An Open and Transparent Government for Residents

With televised meetings, posted meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes, and award winning e-newsletter, and evening office hours, Hillsborough leads the way in accessibility to information and services.

Some of the best practices Hillsborough uses to ensure transparency include:

1. Open Meetings and Public Participation: While many municipal and county governments remained virtual after the Covid 19 pandemic, Hillsborough was one of the first communities to return to in-person meetings. The Hillsborough Township Committee conducts regular meetings in the Courtroom of the Municipal Complex (typically twice per month) that are open to the public and provide ample opportunities for citizen engagement. The meeting agenda encourages public comments and feedback, and the meetings are recorded for wider accessibility. The Township recently upgraded the audit/visual equipment in the Courtroom to improve the experience for all.

2. Accessible Information: The Township ensures that essential documents, including budgets, financial statements, ordinances, and policies, are easily accessible to the public on the Hillsborough Township website. Documents specific to Township Committee or other supporting committee meetings are made available to the public through the CivicClerk website.

3. Public Records Requests: The Township established a clear and efficient process for handling public records requests made by citizens in compliance with the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The Township staff responds to requests promptly (typically with 24 hours) to make records available. Since 2018, Township staff have responded to more than 100 OPRA requests per month on average.

4. Financial Transparency: The Township Committee provides detailed financial reports and all meeting data on CivicClerk for easy access for all residents.

Fall 2023: Transparency in Hillsborough’s municipal government stands as the foundation that fosters trust, accountability, and resident participation. The essence of transparency lies in the open and accessible flow of information between government institutions (Hillsborough Township) and the public they serve. By providing residents of Hillsborough with insight into decision-making processes, financial operations, and public policy, the Republican-led Township Committee has strengthened our democratic foundation and engaged and empowered taxpayers in the township’s democratic process.

Hillsborough residents expect their Township Committee, administrative staff, and public officials to be accountable for their actions. Hillsborough Township goes above and beyond to demonstrate its commitment to transparent governance and implements numerous proactive efforts to communicate, engage, and seek input from the community. Town hall meetings, public forums, and online platforms are just a few of the means by which the Township promotes transparency and enables citizens to voice their opinions, contribute ideas, and hold their leaders accountable.

The Republican-led Township Committee and Administrative staff use best practices and a thoughtful, systematic approach to ensure and promote transparency to the decisions, operations, and policies that effectively govern Hillsborough Township.

5. Open Data Initiatives: Hillsborough Township embraced open data initiatives to release non-sensitive data in structured, standardized, machine-readable formats to the residents and advance transparency and accountability. In June 2023, the Township Committee adopted and codified an Open Data Policy to proactively publish and provide data through web-based and internet applications which will save the Administration staff time and save taxpayers money.

6. Ethics and Conflict of Interest Policies: The Township Committee is dedicated to robust ethics policies and adheres to the New Jersey Local Government Ethics Law that assures standards of ethical conduct and financial disclosure requirements.

7. Engaging Communication: Hillsborough Township uses multiple communication channels, including social media, newsletters, and public forums, to keep citizens informed about Township Committee initiatives and decisions. The Township also takes advantage of numerous channels to communicate with Hillsborough residents, including the Township website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and electronic distribution of newsletters.

8. Community Outreach: The Republican-led Township Committee engages with diverse community groups and seeks input from marginalized communities to ensure that their voices are heard and considered in decision-making processes. The Township Committee has met with the Seniors, Faith-based organizations, and numerous other Hillsborough community groups to consider their views and desires on issues that will impact Hillsborough.