Middletown Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger has been appointed to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Legislative Committee.

As a member of the league’s Legislative Committee, Mayor Scharfenberger will help define the league’s position on thousands of state bills and resolutions that impact municipalities. The 100-member body reflects a broad spectrum of municipal viewpoints from rural communities to suburban municipalities to larger cities. The committee comprises a cross section of mayors, governing body members, attorneys, engineers, managers, clerks and other key local administrative officials.

“We are pleased that Mayor Scharfenberger is willing to devote his time and expertise to the league's Legislative Committee. His participation will greatly enhance our deliberations on issues of municipal relevance. We are delighted to welcome him as a member of this very important policy-making committee,” said NJSLOM Executive Director Bill Dressell. The league announced Scharfenberger’s appointment this week.

Mayor Scharfenberger, a member of the Governor’ Chris Christie’s transition team, has been a vocal opponent of unfunded state mandates, which are orders given to municipalities like Middletown by the state with no funding to pay for their implementation. Examples of unfunded mandates that affect Middletown range from state-ordered certification for township employees, to the construction of a truck wash at the Department of Public Works, to the construction of low-income housing as ordered by COAH.

The New Jersey State League of Municipalities is a voluntary association created to help communities do a better job of self-government through pooling information resources and brain power. It is authorized by State Statute and since 1915, has been serving local officials throughout the Garden State. All 566 municipalities are members of the League. Over 560 mayors and 13,000 elected and appointed officials of member municipalities are entitled to all of the services and privileges of the League.