Mayor announces ethics reform for twp. jobs Reforms would curb professionals double dipping into pension fund BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer EDISON - Flanked by several township council members, Mayor Jun Choi recently announced reforms that would eliminate dual-office holding and make government more open, officials said. "The ordinance creates a public directory of all nonsalaried public positions and establishes an open application process," Choi said at a Nov. 29 signing at the municipal complex of a new ordinance that amends the nomination process of individuals to township boards and commissions. Harry Pozycki, founder of the nonprofit Center for Civic Responsibility, who was also present for the signing, agreed. "It is an ordinance that will break down the closed shop of government appointments," he said. "The ordinance will draw forth the best and the brightest of our citizenry ... and will populate government office with people who have a dedication to the community as their driving force." There will also be a series of at least five citizens' leadership information forums that will be scheduled in the future, Pozycki said. The ordinance was recommended to the Township Council by Edison resident and Citizens' Campaign intern Ashley Burke. Mayor Choi also announced other ethics reforms, including an executive order he would soon issue, that would limit dual-office holding in the township. "The executive order on the municipal side will limit dual-position holding and moonlighting," Choi said. "There are a wide variety of different categories of municipal employees, and this only applies to full-time employees." Choi said the executive order would not apply to Edison police officers. At the patrol level, the township's officers work a schedule of four days on-duty followed by four days off, and so some work as security guards or in other unrelated jobs during their days off. "You have positions that you can have outside of government," Choi said. "For example, for officers who are off-duty, many of our officers ... will have to report what they do. What is required is transparency, so they can do other work which we don't believe would affect the work they will be doing as an officer." However, Choi said that there were some "senior administration officials" who should be barred from holding multiple positions. "The intent is to set a very high standard for minimizing conflicts of interest and abusing the pension system," Choi said. "It is a major state discussion, but it also affects municipalities. There are cases of senior administration officials who are holding multiple positions, and they should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis." Ultimately, the department head or township business administrator could decide if exceptions are made, Choi said. "It would be up to them to decide, but there will be a review process to make sure there is a fair process across the board," he said. A new position of a township ethics liaison officer will also be created, Choi said. "There will also be regular municipal employees ethics training," he said. "It would apply to full-time employees. They would have to sign off on a certification that they have received training and they understand it."