1. SELF-GOVERNANCE POST-MORTEM
2002/2003 – Villa Maria nuns announce plans to close nursing home
Key:
Yellow = Borough action
Green = Citizen action
White = Possible paths, not taken
– Borough Council attempts to pass developer-written Age Restricted Condo Ordinance
– Hundreds of citizens attend public hearings,
vigorously object to development plan, seek Council action
to protect environment, local history, quality of life.
Borough Council listens to citizens,
abandons Age-Restricted Condo
ordinance, seeks open space and
historic preservation leverage
Oct – Council ignores citizens, “passes” Age Restricted Condo ordinance and Mayor signs it. (Campbell sues: ordinance overturned April and Sept. 2007)
May Citizens draft Self-Governance Ordinance to protect local health, safety and welfare from corporate land development; submit to Borough Council for adoption
May 2007 – Developer submits condo application to Planning Board
May – July 2007 Dozens of citizens attend public hearings, object to development plan, seek Planning Board action to protect environment, local history.
Borough Council discusses, debates, adopts Self-Governance Ordinance
Borough Council ignores
Self-Governance Ordinance
Planning Board listens to
citizens, rejects condo
application
July 2007 – Planning Board ignores
citizens, unanimously approves condo
Application.
Citizens form North Plainfield Citizens for Community Rights, begin initiative campaign for voters to directly adopt Self-Governance Ordinance

2. July Citizens form North Plainfield Citizens for Community Rights, begin initiative campaign for voters to directly adopt Self-Governance Ordinance
Sept Citizens reach signature goal (650); submit petition to Borough Clerk
Borough Clerk accepts petition;
forwards to Borough Council
Oct Borough Clerk rejects petition
without judicial review
Borough Clerk seeks judicial review
of proposed ordinance
Nov Citizen files lawsuit to obtain judicial review
Borough Council
ignores petition.
Borough Council debates
and adopts Self Governance
Ordinance
Trial court judge rules citizens
have right local self-governance, orders
Ordinance placed on ballot for vote.
Jan Trial court judge rules citizens have
no right to local self-governance, allows
Borough Clerk petition rejection to stand.
Borough Clerk places Self-Governance Ordinance on ballot for vote
Citizen files appeal to Appellate Division
Majority “No” votes: Ordinance
democratically rejected by voters.
Citizens conclude democracy is dead.
Majority “Yes” votes: Self-Governance Ordinance adopted; Borough voters democratically protect themselves from predatory corporate land development.