February 10, 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 Tuesday, February 10, 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. Mr. Tanna made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Biller. All voted in favor. Mr. Biller made a motion to approve the February 2, 2026 meeting minutes, seconded by Mr. Tanna. All voted in favor. Reports Dr. Kung reported that he provided an update on the charter commission’s work at the TC meeting on February 3, 2026. Mr. Tanna reported that he and Mr. Biller have begun outreach to officials from other towns. Mr. Biller noted that they have reached out to Red Bank, given their recent charter reform. Mr. Drucker asked if Verona was included. Mr. Biller replied that it was not on their original list for outreach. Ms. Parker-Lentz entered the meeting at 8:04pm. Public Comment Mr. Drucker opened the first public comment period. No one wished to be heard. Mr. Drucker closed the first public comment period. Old Business Interview with Township Committee Member Frank Saccomandi and David Cosgrove Mr. Drucker introduced the evening's public interviews with Mayor Frank Saccomandi and Deputy Mayor David Cosgrove. 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 in the process of speaking with current and former elected officials. The information gathered will help inform the Commission's analysis and ultimate recommendations to voters.� February 10, 2026 Millburn Township Charter Study Commission Meeting Minutes 2 Mr. Drucker stated the Commission is grateful to Mayor Saccomandi and Deputy Mayor Cosgrove for agreeing to participate in these public interviews, which allow residents to observe the fact-finding process firsthand and understand the questions being posed as the Commission evaluates Millburn's form of government. Mr. Drucker explained that he and Commissioner Parker-Lentz would facilitate the interviews, with Commissioners Kung, Tanna, and Biller asking follow-up questions as needed. The interviews were structured so that Deputy Mayor Cosgrove responded first on each question, followed by Mayor Saccomandi. Time Commitment and Learning Curve Both members described substantial time commitments. Deputy Mayor Cosgrove estimated approximately 10–20 hours per week, noting variability depending on the week and the number of committee assignments. Mayor Saccomandi estimated approximately 30–35 hours per week in his current role as mayor, characterizing it as "like having a second job." He noted the mayoral role involves considerably more constituent outreach — emails, phone calls, and resident requests for assistance increased substantially upon assuming the office, particularly following the recent winter storm. Regarding the learning curve, Deputy Mayor Cosgrove stated it took approximately three months to get acclimated, aided by having attended Township Committee meetings for approximately three years prior to being elected. Mayor Saccomandi described year one as primarily a learning experience — getting introduced to the role and figuring out how everything works. Year two is where substantial work happens. Year three involves concern about the upcoming election or, for members not seeking reelection, the lame duck dynamic of potentially being unable to see initiatives through. Regarding institutional knowledge transfer, Deputy Mayor Cosgrove noted that because only one seat changed at his election, four experienced members remained, providing reasonable continuity. He noted some ongoing projects, including fair share housing matters, required being picked up midstream. Mayor Saccomandi stated that the prior mayor shared considerable information and background with him, but that he did not receive the same level of knowledge transfer from Michael Cohen or Annette Romano. He cited several specific examples of projects affected by institutional knowledge gaps: the Town Hall renovation, where the TC was given a design without backstory or context requiring significant effort to evaluate and improve; the Gateway to Millburn project, where budget was approved by a prior lame duck TC but never carried forward to completion. Term Length and Election Frequency On term length, Deputy Mayor Cosgrove expressed a preference for four-year terms, acknowledging the tension between longer terms and constituent accountability because, from the voter’s perspective, elected officials would be locked in for an additional year. He noted that the lame duck dynamic in a three-year term is a genuine concern, and that if a member is not performing, residents have limited recourse other than waiting for the next election cycle. He also noted that years where two seats are up rather than one year could make a difference in the shifting dynamics. Mayor Saccomandi stated that three years is definitely not sufficient. He described the three￾year cycle as follows: year one involves getting one's bearings; year two is productive; and year � February 10, 2026 Millburn Township Charter Study Commission Meeting Minutes 3 three involves either running for reelection or facing the constraints of a lame duck period. He expressed hope that the Commission would consider forms of government that include modern features — such as initiative, recall, and