We're petitioning to put Council-Manager government on the November ballot. Accountable leadership. Lower costs. Real accountability.
Our current Mayor-Council system puts elected politicians — not qualified administrators — in charge of a multi-million dollar operation serving 22,000+ residents.
Priorities shift with every election cycle. Long-term planning suffers when leadership changes constantly.
The mayor answers to no one between elections. No oversight, no performance reviews, no one who can step in when things go wrong. That's no way to run a $34M operation.
Key positions filled based on political connections rather than qualifications and merit.
Without dedicated fiscal oversight, taxpayer money is spent less efficiently than it should be.
Experience and expertise walk out the door every time leadership changes after an election.
Policy-making and daily operations are mixed together, reducing effectiveness of both.
The most widely used form of government for municipalities our size — proven effective for over 100 years.
Voters still choose their local representatives. The council sets policy, passes ordinances, approves the budget, and represents you.
The council hires a Town Manager to run daily operations — someone they choose, who answers directly to them, and who they can terminate and replace at any time.
The manager handles day-to-day operations, budgeting, and staff management. They answer directly to all 5 elected council members — and can be terminated and replaced at any time. Unlike a mayor who answers to no one between elections.
Think of it like a business:
The Council = Board of Directors (elected by shareholders — YOU)
The Town Manager = CEO (hired by the board for their expertise)
You wouldn't elect a random person to run a $34 million company. Why run your town that way?
In the past, Vernon hired managers who abused their positions and broke the law. That was a failure of oversight — and it was wrong. But here's what's changed:
Vernon now has a Chief Financial Officer who co-signs all checks. No single person can move money without independent oversight. This safeguard didn't exist back then.
Today's Council-Manager governments require performance contracts, annual independent audits, and strict financial reporting. Full transparency, by law.
The Council can terminate the manager at any time with a majority vote. No waiting for an election. Misconduct = immediate removal.
The criminals were caught and prosecuted. They went to jail. The answer isn't to abandon accountable municipal management — it's to do it right with proper safeguards.
The question isn't whether accountable municipal management works — over 65% of American cities prove it does.
Today's financial controls and accountability measures ensure it's done right — and that the council stays in charge.
of U.S. cities our size use Council-Manager government
NJ municipalities already use Council-Manager government
years this model has been successfully proven
Less corruption with council-manager government (ICMA)
Under New Jersey law, residents can petition to place a change of government question on the November ballot. Help us bring Council-Manager government to Vernon.
Your signature places a question on the November ballot to change Vernon Township's government from Mayor-Council to Council-Manager. If voters approve, Vernon will hire a Town Manager to run daily operations — directly accountable to all 5 elected council members.
Any registered voter in Vernon Township. You must be registered to vote at a Vernon Township address.
We'll be at farmers markets, community gatherings, and local events throughout Vernon Township this summer. Check our live calendar below for upcoming signing locations:
Important: Your signature does NOT commit you to voting for the change. It simply means you believe the question deserves to be on the ballot and that voters should decide.
We need registered Vernon voters to sign. Every signature brings us closer to putting this question where it belongs — on the ballot.
Find a Signing LocationSigning locations will be announced soon.
Follow us on social media for updates.
We're petitioning to place a question on the November ballot to change Vernon Township's form of government from Mayor-Council to Council-Manager. If voters say YES, Vernon will adopt accountable municipal management — a hired Town Manager accountable to the elected council.
No. Signing the petition simply puts the question on the ballot. You're saying the voters deserve a say. How you vote in November is entirely up to you.
No. In most Council-Manager towns, there is still a mayor — typically a member of the council who serves as the public-facing leader and presides over meetings. The difference is that daily operations are handled by a hired manager, not the mayor.
A Town Manager focuses full-time on running the township — budgeting, contracts, day-to-day operations — while answering directly to the council. Studies consistently show that Council-Manager governments operate more efficiently. The manager is also motivated to perform — unlike elected officials, they can be terminated immediately for poor results.
Town managers typically save far more than their salary through efficient operations, better contract negotiations, and successful grant applications. Many comparable NJ towns with municipal managers operate with lower per-capita costs.
The elected Council. They hire the manager, set performance expectations, evaluate results, and can terminate the manager at any time with a majority vote. The manager answers to YOUR elected representatives.
Yes — and we understand the concern. In the past, Vernon hired managers who abused their positions and stole money. They were caught, prosecuted, and went to jail. But Vernon today is very different: we now have a CFO who co-signs all checks, modern financial controls, mandatory independent audits, and strict reporting requirements. The Council can also terminate and replace the manager immediately with a majority vote. The answer isn't to abandon accountable municipal management — it's to do it right with today's safeguards in place.
No. The Vernon Taxpayers Association is a non-partisan civic group. Good government isn't a Republican or Democratic issue — it's a Vernon issue. Council-Manager government is used successfully in communities across the political spectrum.
Yes! This goes directly to the voters on the November ballot. The people of Vernon decide — not politicians. Full transparency, complete voter control.
We are a non-partisan civic organization made up of Vernon Township residents who believe in fiscal responsibility and good government.
We are your neighbors — homeowners, parents, retirees, and business owners who care about how our tax dollars are spent and how our town is managed.
Our mission is fiscal responsibility and good government. We're putting the question of Council-Manager government directly to the voters — educating residents and advocating for a more efficient, accountable Vernon Township.
Residents deserve to know how their money is spent
Leadership judged on results, not politics
$34M in taxpayer money deserves real oversight
Good government transcends party lines