when openings
were available," said Vargas. He said oftentimes residents found out a
position was available after it was filled.

Heather Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Citizens' Campaign, said
approximately 15 towns in New Jersey, including Newark, Paterson and
Woodbridge, have adopted similar ordinances. She said Plainfield was the
first to adopt the act in 2006.

"The ordinance was developed by the Citizen's Campaign to create a
transparent and open process," said Taylor, who said the act would make
it easier for residents to serve on the planning board, youth commission
and zoning board. "We have found that most people didn't know these
positions existed."

Taylor said over the next few months, local residents and Citizens'
Campaign members will host free leadership forums in Perth Amboy to
educate residents about local boards and commissions and best ways to
get appointed.