referendum — as mechanisms that could address accountability concerns under longer terms without requiring annual elections. He also noted the significant time and effort demanded by running a campaign every three years, arguing that four years better balances those costs against effective governance. On election frequency, Mayor Saccomandi stated that annual elections are problematic from multiple perspectives. The public is exhausted by a constant campaign cycle. Significant turnover in recent years has created governance instability — noting that in prior decades, TC members served for ten or more years. He cited a specific data point: during the 2021 Affordable Housing Settlement Agreement, the median tenure of TC members was approximately one and a half years, and two members had served fewer than six months. The process was conducted entirely in closed session, meaning even members who had previously attended TC meetings as residents would have had no prior knowledge of the proceedings. He recommended moving to elections every two years — allowing roughly half the governing body to change at each cycle. Partisan Considerations in Local Governance Deputy Mayor Cosgrove stated that party affiliation does not drive day-to-day governance decisions. Votes this year and last year have regularly crossed party lines. He noted, however, that party affiliation can provide voters with a general signal about a candidate's philosophy and dispositions. It may also give an idea of how someone may vote or lean on issues that pop up during a term. He expressed concern that uninformed voters may rely solely on party labels without researching individual candidates, and that this dynamic can produce outcomes that do not reflect actual candidate positions. He noted that, until the last round of voting, the recent mayoral selection process was largely along party lines. Mayor Saccomandi stated that local issues — roads, DPW operations, public safety, budget mechanics — are not partisan in nature and should not be. He noted that views on housing policy within the community also do not fall cleanly along party lines. He shared that he changed his party registration in order to run for the TC because, as a Democrat speaking out at meetings against the then all-Democratic TC, he would not have been permitted to run under that party. He further noted that his Republican label does not reflect all of his positions — citing his championing of gas-powered leaf blower restrictions, which would traditionally be unpopular within the Republican Party. He stated: "Putting a partisan label on a local election actually does a disservice to the community because it doesn't necessarily inform what you're going to get — because how someone votes on local issues might be different from how they think about things nationally." Both members agreed that issues such as road maintenance, trash collection, budget planning, and public safety have no partisan dimension whatsoever. Non-Partisan Elections Both members expressed support for non-partisan local elections. Mayor Saccomandi offered several reasons. He referenced research on group psychology — specifically, research discussed in Ezra Klein's Why We're Polarized — finding that when people are divided into partisan groups, they often accept worse outcomes for themselves in order to � February 10, 2026 Millburn Township Charter Study Commission Meeting Minutes 4 widen the gap between their group and the other. He argued that this dynamic contributed to the 2021 Affordable Housing Agreement, where he characterized the all-Democratic TC as more focused on assigning blame to prior Republican administrations for inaction than on negotiating the best possible agreement for Millburn. He also cited an example from recent local elections in which an individual was labeled a party loyalist; despite strong personal qualifications and broad community respect, many voters stated they would support the candidate "except for the fact that they are a member of this party." He stated that non￾partisan elections would keep national political dynamics out of local races — noting that the most recent campaign cycle saw national issues imported into a local election in ways that had no bearing on local governance. He noted that approximately 45% of Millburn's registered voters are unaffiliated, and that the partisan system structurally disadvantages them as candidates — requiring them to adopt a party label and submit to its vetting in order to run. He stated the Commission has approached qualified candidates who have declined to run because they can't bring themselves to take a party label. He noted that partisan election “absolutely does deter” unaffiliated voters from seeking local office. Deputy Mayor Cosgrove noted that Dianne Eglow and David Morrow previously ran as independents and did not win. He expressed uncertainty about whether non-partisan elections would materially reduce campaign spending, noting that money tends to follow affiliation even if it is not formally party money. Mayor Saccomandi noted that the Board of Education operates on a non-partisan basis and attracts meaningful candidate and voter engagement. Mayor Saccomandi noted that pay-to-play