Montgomery Township Budget & Finance Committee and Zoning Board of Adjustment

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     The Budget & Finance Committee and the Zoning Board of Adjustment are two integral township committees that play pivotal roles in the operation and development of Montgomery Township. 

     The Budget & Finance Committee oversees the annual township budget and its various aspects, including the introduction of the township budget, its advertisement and release to the public (through a public hearing), and its adoption by the township. In addition, the Budget & Finance Committee handles cash receipts, cash disbursements, payrolls, and computerization of the township. The Budget & Finance Committee works to maintain a very delicate balance of distributing sufficient funds to the appropriate areas while ensuring that the township maintains fiscal stability. 

     The Zoning Board of Adjustment is a semi-autonomous quasi-judicial body that implements the Montgomery Land Development Ordinance, and reviews and issues building permits for land development projects. This committee primarily reviews applications and proposals regarding requested developments that deviate from the set requirements. These particular applications are reviewed by the Zoning Board of Adjustment to ensure that the requested provisions do not disturb or harm the community or the land that these developments will be carried out on, and to ensure that these developments abide by the township’s zoning laws. The Zoning Board of Adjustment works in collaboration with the Planning Board and the Township Committee to advance the township based on Montgomery’s “Master Plan,” a multi-part document that deals with all aspects of zoning in the township, that is reviewed and updated every 10 years to ensure that it stays current.

     As of now, the Budget & Finance Committee is preparing the 2021 township budget by working to introduce and advertise the budget and send it to the State by the given deadlines. In addition, the Budget & Finance Committee is looking to effectively leverage tax dollars through the establishment of shared services. Shared services involve the sharing of resources with other townships, which will reduce the cost of resources and provide aid during a recession. Montgomery has already established shared services with many townships, and a Shared Services Marketplace led by Montgomery has been adopted by the township. The Budget & Finance Committee is currently exploring opportunities to establish shared services with more townships, which is especially critical for the township during the pandemic. 

     The Zoning Board of Adjustment is currently reviewing zoning applications at Zoning Board meetings that have been filed by residents and businesses in Montgomery. In addition, the Zoning Board is consulting with different committees and experts to ensure that the zoning decisions made will benefit the community in multiple aspects. The Zoning Board is anticipating applications in the near future regarding large-scale development in the township, including proposals to potentially build cell towers and restaurant establishments. These applications will be reviewed by ensuring that the environmental health and the historical value of the township are not compromised while also considering what is best for the residents of the community.

     After attending one-on-one meetings for both committees, there were some ideas and details that left me awestruck. In one of these meetings with Administrator Nieman and Mr.Michael Pitts from the Budget & Finance Committee, we learned that there are numerous strict guidelines and regulations set by the State, as well as a very tight margin of error in terms of following the budget. The State sets limits known as “caps” for the budget that must be followed, and there are curtailments on how risky of an investment the township can make to guarantee that there is no loss of principal. It is illegal for the township to go over the budget given that there are no extenuating circumstances (e.g. natural disasters), and in the event that the township goes over budget, the township has to file for emergency and follow a set of special rules. It is essential for the well-being and sustenance of the township that the Budget & Finance Committee cautiously allocates funds to assure that the various township committees have enough money to execute their plans to advance the township in their individual aspects, while also making sure that the township is financially stable.

     In another meeting with Ms.Lori Savron, we came to understand that the Zoning Board of Adjustment plays an indispensable ro    le along with the Planning Board and Township Committee to urbanize and commercialize the township while maintaining a very delicate balance, which I will describe below. What truly surprised me about the Zoning Board of Adjustment, which I learned during this meeting, was that the urbanizing of the township and the zoning decisions made by the Zoning Board of Adjustment in collaboration with the Township Committee and Planning Board are heavily influenced by Montgomery's history, values, and rural heritage. In the 1960s, the township decided to prioritize open space and focus on zoning residential areas. Since then, Montgomery has maintained a balance of preserving the town’s rural heritage while commercially developing the township through the establishment of “nodes,” which are pockets of development in certain areas of the township. The two main nodes in Montgomery township are the Rocky Hill node and the Belle Meade node, and the US-206 highway serves as a “cord” between these nodes. It is in these two nodes and this cord that a majority of the commercial development in Montgomery has taken place, while the rest of the land is zoned for residential areas or open space. Montgomery is very keen on preserving open space and staying true to its historical roots while also slowly adapting with the times to being more open to commercial development, and this balance is reflected in the zoning decisions made by the Zoning Board.

     With the impact that the pandemic has had, it is imperative that steps are taken to create financial stability for all. Hence, I propose the creation of a group that deals with financial distress in the township caused by unforeseen circumstances (e.g. natural disaster, disease epidemic/pandemic, etc.). This group can come up with ideas and options to aid residents that are unable to pay taxes and dues on time (e.g. property taxes) including financial packages to enable these residents to meet their financial needs and pay their dues in the near future. This group can be under the jurisdiction of the Budget & Finance Committee and the Economic Development Commission, where both committees can collaborate to execute this idea. The Budget & Finance Committee can oversee the quantitative and financial aspects of these financial plans in coordination with the annual township budget to ensure that the township is economically stable upon implementing these plans, and modify the plans to create economic stability, if needed. The Economic Development Commission can manage the distribution and implementation of this program, as well as monitoring the usage and impact of these plans.

    Tying into this idea of economic development in the township, I propose that the Zoning Board of Adjustment could work with the Budget & Finance Committee and the Economic Development Commission to incentivize people to start and establish businesses in Montgomery through offering financial packages/plans, which would create more job opportunities and spur economic growth in the township. The Budget & Finance Committee can supervise and manage the financial aspects of this plan to make sure that the implementation of this plan does not cause economic instability within the township, the Zoning Board of Adjustment can work to allocate the land needed for these businesses, and the Economic Development Commission can incentivize people to start businesses. It is extremely vital to note that this plan should not be executed at the expense of the township’s core values or the environmental health of the township.

    Based on their interests, other students can become involved with these committees and support their initiatives by exploring the pages for both the Budget & Finance Committee and the Zoning Board of Adjustment on the Montgomery Township website, which will provide a detailed overview of the roles of these committees and how they collaborate to meet the township goals. Next, students can attend committee meetings for these committees, which are currently being held at different frequencies, depending on the committee. Meeting information and links can be found under “Municipal Meetings” on the township website. These meetings are a great opportunity for students to provide their perspectives and voice their opinions on matters that pertain to the community. To stay updated on matters related to individual township committees, the Youth Leadership Council, or the community in general, students should visit the Youth Leadership Council social media page on Instagram (@monty.ylc). Students are also highly encouraged to apply to be a part of the Youth Leadership Council so that they can get more involved with the Budget & Finance Committee and Zoning Board of Adjustment, as well other township committees.

     It is a great honor and privilege to have the opportunity to be associated with and interact with the esteemed representatives and members of the Budget & Finance Committee and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. I would like to thank them for their valuable time and patience. They were kind enough to provide information and answer all our questions with utmost clarity. Through my involvement with these committees, I have come to learn that involvement in local government from all citizens is of utmost importance, and it is the key to helping the community and the people progress. I have also come to realize that for a governmental body to spark change within the community and reform it for years to come, everyone must work in harmony, and subsections of this body (e.g. committees) must work cohesively with each other to corroborate that change is brought to all aspects of life to all people. The time that I have spent so far as a part of the Budget & Finance Committee and the Zoning Board of Adjustment has been very enlightening and eye-opening to me. It has proven to me that reforms can come in any form, by people of all kinds, and from any place; all it takes to institute this reform is the drive to make the world a better place.