By Katie Pirolt
May 14, 2012

More than 300 mayors along with city officials and business leaders from across New Jersey gathered in Atlantic City April 25-27 for the New Jersey Conference of Mayors (NJCM) 49th Annual Conference & Exposition. Mayors attended a variety of informative sessions on topics including school funding reform, revenue sources for municipalities, and shared services legislation.

As chair of The U.S. Conference of Mayors Membership Committee, Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler spoke at the plenary session luncheon on April 26 highlighting the Conference of Mayors' Common'sense Jobs Agenda.

Wahler said, "Through our Common Sense Jobs Agenda, we have been pushing job creation through a number of practical solutions that would create millions of new jobs by immediately investing in infrastructure, small businesses, manufacturing, trade and tourism."

As a Conference of Mayors priority, Wahler explained, "Job one in this agenda is to pass legislation renewing the federal surface transportation law." As the House and Senate have recently appointed conferees to negotiate a final surface transportation authorization bill, Wahler explained, "Regardless of the outcome, we will return to this legislation next year where the new Congress will try to develop a longer-term renewal plan."

Wahler continued, "Another program we continue to fight for is the Community Development Block Grant program. Even though the Senate provided for a modest increase for the upcoming year, it still remains under attack on Capitol Hill."

Wahler closed by inviting all the mayors to attend The U.S. Conference of Mayors 80th Annual Meeting in Baltimore June 13-16. He said, "You will have the opportunity to participate in special workshops and forums on a variety of issues, and have access to experts that specialize in many different issues that affect our cities."

During the Legislative reception, members of NJCM elected Port Republic Mayor Gary B. Giberson as President, Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo as Vice President, and Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith as 2nd Vice President.