laws and corporate policies deter some qualified candidates from publicly affiliating with a political party. He also cited the example of municipal employees who deliberately remain unaffiliated in order to maintain public trust and noted that corporate employees in certain industries face professional risk or outright prohibition from partisan political activity. Mr. Biller added that many people may also be reluctant to partake in a partisan election because future job prospects might be harmed, which could be a limiter for residents to get involved. Mr. Biller asked Deputy Mayor Cosgrove if there is a risk that the party affiliation could misinform voters. Deputy Mayor Cosgrove said that there is certainly a risk of that, citing the topic of gas-powered leaf blowers. He noted that there is no guarantee that someone you think is going to vote one way is actually going to follow through. Mr. Biller followed up with a question regarding party-line voting and whether that is a genuine concern in a partisan election. Deputy Mayor Cosgrove replied that he was not sure how to fix that problem, given that individuals might still have party affiliations even in non￾partisan elections. Mayor Saccomandi added that turnout varies based on what elections are up-ballot from the local election and that, depending on the year, the number of residents who show up and vote the party line fluctuates. He cited the referendum question for the formation of the charter study commission as an example of a successful non-partisan election. Mr. Drucker asked for their thoughts regarding campaign spending. Mayor Saccomandi stated that non-partisan elections would reduce the amount of money needed to run a successful campaign. Most of the money is raised from residents in town, and if you remove money from the parties, it would lower the barriers to entry for all. Donations would come from residents that truly believe in the campaign platform rather than outside political influence. There would be less outside money and the playing field would be leveled.� February 10, 2026 Millburn Township Charter Study Commission Meeting Minutes 5 Mr. Parker-Lentz asked if a cap on spending would be important. Mayor Saccomandi replied that the amount of money needed to mount a competitive campaign would be lessened in a non-partisan system. Deputy Mayor Cosgrove questioned the legality of spending caps. He noted that it is hard to raise money and doubted that non-partisan elections would lower election spending, since there would still be party affiliations even if not on the ballot. Mayor Saccomandi noted that it would be easier to raise money in a non-partisan election; since donation information is publicly available, he knew many Democrats that were hesitant to donate to Republicans. Mr. Biller concurred, noting a similar phenomenon where Republicans were hesitant to donate to his campaign in a Democratic primary. On county and state relationships, Mayor Saccomandi stated that party alignment does not reliably translate into additional county funding or services. He noted that municipalities with reliable partisan majorities may receive less competitive attention from county officials who take their votes for granted, while non-partisan municipalities may attract more competitive investment. He emphasized that effective direct outreach — inviting county and state officials to community events, for instance — is equally available regardless of party affiliation. TC Working Relationships and Operations Both members described the current TC as working collaboratively across party lines. Mayor Saccomandi stated he is able to work collaboratively with all members regardless of party. He noted that his working relationship with former Mayor Annette Romano began as highly collaborative but became strained during election season. He stated the partisan structure “creates unnecessary tension." Regarding what causes tension, both cited differing policy opinions as the primary driver, with personal conflicts as a secondary factor. On whether TC meetings focus on policy or operational details, both indicated that meetings are primarily policy-focused, but that operational issues arise when problems surface and require attention. Structural Questions • Mayoral Seleckon: Deputy Mayor Cosgrove expressed support for a directly elected mayor, though not a strong executive mayor. He noted that the current internal TC selection process for mayor has, in his observation, produced unnecessary tension and conflict in practice. He suggested that the person receiving the most votes in a general election might informally or formally assume the mayoral role as an alternative to the current selection process. Mayor Saccomandi stated he strongly supports a directly elected weak mayor — one with the same honorary presiding officer function as today, but chosen by voters rather than by the TC. He described the current system as "unsustainable" and stated that even under single-party TCs, it has produced "backroom deals and backstabbing that created disunity and disharmony," affecting the quality of governance during the months when internal elections are being negotiated. He explicitly stated: "A strong mayor would be an absolute