February 2, 2026 Millburn Township Charter Study Commission Meeting Minutes 1 Minutes of the meeting of the Charter Study Commission of the Township of Millburn, in the County of Essex, New Jersey, held in the Bauer Center starting at 8:00 PM on the above date. Mr. Drucker welcomed those present and read the following notice: In accordance with Section 5 of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, Public Laws, 1975, be advised that notice of this meeting was made by posting on the Bulletin Board in Town Hall, and forwarding to the officially designated newspapers, that this meeting would take place at the Bauer Center at 8:00 PM on Monday, February 2, 2026. All those in attendance joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. Upon call of the roll, the following Charter Study Commission members were recorded present: Corey Biller, Jerry Kung, Shaunak Tanna, and Christopher Drucker. Also present: Suzanne Cevasco, Esq. from King, Moench & Collins LLP, attending remotely via Zoom. Mr. Tanna made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Dr. Kung. All voted in favor. Dr. Kung made a motion to approve the January 22, 2026 meeting minutes, seconded by Mr. Tanna. All voted in favor. Reports Mr. Biller reported on a comparative analysis of 13 municipalities similar to Millburn in Morris, Bergen, Essex, and Union counties. Dr. Kung announced that for the Township Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 3rd at 7:00 PM, there will be a Charter Study Commission update on the agenda, providing an opportunity to present preliminary findings to the TC and public. Public Comment Mr. Drucker opened the first public comment period. Jay Morreale, speaking on behalf of the Short Hills Association, thanked the Commission for conducting public interviews of TC members so that members of the public could hear directly from participants. He suggested reaching out to former TC member Bill Horbatt, a member of the Short Hills Association, and also to the chair of the Holmdel Charter Study Commission. Mr. Drucker closed the first public comment period. Old Business Interview with Township Committee Members Ben Stoller and Jamie Serruto Mr. Drucker introduced the evening's public interviews with sitting Township Committee members Ben Stoller and Jamie Serruto. He explained these interviews are part of the Commission's systematic fact-finding process to understand how Millburn's government operates in practice. The Commission has already interviewed municipal employees including department heads and staff, and is currently speaking with current and former elected officials. The information gathered will help inform the Commission's analysis and ultimate recommendations to voters.� February 2, 2026 Millburn Township Charter Study Commission Meeting Minutes 2 Mr. Drucker stated the Commission is grateful to Committeemen Stoller and Serruto for agreeing to participate in these public interviews, which allow residents to observe the fact￾finding process firsthand and understand the questions being asked as the Commission evaluates Millburn's form of government. Mr. Drucker noted that while the Commission offered all current Township Committee members the opportunity to be interviewed publicly, one member declined, and the Commission respects that decision. He particularly thanked and commended Mr. Serruto for graciously agreeing to be interviewed even though this is only his first month in office, noting the Commission appreciates any insights Mr. Serruto can provide while recognizing he is still in the early stages of his service to the township. Mr. Drucker explained that he and Dr. Kung would facilitate the interviews, with Mr. Tanna and Mr. Biller asking follow-up questions as needed. Time Commitment and Learning Curve Both members described substantial time commitments ranging from 15-25+ hours per week, including committee liaison work, responding to resident inquiries, and preparation for meetings. Mr. Stoller noted that while his business experience helped him understand board operations, learning municipal-specific nuances (municipal finance, RFPs, civil service) was different. Mr. Serruto, still in his first month, stated his Board of Education service and prior town involvement prepared him well. He emphasized that Millburn is a civil service town with specific legalities that take time to learn. Regarding institutional knowledge transfer, Mr. Stoller reported limited formal handover. Mr. Serruto agreed, noting he was never contacted by his predecessor and received no transition materials. Term Length and Election Frequency Both members stated three years is insufficient. Mr. Stoller said longer terms would promote greater continuity - by the time members catch their stride, they're back into a campaigning cycle. Mr. Serruto observed that by the time you reach certain initiatives, it's time to campaign and proposals get stopped. Regarding annual elections, Mr. Stoller stated they cause high politicization, bring governance to a standstill, and create frequent disruptions. Mr. Serruto emphasized the complete exhaustion, noting the high variability of turnout each year. Partisanship in Governance Both members stated unequivocally that party affiliation does not affect day-to-day governance or decisions. Mr. Stoller said it does not affect his decision-making process. Mr. Serruto stated his governance is not drawn from the national level. However, Mr. Stoller cited a specific instance from previous TCs regarding affordable housing agreements that "should never have been made" because it was "driven by politicization by a party" rather than local residents' interests. Both agreed that issues like road maintenance, trash collection, budget planning, and public safety are fundamentally nonpartisan.