Ciattarelli to be Keynote Speaker at Consolidation Seminar

Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, R-16th Dist., is to be a featured speaker at the third-annual municipal consolidation seminar, sponsored by Courage to Connect New Jersey, the non-profit, non-partisan statewide organization that highlights how merging towns into town clusters improves efficiency and savings.

The event, scheduled for June 5, will take place at Princeton University, at the heart of two communities that successfully consolidated on Jan. 1. The event is from 8 a.m. to noon at Princeton University’s Robertson Hall, Prospect Avenue at Washington Road.

Ciattarelli, Hillsborough resident, will be participating in a bi-partisan panel discussion titled “Elected Officials Discuss their Experiences with Consolidation.” The assemblyman will join State Sen. Robert Gordon, Hunterdon County Freeholder Rob Walton and Loch Arbour Mayor Paul Fernicola.

“Sharing my thoughts about the benefits of consolidating government is something I look forward to with great anticipation,” Ciattarelli said. “There is no doubt that consolidating government translates into greater efficiencies and savings for taxpayers. I am pleased that Courage to Connect New Jersey remains focused on this important issue, and hosts this annual event to keep consolidation a key discussion point at the local level and in Trenton.”

Ciattarelli was an obvious choice for the panel because of his involvement in a commission that studied the feasibility of a county-wide police consolidation in Somerset County, Genovese said.

Another important panel, titled “Princeton’s Historic Consolidators Share their Journey,” will feature Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert, Princeton Councilwoman Heather Howard, Princeton Administrator  Robert W. Bruschi and CGR President & CEO Joseph Stefko.

Attendees will receive program materials and continental breakfast as part of a $35 fee. Register at www.CourageToConnectNJ.org.