disaster." He explained that a strong mayor role would require full-time commitment, limiting the candidate pool to those who are retired or between careers, and that executive function transitions would create unacceptable discontinuity in services. He favors a directly elected weak mayor � February 10, 2026 Millburn Township Charter Study Commission Meeting Minutes 6 to address the accountability and legitimacy concerns of the current system without the downsides of an executive mayor model. • Governing Body Size: Deputy Mayor Cosgrove stated he is comfortable with five members and could accept seven. He expressed concern that increasing the size would make it harder to find qualified volunteers willing to commit 15–25+ hours per week. He did not see a compelling operational difference between five and seven in his experience. Mayor Saccomandi expressed support for expanding to seven members. He cited the quorum constraint: with three members as a quorum under OPMA, the TC is effectively limited to one￾on-one conversations in advance of meetings. Seven members would allow subcommittees of three, enabling tie-breaking and producing more authoritative recommendations. The larger body would also distribute workload more effectively — noting that current members are stretched really thin across multiple committee and board liaison assignments simultaneously. He stated that the school board, with nine members, consistently attracts strong candidates. He expressed confidence that, particularly if terms are lengthened, elections staggered, and partisan elections eliminated, then recruiting seven qualified candidates would be achievable. • At-Large vs. Ward-Based Representakon: Both members opposed ward-based representation. Mayor Saccomandi noted that Short Hills would generate more wards than the Millburn side of the township, potentially leaving Millburn residents feeling underrepresented, and that he has actively worked to eradicate attempts by some to stoke a Millburn/Short Hills division. • Business Administrator Structure: Deputy Mayor Cosgrove stated the current structure is effective and he would neither expand nor reduce the BA's responsibilities. Mayor Saccomandi stated he strongly supports retaining the BA structure. He suggested the BA may need two assistants given the breadth of responsibilities currently consolidated in that role. He raised a structural concern: the BA currently has no procedural protection against arbitrary removal by a TC majority, which creates vulnerability that he believes should be addressed. He recommended some form of hearing or review process so that a BA can formally document objections to governance decisions without fear of retaliation — protecting both institutional continuity and professional integrity. He noted that the BA provides the primary source of continuity as TC membership changes annually. • Strengths and Weaknesses Deputy Mayor Cosgrove identified the collaborative working dynamic of the current TC as a primary strength, while cautioning that it is a product of the people currently in office rather than the form of government itself. He cited projects getting dropped or stalled between terms as the most significant structural weakness. Mayor Saccomandi identified at-large representation and the honorary mayor structure as strengths. He identified the absence of modern Faulkner Act features — specifically initiative, recall, and referendum — as the most significant structural weakness. He noted these tools would give residents formal recourse without requiring them to simply wait out elected � February 10, 2026 Millburn Township Charter Study Commission Meeting Minutes 7 officials, and would allow the TC to undertake certain decisions with a mandate it currently lacks. Annual elections and the resulting term length constraints were also identified as major weaknesses. • Single Most Important Change Deputy Mayor Cosgrove noted that transparency is still an issue and that it is important to fight to keep on the right path. Mayor Saccomandi stated he would encompass the most important reforms as: non-partisan elections and expansion to seven members. Mr. Drucker thanked Mayor Saccomandi and Deputy Mayor Cosgrove for their time and candor. Old Business - Community Outreach Dr. Kung noted that TAP and Patch published the article regarding municipal employee interview findings. Ms. Parker-Lentz noted that outreach to various groups continues. Public Comment Mr. Drucker opened the second public comment period. Jeffrey Feld thanked the TC members for being interviewed in public. He suggested that if there are 7 members, that 4 could be ward-based and 3 could be at-large. He mentioned a donation to the Fourth of July Committee. He noted an issue regarding oversight of advisory boards. The CEDA committee did not reorganize, and Mr. Feld noted that certain organizations in town were left off of a project. Mr. Drucker closed the second public comment period. Adjournment Mr. Biller made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Tanna. All voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned. ____________________________ Dr. Jerry Kung, Commissioner Charter Study Commission Secretary Approved: February 25, 2026