TOWNSHIP OF HOWELL 251 Preventorium Road 732 938-450b Post Office Box 580 FAX 732 919-7428 Howell, NJ 07731-0580 Web site: www.twp.howell.nj.us Strate& Plan "Vision without Action is merely a dream... Action without Vision is just passing time... Vision with Action can change the world" -Joel Barker The Township of Howell is 61.91 square miles and is home to 51,075 residents. It is a very diverse community with rural, suburban, urban and industrial pockets. It is rich in history and culture. It has always been a focus of this township to protect our quality of life and walk that fine line in facing our complicated futures. We are a community with proximity to the "Jersey Shore", New York City and Philadelphia. The Township Council created the Strategic Planning Committee in January 201 1 to address the focuses described. Summarv of the Salient Points The position the Strategic Planning Committee took was to place the residents, farmers, equestrian facilities, commuters, business owners and other taxpayers into the position of being the customers of the Township of Howell. We listened to the "voice of the customer". In so listening, we developed the following document creating critical directions for the future of Howell. In developing our conclusions and suggestions, we evaluated the following forms of data: The survey conducted by the town with approximately 500 respondents. (NB Monmouth County used their survey for their Strategic Plan with a similar number of respondents). (1) The 201 1 Monrnouth County Strategic Plan (2) Other townships' plans for format and focus.
(3) SWOT Analysis of Howell resources and capabilities (strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats). (4) The last 3 years of the township's financial budget trends. (5) Personal interviews and communication with township citizens, committees and administration. Vision It is the plan of this Committee to create a vision for the future of our township. Our goals, as determined by the Council, are: (1) Nurture a safe and healthy community to maintain a high quality of life (2) Encourage fiscal responsibility (3) Promote and encourage environmental responsibility Promote effective communication Preserve and promote cultural and heritage assets Public safety Fiscal responsibility Accountability and transparency Integrity Our quality of life and community spirit Customer service Mission Statement Howell will continue to be a great place to live, work, raise a family, be a student, a farmer and a business partner. Our Administration and Council will strive towards excellence through their transparency and best practices in customer services. Our Council recognizes its leadership role in the partnerships with our citizens, businesses and the government.
Focus Areas for Strategic Directions Hum an Resources and Administration Our employees will be part of one team rendering excellent services to our customers. The employees will listen to the voice of the customer and provide efficient and accurate information in a respectful customer service manner. Efficiencies are needed in administration through consolidation and cross training of employees. Technology will be a valuable asset in this area. Administration Consolidate our service offerings under one roof to create more efficient customer service. Communicate often on the website to ensure transparency but always in a diplomatic manner. Marketing of our services through the use of updated technology and our website will further advance communication and transparency. Administration will create a culture of team togetherness with the employees in creating further value of services for the taxpayer. Our employees will be "customer centric" as a performance expectation. A customer survey will be developed for each utilization for the purpose of monitoring our "culture" and to identify any retraining required. The employees will be enlisted in creating efficiencies and will be recognized with "out of the box rewards" for their suggestions. A direct liaison to Council from Economic Development and the Chamber of Commerce. Create a customer fhendly handbook describing our government with information regarding regulations, ordinances and procedures commonly utilized. This could also be placed on the website as a link. The citizens who volunteer their valuable time to the various township committees will be recognized for their dedication. These committees will report to the Council at a regularly scheduled Council meeting at the end of each year and present their accomplishments.
Fin an cial Create an appropriate mix of business and revenue sources to balance government funding and mitigate property taxes. Recognize the taxpayers as share holders. Research and follow shared services. Monitor the CAGR (calculated annual growth rate) with the objective of decreasing tax rates through efficiencies and waste elimination. Encourage commercial ratable, in appropriate zones to offset homeowner's tax rates. The Council will remain cognizant of final balances, debt service and our tax base to plan for changes in the economy through Best Practices in the CFO's office. Develop and monitor Best Practices for each manager to provide liquidity and reasonable safe rate of return. Community Spirit Consider "Branding" our town's perceived identity. Health and Safety Improve emergency response systems. Coordinate volunteer fist aide squads with the Police Departments to maximize response times and quality of care. Police Ambulance Squads to be financially self-sufficient through reimbursements. Evaluate the cost of having a part time employee to do the PD ambulance billing. Continue to improve methods of informing our citizens regarding emergencies in a proactive manner. Utilize our citizens to volunteer to present educational opportunities to promote health and safety. Use our website to communicate all opportunities in this area. Research grant dollars to assist in these areas. Monitor pedestrian and motor vehicle safety and develop programs to lessen these accidents. Continue to utilize grant dollars to support the patrol and detective division funding. Use grant funding to support our emergency preparedness systems.
