Municipal elections in Montclair are in many ways like elections anywhere, especially when it comes to candidates promising things that might not be easily delivered on.

But even though there is a natural tendency for candidates to be optimistic about what is achievable, it’s still possible to be upfront about what one’s policy priorities are, and—crucially—to be clear that “priorities” are exactly that: Things that will be prioritized over other potentially worthy wants and needs. And with essentially every dollar of the municipal budget already accounted for, and our sky-high taxes forcing many lifelong Montclairians to pick up and leave, the next Council must prioritize. We also need to prioritize administrative capacity and “bandwidth”; sometimes by trying to do everything we end doing nothing.

To help me navigate this process, and maybe make it a bit more healthy, I have been keeping a “wish list” of my policy priorities for the next Council, to go along with the list of 10 principles I published when this website went live. And now I am going to publish the list, and invite members of the community to weigh in on it, via this Google form (form will open in new tab).

A few things to note: First is that priorities involving better governance and transparency are not only largely free in budgetary terms, but likely to help us save money, through better performance and fewer lawsuits. Second, I have put dollar signs next to those priorities I believe will have significant budget costs. Finally, I have not firmly rank-ordered priorities within each area—which is where you can help me out. So be ambitious, but clear-eyed, and honest, and thanks for helping do the work. Use this Google form to tell me what you think should be prioritized, or otherwise what is or isn’t important to do over the next four years.

Erik’s Council Policy Wish List

Governance

• The option of remote public commenting at all Council meetings, with three minutes per comment (up from the current two minutes for agenda items). 
• Public annual reports from every department, including all key data, structured and written to be comprehensible by non-expert residents, and quarterly department updates to the Council, with special attention paid to ongoing projects, and hires/promotions.
• A citizens’ advisory board to create and review a code of ethics, including an anti-nepotism policy with teeth.
• Better hiring and promotion practices, including open posting and advertising of all positions on the Township website and at least one other relevant media (e.g. N.J. league of municipalities) and certification of the business needs of all hires. 
• Amending of the indemnity ordinance to remove coverage for criminal liability and require council action by resolution, removing the entitlement to defense, restricting the Township Attorney’s power in approving counsel, and increasing transparency.
• A new referendum on municipal election reform, with November elections and staggered terms starting from 2028, and exploration of related options, including a more inclusive, nine-member council, and a council-elected, one-year mayoralty. 

Affordability

• An “Affordability Committee” of three councilors expressly dedicated to addressing the affordability crisis in the Township caused by its status as the most heavily-taxed community in the state of similar size.  
• A complete review of municipal operations to determine the sources of Montclair’s municipal overburden.
• Rapid pinpointing of concrete areas of savings, both in terms of operational budgets, as well as unneeded burdens on residents (e.g. mandates for idling police vehicles when doing certain home repairs).

Development/Housing 

• Enacting of a new master plan which sets firm limits on height and bulk below those represented by buildings on Bloomfield Avenue between Valley and Orange roads, and a commitment to follow the plan.
• Exploring a reform of existing zoning codes, and a transition from conventional zoning to form-based code.
• The re-centering aesthetics in development/redevelopment.
• Empowering the Deputy Township Manager as an “Affordable Housing Czar” tasked with issues related to existing affordable housing stock and programs, as well as future affordable housing. 

Sustainability 

• Strengthening and better enforcement of the current tree replacement ordinance, and creation of a plan to meaningfully expand our existing canopy of shade trees, drawing on an existing $1 million federal grant, and other resources. ($)
• Immediate action to mitigate flooding, incorporating bioswales and rain gardens into all future improvements, as well as vulnerable neighborhoods (e.g. Windermere Road in the First Ward). ($$)
• Implementation of all recommendations on greenhouse gas reduction given “high” potential in the recently-released Montclair Climate Action Plan, including the purchase of zero-emission vehicles, creating more public charging stations for electric vehicles, pursing Renewable Government Energy Aggregation, completing an assessment of solar generation potential on all municipal properties, and developing a “zero waste plan.” ($$$$)
• Support for other selected recommendations of the Climate Action Plan and Montclair Climate Action, including programs to promote household decarbonization, tighter building energy codes, and creation of a program for composting aimed at multifamily residential buildings. ($$$) 

Seniors 

• Continued funding for the announced senior center in the Mills Building. ($)
• A new needs assessment for seniors, including the pros and cons of further centralizing senior services. 
• A focused and sustained effort to secure federal grants supporting senior services and senior centers. 

Traffic and Transit

• Full funding for the Vision Zero Task Force, and a commitment to enact its key priorities. ($)
• A maximum 25 mile per hour limit on all Township streets, including county roads, with 20 mph on selected streets and 15 mph on streets adjacent to schools.
• Funding a pilot jitney program emulating Princeton’s free municipal jitney route and that of other municipalities, using an all-electric fleet and focusing on the Township’s underserved communities, especially in the South End. ($$$)
• A commitment to a town-wide network of dedicated lanes for bikes and scooters, including at least one protected lane, by the conclusion of the 2024-2028 Council. ($$)
• Single-side parking on selected residential streets, taking close account of the desires of impacted residents.
• Improvements and refinements to our system of public parking, including the deployment of signs giving more and better information on our parking decks, the rationalization of on-street and deck parking fees, to encourage use of parking decks, and more and easier options for overnight parking, especially in dense neighborhoods. ($)
• Support for enhanced public transport links to New York City for First Ward residents, including limited weekend NJ Transit train service. 

health and public Safety

• Additional support for the Montclair Ambulance Unit, a crucial non-governmental service provider that is a beacon of efficiency. ($)
• A greater focus on community policing, especially in our business districts.
• A greater focus on mental health, including the potential dedication of revenue from recreational cannabis sales to addiction treatment. ($)

Public Space 

• Making Church Street a pedestrian plaza, starting with weekends, and taking close account of the needs of area businesses. ($)
• Improvement of the public area in front of the Montclair Public Library Bellevue Avenue Branch, emulating “pocket parks” such as Abingdon Square Park in the West Village. ($)
• A water fountain and trash receptacles in Sunset Park. ($)

Education and Health

• Engineering an equitable distribution of PILOT (payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) revenues with the school system, while not encroaching on the independence of our separately-elected Board of Education. ( I am proud to be a co-author, along with mayoral candidate Chrissy Thomas, of a draft resolution mandating a sharing of PILOT revenues.) ($$$)
• Library funding above “1/3 mil” requirement in line with peer communities such as Princeton and Maplewood. ($$)
• Helping end the practice of closing schools on election day, potentially by using the Montclair Municipal Building and other township properties as polling stations. ($) 
• A more open and productive relationship with Montclair State University, to ease the burdens of First Ward residents adjacent to the MSU campus, and unlock more of the potential benefits of having the state’s second largest public university as a neighbor.

Capital Spending

• A major renovation or replacement of Clary Anderson Arena, potentially with additional indoor recreation facilities, including a new indoor home for Essex Pool. ($$$$)
• A new police headquarters. ($$$$)
• A new municipal building and Township Hall. ($$$$)

So that’s about it, at least for now. Thanks for reading this far, and again, use this Google form to chime in on how these priorities mesh with yours.