At a joint meeting on Monday evening, members of Borough Council and Township Committee didn’t argue about the shape of the negotiating table, but they were at odds with each other over several recommendations for implementing consolidation made by Transition Task Force subcommittees.

A particular example was the Personnel Subcommittee’s recommendation that a facilitator work with the Selection Committee to ensure what Task Force member Dorothea Berkhout described as “a fair and defensible” process in the naming (and, necessarily, letting go) of municipal employees. Although the Task Force itself had already approved the recommendation, Township Mayor Chad Goerner and others suggested that the selection of a facilitator would encumber an already unwieldy process, and that members of both governing bodies were already experienced in hiring people.

Ms. Berkhout responded by pointing out that the Personnel Subcommittee felt strongly about the position of a facilitator, whose responsibilities would include the training of those participating in the selection process. “It would give the Selection Committee more comfort to know that they are doing the best that they possibly can to be as neutral as possible,” she suggested. Task Force Chair Mark Freda agreed, saying that a facilitator would foster an “air of credibility” and be “well worth your time.”

“This is a unique moment in history,” said Borough Councilwoman Jo Butler. The process involves “not hiring people” as well as hiring others, she added. “Make the process the best it can be.”

Ultimately, Borough Council voted unanimously for a facilitator, while Township Committee was split in a vote that endorsed the use of a facilitator contingent upon approval of the person filling that role. Although the Personnel Subcommittee has identified Barbara A. Lee, a former Rutgers University Dean of the School of Management and Labor Relations, as a potential volunteer, it was agreed that it was too early in the process to vote on her on Monday evening.

Another sticking point was whether senior positions in the municipality should be chosen by by a five- or six-member Selection Committee as suggested by the Personnel Subcommittee, or by all twelve members of both governing bodies. Ms. Butler and Councilwomen Barbara Trelstad and Jenny Crumiller were in favor of the latter. “We can’t agree on what chocolate we all like,” countered Township Committeeman Lance Liverman, suggesting that it would be “more precise” to have a Personnel Committee that “can really discuss the senior positions.” Mr. Goerner agreed, expressing surprise at the suggestion of using all 12 elected officials, which he described as “bad organizational management.”

In the wake of Councilwoman Heather Howard’s reminder that the Task Force had “spent a lot of time thinking about it,” and a suggestion that the public would like to see them “working together,” the two governing bodies agreed on a committee that would be comprised of two representatives from Township Committee (since three would constitute a quorum), and three from Borough Council. Decisions will be brought before both bodies if the Selection Committee fails to come to “unanimous consent” on a candidate.

It was agreed that money spent on severance packages for individuals being terminated were a one-time expense that would not compromise the annual savings promised by consolidation. “We need to act now,” said Task Force Vice Chair Scott Sillars.