Establish a program to alert our visual and auditory disabled citizens in the case of emergency. Continue to monitor our newer threats (gang & terrorists) and direct resources where needed. Farmers Life for our farmers revolves around their farming and equestrian activities. Our farmers engage in these activities peacefully and legally. The environmental Commission, Preservation Task Force and Farmers Advisory Committees will assist the Council in activities that may impact our environment or open space. We all recognize our open space is one of our gems. Maintain our zoning to protect our farming communities. We recognize that our farms have a value added property in providing our township with a tax base and a valuable natural resource. Establish awareness through interactive educational programs for our citizens by our farminglequine community. Establish shared service agreements and grants to establish comprehensive education programs for the citizens of Howell. The township will support the Right to Farm Act. Environmental Our brooks, rivers and land contribute to our quality of life in the areas of health and safety as well as recreation. This needs to be in the forefront of the Council, Planning and Zoning Boards. Develop strategies to identify environmentally sensitive areas and endangered species with programs to protect these natural resources. Develop educational programs to educate our citizens in these areas. Research grant dollars available in this area. Utilize our employee arborists and tree experts in the education of the public through formal educational programs and the website.
Planning and Zoning Boards The Council will give direction to the Master Plan Sub Committee with respect to zoning of all types that is truly a vision of the citizens of Howell. The Boards will communicate to the public, in addition to the legal requirements, through the website to aide in transparency. Maximize the use of existing ordnances to control overdevelopment. Assure that there is in place a transparent permitting and construction process for all development and redevelopment projects. Citizens will be provided with customer service questionnaires, monitoring and retraining as necessary. Annually maintain our current sewer service areas unless a health or safety concern arises. Recognize a business, by our Council, for their beautification projects. This will be announced on our Township website. Recreation All recreational activities will be financially self sustaining. The taxpayers will be surveyed as to what programs they wish to see in Howell and provide the same. A customer survey will be provided to each participant (parentlguardian) at the end of the program. These will be evaluated and any program adjustments necessary will be made. The Recreation Department will post and define all programs offered on the website to maximize participation. Seek federal and state grants to further enhance our programs. Partner and shared services with Monmouth County or surrounding communities should be explored. Support our wonderful volunteers who provide recreation activities for our children. Develop recreation activities for all of our citizens: infants to seniors including our disabled. Board of Education Maintain routine dialogues with the Council and Board of Education for the purpose of understanding our challenges, planning and fostering cooperation. Evaluate shared services opportunities.
Senior Services Research grant funding to augment our outstanding Senior Programs. Reach into the volunteer community to continue and expand the educational programs offered. Liaison with the County Medicare and Medicaid offices to assist with applications and helping keep our seniors informed in a proactive way. Utilize the website for announcement of programs and information. Ifyou always do what you always did, You will aiways get what you always got " -Joel Barker Many thanks to the Township of Howell Council for having the wisdom to create the Strategic Planning Committee. Thanks to the following Township of Howell Committees who responded to our request: Rent Control Board Lake Restoration & Wildlife Committee Shade Tree Commission Preservation Task Force Howell Township Chamber of Commerce More thanks to the volunteers who have spent countless hours in preparation and meetings to create this document. Those citizens are: Marcie Nowicki-Chairperson Susan Clark-Council Liaison Sal Runfola Grace Abramov Brian Tannenhaus Glen Cantor Paul Schneider Elizabeth Crombie Also, Thank you to Kristin Henderson of the Manager's Office
TOWNSHIP of HOWELL 251 Preventorium Road (732) 938-4500 Post Office Box 580 FAX (732) 938-7124 Howell, New Jersey 07731-0580 LAND USEICODE OFFICE Website: www.twp.howell.nj.us September 16, 201 1 Memorandum To: Helene Schlegel, Township Manager.,-),- From: 3 */', Betty Lou Textor, Director Land Uselcode ~nforcementfl u) f* Re: Municipal Properties Pursuant to our discussion on thts date, I have indicated that it may be beneficial to provide a special designation on the Township of Howell Zoning Map in connection wlth all municipal properties. I have suggested that these properties be designated as Municipal Government Properties (MGP) or perhaps some other designation that would distinguish the Township properties on the Zoning Map as the Zoning Map currently provides zoning information We could then provide the block and lot number on the legend and include the description such as Oak Glen Park, Municipal Complex, Municipal Garage, Municipal Library, Liberty Park, etc. 1 trust that this information will be helpful. Cc: McKenna G. Kingdon, Township Attorney William H. Nunziato. Jr., PP, PE, Townsh~p Engineer Thomas Savino. Engineering Coordinator." --% e.a.~.,>! i +.. -- j -* 1 -. ~ ~ ' d.