� February 2, 2026 Millburn Township Charter Study Commission Meeting Minutes 3 Regarding political relationships, Mr. Stoller stated relationships with county and state officials are valuable - he cited his outreach to the County Executive to discuss services given Millburn pays nearly $46 million in county taxes. Mr. Serruto added a caveat that there's a difference between relationships and actual results, noting state legislators have voted against Millburn's interests on various issues. Nonpartisan Elections Both strongly support moving to nonpartisan elections. Mr. Stoller stated he "strongly supports movement to nonpartisan elections" to emphasize candidates' qualifications and commitment to local priorities. He noted in his corporate life he has never hired employees based on political party. Mr. Serruto stated he believes Millburn should move to nonpartisan local elections, citing the town's history of split-ticket voting and noting that party labels have "not promoted civic engagement and learning - it has promoted laziness." He sees no downside, pointing to the Board of Education's successful nonpartisan functioning throughout its history. TC Working Relationships Both described the current TC as working collaboratively across party lines. Mr. Stoller emphasized that effective governance involves ability to disagree and be persuaded by evidence. Disagreements are not bad - members are doing their job and don't harbor bad feelings. Regarding what causes tension, Mr. Stoller cited different interpretations of complex policy issues - everyone approaches from different perspectives. On whether TC meetings focus on policy or operational details, Mr. Stoller stated you can't get to big picture without understanding operational details - all the operational details matter including who will do the work, whether staff are overstressed, and timelines. Structural Questions Mayoral Selection: Mr. Serruto stated most community members don't understand how the mayor is elected or the mayor's role. He believes there should be a directly elected mayor for consistency of chairmanship and direction, though not a full-time executive mayor. He favors a hybrid model with shared responsibilities of executive oversight, citing Summit's committee structure as an example. Mr. Stoller agreed there should be an elected and paid mayor serving as "one throat to choke" - a single point of accountability. He leans toward a strong mayor form with executive authority, though clarified he's sharing his perspective based on experience, not advocating for a specific form. TC Size: Mr. Serruto stated five is not the right amount. With a quorum of three and OPMA restrictions, it's operationally difficult. He suggested seven to nine members (with seven probably right), noting one person can derail initiatives with such a small body. Board of Education committees of four to five worked well. Mr. Stoller agreed five seems light and expanding to seven to nine would bring additional perspectives and better decision-making. At-Large vs. Ward-Based: Both supported at-large elections. Mr. Serruto stated ward representation would create division and pigeonhole representatives, forcing choices about which neighborhood's street gets paved first. Mr. Stoller stated he views it as one Millburn and Short Hills without differentiation.� February 2, 2026 Millburn Township Charter Study Commission Meeting Minutes 4 Business Administrator Structure: Mr. Stoller stated he believes in delegation - the BA focuses on operational efficiencies while the TC makes broader policy decisions. There should never be a time when a TC member tells department heads what to do. The professional management style should stay the same in the current form of government. Mr. Serruto stated the relationship is good but isolating because it's one-to-one between TC and BA. It works but depends on the person in the office. Both praised township employees extensively. Mr. Stoller added a caveat: "Our town runs very well because of the people that are currently in there. If you put a different cast of characters in there, it could be a very different story. That's where form comes in." Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths identified included: professional administration, ability to deliver high-quality services, dedication of volunteers, and professionalism of department staff. Weaknesses identified: Mr. Serruto cited confusion about how government works, outdated terms and flow, insufficient representation, and that partisanship was ever part of local elections. Mr. Stoller cited frequency of elections and turnover, which hinders continuity, long￾term planning, and institutional knowledge retention. Single Most Important Change Mr. Serruto stated: nonpartisan elections, directly elected mayor, more governing body members, and better delineation of roles and responsibilities. Mr. Stoller stated: shift to nonpartisan elections and extend terms to reduce politicization and build a stronger community. Training and Transition Both emphasized the need for robust training. Mr. Stoller suggested possibly making training mandatory given how much there is to learn about municipal operations. Mr. Serruto suggested a pre-orientation for candidates before elections, run by township staff, to help them understand the role and time commitment. Mr. Drucker thanked both committee members for their time and insights. Old Business -- Community Outreach Dr. Kung reported that he prepared a press release and reached out to local media outlets. The Patch editor responded indicating a backlog for publication. He also mentioned that the TAPInto editor wrote back saying the article is scheduled for publication. Public Comment Mr. Drucker opened the second public comment period. No one wished to be heard. Mr. Drucker closed the second public comment period. Adjournment Dr. Kung made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Biller. All voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned.� February 2, 2026 Millburn Township Charter Study Commission Meeting Minutes 5 ____________________________ Dr. Jerry Kung, Commissioner Charter Study Commission Secretary Approved: February 10, 2026